What Grip-Tite Manufacturing does

Grip-Tite Manufacturing Co., L.L.C. is a family-owned specialty metal manufacturer headquartered in Winterset, Iowa, founded in 1921 (originally as Wei-Lock Manufacturing, renamed in 1937) and operating for over a century. The company produces earth anchoring products, foundation repair systems, and contract metal fabrication services, organized under three sub-brands: Grip-Tite Utility (anchors for power transmission, distribution, and telephone infrastructure, including RUS-approved expanding, cross-plate, hub, forged, and square shaft anchors), Grip-Tite Foundation Repair (the patented Wall Anchor System — U.S. Patent 4,189,891, granted February 26, 1980 — plus helical piles and piering products, distributed through a certified dealer network), and Grip-Tite Contract Manufacturing (precision metal fabrication, engineering, design, and inventory management for external clients).

Manufacturing is consolidated at the 505 E. Madison, Winterset facility and runs on a one-piece flow production model using CNC milling, 6k fiber tube and 6k CO2 flat laser cutting, robotic welding, upset forging, thread rolling, and 150/250/400-ton stamping presses. The company is differentiated by three regulatory credentials — Buy America, USDA RUS approval, and ICC-ES evaluation — that qualify its products for federally funded, rural utility, and code-compliant building applications.

Commercially, Grip-Tite operates a hybrid go-to-market: a direct enterprise sales motion for utility customers (managed by a dedicated utility sales manager) alongside a certified dealer and distributor network for foundation repair, with contract manufacturing clients engaged directly. The company is private and family-controlled, with the Johnson family holding ownership since 1939 and Mike Johnson having acquired the remaining equity in 1998; current leadership includes President and CEO Steve Lage and General Manager Tim Forst. Headcount is reported at 11–50 employees, consistent with a focused, mid-sized specialty manufacturer.

Name

Grip-Tite Manufacturing

Legal name

Grip-Tite® Manufacturing Co., L.L.C.

Website

https://griptite.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Grip-Tite Manufacturing is a 100+ year-old, family-owned Iowa manufacturer of earth anchors, foundation repair systems (including the patented Wall Anchor System), and contract metal fabrications, serving utility companies, certified foundation repair dealers, and contract manufacturing clients across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Earth Anchoring and Foundation Repair Products

NAICS

Bolt, Nut, Screw, Rivet, and Washer Manufacturing (332722)

SIC

Bolts, Nuts, Screws, Rivets & Washers (3452)

akta.pro primary industry

Fasteners, Anchors & Connectors (Bolts, Weld Studs, Plates) (IMADACAJ)

Keywords

• Earth anchoring products
• Foundation repair systems
• Metal fabrication services
• Helical pile systems
• Utility line anchors

Headquarters

HQ city

Winterset

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

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. Earth Anchor Products: Manufacturing and sale of earth anchoring products for utility (power transmission/distribution lines, telephone utilities) and foundation repair applications. Products include expanding anchors, cross plate anchors, forged anchor rods, hub anchors, square shaft anchors, and extensions.
2. Foundation Repair Products: Sale of foundation repair products including Wall Anchor Systems, helical piles, and foundation stabilization piering products for residential and commercial use. Distributed through certified dealer network.
3. Contract Manufacturing Services: Precision metal fabrication services for external clients including metal fabrications, engineering, design, and inventory management. State-of-the-art facilities available for custom manufacturing needs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Grip-Tite Manufacturing designs, fabricates, and supplies earth anchoring and foundation repair products, including the patented Wall Anchor System, helical piles, and a full line of RUS-approved utility anchors. The company also offers contract metal manufacturing services (precision fabrication, engineering, design, and inventory management) for external clients using its in-house CNC, laser cutting, robotic welding, thread rolling, and stamping capabilities. Products are sold to utility companies, foundation repair distributors, and industrial manufacturing customers primarily across North America.

Product overview

Grip-Tite Manufacturing is a family-owned company offering a portfolio of earth anchoring and foundation repair products and contract metal manufacturing services. The company operates three main sub-brands: Grip-Tite Utility (utility anchoring products for power and telephone infrastructure), Grip-Tite Foundation Repair (wall anchor systems and foundation stabilization piers), and Grip-Tite Contract Manufacturing (precision metal fabrication services). Core products include the patented Wall Anchor System (U.S. Patent 4,189,891), earth anchors, helical piles, and RUS-approved utility anchors. The manufacturing division offers a comprehensive suite of capabilities including CNC milling, laser cutting (tube and flat), robotic and manual welding, thread rolling, upset forging, and stamping presses. The company's one-piece flow manufacturing process underpins all production, emphasizing efficiency, quality control, and reduced waste.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grip-Tite Utility: Provider of utility products for the construction and utility industries, including anchors for power and transmission lines
• Grip-Tite Foundation Repair
• Grip-Tite Manufacturing

Products and services

• Grip-Tite Wall Anchor System Patented wall anchor system for repairing cracked and bowing basement walls in residential and commercial structures. Awarded U.S. Patent 4,189,891 on February 26, 1980, and hundreds of thousands of systems have been installed across North America. Distributed through a network of certified foundation repair dealers.
• Foundation Stabilization Piering Products
• Helical Piles (2 7/8 Schedule 40 & Schedule 80) Helical pile products certified to meet or surpass ICC-ES standards, tested by independent laboratories. Used by foundation repair professionals for residential and commercial foundation stabilization applications.
• RUS Approved Utility Anchors USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) approved anchoring products for electric utility infrastructure, including Expanding Anchors, Cross Plate Anchors, Forged Anchor Rods, 1.375 Inch and 1.5 Inch Hub Anchors, Heavy Duty and Super Heavy Duty Hub Anchors, Hub Anchor Rods, Square Shaft Anchors, and Square Shaft Anchor Extensions. Sold directly to electric and telephone utility companies.
• Earth Anchors Core line of earth anchoring products originally developed for guying oil well derricks, oil pipelines, and highway guard rail cables, and now used extensively to secure power transmission/distribution lines and telephone utility infrastructure.
• Contract Metal Manufacturing Services Contract manufacturing services for external clients, including precision metal fabrications, expert engineering, innovative design, and inventory management. Leverages state-of-the-art CNC milling, laser cutting, robotic welding, thread rolling, upset forging, and stamping press capabilities. Sold directly to industrial companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ years of continuous operation and innovation since 1921
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Earth Contact Products (ECP): ECP manufactures and distributes foundation repair products including helical piers, wall anchors, and plate anchors. It is a direct competitor to Grip-Tite's Foundation Repair line, serving the same certified-dealer and contractor channel across the U.S.
• Hubbell Power Systems (Chance): Hubbell's Power Systems division (formerly A.B. Chance Company) is a leading U.S. supplier of anchoring and foundation products for electric utility transmission and distribution. It directly competes with Grip-Tite Utility on guy-wire and structure anchors used by rural and investor-owned utilities.
• PierTech Systems: PierTech manufactures helical piers and helical pile systems for foundation repair and new construction. It competes with Grip-Tite's foundation stabilization piering line and shares the ICC-ES listing pathway for code-compliance jobs.
• Foundation Supportworks: Foundation Supportworks is a nationwide network that designs and supplies foundation repair products including push piers and helical piers. It is comparable to Grip-Tite Foundation Repair on product, channel, and end-customer overlap.
• MacLean Power Systems: MacLean Power Systems manufactures hardware for the electric utility industry, including anchors, braces, and pole-line products. It competes with Grip-Tite Utility for transmission and distribution specification slots.
• Preformed Line Products: Preformed Line Products supplies hardware and accessories for power transmission and distribution, including guy-wire and anchoring components. It overlaps with Grip-Tite's utility-anchor portfolio and serves the same utility customer base.
• Atlas Helical Group: Atlas Helical designs and supplies helical pier products for foundation repair. It is comparable to Grip-Tite's helical pile offering in ICC-ES evaluation category and dealer-channel distribution.

Regional players

• Condux International: Condux International manufactures cable installation tools and equipment for the utility and telecommunications markets. While not a direct anchor competitor, it serves the same utility crews and is a regional player in adjacent hardware categories.

Broad incumbents

• Stanley Black & Decker (Anchor & Fastener lines): Stanley Black & Decker is a broad industrial incumbent with fastener, anchor, and construction-hardware product lines. Its breadth and scale in fasteners and connectors are comparable to Grip-Tite's anchor business, although it does not specialize in earth anchors.
• ITW (Illinois Tool Works) Construction Products: ITW's Construction Products segment manufactures mechanical anchors, fasteners, and related construction hardware. As a broad incumbent it overlaps with Grip-Tite's anchor and connector offerings but at much greater scale and across a much wider product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Grip-Tite-Manufacturing-CO-LLC-252659645561
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/93778379/admin/dashboard
• Xx.com/Grip_Tite

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Grip-Tite Manufacturing