September 4, 2020
Mentor, OH – Race Winning Brands, Inc., (“Race Winning Brands”, “RWB”, or the “Company”) a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, LLC (“Kinderhook”) is pleased to announce that they have completed the relocation of their MGP Connecting Rods business to Lakewood, New Jersey – home of Manley Performance, another RWB company.
RWB has relocated MGP’s complete production line, including the exact same equipment, to Manley Performance’s production facility. Under the oversight of Anthony Giannone, the son of MGP founder Michael Giannone, MGP production has resumed utilizing the exact same, proven process by talented and skilled employees. Integrating the MGP line into the Manley facility is a key strategic move for RWB, allowing the distinct businesses to share resources and technology.
Trip Manley, head of Manley Products and son of founder Hank Manley, shared “I’m extremely proud to have MGP aluminum connecting rods in our building. Their manufacturing process and quality is second to none so it’s a natural fit to have them under our roof. Anthony is a very gifted and driven young man. He’s been making these jewel-like aluminum rods since he was a kid and knows the business inside and out. My team and I are excited to work with Anthony and I have zero doubt he will continue to prosper; honoring the legacy his parents started and taking it to a new level.”
For MGP customers, nothing will be changing from the products they have come to rely on, and this move is in an effort to take MGP to the next level. Anthony Giannone will run point and oversee MGP sales and customer service while also staying heavily involved with manufacturing and quality control.
“My father’s motto…the best on time, every time!…will continue to be MGP’s mission statement. The Manley team shares this vision and I can happily report that the move into Manley’s facility has been seamless. My goal has always been to service customers in a manner unlike any other aluminum rod company and this will not change. I am honored to work with this group and can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together!” – Anthony Giannone.
Through carefully selected, well planned out acquisitions, Race Winning Brands has built an extensive portfolio of brands within the high-performance automotive industry. Investing in the relocation of the MGP production lines to the Manley’s state of the art facility is just another strategic move in RWB’s overall plan of growth while maintaining the established reputation for excellence of each distinct brand. Race Winning Brands is committed to providing superior, quality products and unparalleled service to their customer base.
As complex as this all sounds, it’s really about living up to the company name today, tomorrow and for the foreseeable future – Race Winning Brands!
About MGP Connecting Rods
Founded in 1996, MGP has emerged as the premier manufacturer of aluminum connecting rods for the racing and high-performance markets. By utilizing race-proven design engineering and CNC machining technology, MGP offers designs and quality that surpass the needs of the most demanding engines and engine builders. Proprietary features, such as Cap Interlocking Serration and small end Hard Bore Technology, provide benefits proven to support the rigors of top tier racing.
In December of 2018, Race Winning Brands, Inc. (RWB) announced the acquisition of Giannone Performance Products, Inc. d/b/a MGP Connecting Rods. RWB has since integrated the MGP product line into their portfolio under the direction of Anthony Giannone, the son of Michael Giannone – MGP’s founder.
For more information about MGP Connecting Rods, visit http://mgpconnectingrods.com
About Manley
Originally founded by Hank Manley in 1966 as Manley Speed Equipment, Manley Performance’s humble beginnings have blossomed into that of a world class manufacturer. Over its 54 years in operation, Manley Performance can boast long lasting relationships with both industry drag racing legends and OEM manufacturers. Manley’s technological prowess has made them an esteemed source for custom valves and their diverse product line provides customers with race-proven components for all walks of motorsports. Today, Manley Performance is well established as a top-tier manufacturer of high-performance pistons, connecting rods, crankshafts, and valvetrain components.
In February of 2020, Race Winning Brands, Inc. announced the acquisition of Manley Performance Products, Inc. Operations and brand development remain under the oversight of Trip Manley, son of Manley’s founder – Hank Manley.
For more information, please visit http://www.manleyperformance.com
About Race Winning Brands
Race Winning Brands (RWB) is the leading manufacturer of racing and high-performance parts sold to automotive and powersports markets. RWB is the preferred source for high-end pistons, engine blocks, cylinder heads, intake manifolds, connecting rods, crankshafts, clutches and other engine and driveline- related performance components. RWB markets its products through multiple prominent brands including JE Pistons, Wiseco Performance Products, K1 Technologies, Diamond Pistons, Trend Performance, Rekluse Motor Sports, Falicon Racing, CV4, X2 Valvetrain, MGP Connecting Rods, ProX Racing Parts, Dart Machinery, and Manley Performance Products. RWB sells to a diverse and unmatched customer base of professional and sportsman racers, engine builders, enthusiasts, OEMs, automotive and powersports dealers and wholesale distributors. RWB is headquartered in Mentor, Ohio with sales offices and manufacturing operations in strategic locations throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.
For more information, please visit http://www.racewinningbrands.com
