What ACS Industries does

ACS Industries, Inc. is a privately held, fourth-generation family-owned precision manufacturer and the world's largest vertically integrated wire mesh producer, founded in 1939 as American Copper Sponge in Rhode Island and renamed in 1960. Operating from Lincoln, RI with 1,001–5,000 employees and more than 1,000,000 square feet of manufacturing across the USA, Mexico, China, Romania, and India, ACS controls production end-to-end from raw wire rod (drawn down to 0.043mm) through wire drawing, knitting, weaving, expanding, perforating, stamping, sintering, brazing, and diffusion bonding to finished engineered components.

The company operates three business divisions. ACS Automotive supplies pyrotechnic airbag inflator filters (made with patented Variable Expanded Metal technology), exhaust after-treatment components, seat belt anchors, NVH solutions, and EV safety products (thermal runaway collars, pyrotechnic battery disconnect switch filters) to global automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. ACS Green Energy produces PEM and alkaline electrolyzer components (using proprietary MicroExpan porous transport layer technology), fuel cell components, and energy storage solutions, backed by US Department of Energy funding. ACS Insulation provides removable and reusable knitted wire mesh industrial insulation systems with associated hardware for high-temperature industrial applications.

ACS generates revenue primarily through custom-manufactured hardware sales priced via quotes based on specifications, materials, and volumes, with raw material surcharge mechanisms tied to metal exchange averages. The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales to OEMs and Tier 1s, with engineering involvement early in the design cycle and sales offices across the USA, Germany, and the UK. The business holds ISO 9001, IATF 16949, TISAX ML3, and CTPAT certifications, and expanding technology patents granted across 11 countries.

Name

ACS Industries

Legal name

ACS Industries, Inc.

Website

https://acsindustries.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

ACS Industries is a fourth-generation, family-owned US manufacturer and the world's largest vertically integrated wire mesh producer, supplying automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, green hydrogen producers, and industrial customers with engineered mesh components from six global plants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Metal Mesh Components: ACS manufactures custom engineered metal mesh components (knitted, woven, expanded, perforated) for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. The company controls production from raw wire rod through finished product, offering components that fit seamlessly into customer manufacturing operations. Revenue is generated through direct sales of manufactured components to automotive, green energy, and industrial customers.
2. Automotive Safety Components: Manufacturing of pyrotechnic airbag inflator filters, seat belt anchors, and occupant safety systems for automotive OEMs. These are safety-critical components requiring high precision and quality standards.
3. Green Energy Components: Production of components for hydrogen electrolyzers and fuel cells, including PEM and alkaline electrolyzer components, fuel cell components, and energy storage solutions.
4. Industrial Insulation Solutions: Removable and reusable industrial insulation products including knitted wire mesh, anchors, hog rings, tie wire, and accessories for high-temperature industrial applications.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ACS Industries is a vertically integrated wire mesh manufacturer that controls production from raw wire rod through finished engineered components, producing knitted, woven, expanded, and perforated metal mesh products. The company manufactures safety-critical automotive components (pyrotechnic airbag inflator filters, exhaust after-treatment parts, NVH solutions), green hydrogen components (PEM and alkaline electrolyzer parts, fuel cell components), and removable/reusable industrial insulation solutions for OEM and Tier 1 customers globally.

Product overview

ACS Industries is a vertically integrated wire mesh manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of metal mesh and industrial component products across three main divisions: Green Energy (hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer components), Automotive Components (exhaust after-treatment, occupant safety systems, NVH), and Industrial Insulation Solutions (removable and reusable insulation hardware). The company operates manufacturing capabilities including expanded metal (VEM technology), woven wire mesh, knitted wire mesh, perforated metal, roll forming, industrial stamping, heat treating (sintering, brazing, annealing, diffusion bonding), wire drawing, wire mesh automation, and prototype-to-mass production scale-up. The product portfolio includes specialized sub-products for insulation systems such as anchors, hog rings, D-rings, tie wire, draw cord, and high-temperature sewing thread. ACS serves automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and industrial customers across aerospace, energy, oil and gas, chemical processing, and general manufacturing sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ACS Green Energy: Division focused on hydrogen fuel cell components, electrolyzers, and green energy storage solutions.
• ACS Automotive
• ACS Insulation

Products and services

• PEM Electrolyzer Components Components for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers, including porous transport layers utilizing MicroExpan metal expanding technology for optimal hydrogen production performance.
• Alkaline Electrolyzer Components Components for alkaline electrolyzers, including crimped knitted mesh layers with electrode layers knitted in using a 3D knitting process to reduce materials and assembly time.
• Fuel Cell Components Components for hydrogen fuel cells including anodes, cell components, stack hardware, and assemblies.
• Green Energy Storage Solutions Battery components and energy storage solutions for green energy systems.
• Exhaust After-Treatment Components Automotive exhaust emission control components including hot end exhaust seals and gaskets, wastegate bushings, mixers, emissions control components, cold end seals, and muffler insulation.
• NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) Solutions Wire mesh-based products for vibration isolation used in a wide variety of automotive applications.
• Pyrotechnic Airbag Inflator Filters World-leading pyrotechnic airbag inflator filters using patented Variable Expanded Metal (VEM) technology for optimal cooling and particulate removal from post-combustion inflation gas flow.
• Thermal Runaway Collars Electric vehicle battery thermal runaway protection using expanded metal or crimped knitted mesh to eliminate jet flames, prevent chain reactions across battery cells, and protect battery housing.
• Pyrotechnic Disconnect Switch Filters Filters for pyrotechnic battery disconnect switches that quench emitted energy from light arcs when circuits break, providing safety for electric vehicles.
• Seat Belt Cable Assemblies Flexible bracket parts for automotive seat belt anchors including stamped components produced on 200-ton presses.
• Removable & Reusable Industrial Insulation Solutions Industrial insulation systems designed for easy installation, removal, and reuse multiple times, utilizing knitted wire mesh as containment systems for high-temperature applications.
• Expanded Metal Products (VEM Technology) Patented Variable Expanded Metal (VEM) technology products for pyrotechnic airbag inflator filters and various industrial applications; ACS holds patents for expanding technology in 11 countries.
• Woven Wire Mesh Industrial woven wire mesh manufactured on over 40 wire weaving looms including plain, twill, and Dutch weave patterns for filtration, screening, shielding, ventilation, and separation applications.
• Knitted Wire Mesh Customizable engineered knitted wire mesh products for filtration, vibration damping, thermal protection, pressure venting, and EMI shielding applications.
• Perforated Metal Perforated metal products for material up to 16-gauge thickness, including laser-welded tube forming.
• Wire Cable & Stamped Ferrules Precision cable and ferrule components including seat belt anchors and tailgate cables for automotive safety applications.
• Insulation Knitted Wire Mesh Knitted wire mesh specifically engineered as containment systems for insulation blankets, conforming to irregular surfaces and withstanding repeated installations, vibration, moisture, corrosion, and extreme temperatures.
• High Temperature Sewing Thread Sewing thread for reusable insulation systems designed to withstand high-temperature industrial applications.
• Insulation Anchors, Pins, Washers & Accessories Hardware components for securing and fastening insulation in industrial applications.
• Hog Rings & Hog Ring Gun Pneumatic hog ring guns and hog rings for securing insulation systems.
• Stainless Steel D-Rings Stainless steel D-rings for insulation attachment providing flexibility for maintenance and repair tasks.
• Tie Wire Wire used to secure insulation such as pipe, board, or blanket in industrial applications.
• Draw Cord & Cable Draw cord and cable for insulation system support.
• I.D. Tags Identification tags for tracking insulation components.
• Stainless Steel Foil 304/321 Stainless steel foil materials for insulation durability in industrial applications.
• Fiberglass Fabric Fiberglass fabric materials for industrial insulation applications.
• ACS Cleaning Products (Nonwovens & Cleaning Supplies) Nonwovens and cleaning supplies for the foodservice and janitorial industries, manufactured at Mexico Plant Three in Apodaca.

Quantifiable outcome

• Filter weight reduction of up to 50% using VCEM technology compared to traditional wire mesh filters
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• JRG Hungary KftminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2026ACS Industries acquired JRG Hungary Kft, located in Tapolca, Hungary, on February 9, 2026. The Tapolca facility was previously owned by India-based J.R.G. Holdings Private Ltd and was deemed no longer viable as a stand-alone business in 2025. ACS plans to wind down operations at the site and relocate selected equipment to its existing manufacturing facilities in Mexico, China, Romania, and India as part of a consolidation effort to optimize capacity and strengthen operational resilience.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• McNichols: Large US-based wire mesh and metal product distributor/manufacturer offering woven, welded, expanded, perforated, and bar grating products. Direct peer because of overlapping product lines (woven, expanded, perforated mesh) and similar industrial customer base.
• Banker Wire: US manufacturer of woven and welded wire mesh for architectural and industrial applications. Comparable to ACS in woven wire mesh manufacturing capability and use of wire weaving looms for filtration, separation, and architectural use cases.
• Gerard Daniel Worldwide: Global manufacturer and distributor of woven wire cloth, welded mesh, and fabricated wire products. Closely comparable to ACS in offering a broad range of wire mesh forms (woven, welded, expanded) for industrial filtration and separation.
• Sefar Group: Swiss-headquartered global manufacturer of precision woven fabrics and mesh components for filtration, screening, and industrial separation. Comparable to ACS in precision woven wire mesh production and supply into industrial filtration markets.
• Dorstener Drahtwerke: German manufacturer of woven and welded wire mesh for filtration, screening, and industrial applications. Comparable to ACS in woven wire mesh technology, European manufacturing presence, and industrial customer base.
• TWP Inc. US supplier of wire mesh, industrial fabrics, and filtration products. Comparable to ACS in offering woven, welded, and expanded wire mesh into industrial, architectural, and OEM customers.

Broad incumbents

• NV Bekaert: Belgian global leader in steel wire transformation and coatings, with significant automotive, construction, and industrial exposure. Comparable to ACS in advanced wire products, automotive component supply, and global manufacturing footprint.
• Hollingsworth & Vose: US manufacturer of advanced filtration media, battery separators, and industrial nonwovens. Comparable to ACS in supplying engineered filtration and separation media into industrial, energy, and mobility end markets.
• Autoliv: World's largest automotive safety system supplier (airbags, seatbelts, steering wheels). Comparable because Autoliv is both a major customer of ACS's airbag inflator filters and a broader systems integrator in the same occupant safety value chain.
• Joyson Safety Systems: Major Tier 1 automotive safety supplier (airbags, seatbelts, steering wheels) following the acquisition of Takata. Comparable because it sources airbag inflator filters from wire mesh specialists like ACS and competes for the same occupant safety platform awards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acs-industries

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ACS Industries