What Steelman Industries does

Steelman Industries, Inc. is a privately held, custom manufacturer of industrial thermal processing equipment founded in 1957 and headquartered in Kilgore, Texas. The company designs and builds industrial process ovens (Walk-In/Truck-In, Bench/Cabinet, and Tunnel/Conveyor configurations in gas and electric variants) and burn-off ovens for heat-cleaning applications. Its product portfolio is supported by peripheral electrical equipment including phase converters and power factor correction capacitors, the latter sold through a partner site at CapacitorConverters.com. The company is vertically integrated, manufacturing fully assembled and tested units at a single Kilgore facility and shipping globally.

Steelman's technology stack is built around patented oven innovations including the Top-Down Heating System (U.S. Patent 5,351,632), Automatic Process Control (U.S. Patent 5,189,963), Venturi Diffuser (Patent 5,857,455), Rate-of-Change Control, High-Fire Afterburner, and a PLC-based touch-screen interface with network monitoring and datalogging capabilities. All burn-off ovens are built to NFPA, FM, and UL standards, with control panels UL listed and an afterburner designed to maintain 1,500-1,800°F for more than 1/2 second residence time to meet air quality standards. Reported performance outcomes include uniform temperature distribution within +/-10°F in some models, up to 12 volume changes per minute in high-circulation units, and part temperature control within 5°F of setpoint.

The business model is direct-to-customer custom manufacturing with quote-based pricing, no public price list, and multi-year contract cadence implied by the equipment lifecycle. Go-to-market is consultative enterprise field sales through dedicated sales engineers for burn-off ovens and bake/process ovens, supported by a parts and service department that maintains replacement availability for 30 years. Customer segments are organized vertically: Electric Motor & Coil Winding (primary), Finishing & Coatings (primary), Plastics & Fiber (primary), and Tunnel/Conveyor Oven Industries (secondary). Marketing is conducted primarily through the company website, technical documentation, an industrial oven project gallery, video content, industry events including the EASA Convention, and referral-based business. Steelman claims global reach, particularly within the Plastics and Fiber Industries.

Name

Steelman Industries

Legal name

Steelman Industries, Inc.

Website

https://steelman.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Steelman Industries is a private, custom manufacturer of industrial process ovens, burn-off ovens, phase converters, and power factor correction equipment, founded in 1957 and headquartered in Kilgore, Texas. It serves electric motor service, finishing and coatings, plastics and fiber industries globally via direct factory sales and patented oven technologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Ovens and Heat Processing Equipment

NAICS

Industrial Process Furnace and Oven Manufacturing (333994)

SIC

Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567)

akta.pro primary industry

Boilers, Furnaces & Process Heating Equipment (IMAHAKAD)

Keywords

• Industrial process ovens
• Burn-off ovens
• Phase converters
• Power factor correction
• Heat cleaning equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Kilgore

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industrial Process Ovens: Manufacture and sale of custom-sized industrial process ovens including walk-in/truck-in ovens, bench/cabinet ovens, and tunnel/conveyor ovens. Available in gas and electric models. Sold directly to industrial customers for applications including finishing, electric motor rewinding, and plastics processing.
2. Burn-Off Ovens: Manufacture and sale of heat-cleaning/burn-off ovens with patented technologies. Used for removing coatings, varnish, plastics, and rubber from metal substrates. Includes electric motor industry ovens, finishing industry ovens, and plastics/rubber industry ovens.
3. Phase Converters and Power Factor Correction Equipment: Steelman Phase Converters offer three phase power when only single phase power is available. Power Factor Correction capacitors reduce electrical load by offsetting the magnetizing current of motors. Related products available through partner site CapacitorConverters.com.
4. Parts and Service: Replacement parts, technical support, and service for existing ovens. Support available 30 years down the road for customers. Toll-free support line at 1-800-BURN-OFF.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Steelman Industries designs, manufactures, and sells custom-sized industrial process ovens (walk-in/truck-in, bench/cabinet, tunnel/conveyor) and burn-off (heat-cleaning) ovens for industrial customers in the electric motor/service, finishing/coatings, and plastics/fibers industries. The company also manufactures phase converters and power factor correction capacitors that provide three-phase power and improve energy efficiency at industrial facilities, with related products sold through a partner site.

Product overview

Steelman Industries manufactures a comprehensive portfolio of industrial thermal processing equipment, centered around two core product lines: Industrial Process Ovens and Burn-Off Ovens. The Industrial Process Oven line includes Walk-In/Truck-In Ovens, Bench/Cabinet Ovens, and Tunnel/Conveyor Ovens, all available in gas and electric configurations for curing, preheating, and heat-treating applications across finishing, electric motor, and plastics industries. The Burn-Off Oven line uses patented top-down heating technology for heat-cleaning operations in the electric service, finishing, and plastics/rubber industries. Supporting products include Phase Converters and Power Factor Correction Equipment. The company has over 60 years of experience manufacturing custom-sized industrial ovens with patented technologies including the Venturi Diffuser, Automatic Process Control, and Rate-of-Change Control systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Process Ovens Custom-sized industrial process ovens used for curing, preheating, baking, and heat-treating applications across finishing/coatings, electric motor winding, fibers, rubber, and plastics industries. Available in gas and electric configurations, in walk-in/truck-in, bench/cabinet, and tunnel/conveyor formats.
• Burn-Off Ovens (Heat-Cleaning Ovens) Heat-cleaning ovens using patented technologies (top-down heating, rate-of-change control, automatic process control) for safe, reliable cleaning of coated parts, electric motor windings, and plastic/rubber materials. Configured for electric service, finishing, and plastics/other industries.
• Walk-In / Truck-In Ovens Large-capacity industrial process ovens available in gas and electric models, designed for walk-in or truck-in loading of materials for curing and heat treatment applications.
• Bench / Cabinet Ovens Compact electric-only industrial ovens available in various standard and custom sizes for paint curing, baking, metal finishing, and repair applications. Built to 500°F maximum with standard features including purge timer, forced exhaust, air circulation, and explosion relief.
• Tunnel / Conveyor Ovens High-temperature industrial ovens designed for continuous production processes, available in gas and electric models with overhead rail accommodations and compatible with existing conveyor systems in manufacturing facilities.
• Phase Converters Steelman Phase Converters provide three-phase power when only single-phase power is available, enabling operation of industrial equipment in facilities with limited power infrastructure. Related products (including Rotary Converters and Static Phase Converters) are available via partner site CapacitorConverters.com.
• Power Factor Correction Equipment Steelman Power Factor Correction capacitors reduce electrical load by offsetting the magnetizing current of motors, improving energy efficiency in industrial facilities.
• Parts and Service Replacement parts, technical support, and service for Steelman ovens, available to existing customers for up to 30 years, with a toll-free support line.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ovens operating successfully for 50+ years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CapacitorConverters.comminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner site for Power Factor Correction Equipment, Rotary Converters, and Static Phase Converters. Linked from Steelman Industries website. Offers related electrical equipment products for customers needing complete power solutions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Vulcan Catalytic Systems: Vulcan Catalytic Systems manufactures thermal oxidizers and catalytic systems for industrial emissions control, overlapping with Steelman's afterburner technology for burn-off ovens. Serves similar industrial customers with complementary thermal processing equipment.

Others

• Cat Pumps: While primarily known for high-pressure pumps, Cat Pumps serves industrial cleaning and manufacturing markets. Serves as an adjacent industrial equipment manufacturer rather than direct oven competitor, but shares similar customer base in industrial manufacturing sectors.

Direct peers

• Despatch Industries: Despatch Industries manufactures industrial process ovens, furnaces, and thermal processing equipment for similar applications including curing, drying, and heat treatment. Directly competes with Steelman in the industrial process oven market with comparable product categories and customer segments.
• LEWCO Inc. LEWCO manufactures industrial process ovens, conveyor ovens, and batch ovens for finishing, heat treating, and curing applications. Directly comparable to Steelman with similar custom-engineering approach and overlapping customer base in coatings and manufacturing industries.
• Grieve Corporation: Grieve Corporation is a manufacturer of industrial ovens and furnaces used for curing, baking, drying, and heat treating applications. Competes directly with Steelman in walk-in ovens, bench ovens, and specialty industrial oven markets serving similar manufacturing customers.
• Wisconsin Oven: Wisconsin Oven manufactures industrial batch ovens, conveyor ovens, and specialty ovens for curing, drying, and heat treating. Competes with Steelman in walk-in ovens and truck-in ovens for industrial applications with similar custom manufacturing capabilities.
• Trent Inc. Trent Inc. manufactures industrial process ovens and heat processing equipment for various industries including coatings, electronics, and aerospace. Offers similar product categories to Steelman with comparable custom-engineering and industrial customer focus.

Broad incumbents

• Nabertherm: Nabertherm is a major international manufacturer of industrial furnaces and ovens for heat treatment applications. Offers broader product portfolio than Steelman with global reach, competing in high-temperature process heating equipment markets.
• Ipsen (now part of ALD): Ipsen (now part of ALD/Advanced Vacuum Systems) manufactures industrial heat treatment furnaces and ovens for aerospace, automotive, and tooling industries. Competes with Steelman in specialized heat treatment applications with broader technology portfolio.
• Thermal Product Solutions (Blue M): Thermal Product Solutions (including Blue M brand) is a larger manufacturer of industrial ovens, furnaces, and environmental chambers. Competes with Steelman across multiple oven categories but offers broader product portfolio and serves wider industrial markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

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 Steelman Industries