About Us > Legacy
Swagelok's Legacy
Our Founding and Our Evolution
Fred A. Lennon founded Swagelok in July of 1947 with a $500 loan from his wife’s uncle. We have continued 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.
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 pipe fittings and needle valves, among others.
1960s
1964
The company outgrows its Cleveland facility and, in 1964, breaks ground for a new home in Solon, a suburb of Cleveland.
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 begin to be distributed in parts of Asia.
1975
Viking I lands on Mars and collects soil samples using Swagelok fittings.
1980s
1980s
Distribution of Swagelok products further expand in Europe and Asia, and reach Africa.
1990s
1997
After years of growing through the development of advanced products, Swagelok focuses its identity on a single logo and brand name.
1990s
Swagelok products continue to reach more customers worldwide, expanding across the Asia-Pacific region, South America, and the Middle East.
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
2007
For the first time recorded, a vehicle 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.
2010s
2010
Swagelok introduces field engineers to bring the company's expertise and solutions directly to customers. Today, a team of more than 200 engineers help customers around the world.
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.