Will-Burt
Will-Burt is a 100+ year-old, employee-owned US manufacturer of mobile telescoping masts, light towers, pan/tilt positioners, and portable rechargeable lighting serving defense, government, first responders, telecommunications, energy, and commercial markets globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1918
- HeadquartersOrrville, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Will-Burt does
The Will-Burt Company, incorporated in 1918 and headquartered in Orrville, Ohio, is a 100% employee-owned S corporation (ESOP since 1985) that manufactures mobile telescoping masts, towers, light towers, trailer systems, and pan/tilt positioners for defense, government, first responders, telecommunications, energy, and commercial markets. The company operates four manufacturing facilities in the USA, UK, Germany (via the 2012 GEROH acquisition), and Singapore, all certified to ISO 9001:2015. Its product portfolio spans pneumatic, electro-mechanical, spindle, cable-driven, and manual telescoping mast architectures with payloads ranging from 20 lb (Hurry-Up manual push-up) to 1,200 lb at 80 ft height (Ultra Heavy-Duty pneumatic), alongside the Night Scan family of portable and mobile light towers, NightSearcher-branded rechargeable LED lighting (distributed in the US), PositionIt/AccuPoint pan-tilt positioners, environmental camera housings, GSA Class 5/6 secure storage solutions, and contract manufacturing services including powder coating and rapid prototyping. Proprietary technologies include the patent-pending Remote Locking System (MIL-STD 810G certified), D-TEC overhead power line detection, EZ Raze payload elevation, and carbon fiber Expedition Series masts, supported by ATEX/IECEx hazardous-location certifications on select products.
Will-Burt's go-to-market combines dedicated direct enterprise field sales teams (including a North America Night Scan Sales Team) with a global network of international representatives, distributors, service centers, and tow-industry lighting resellers, complemented by a GSA procurement channel for US government buyers. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, consistent with engineered-to-order industrial equipment, and the company has no public revenue or external funding disclosures. Multiple certifications (ISO 9001:2015 globally; MIL-STD 810G on RLS; ATEX/IECEx and Class I/II/III DIV ratings on Safatex RA; UK Network Rail approval on certain camera housings) and a 100+ year track record anchor the company's positioning in regulated, qualification-driven end-markets. The product mix spans defense and tactical military applications, ENG/broadcast, cellular and COW/COLT telecom, fire and emergency scene lighting, oil and gas field operations, and government secure storage, with the company describing itself as the world's premier manufacturer of mobile telescoping masts, towers, and pan/tilt positioners.
Will-Burt firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Will-Burt
- Legal name
- The Will-Burt Company
- Website
- https://willburt.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1918
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Will-Burt is a 100+ year-old, employee-owned US manufacturer of mobile telescoping masts, light towers, pan/tilt positioners, and portable rechargeable lighting serving defense, government, first responders, telecommunications, energy, and commercial markets globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Will-Burt industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Telescoping Mast Systems
- NAICS
- Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531), Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220), Small Electrical Appliance Manufacturing (335210)
- SIC
- Communications Equipment, Nec (3669), Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Transmission & Distribution Line Equipment (Bushings, Insulators, Arresters, Conductors, Hardware) (IMAGAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Telecom Tower & Mast Construction (Greenfield Builds, Foundations, Erection) (IMAFAIAC)
Keywords
Where Will-Burt is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Orrville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Will-Burt business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Product Sales: Sale of manufactured mobile telescoping masts, towers, light towers, positioners, camera housings, and accessories. Products are sold directly and through distributors to defense, government, first responders, and commercial markets.
- Contract Manufacturing Services: Turn-key manufacturing solutions including metal fabrication, powder coating, and rapid prototyping services under ISO 9001:2015 quality system for external customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise and government pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Will-Burt product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Will-Burt manufactures mobile telescoping masts, towers, trailer-mounted mobile elevation systems, and pan/tilt positioners for defense, government, first responders, telecommunications, and energy markets. The product portfolio also includes portable rechargeable LED lighting (NightSearcher line), Night Scan light towers for scene illumination, environmental camera housings, integrated video solutions, GSA-rated secure storage containers, and contract manufacturing services such as powder coating and rapid prototyping under ISO 9001:2015.
Product overview
The Will-Burt Company is the world's premier manufacturer of mobile telescoping masts, towers, trailer systems, and pan/tilt positioners. The product portfolio includes: Rechargeable LED lighting products (SportStar, Solaris Duo, MegaStar, Solaris Pro, Tower Pro, WorkStar Connect, Galaxy Pro, KangaStar, Safatex, Lifeguard, Light Wave, Explorer XPL, Panther XHP, Pi-Lit Smart Flares, Pulsar Pro, Single Pulsar AAA) distributed under NightSearcher brand; Telescopic masts and towers including Pneumatic Ultra Heavy-Duty, Pneumatic Locking, Pneumatic Non-Locking, Low Profile, Stiletto, Inflexion, SPM Spindle, GEROH Cable Driven (KVL/KVR), AntennaMast AM2, Expedition Series (Ranger Mast, Ranger Pack), Hurry-Up, QT Series, QEAM; Night Scan portable and mobile light towers (IQ, Chief, Powerlite, Vertical, Xtreme, HDT variants); Positioners and camera housings (PositionIt, AccuPoint); Rapid Deployment Mobile Elevation Systems (trailers, compact systems); Video solutions (cameras, DVR, controllers); FRC LED scene lighting; GSA secure storage solutions; and manufacturing services (powder coating, rapid prototyping). The company operates under ISO 9001:2015 quality standards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Night Scan: Portable and mobile light towers for scene lighting, first responders, military, and industrial applications.
- PositionIt
- AccuPoint
- D-TEC
- SportStar
- NightSearcher
Products and services
- Pneumatic Ultra Heavy-Duty Telescoping Mast
Quantifiable outcome
- Ultra Heavy-Duty mast delivers 1,200 lbs (544 kg) payload capacity at 59 ft (18 m) height at 880 lb (399 kg) weight — lower weight than comparable hydraulic steel masts
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Will-Burt
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Will-Burt technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Will-Burt partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- GEROHcoreGEROH has been part of the Will-Burt group since 2012. This acquisition expanded the product portfolio significantly and enabled access to a broader product range with enhanced global partner network service capabilities. GEROH manufactures cable-driven telescoping masts (KVL, KVK, KVR series) and SPM spindle masts.
- NightSearchercoreWill-Burt is the exclusive US distributor of NightSearcher rechargeable lighting products, established in 1989. NightSearcher products are distributed under the Will-Burt brand in the United States. Products include portable rechargeable LED lights powered by lithium-ion batteries, designed for fire, law enforcement, towing, security, construction, and mining applications. Will-Burt holds stock of core products within the United States.
- Pi-LitminorWill-Burt has taken on Pi-Lit sequential warning lights (Smart Flares) as an additional product line. Pi-Lit combines patented communications technology with brilliant LEDs and Li-Ion rechargeable batteries providing a safety system for road-side emergencies, available in 6 and 10 packs in orange, blue, or red.
- Firetech (FRC)minorWill-Burt's lighting sales team offers the full line of Firetech (FRC) products to Fire Apparatus Dealers and Fire Departments through their Night Scan product distribution network.
- ESCA (Employee-Owned S Corporations of America)minorWill-Burt is a member of ESCA (Employee-Owned S Corporations of America), an association for employee-owned companies providing networking and advocacy.
- Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC)minorWill-Burt is a member of the Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC), supporting the company's ESOP employee ownership program.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Will-Burt competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Valmont Industries: Diversified infrastructure manufacturer serving electric utility, telecom, lighting, and transportation markets with engineered poles, structures, and coatings. Overlaps with Will-Burt in telecom and lighting hardware, but at significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.
- Doosan Portable Power: Manufactures portable light towers and mobile power solutions used in construction, mining, and events. Directly comparable to Will-Burt's mobile light towers in industrial/rental channels.
- Atlas Copco: Global industrial group with a portable light tower line (HiLight) that competes directly with Will-Burt's Night Scan and Solaris portable LED lighting products for construction, mining, and rental markets.
- Pelican Products: Manufactures rugged portable lighting and protective cases used in first-responder, military, and industrial settings. Adjacent competitor in rugged rechargeable lighting and warning/safety products overlapping Will-Burt's NightSearcher and Pi-Lit lines.
- Streamlight: Major US manufacturer of portable rechargeable flashlights and scene lighting for law enforcement, fire, industrial, and military markets. Broad incumbent competitor in the same rechargeable lighting category Will-Burt addresses.
- Rohn Products (CommScope): Long-established manufacturer of towers and supporting structures used in broadcast, wireless, and military applications via the Rohn brand inside CommScope. Most directly comparable legacy tower competitor to Will-Burt in serving communications infrastructure customers.
- Generac (Mobile Products / Tower Light): Owns mobile light tower brands after the Tower Light acquisition. Competes with Will-Burt's Night Scan line of mobile and towable light towers for first-responder, tow, and industrial rental customers.
Direct peers
- FoxFury: Designs and manufactures portable rechargeable LED scene lighting and tactical lighting used by first responders, military, and industrial customers. Directly comparable to Will-Burt's NightSearcher-distributed rechargeable lighting line.
- Trime: Italian/UK manufacturer specializing in towable and mobile light towers for construction, events, and emergency response. Comparable in product form factor and customer base to Will-Burt's Night Scan HDT portfolio.
- Sabre Industries: Designs and manufactures engineered structures including telecom, broadcast, and wind towers. Comparable to Will-Burt in producing steel/aluminum tower infrastructure for communications and energy customers, although Sabre focuses on larger fixed-site structures rather than mobile telescoping masts.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Will-Burt social profiles
Digital presenceWill-Burt compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Will-Burt financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Will-Burt leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Will-Burt subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Will-Burt funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Will-Burt 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 Will-Burt
What does Will-Burt do?
Will-Burt manufactures mobile telescoping masts, towers, trailer-mounted mobile elevation systems, and pan/tilt positioners for defense, government, first responders, telecommunications, and energy markets. The product portfolio also includes portable rechargeable LED lighting (NightSearcher line), Night Scan light towers for scene illumination, environmental camera housings, integrated video solutions, GSA-rated secure storage containers, and contract manufacturing services such as powder coating and rapid prototyping under ISO 9001:2015.
Is Will-Burt a public or private company?
Will-Burt is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Will-Burt founded?
Will-Burt was founded in 1918. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Will-Burt based?
Will-Burt is headquartered in Orrville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Will-Burt make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Hardware Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are contract Manufacturing Services.
Who are Will-Burt's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Valmont Industries, Doosan Portable Power, Atlas Copco, Pelican Products, Streamlight, Rohn Products (CommScope) and Generac (Mobile Products / Tower Light). Direct peers are FoxFury, Trime and Sabre Industries.
Does Will-Burt have an API?
No public API is recorded for Will-Burt.
What industry is Will-Burt in?
Will-Burt's product category is Mobile Telescoping Mast Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAAAF, Transmission & Distribution Line Equipment (Bushings, Insulators, Arresters, Conductors, Hardware), with a secondary code of IMAFAIAC, Telecom Tower & Mast Construction (Greenfield Builds, Foundations, Erection). Its NAICS code is 33531 and its SIC code is 3669.