An American Manufacturing Company Built Around Product Support and Long-Term Reliability
The Last Line of Defense in Critical Systems
Detroit Switch has spent decades designing and manufacturing high-reliability control components for systems where failure isn't an option.
Founded in 1971, with roots in industrial and military applications dating back even further, Detroit Switch continues to support naval, rail, power generation, and industrial systems through application-focused solutions, direct product support, and adaptable American manufacturing.
Our products operate inside systems that are expected to perform under pressure, in harsh conditions, and over long service lives. That reality has shaped the way we approach manufacturing from the very beginning.
We build products to work in the real world — and to keep working.
Our Mission
To protect critical systems from failure by building switches that perform reliably in the moments that matter most.
Our Vision
To be the trusted authority in high-reliability switching solutions for the world's most demanding industries.
Generations of Manufacturing Experience
From Detroit Lubricator to Detroit Switch
The story of Detroit Switch began long before the company adopted its current name.
Our roots trace back to Detroit Lubricator, a company founded in 1877 to support the growing steam engine industry. Over the decades, the organization evolved alongside major technological shifts, developing products for locomotives, early automobiles, industrial systems, and automatic controls.
As industries changed, the company changed with them.
Detroit Lubricator became part of American Standard in 1922, later operating as Detroit Controls Corporation and the American Standard Controls Division before Detroit Switch, Inc. was established in 1971.
While the products and industries have evolved over time, the mission has remained remarkably consistent: building reliable control products for systems where performance matters.
That history matters because the environments Detroit Switch supports have never been simple.
From military systems and locomotive applications to industrial infrastructure and power generation, our products are used in systems where operating conditions are demanding and long-term performance is expected.
Today, Detroit Switch remains a third-generation company built around practical application knowledge, American manufacturing, and continuity across generations of employees and customers alike.
Our History
1877
Henry Clay Hodges and Charles C. Hodges establish Detroit Lubricator in Detroit, Michigan, manufacturing lubricators for the rapidly growing steam engine industry.
1892
The Hodges brothers' Detroit Steam Radiator Company becomes part of American Radiator Company, beginning a relationship that would eventually connect Detroit Lubricator to American Standard.
1903–1906
Detroit Lubricator develops products for the expanding transportation industry, including locomotive lubricators, automotive lubricators, and carburetors used by many of the era's leading automobile manufacturers.
1922
Detroit Lubricator becomes a subsidiary of American Standard, expanding its role in industrial and automatic control technologies.
1952
The company adopts the name Detroit Controls Corporation, reflecting its growing focus on automatic controls and system monitoring technologies.
1957
The organization becomes an operating division of American Standard under the name Detroit Controls Division.
1961
The division adopts the name American-Standard Controls Division, continuing its evolution into industrial and automatic control products.
1971
Detroit Switch is formed, carrying forward nearly a century of manufacturing experience and control-system expertise.
1950s – Present
Detroit Switch products continue to support military, naval, rail, power generation, marine, and industrial applications where reliability and long service life are essential.
Today
Detroit Switch remains a family-owned American manufacturer focused on high-reliability pressure, temperature, and differential switches for critical systems.
Solutions Built Around Real Applications
Detroit Switch does not operate like a catalog company.
We work directly with engineers and project teams to understand how systems operate, what conditions they face, and what type of performance is actually required.
That process helps us configure solutions around the application — not just a specification sheet.
Some customers come to us with a specific series or model already in mind. Others come with a system challenge they're trying to solve.
Either way, the goal is the same:
Determine the right configuration for how the system actually behaves in the real world.
Because in many applications, selecting the wrong component is more than an inconvenience. It becomes a system problem.
Direct Application Support
Many customers understand their application, but not necessarily the exact switch configuration required to support it.
That's where system support becomes critical.
Detroit Switch works directly with customers to:
This consultative approach has been part of the company for generations.
Rather than forcing customers into rigid, off-the-shelf designs,
we focus on
helping engineers determine what the application actually needs.
American Manufacturing Built for Long Lifecycle Systems
Detroit Switch products are designed for systems expected to remain in service for decades.
In many cases, our switches continue operating long after surrounding equipment has been repaired, rebuilt, or replaced.
That long-term reliability is one of the reasons Detroit Switch products continue to be used in:
These are systems where access may be limited, downtime is costly, and failure carries serious consequences.
That reality continues to shape how we approach manufacturing today.
Flexible Manufacturing Without Commodity Thinking
Many manufacturers have moved toward rigid standardization.
Detroit Switch has remained flexible.
Our configurable product platforms allow us to adapt:
- Electrical arrangements
- Environmental protections
- Mounting configurations
- Pressure and temperature ranges
- Performance characteristics
based on the needs of each application.
Depending on the environment, products can also incorporate specialized configurations such as:
- SPST, SPDT, or DPST electrical arrangements
- Enhanced environmental sealing
- Non-magnetic construction
- Armor tubing
- Fail-safe elements
- Other application-specific options
This flexibility allows Detroit Switch to support both long-established legacy systems and evolving modern applications without forcing customers into one-size-fits-all solutions.
Built to Stay in Service
Reliability is not a marketing phrase at Detroit Switch.
It is the reason the company exists.
Our products are designed to operate in systems where failure is unacceptable and replacement is not always easy.
Over the years, Detroit Switch products have become known for their ability to perform consistently in demanding operating environments.
That long-term performance is the result of practical application support, careful manufacturing, and a deep understanding of the environments our customers operate in. It's also why Detroit Switch continues to focus on dependable manufacturing, application support, and products built for long service lives.
Continuing the Legacy
More than 50 years after its founding — and with roots extending even further — Detroit Switch continues to support critical systems through application-driven manufacturing and long-term reliability.
As industries evolve, our focus remains the same:
Build dependable products
Support engineers directly
Continue solving real-world system challenges through practical, configurable solutions and American manufacturing
Talk with Detroit Switch Inc. About Your Application
Whether you're working on a military, industrial, rail, or power generation application, Detroit Switch brings generations of product knowledge and manufacturing experience to the conversation.
Our team works closely with customers to understand the application, identify the appropriate configuration, and support long-term system performance.