What Knight Global does

Knight Global is a privately held industrial manufacturer specializing in ergonomic material handling systems, founded in 1984 and headquartered in a single consolidated facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, and sells a comprehensive product portfolio that includes workstation cranes and overhead rail systems (with a 13-series Lightweight Aluminum Rail line supporting loads up to 3,000 lbs.), jib cranes, lift assists, custom end effectors, pneumatic balancers, servo hoists, torque tubes, tractors, and hose management systems. Its underlying technology is electromechanical—primarily pneumatic and servo-driven lifting and positioning devices—differentiated by proprietary features such as the patent-pending Air Glide Hose Management System and the recently launched E-Float Hoist servo hoist with a load-cell-free Float Mode. The company maintains an in-house design-and-build department that creates custom tools and system layouts conforming to individual facility specifications, positioning it as a single-source provider for complete material handling systems rather than a component supplier.

Knight Global serves manufacturing clients across automotive assembly (named customers include Stellantis for an Engine Indexer Standard, the Harley-Davidson York, PA plant for motorcycle assembly, and the Sterling Heights Michigan Assembly Plant) and agricultural/construction equipment (a tractor OEM). The business model is direct sales of custom-engineered equipment with quote-based pricing determined by specifications, capacity, and configuration; revenue is recognized as one-time industrial equipment sales. Go-to-market relies on an Inside Sales Team, a field sales organization, an Estimating Department, and a Global Support Organization, supported by an extensive website-based technical resource library containing brochures, CAD drawings, manuals, certifications, and videos aimed at engineering and procurement buyers. The company markets itself as a 'Benchmark of Innovation' with an active new-products pipeline, and operates globally from a single U.S. facility with no disclosed subsidiaries, parent company, or external funding.

Name

Knight Global

Legal name

Knight Global Inc.

Website

https://knightglobal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Knight Global designs and manufactures ergonomic material handling systems—including workstation cranes, overhead rail systems, jib cranes, lift assists, and servo hoists—for industrial manufacturing facilities across automotive, heavy equipment, and general manufacturing sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Material Handling Equipment

NAICS

Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923), Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing (3331)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial) (IMAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Crane & Hoist Components (Wire Rope, Chain, Drums, Sheaves, Motors, Controls) (IMAHAJAK)

Keywords

• Ergonomic material handling
• Workstation cranes
• Industrial rail systems
• Pneumatic balancers
• Lift assist devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Auburn Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Equipment Sales: Sale of industrial material handling equipment including workstation cranes, rail systems, jib cranes, lift assists, pneumatic balancers, servo hoists, torque tubes, tractors, and accessories. Products are custom-designed and built to customer specifications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Knight Global designs and manufactures ergonomic industrial material handling equipment, including workstation cranes, overhead rail systems, jib cranes, custom lift assists, pneumatic balancers, servo hoists, end effectors, hose management systems, arms, carts, controls, torque tubes, tractors, and lift tables. Products are custom-configured to individual manufacturing facility specifications, and the company operates a single-source model supplying complete material handling systems (rails, trolleys, end effectors, accessories) from one Auburn Hills, Michigan facility.

Product overview

Knight Global is an ergonomic material handling company offering a comprehensive portfolio of industrial products and custom solutions. Their core offerings include workstation cranes and overhead rail systems (featuring Lightweight Aluminum Rail Series with multiple configurations), custom lift assists (End Effectors, Ergo Seat System, Ergo Positioner), and various jib crane styles (Bench-Mounted, Low Profile, Turnbuckle). Supporting product lines include hose management systems (with the patent-pending Air Glide), pneumatic balancers, servo systems (including the E-Float Hoist), arms, carts, controls, tables/accumulators, torque tubes, and tractors. The company operates a design-and-build department that creates custom tools and system layouts conforming to individual facility specifications, serving manufacturing clients across various industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workstation Cranes and Overhead Rail Systems

Quantifiable outcome

• Ergonomic workstation solutions reduce operator strain and improve productivity in manufacturing environments

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gorbel Inc. Gorbel designs and manufactures ergonomic cranes, jib cranes, workstation bridge cranes, and rigid rail systems. Closest direct competitor to Knight Global's overhead rail and workstation crane lines, with overlap in pneumatic/servo lift assists.
• Spanco Inc. Spanco produces workstation bridge cranes, jib cranes, and gantry cranes for industrial ergonomic material handling. Competes head-to-head with Knight in overhead rail workstations and ergonomic lift systems.
• Harrington Hoists, Inc. Harrington Hoists manufactures manual and electric hoists, air chain hoists, and crane components for industrial material handling. Direct peer in pneumatic/servo hoist categories that overlap Knight's E-Float Hoist and balancer lines.
• Vestil Manufacturing Corp. Vestil produces a broad catalog of material handling equipment including lift tables, ergonomic lift assists, jib cranes, and carts. Comparable to Knight on lift tables, carts, and entry-level ergonomic lifting products.
• Southworth Products Corp. Southworth (now part of MHS Global) designs ergonomic lifting equipment, workstation cranes, lift tables, and material handling systems. Directly comparable product portfolio to Knight in ergonomic workstations and lift assists.

Broad incumbents

• Columbus McKinnon Corporation: Columbus McKinnon is a large publicly-traded lifting solutions company offering hoists, cranes, and material handling products through Yale, Coffing, Budgit, and other brands. Broader portfolio and channel than Knight, but overlapping in hoists and crane components.
• Konecranes Plc: Konecranes is a global leader in industrial cranes, hoists, and lifting services across heavy manufacturing, ports, and process industries. Competes with Knight in industrial overhead crane and hoist categories at the high-end / heavier-capacity end of the market.
• Terex Material Handling (Demag): Terex Material Handling houses the Demag brand and supplies industrial cranes, hoists, and components to manufacturing facilities globally. Overlaps with Knight's overhead rail and hoist product categories but typically serves heavier duty applications.
• Kito Group Co., Ltd. Kito Group manufactures hoists, cranes, and chain products under Kito, Harrington, and Peerless brands. Global incumbent competing with Knight's servo hoists, pneumatic balancers, and overhead crane components.

Others

• BHS, Inc. (Bulk Handling Systems): BHS provides engineered material handling and processing equipment primarily for waste recycling, aggregates, and bulk materials. Adjacent peer in custom-engineered industrial material handling systems serving OEMs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KnightGlobal

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 Knight Global