Straub

What Straub does

Straub is a specialty industrial manufacturer of high-performance pipe couplings, founded in 1988 and headquartered in Wangs, Switzerland, with exclusive U.S. distribution operations via Performance Coupling Co - Westflex Inc Straub USA based in National City, CA. The company's core technology centers on a unique lip seal design with 316 stainless steel construction, producing couplings that seal on rough pipe surfaces without requiring pipe-end preparation, welding, or special tools—only a torque wrench is needed for installation. The product portfolio spans the Grip Coupling (self-anchoring, detachable, reusable), METAL-GRIP Coupling (high pull-out resistance), FLEX series (FLEX 1, 2, 3, 3.5 & 4 for pipes with anchor points), and OPEN-FLEX series (wrap-around design for repairs), available in diameters from 1 inch to 120 inches and compatible with virtually all pipe materials including steel, stainless steel, ductile iron, FRP, PVC, CPVC, C900, concrete, copper, and CuNi.

The company's go-to-market is exclusively direct enterprise field sales through a small specialized U.S. team covering Water/Waste Water, Business Development, and Product Specialist roles. Pricing is quote-based with no public list prices, and customers submit order checklists via email or fax. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales (multi-year contracts) with no subscription or recurring component. The customer base spans shipbuilding, wastewater treatment, general industry, and construction verticals, with the company claiming global reach across all highly industrialized countries backed by ISO 9001 (since 1995) and CE (since 2002) certifications. The company is privately held with no disclosed investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity.

Name

Straub

Legal name

Straub

Website

https://straub-couplings.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Straub is a Swiss-founded manufacturer of high-performance 316 stainless steel pipe couplings, distributed exclusively in the U.S. via National City, CA. Its lip-seal couplings serve shipbuilding, wastewater, construction, and general industrial customers requiring welding-free, multi-material pipe joining.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Pipe Couplings

NAICS

Fabricated Pipe and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing (332996)

SIC

Gaskets, Packg & Sealg Devices & Rubber & Plastics Hose (3050)

akta.pro primary industry

Pipe Fittings, Couplings & Connectors (IMADALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pipe Accessories & Joining Systems (Couplings, Gaskets, Solvent Cement, Fusion Fittings) (IMANADAJ), Seals, Gaskets & Fluid Connectors (O-rings, packings, rotary seals, quick couplers) (IMAHAGAI)

Keywords

• Pipe coupling systems
• Stainless steel fittings
• Industrial pipe joints
• Shipbuilding couplings
• Wastewater pipe connections

Headquarters

HQ city

National City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pipe Coupling Sales: Direct sales of Straub high-performance pipe couplings, including Grip, METAL-GRIP, FLEX, and OPEN-FLEX series. Products are sold as finished goods with various sizes from 1 inch to 120 inches in diameter. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales with no recurring subscription component.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Straub designs, manufactures, and distributes high-performance pipe couplings made of 316 stainless steel with a unique lip seal design. The couplings eliminate the need for pipe-end preparation, welding, or special tools, joining virtually any plain end pipe material in diameters from 1 inch to 120 inches. Products are sold directly to industrial customers in shipbuilding, wastewater treatment, general industry, and construction through the exclusive U.S. distributor in National City, CA, with manufacturing in Switzerland.

Product overview

Straub offers a comprehensive portfolio of high-performance pipe couplings designed as the 21st century solution for joining pipes. The product line includes Grip Coupling (self-anchoring, detachable, reusable), METAL-GRIP Coupling (ultimate pull-out resistance), FLEX series couplings (FLEX 1, 2, 3, and Flex 3.5 & 4 for pipes with anchor points), and OPEN-FLEX series couplings (wrap-around design for easy access and repairs). All couplings feature flexible, lightweight 316SS construction, require no special tools or pipe-end preparation, and handle pipe misalignment, vibration, and axial forces. Available in diameters from 1" to 120", they replace welded, flanged, threaded, or grooved type pipe joints and join virtually any plain end pipe or tube including steel, stainless steel, ductile iron, FRP, PVC, CPVC, C900, concrete pipe, copper, and CuNi piping.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Straub Grip Coupling Self-anchoring coupling that resists axial force, is detachable and reusable, joins plain end pipe and any metal pipe. Replaces welded, flanged, threaded, or grooved joints.
• Straub METAL-GRIP Coupling Self-anchoring, self axial restrained coupling providing ultimate pull-out resistance. Detachable, reusable, joins plain end pipe.
• Straub FLEX 1 Coupling Flexible coupling designed for pipes with anchor points. Detachable, reusable, joins any pipe material.
• Straub OPEN-FLEX 1 Coupling Wrap-around design coupling for easy access, suitable for repairs, available in permanent or temporary configurations.
• Straub FLEX 2 Coupling Flexible coupling for pipes with anchor points. Detachable, reusable, joins any pipe material.
• Straub OPEN-FLEX 2 Coupling Wrap-around design coupling for easy access, suitable for repairs, available in permanent or temporary configurations.
• Straub FLEX 3 Coupling Flexible coupling for pipes with anchor points. Detachable, reusable, joins any pipe material.
• Straub OPEN-FLEX 3 Coupling Wrap-around design coupling for easy access, suitable for repairs, available in permanent or temporary configurations.
• Straub Flex 3.5 & 4 Couplings Flexible couplings for pipes with anchor points, joins any pipe material, in larger size classes (3.5 and 4).
• Straub Specialty Couplings Specialty pipe couplings for specialized applications beyond the standard IPS series.
• Straub Hi-Performance Pipe Couplings (system) High-performance pipe coupling system in 316SS that eliminates pipe-end preparation, comes fully assembled, and installs with only a torque wrench. Available in diameters from 1 inch to 120 inches.

Quantifiable outcome

• 881+ couplings installed on single project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Performance Coupling Co - Westflex Inc Straub USAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPerformance Coupling Co operates as Westflex Inc Straub USA and serves as the exclusive distributor for Straub® Pipe Couplings in the United States. The partnership involves a dedicated sales team including President Elliot LeGros, Division Manager Tom Crail, Business Development Manager Heath Kelsey, Operations Manager Lorena Vasquez, and Product Specialist Arturo Sambrano. The company handles both billing and shipping from their National City, CA location.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Victaulic: Global leader in mechanical pipe-joining systems (grooved and plain-end couplings) serving the same industrial, commercial, and municipal markets as Straub with overlapping coupling technology and direct competition on jobs.
• Viking Johnson: UK-based manufacturer of pipe couplings, flange adaptors, and repair products for water and industrial pipelines, with directly comparable coupling products to Straub FLEX/OPEN-FLEX in the water/wastewater market.
• KRAUSZ Industries: Manufacturer of mechanical pipe couplings and repair clamps for water and wastewater networks, closely overlapping Straub's FLEX and OPEN-FLEX products in municipal pipe joining.
• HYMAX: Producer of wide-range pipe repair couplings and connecting products for water and wastewater utilities, comparable to Straub's tolerance-absorbing coupling designs for transition and repair jobs.
• Romac Industries: Manufacturer of pipe repair couplings, tapping sleeves, and restraint products for water and wastewater utilities, directly overlapping with Straub's municipal coupling use cases.
• Smith-Cooper International: Manufacturer of pipe fittings, couplings, and related products serving industrial, fire-protection, and water infrastructure customers with a comparable coupling product line to Straub.
• Shurjoint (Cisal Engineering): Manufacturer of grooved and plain-end pipe couplings and fittings competing head-to-head with Straub in mechanical pipe joining for HVAC, fire protection, industrial, and marine applications.

Broad incumbents

• Anvil International: Large manufacturer of pipe fittings, couplings, hangers, and valves serving mechanical, industrial, and fire-protection markets with overlapping pipe coupling products to Straub.
• Mueller Industries: Large diversified manufacturer of copper, brass, aluminum, and plastic piping products including fittings and couplings; broader portfolio than Straub but directly competitive on pipe fittings across many of the same end markets.
• Dresser / Weldbend: Established manufacturer of pipe fittings, couplings, and repair products for industrial and oil & gas pipelines; overlaps with Straub on coupling products but with a broader industrial-fitting portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/performance-coupling-straub

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Straub