History

Tradition &
Progress

Tradition and progress are not opposites for us, but rather the path to success we have been following for over 100 years. In 1914, the foundation stone for what would later become KACO was laid with the founding of what was then the factory for engine gaskets – the first specialised factory of its kind in Germany. Important technological milestones in the history of modern sealing systems are testimony to a consistent, customer-oriented approach to innovation.

Today, we are one of the world’s leading developers and manufacturers of high-precision, application-oriented sealing solutions for the automotive industry with a global reach. KACO employs more than 2,000 people in six plants in Germany, Austria, Hungary, China and the USA and supplies its products all over the world.

1914

Foundation of Kupfer-Asbest-Co. by Gustav Bach, Albert Hirth and Gustav Klein. Industrial production of cylinder-head, flange and ring gaskets.

1926

Start of production of electrotechnical automotive accessories.

1932

Publication of the KACO logo. Registration: 23.09.1932.

1941

Inclusion of axial-action water pump seals in the development and manufacturing programme. Start of rubber processing.

1944

On 4 December, an air raid destroyed almost all the factory facilities.

1948

Resumption of seal production and expansion of chopper and inverter manufacture

1958

The company is the largest manufacturer of car radio choppers in Europe.

1963

Introduction of a new logo. Registration: 15.11.1963.

1964

The production programme is reorganised. The production of flat gaskets is discontinued. The focus is placed on the development, production and sale of sealing rings for rotating shafts, water pump seals, rolling bearing seals and pneumatic seals.

1966

Completion of the new administration building in Heilbronn.

1970

Division of the company into two GmbH + Co.KG’s: Kupfer-Asbest-Co. Gustav Bach and the company Bach & Co (KACO Elektrowerk).

1976

Establishment of the production facilities in Kirchardt and Lauffen

1978

Renaming of the company Kupfer-Asbest-Co. Gustav Bach to KACO GmbH + Co. Heilbronn (sealing works)

1983

KACO Dichtungstechnik Ges.m.b.H. is founded with headquarters in St. Michael (Austria).

1991

Inauguration of the branch plant in Talheim. The Lauffen site is abandoned.

1993

Takeover of the sealing plants by the Brazilian Sabó Group. Continued operation under the name KACO Dichtungswerke GmbH + Co KG.

1996

Foundation of KACO Hungary Kft. with headquarters in Enese (Hungary).

2008

Commissioning of the fourth construction stage of the plant in St. Michael (Austria). Start of mass production of a new product group: shift pistons for double clutches and automatic transmissions. Foundation of the first Chinese location in Wuxi.

2014

KACO gets a new majority owner with the Zhong Ding Group. The company celebrates its 100th anniversary. Integration of KACO USA / Lincolnton NC into the KACO Group. The plant in Anhui expands the KACO Group’s network of plants as the second production site in China.

2017

Start of series production of the new product group “ELA” shaft earthing rings for electric drives.

2018

The plant in St. Michael (Austria) celebrates its 35th anniversary at the same time as the commissioning of the 5th construction stage. Consolidation of the German plants at the Kirchardt site. Kirchardt becomes the new location of the company headquarters. Kaco Wuxi celebrates its 10th anniversary and the opening of the newly built site.

2019

ZhongDing Europe becomes sole shareholder of KACO GmbH & Co. KG.

2021

15th anniversary of the KACO USA – Lincolnton North America site.
KACO USA – Lincolnton is now part of Zhongding North America

2023

40th anniversary of the location in St Michael.

2023

Start of series production of the new „pressure equalization elements“ product group for battery packs

Tradition & Progress

KACO Worldwide.

Tradition &
Progress