Who We Are
Leverage our global experience to address the pressures you face with 20 manufacturing centers and 200+ sales and service centers across more than 70 countries.
About Swagelok
A Fitting Legacy
Swagelok Company is proud to celebrate its 75th year in business! We continue to grow and thrive by matching the speed of our customers and the pace of change in the world—without losing sight of our legacy of success.
With a $500 loan from his wife’s uncle, Fred A. Lennon founded our company in July of 1947. Reaching this remarkable milestone is a testament to his vision: a values-based culture; ongoing investments in our workforce and infrastructure; an evolving and innovative sales and service model that sets us apart in the industry; and a commitment to customers who count on us for high-quality products, services, and solutions.
1940s
1946
Fred A. Lennon meets Cullen B. Crawford. The revolutionary Swagelok® tube fitting, a two-ferrule compression type fitting, is developed.
1947-1948
Crawford and Lennon form Crawford Fitting Company. The following year, Lennon purchases the entire business and the patent for the Swagelok tube fitting from Crawford.
1949
Lennon establishes a network of independent sales and service centers (SSCs), exclusive distributors of Swagelok products. The first SSC is R.S. Crum, established to serve the northeastern United States.
1950s
1950
The first Crawford Fitting plant in Cleveland is the company’s home from 1950 to 1965.
1950s
The Swagelok product line expands with the creation of small, strategically focused companies that produced Cajon® pipe fittings and Nupro® needle valves, as well as the acquisition of Kenmore Research and Whitey Research & Tool, among others.
1950s
Swagelok establishes a network of regional warehouses to provide sales and service centers with readily available products.
1960s
1964
The company outgrows its Cleveland facility and, in 1964, breaks ground for a new home in Solon, a suburb of Cleveland.
1965
Swagelok establishes 'Sno-Trik, a company dedicated to manufacturing high-pressure valves and fittings.
1969
Swagelok products are distributed in Europe and the company’s first European regional warehouse is established, serving customers in The Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK.
1969
Astronaut Russell L. “Rusty” Schweikart steps out of the Apollo IX lunar module orbiting 119 miles (192 km) above the Earth, wearing a breathing pack that contains Swagelok valves and fittings.
1970s
1970
Swagelok products continue to be the standard for the most critical applications including Alvin, the world’s most advanced submersible that was capable of operating at depths in excess of 6,000 ft (1830 m).
1972
Swagelok products are distributed in Asia and the company’s first warehouse in the region is established in Japan.
1975
Viking I lands on Mars and collects soil samples using Swagelok fittings.
1980s
1986
Swagelok unifies its separate brands as “the Swagelok Companies,” the first step to consolidating them under the Swagelok name.
1980s
Distribution reaches Finland, South Africa, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
1990s
1997
After years of growing through the development of advanced products, Swagelok focuses its identity on a single logo and brand name.
1990s
Distribution reaches customers in Chile, Argentina, Israel, Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela, China, Vietnam, India, and the Philippines.
1998
Swagelok founder Fred A. Lennon passes away at age 92 in 1998. The company establishes the Swagelok Foundation, and his family establishes the Fred A. Lennon Charitable Trust—both continue Lennon’s support of charitable, nonprofit, and civic organizations.
2000s
2000s
Swagelok announces technology centers in China, India, Japan, Switzerland, and the United States. Eventually, a technology center is established in Brazil.
2003
Swagelok acquires Kenmac, Ltd., adding pressure regulators and a broad range of piping control products to its offerings. Renamed Swagelok Limited, the company continues to expand as one of the top employers on the Isle of Man.
2004
Construction begins on a 360,000-square-foot (33,500m2) order fulfillment center adjacent to the main Swagelok facility in Solon, Ohio. The building is completely occupied by 2006.
2006
Throughout the decade, Swagelok continues to innovate with the launch of new products that support the evolving semiconductor, oil, gas, and alternative fuels industries.
2007
A Volkswagen Caddy fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG) circumnavigates the globe. Its fuel system relies on Swagelok valves, hose, and tubing to demonstrate the possibilities of fuels other than gasoline for transportation.
2008
Swagelok opens a facility in Changshu, China, manufacturing only components while strategically expanding Swagelok’s capacity and access to talent.
2010
Swagelok introduces field engineers to bring the company’s expertise and solutions directly to customers. Today, there are more than 100 field engineers.
2010s
2014-2016
Swagelok continues its outreach in the community—partnering in the 2014 launch of Right Skills Now, an innovative program designed to meet the growing demand for manufacturing workers, and completing the organization’s first Habitat for Humanity house in Cleveland in 2016.
2018
Swagelok ranks #49 on Forbes’ list of best midsize employers.
2018
Swagelok opens an in-house makerspace encouraging associates to bring their creativity to the workplace, collaborate with peers, quickly take new ideas to concept, and produce rapid prototypes.
2019
Swagelok expands capacity in Highland Heights, Ohio, and Changshu, China, facilities to support continued sales growth.
2020s
2020
Thomas F. Lozick is the third generation of leaders from Swagelok’s founding family. Grounded in the values established by his father and grandfather, Lozick is committed to strengthening the company’s customer-centric approach as Chairman and CEO.
2021
Swagelok’s 124,000-square-foot Global Headquarters and Innovation Center is completed, creating a state-of-the-art, fully connected main campus that includes the Solon Main Plant and the Order Fulfillment Center.
Throughout our history, our core values have defined us, and they are still the driving force behind every decision we make and every action we take.
Customer Focus: Create Value for the Customer to Create Value for Swagelok
Swagelok and authorized sales and service centers work together to help customers achieve their goals—for safety, reliability, efficiency, sustainability, growth, and more. Regularly stocked products are readily available throughout the world, and technical experts are on hand to collaborate on specially designed solutions, on-site evaluations, and training. And we look forward to exploring many more horizons with customers in the future!
Integrity: Choose to Do the Right Thing with Courage and Character
Integrity is at the heart of Swagelok. Our founder Fred Lennon set the standard, and today’s associates continue to be inspired to do the right thing. We understand that each of our decisions impacts more than just our organization. Operating with a holistic, long-term view, Swagelok has the freedom to invest in our business in ways that benefit our customers, our communities, and each other—regardless of the economic climate.
Quality: Provide High Value and High Performance in Our Products, Processes, and Services
Quality is built into our products, every step of the way. Through rigorous raw material requirements and proprietary precision tooling, we ensure and protect the most critical product features. Throughout the organization, our passion for excellence has created a culture of quality that extends to authorized Swagelok sales and service centers. We are proud to provide high-quality products and experiences anywhere in the world.
Continuous Improvement: Systematically and Consistently Do Things Better
Our passion for continuous improvement inspires flexibility. We are always open to new ways of performing more efficiently and developing better solutions for customers. Over the years, even our flagship product—the Swagelok® tube fitting—has benefited from ongoing improvements, including changes to ferrule geometry and metallurgy. As application requirements have changed, we have adjusted our products to meet these demands and we will continue to do so for the next 75 years.
Respect for the Individual: Commit to the Success of Each Associate Through an Environment Where People Are Trusted, Respected, and Treated Fairly
Our founder Fred Lennon created a culture of respect, where associates—never “employees”—feel a sense of connection and pride. Our people-focused culture is evident in our Total Rewards benefits for all associates; open-door policy; no-layoff philosophy; focus on safety; and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to nurturing an environment where all associates feel welcome, supported, and valued. That’s why our associates have tenures of 10, 20, 30, and even 40 years.
Innovation: Challenge Conventional Wisdom to Create New Value for the Customer
Swagelok was first to market with a leak-tight, two-ferrule tube fitting that helped define the fluid system industry. And our unique business model was a game-changer, too; a network of authorized sales and service centers, focused solely on Swagelok’s product line, supports customers with local inventory and expert support. Today, Swagelok holds more than 225 active patents, and as the pace of change continues to accelerate, we are collaborating with customers to bring new products and services to the marketplace.
Newsroom
Find links to Swagelok’s latest press releases, media contacts, corporate fact sheet, success stories, and industry association participation here.
Our Business
Swagelok is on a mission to push the boundaries of what is possible. We’re always looking for a better way to improve our customers’ experiences.
Our Values
Swagelok is a values-based company committed to innovation, customer focus, integrity, respect, continuous improvement, and quality.
Our Leadership
Swagelok’s leadership upholds the core values our founder instilled in the company in 1947.
Global Coverage
Swagelok is available through more than 200 sales and service centers in 70 countries.
Our Founder
Fred A. Lennon founded Swagelok under the mantra, “Make the best product possible to help customers succeed, and keep making it better.”