History 1997 – Company founded by Anton Hirsch 1998 – Cobra Metal Works achieves QS-9000 certification 2000 – Crain’s Chicago Business lists Cobra as one of the successful entrepreneurial ventures in Chicago. 2001 – Opening of Elgin manufacturing facility and Poland (Europe) plant. 2002 – Cobra receives supplier of the year award from Autoliv North America. 2003 – Achieved ISO/TS 16949 Certification (Link to ISO/TS Certificate) 2003 – Initiated Corporate Wide Implementation of Six Sigma.