About Standard-Knapp

The history of Standard-Knapp can be traced back to the founding of the Fred H. Knapp company in New Jersey. There is documented evidence that the first Knapp Gravity Labelers were placed on the market and shown during the 1893 World’s Fair at the National Convention of Canners. A few years later, in 1895, the Knapp Boxer, a hand-operated machine designed to pack cans, was perfected. Apparently, it did its job well. In fact, it did so well that, as late as 1901, the Knapp Boxer was the only machine of its kind in the world.

At some time during the early 1900s, a company known as the National Binding Company (based out of New York City, New York), was manufacturing paper cutting and dispensing machines and compression units for case sealing. In December of 1920, the National Binding Company declared bankruptcy. The following year, the company was purchased by a group of past employees for just $10,000. Later that same year, on November 17, 1921, the former National Binding Company resurfaced under the new name of the Standard Sealing Company, Inc.

While the new Standard Sealing Company was beginning its new business, the Fred H. Knapp Company had expanded its operations to include offices in Chicago, Baltimore, Ridgewood (NJ), and a factory in Westminster, Maryland. At this time, the Fred H. Knapp Company was offering a series of labelers with wood or iron frames designed for such “modern” innovations as hand, steam, or electric motor drives.

In 1926, the Standard Sealing Company took its first step in acquiring larger facilities to meet increased demand by moving to Long Island City, New York. Five years later, Standard Sealing merged with the Fred H. Knapp company, thus changing its name to the now familiar Standard-Knapp.

Increased demand for its products forced Standard-Knapp to expand its existing facilities yet again. In 1940, Standard-Knapp relocated to its present location in Portland, Connecticut.

In 1948, the company became a division of the Hartford Empire Company, now known as the Hartford Division. The Hartford Division is world famous for its design and construction of glass container manufacturing equipment. Three years later, in 1951, the Hartford Empire Company effected a corporate name change to the Emhart Manufacturing Company.

And, finally, on June 30, 1964, the Emhart Manufacturing Company merged with the American Hardware Corporation to form the Emhart Corporation.

In 1979, Standard-Knapp was purchased from Emhart by Anderson Manufacturing Company, Rockford, Illinois. In December of 1984, Standard-Knapp was purchased once more by its employees, becoming an “employee-owned company.”

Finally, in July 2019, Standard-Knapp was acquired by Germany-based EoL Packaging Experts (EoL), creating a globally active industry leader for end-of-line packaging machines and systems.

The following machinery represents a partial listing of Standard-Knapp technical innovations spanning more than a century:

STANDARD-KNAPP, INC.
63 Pickering Street, Portland, CT 06480 U.S.A.
Telephone: (860) 342-1100

From Hartford or Bradley International Airport, take I-91 South

• Take I-91 South to Exit 22S (this is a left-hand exit) onto Route 9 South toward Middletown.
• Take Route 9 South to Exit 16 (Route 17) toward Portland; this will take you across the bridge.
• Take the first right immediately after crossing the bridge.
• After 200 feet, turn left onto Pickering Street.
• At the end of Pickering Street (about 1/3 mile) you will be facing Standard-Knapp.
• Park on your left.

From New York City, take I-95 to New Haven, then…

From New Haven, take I-91 North

• Take I-91 North to Exit 22 onto Route 9 South toward Middletown.
• Take Route 9 South to Exit 16 (Route 17) toward Portland; this will take you across the bridge.
• Take the first right immediately after crossing the bridge.
• After 200 feet, turn left onto Pickering Street.
• At the end of Pickering Street (about 1/3 mile) you will be facing Standard-Knapp.
• Park on your left.

From Danbury, take I-84 East

• Take I-84 East to Exit 27 onto I-691 East.
• Take I-691 East to Exit 11 onto I-91 North.
• Take I-91 North to Exit 22 onto Rte. 9 South toward Middletown.
• Take Route 9 South to Exit 16 (Route 17) toward Portland; this will take you across the bridge.
• Take the first right immediately after crossing the bridge.
• After 200 feet, turn left onto Pickering Street.
• At the end of Pickering Street (about 1/3 mile) you will be facing Standard-Knapp.
• Park on your left.

Standard-Knapp is a world-class manufacturer and marketer of packaging machinery for the food, beverage, household goods, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, oil and personal care industries.

The primary strategic objective of Standard-Knapp is to provide customers with products and services that surpass the competition and exceed customer expectations. Standard-Knapp is committed to achieving this objective through an aggressive Research and Development program, a company commitment to quality and an all-encompassing Customer Service program.

The most important aspects of the pursuit of quality at Standard-Knapp are:

A recognition that machine reliability – the machine performs as expected, the first day and all day every day thereafter – is the most important component of quality to our customers.

Recognition that the other important components of quality to our customers are:

• After-sales support (correct and prompt spare parts, competent service, and accurate spare parts and operations manuals),
• Fit and finish of machines and parts,
• Prompt and courteous communications, and
• On-time delivery.

Continuous quality improvement will be pursued through a company wide program called Quality First, which is made up of a matrix of quality improvement teams and includes the development and use of a formal, documented quality system.