Johnson Bros. Metal Forming Co

What Johnson Bros. Metal Forming Co does

Johnson Bros. Metal Forming Co., founded in 1948 and headquartered in Berkeley, Illinois (Chicago suburb), is a privately-held custom roll forming manufacturer specializing in the production of metal channels, tubing, profiles, mouldings, and specialty shapes for B2B industrial buyers. The company operates a make-to-order model with no stock inventory, enforcing 2,000-foot minimum order quantities (with exceptions for prototypes) and offering blanket-order JIT releases for ongoing volume needs. Its product catalog spans over 550 tooling variants, including U-channels, J-channels, C-channels, box channels, hat channels, strut channels, Z-channels, lock seam and open seam tubing, angles, rings, frames, tracks, and various specialty components, manufactured in steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, and specialty alloys with thicknesses from .003" to .250" and lengths from 3" to 40 feet.

The company's production technology centers on roll forming using state-of-the-art machines from Yoder, Tishken, and Dahlstrom, complemented by modernized inline post-fabricating systems with flying die accelerators capable of up to 12 different functions per die, achieving tolerances of +/- .005". Johnson Brothers differentiates through its existing tooling inventory (over 250 U/J-channels and 300+ profiles), in-house tooling design and construction, and domain expertise in forming prefinished metals without damaging coatings. Two related entities—Gwenco Mfg and Oak Rite Mfg. Corp.—extend the group's metal manufacturing footprint, though their acquisition history is undisclosed.

Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, anchored by an online RFQ system at rfq.php and phone/fax contact channels, supplemented by a WordPress blog, Twitter (@RollFormPro), and a CAD catalog. The company serves American, Canadian, and international customers across hundreds of industries including furniture, partitions, displays, racks and storage, filters, refrigeration, construction, metal buildings, building products, and green energy, with no named anchor customers and no disclosed revenue. Pricing is project-based with standard tooling offered at no charge on qualifying 2,000+ foot orders; additional tooling costs apply for non-standard geometries.

Name

Johnson Bros. Metal Forming Co

Legal name

Johnson Brothers Metal Forming Co.

Website

https://johnsonrollforming.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Johnson Bros. Metal Forming Co., founded in 1948 in Berkeley, Illinois, is a privately-held custom roll forming manufacturer producing metal channels, tubing, profiles, and specialty shapes in all metals for hundreds of industrial customers across North America and internationally via a make-to-order direct sales model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Metal Roll Forming

NAICS

Custom Roll Forming (332114), Forging and Stamping (3321), Special Die and Tool, Die Set, Jig, and Fixture Manufacturing (333514)

SIC

Sheet Metal Work (3444), Metal Forgings & Stampings (3460)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping) (IMAHADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Metal Cutting Tools, Tooling & Workholding (Cutters, Inserts, Chucks, Fixtures) (IMAHADAB), Sheet Metal Machinery (Laser/Plasma/Waterjet Cutting, Punching) (IMAHADAD)

Keywords

• Custom roll forming
• Metal channels manufacturing
• Specialty metal tubing
• Roll formed profiles
• Metal fabrication services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Roll Formed Metal Products: Manufactures custom roll formed metal parts produced to order. Revenue generated from production of custom metal channels, tubing, profiles, and specialty shapes. No stock products are kept - all items are produced based on customer specifications and orders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Johnson Bros. Metal Forming Co. manufactures custom roll formed metal parts on a make-to-order basis, including channels (U, J, C, Box, Hat, Strut, Z), specialty tubing, profiles, mouldings, angles, rings, frames, tracks, wire products, and specialty items. Production uses roll forming of strip/coil stock in all metals (steel, stainless, aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, alloys) from .003" to .250" thickness and 3" to 40 feet in length, with in-house tooling design, inline pre/post-punch fabricating, and high-speed tight-tolerance capabilities.

Product overview

Johnson Brothers Metal Forming Co., operating since 1948, is a leading roll forming manufacturer specializing in custom and standard roll formed metal products. The company's core offerings center on roll formed channels (including U-Channels, J-Channels, C-Channels, Box Channels, Hat Channels, Strut Channels, and Z-Channels) as its primary product category, complemented by specialty tubing, profiles, mouldings, special shapes and sections, angles, rings, frames, and various industrial components. The company offers over 300 existing tooling profiles and maintains manufacturing capabilities for custom designs across all metals including steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, and specialty alloys. Additional offerings include ancillary services such as inline fabricating (notches, holes, slots, cutouts, perforations), pre-punch and post-punch operations, and high-speed roll forming capabilities. The product portfolio serves diverse industries including furniture, partitions, displays, racks and storage, filters, refrigeration, construction, and more.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Roll Formed Metal Channels
• Specialty Tubing Specialty roll formed tubing products including shelf support tubing, lock seam tubing, flanged and finned seam tubing, hemmed seam tubing, telescopic tubing, open seam open buttseam tubing with gap, round tubing segments, curved strips, and special shaped tubing for industrial manufacturers.
• Profiles, Mouldings, Special Shapes & Sections Custom roll formed profiles, mouldings, and special metal shapes with over 300 existing tooling options, serving structural, decorative, and specialty industrial applications including stainless steel mouldings.
• Roll Formed Angles, Angle Irons, L-Shapes & V-Shapes Roll formed angle shapes including angle irons, L-shapes, and V-shapes for structural support and framing applications in various metals.
• Roll Formed Rings, Rims, Clamps, Flanges, Hoops & Bezels Roll formed rings, rims, clamp rings, clamp bands, flanges, flange assemblies, decorative rings (angle rings), and hoops for industrial applications.
• Roll Formed Tracks, Ducts, Rails & Slides Roll formed tracks, ducts, rails, slides, stainless steel track caps, and covers for various industrial applications.
• Roll Formed Bars & Sections: T, H, W & Double Channels Roll formed T-channels, H-channels, W-channels, and double channels for structural applications.
• Wire Products: Strips, Straps & Rings Roll formed wire products including flat strips, round and square wire, shaped wire, and accompanying components.
• Roll Formed Frames, Diffusers, Grills, Baffles & Metal Framing Roll formed metal frames, diffusers, grills, baffles, metal framing components, busduct, and supports for industrial applications.
• Roll Formed Holders, Mountings, Edgings, Trim & Retainers Roll formed metal holders, mountings, edgings, trim pieces, and retainers for industrial and commercial applications.
• Custom Roll Forming Services Custom roll forming service in all metals (steel, stainless, aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, alloys) with inline pre-punch and post-punch fabricating capabilities, in-house tooling design and construction, and high-speed roll forming. Lengths from 3 inches to 40 feet, thicknesses from .003" to .250", with tolerances as tight as ±.005".

Quantifiable outcome

• Existing tooling for over 250 different U-channels & J-channels
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 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

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Samco Machinery: Toronto-based manufacturer of roll forming equipment and provider of contract roll forming services. Direct peer in custom roll formed channels, tubing, and profiles with comparable materials and tolerance capabilities, serving overlapping North American industrial customers.
• Brakewell Steel Fabricators: Custom steel and roll forming fabricator producing channels, frames, and structural components. Direct peer in custom roll formed metal parts for industrial, construction, and OEM customers in the U.S.
• Paco Steel & Engineering: U.S. custom roll former producing channels, angles, tubes, and special shapes from steel, aluminum, and stainless. Directly comparable custom-to-order service with similar minimum order dynamics and end-market mix.
• AccuForm Industries: Custom roll forming and stamping service provider producing complex profiles for transportation, construction, and industrial markets. Comparable custom, high-mix roll forming model with inline secondary operations.
• Engineered Profiles: U.S. custom roll former producing complex profiles and shapes for industrial and construction applications. Comparable customization depth, inline fabrication capabilities, and material range to Johnson Bros.
• Hill Engineering: U.S. roll forming service provider (acquired Dahlstrom, a Johnson Bros. machine supplier). Offers custom roll formed parts for industrial, automotive, and construction customers with comparable inline fabricating and tolerance capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• BTD Manufacturing: Midwest-based metal forming and fabrication provider with roll forming among its capabilities, serving industrial customers with broader stamping, welding, and assembly services—a broader incumbent that competes on some of Johnson Bros.'s custom work.
• Formtek Group: Parent of multiple metal processing brands including Tishken and Yoder—the very machine platforms Johnson Bros. operates. Formtek is a broad incumbent in roll forming equipment and services with overlap in target customer base.
• The Bradbury Group: Larger group encompassing roll forming equipment (Bradbury, Roll Form Group) and contract roll forming services. A broad incumbent that both competes in contract forming and supplies the equipment category Johnson Bros. operates in.

Others

• Tishken (Formtek): Manufacturer of roll forming equipment whose machines Johnson Bros. explicitly uses. Adjacent supplier in the roll forming ecosystem rather than a direct competitor for parts, but indicative of the equipment-platform competitive set.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/RollFormPro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Johnson Bros. Metal Forming Co