Metro Elevator
Metro Elevator is a privately held Indianapolis-based distributor founded in 1970 that sells, leases, and refurbishes rack-and-pinion construction hoists and industrial lifts for general contractors, developers, and industrial operators across North America, with a 40+ unit rental fleet and authorized Fraco distribution rights.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersIndianapolis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Metro Elevator does
Metro Elevator Co., Inc. is a privately held, Indianapolis-based distributor and service provider founded in 1970 that specializes in the sale, lease, and refurbishment of rack-and-pinion construction hoists and industrial lifts for the North American market. The company operates as the authorized North American distributor for Fraco Construction and Industrial Hoists and also supplies Champion, Bocker, Alimak, Avro, and Strohs equipment, with a product line spanning single and twin car construction hoists (4,500-8,000 lb. capacities, 130-300 ft/min travel speeds), stationary industrial lifts (240-1,500 kg, up to 300m lifting height), and material-only hoists. Underlying equipment incorporates microprocessor control systems, frequency-controlled drive units, and centralized lubrication, but these are standard industrial automation features rather than proprietary AI systems.
The business operates a sales-led, quote-based go-to-market model with revenue diversified across four streams: one-time equipment sales (new and refurbished), recurring equipment leasing from a fleet of 40+ hoists, professional service and maintenance (erection, dismantling, safety audits, drop tests, service agreements), and refurbishing/remanufacturing of third-party rack-and-pinion hoists. Customers include general contractors and property developers (Messer Construction, Clayco), institutional owners (University of Cincinnati), and industrial end-users in power generation, oil refining, mining, and manufacturing. Distribution occurs through direct field sales, inside phone sales, and digital quote requests. A distinctive brand initiative is the "Ride the Pink Elevator" Susan G Komen partnership, through which Metro and its contractor network have raised over $90,000 for breast cancer awareness. Leadership consists of CEO Charlie Ernstes, Executive Vice President Roger Brummett, Manager of Marketing and Public Relations Rachelle Brown, and Project Manager Ryan Brutz.
Metro Elevator firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Metro Elevator
- Legal name
- Metro Elevator Co., Inc.
- Website
- https://metroelevator.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Metro Elevator is a privately held Indianapolis-based distributor founded in 1970 that sells, leases, and refurbishes rack-and-pinion construction hoists and industrial lifts for general contractors, developers, and industrial operators across North America, with a 40+ unit rental fleet and authorized Fraco distribution rights.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Metro Elevator industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Construction Hoisting Equipment
- NAICS
- Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923), Elevator and Moving Stairway Manufacturing (333921)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Construction & Mining (No Petro) Machinery & Equip (5082), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Elevator, Escalator & Vertical Transportation Installation/Service (IMAFALAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing (IMAHAJAN), Elevator, Escalator & Lift Maintenance (IMAIABAF), Freight/Service Elevator Service & Maintenance (BPABAIAB)
Keywords
Where Metro Elevator is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Indianapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Metro Elevator business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Equipment Sales: Sale of new construction hoists and industrial lifts including Champion, Fraco, Bocker, Alimak, Avro, and Strohs equipment. Capacities range from 1,000 lbs to 8,000 lbs.
- Equipment Leasing: Rental of construction hoists and industrial lifts from a fleet of over 40 hoists. Leasing options include various models such as Champion US-60-1R, US-60-2R, US-80-1R, and Fraco SEH Series.
- Service and Maintenance: Complete erection, dismantling, maintenance, and technical services for all types of construction hoists. Services include safety audits, drop tests, service agreements, supervision only agreements, parts ordering, union approved labor, equipment testing, and car modifications.
- Hoist Refurbishing: Rehabilitation and re-manufacture of non-functioning or under-performing rack-and-pinion hoists to like-new condition.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Equipment for sale including new and refurbished hoists |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Metro Elevator product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Metro Elevator sells, leases, and refurbishes rack-and-pinion construction hoists and industrial lifts for construction and industrial applications across North America. It also provides erection, dismantling, maintenance, and technical services from a rental fleet of over 40 hoists.
Product overview
Metro Elevator is a construction and industrial lifting equipment company offering a portfolio of rack-and-pinion hoists and industrial lifts for lease or sale. The product lineup centers on Champion (US-60 and US-80 series) and Fraco SEH Series construction hoists available in single and twin car configurations with capacities from 4,500 to 8,000 lbs., complemented by Bocker Industrial SERVICE-Lifts for permanent industrial installations. The company also offers material-only hoists, hoist refurbishing and remanufacturing services, and comprehensive maintenance and leasing options. A distinctive brand initiative is the "Ride The Pink Elevator" campaign—a Susan G Komen partnership deploying pink-painted hoists to raise breast cancer awareness and funds.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Champion US-60-1R Construction Hoist Single car rack-and-pinion construction hoist with 6,000 lbs. capacity and travel speeds up to 150 ft. per minute; standard car size 12'4" x 4'8" x 7'2". For construction companies needing personnel and material transport.
- Champion US-60-2R Construction Hoist Twin car rack-and-pinion construction hoist with 6,000 lbs. capacity; designed for simultaneous transport of personnel and materials on construction sites.
- Champion US-80-1R Construction Hoist Single car rack-and-pinion construction hoist with 8,000 lbs. capacity and travel speeds up to 150 or 300 ft. per minute; larger car size 12'4" x 6'0" x 7'2".
- Champion US-80-2R Construction Hoist Twin car rack-and-pinion construction hoist with 8,000 lbs. capacity; larger car configuration for high-capacity construction applications.
- Fraco SEH Series Construction Hoist Rack-and-pinion construction hoists available in single or twin car configurations; payloads from 4,500 to 8,000 lbs., travel speeds of 130-300 ft/min, maximum height 1,310 ft; compliant with ANSI A10.4-2007, CSA Z185-M87, and EN 12159 standards.
- Bocker Industrial SERVICE-Lift Stationary industrial lift with maximum lifting height of 300m (expandable); capacity 240-1,500 kg or 3-16 persons; features frequency-controlled drive units, microprocessor control, integrated emergency-call unit, and floor/direction indicator.
- Material-Only Hoists Construction hoists designed exclusively for material transport, offering cost-effective lifting solutions for construction and renovation projects.
- Hoist Refurbishing Services Rehabilitation and remanufacturing services that restore non-functioning or under-performing rack-and-pinion hoists to like-new condition.
- Hoist Maintenance and Service Options Comprehensive maintenance services including safety audits, drop tests, service agreements, supervision-only agreements, parts ordering, and equipment testing tower services.
- Hoist Leasing Options Flexible leasing arrangements with optional equipment including steel base pads, base platforms, landing gates, intercom systems, upper platforms, safety interlocks, special tie-ins, operators, and jumping services.
- Industrial Lift Sales Permanent installation of industrial lifts for electric power plants, oil refineries, coal mines, and various industrial facilities; distributes Alimak, Avro, Bocker, and Strohs equipment.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced construction project timelines through efficient hoist deployment
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Metro Elevator
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Metro Elevator technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Metro Elevator partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.
- Dale Coyne RacingminorPartnership with Indy Car racing team Dale Coyne Racing for 2014 Indianapolis 500 sponsorship of driver Pippa Mann driving car #63. Part of broader sports sponsorship and brand awareness initiatives.
- Fraco Construction HoistscoreMetro Elevator is an authorized North American distributor for Fraco Construction and Industrial Hoists. They offer Fraco SEH Series rack and pinion construction hoists designed for safe and efficient transport of personnel and material, available in single or twin car configurations.
- Champion HoistcoreMetro Elevator offers Champion brand construction hoists including US-60-1R, US-60-2R, US-80-1R, and US-80-2R models for lease or sale. Champion hoists feature rack and pinion technology with capacities of 6,000-8,000 lbs.
- Susan G KomenflagshipStrategic charitable partnership for the Ride the Pink Elevator campaign to raise breast cancer awareness and research funds. Metro erects pink construction hoists at project sites and partners with contractors to engage employees in fundraising. Total raised over $90,000 across multiple cities.
- BockercoreMetro Elevator is a distributor for Bocker industrial lifts including the SERVICE-Lift model. Bocker industrial lifts offer maximum lifting height of 300m, capacities of 240-1,500 kg, and accommodate 3-16 persons.
- AlimakminorMetro Elevator carries Alimak industrial lift equipment as part of their product offering for industrial applications.
- AvrominorMetro Elevator is a distributor for Avro industrial lifts as part of their comprehensive industrial equipment offerings.
- Indianapolis ColtsminorCorporate sponsor for the Indianapolis Colts in their hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana as part of sports sponsorship strategy.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Metro Elevator competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Gorbel: US manufacturer of overhead cranes, hoists, and ergonomic material handling systems. Closely comparable on the industrial lift side (power plants, factories) but lighter in construction hoists.
- Otis Worldwide: Global leader in passenger elevators, escalators, and modernizations. Adjacent rather than direct, since Otis focuses on permanent building elevators rather than rack-and-pinion construction hoists, but it competes for service budgets in construction and renovation contexts.
- Manitowoc Company: Manufacturer of cranes and lifting equipment including tower cranes and mobile cranes. Adjacent competitor for high-rise construction vertical transport solutions.
- Terex Corporation: Diversified global manufacturer of aerial work platforms, material handling, and lifting equipment. Competes with Metro indirectly via its broader lifting portfolio and rental channel presence.
- Liebherr: Major construction equipment OEM with a tower crane and material handling portfolio. Competes for vertical-transport spend on large construction sites even though its core product line is cranes rather than rack-and-pinion hoists.
Direct peers
- Alimak Group: Global leader in construction hoists, industrial lifts, and after-sales service with a public listing. Competes head-to-head with Metro's Fraco and Champion offerings and operates a large direct sales and rental footprint in North America.
- Safi (Geda USA): Sells rack-and-pinion construction and industrial hoists in North America through Geda USA, overlapping with Metro's core product category of personnel/material hoists for high-rise and industrial applications.
- BetaMax Hoists: North American supplier of construction hoists and material lifts for commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects. Directly comparable product line, customer base, and rental-led business model.
Regional players
- Zoomlion Heavy Industry: Chinese heavy equipment OEM with global construction machinery, crane, and aerial platform offerings. Competes with Metro only indirectly in North America but increasingly active in global hoist markets.
Others
- Mazzella Companies: US distributor and service provider for overhead cranes, hoists, and material handling equipment. Comparable distributor-plus-service business model for industrial lifting customers, particularly in the Midwest.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Metro Elevator social profiles
Digital presenceMetro Elevator financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Metro Elevator leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Metro Elevator funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Metro Elevator 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 Metro Elevator
What does Metro Elevator do?
Metro Elevator sells, leases, and refurbishes rack-and-pinion construction hoists and industrial lifts for construction and industrial applications across North America. It also provides erection, dismantling, maintenance, and technical services from a rental fleet of over 40 hoists.
Is Metro Elevator a public or private company?
Metro Elevator is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Metro Elevator founded?
Metro Elevator was founded in 1970. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Metro Elevator based?
Metro Elevator is headquartered in Indianapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Metro Elevator make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are equipment Leasing, service and Maintenance and hoist Refurbishing.
Who are Metro Elevator's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Gorbel, Otis Worldwide, Manitowoc Company, Terex Corporation and Liebherr. Direct peers are Alimak Group, Safi (Geda USA) and BetaMax Hoists. Zoomlion Heavy Industry is listed as a regional player. Mazzella Companies is listed as an others.
Does Metro Elevator have an API?
No public API is recorded for Metro Elevator.
What industry is Metro Elevator in?
Metro Elevator's product category is Construction Hoisting Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFALAI, Elevator, Escalator & Vertical Transportation Installation/Service, with a secondary code of IMAHAJAN, Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing. Its NAICS code is 333923 and its SIC code is 5082.