Lisle

What Lisle does

Lisle Corporation is a Clarinda, Iowa-based manufacturer of specialty automotive tools, mechanic's creepers, lubrication and tire products, OEM components, and precision industrial work-holding devices, founded in 1903 by C.A. Lisle and operated today by third through sixth generation family members. The company controls its production through its own factory in Clarinda, supplemented by the Dunham Tool division in New Fairfield, Connecticut, and sells a catalog of more than 700 specialty tools across categories such as auto glass, battery, brakes, engine, exhaust, suspension, heavy duty, and tune-up applications. Notable proprietary product lines include magnetic drain plugs introduced in the 1930s, the Jeepers Creeper brand acquired in the 1950s, the Parts Brush line added in 2020, and Dunham Tool's expanding collets and CNC lathe systems based on a 1959 patent.

The company generates revenue through four primary streams: direct sales of specialty tools through its lislecorp.com e-commerce storefront and through automotive warehouse distributors and jobbers; private label manufacturing for leading tool and automotive part brand names dating back to the 1950s; OEM supply of ISO 9001:2015 certified magnetic drain plugs, breather vents, view gauges, and deep reach assemblies to heavy equipment, refrigeration, hydraulic systems, trucking, and automotive manufacturers; and Dunham Tool division sales of precision work-holding products through industrial and machine tool distributors and direct OEM relationships. Pricing is unit-based on individual products, with no subscription or recurring model, and the company supplements internal R&D through an Idea Program that pays royalties to more than 115 external inventors. The company is privately held with no institutional or external funding, has no disclosed AI capabilities, and serves customers globally through its distribution network.

Name

Lisle

Legal name

Lisle Corporation

Website

https://lislecorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1903

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Lisle Corporation is a 120-year-old, family-owned manufacturer of specialty automotive tools, mechanic's creepers, OEM magnetic plugs, and industrial work-holding devices, serving professional mechanics, fleet operators, and OEMs globally through distributors and direct e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Clarinda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Specialty Tools Sales: Direct sales of specialty automotive tools, creepers, lubrication products, and OEM components through e-commerce and distribution partners. Products are priced individually with one-time purchase model.
2. Private Label Manufacturing: Manufactures tools under private label for leading tool and automotive part brand names. This portion of business began in the 1950s and continues to thrive today.
3. Idea Program Royalties: Lisle pays royalties to more than 115 individuals who submitted successful tool ideas through the company's Award or Royalty Agreement program.
4. Industrial Machinery (Dunham): Dunham Tool division sells expanding collets, mandrels, collet chucks, spindle headstocks, and other work-holding devices through industrial distributors and directly to OEMs and end users worldwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lisle Corporation manufactures and markets specialty automotive tools (700+ products), mechanic's creepers under the Jeepers Creeper brand, lubrication and tire products (oil drains, funnels, pans), industrial brushes (Parts Brush), OEM components (magnetic drain plugs, breather vents, view gauges), and precision work-holding systems via its Dunham Tool division (expanding collets, mandrels, CNC collet chucks, spindle headstocks). Products are manufactured at the original factory in Clarinda, Iowa and sold through e-commerce, automotive and industrial distributors, OEM/private label arrangements, and direct to industrial end users.

Product overview

Lisle Corporation is a manufacturer of specialty tools and related products operating as a single unified product portfolio organized into distinct divisions. The core offerings include Specialty Tools (500+ automotive specialty tools), Jeepers Creeper creepers (plastic and steel creepers), Lubrication & Tire Products (oil drains, funnels, pans), the acquired Parts Brush™ brand (industrial brushes), OEM Products Division (magnetic plugs and components), and Dunham Tools Division (precision work holding equipment). The specialty automotive tool line now consists of more than 700 products, with manufacturing at the original factory in Clarinda, Iowa built in 1903.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jeepers Creepers: Brand name for mechanic's garage creepers, including plastic creepers and steel frame creepers. The line has been an industry favorite for more than 50 years.
• Parts Brush
• Dunham Tool

Products and services

• Specialty Tools Over 500 professional-grade automotive specialty tools designed for specific repair applications across auto glass, battery, bearing/grease/seal, body, brakes, brushes, disconnect tools, electrical, engine, exhaust, fan clutch, fasteners, filters, FWD, general, heavy duty, hose, just clips, pickup tools, plug gappers, pullers/installers, radiators, scrapers, suspension, torx, and tune-up categories. Targets professional mechanics and automotive repair facilities.
• Jeepers Creeper (Creepers) Plastic creepers and steel frame creepers sold under the Jeepers Creeper brand, available worldwide for over 50 years. Includes Low Profile Plastic Creeper in multiple colors, Jeepers Creeper Seat with steel frame, Fold Up Creeper with padded vinyl, and Large Wheel Plastic Creeper. Targets professional mechanics and automotive enthusiasts.
• Lubrication & Tire Products Plastic drains, dispensers, pans, and other products for shop and vehicle maintenance. Includes oil lift drains (8, 18, and 55 gallon capacities), transmission drain funnels, multi-drain tubs, drain pans, and multi-application oil funnel sets. Targets professional mechanics, auto shops, and fleet maintenance operations.
• Parts Brush™ Detailing brushes, bucket brushes, flow-through brushes, ergonomic brushes, flat brushes, valved brushes, and tubes acquired for industrial parts washers. Includes Atlasta Soft Tip Brush, Atlasta Ultra Soft Brush, Oriflo Flow-Thru Brush, and MultiJet Flow-Thru Brush. Targets industrial parts washing and automotive detailing operations.
• OEM Products Division ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer supplying magnetic drain plugs, deep reach tank units, view gauges, and breather vents to heavy equipment, refrigeration, hydraulic systems, trucking, and automotive industries. Sold to OEMs for incorporation as components in finished equipment.
• Dunham Tools Division Precision work and tool holding products including Expanding Collets, 5C Collets, R8 Collets, Expanding Mandrels, CNC Lathe Bar Pullers, Air Collet Closers, CNC Collet Chucks, Air Collet Chucks, and 50M Spindle Headstocks. Sold worldwide through industrial distributors, machine tool distributors, and direct to OEMs and end users.
• Magnetic Drain Plugs Magnetic drain plugs in pipe thread, straight thread, metric thread, and deep reach assembly configurations. Used extensively in heavy equipment, refrigeration, hydraulic systems, trucking, and automotive applications to capture metallic contaminants in lubricants.
• Parts Brush Product Lines (Atlasta, Oriflo, MultiJet, Time Saver, Brake Beauty) Sub-brand product lines of parts cleaning and detailing brushes including Atlasta Soft Tip and Ultra Soft brushes, Oriflo Flow-Thru Brushes, MultiJet Flow-Thru Brushes, Time Saver brushes, and Brake Beauty brushes for industrial parts washers and detailing applications.

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Industrial DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDunham Tool sells products worldwide through select Industrial Distributors and Machine Tool Distributors as a key distribution channel for industrial work-holding products
• Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)coreTechnology or IntegrationDunham Tool works closely with OEMs that use Dunham products as critical components in their standard and special machines; also works with international corporations' special machine building groups

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Snap-on Incorporated: Snap-on is the largest U.S. specialty automotive hand tool manufacturer, selling through a franchisee-based mobile distribution network directly into professional repair shops — the same end customer Lisle serves through warehouse distributors. Both companies compete across hand tools, diagnostics, and shop equipment, with Snap-on operating at materially larger scale.
• GearWrench: GearWrench designs and distributes professional hand tools, including specialty automotive tools and ratcheting wrenches. Comparable to Lisle in specialty automotive tool product lines sold through professional distribution.
• Wright Tool: Wright Tool manufactures professional-grade hand tools (wrenches, sockets, pliers) for industrial, aerospace, and automotive markets. Comparable to Lisle in manufacturing U.S.-made professional hand tools sold through industrial and automotive distribution.
• Matco Tools: Matco Tools sells professional automotive hand tools and shop equipment via a mobile franchise distribution model targeting the same professional mechanic customer as Lisle. Overlap is strong in specialty hand tools, diagnostics, and shop equipment categories.
• SK Hand Tool: SK Hand Tool manufactures professional mechanics' hand tools (wrenches, sockets, ratcheting tools) sold through automotive and industrial distribution. Direct competitor to Lisle in the pro-grade hand tool category.
• Mac Tools: Mac Tools is a professional automotive hand tool brand selling primarily through mobile distributors to mechanics and shop technicians. Closely comparable to Lisle's specialty tools and creepers business in target customer and category.
• Cornwell Quality Tools: Cornwell is a U.S.-based professional automotive and industrial hand tool manufacturer using a mobile van sales model into automotive and industrial mechanics — overlapping with Lisle's professional shop and heavy-duty fleet customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Craftsman: Craftsman is a broad-line U.S. tool brand (now Stanley Black & Decker owned) with deep automotive tool heritage and wide retail distribution. Overlaps with Lisle in hand tools and creepers but is a mass-market rather than specialty-focused competitor.
• Stanley Black & Decker: Stanley Black & Decker is a broad-line global tool powerhouse (Craftsman, DeWalt, Stanley, GearWrench, Mac Tools) with significant overlap to Lisle in hand tools, mechanic's tools, and automotive specialty tools, though at vastly larger scale and via mass retail channels.
• Hardinge Inc. Hardinge manufactures precision CNC lathes, machining centers, and work-holding devices, directly comparable to Lisle's Dunham Tools division in industrial precision work-holding and OEM machine component applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lislecorp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LisleCorporation
• Facebookfacebook.com/Lisle-Corporation-110878528947421
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lisle-corporation
• Instagraminstagram.com/lisle_corporation/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@lislecorporation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Lisle