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About Hanna
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Since 1960, Hanna Car Wash Systems has been the premier supplier of innovative car wash systems. Today, Hanna has the largest customer base of installed conveyor systems and over 30,000 car wash operations worldwide.
All Hanna equipment is designed, manufactured and assembled in the USA in Houston, Texas. Our top-notch engineering department uses advanced technology to constantly enhance and create innovative systems. All Hanna equipment is then manufactured using state-of-the-art machinery. Assembly takes place at Jim Coleman Company’s headquarters in a 48,000 square foot production facility to make sure every order meets our highest quality standards.
History- 1940 - The dawn of the car wash era has begun.
- By the mid-1940s, there were approximately 32 drive-through car washes nationwide. In 1946, a semiautomatic car wash system was developed with a conveyor belt that hooked to the bumper of automobiles. It had an overhead water sprinkler with three sets of manually operated brushes and a 50 HP air blower to help dry the car. All of these elements would become an important part of the car wash industry in the future.
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In 1955, while on vacation in Mexico, Dan Hanna, Sr., stayed in a motel located across the street from a car wash. The mechanically-minded Hanna became very interested. He studied the car wash’s operation and visited extensively with the owner/operator. He returned to his home town of Portland, Oregon, and with money his mother obtained by mortgaging their home, Hanna opened his first Rub-A-Dub car wash in Milwaukie, Oregon. This led to the creation of Hanna Enterprises. Two years later, he opened his second wash and ultimately had 31 successful Rub-A-Dub car washes operating in the Portland area. As his business grew, Hanna recognized the need for faster and more efficient car wash equipment … so he invented it.
In 1959, Hanna tinkered with and tested his wash rack until he had a working model of the first mechanized car washing system. Word spread about Hanna’s machine, and he began to put them in other people’s car washes. - By the mid-1960s, Hanna Enterprises had clearly established itself as the premier innovator and manufacturer of car wash equipment. Hanna made and patented several inventions that revolutionized the car wash industry, including Wraparound Brush, Roller-On-Demand Conveyor, Soft Cloth Friction Wash, Triple Approach to Tire Washing, and Recirculating Water System. As a result, Hanna Enterprises became the world’s largest conveyorized vehicle wash equipment manufacturer.
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Hanna launched an aggressive marketing campaign in 1966 to expand its international business and installed its first international car wash in Japan in 1967.
In 1968, Hanna Enterprises became Hanna Industries and began an extensive acquisition effort acquiring Lark, Reuter Sons Manufacturing and Flaming Equipment Company. In addition, Hanna expanded its distribution capabilities in a contract with Country Club Carwash, Inc.
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As with many industries, the 1970s were difficult times for the car washing business. The U.S. recession had a devastating affect on the vehicle wash industry as the price of gasoline increased rapidly. Shrinking profits for car wash operators slowed production and development of the industry.
Hanna Industries made two important inventions in 1975 — the automatic wheel cleaner and a polish ‘n wax application. These innovations made it possible for many car wash operations with Hanna equipment to stay in business because they had a “competitive edge” with services their competitors did not have. -
By the early 1980s, the U.S. economy had rebounded with strong sustained growth in all sectors. The car wash industry recovered from the recession and car wash development was at an all time high. The automobile industry was having record sales, and in 1985 there were reportedly 162 million cars in the U.S.
As the numbers of cars and car washes grew exponentially in the 1980s, Hanna Industries again brought innovations to the market. Recognizing the need for consistent car wash quality, Hanna began franchising. In 1981, Entrepreneur’s magazine named Hanna the #2 franchiser in the world (just behind McDonald’s) and in 1982 named Hanna #1. Hanna’s success continued throughout the 1980s with the creation of more vehicle wash and marketing innovations.
By 1988, Hanna Industries was servicing more than 18,000 vehicle washes in 56 countries. Annual sales reached in excess of $30 million. In 1989, Hanna ranked #1 worldwide for installed conveyorized car washes.
- 1990 - In 1993, a Texas venture capital group brought about the merger of two industry giants — Hanna Industries and Sherman Carwash Company. The merged companies became Hanna-Sherman International, Inc. and had a large focus on international markets. Hanna first expanded in the Far East (Korea and Thailand) and emerging markets (including China, Russia and Eastern Europe). Hanna also increased activity in Germany, Ireland, Latin America and Southeast Asia. International growth flourished throughout the 1990s, making Hanna the most global car wash manufacturer in the industry.
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In 2001, a prominent group of Northwest investors purchased the assets of Hanna-Sherman International, Inc. and formed today’s Hanna Car Wash Systems International, LLC. Shareholders of the new company include The Aspen Group (based in Portland, Oregon) and Roy P. Disney, owner of The Apogee Company (based in Burbank, California). The Aspen Group is an investment group formed in 1989 that has participated in over 200 diverse projects including Warner Bros. Channel 32 in Salem, Oregon, the Westin Hotel in downtown Portland, and the Gregory Lofts in Portland’s Pearl District. The Apogee Group is a private investment organization owned by Roy P. Disney.
The financial strength of the shareholders permit Hanna to expand its business by placing added emphasis on Research & Development and focusing on continued innovation in the fine Hanna product line.
Today, Hanna Car Wash Systems International has more patents and trademarks than any other conveyorized system manufacturer. With over 30,000 installations in 90 countries and more than 650 million vehicles on the road worldwide, the future for Hanna and its customers is unlimited.
- Hanna/ Jim Coleman Co.
In 2004 the owners and board of directors of the Jim Coleman Company began to see a change in the industry. The motoring public was beginning a switch from the self service segment of the industry to the conveyor/tunnel segment of the industry. This was primarily brought on by introduction of the Express Wash concept. This concept allowed the customer to conveniently wash their vehicle without having to get out of it. This offered to them convenience, security, and money savings.
The Board of Directors, led by Russell Coleman, began to actively study how that the Jim Coleman Company could get into this segment of the business. A study was done whether we could build our own equipment and market it, based on our experience or whether a known manufacture could be purchased. It was decided that a known name manufacture would the best approach to getting into the Conveyor/Tunnel end of the business.
In late 2004 several companies were visited. One trip was to Hanna Car Wash Systems International of Portland, Oregon. Dan Hanna founded this company in the early 1960’s. At one point the company was the leading producer of equipment for the Conveyor/Tunnel segment of the industry, domestically as well as internationally.
Jim Coleman Company made the decision to purchase the assets of Hanna Car Wash Systems. This was big news in the industry because this would now merge one of the largest Self Service manufactures, in the industry, and the best known name in the Conveyor/Tunnel business.
In February of 2005 the Hanna operation was relocated from Portland, Oregon to Houston, Texas, one mile from the existing Jim Coleman Company location.
A 45,000 sq foot manufacturing facility was purchased and the production of the Hanna equipment line was began in Houston.
Many changes and improvements have been made to the equipment line offering the distributors of Jim Coleman Company equipment and the distributors of Hanna equipment a good and competitive line of Conveyor/Tunnel equipment.
Quality remains a prime goal of the company along with the ability to be competitive in the industry.
Jim Coleman Company and Hanna remain a powerful force in the industry bringing years of experience to the motoring public.
- Why Hanna?
Hanna, a division of Jim Coleman Company is the car wash industry’s most recognized brand with nearly 50 years in the vehicle wash industry. Hanna’s success comes from years of experience and dedication in building the finest quality, longest lasting components and systems.
Hanna’s contribution to vehicle washing is evident around the world with the leading market share for installed conveyor car wash systems worldwide. Hanna vehicle wash equipment can be found in 60 countries and territories.
World Wide Distribution
Hanna and Jim Coleman Company sell and service its products through a network of over 100 international and U.S. distributors. With the industry’s largestdistributor network, Hanna provides the local expertise to guide you through the steps from site selection through opening day.
Hanna distributors are required to have the experience, staffing, service and financial strength to provide customers with knowledge and insight into every aspect of vehicle washing.
Experience and Quality
Car wash operators look to offer expertise, as well as quality equipment and outstanding service. Hanna employees have decades of experience in the car wash business and car wash manufacturing and many Hanna distributors have more than 20 years of service selling Hanna equipment.
That is just one of the reasons Hanna is the largest supplier of car wash equipment to automobile manufacturing facilities, pre-delivery centers and dealerships. These include Toyota, Daimler Chrysler, Audi, General Motors, Jaguar, Porsche, Nissan, Volkswagen and BMW.
Hanna is also the leading USA exporter of car wash systems serving markets from Japan to Germany and from Saudi Arabia to Italy. Hanna also supplies car wash equipment to gas station operators featuring Shell, Texaco, Amoco, Exxon, Unocal, BP and Chevron.
Manufacturing
Hanna and Jim Coleman Company have more than 160,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity. The plant located in Houston, Texas is devoted entirely to the manufacturing, assembly and testing of vehicle wash equipment. The site also has an active retail car wash as well as an extensivetest facility operating the newest conveyor components. Hanna and Jim Coleman Company welcome visitors daily from around the world.
The manufacturing philosophy at Hanna and Jim Coleman Company is to produce the best vehicle wash equipment-engineered to exceed the expectationsof the car wash operator today.- Product
Hanna systems are designed for high volume, high-speed car washes with minimal maintenance and the lowest incidence of customer complaints. This philosophy has earned Hanna the reputation as the Operators Choice™ in vehicle washing equipment.
Hanna has the broadest line of conveyor wash systems and components in the industry, including Soft Cloth, Light Foam, Hand Wash and Hi-Pressure Touchless conveyor systems.
Each Hanna system is designed to match specific financial, engineering and size requirements. Depending on length and configuration, Hanna can design a vehicle wash system capable of cleaning 45 to 200 cars per hour.
In addition to conveyor systems, Hanna customers have access to the entire line of Jim Coleman Company products including the industry’s broadest line of in-bay automatics, self-serve and vacuum systems.