ZERO
ZERO Manufacturing designs and produces mission-critical protective cases, enclosures, and deep-drawn aluminum housings in North Salt Lake, Utah, primarily serving aerospace, defense, medical, oil & gas, and industrial customers under AS9100D and MIL-STD certifications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1952
- HeadquartersNorth Salt Lake, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ZERO does
ZERO Manufacturing (operating as Zero Cases) is a U.S.-based specialty contract manufacturer founded in 1931 and headquartered in a 286,000-square-foot facility in North Salt Lake, Utah. The company designs and manufactures mission-critical protective cases, enclosures, and housings using proprietary deep-drawn aluminum and injection-molded plastic processes; its proprietary 'ZERO Method' deep drawing produces seamless aluminum enclosures without weld-related leak or corrosion failures. Its product portfolio spans carrying cases (GUARDIAN, Centurion Elite, Centurion Polaris, Valuline), 19-inch rackmount cases (Warrior, Scout, ZeRAK), transit and storage cases, and seamless aluminum housings including ARINC-style avionics components, supported by an in-house tooling library of more than 1,500 dies enabling approximately 40,000 box sizes and producing 270,000+ parts annually across 2,600+ SKUs.
The company sells primarily through direct enterprise field sales with engineering consultation, augmented by an international network of manufacturing representatives covering Canada, Korea and Southeast Asia, Central and South America, Israel, and the Caribbean, plus a domestic dealer network for standard catalog products. It serves aerospace and defense (notably Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Gulfstream, NASA, and the F-35 helmet case program), medical, oil and gas, industrial, electronics/broadcast, and logistics customers, with key certifications including AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015, MIL-STD, ITAR, and SAM.gov registration for U.S. federal contracts. The business is currently owned by private equity firm Rockwood Equity Partners following its 2025 acquisition, with CEO Evan Nazal (appointed 2024) leading a team of approximately 145 employees serving a base of more than 3,100 customers.
ZERO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ZERO
- Legal name
- ZERO Manufacturing
- Website
- https://www.zerocases.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1952
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- ZERO Manufacturing designs and produces mission-critical protective cases, enclosures, and deep-drawn aluminum housings in North Salt Lake, Utah, primarily serving aerospace, defense, medical, oil & gas, and industrial customers under AS9100D and MIL-STD certifications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ZERO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Protective Cases and Enclosures
- NAICS
- Boiler, Tank, and Shipping Container Manufacturing (3324), All Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (33299)
- SIC
- Metal Shipping Barrels, Drums, Kegs & Pails (3412), Prefabricated Metal Buildings & Components (3448)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hazardous Materials & UN-Certified Bulk Packaging (IMALAGAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Blow-Molded Drums, Barrels & IBC Components (IMANAGAE)
Keywords
Where ZERO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- North Salt Lake
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ZERO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Case Manufacturing: Engineered-to-order custom protective cases tailored to specific equipment dimensions, environmental requirements, and mission specifications. Customers collaborate with engineering team from concept through deployment.
- Standard Case Products: Off-the-shelf protective cases including GUARDIAN injection molded, Centurion Elite, Centurion Polaris, Valuline, Warrior rackmount, Scout rackmount, and modular transit cases. Available in standard sizes without tooling charges.
- Accessories & Hardware: Panel brackets, layered cushion sets, Polyguard edge protectors, instrument panels, and custom hardware for case customization and equipment integration.
- Deep-Drawn Components: Precision deep-drawn aluminum containers and housings for aerospace, automotive, medical, electronics, and consumer goods applications.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard carrying cases in aluminum and plastic with no tooling charge |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 19-inch rackmount cases for electronic equipment protection |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Custom engineered cases for unique specifications |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
ZERO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ZERO Manufacturing designs and manufactures protective carrying cases, transit/storage cases, 19-inch rackmount cases, and seamless deep-drawn aluminum housings from both aluminum and injection-molded plastic. The company offers both off-the-shelf standard product lines and engineered-to-order custom solutions, serving aerospace, defense, military, medical, oil & gas, and industrial customers from its 286,000 sq. ft. facility in North Salt Lake, Utah.
Product overview
ZERO Manufacturing offers a comprehensive portfolio of mission-critical protective cases and housings, categorized into five core product families: Carrying Cases (GUARDIAN injection molded, Centurion Elite aluminum, Centurion Polaris watertight, and Valuline instrument cases), Transit & Storage Cases (Modular, Transitainer, Laptop, LCD Flat Panel, and MedChest), 19-inch Rack Mount Cases (Warrior, Scout, and ZeRAK), Seamless Aluminum Housing (square/rectangular cans, round cans, flanged cans, and ARINC-style housings), and Accessories & Hardware (instrument panels, cushion sets, edge protectors). The company provides both standard off-the-shelf products and fully customized solutions, serving aerospace, defense, medical, industrial, oil & gas, and electronics sectors. Manufacturing is performed domestically in a 286,000 sq. ft. Utah facility with capabilities including deep drawing, rotomolding, laser cutting, welding, and finishing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GUARDIAN: Guardian by ZERO line offers highest durability in injection molded external cases with customizable internal protection including custom foam solutions and hardware mounting panels.
- Centurion Elite
- Centurion Polaris Watertight
- Valuline
- Warrior
- Scout
- ZeRAK
- Val-An
Products and services
- GUARDIAN Injection Molded Cases Injection molded plastic carrying cases designed for professional applications requiring chemical, water, humidity, and dust resistance across temperatures from -27.4 to +194°F. Customizable internal protection through hardware mounting panels and custom foam inserts.
- Centurion Elite Cases (Z100X, Z200X, Z700X Series) Deep-drawn aluminum carrying cases in multiple series providing weather and EMI protection for sensitive electronic equipment. Available in 25 standard sizes with combination lock, fixed hinge, and optional EMI shielding.
- Centurion Polaris Watertight Cases Lightweight, watertight aluminum instrument cases built with deep-drawn, heat-treated aluminum shells. Available in multiple heights, finishes, closures, and flange options.
- Valuline Instrument Cases Seamless deep-drawn aluminum cases for electronics, instrumentation, and electro-mechanical equipment. Three closure options and versatile internal panel mounting configurations, available in standard or custom sizes without tooling charges.
- Warrior 19-inch Rackmount Cases Rotomolded, double-entry 19-inch rackmount cases for sensitive rackmount equipment and instrumentation. Withstands extreme weather, dust, altitude, and impact conditions; available with removable rack options.
- Scout 19-inch Rackmount Cases Rugged double-entry 19-inch rackmount cases for sensitive equipment, available with fixed, removable, or no rack configurations, plus matching storage cases.
- ZeRAK Aluminum 19-inch Rackmount Cases Aluminum 19-inch rackmount cases offering superior protection with smaller footprint and lighter weight than comparable models, meeting demands of temperature, altitude, rain, sleet, snow, sand, and dust.
- Modular Transit Storage Cases Flexible, secure transport and storage solutions with modular interiors configurable to changing needs, designed for military, industrial, commercial, and technical applications.
- Transitainer Transit & Storage Cases Heavy-duty transit and storage cases engineered for secure transport and long-term storage of large, valuable, or mission-critical equipment in demanding shipping, handling, and field conditions.
- Laptop Cases Rugged cases designed to securely transport 6, 8, 10, or 12 laptops with integrated protective interior featuring high-quality foam and rigid partitions.
- LCD Flat Panel Cases Engineered cases to safely transport sensitive flat panel displays with durable construction and precision-fit protective interiors that minimize movement and absorb impact during storage and shipping.
- MedChest Medical Cases Cases designed to securely store, organize, and transport medical supplies, equipment, and emergency response materials in demanding environments, with customizable interiors for critical items.
- Seamless Aluminum Housing (Square, Rectangular, Round, Flanged, and ARINC-Style Cans) Single-piece deep-drawn aluminum components for enclosures, lids, and containers, including square/rectangular cans, round cans, flanged cans, and ARINC-style housings. Eliminates weld-related leaks and corrosion in demanding environments.
- Custom Engineered Cases Engineered-to-order custom protective cases tailored to specific equipment dimensions, environmental requirements, and mission specifications. Customers collaborate with the engineering team from concept through deployment.
- Deep-Drawn Components (Precision Aluminum Containers and Housings) Precision deep-drawn aluminum containers and housings for aerospace, automotive, medical, electronics, and consumer goods applications, produced via the proprietary ZERO Method deep drawing process.
Quantifiable outcome
- Zero cases protect equipment through extreme conditions including temperature ranges from -27.4 to +194 degrees F
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ZERO
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
ZERO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
ZERO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Guardian Injection Molding (Italy)corePartnership with Guardian Injection Molding from Italy to offer injection molded case solutions. Guardian provides high-durability external cases while Zero provides custom internal protection solutions. This partnership expanded Zero's plastic case capabilities.
- JLT & Associates, Inc.coreCanadian manufacturing representative covering Ontario except British Columbia. Located at 22 Shaver Ave N, Etobicoke, ON M9B 4N4.
- MJ Trading Co LtdcoreInternational representative covering Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore. Located at #502, CDrown B/D, 537-1, Sang-Dong Wonmi-Gu, Buchon-City Kyounggi-Do, Korea.
- Ammon & Rizos CocoreCentral America & South America representative excluding embargoed countries. Located at 901 Waterfall Way St. 701, Richardson, Texas 75080.
- BOS-ODEM InccoreIsrael representative covering IL market. Located at 20 Freiman Street, PO Box 745, Rishon Le-Zion 7535825, Israel.
- APM NaltronminorPuerto Rico and Dominican Republic representative. Located at 274 E Eau Gallie Blvd Suite 312, Indian Harbour Beach, FL 32937.
- TEMCO NWcoreBritish Columbia, Canada representative. Located at 16909 Inglewood Road NE, Kenmore, WA 98028.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ZERO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pelican Products: Pelican is the most direct competitor in rugged protective cases and enclosures, offering injection-molded and roto-molded solutions for military, aerospace, industrial, and first-responder markets. Overlapping product portfolio (carrying cases, rackmount, transit) and identical mission-critical positioning make Pelican the closest comparable.
- SKB Cases: SKB manufactures ruggedized transport cases, including injection-molded, roto-molded, and aluminum rackmount products serving military, industrial, music, and broadcast verticals. Comparable customer base (defense, aerospace) and similar product architecture (rackmount 19-inch cases) make SKB a close peer.
- Zarges: Zarges is a European aluminum cases and enclosures manufacturer serving defense, aerospace, medical, and industrial customers. Its aluminum case product line directly competes with ZERO's Centurion Elite and Valuline series, particularly in mission-critical transport applications.
- B&W International: B&W International produces rugged protective cases for military, law enforcement, industrial, and outdoor applications with a focus on plastic and roto-molded designs. Comparable product positioning in mission-critical transport cases makes B&W a direct peer, particularly in European and military segments.
- Explorer Cases: Explorer Cases manufactures watertight injection-molded protective cases for military, aerospace, photography, and industrial customers. Its product portfolio directly overlaps with ZERO's GUARDIAN injection-molded line, and it shares key end markets in defense and industrial transport protection.
- Anvil Cases: Anvil Cases designs custom ATA-spec flight cases and transit cases for aerospace, military, music, broadcast, and industrial customers. Custom engineered-to-order approach and aerospace/defense customer base parallel ZERO's custom case business.
- Gator Cases: Gator Cases manufactures protective cases and stands for music, pro-audio, military, and industrial applications. While it began in music/audio, its expansion into military/industrial cases and rackmount enclosures makes it a comparable product peer, particularly for transit and storage cases.
- CP Cases: CP Cases is a UK-based manufacturer of rugged protective cases, 19-inch rack enclosures, and transit cases for military, broadcast, and industrial markets. Its rackmount and transit case product lines directly overlap with ZERO's Warrior, Scout, ZeRAK, and Transitainer product families.
Broad incumbents
- Rittal: Rittal is a large German enclosure manufacturer offering industrial enclosures, 19-inch rack solutions, and climate control for IT, industrial, and power distribution markets. While much broader and not focused on protective transport cases, it competes in the rackmount and industrial enclosure space adjacent to ZERO's ZeRAK and Scout lines.
- nVent (Schroff): nVent's Schroff brand produces 19-inch rack enclosures, subracks, and cases for electronics, telecommunications, and industrial customers. While focused on stationary rack enclosures rather than transport cases, it competes for the same aerospace/defense electronics packaging dollars that drive ZERO's ZeRAK and ARINC housing lines.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ZERO social profiles
Digital presenceZERO compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
ZERO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ZERO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
ZERO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ZERO M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ZERO
What does ZERO do?
ZERO Manufacturing designs and manufactures protective carrying cases, transit/storage cases, 19-inch rackmount cases, and seamless deep-drawn aluminum housings from both aluminum and injection-molded plastic. The company offers both off-the-shelf standard product lines and engineered-to-order custom solutions, serving aerospace, defense, military, medical, oil & gas, and industrial customers from its 286,000 sq. ft. facility in North Salt Lake, Utah.
Is ZERO a public or private company?
ZERO is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was ZERO founded?
ZERO was founded in 1952. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is ZERO based?
ZERO is headquartered in North Salt Lake, United States, in the North America region.
How does ZERO make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Custom Case Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are standard Case Products, accessories & Hardware and deep-Drawn Components.
Who are ZERO's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pelican Products, SKB Cases, Zarges, B&W International, Explorer Cases, Anvil Cases, Gator Cases and CP Cases. Broad incumbents are Rittal and nVent (Schroff).
Does ZERO have an API?
No public API is recorded for ZERO.
What industry is ZERO in?
ZERO's product category is Protective Cases and Enclosures. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAGAH, Hazardous Materials & UN-Certified Bulk Packaging, with a secondary code of IMANAGAE, Blow-Molded Drums, Barrels & IBC Components. Its NAICS code is 3324 and its SIC code is 3412.