Fernco, Inc

Fernco, has become synonymous with not only flexible couplings, but also an ever-expanding array of innovative commercial and consumer plumbing products. In the early 1950’s William Zopfi started his plumbing business focusing was connecting new homes and businesses to the city sewer lines. After much experimentation, he created a tar donut that provided a leak-proof seal. In 1964 Fernco Joint Sealer Company officially took off when he received a patent and a trademark for his ‘Donut’. In order for Zopfi’s business to expand he needed to form a team of professionals and hired the visionary Darrel Cooper. Behind Cooper’s marketing knowledge was a philosophy of working closely with wholesale distributors to provide products in a timely manner. In 1973 the city of Dallas Texas requested a bid for the first Fernco Coupling to fit a pipe without a bell housing. Cooper saw this product as the opportunity for growth on a broad scale and established couplings in the market. As more manufacturing and office space was required, the company moved its current headquarters to Davison, Michigan. In 1978, Cooper was named President of the company and in 1979 he purchased Fernco Joint Sealer Company forming a new company called Fernco, Inc. The company recognized the need to deliver products to the unexplored Retail Market. In 1984, the PlumbQwik line was introduced exclusively for the retail market segment, which resulted in rapid market share growth. Fernco expanded into Europe as Fernco International, Ltd. was established in Stockport, England in 1993 to manufacture and distribute Fernco and PVC based products. In the following decades, Fernco continued to see worldwide growth throughout North America, Europe, Australia, South America and Central America. Unlimited opportunities abound for Fernco as it continues to be a family affair with the next generation of Cooper’s leading the way.