text: Hapco Inc History
  Hapco, Inc. is an authorized heat tool supplier, service, and repair center. We’re one of few distributors that provides turnkey systems, design, and engineering services to customers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America. We are your preferred generator and heat tools supplier for all your industrial manufacturing and construction needs.
  This company started in 1938 as East Akron Tarp & Awning Co as a tarp supplier. Once we acquired plastic welding products in 1980, we changed our name to the one we all know and love, Hapco Inc. From there, Hapco has been building expertise in heat tools, generators, and high-pressure blowers supply among others.
  Since then, Hapco, Inc. has grown into one of the largest industrial heat tool suppliers in the Americas, with exports worldwide. Hapco Inc supplies industrial heat tools such as heat guns, plastic welding machines, and generators. And we’re still growing and expanding today!
  Making a Name Among the Top Welding & Power Equipment Suppliers
  In 2008, Hapco, Inc. became a master heat tools distributor in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America for a world-famous brand: BAK Thermoplastic Welding Technology AG.
  Hapco Inc. is a full-service Honda Power Equipment dealer and product distributor for both Winco and Gillette portable generators and power equipment.
  Largest BAK Distributor
  In 2011, Hapco Inc. acquired American Plastic Welding Technologies to become the largest BAK distributor in the world bringing access to Herz heaters and Dohle extruders to all of North America.
  1938 — The Founding
  East Akron Tarp & Awning Co. was founded in Akron, Ohio.
  1960 — Name Change
  East Akron Tarp & Awning Co. becomes Tarpco, Inc. in the mid-1960s when the company left behind the awning manufacturing business to concentrate on the tarpaulin market.
  1960s — Growing
  During the next 20 years, Tarpco became one of the largest U.S. tarpaulin manufacturers. It attracted customers from the trucking, trailer, railroad, and custom tarp industries.
  1980 — Manufacturing
  Tarpco designed and manufactured the first Hapco Rotary Hot Air Welder.
  1983 — Name Change
  Tarpco changed its name to Hapco, Inc. once it entered the plastic welding industry, and Tarpco became a subsidiary. Hapco stands for Hot Air Products Company.
  1980s — Rapid Growth
  Hapco experienced rapid growth during the next 20 years while making its name as one of the largest industrial heat tool distributors in North America—with exports worldwide.
  2008 — Distribution
  Hapco became a master distributor for BAK/Dohle Thermoplastic Welding Technology AG in the USA, Canada, Mexico, and South America. We modified our HT flameless welding box to support the next generation of aircraft for the Department of Defense.
  2009 — Honda Dealer
  Honda recognizes Hapco as the first non-showroom power generator dealer in the nation for the role it played in generating power for the construction industry.
  2010 — Oil, Shale, & Gas
  Hapco engaged in the sales and service of plastic welding, extrusion welders, and pipe fusion equipment to the shale, gas, and oil industry.
  2011 — World’s Largest
  Hapco acquired American Plastic Welding Technologies in Hewitt, TX to become the largest BAK EXPANSION & WARRANTY 2013 distributor in the world.
  2013 — Expansion & Warranty
  Hapco expanded further by opening additional warehouses in California and Canada. A new 3-year extended warranty was introduced. This extended warranty was an industry first and an industry exclusive that added two years to the manufacturer’s warranty.
  2014 — Additive MFG.
  Hapco sold the first ExOn 8 to Oakridge National Laboratories which solidified Hapco’s position in additive manufacturing.
  2016 — Premier Service Dealer
  Hapco was named the Honda Premier service dealer as it continued to grow and develop new heating and welding products in new markets throughout the Americas.
  2017 — Women in Roofing
  Hapco was a Founding member in developing the Women in Roofing program. In the same year, Honda awarded Hapco the Silver Environmental Leadership.
  2018 — Ownership Change
  Chuck George became the sole owner of Hapco and its subsidiaries.
  2019 — LarOn H
  During the IRE show in Nashville, Hapco unveiled BAK’s LarOn H as the world’s fastest overlap welder.
  2020 — MicOn E
  Hapco introduced the MicOn E during the IRE show in Dallas as the world’s first stand-up compact semi-automatic welder—which weighed only15 lbs.