If you buy flanges for projects in Saudi Arabia, you have seen the name KOFCO on quotations, BOQs, and approved material lists. KOFCO — Korea Flange Co., Ltd., the Korean forging house established in 1974 — is one of the flange brands most commonly stocked and specified across the Gulf’s MEP and industrial markets.
This guide explains the KOFCO flange range stocked by Ajal Arabia, the ASME classes and materials that matter for your specification, where KOFCO flanges are used, and why specifiers keep choosing them — with practical buying guidance for projects in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and across the Kingdom.
Who Is KOFCO?
KOFCO (Korea Flange Co., Ltd.) is a Korean manufacturer specializing in forged steel flanges, established in 1974. Its production is built around forging and precision machining — the two processes that determine whether a flange meets its dimensional standard and seals reliably in service.
For buyers in Saudi Arabia, the practical significance is simple: KOFCO is a recognized, single-source flange brand covering the full ASME B16.5 range, stocked in-Kingdom by suppliers like Ajal Arabia. When a consultant’s specification names a flange brand or your BOQ lists one, KOFCO is very often the name on it.
The KOFCO Flange Range We Stock
Ajal Arabia stocks KOFCO flanges in the four types that cover the great majority of MEP and industrial bolting work:
Slip-On Flanges
The workhorse of building services. Slip-on flanges slide over the pipe and are fillet-welded front and back — economical, easy to align, and fast to install. They are the standard choice for low-to-medium pressure utility, HVAC, chilled water, and water systems. If your project is mostly Class 150 service, slip-on flanges will dominate your flange schedule.
Weld-Neck Flanges
The engineered choice for demanding service. The tapered hub is butt-welded to the pipe, distributing stress away from the joint — which is why weld-neck flanges are specified for high pressure, high temperature, and cyclic services. For anything above Class 300, or in critical process lines, default to weld neck.
Blind Flanges
Used to close line ends, vessel nozzles, and test points. Every hydrotest arrangement, every future tie-in point, and every pump suction blanking needs blind flanges — they are small line items that hold up commissioning when they are missing.
Threaded Flanges
For low-pressure utility service where welding is impractical or prohibited — no welding, no hot work permit. Common in instrument connections, small-bore utility lines, and retrofit work in operating plants.
ASME B16.5 Classes & Materials
KOFCO flanges stocked by Ajal Arabia are manufactured to ASME B16.5, the inch-series flange standard covering sizes 1/2″ to 24″. Within that standard, two selections define every order:
Pressure class. Classes run 150, 300, 600, 900, 1500, and 2500. Class 150 and 300 cover most MEP building services — HVAC, plumbing, chilled water, low-pressure fire protection. Class 600 and above belong to high-pressure steam and oil & gas process service. Remember that a class is a designation, not a direct pressure rating: always check the pressure–temperature tables for your material group and design temperature.
Material. The stocked range covers:
- ASTM A105 — carbon steel forgings, the default for general MEP and process service
- ASTM A350 LF2 — low-temperature carbon steel for chilled and sub-ambient services
- ASTM A182 F304 / F316 — stainless steel forgings for corrosive and hygienic services
Facings are part of the designation: raised face (RF) as the standard for Class 150/300 steel flanges, flat face (FF) for cast-iron and low-pressure service, and ring-type joint (RTJ) for Class 600 and above.
Flange Type vs. Service: Quick Reference
| Flange type | Best for | Typical class range |
|---|---|---|
| Slip-on | HVAC, chilled water, plumbing, water utilities | Class 150–300 |
| Weld neck | High pressure/temperature, process, steam | Class 150–2500 |
| Blind | Line ends, test points, future tie-ins | Class 150–2500 |
| Threaded | Small-bore utilities, no-weld zones, instruments | Class 150–300 |
Where KOFCO Flanges Are Used
- Oil, gas, and petrochemical plants — process piping tie-ins, especially in Jubail and Yanbu industrial cities
- Fire fighting systems — pump rooms, headers, and riser joints matched to listed piping
- HVAC and district cooling — chilled water plant rooms and equipment connections across Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam towers
- Water transmission and pumping stations — municipal and irrigation infrastructure
- High-pressure steam — Class 600+ weld-neck flanges with RTJ facings
Why Specifiers Choose KOFCO
- Full range, one brand. Slip-on through weld neck, Class 150 through 2500, carbon through stainless — a single brand across the whole flange schedule simplifies procurement and submittals.
- Forged construction. Forging gives a dense, uniform grain structure — the reason forged flanges are the default for pressure service over cast alternatives.
- Dimensional consistency to ASME B16.5. Interchangeability is the point of the standard: a B16.5 flange from a recognized maker mates with any other B16.5 flange. Buying a named brand with documented QC protects that interchangeability.
- Documentation. Mill test certificates to EN 10204 3.1, traceable by heat number, are available with supply — exactly what consultants and QA/QC teams require for Saudi project submittals.
- In-Kingdom availability. Stocked by Ajal Arabia in Riyadh with delivery across the Kingdom — no mill lead times for standard sizes and classes.
Specifier’s Checklist for KOFCO Flanges
- State the full designation — e.g., “KOFCO weld neck, ASME B16.5, Class 150, RF, ASTM A105.” Six data points: type, standard, class, facing, material, size.
- Match class to service — check pressure–temperature tables; never assume the class number alone.
- Match the facing — RF as default; FF for cast iron; RTJ for Class 600+.
- Pair the gasket — spiral-wound for RF, ring joint for RTJ, full-face fiber/PTFE for FF, per ASME B16.20.
- Confirm bore/schedule — the flange bore must match the pipe wall (especially for weld neck).
- Ask for MTCs up front — EN 10204 3.1 certificates with heat-number traceability, before delivery — not after.
Frequently Asked Questions
What standards do KOFCO flanges meet?
KOFCO flanges stocked by Ajal Arabia are manufactured to ASME B16.5, covering 1/2″ to 24″ in Classes 150 through 2500. Materials include ASTM A105 carbon steel, ASTM A350 LF2 low-temperature steel, and ASTM A182 F304/F316 stainless steel. Always confirm the exact standard, class, and material on your purchase order.
Do KOFCO flanges come with mill test certificates?
Yes. Mill test certificates to EN 10204 3.1 are available with supply, traceable by heat number — the documentation consultants and QA/QC teams require for material submittals on Saudi projects. Request them with your order so they arrive with the material.
Should I use slip-on or weld-neck flanges?
Use slip-on flanges for low-to-medium pressure utility, HVAC, and water systems — they are economical and easy to align. Use weld-neck flanges for high pressure, high temperature, and cyclic services, where the tapered hub distributes stress into the pipe. For anything above Class 300 or in critical service, default to weld neck.
Why buy a brand-name flange instead of unbranded?
A recognized brand like KOFCO gives you three things an unbranded flange often cannot: consistent dimensional compliance with ASME B16.5, reliable mill certification and heat traceability, and a name consultants recognize at submittal. On pressure-containing components, that traceability is worth more than a small unit-price saving.
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Request a Quote
Need KOFCO flanges for a project in Saudi Arabia? Ajal Arabia stocks the KOFCO range — slip-on, weld-neck, blind, and threaded flanges in carbon, low-temperature, and stainless steel, Classes 150 to 2500 — with mill test certificates for your submittals. Call us at +966 555 993140 or send your flange schedule for a prompt quotation with delivery across the Kingdom.