Builtrite

What Builtrite does

Builtrite Handlers & Attachments, founded in 1989 as Northshore Manufacturing and now operating as a subsidiary of Tenamec, Inc., designs and manufactures heavy-duty material handling equipment from a 55,000 square foot facility in Two Harbors, Minnesota. Its product portfolio is organized into three families: stationary electric material handlers (ranging from the compact 40-SE up through the 4650-SE-VFD), truck-mounted knuckle boom loaders (Builtrite 88-TM through 2280-TM and the legacy Lemco 7000/8000/950/XLT 170 lines), and more than 25 specialized grapple attachments including orange peel grapples, log and pulpwood grapples, solid waste tamping grapples, clamshell buckets, magnet rotators, and underwater salvage grapples. Core technology centers on high-pressure on-demand hydraulic systems, pilot-operated electronic joystick controls, SolidWorks-driven design and finite element analysis, and patented Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) motor control that lowers electrical draw and operating cost relative to diesel alternatives.

The company's commercial model is built on direct, engineering-led sales of configured hardware plus complementary professional services (consulting, custom design engineering, installation, and operator training). Customers are served across at least eight verticals—scrap recycling, solid waste and C&D recycling, railroad maintenance, road/highway and general construction, pulpwood/forestry, electrical utility and foundation drilling, mining, and custom engineering—through direct sales, a long-running OEM supply channel (e.g., Granutech Saturn Baler), and ongoing product distribution across North America. Branding spans the Builtrite and Lemco marks (Lemco acquired in 2018), supported by industry association memberships (ReMA, ARA), trade publication presence, and targeted social channels. Pricing is application-specific rather than list-based and is not publicly disclosed, reflecting a project-and-configuration-driven revenue profile with custom-engineering upside.

Name

Builtrite

Legal name

Builtrite

Website

https://builtrite.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Builtrite, a Tenamec, Inc. subsidiary, manufactures stationary electric and truck-mounted material handlers plus a broad line of grapples and attachments. It serves scrap recycling, solid waste, construction, forestry, railroad, mining, utility, and drilling customers across North America via direct, engineering-led sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Material Handling Equipment

NAICS

Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924), Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing (3331)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Crane & Hoist Components (Wire Rope, Chain, Drums, Sheaves, Motors, Controls) (IMAHAJAK), Truck Body & Upfit Manufacturing (Box/Dump/Service/Refuse) (IMACAGAC)

Keywords

• Material handling equipment
• Stationary electric handlers
• Truck mounted knuckle boom loaders
• Grapple attachments
• Scrap recycling machinery

Headquarters

HQ city

Two Harbors

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, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Material Handler Sales: Manufacture and sale of stationary electric material handlers and truck-mounted material handlers (knuckle boom loaders) as the primary revenue stream. Products are sold directly to end customers in various industrial sectors.
2. Grapple Attachments Sales: Sale of various grapple attachments including orange peel grapples, log grapples, pipe grapples, trash grapples, and specialized attachments for material handling applications
3. Custom Engineering Services: Custom design engineering services including consulting, facility layout design, and completely custom product design for specialized applications
4. Installation and Training Services: Installation assistance and operator training services provided by factory representatives for stationary electric material handlers sold
5. OEM Supplier Revenue: Supply of loaders to several OEMs as a supplier relationship, providing products that are integrated into other equipment offerings

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Builtrite manufactures and sells heavy-duty material handlers and grapple attachments for industrial use. The product portfolio includes stationary electric material handlers (40-SE through 4650-SE-VFD models), truck-mounted knuckle boom loaders (88-TM through 2280-TM and Lemco-branded 7000 through XLT 170 series), and over 25 types of specialized grapple attachments for scrap, waste, forestry, mining, railroad and construction applications. All design and manufacturing occurs in-house at the Two Harbors, Minnesota facility.

Product overview

Builtrite Handlers & Attachments offers a comprehensive portfolio of material handling equipment under the Builtrite and Lemco brands. The product line consists of three main categories: Stationary Electric Material Handlers (ranging from compact 40-SE to heavy-duty 4650-SE-VFD models with Variable Frequency Drive technology), Truck Mounted Material Handlers/Knuckle Boom Loaders (including Builtrite models 88-TM through 2280-TM and Lemco-branded loaders from 7000 to XLT 170 series), and a diverse range of attachments/grapples (over 25 types including orange peel grapples, log grapples, waste grapples, clamshell buckets, and specialized handlers for railroad, mining cable reels, and underwater salvage applications). Products serve industries including solid waste/recycling, scrap handling, construction, forestry, mining, and railroad maintenance. All design and manufacturing is performed in-house at their Two Harbors, Minnesota facility. The company also offers custom engineering and manufacturing services for unique customer requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lemco: Brand of forestry and municipal attachments and handlers, including truck-mounted loaders for logging, tree service, storm clean-up, and construction applications.

Products and services

• 40-SE Stationary Electric Material Handler Smallest stationary electric material handler in Builtrite's lineup, designed for loading smaller balers and unclogging conveyors or rearranging logs in pulp/wood mill in-feed ponds. Features a 19' boom with electronic joystick controls for tight operating conditions.
• 1010-SE Stationary Electric Material Handler Mid-range stationary electric material handler for loading conveyors, balers, shredders, non-ferrous scrap, log handling, and foundry use. Maximum reach of 25'6".
• 1300-SE Stationary Electric Material Handler Compact stationary electric handler suited for lower-volume waste transfer stations, wood processing, scrap yards, and aggregate facilities, with smaller pedestal base enabling replacement of competitive units without foundation work.
• 1350-SE-VFD Stationary Electric Material Handler Stationary electric handler featuring a more spacious operator cab, increased lifting capacity, and Builtrite's patented Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) technology that reduces electrical draw on start-up to lower operating costs.
• 2100-SE Stationary Electric Material Handler Flagship stationary electric material handler used as a heavy-duty workhorse for solid waste, scrap, aggregate, and wood mill operations, available in multiple configurations for customization.
• 2150-SE-VFD Stationary Electric Material Handler Versatile VFD-equipped stationary electric material handler for loading, sorting and tamping municipal solid waste and C&D debris in transfer stations, with options for loading hoppers/conveyors, unloading trailers, and repositioning logs.
• 2350-SE-VFD Stationary Electric Material Handler Larger-capacity VFD stationary electric material handler for demanding industrial material handling applications.
• 3650-SE-VFD Stationary Electric Material Handler High-capacity VFD stationary electric material handler for industrial material handling operations.
• 4650-SE-VFD Stationary Electric Material Handler Heavy-duty VFD stationary electric material handler for large-scale industrial and construction material handling.
• 2300-SE Stationary Electric Material Handler High-capacity stationary electric material handler for construction & demolition and heavy industrial material handling applications.
• Model 88-TM Truck Mounted Material Handler Advanced truck-mounted material handler with pilot-operated on-demand load-sensing hydraulics for railroad maintenance, tree service, curbside pickup, and logging applications.
• Model 1010-TM Truck Mounted Material Handler Truck-mounted knuckle boom material handler designed for railroad maintenance and curbside pickup of white goods, garbage, and woody debris; available with A-frame or out-and-down stabilizers.
• Model 1380-TM Truck Mounted Material Handler Truck-mounted material handler with high-pressure piston pump on-demand hydraulics for smoother, quicker controls; designed for heavier duty applications including jersey barrier handling, heavy construction, and scrap pickup.
• Model 2280-TM Truck Mounted Material Handler Largest and most powerful Builtrite truck-mounted handler, built with state-of-the-art materials for high lift capacity without added weight; used for jersey barriers, concrete slab removal, heavy construction, and drilling rig components.
• Cable Reel Handler (Model 2200-CRH) Custom-engineered truck-mounted material handler (2200-CRH) for loading and transporting spools of cable to and from mining job sites.
• Lemco 950 Truck and Trailer Mounted Material Handler Lemco-branded medium loader for heavy-duty logging, tree service and storm clean-up, with 28' straight or 23'+3' telescopic boom options, 3500 PSI system, and continuous rotation on a 28" bearing.
• Lemco XLT 170 Truck Mounted Material Handler Lemco-branded knuckle boom loader for heavy-lift pole handling, tree service/storm clean-up and construction; features a fold-under 23' boom and dead heels for end-loading logs.
• Lemco Model 8000 Truck & Trailer Mounted Material Handler Lemco-branded economical loader for municipalities, sheetrock haulers, tree service contractors, and loggers; available in cab, rear (tail), or trailer mount with five boom length options.
• Lemco Model 7000 Truck & Trailer Mounted Material Handler Lemco-branded economical knuckle boom loader for municipalities, tree service contractors, and loggers; 3,500 lb lift capacity at 20', five boom options, A-frame stabilizers.
• 4TKG Orange Peel Grapples Patented-arm-design 4-tine orange peel grapple with three spade options (Narrow, Mid-Spade, Wide) for moving large volumes of scrap steel, C&D debris, municipal solid waste, and recyclables.
• Mat Handling Grapple Grapple attachment with 360° continuous rotation and a 22,000 lb rotator for loading and placing off-road mats used to allow construction equipment to travel over soft terrain.
• Heavy Duty Log Grapple Heavy-duty log grapple with 360° continuous rotation on a 20" bearing, high-torque motor, cylinder guards, and mechanical stops for single and bulk log handling and pull-through de-limbing.
• Single Log Positioning Grapple Narrow-design grapple for use with the Model 40SE handler and smaller excavators; designed to manipulate logs on conveyors or in soaking ponds in tight spaces.
• Log Bunching Grapple 1/4 cord log bunching grapple with 360° rotation, 74" wide opening with curved tines, and single cylinder with timing link for grabbing multiple or single short wood logs.
• 4TSG 25 Orange Peel Grapple 4TSG 25 orange peel grapple for truck-mounted handlers and smaller excavators/material handlers handling scrap metals, solid waste, and woody debris; 22,000 lb capacity rotator and abrasion-resistant steel.
• Pipe Handling Grapple Pipe handling grapple with high-strength abrasion-resistant steel jaws and a heavy-duty 20" rotation bearing for high-volume pipe and longer scrap steel handling.
• Municipal Trash Grapple Lemco 48" municipal trash grapple with continuous heavy-duty rotation and wide jaw opening for roadside waste pickup, brush, white goods, and animal carcasses.
• Log / Pole Handling Grapple Heavy-duty log/pole handling grapple with optional tine wraps to minimize damage when handling telephone poles; available in 46" and 56" wide jaw openings.
• Pulpwood Grapples Butt-style pulpwood grapples with 360° continuous rotation, optimum arm curvature, and synchronized jaws for bulk handling of short wood at processing facilities.
• Solid Waste Tamping Grapple Solid waste tamping grapple with a flat closed bottom for loading, distributing, sorting and tamping municipal solid waste and C&D debris in truck trailers or dumpsters.
• Curved Bottom Waste Grapple Curved bottom waste grapple for roadside pickup of trash, brush, white goods and animal carcasses; arms close without digging into soil to prevent contamination.
• 2/3 Tine, Bypass, Underwater Salvage Grapple 2/3 tine bypass marine salvage grapple in three sizes with anti-corrosive materials, marine-duty paint, special cylinder seals and AR 500 tine tips for harsh underwater environments.
• 2/3 Tine, Bypass, Hanging Style Grapple 2/3 tine bypass hanging-style grapple in three sizes for 18-45 metric ton excavators and material handlers; handles automobiles, loose scrap, bales, C&D debris, brush, logs and rock.
• Heavy Duty Clamshell Buckets Re-handling heavy-duty clamshell grapple bucket with 1.3 cubic yard capacity and a heavy-duty rotation bearing for aggregate materials, wood chips and other fine materials.
• Heavy Duty Butt Grapples Versatile heavy-duty butt grapples for handling concrete slabs, barriers, construction attachments, foundation drill bits, rock, and pallets; tine tips meet for picking up small to large bulky items.
• Bypass Utility Grapples Bypass utility grapples with bypassing tines for handling logs, brush, railroad ties and pallets, capable of picking up individual or multiple items.
• Tie Handling Grapple Modification of heavy-duty butt tine grapple with smooth interior tine plates for bulk railroad tie handling without damaging ties.
• Magnet Rotator Magnet rotator attachment that allows operators to rotate loads for more efficient and compact stacking, particularly useful for longer items like railroad rail, beam, and pipe.
• 1.5 Cubic Yard Waste Clamshell Grapple 1.5 cubic yard waste clamshell grapple with bolt-on replaceable flat cutting edges for handling large volumes of loose solid waste and recyclables; ideal for loading trucks, rail cars, hoppers and conveyors.
• Standard Butt Grapples Standard butt tine utility grapples for wood products, brush, railroad ties, pallets, and landscape rock; tine tips meet for picking up small to large bulky items.
• Bale Clamp Grapple Bale clamp grapple with dimpled arms for solid grip while preventing shrink-wrap damage; designed for professional waste processors to load and unload bales of solid waste.
• Heavy Duty By-Pass Waste Grapple Heavy-duty bypass waste grapple with by-pass tines for precise pickup and placement of roadside trash, brush, white goods and light loose scrap metals and bales.
• 3 Tine, Self Contained Grapple 3-tine self-contained orange peel grapple with radio remote control for shredder operators to clean debris caught in the in-feed hopper of stationary shredders and shears.
• Consulting Services Consulting services provided to customers for industrial material handling applications, including facility layout design.
• Design Engineering Services Custom design engineering services for unique industrial material handling problems, including facility layout design and completely custom product design for specialized applications.
• Installation and Training Services Installation assistance and operator training services provided by factory representatives for stationary electric material handlers sold to customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Operating and maintenance costs reduced by 50% or more with electric handlers compared to diesel
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LemcocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018In 2018, Tenamec acquired Lemco, a company that began as a supplier of truck-mounted loaders for the forestry industry and later expanded to municipality and construction markets. Lemco is now integrated as part of Builtrite Handlers and Attachments with continued manufacturing and distribution of Lemco products.
• Granutech Saturn BalerminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerGranutech Saturn Baler integrates Builtrite equipment (such as the 1300 Loader) with their baler products for scrap processing applications
• Tenamec, Inc (Parent Company)coreOthersTenamec, Inc is the parent company of Builtrite. Under Tenamec, Builtrite is part of a group of companies catering to construction, scrap recycling, demolition, automotive recycling, railroad maintenance and other industries. Other brands include SAS Forks, SAS Rail, and DRKhorse.
• SAS ForksminorOthersSAS Forks (Luxemburg, WI) was acquired in 2017 and brought into the Tenamec portfolio as a sister brand to Builtrite under the same parent company.
• SAS RailminorOthersSAS Rail is a sister brand under the Tenamec portfolio, serving the railroad maintenance industry alongside Builtrite products.
• DRKhorse ToolsminorOthersDRKhorse (demolition and scrap processing attachments) was added to the Tenamec line-up as a sister brand to Builtrite.
• Recycled Materials Association (ReMA)minorOthersIndustry trade association membership providing visibility and networking within the scrap recycling industry
• Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA)minorOthersIndustry trade association membership for automotive recycling industry engagement

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sennebogen: Sennebogen is a German manufacturer of material handlers, crawler cranes, and telescopic cranes with a strong stationary electric handler and scrap/waste-handler portfolio - directly overlapping with Builtrite's core product lines, OEM channels, and end markets including scrap, waste, and ports.
• Pettibone: Pettibone builds Tractor-Loader-Backhoes, track carriers, and material/pole handlers (including knuckleboom loaders) for forestry, utility, railroad, and construction - directly comparable to Builtrite's truck-mounted handler and Lemco-branded product lines serving the same mid-size contractor market.
• Hiab (Cargotec): Hiab is the global leader in truck-mounted loader cranes, knuckleboom, and material handling equipment for forestry, waste, recycling, and logistics - the closest large-scale direct competitor to Builtrite's Lemco/Builtrite truck-mounted handler business.
• Palfinger: Palfinger is a leading global manufacturer of crane and lifting solutions with a strong knuckleboom/material handler line serving forestry, waste, and construction - a direct peer in truck-mounted lifting equipment to Builtrite's Lemco loaders.
• Fassi Group: Fassi is an Italian manufacturer of articulated truck cranes and knuckleboom loaders sold across construction, municipal, recycling, and forestry markets - directly comparable to Builtrite's truck-mounted handler product family and OEM/customer channels.

Broad incumbents

• Liebherr: Liebherr is a broad incumbent in construction, mining, and material handling equipment, including large stationary and mobile material handlers - a benchmark for Builtrite's larger-scale stationary electric and mining cable-handler products, with much greater R&D and global reach.
• Caterpillar: Caterpillar offers material handling arms and wheeled material handlers (e.g., MH3000 series) used in scrap, waste, and port operations - a broad incumbent that competes for the same enterprise customer base as Builtrite's stationary and truck-mounted handlers.
• Volvo Construction Equipment: Volvo CE provides wheeled material handlers and demolition/forestry equipment across waste, recycling, and construction - comparable end applications to Builtrite, though anchored on a much broader construction equipment portfolio.

Emerging players

• JCB (material handling attachments): JCB supplies grapple attachments and material handling attachments for its own telehandlers and excavators into waste, recycling, and construction - overlapping with Builtrite's attachment/grapple portfolio, especially in the OEM and dealer channel.

Regional players

• Douglas Manufacturing: Douglas Manufacturing is a US-based attachment specialist producing grapples, thumbs, and buckets for excavators and material handlers - a North-American niche attachment peer comparable to Builtrite's grapple family.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Builtrite