Laclede Chain Manufacturing Company, LLC

What Laclede Chain Manufacturing Company, LLC does

Laclede Chain Manufacturing Company, LLC is an ISO 9001:2015 certified, family-owned American manufacturer of industrial chains and tire chains, founded in 1854 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, with a tire chain division in Vancouver, Washington. The company operates across two integrated product lines: a hardware/industrial chain portfolio covering all grades of welded chain (Grade 30 Proof Coil through Grade 43 High Test, Grade 70 Transport, Grade 80, Grade 100, and Grade 120 overhead lifting chain) plus matched hooks, fittings, master links, shortening clutches, and pre-assembled slings; and a traction/tire chain portfolio spanning the proprietary Alpha Trax lightweight line, Alpine series, and heavy-duty chains for commercial trucks, tractors, forklifts, and off-road vehicles, complemented by a marine chain line for mooring, trawling, and lashing applications. The underlying technology is mechanical and metallurgical — quenched and tempered alloy steel chain manufacturing with in-house finishing capabilities including proprietary Galv360 galvanization, Black Armour premium coating, and multi-color powder coating — supported by 100% proof testing at twice working load limit and minimum 20,000-cycle fatigue testing.

The business model is B2B sales-led with a segmented sales representative network covering General Industrial, Heavy Duty Truck & Traction, Marine & Rigging, and OEM verticals. Distribution is multi-channel: industrial wholesalers and chain distributors, hardware retailers, direct B2B sales to OEM and large enterprise customers, and the company's own sales reps — all operating on a quote-based pricing model (no public list pricing) with the company processing requests through a Request a Quote system. Marketing relies on downloadable product catalogs, a tire chain finder, installation videos, trade association membership (AWRF, NACM, NATM), and a dedicated mobile application. Customer segments are diversified across trailer safety/general hardware distribution, commercial transportation cargo control and winter traction, marine and rigging applications, and OEM equipment integration, with no individual customer concentration disclosed. The company is privately held, has no identified institutional investment or public listing, and has been in continuous family ownership for 170+ years.

Name

Laclede Chain Manufacturing Company, LLC

Legal name

Laclede Chain Manufacturing Company, LLC

Website

https://lacledechain.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1854

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Laclede Chain Manufacturing Company, LLC is a 170-year-old, family-owned, ISO 9001 certified US manufacturer of industrial chains (Grade 30–120) and tire chains (including proprietary Alpha Trax), selling via segmented B2B sales reps and distributors to industrial, transportation, marine, and OEM customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Chain Manufacturing

NAICS

Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (423)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Lifting Attachments & Material Handling Accessories (Fork Attachments, Slings, Rigging) (IMAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Industrial chain manufacturing
• Tire traction chains
• Overhead lifting chains
• Cargo control products
• Marine chain supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Chain Products: Sale of welded chain products including Grade 80, 100, and 120 overhead lifting chains, transportation tie down chains, high test chains, and proof coil chains to industrial distributors, hardware retailers, and direct industrial customers.
2. Tire Chain Products: Manufacturing and importing tire chains for passenger vehicles, light trucks, SUVs, commercial trucks, buses, tractors, and off-road vehicles sold through similar distribution channels.
3. Chain Fittings and Accessories: Hooks, fittings, slings, load binders, and accessories sold alongside core chain products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Laclede Chain Manufacturing Company, LLC manufactures and supplies industrial welded chain, overhead lifting chain (Grade 80, 100, 120), cargo control chain, marine chain, fittings, sling assemblies, and tire traction chains for vehicles. Products are sold primarily to industrial distributors, hardware retailers, commercial transportation operators, marine users, and OEM customers through a sales-representative-driven B2B distribution model.

Product overview

Laclede Chain Manufacturing Company, LLC is an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer offering industrial chains and tire chains as a unified product portfolio. The hardware and industrial product line centers on all grades of welded chain including Grade 120 (overhead lifting, 20% stronger), Grade 100, and Grade 80 chains for overhead lifting applications, along with Grade 70 Transport, Grade 43 High Test, and Grade 30 Proof Coil chains for cargo control and general applications. Complementing the chain products are full lines of hooks, fittings, and attachments (sling hooks, grab hooks, master links, coupling links, shortening clutches) organized by grade compatibility, plus complete overhead lifting sling assemblies (single, double, triple/quad). The tire chain division provides traction products including the proprietary Alpha Trax lightweight tire chain, Alpine series chains for passenger/light trucks, and heavy-duty chains for commercial trucks, tractors, and off-road vehicles, along with marine chain products (mooring, trawling, lashing). Accessories include load binders, snaps, shackles, pulleys, and hardware merchandise racks. The product ecosystem is unified by shared grade classifications (80/100/120 for lifting, 70/43/30 for transport) and common finish options (Hi-Viz colors, Black Armour, powder coat), enabling customers to specify compatible components across applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alpha Trax®: A lightweight tire chain product with industrial grade components, featuring diagonal cross member configuration with studded traction pads for enhanced traction. Meets SAE Class S clearance requirements and exceeds performance standards including ÖNORM V5119:2008, ÖNORM V5121:2007, ISO 18106:2016, and ASTM F1805.

Products and services

• Grade 120 Chain High-strength overhead lifting chain made from quenched and tempered alloy steel, rated 20% stronger and lighter than other US-made chain with 25% elongation minimum. Offered in Black Armour, Hi-Viz Green, and Powder Coat Black finishes for industrial lifting customers.
• Grade 100 Chain Overhead lifting and tow and binder chain made from quenched and tempered alloy steel. Available in Hi-Viz Yellow, Powder Coat Blue, Powder Coat Gray, and Black Armour finishes for industrial and transportation use.
• Grade 80 Chain Alloy chain approved for overhead lifting, made from quenched and tempered alloy steel with standard painted finish. Available in sizes from 7/32 to 1 inch for industrial lifting applications.
• Grade 70 Transport Chain Transport chain with Gold Chromate finish for cargo control and tie-down applications. Not approved for overhead lifting. Available in sizes from 1/4 to 5/8 inch for trucking and fleet operators.
• Alpha Trax Tire Chains Proprietary lightweight tire chain with diagonal cross member configuration and studded traction pads. Weights 50%-75% less than traditional link chain, installs without moving the vehicle, meets SAE Class S clearance, and exceeds ÖNORM V5119:2008, V5121:2007, ISO 18106:2016, and ASTM F1805 standards for passenger and commercial vehicles.
• Traction Products (Tire Chains) Complete line of tire chains for passenger vehicles, light trucks and SUVs, commercial trucks, tractors, forklifts, and off-road vehicles including ATV/UTV. Includes Alpine Premier, Alpine Super Sport, and vehicle-specific configurations.
• Overhead Lifting Hooks and Fittings Full line of chain hooks, fittings, and attachments for overhead lifting, including clevis sling hooks, grab hooks, self-locking hooks, master links, coupling links, shortening clutches, and foundry hooks for Grade 80, 100, and 120 chains.
• Welded Chain Full range of welded chain products including Grade 30 Proof Coil, Grade 43 High Test, Grade 70 Transport, Grade 80, Grade 100, Grade 120, Machine Chain (straight/twist link), Coil Chain, Passing Link Chain, and Lockdown Chain for industrial and general hardware use.
• Weldless Chain Non-welded chain products including Double Loop Chain, Decorator Chain, Steel Sash Chain, Double Jack Chain, Single Jack Chain, and Lock Link Chain for general hardware and decorative applications.
• Marine Chain Specialized chain products for marine applications including Grade 43 Mooring Chain, Sweep Chain, Trawling Chain, Windlass Chain, Lashing Chain, and Fitted Mooring Shackles for commercial fishing, mooring, and rigging operators.
• Cargo Control Products Transportation tie-down products including tow and binder chains (Grade 80, Grade 120, Transport, General Purpose), load binders, and log chains for cargo securement by fleets and trucking operators.
• Chain Slings Pre-assembled chain slings in single, double, and triple/quad leg configurations for overhead lifting, with matching sling tags and accessories for industrial lifting and rigging applications.
• Hardware Accessories Chain hooks, S hooks, aircraft cable, rope clips, thimbles, snaps, snap links, quick links, lap links, connecting links, cold shuts, pulleys, shackles, and rings sold alongside chain products for hardware and industrial customers.
• Load Binders Lever type and ratchet type load binders in standard, Hi-Viz alloy rated, and Truck-Tough variants for cargo securement in trucking and fleet operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Grade 120 chain is 20% stronger and lighter than other US Made Chain
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• AWRF (American Welding and Rolling Forging)minorOthersIndustry trade association membership providing industry representation, networking, and standards development participation for the chain manufacturing industry.
• NACM (National Association of Chain Manufacturers)minorOthersIndustry association representing chain manufacturers, providing advocacy, standards development, and industry collaboration.
• NATM (National Association of Trailer Manufacturers)minorOthersIndustry association for trailer manufacturers, providing representation and standards development relevant to cargo control and tie-down chain products.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Peerless Chain Company: Long-established US chain manufacturer producing welded and weldless chain, tire chains, and industrial chain products. Direct peer in both industrial chain and tire chain categories.
• Columbus McKinnon Corporation: NASDAQ-listed (CMCO) leading global manufacturer of hoists, cranes, chain, rigging, and material handling products. The closest direct peer to Laclede in overhead lifting chain, fittings, and industrial rigging.
• KITO Group: Japan-based global manufacturer of chain hoists, manual hoists, and chain products. Overlaps with Laclede in chain slings, lifting chain, and rigging fittings.
• Pewag Group: Austrian family-owned chain manufacturer with global presence in tire chains, lifting chains, and industrial chain products. Closely comparable to Laclede in tire traction and lifting chain segments.
• RUD Ketten Rieger & Dietz: German family-owned chain manufacturer and a global leader in tire chains and industrial lifting chains. Directly comparable to Laclede in both tire traction and overhead lifting categories.
• The Crosby Group: A globally recognized manufacturer of rigging, lifting, and material handling hardware. Directly comparable to Laclede in fittings, hooks, master links, and chain-related lifting accessories.
• Bridon-Bekaert: Joint venture between Bridon and Bekaert producing steel wire rope, synthetic rope, and engineered lifting products. Adjacent peer in the industrial lifting and rigging value chain.
• Campbell Chain (Apex Tool Group): Historic US chain brand now part of Apex Tool Group, producing welded chain, fittings, and tire chains. Long-standing direct peer in the US industrial chain market.

Broad incumbents

• Gunnebo Industries: Larger global provider of lifting, rigging, and material handling equipment under multiple brands. Broader incumbent with overlapping chain, sling, and lifting product categories.
• Yale Industrial Products: Long-established brand of hand chain hoists, lever hoists, and industrial lifting products. Adjacent incumbent serving the same industrial lifting end market as Laclede.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lacledechain

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Laclede Chain Manufacturing Company, LLC