About Kop-Flex
About Kop-Flex
Kop-Flex traces its origins to a facility built in 1969 by Koppers Company, Inc., which was purchased by an employee group in 1986 to form what became Kop-Flex, Inc. The company grew into one of the largest producers of flexible disc, diaphragm, gear, flexible grid, and resilient shaft couplings in the international marketplace, operating from its Harmans Road site in Anne Arundel County, Maryland since 1966.
Kop-Flex is widely credited as a forerunner in the coupling industry, building on the FASTS gear coupling design that dates back to the early 1900s and is credited to inventor Gustav Fasts. In 1996, Emerson Electric Co. acquired Kop-Flex, and the brand became a business unit of Emerson Industrial Automation, continuing to offer repair and maintenance programs for heavy-duty couplings, gear spindles, and universal joints.
Although manufacturing at the original Maryland site ceased in 2012, the Kop-Flex brand and coupling line continue to serve industrial power transmission applications through Emerson's broader distribution and support network. ChatMRO indexes the Kop-Flex catalog so buyers can search by coupling type, bore size, or torque rating to find matching replacement parts.
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Frequently asked questions
What types of couplings does Kop-Flex manufacture?
Kop-Flex manufactures flexible disc, diaphragm, gear, flexible grid, and resilient shaft couplings. The brand is one of the largest producers of these coupling types in the international marketplace.
What is the FASTS gear coupling and its connection to Kop-Flex?
The FASTS gear coupling design dates back to the early 1900s and is credited to inventor Gustav Fasts, establishing Kop-Flex as a forerunner in the gear coupling industry. This design heritage underlies much of Kop-Flex's current gear coupling product line.
Is Kop-Flex still an independently operating company?
No, Kop-Flex was acquired by Emerson Electric Co. in 1996 and became a business unit of Emerson Industrial Automation. It continues to offer couplings and repair and maintenance programs under the Kop-Flex brand name.
Does Kop-Flex still manufacture couplings at its original Maryland facility?
Manufacturing operations at the original Harmans Road site in Anne Arundel County, Maryland ceased in late 2012. The Kop-Flex brand and product line continue to be supported through Emerson's broader manufacturing and distribution network.
What industrial applications commonly use Kop-Flex couplings?
Kop-Flex couplings are commonly used in heavy-duty power transmission applications such as pump drives, compressors, and turbomachinery requiring high-torque shaft connections. Repair and maintenance programs are also available for gear spindles and universal joints used in similar applications.