Wichita Clutch

What Wichita Clutch does

Wichita Clutch is a multinational designer, manufacturer, and marketer of heavy-duty mechanical power transmission products, primarily industrial clutches, brakes, fluid couplings, and limit switches. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Wichita Falls, Texas, the company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Regal Rexnord (NYSE: RRX), formed through the 2020 merger of Regal and Rexnord, which also absorbed the 1930-founded Industrial Clutch Corporation (Waukesha, Wisconsin) and the United Kingdom operations established in 1961 as a joint venture. The product portfolio spans eight categories — air brakes, air clutches, drum brakes, fluid couplings, hydraulic clutches and brakes, water-cooled clutches and brakes, limit switches, and disc brake systems (Twiflex brand) — differentiated by proprietary technologies including the patented Flex Disc design, oil shear technology (developed 1980), patented planetary gear limit switches, and patented rotary seals and plate separation systems.

The company serves industrial OEMs and end-users across oil & gas (drawworks, top drives, winches), marine (propulsion, deck machinery), mining & aggregate (mills, crushers, conveyors), metal processing (tension control for slitters, coilers, pickling lines), power generation and renewable energy (wind turbines, tidal systems), and adjacent verticals including forestry, agriculture, construction, and aerospace. Products are engineered for safety-critical applications with regulatory certifications including ATEX Zone 1 and various ship classification society approvals.

Wichita Clutch generates revenue through direct sales and an extensive global distributor network covering North America (USA and Canada), Japan, Southeast Asia, and all other international markets through affiliates and the Bedford UK team. Pricing is custom and quote-based, reflecting application-specific configurations, volumes, and multi-year OEM contracts. The company does not publicly disclose revenue as a subsidiary brand of Regal Rexnord. Distribution is complemented by engineering and field service support, participation in industry trade shows (OTC, WorkBoat, SME), and digital marketing through LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and an email newsletter.

Name

Wichita Clutch

Legal name

Wichita Clutch

Website

https://wichitaclutch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Wichita Clutch designs and manufactures heavy-duty industrial clutches, brakes, fluid couplings, and limit switches for OEMs and end-users in oil & gas, marine, mining, metal processing, and power generation markets worldwide, operating as a subsidiary of Regal Rexnord.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Clutches and Brakes

NAICS

Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Brakes, Clutches & Couplings (Electromagnetic Brakes, Torque Limiters) (IMAGACAK)

Keywords

• Heavy-duty industrial clutches
• Industrial power transmission
• Mechanical brake systems
• Air-cooled clutch brakes
• Hydraulic clutch couplings

Headquarters

HQ city

Wichita Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industrial Clutch and Brake Products: Wichita Clutch generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of heavy-duty clutches and brakes. Products include air brakes, air clutches, drum brakes, fluid couplings, hydraulic clutches and brakes, water-cooled clutches and brakes, limit switches, and disc brake systems. The company sells directly and through distributor networks to OEMs and end-users in industrial markets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wichita Clutch designs, manufactures, and sells heavy-duty industrial clutches and brakes used as power transmission components in industrial process equipment. Its portfolio spans air-actuated clutches and brakes, hydraulic oil-immersed clutch-brakes, water-cooled clutches and brakes, drum brakes, fluid couplings, limit switches, and industrial disc brake calipers (Twiflex), supported by application engineering and a global distributor network. These products are sold to OEMs, machine re-builders, and end-users across oil & gas, marine, mining, metal processing, power generation, and other heavy industrial markets.

Product overview

Wichita Clutch is a manufacturer of heavy-duty industrial clutches and brakes, offering a comprehensive portfolio of power transmission components. The product lineup includes eight main product categories: Air Brakes (AirMaKKs SSB, CCB Combination, Low Inertia, Mistral II, Model LKB, LKT, Modevo, Motor Brakes, RB Tension Brake), Air Clutches (Air PTO, GMC Grinding Mill, Low Inertia, LI High Torque, Mechanical PTO, Model LK, LKM, Standard Vent), Drum Brakes (SAB Brake with Stromag electrohydraulic thruster), Fluid Couplings (Mesur-Fil), Hydraulic Clutches/Brakes (Model CBA, CBH, HBA/HBS, HC), Water Cooled Products (AquaMakks, Kopper Kool, wcbAM), Limit Switches (Series 51 by Stromag), and Disc Brake Systems (Twiflex including Direct Acting and Spring Applied calipers in multiple series). These products serve demanding industrial applications including mining, steel, marine, material handling, oil & gas, power generation, and renewable energy sectors worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AirMaKKs SSB Brakes Air-cooled, spring-set air release high torque brake for low speed braking, parking and E-stop functions; uses pin-style modular design with torque plates instead of water jackets; available in 19, 25, 36 and 48 inch sizes with optional marine-grade corrosion-resistant coatings for offshore use.
• CCB Combination Clutch Brake Air-applied clutch combined with spring-applied/air-release brake in a single unit for start/stop cyclic applications; single airtube actuates both the single-plate clutch and brake; designed for dry running only.
• Low Inertia Clutch (LIB) Air-applied clutch with full-circle friction discs for high cyclic and general stopping/holding duties; low inertia design reduces deceleration times and heat generation; available in 1, 2, 3 or 4 plate configurations.
• Low Inertia Spring Set Brake (LI/SSB) Spring-applied/air-release brake with full-circle friction discs for fail-to-safe operation; available in 1, 2, 3 or 4 plate designs with three spring ratings to match torque, heat, response, and space requirements.
• Mistral II Tension Brake Pneumatic tension brake designed for paper and corrugation industry applications; delivers precise, consistent tension control via modular actuation and selectable friction coefficient, with integral cooling fan and visual wear indicators.
• Model LKB Brakes Spring-set, air- or hydraulic-released brake available with a wide range of torque capacities and release pressures; maximizes ventilation for dissipating large thermal loads; dry-disc type application.
• Model LKT Clutch Brakes Low-driven-inertia air-set clutch or brake with doughnut-type cylinder allowing through-shaft mounting; extremely quick response with minimal air consumption; ideal for frequent cycling and long-life applications.
• Modevo Modular Tension Brake Modular tension brake for light to medium tensioning applications; disc engineered for good heat dissipation at low and high speeds; three actuator sizes with standard or low-coefficient friction pads.
• Motor Brakes Spring-set motor brakes available in C-face mounting to electric motor or foot-mounting next to the motor; feature thicker friction disc, induction-hardened teeth, and a fast-acting spring-set actuator.
• Motor RB Tension Brake Economical modular brake for reel stands as an alternative to electric brakes; unique modular design supports single or double disc units within the same mounting bolt circle.
• Air Power Take Offs (PTO) Air-actuated power take-offs powered by a heavy-duty Standard Vent clutch with large friction areas for high-energy starts; enables remote or automatic control with bearing-supported shaft that eliminates sideload on the crankshaft.
• GMC Grinding Mill Clutch Air-clutch designed specifically for quick, smooth starts with limited current surge on heavy-duty grinding mills; adaptable to remote control and requires no adjustment or lubrication.
• Low Inertia High Torque Clutch (LI/HT) Air clutch for high cyclic clutching duties where space or weight are at a premium; end-shaft mounting onto a bearing-supported flywheel with high torque-to-size ratio, low rotating inertia, and extremely fast response.
• Mechanical Power Take Offs Mechanical power take-offs powered by an Eaton Solo 2-plate clutch with built-in damping springs; adjustment-free feature automatically adjusts the clutch; available in inline and side-load bearing carriers.
• Model LK Clutches Low-driven-inertia air-set clutch for end-of-shaft mounting; dry-disc type application with high cycle frequency and the highest torque capacity per envelope size in its class; air connection via patented rotary seal and integrated quick release valve; available in 1, 2, 3 or 4 plate designs.
• Model LKM Clutches Marine clutch built for rugged use, long life, and excellent heat dissipation; dry-disc application with pneumatic actuation and a unique patented positive plate separation system; torque capacities from 95,000 to 4 million pound-inches.
• Standard Vent Clutch Large friction area air clutch for high-energy, smooth, controlled start-up; marine classification society approved; available in 1, 2, 3 or 4 disc designs; unaffected by centrifugal force with a quick-change ring design option.
• SAB Drum Brake Spring-applied drum brake with Stromag electrohydraulic thruster; precision-tuned safety functions protected against adverse environmental effects, automatic wear compensation, and AISE N.11-63.120 compliance.
• Mesur-Fil Fluid Couplings Soft-start and overload-protection fluid couplings with no mechanical contact between internal parts for minimal maintenance; reduce current draw on the electric motor by 33% during start-up; available in sizes 7.0, 9.4 and 12.4 for 1/2 HP to 50 HP motors.
• Model CBA Clutch Brakes Oil-immersed combination clutch and brake with self-contained cooling oil pumping system; quill-mounted for end-of-shaft or through-shaft designs; clutch torque from 30,000 to 2,500,000 pound-inches.
• Model CBH Clutch Brakes Oil-immersed clutch and brake unit with spring-set brake and hydraulically actuated clutch for end-of-shaft mounting; designed for extremely high cycle rates exceeding 300 cpm, ideal for turret punch press conversions.
• Model HBA & HBS Brakes Oil-immersed brakes for drive-train shaft extension with forced-oil cooling; HBA is the standard version and HBS is the spring-set version; brake torque capacities from 45,000 to 1,035,000 pound-inches.
• Model HC Clutch Oil-immersed clutch for end-shaft or through-shaft mounting with a compact size ideal for gear housing incorporation; used in multiple-speed transmissions; torque capacities from 55,000 to 1,275,000 pound-inches.
• AquaMakks Water Cooled Clutch Brake Water-cooled clutches and brakes for heavy-duty tensioning applications; pneumatically or hydraulically controlled with alternating friction discs and water jackets plus copper wear plates; available in 19", 25", and 36" diameters with torque up to 1,596,000 in.lbs.
• Kopper Kool Spring Set Brake or Clutch Water-cooled brake for high-energy continuous-slipping applications; spring-applied/air-released passive brake with optional dual-acting configuration that combines active air control with passive spring holding.
• wcbAM Water Cooled Brakes Water-cooled brakes for heavy-duty industrial applications requiring high thermal capacity and precise torque control.
• Series 51 Geared Cam Limit Switch Universal mechanical switchgear that maps a wide range of shaft rotations to angular displacements; features patented planetary gears, patented block adjustments for precise cam setting, 1-8 contacts, and 4.1 to 16,000 usable revolutions.
• Twiflex Industrial Disc Brake Systems The largest range of industrial disc brake calipers in the world from Twiflex Limited, including spring-applied and direct-acting calipers; spring-applied units are retracted pneumatically, hydraulically, or electrically and are used where heavy-duty stopping or holding is required.
• 118VM Topdrive Plate Brake Hydraulic-pressure-applied, single-plate brake for drilling rig topdrive applications; provides high-energy dynamic emergency stopping and static holding; ATEX Zone 1 certified for hazardous-area drilling operations; generates 12.0 kNm (8850 lb.ft.) of dynamic torque at 140 bar operating pressure.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fluid couplings reduce electric motor current draw by 33% during start-up
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered historical.

• Don Harman / Harman Co.historicalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017Wichita Clutch celebrated 60-year partnership with Don Harman in 2017. Harman Co. continues as a distributor handling Texas orders.
• United Flexible Metallic TubehistoricalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1961Wichita UK was started in 1961 as a joint venture between Wichita USA and United Flexible Metallic Tube. This partnership established the Bedford, England facility for manufacturing Wichita air operated friction clutches and brakes.
• Wilson ManufacturinghistoricalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWichita Clutch was originally founded in 1949 to be the sole supplier of clutches to Wilson Manufacturing for their line of drilling and service rigs. This was the beginning of Wichita's efforts to sell clutches and brakes to OEM's, machine re-builders and end-users.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Eaton: Eaton's Airflex division is the most direct global competitor to Wichita Clutch, manufacturing pneumatic and hydraulic industrial clutches, brakes and calipers for heavy-duty applications including mining, marine, oil & gas and metals. Their product lines (Airflex CB, Airflex WP, Airflex venting) map closely to Wichita's Air Clutch and AquaMaKKs platforms.
• Ortlinghaus: German manufacturer of industrial clutches, brakes and power transmission components serving machine tool, presses, marine and heavy industry. Directly comparable product set (pneumatic clutches, spring-applied brakes, hydraulic brake systems) and similar OEM customer profile to Wichita.
• Pintsch Bubenzer: Industrial disc, drum and caliper brake specialist serving cranes, mining, ports, marine and offshore. Now part of Knorr-Bremse, Pintsch Bubenzer overlaps directly with Wichita's Twiflex disc brake caliper portfolio and industrial drum brake systems.
• Hind Hydraulik (Hindon): Hind Hydraulik manufactures heavy-duty industrial hydraulic clutches, brakes and power transmission products with applications in mining, oil & gas, steel, and marine. Comparable engineering specifications and customer base to Wichita's Model HC, CBA and CBH hydraulic lines.
• Carlisle Industrial Brake & Friction: North American manufacturer of industrial brake systems, friction products and power transmission components for heavy industry, material handling and military applications. Direct competitor in industrial disc brakes and brake friction components.
• WPT Power Corporation: US-based manufacturer of industrial clutches, brakes, gear couplings and power transmission equipment serving oil & gas, marine, mining and metal processing. Product portfolio (air clutches, hydraulic brakes, gear couplings) closely matches Wichita's core offerings.
• Coremo: Italian manufacturer of industrial pneumatic caliper brakes and hydraulic thruster brakes for cranes, mining, marine and wind energy. Overlaps with Wichita's Twiflex disc brake calipers and electrohydraulic drum brake (SAB) product lines.
• KEB Automation: German-based manufacturer of industrial brakes, clutches, gear units and automation drives. KEB's spring-applied brake and electromagnetic clutch/brake portfolio competes with Wichita's spring-set brakes and pneumatic clutches in elevator, material handling and machine tool markets.
• Poclain Hydraulics: French specialist in hydraulic motors, pumps and integrated powertrain systems with industrial clutch and brake offerings for heavy mobile, mining and agricultural applications. Overlaps with Wichita's hydraulic clutch-brake (CBA, CBH) and Air PTO/Mechanical PTO product lines.
• Bauer Getriebe: German manufacturer of specialty industrial gearboxes, brakes and drive systems for cranes, winches, marine and offshore applications. Comparable high-torque product portfolio aimed at the same heavy-duty industrial customer set Wichita serves with Model LK/LKM and AquaMaKKs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkfqZHN1Amu1AxB7eOnzYlw
• Facebookfacebook.com/119685541412261
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wichita-clutch

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wichita Clutch