History

Shaw Development traces its roots to Shaw Metal Products, founded in 1944. Shaw Metal Products, originally a general machine shop, primarily served the aircraft industry. After witnessing an improperly installed airplane fuel cap become dislodged during flight, founder Frank Shaw conceived a “Lift-and-Turn” cap that could only be installed correctly. This cap revolutionized the aircraft fuel cap industry and was the first of hundreds of new designs introduced by Shaw Aero Devices. In 1968, Shaw Aero Devices also introduced and patented the first lightning safe fuel cap making air travel safer for passenger and cargo flights.

In 1959, Frank Shaw established Shaw Development in Garden City, New York. He moved both companies to East Hampton, New York in 1966 and then on to Naples, Florida in 1980. Development’s initial focus was manufactured parachute hardware, Peterbilt on road fuel caps and served as a machine shop supplying components to Shaw Aero Devices. However, as business continued to grow, Development saw the opportunity to expand the aviation lift-and-turn technology into the ground vehicle market. The Shaw Development team refined and capitalized on the original Shaw Aero Devices technology and now produces caps, adapters, and fluid systems for military, commercial, and industrial heavy-duty ground vehicles worldwide. Shaw Development products can now be found in diverse in markets ranging from military vehicles, on-road trucks, construction and agricultural vehicles and even high end motorcycles, automobiles and space vehicles.

In 1987, Shaw Development began designing and producing expandable rubber plugs. Shaw currently offers over 250 standard sizes along with several hundred custom designs, sealing virtually any opening in a variety of industries. Our ability to offer cost effective custom designs, along with the variety of standard sizes and styles, establishes Shaw as an industry leader. This product line, along with the expansion of the fuel caps and adapters, led to the need for further facility expansion.

In late 1999, Shaw Development co-located with Shaw Aero Devices into a common Naples, Florida based facility consisting of 140,000 square feet of factory and office space along with a 40,000 square foot research, development and test building. This co-operative growth continued through 2007, when the division of Shaw Aero Devices was acquired by Parker Hannifin. In 2008, Shaw Development relocated to its current state-of-the-art location in Bonita Springs, Florida where our focus is upon innovative turn-key fuel, hydraulic and DEF system level solutions.