What DAC Industries does

DAC Industries, Inc. is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based manufacturer and supplier of gate hardware and accessories for the fencing industry, founded in 1985 and operating as a privately held Michigan corporation. The company sells exclusively through a B2B direct-to-trade model—working with architects, fence contractors, installers, wholesalers, and general contractors—and explicitly does not sell through retailers or to end consumers. DAC supports the sales process with technical specifications, CAD shop drawings, warranty documentation, and installation guides, and positions itself as a resource hub for architects specifying fence hardware in commercial, residential, pool, sports-field, and industrial projects.

DAC's product portfolio spans four categories: gate latches (the proprietary Auto-Latch, Strong Arm, Sentry Latch, and the distributed D&D Technologies Top Pull MagnaLatch), gate hinges (Gravity Hinge, Bearing Hinge), cantilever rollers (Stealth Cantilever Roller), and panic bar systems (including kits that integrate Detex's Advantex 10 Series stainless-steel exit bar plus trim and accessory options). The company combines owned SKUs with distributed partner products to deliver a comprehensive single-source catalog for trade buyers. Operating geographies are domestic—Michigan, the broader Midwest, and the broader United States—with no claimed international footprint.

Revenue is generated through one-time sales of hardware products and replacement accessories to trade customers; pricing is not publicly disclosed and quotes are handled through direct contact. The company markets through a content-led approach (blog, technical resources, email newsletter), trade-show participation (FenceTech, where DAC has exhibited since 1985), and a modest social media presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. DAC is a member of the American Fence Association, a BBB-accredited business in Grand Rapids, and has been featured in industry trade publication FenceNews. The company is founder-owned (Jill Thorpe) with no disclosed institutional investors, parent entities, or subsidiaries.

Name

DAC Industries

Legal name

DAC Industries, Inc.

Website

https://dacindustries.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DAC Industries is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based manufacturer of gate hardware founded in 1985, selling latches, hinges, cantilever rollers, and panic bars directly to architects, fence contractors, installers, and wholesalers through a B2B trade model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Gate Hardware Sales: Manufacturing and selling fence and gate hardware including latches, hinges, rollers, and panic bars to the trade (architects, contractors, wholesalers)
2. Accessories and Replacement Parts: Sale of panic bar accessories, trim options, and other fence hardware accessories

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DAC Industries manufactures and supplies a catalog of fence and gate hardware for the U.S. fencing industry, including gate latches, gate hinges, cantilever sliding gate rollers, and panic exit hardware and kits. It sells directly to trade professionals — architects, fence contractors, installers, general contractors, and wholesalers/distributors — rather than through retailers or to end consumers. The company also distributes complementary partner products such as the D&D Technologies Top Pull MagnaLatch and Detex Advantex 10 Series exit bars.

Product overview

DAC Industries provides a comprehensive portfolio of fence and gate hardware products for the fencing industry since 1985. Their product lineup includes multiple gate latch solutions (Auto-Latch, Strong Arm, Sentry Latch, D&D Technologies Top Pull MagnaLatch), gate hinges (Gravity Hinge, Bearing Hinge), cantilever rollers (Stealth Cantilever Roller), and panic bar systems (Panic Bars, Panic Bar Kits, Panic Exit Trim Options, Panic Bar Accessories, and Detex Advantex 10 Series Exit Bar). These products serve architects, installers, wholesalers, and contractors working on residential, commercial, and industrial fencing projects including pools, sports fields, playgrounds, and perimeter security applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Auto-Latch

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Fence Association (AFA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerDAC Industries is a proud member of the American Fence Association. The benefits of membership extend directly to clients through access to industry resources, certifications, and the annual FenceTech trade show.
• D&D TechnologiesminorOthersDAC Industries distributes D&D Technologies products, specifically the Top Pull MagnaLatch gate latch hardware.
• DetexcoreOthersDAC Industries features Detex Advantex 10 Series exit bar in their panic bar kits. The Detex exit bar is designed for years of trouble-free service in high-use and inclement weather environments with a stainless steel finish.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• D&D Technologies: D&D Technologies is the leading manufacturer of magnetic pool-safety gate latches (MagnaLatch) and self-closing hinges (TruClose). Directly comparable to DAC as a fence-gate hardware specialist; DAC actively distributes D&D's MagnaLatch line, underscoring the head-to-head product overlap.
• Detex Corporation: Detex manufactures panic/exit hardware, including the Advantex 10 Series exit bar that DAC integrates into its panic bar kits. Comparable as a supplier of code-driven gate and door exit hardware serving architects and contractors in the fencing and commercial property markets.
• Southwestern Wire Inc. Southwestern Wire is a U.S. manufacturer of fence hardware, fittings, and gate components serving the fence contractor and wholesale channel. Directly comparable in product category (gate hardware, fence fittings) and customer segment (contractors, wholesalers, architects).
• Digger Specialties Inc. Digger Specialties manufactures fence, gate, and railing products including latches, hinges, and ornamental hardware. Comparable mid-sized U.S. manufacturer operating in the same fence hardware category with overlapping products such as gate latches and self-closing mechanisms.

Broad incumbents

• Ameristar Fence Products: Ameristar is a large North American manufacturer of ornamental and perimeter fence systems with a broader portfolio of manufactured fence panels and posts. Comparable as a U.S. fencing-industry incumbent serving architects and contractors through trade channels, although it competes at the panel-level while DAC competes at the hardware/component level.
• Master Halco: Master Halco is the largest wholesale distributor of fencing products in North America, supplying chain-link, vinyl, ornamental, and access hardware to fence contractors. Comparable as a trade-channel supplier of fence and gate hardware and as a downstream customer/adapter of components like those DAC manufactures.
• Fortress Iron / Fortress Building Products: Fortress Building Products is a broad manufacturer of railing, fencing, and structural framing systems with an extensive catalog of fence gate hardware components. Comparable as an incumbent U.S. trade-channel supplier of perimeter-security hardware, though operating at significantly larger scale than DAC.
• Yale (dormakaba) Commercial Hardware: Yale/dormakaba is a major manufacturer of commercial locks, exit devices, and architectural door hardware including panic bars and exit trim options. Comparable as a supplier of panic exit hardware to the architectural specification and contractor channel, and a competitor within DAC's Panic Bar category.
• Von Duprin / Allegion: Allegion (Von Duprin) is one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of commercial exit devices and panic hardware. Comparable on the exit/panic bar category where DAC competes, although Allegion competes primarily in door-mounted rather than gate-mounted applications.

Emerging players

• Locinox: Locinox is a European-based manufacturer of gate hardware (latches, hinges, locks, and accessories for swing and sliding gates), expanding into the U.S. market. Comparable product portfolio in the gate hardware niche but not yet an entrenched U.S. trade supplier, positioning it as an emerging rather than direct U.S. competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DACIndustries
• Facebookfacebook.com/dacindustriesinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dac-industries-inc---gate-hardware

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 DAC Industries