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HED Intelligent Vehicle Controls

Who We Are

Read about our company and stories about our team, their passions and what they love about working at HED.

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Our Story

Located in Hartford, Wisconsin USA, we are a leading designer and manufacturer of electronic control solutions for mobile equipment applications.

Incorporated in 1986 and privately held, the company maintains a broad, comprehensive line of control products to meet the growing and changing needs of vehicle OEMs in the markets we serve. Whether a simple on-off control for a hydraulic valve, or a complex distributed intelligence system for total machine control and monitoring, our mission is to help vehicle designers engineer optimized solutions to challenging vehicle control applications.

Our comprehensive array of products and software include:

 

We operate as an extension to your engineering department. Our Sales and Application Engineering teams lead you through the process of defining and implementing the optimal control solution. The result is a superior vehicle without complex wiring or conduit. We help you achieve the following:

  • Improved vehicle performance: Intelligent controls and versatile application software integrate multiple machine functions to address complex tasks.
  • Reduced time to market: APQP-based New Product Development (NPD) process means faster prototypes and production vehicles.
  • Ruggedized hardware design: Proven components stand up to vibration, moisture and harsh environments.
  • Lower system cost: Simplify design, cut hardware development and production costs. Multiplexing minimizes complex wiring harnesses.

Our highly trained workforce assembles our products in our new 22,000 sq. ft. ESD controlled facility. We utilize a cell-based assembly environment with full lot and component traceability, and 100% functional testing to all products. Our flexible manufacturing practices mean quick responses to your changing production and product development needs. Products under development are subject to extensive qualification testing to industry standards.

View our ISO 9001:2015 certificate

2023 PACCAR Quality Achievement
PACCAR 10 PPM award

 

Our Mission

To provide intelligent vehicle control and monitoring solutions to on- and off-highway markets, enabling a better, safer, connected world.

We provide leading-edge rugged electronic control solutions, specializing in on-vehicle applications, serving a global customer base. Our solutions reduce cost of ownership; improve productivity, safety and connectivity; expand functionality and simplify ease-of-use.

We achieve this by applying our technical abilities to partner with our customers and suppliers to rapidly create optimized control solutions using our broad standard product offering, customization capabilities & user-friendly programming tools, and utilizing a predictable, structured development process.

Our efforts will create long-term mutually successful relationships with our customers, a vibrant and rewarding work environment for our employees and healthy financial returns for all stakeholders.

 

Our Core Values

Customer Focus | We are passionate about customer satisfaction and delivering on our promises.

Commitment to Quality | We provide the highest quality products and services via continuous improvement.

Integrity | We are transparent, ethical, honest, and act with virtue internally and externally.

Empathy | We show respect, concern and understanding toward the well-being of others.

Innovation | With velocity, we bring creative and differentiated solutions to customer challenges.

Accountability | We take responsibility to deliver on our commitments to customers and to each other in a fiscally responsible manner.

Teamwork | We help each other and the company to reach full potential.

 

Leadership Team

John "JT" Thomas  |  Chief Executive Officer

JT brings over 20 years of experience as a growth-oriented, global C-suite executive dedicated to driving value creation, enhancing customer-centric strategies, and fostering strong corporate cultures. His proven leadership has led organizations through significant growth, operational excellence, and transformational change. JT has held numerous leadership positions in industrial businesses including Chief Commercial Officer at CentroMotion and the America’s President for Engineered Solutions at Actuant Corporation. JT holds a Bachelor of Science in Business & Communications from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, completed General Management Training through the University of Wisconsin Fluno Center for executive development and has a Lean Certificate from the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Matthew Via  |  Vice President, Sales & Marketing

Matthew comes to HED from a 14-year career with Sensata Technologies Inc. with various sales and marketing roles of increasing responsibility. Most recently Matthew served as the Director of Market & Business Development and brings experience with IOT and Heavy Vehicle and Off-Road customers in the ag, construction, and commercial vehicle markets. Matthew holds an AAS in Fluid Power Technology, a BS in Marketing & Management, and a Business Marketing Strategy Certificate from Northwestern Kellogg School of Management.

 

Tony Langeweg

Tony Langeweg  |  Vice President, Engineering

Tony Langeweg joined HED in 2024 as Vice President of Engineering. With his vast technical experience and leadership skills, Tony leads our talented engineering team toward continued innovation and execution. Tony was most recently with Harley Davidson as the Chief Engineering for Electrical Systems, managing over 60 engineers. His experience includes vehicle control systems and software engineering. Prior to Harley, Tony spent 15 years at Astronautics in Milwaukee in hardware and systems engineering. Tony has a BSEE from University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Tom Szewczyk  |  Vice President, Operations

Tom leads our operations, assembly and quality assurance teams. He joined HED in 2007 and is an accomplished operations executive with over 20 years of experience in world-class manufacturing and international sourcing.  Tom has held prior operations leadership positions at Xymox Technologies (Milwaukee, WI), MTI Electronics (Menomonee Falls, WI) and Rockwell Automation (Milwaukee, WI).  He holds a BBA from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh.

Carrie Neumann  |  Director of Administration

Carrie has over 20 years of dedicated service at HED where she leads the Finance department with a focus on strategic financial management and oversight. In her role, she also manages the Human Resources and Administrative functions, ensuring seamless operations and employee development. Carrie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Silver Lake College. Additionally, she serves on the board of directors for the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce and was Chamber President from 2008-2009.

Aimee Dankmeyer

Aimee Dankmeyer  |  Human Resources Director

Aimee brings the HED team 20 years of experience and a deep passion for creating and executing HR programs that drive success. Aimee holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Accounting, a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and Human Resources, and a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management. Aimee is dedicated to fostering a positive and productive work environment and is committed to leveraging her extensive knowledge and skills to support the company's growth and success.