Taubensee Steel & Wire

What Taubensee Steel & Wire does

Taubensee Steel & Wire Company is a fourth-generation, family-owned U.S. manufacturer of cold-finished steel bars and steel wire, founded in 1946 and headquartered in Wheeling, Illinois. The company operates three ISO 9001:2015-certified facilities — Wheeling, IL; Bridgeview, IL; and Henderson, KY — together encompassing roughly 465,000 square feet of manufacturing space. Its product portfolio spans cold-finished carbon and alloy steel bars (grades 1018 through 12L14 and 4140 through 86L20, plus A311 stress-relieved bar), low-carbon wire (bright basic, plating quality, cold heading quality, and hot-rolled wire rod/SBQ), and high-carbon spring wire for coiled, mechanical, and music-wire applications. Core manufacturing capability rests on cold-drawing technology using Kieserling, Etibar, Morgan-Koch, and Tunerline equipment, supported by closed-loop pickling lines, in-line drawing capability up to 3.5-inch bar diameter, and computerized QC and laboratory testing for surface quality, tensile strength, grain structure, and internal soundness.

Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of cold-finished bars and wire, supplemented by value-added processing services (saw cutting, chamfering, pickling, coating, special tolerances, NDT, metallurgical support) and mill support products (lubricants, dies, payoff equipment, wire carriers). Pricing is quote-based with published monthly scrap and fuel surcharges and bar/wire price announcements, and Net 30 payment terms with potential early payment discounts. The go-to-market is sales-led: regional sales representatives manage territories nationwide, supported by an inside-sales team, with direct-to-customer quoting via the company website. Distribution leverages flatbed and enclosed trailers, same-day Midwest delivery, railcar delivery, and international shipping to Canada, Mexico, and other markets. Target customers include heavy manufacturing sectors (automotive, aerospace, construction, machinery, industrial manufacturing), spring and wire forming (furniture, bedding, automotive seating), plating and finishing operations, and general industrial manufacturers across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and select international markets. Certifications and compliance posture (ISO 9001:2015, PED for Illinois facilities, REACH, RoHS, Proposition 65, TSCA PFAs) supports exports to European and California-regulated supply chains.

Name

Taubensee Steel & Wire

Legal name

Taubensee Steel & Wire Company

Website

https://taubensee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Taubensee Steel & Wire is a fourth-generation, family-owned U.S. manufacturer of cold-finished carbon and alloy steel bars, low-carbon steel wire, and high-carbon spring steel wire, operating from three ISO 9001:2015-certified facilities in Illinois and Kentucky and serving automotive, aerospace, construction, machinery, furniture, and industrial manufacturing customers across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cold-Finished Steel Bars and Wire Manufacturing

NAICS

Steel Wire Drawing (331222), Spring and Wire Product Manufacturing (3326)

SIC

Steel Works, Blast Furnaces & Rolling & Finishing Mills (3310)

akta.pro primary industry

Long Products Manufacturing (Rebar, Wire Rod, Merchant Bar, Sections/Beams) (IMAKABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty & Alloy Steel (Stainless, Tool Steel, Electrical Steel, High-Strength/HSLA) (IMAKABAJ)

Keywords

• Cold-finished steel bars
• Low-carbon steel wire
• High-carbon spring wire
• Steel cold drawing
• Industrial wire products

Headquarters

HQ city

Wheeling

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Steel Bar and Wire Products: TSW generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of cold-finished carbon and alloy steel bars, low-carbon steel wire, and high-carbon spring steel wire. Products are sold directly to customers across heavy industries with pricing based on material specifications, quantities, and market conditions.
2. Processing Services: Additional revenue streams from value-added processing services including saw cutting, chamfering, wire cleaning, coating, special tolerances, NDT testing, and metallurgical support.
3. Specialty Products: Sale of mill support products including lubricants, oils, packing materials, straightening and cutting dies, payoff equipment, wire carriers, drums, and ferrous sulfate crystals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Taubensee Steel & Wire manufactures cold-finished carbon and alloy steel bars, low-carbon steel wire, and high-carbon spring steel wire at three ISO 9001:2015-certified facilities in Wheeling IL, Bridgeview IL, and Henderson KY. The company supplies precision-engineered bar and wire products with tight tolerances, enhanced mechanical properties, and consistent surface finishes to heavy industrial manufacturers across automotive, aerospace, construction, fastener, and bedding/furniture sectors. It complements these products with value-added processing services such as sawcutting, pickling, coating, chamfering, NDT testing, and just-in-time domestic and international delivery.

Product overview

Taubensee Steel & Wire is a fourth-generation family-owned steel manufacturer offering precision-engineered cold-finished carbon and alloy steel bars and steel wire products. The product portfolio centers on three core product lines: Cold-Finished Bars (including Carbon, Free-Machining, Alloy, and A311 Stress-Relieved variants, plus bar stock inventory), Low-Carbon Wire (spanning Bright Basic Industrial, Plating Quality, Cold Heading Quality, and Hot-Rolled Wire Rod/SBQ grades), and High-Carbon Wire (covering Coiled/Upholstery Spring, Mechanical Spring, and Music Wire applications). The company complements these core products with value-added services including sawcutting, chemical cleaning, surface coating, custom packaging, and comprehensive freight/delivery solutions. All products are manufactured at ISO 9001:2015-certified facilities in Illinois (Wheeling and Bridgeview) and Kentucky (Henderson).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Carbon Cold-Finished Bars Precision-engineered cold-drawn carbon steel bars offering tight tolerances, smooth finishes, enhanced mechanical properties, and dimensional accuracy. Available in grades 1018 through 12L14, diameters from 1/16" to 3-1/2", in round, hex, and octagon shapes, and 1" to 24' lengths. Used by heavy industrial manufacturers across automotive, machinery, and construction applications.
• Free-Machining Cold-Finished Bars Cold-finished steel bars engineered with alloying elements like sulfur and lead for improved machinability, chip control, and tool life. Ideal for complex geometries and high-output manufacturing. Available in grades 1215 and 12L14. Designed for screw machine shops and turned-component manufacturers.
• Alloy Cold-Finished Bars Cold-finished bars combining chromium, molybdenum, and other hardening elements for superior strength, wear resistance, and toughness. Designed for high-stress applications in automotive, aerospace, and industrial machinery. Available in grades 4140, 41L40, 5150, 8620, and 86L20.
• A311 Stress-Relieved Cold-Finished Bars Precision-engineered bars per A311 specification designed to minimize internal stresses and maintain tight tolerances under demanding conditions. Feature exceptional strength, dimensional stability, and flawless surface finish for critical high-performance applications. Available in grades 1045, 1050, and 1144.
• Cold-Finished Bar Stock Extensive inventory of cold-finished bar stock available for immediate shipment. Provides quick turnaround for tight deadlines with high-quality materials ready for production schedules. Targeted at customers needing immediate-availability steel bar inputs.
• Bright Basic Industrial Quality Wire General-purpose low-carbon steel wire with bright finish, close dimensional tolerances, and improved mechanical properties. Suitable for forming, welding, and fabrication across industrial and commercial applications. Available in grades 1006 through 1541, diameters .039" to .750".
• Plating Quality Wire Low-carbon steel wire engineered for superior surface integrity, clean defect-free surface, and consistent adhesion during coating processes. Ideal for chrome, zinc, and nickel plating applications. Available in grades 1005 through 1020.
• Cold Heading Quality (CHQ) Wire High-strength precision wire designed for cold-forming into complex shapes without fracturing. Optimized for room-temperature deformation in fastener and component manufacturing. Available in grades 1006 through 1038, diameters .039" to .750".
• Hot-Rolled Wire Rod / SBQ Special Bar Quality (SBQ) hot-rolled wire rod with excellent malleability and structural integrity. Ideal for cold drawing, galvanizing, or coating. Low carbon content with strong ductility. Available in grades 1008, 1018, and 12L14; diameters 3/16" to 1-13/16".
• Coiled & Upholstery Spring Wire High-carbon wire designed for coiled and upholstery springs with exceptional fatigue resistance and durability. Made from low-alloy manganese steel with high yield strength for furniture, bedding, and automotive seating applications. Available in grades 1055-1080.
• Mechanical Spring Wire High-carbon steel wire built for compression, extension, and torsion springs requiring excellent tensile strength and fatigue resistance. Carbon content up to or exceeding 1.0% with cold drawing and heat treatment for dimensional stability. Available in grades 1055-1080.
• Music Wire (ASTM A228) High-carbon steel wire known for exceptional strength, fatigue resistance, and ability to maintain shape under repeated stress. Engineered for precision springs in dynamic high-stress environments. Carbon content 0.5% to 1.0%+. Available in grades 1055-1080 per ASTM A228 specification.
• Added Bar Services Value-added processing services for cold-finished bars including sawcutting (bundle or index cuts), special cast and helix tolerances, special coil weights, and chemistry and mechanical testing as required by customer specifications.
• Added Wire Services Comprehensive wire processing services including chemical cleaning (pickled), surface coating (lime, borax), mechanical cleaning, material certification, and multi-level product oil/inhibitor coating.
• Specialty Services Custom support services including custom barcoded tags, invoices, bills of lading formatted to integrate with customer systems; rod processing (clean, coat, pickle, lime treatments); cold finishing (straighten, cut, sawcut); wire drawing services; and technical support.
• Freight and Delivery Options Comprehensive logistics solutions including flatbed or enclosed semi-trailer shipping, weather-protected tarped shipments, same-day delivery in Midwest locations, competitive rates, customer pickup, railcar delivery, and international shipping to Canada, Mexico, and global destinations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10-20% increase in strength in areas affected by cold-drawing process
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM)minorOthersIndustry association membership providing access to resources, regulatory updates, and best practices for Kentucky manufacturers. TSW actively engages to stay informed on industry trends and advocate for manufacturing policies.
• Wire Fabricators Association (WFA)minorOthersIndustry association for wire manufacturing companies providing networking, education, and advocacy for the wire industry.
• Chicago Association of Spring Manufacturers, Inc. (CASMI)minorOthersRegional association serving spring manufacturers in the Chicago area, supporting best practices and industry connections.
• Cold-Finished Steel Bar Institute (CFSBI)minorOthersIndustry institute dedicated to promoting cold-finished steel bar products and standards.
• Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA)minorOthersState association advocating for Illinois manufacturers and providing resources for operational excellence.
• Metal Service Center Institute (MSCI)minorOthersIndustry organization serving metal service centers with market intelligence and best practices.
• American Wire Producers Association (AWPA)minorOthersTrade association representing wire producers, advocating for the industry in Washington and sharing best practices.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Charter Manufacturing / Charter Steel: Family-owned steel manufacturer in Wisconsin producing cold-finished carbon and alloy steel bars plus drawn wire under the Charter Steel brand. Direct match on core process (cold drawing), product range, and privately-held family-ownership governance.
• Corey Steel Company: Chicago-area producer of cold-finished steel bars in a comparable grade range. Operates in the same regional Midwest footprint and competes head-to-head for automotive and industrial OEM customers with similar value-added service offerings.
• Insteel Industries: Publicly-traded manufacturer of steel wire products including welded wire reinforcement and prestressed concrete strand, with significant exposure to construction and industrial customers. Closest publicly-listed pure-play comparable for TSW's low-carbon and high-carbon wire lines.
• Laurel Steel (Harris Steel Group): Canadian cold-drawn steel bar manufacturer producing merchant-quality and specialty cold-finished bars. Overlaps with TSW's alloy and free-machining bar product lines and serves similar fastener, automotive, and machinery end markets.
• Steel Technologies: Flat-rolled and cold-finished steel processor operating multiple facilities across North America. Comparable through its cold-finished bar processing capabilities and downstream OEM conversion services paralleling TSW's added bar services.

Broad incumbents

• Nucor Corporation: Largest U.S. steel producer with vertically integrated long-products operations including cold-finished bar capacity and merchant bar mills. Competes broadly across all of TSW's product categories with the scale advantages of a diversified steelmaker.
• Gerdau: Global long-products steelmaker with North American operations producing merchant bars, special bars, and drawn wire. Broad incumbent overlapping TSW's product portfolio and competing for industrial and OEM customers across regions.

Regional players

• Davis Wire: West Coast-based manufacturer of steel wire products including commercial, agricultural, and industrial-grade wire. Comparable to TSW's low-carbon wire lines but operates in a different regional sales territory rather than the Midwest focus.

Others

• Reliance Steel & Aluminum: Largest U.S. metals service center operator with processing capabilities across carbon steel products. Adjacent competitor through metal service center channels that overlaps with some of TSW's flat/cold-finished bar and wire distribution activity.
• Olympic Steel: U.S. metals service center and flat-rolled processor serving industrial OEMs. Relevant as a broader metals distribution and processing competitor that may handle overlapping cold-finished bar and wire volume on a portfolio basis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/taubensee-steel-&-wire-company

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Taubensee Steel & Wire