WaChain

What WaChain does

Washington Chain & Supply, Inc. (WaChain) is a Seattle-based, privately held industrial distributor and light manufacturer of marine, offshore, and heavy-industrial hardware. Founded in 1989 and operating for more than 35 years, the company maintains one of the largest U.S. inventories of domestic and foreign, new and used anchors, anchor chains, and fittings. Its product portfolio spans anchor chain systems (stud link, open link buoy, grades 30-100, stainless Types 304/316), anchors (Kedge, US Navy Stockless, Hall, AC/14 high-holding-power), chain attachments, mooring and towing hardware, quick-release hooks up to 200 tons, deck hardware (cleats, chocks, bitts, bollards), wire rope, buoys, and floats. WaChain also sells proprietary branded lines including MARQUIP detachable links and tow plates (up to 624,000-pound pull capacity), Mammoth Shackles (ASME B30.6, RFID-tagged via InfoChip, proof-tested to 2x Working Load Limit), and the SRS Mammoth synthetic rope socket system.

The business operates an enterprise field-sales model, shipping from its Seattle headquarters, multiple U.S. stocking locations, and a network of overseas suppliers to customers in the marine, industrial/construction, and offshore verticals. WaChain monetizes primarily through one-time product sales (unit pricing, custom orders, chain by the foot or drum) and a Testing & Inspection service line offering pull-testing up to 2,000,000 pounds with ABSCG, DNV, Lloyds, and other bureau certifications. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and is a distributor of Bethlehem Wire Rope along with other rigging brands. It is bootstrapped with no disclosed funding, M&A, or institutional ownership.

Strategically, WaChain is investing in proprietary product extensions (MARQUIP, Mammoth, SRS), expanding its international sales footprint, and broadening its partner brand portfolio (e.g., Crosby, Cortland International) to deepen its position as a single-source supplier of certified anchoring, mooring, lifting, and towing equipment.

Name

WaChain

Legal name

Washington Chain & Supply, Inc.

Website

https://wachain.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WaChain is a Seattle-based distributor and light manufacturer of marine, industrial, and offshore hardware — including anchors, chain, shackles, tow plates, and synthetic rope systems — serving enterprise customers with certified testing, a large U.S. inventory, and global shipping.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Hardware Supply

NAICS

Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (4234)

SIC

Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084)

akta.pro primary industry

Deck Fittings & Hardware (Bitts, Fairleads, Cleats, Anchors & Chains) (IMAJAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cargo Handling & Lifting Equipment (Cranes, Derricks, Hoists) (IMAJAIAB)

Keywords

• Marine hardware supply
• Anchor chain systems
• Mooring equipment
• Offshore rigging hardware
• Industrial lifting gear

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Inventory, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Sale of marine hardware including anchors, anchor chains, shackles, wire rope, and related fittings. Products sold as individual items or by foot/drum. Both new and used inventory available.
2. Testing & Inspection Services: Pull-testing and certification services for chain, wire rope, shackles, and lifting gear. Capable of handling 2,000,000 pounds. Provides ABSCG, DNV, and Lloyds proof test certifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Washington Chain & Supply (WaChain) distributes and supplies heavy-duty marine, industrial, and offshore hardware including anchors, anchor chains, shackles, wire rope, mooring and towing equipment, and related fittings. The company also operates pull-testing and certification services with capacities up to 2,000,000 pounds, supported by ISO 9001 certification and ABS/DNV/Lloyds proof test documentation.

Product overview

Washington Chain & Supply (WCS) is a marine, industrial, and offshore equipment supplier serving the industry for over 35 years. The company offers an extensive portfolio of products centered on anchor chain systems, mooring hardware, and lifting equipment. Core offerings include Mammoth Shackles and SRS (Synthetic Rope Socket) Mammoth termination systems, comprehensive chain products (Di-Lok, Stud Link, Open Link Buoy, Long Link Lashing, Grade 30-100 chains, stainless steel), and diverse anchor types (Kedge, US Navy Stockless, Hall, Stockless, LWT, RWT, AC/14). The product line extends to chain attachments (swivel shackles, joining links, Marquip detachable links), Marquip-branded tow plates and shackles, quick-release mooring hooks (25-200 ton capacity), buoyancy equipment (inflatable floats, Jim Buoy, spherical/cylindrical buoys), deck hardware (cleats, chocks, bitts), and wire rope products. WCS also provides testing and inspection services with 2,000,000-pound pull-testing capability and certifications (ABSCG, DNV, Lloyds).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mammoth Shackles High-strength quenched and tempered alloy shackles meeting ASME B30.6 standards, proof tested to twice the Working Load Limit, RFID-equipped, designed for marine, industrial, and offshore mooring, lifting, and towing applications.
• SRS (Synthetic Rope Socket) Mammoth System Field-installable synthetic rope termination socket system that achieves 100% efficiency and exceeds HMPE rope breaking strength, for marine and industrial synthetic rope applications.
• Chain Products Extensive inventory of chain products spanning Di-Lok, stud link, open link buoy, long link lashing, dock fender, Grade 30-100, and Type 304/316 stainless steel chain for marine, industrial, and offshore applications.
• Chain & Wire Rope Stoppers Marine-grade stoppers including Carpenter, Rollered, Bar, Ulster, Hi-Torque, Pelican Hook, and Devil's Claw designs for securing anchor chains and wire ropes on vessels.
• Anchors Comprehensive anchor inventory including Kedge, US Navy Stockless, Hall, Stockless, LWT, RWT (Workboat), and AC/14 high-holding-power anchors for marine and offshore vessels.
• Chain Attachments Chain connecting hardware including swivel shackles, end shackles, pear links, anchor chain swivels, Kenter joining links, and MARQUIP detachable links for chain assembly and connection.
• MARQUIP Tow Plates & Shackles MARQUIP branded mooring and towing hardware including mooring fairlead shackles, dip shackles, sinker shackles, tow plates, and Pattern #210/#211 chain tow shackles with working load limits from 40 to 185 tons.
• Release Hooks, Buoy Hooks & Capstans Quick-release mooring hooks in single, double, triple, quad, and rotary configurations with 25-200 ton nominal loads, plus captive release hooks for light towing and capstans for mooring operations.
• Buoys & Floats Marine buoyancy products including inflatable floats, Jim Buoy Premium Mark V, peg-type spherical buoys, cylindrical buoys, and bar risers for marine and offshore applications.
• Cleats, Chocks, Bitts & Bollards Deck hardware including horn cleats, weld-on deck cleats, cast steel double bitts, and cast steel chocks for securing mooring lines on vessels and docks.
• Wire Rope Products Wire rope in 6x7, 6x19, and 6x37 constructions, spin-resistant ropes, specialized ropes for logging/mining/oilfield, and ocean cable systems for anchor and mooring use.
• Testing & Inspection Services Comprehensive pull-testing and inspection services for chain (up to 90 feet), wire rope, shackles, towing gear, spreader bars, slings, crane hooks, winches, mooring lines, and specialty items, with ABSCG, DNV, and Lloyds certification documentation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000,000 pound pull-test capacity for certified proof testing
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Bethlehem Wire RopecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWCS is a proud distributor of Bethlehem Wire Rope products, offering a wide variety of constructions, lays, cores, and steel grades.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Crosby Group: Leading global manufacturer of marine and industrial rigging hardware including shackles, hooks, and lifting equipment. Directly comparable to WCS's Mammoth shackles and MARQUIP product lines, serving the same marine, offshore, and industrial customer base.
• Campbell Chain: Manufacturer and distributor of chain, wire rope, and related hardware for industrial and marine markets. Listed as a WCS partner brand and competes head-to-head in the chain and rigging category.
• Peerless Industrial Group: Wholesale distributor of chain, slings, and industrial hardware with comparable product breadth in chain, attachments, and lifting accessories for industrial and marine end markets.
• U.S. Rigging Supply: Specialty distributor of rigging, marine, and lifting hardware serving industrial and offshore customers. Closely comparable distribution model and customer base to WCS.
• Lister Chain & Rope: Manufacturer and supplier of chain, wire rope, and marine hardware. Featured as a WCS partner brand and competes in the same chain-and-fittings category.

Broad incumbents

• Columbus McKinnon: Large publicly traded provider of lifting, rigging, and material handling solutions. Broader portfolio than WCS but overlaps in chain, shackles, and lifting hardware for marine and industrial buyers.
• Sampson Rope Technologies: Manufacturer of synthetic and high-performance rope products for marine, industrial, and offshore applications. Featured as a WCS partner; adjacent rather than direct overlap with WCS's hardware focus.
• Bethlehem Wire Rope: Long-established manufacturer of wire rope for marine, mining, and oilfield applications. WCS is a distributor of Bethlehem products, making Bethlehem both a partner and a competitive threat if it shifts toward direct distribution.

Emerging players

• Cortland International: Designer and manufacturer of synthetic rope, cable, and netting for marine and offshore markets. Listed as a WCS partner; comparable end-market exposure with complementary rather than overlapping product lines.
• Ulven Forging: Pacific Northwest-based forging manufacturer serving marine, industrial, and heavy-equipment customers. Geographically proximate to WCS and competes in custom marine hardware where WCS sells MARQUIP-branded products.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washington-chain-and-supply-inc-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 WaChain