Our History
That mindset shaped a defining reinvention in 1945, when Southco was launched to serve emerging industrial needs and create new opportunities for returning veterans. It guided decades of global growth and ultimately led to the formation of TouchPoint, Inc. in 2012—designed to support exceptional companies with stability, shared capabilities, and a long-term view.
Today, TouchPoint brings together a family of businesses across Access Hardware, Medical Technology, and Intelligent Operations. Each company retains its identity and leadership, strengthened by collective learning and purpose-built support. Across generations, TouchPoint continues to prove that reinvention works best when it is grounded in stability—and centered on people.
Key Milestones in TouchPoint’s 126-Year Journey
1899 5th-generation: South Chester Tube Company founded in Pennsylvania to support the region’s emerging oil industry—laying the foundation for a people-first, long-term enterprise.
1900–1945: The company weathers economic cycles, world wars, and shifting markets—adapting its products while maintaining a deep commitment to craftsmanship, employees, and customers.
1945: Southco is launched, marking a purposeful reinvention from pipe manufacturing to engineered access hardware—creating new opportunities for returning veterans and positioning the business for long term growth.
1950s–1990s : Southco expands nationally and globally, becoming a market leader in highly engineered fastening and access solutions across transportation, electronics, and industrial markets.
1977: An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is established, reinforcing TouchPoint’s belief that long term success is built by investing in people and shared ownership.
2012: TouchPoint, Inc. is formed, extending Southco’s legacy into a diversified enterprise—designed to steward founder led companies and unlock collective strength across platforms.
2012–2025: TouchPoint expands into Medical Technology and Intelligent Operations, acquiring purpose-built companies that serve essential industries while preserving their cultures and leadership.
Today: TouchPoint is a long-term, privately held enterprise, comprising multiple companies across three platforms, with thousands of associates serving customers in more than 100 countries.