The 85th anniversary of the founding of Owatonna Tool Company (now the OTC brand of SPX Corp.) will be marked by the placement of large, colorful historical banners at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) 2010 show scheduled for Nov. 2-4 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.

OTC began as a small Owatonna machine shop operated by Reuben A. Kaplan in the early 1920s. In his work, Kaplan saw a need for special-purpose tools to service the automobiles of the day. One of his first innovations was the “Grip-O-Matic” universal gear puller, for which he received his first patent, the company said.

By 1985, OTC had an extensive line of tools and systems for both OEM and aftermarket customers. It was acquired by Sealed Power Corp. (now SPX) of Muskegon, Mich. Today, OTC is a major global supplier of vehicle electronic diagnostic instruments; fuel systems service tools; special service tools; general purpose tools; pullers; heavy-duty tools; shop equipment and hydraulic components.

“This anniversary is a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge our rich company history, and to show appreciation for what has become the world’s foremost automotive aftermarket brand,” said Tanvir Arfi, president of SPX Service Solutions. “This is also an opportunity to send heartfelt thanks for the valued contributions from thousands of employees associated with the company and brand over the past 85 years. They have truly made a difference.

“Going forward,” added Arfi, “we are focused on developing tools that help vehicle technicians meet the demands of new and evolving technology, new government regulations and the changing vehicle service and repair landscape.  OTC is a major contributor to our success in these efforts now and in the future.”