What Frost does

Frost Inc. is a privately held, fourth-generation-style industrial manufacturer of overhead and enclosed track material handling conveyors and components, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The company operates four manufacturing plants in Michigan that collectively produce X-Type overhead conveyor chain in 2"–6" sizes, overhead and inverted trolleys, enclosed track chains, free trolleys (Webb, Acco, Fata, and Rapid compatible), hand-pushed I-beam trolleys, chain roller turn rollers, steel and flat top trolley wheels, conveyor roll bearings, fasteners and attachments, and specialty chains. Frost also manufactures continuous bakery proofer and oven chains (AMF BAKETECH, APV, and Stewart styles) and operates two wholly owned subsidiaries: Production Industries, which builds heavy-duty and specialty chain for paper mill, bulk material, water treatment, and recycling applications, and Frost Links, which markets Frost chain and attachments globally.

The company's competitive position is anchored by its origin of Smooth Link chain technology and by proprietary engineering practices that include Finite Element Analysis simulation and product load testing. Frost's catalog targets heavy-load, high-temperature, and corrosive environments across automotive, food processing (bakery, meat, poultry), furniture, aerospace, paper mill, recycling, and packaging end markets. Value-added services include Conveyor Chain Assessment Services with chain wear monitors that feature Wi-Fi and remote access interfaces, a 37-point Conveyor System Health Assessment, and a Free Trolley Refurbishment program.

Frost sells direct to industrial customers and OEMs via a consultative field-sales motion supported by an engineering team, with quote-based pricing and a Request a Quote website form. The company markets through its website, YouTube product demonstrations, a LinkedIn page, and trade shows such as the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE). With 51–100 employees and no disclosed external funding, ownership, or M&A activity, Frost presents as a stable, founder/family-era industrial business focused on durability, OEM compatibility, and incremental expansion into digital aftermarket services.

Name

Frost

Legal name

Frost Inc.

Website

https://frostinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Frost Inc. is a privately held Michigan-based manufacturer of overhead and enclosed track material handling conveyors, chain, trolleys, and components, serving automotive, food processing, bakery, aerospace, paper mill, and packaging OEMs and industrial end users globally through direct, consultative sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Conveyor Components & Systems: Frost generates revenue through the sale of conveyor components including overhead chain, trolleys, wheels, bearings, and attachments. The company also provides complete engineered conveyor systems and offers aftermarket parts, accessories, and refurbishment services. Sales are direct B2B with a consultative approach working with customer engineering teams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Frost Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells material handling conveyor components and systems, including overhead conveyor chain, trolleys, enclosed track chains, bakery proofer/oven chains, roller turn rollers, wheels, bearings, fasteners, and specialty chains. The company operates four Michigan manufacturing plants and offers engineering support, chain assessment services, and free trolley refurbishment, serving automotive, food processing, bakery, aerospace, packaging, and other industrial segments worldwide.

Product overview

Frost Inc. is a manufacturer of high-quality material handling conveyors and conveyor components with over 100 years of industry experience. The company operates a single unified product portfolio focused on industrial material handling solutions, with four manufacturing plants in Michigan. The core product line includes Overhead Conveyor Chain (X-Type in sizes from 2" to 6"), Trolleys (power trolleys for overhead systems), Enclosed Track Chain systems for bakery and industrial applications, Free Trolleys, Hand Pushed I-Beam Trolleys, Chain Roller Turn Rollers, Steel Trolley Wheels, Conveyor Roll Bearings, Fasteners and Attachments, Push Back Rack Wheels, Flat Top Wheels, and Specialty Chains. The product ecosystem is interconnected: customers typically purchase Overhead Conveyor Chain paired with matching Trolleys for complete conveyor systems, while Free Trolleys integrate with Power Trolley systems for flexible manufacturing. Frost serves diverse market segments including Automotive, Industrial, Bakery, Food Processing, Poultry, Furniture, Paper Mill, Aerospace, and Packaging. The company also offers value-added services including Conveyor Chain Assessment Services (chain wear monitoring and health assessments), Free Trolley Refurbishment programs, and Reliability Tools. Frost maintains two wholly owned subsidiaries: Production Industries (specializing in heavy-duty and specialty chain for 65 years) and Frost Links (supplying conveyor chain, pusher dogs, trolleys, and attachments).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Overhead Conveyor Chain X-Type overhead conveyor chain available in 2", 3", 4", and 6" sizes for I-beam applications, in standard steel, high alloy steel, and stainless steel, featuring the proprietary Smooth Link pin design for extended wear and life. Used by industrial manufacturers and conveyor system OEMs in automotive, general manufacturing, and material handling applications.
• Trolleys Engineered overhead and inverted trolleys designed for heavy loads, high temperatures, and harsh corrosive environments, available in 3", 4", and 6" sizes with full ball complement or retainer type constructions. Sold to industrial manufacturers for overhead power and free conveyor systems.
• Industrial Enclosed Track Chains Custom designed enclosed track chains engineered to industrial application specifications, including Zig-Zag compatible chains with maximum operating temperatures of 400°F continuous / 450°F intermittent. Used in enclosed track conveyor systems across industrial applications.
• Continuous Bakery Chains Proofer and oven chains for continuous bakery systems, manufactured by Frost for over 40 years, including AMF BAKETECH, Original Style, Lanham Next Generation, and Stewart Style variants. Designed for high-temperature continuous bakery operations (bread, bun, snack production).
• Free Trolleys OEM-compatible high-quality free trolleys for power and free conveyor systems, compatible with Webb, Acco, Fata, and Rapid Style systems; includes a rebuild and assembly program to extend trolley life. Used by industrial manufacturers for flexible overhead conveyor systems.
• Hand Pushed I-Beam Trolleys Hand push trolleys for overhead monorail cranes and hoists, available in 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton capacities, designed to adapt to different sized I-beams. Sold to industrial customers requiring manual load movement.
• Chain Roller Turn Rollers High-quality chain roller turn rollers in standard 3", 4", and 6" dimensions, with Special Heavy-Duty and High Temperature options for more demanding conveyor applications. Used in conveyor system turns and direction changes.
• Steel Trolley Wheels Dependable trolley wheels designed to withstand heavy loads and harsh environments, available in 3", 4", and 6" sizes with stud type and thru-bore configurations. Used in overhead conveyor systems across industries.
• Conveyor Roll Bearings Standard conveyor bearings for roll sizes ranging from 1.9" to 4" O.D., featuring longer life, lower noise levels, and greater load carrying ability with a fully sealed design. Used in conveyor systems across industrial applications.
• Fasteners and Attachments Trolley attachments including Load Bars, B, C, H, and I attachments, Grade 5 bolts and lock nuts, pins, clips, spacers, and washers. Sold as components to support overhead conveyor system installations and repairs.
• Push Back Rack Wheels Heavy-duty wheels designed to withstand very heavy loads with easy low-friction rolling, capable of withstanding shock from side loading and available in custom designs. Used in push-back rack storage systems for warehousing and distribution.
• Flat Top Wheels Wheels with double row bearings for maximum capacity, spring loaded lip seals, full ball or retainer type designs, sealed for life or re-lubable. Used in conveyor systems requiring heavy load wheels with sealing options.
• Specialty Chains Various specialty chains including Caterpillar Drive Chains for drop-forged chain and trolley conveyor systems, plus CC-5A/B, Flat Top, Food Grade, Water-screen, Gull Wing, and Apron chain conveyors (via subsidiary Production Industries). Used in paper mills, bulk material handling, food processing, water treatment, and recycling applications.
• Conveyor Chain Assessment Services High-tech chain wear monitors and on-site chain assessment services including Chain Strain Analysis, Chain Wear Analysis, and 37-point Conveyor System Health Assessment. Provides 24/7 monitoring options with touch screen, Wi-Fi, and remote access interfaces to preempt chain failure and downtime.
• Free Trolley Refurbishment Free Trolley rebuild and refurbishment program designed to extend trolley life and maintain performance. Provides industrial customers with a cost-effective way to restore free trolleys rather than replacing them.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products operating for 25+ years of continuous service in demanding applications
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Production IndustriescoreOthersProduction Industries is a wholly owned subsidiary of Frost Inc. that has been engineering heavy-duty and specialty chain for 65 years. Products include CC-5A/B, Flat Top, Food Grade, Water-screen, Gull Wing and Apron chain conveyors for paper mill, bulk material, food processing, water treatment, and recycling applications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Webster Industries: Webster Industries is a direct peer — a US manufacturer of engineered conveyor chains, sprockets, and material handling components serving automotive, food processing, and heavy industrial markets with overlapping product categories to Frost.
• Emerson Bearing: Emerson Bearing distributes industrial bearings including conveyor roller bearings — directly comparable to Frost's Conveyor Roll Bearings product line for material handling customers.

Broad incumbents

• Daido Chain: Daido is a Japanese conveyor and roller chain manufacturer supplying automotive assembly lines and industrial applications; product line, customer base, and engineering-heavy GTM closely mirror Frost's profile.
• Renold: Renold is a UK-based manufacturer of industrial chains, gearboxes, and couplings serving material handling and conveyor markets globally — a broader incumbent with overlapping chain and conveyor products.
• Rexnord (Industrial Products): Rexnord is a US-based broad industrial manufacturer of conveying components, bearings, and power transmission products — a much larger incumbent with overlapping products to Frost's bearings, chain, and conveyor components.
• IWIS: IWIS is a German precision chain manufacturer producing roller, conveyor, and leaf chains for automotive and industrial applications — overlapping with Frost's overhead and enclosed track chain offerings.
• Martin Sprocket & Gear: Martin Sprocket & Gear is a US broad-line manufacturer of power transmission and material handling components including conveyor chain, bearings, and sprockets — a larger incumbent in adjacent product categories.
• Senqcia (Hitachi Metals chain business): Senqcia is a major Japanese manufacturer of roller chains and conveyor chains serving industrial and automotive OEM customers — directly comparable in chain engineering and OEM specification.
• Timken (industrial chain and bearings): Timken is a major US manufacturer of bearings and mechanical power transmission products with industrial chain and conveyor offerings that overlap with Frost's bearing and chain product lines.
• Tsubaki (Cam Division): Tsubaki is a large global manufacturer of power transmission and conveyor chain products; its overhead chain and trolley offerings compete head-to-head with Frost in automotive and industrial conveyor applications.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCz2e5ubShbO1lTDDBAFL24Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/frost-inc.

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 Frost