Neapco Celebrates 100 Year Anniversary

Neapco celebrated its centennial anniversary on March 19 after first opening in the U.S. in 1921 by recognizing product and service milestones. 

Neapco was originally known as New England Auto Products Corporation (N.E.A.P.Co). The company is connected back to the democratization of the automobile in the U.S. The company has grown to more than 3,200 team members at 11 locations around the world since then.

“As the Neapco team reflects on 100 years of innovation, we celebrate our team members, past and current, that have helped blaze the trails to success. Our team members share our values of Partnership, Passion, Agility, Teamwork, Integrity, and Diversity. It is equally fitting to rollout and celebrate multiple, significant product and service innovations,” said Ken Hopkins, president and CEO of Neapco. 

This year, Neapco launched under the Neapco Performance Series brand the next generation of universal joints. They have expanded product coverage for Jeep applications including JL and JT models. They also unveiled new Neapco Performance Series carbon fiber driveshafts and components that are available with proprietary TrakHook® technology and debuted a one-of-a-kind Mobile Driveshaft Shop where Neapco experts train customers how to build Neapco carbon fiber driveshafts using an all new patent-pending bonding process.

Neapco added a new distribution center location in Greer, SC. to provide increased local distribution which supplies customers with improved inventory turns, lower shipping costs, shorter ship times, and more.

“We are very proud of our heritage – Neapco has been a driving force of innovation throughout the driveline industry, enhancing design and production capabilities, adding new product lines, and expanding into new markets for 10 decades,” said Hopkins. “We are laser-focused on continued growth in the months and years ahead. Our motto: One Team. One Mission. Since 1921, will continue to guide us into the next 100 years.”

Neapco now designs, manufactures and distributes high quality, cost-effective OEM and aftermarket driveline products for the automotive, light truck, heavy truck, off-road, enthusiast, off-highway, agriculture, performance and industrial markets.

“Neapco’s rich history of excellence, diverse product lines, engineering expertise, and integrated manufacturing capabilities define the company’s competitive advantage,” explained Tim Goode, VP of sales and marketing. “While we celebrate our century-long automotive legacy this year, it’s a wonderful time to honor our past successes, celebrate our rapid growth, and highlight what’s new, while continuing our focus on future opportunities.”

Product and service highlights include: 

Next Generation of Universal Joints

The u-joint design has been tested and proven to outperform the leading competitor in ultimate strength, low-cycle fatigue, and high-cycle fatigue, according to the company. The improved attributes of these include an optimized thrust washer design to reduce resistance under load, a needle spacer for better stress distribution, grease that is superior to competitors in high temperature durability and water resistance, an improved “quad-lip” seal that eliminates the need for dust caps, and a trunnion with a larger diameter and smooth transitions for maximum strength and load distribution.

Neapco Jeep Applications Expansion 

Neapco expanded product coverage for Jeep applications to now include JL and JT models. The Jeep JL applications are produced using premium forged steel. The new 1310 series of products allow for higher operational angles and provide increased slip for greater suspension articulation. The new 1350 series of products allows for higher operational angles, provides increased slip for greater suspension articulation, and offers significantly higher torque capacity.

Debuted Carbon Fiber Driveshaft System

Neapco unveiled the industry’s first fully matched aftermarket carbon fiber driveshaft system. The Neapco Performance Series carbon fiber driveshafts and components are available with the company’s proprietary TrakHook technology, which allows for selectable rates of absorption of torque spikes, a common cause of drivetrain damage and ultimately failure. Neapco offers carbon fiber driveshafts with industry-first, builder-selectable compliance rates to fine-tune chassis dynamics for enhanced vehicle performance.

The new system is designed to optimize performance in the street rod, track, diesel, tuner, off-road enthusiast, performance ATV/UTV, and commercial markets by offering an almost infinite range of composite driveshaft variations to be fabricated. 

The company also developed a Mobile Driveshaft Shop where Neapco experts train customers how to build Neapco carbon fiber driveshafts using an all-new patent-pending bonding process.