What DRT Holdings does

DRT Holdings LLC, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, is a privately held specialty manufacturing platform operating three divisions: Metal Packaging Systems, Aerospace, and Precision Manufacturing. The company is the original pioneer of easy-open can-end technology, tracing its core intellectual property to founder Ermal Fraze's patent in the early 1960s, and currently holds the position of largest global supplier of easy-open end system parts and tooling for the food and beverage industry. Across 10 facilities in the United States and Germany, DRT employs more than 500 skilled workers and serves enterprise customers on six continents, with ISO 9001:2015 certified quality systems delivering documented 95%+ on-time delivery and 99%+ acceptance rates.

The Metal Packaging Systems division designs and manufactures a portfolio of easy-open end conversion systems — Vision Quad (4-out, up to 3000 EPM), Vision Food (2-3-4-out, up to 2000 EPM), and Vision I (flexible short-run, up to 500 EPM) — along with ends, tabs, and precision tooling/dies. The technology edge sits in proprietary downgauged rivet formation and large-pour-opening innovations that yield "lowest food and beverage tab costs in the industry," reinforced by real-time print revision control that locks customers into DRT's revision pipeline. The Aerospace division provides precision manufacturing, rapid prototyping, kitting, metal conditioning, finishing, and multi-component assembly from prototype through production. The Precision Manufacturing division delivers low-volume, high-complexity CNC machining (tolerances to 0.0005 inches), fabrication, finishing, EDM, jig grinding, and assembly for automotive, energy, medical, HVAC, and industrial OEMs.

DRT's go-to-market is enterprise-direct field sales with dedicated sales teams per business unit, complemented by engineering-support relationships, a 24/7 customer portal for order and inventory tracking, and a worldwide network of installation and service technicians. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, reflecting custom-engineered B2B contracts. The company is owned by New York-based private equity firm Mill Rock Capital following a 2021 recapitalization, and is executing a rollup strategy evidenced by the 2023 acquisition of Custom Machining Corporation and 2025-2026 partnerships with Novelis (aluminum recycling) and Meadow (hospitality dispenser systems).

Name

DRT Holdings

Legal name

DRT Holdings LLC

Website

https://drtholdingsllc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

DRT Holdings is a Dayton, Ohio-based precision manufacturer and the largest global supplier of easy-open can-end system parts and tooling, serving food and beverage OEMs, aerospace, and industrial customers across three divisions and 10 facilities in the US and Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dayton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Metal Packaging Systems: DRT is the pioneer and largest supplier of easy-open end system parts and tooling for the global food and beverage market. Revenue comes from selling conversion systems, ends, tabs, and replacement tooling/parts.
2. Aerospace Manufacturing: Precision manufacturing for aerospace components including rapid prototyping, assembly, and testing services from prototype through production.
3. Precision Machining Services: Custom manufacturing for low-volume, high-complexity solutions including fabrication, machining, finishing, and assembly for various industrial applications.
4. Tooling and Dies: Custom dies and tooling manufacturing for blow molding and metal forming operations, sold as products with engineering support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DRT Holdings is a specialized precision manufacturing company operating through three divisions: Metal Packaging Systems, Aerospace, and Precision Manufacturing. It designs and produces easy-open can end conversion systems (Vision Quad, Vision Food, Vision I), ends, tabs, and precision tooling/dies for the global food and beverage market, while also providing precision-machined components, fabrication, finishing, and assembly for aerospace, industrial, energy, medical, and power generation customers.

Product overview

DRT Holdings is a specialized manufacturing company operating three divisions: Metal Packaging Systems, Precision Manufacturing, and Aerospace. The Metal Packaging division offers a portfolio of easy-open end conversion systems centered on three core products: Vision Quad (high-volume 4-out system up to 3000 EPM), Vision Food (2-, 3-, 4-out system up to 2000 EPM), and Vision I (flexible short-run system up to 500 EPM), complemented by ends, tabs, and tooling/dies. The Precision Manufacturing division provides contract machining, fabrication, finishing, and assembly services for automotive, energy, medical, industrial, safety, HVAC, and other sectors. The Aerospace division delivers precision components and assemblies for the aerospace industry. DRT positions itself as the pioneer of easy-open technology (patented by founder Ermal Fraze in the 1960s) and the largest supplier of easy-open system parts and tooling globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vision Quad System High-volume, 4-out easy-open end conversion system delivering up to 3000 ends per minute (EPM) with non-metallic transfer belt and Ferguson tab feeders, for food and beverage can manufacturers.
• Vision Food System High-volume easy-open end conversion system with 2-, 3-, and 4-out capability and capacity up to 2000 EPM, equipped with Sankyo self-compensating tensioner power transmission system, for food and beverage can manufacturers.
• Vision I System Flexible easy-open conversion system designed for short runs and quick changeovers, producing stay-on-tab ends, ring-pull tab ends, and full panel pull ends in one system with output up to 500 EPM, for food and beverage can manufacturers.
• Easy-Open Ends and Tabs Easy-open ends and pull tabs for food and beverage containers, including configurations such as 786D, D1500, flatback, D1300, CAT102, CAT99, and two-finger tabs in steel or aluminum tabstocks.
• Tooling and Dies Custom precision tooling, spare parts, shell tooling, and end conversion dies for easy-open container systems and blow molding / metal forming / stamping operations, with engineering support and real-time print revision control.
• Precision Machining Services Low-volume, highly complex, specialized and niche custom machining services including CNC milling, turning, grinding, EDM, and jig grinding with tolerances to 0.0005 inches, for industrial manufacturers.
• Fabrication Services Sheet metal fabrication services including laser cutting, turret punch presses, waterjet cutting, CAD/CAM systems, complex bending and forming, spot welding, and hardware assembly.
• Finishing Services Surface finishing services including powder coating, spray painting, silkscreening, part washing, iridite and alodine treatments, tumble, media blast, ultrasonic cleaning, deburring, and heat treatment.
• Aerospace Precision Manufacturing Precision aerospace manufacturing with rapid go-to-market capability, engineering support, rapid prototyping, kitting, metal conditioning and finishing, and multi-component assembly from prototype through production.

Quantifiable outcome

• On-time delivery rate exceeding 95%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and key.

• MeadowcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026DRT partnered with Swedish packaging technology company Meadow to supply easy-open end system parts for the MEADOW KAPSUL SleeveLock wall-mounted dispenser system targeting hospitality sector.
• Ball CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Ball Corporation partnered with Meadow to provide sustainable aluminum containers for the MEADOW KAPSUL SleeveLock system, with DRT supplying easy-open end parts.
• Novelis Inc.keyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Novelis Inc. partnered with DRT Holdings in August 2025 to develop energy-efficient aluminum recycling processes, supporting sustainability initiatives in the aluminum packaging supply chain.
• Custom Machining CorporationcoreOthers · 11 September 2023DRT acquired Custom Machining Corporation in 2023. The acquisition expanded DRT's precision manufacturing capabilities and customer base in the custom machining sector.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Precision Castparts Corp: Precision Castparts (a Berkshire Hathaway company) is a major diversified manufacturer of complex metal components and assemblies for aerospace, power, and industrial markets, competing with DRT's Aerospace and Precision Manufacturing divisions.
• Crown Holdings: Crown Holdings is one of the world's largest metal packaging manufacturers, a direct buyer of easy-open end systems and tooling from DRT and a strategic counterpart across the global food and beverage can-making market.
• Sonoco Products Company: Sonoco Products is a diversified global packaging manufacturer serving food, beverage, industrial, and healthcare end markets, comparable to DRT in cross-vertical packaging supply and precision component manufacturing.
• Ball Corporation: Ball Corporation is a global leader in metal packaging manufacturing and a key customer of DRT through the Meadow KAPSUL partnership, also producing cans, ends, and aerosol containers that use the same easy-open end technology DRT supplies.
• Ardagh Metal Packaging: Ardagh Metal Packaging is a major global producer of metal cans and ends, representing a key customer segment for DRT's easy-open end conversion systems, ends, tabs, and tooling products.
• Howmet Aerospace: Howmet Aerospace is a leading global supplier of engineered aerospace components and assemblies, operating as a much larger incumbent in precision aerospace manufacturing with overlapping capabilities to DRT Aerospace.

Direct peers

• Stolle Machinery Company: Stolle Machinery is the other leading global manufacturer of can-making equipment including easy-open end conversion systems, directly competing with DRT's Vision Quad, Vision Food, and Vision I product lines for the same food and beverage can-making customers.
• Triumph Group: Triumph Group is both a DRT Aerospace customer and a competing precision aerospace manufacturer producing complex components, assemblies, and integrated systems for commercial and military aerospace OEMs.
• Buhrke Industries: Buhrke Industries manufactures precision tooling, dies, and conversion tooling for the can-making industry, overlapping with DRT's Tooling & Dies product line serving the same easy-open end and food/beverage container customers.
• Pursuit Aerospace: Pursuit Aerospace (formerly Precision Castparts' structural parts business) is a precision aerospace components manufacturer directly comparable to DRT Aerospace's prototype-through-production complex machining, fabrication, and assembly capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drt-mfg-co

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about DRT Holdings