Wood's Powr-Grip

What Wood's Powr-Grip does

Wood's Powr-Grip Co., Inc. is a privately-held, family-owned manufacturer of vacuum-based material handling equipment, headquartered in Laurel, Montana. Founded in 1964 by Howard Wood, the company designs and produces hand-held vacuum cups, below-the-hook vacuum lifters, vacuum mounting cups, and the Powr-Lift 1600 self-propelled vacuum telehandler, serving industries that handle smooth, nonporous materials including commercial glass, stone slabs, sheet metal, insulated metal panels, solar panels, and auto glass. The product portfolio spans load capacities from under 1 lb (hand cups) to over 4,200 lbs (MR24 lifter), with proprietary safety features such as the Red-Line vacuum indicator, Check Ball mechanism, and Intelli-Grip computer-aided dual-vacuum monitoring with mobile app connectivity.

Wood's Powr-Grip operates a 72,500 sq ft single-site manufacturing facility and distributes exclusively through 55 authorized dealers and OEM partners in nearly 50 countries, supplemented by direct channels for parts (686 SKUs), equipment leasing in the US and Canada, repair services, a Hand Cup Exchange Program, and repair workshop training. The company holds ASME B30.20, CE, and UKCA certifications and counts major industrial distributors such as Grainger, Fastenal, McMaster-Carr, C.R. Laurence, and Bohle AG among its channel partners. Leadership is in its third generation of the Wood family (Bryan Wood as President/CEO, Barry Wood as VP Marketing/Sales, Brad Wood as Production Manager), with a fourth generation reported in the workforce since 2003.

The business is currently led by third-generation Wood family members and has grown selectively via acquisition of AEGIS Tools International in July 2022 to enter the automotive glass repair market. The company generates revenue primarily through dealer-led hardware sales, with diversified streams from direct parts e-commerce, weekly equipment leasing, the Hand Cup Exchange Program, repair services, and paid training workshops. Customer concentration is low, spread across multiple industrial and construction verticals with no dominant end-customer disclosed.

Name

Wood's Powr-Grip

Legal name

Wood's Powr-Grip Co., Inc.

Website

https://wpg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Wood's Powr-Grip is a family-owned Montana manufacturer of vacuum-based lifting and material handling equipment, including hand cups, below-the-hook lifters, and the Powr-Lift telehandler, sold through 55 dealers in nearly 50 countries to glass, stone, metal, and solar industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vacuum Lifting Equipment

NAICS

Fluid Power Pump and Motor Manufacturing (333996)

SIC

Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561), Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564)

akta.pro primary industry

Vacuum Systems & Components (Vacuum Pumps, Ejectors, Cups, Grippers) (IMAHAGAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lifting Attachments & Material Handling Accessories (Fork Attachments, Slings, Rigging) (IMAHABAJ), Vacuum Pumps & Systems (IMAHANAD)

Keywords

• Vacuum lifting equipment
• Glass handling tools
• Material handling solutions
• Vacuum suction cups
• Industrial lifting equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Laurel

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vacuum Lifting Equipment Sales: Primary revenue from selling vacuum cups, vacuum lifters, and mounting cups. Products include hand-held vacuum cups (49 items), vacuum lifters (28 items), and mounting cups (24 items). Sold exclusively through authorized dealers.
2. Replacement Parts: 686 replacement parts for maintaining and repairing vacuum lifting equipment. Parts available for hand cups, mounting cups, vacuum lifters, and accessories. Sold directly through website.
3. Equipment Leasing: Flexible leasing options for vacuum lifters for short-term jobs, specialized applications, or temporary workload increases. Available in US and Canada. Leases sold by the week with various battery-powered lifters available.
4. Hand Cup Exchange Program: Re-manufactured vacuum cups offered at reduced prices ($41.82-$73.50) in exchange for old or damaged units. Provides recurring revenue from existing customer base.
5. Repair Workshop Training: Training services for diagnosing and repairing vacuum lifters. Workshop priced at $850 per person (buy 4+ for $800 each). Includes free equipment leak test kit.
6. Repair Services: Vacuum lifter repair services. Below-the-hook lifters can be sent in for repairs with cost estimates provided.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wood's Powr-Grip designs and manufactures vacuum-based lifting equipment — hand-held vacuum cups (suction cup lifters), below-the-hook vacuum lifters, vacuum mounting cups, and the Powr-Lift 1600 self-propelled vacuum telehandler — for safely lifting, holding, and positioning smooth, nonporous materials such as glass, stone slabs, sheet metal, insulated metal panels, and solar panels. The company also offers custom lifter design, replacement parts (686 SKUs), equipment leasing, repair services, a Hand Cup Exchange Program, and repair training workshops.

Product overview

Wood's Powr-Grip offers a comprehensive portfolio of vacuum lifting equipment for handling nonporous materials. The core product lines include: (1) Hand-Held Vacuum Cups - handheld suction cup lifters available in Metal (Black Box), Industrial-Grade Plastic (Yellow Box), and Hybrid configurations; (2) Vacuum Lifters - below-the-hook industrial lifting equipment including MRT4, MRTA8, MRTALP, MTEX, MRPT16, MT-10T, MTCL, P1, P2, PT10/PT14, MR24, MR32, MTA Heavy Duty, and FLEXR series; (3) Vacuum Mounting Cups - for temporary mounting of devices; (4) Powr-Lift 1600 Vacuum Telehandler - self-propelled equipment for window and skylight installation; and (5) Accessories, custom products, leasing, repair services, and parts. Products feature proprietary Intelli-Grip Technology with dual vacuum systems and computer-aided controls. The company also acquired AEGIS Tools International (2022) for automotive glass tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hand-Held Vacuum Cups (Suction Cups / Wood's Cups) Handheld, pump-action vacuum lifting tools (also called suction cup lifters or Wood's Cups) for safe, efficient handling of glass and other smooth nonporous materials. Features a red-line vacuum indicator that warns of vacuum loss and offers capacities from light duty up to heavy metal-handle models. Available in Metal (Black Box), Industrial-Grade Plastic (Yellow Box), and Hybrid configurations.
• Vacuum Lifters (Below-the-Hook) Industrial below-the-hook vacuum lifting equipment that attaches to cranes or hoists for safely lifting glass, stone, sheet metal, insulated metal panels, and other smooth non-porous materials. Capacities range from hundreds to thousands of pounds. Product family includes MRT4 (rotator/tilter), MRTA8 (adjustable pad spread), MRTALP (narrow pad with Intelli-Grip, also Panel Master), MTEX (cladding for IMPs, Intelli-Grip), MRPT16 (2,800 lbs, Intelli-Grip), MT-10T (air-powered), MTCL (cladding, Intelli-Grip), P1 (compact), P2 (1,400 lbs), PT10/PT14 (large glass), MR24 (4,200 lbs, Intelli-Grip), MR32 (3,600 lbs curved glass, Intelli-Grip), MTA Heavy Duty (stone), and FLEXR (flexible configuration) series.
• Vacuum Mounting Cups Vacuum cups designed for temporary attachment to smooth, nonporous surfaces to mount cameras, testing equipment, scopes, antennas, lights, signs, and other devices. Used in photography, videography, surveying, and field instrumentation applications.
• Powr-Lift 1600 Vacuum Telehandler Self-propelled vacuum telehandler that lifts, transports, and positions windows and skylights at heights up to 14 ft with 1,600 lbs capacity. Features radio remote control, dual vacuum system, and four dimensions of powered load motion including 8 inch side shift and yaw capability. Designed for upper-story window and skylight installation in residential and commercial settings.
• Ladder Lift Specialized lifting device with hand cups designed for upper-story window installations in residential and commercial settings where conventional lift access is limited.
• WPG GripMate Suction Cup Arm Suction cup arm for holding and positioning auto glass and other materials during installation and repair operations.
• Custom Vacuum Lifters Custom-engineered vacuum lifters designed and manufactured by Wood's Powr-Grip for unique lifting requirements not addressed by standard catalog models, including specialized applications with unusual geometries, capacities, or mounting configurations.
• Replacement Parts and Components Genuine Wood's Powr-Grip replacement parts for maintaining and repairing vacuum lifting equipment, including vacuum pads, plunger assemblies, handles, valve blocks, carrying cases, vacuum hoses, suction cup holders, spacers, batteries, circuit boards, and vacuum loss warning buzzers. Sold directly through the company website with published MSRP pricing.
• Vacuum Lifter Equipment Leasing Flexible weekly leasing program for vacuum lifters targeting short-term projects, specialized applications, or temporary workload increases. Available directly from WPG in US and Canada. Fleet includes battery-powered, cord-free lifters such as MRTALPCH6 (1,100 lbs), MRTA8 (700-1,400 lbs), P2, MRPT16 (2,800 lbs), MR24 (4,200 lbs), MR32, and counter-balancers. Security deposit required.
• Repair Workshop Training Hands-on training workshop teaching diagnosis and repair of vacuum lifters, held multiple times per year in Laurel, Montana. Pricing is $850 per person with a volume discount to $800 per person when four or more attendees register. Each attendee receives a free Equipment Leak Test Kit (value over $230).
• Vacuum Lifter Repair Services Repair services for below-the-hook vacuum lifters that have stopped working properly. Customers send units in for evaluation, after which cost estimates are provided before repair work proceeds.
• Hand Cup Exchange Program Trade-in program in which customers send in old or damaged hand cups and receive re-manufactured Wood's Powr-Grip hand cups at reduced exchange prices ranging from $41.82 to $73.50 depending on model. Exchange cups pass the same quality inspections as new products.
• Warranty Service Warranty claims handling for manufacturing defects on Wood's Powr-Grip products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Every single product tested before shipment - zero compromise on quality standards
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AEGIS Tools International, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022Wood's Powr-Grip acquired AEGIS Tools International, Inc. in July 2022. This acquisition enhanced WPG's presence in the automotive glass arena with expertise in windshield repair kits and tools. AEGIS is referenced on WPG website as a partner under 'Auto Glass Tools / AEGIS' product category.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tawi: Tawi is a Swedish manufacturer of ergonomic lifting equipment including vacuum tube lifters, jib cranes, and below-the-hook vacuum lifters. Its product line competes with WPG in industrial glass and packaging handling, particularly in European markets.
• AERO-LIFT: AERO-LIFT is a German manufacturer of below-the-hook vacuum lifting devices and crane attachments for handling sheet metal, glass, stone, and other flat materials. It competes directly with WPG in the European architectural glass and metal handling market.
• Schmalz: Schmalz is a German-headquartered global manufacturer of vacuum handling and clamping technology, including vacuum lifters, suction cups, and below-the-hook systems for glass, metal, and wood. It is the most direct global competitor to WPG, with overlapping product lines, similar end-markets, and comparable technology positioning.
• Vacuworx: Vacuworx is a US manufacturer of heavy-duty vacuum lifting systems for construction materials including concrete, steel, pipe, and stone. It overlaps with WPG on stone slab and heavy material handling but is differentiated by its focus on larger construction-site applications rather than architectural glass.
• Piab: Piab is a Swedish vacuum technology company producing vacuum pumps, suction cups, and material handling components used in automation and ergonomic lifting applications. Its products compete with WPG's vacuum cup and lifter lines in similar glass, sheet metal, and packaging end-uses.
• Anver Corporation: Anver is a US-based manufacturer of vacuum lifters, suction cups, and below-the-hook vacuum systems serving glass, stone, sheet metal, and panel handling. It is one of the closest direct competitors to WPG in the North American below-the-hook vacuum lifter market.

Regional players

• Bohle AG: Bohle is a major German distributor and manufacturer of glass handling tools, including manual suction cups and glass processing equipment. It is both an authorized WPG dealer and a competing supplier of glass handling tools, making it a direct regional peer in the European glass trade market.

Emerging players

• GranQuartz: GranQuartz is a US supplier of stone fabrication tools, equipment, and vacuum lifters for countertop and monument fabricators. Its lifting equipment overlaps with WPG's MTA Heavy Duty stone lifter line in the stone handling vertical.

Others

• C.R. Laurence (CRL): C.R. Laurence is a large US distributor and manufacturer of architectural glass hardware and supplies, including its own vacuum cup and glass handling product lines. While it is also a key WPG dealer, its private-label glass handling products compete with WPG in the same glazing channel.

Broad incumbents

• Konecranes: Konecranes is a Finnish global leader in overhead cranes, hoists, and material handling equipment used to lift WPG's below-the-hook vacuum lifters. As the underlying crane and hoist OEM partner to most lifting applications, it is a broad incumbent in the same lifting ecosystem, though it does not specialize in vacuum cups.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/powr_grip
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/powrgripinfo
• Facebookfacebook.com/powrgrip
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wood's-powr-grip
• Instagraminstagram.com/woodspowrgrip

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Wood's Powr-Grip