What Gates & Sons does

Gates & Sons, Inc. is a privately-held, family-owned US manufacturer of concrete forming systems headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The company's core product is steel forming hardware (brackets, clamps, ties) combined with dimensional lumber and plywood to build reusable cast-in-place formwork for residential walls, commercial walls, columns, elevator shafts, stadiums, bridges, and other specialty concrete structures. The product portfolio spans five principal systems — the Horizontal Rod System for residential construction, the Cam Lock hand-set system, Anchor-Lock gang systems (#3 light, #5 mid-weight, #9 heavy), and the Lok Fast Column Clamp — together with specialty offerings such as the Lift N Lock safety platform for elevator shaft forming, Radius Forms, Custom Wood Forms, and Stadium/Auditorium Seating Risers in both gang and handset configurations.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: (1) sale of Gates proprietary hardware and formwork systems, (2) custom wood form fabrication to contractor specification (priced for durability or economy, delivered ready to set), and (3) rental of Gates hardware including Cam Lock brackets, Stiffback clamps, Scaffold brackets, Anchor Locks, Form Braces, and Lok Fast Column clamps. Public pricing is not disclosed; transactions are routed through a national dealer network with a state-by-state dealer locator, supplemented by direct sales offices (National Sales Office and Colorado Contractor Sales Office), a company-owned retail outlet called Gates of Colorado (GOC) for the Colorado Front Range, and an Indianapolis warehouse operation serving eastern dealers with reduced freight cost and faster delivery. Customer segments span SMB residential contractors and mid-market/enterprise commercial contractors (Saunders Construction, Gerald H. Phipps Construction, UFP Concrete Forming Solutions, Mills Supply, Concrete Logistics, Baca Construction), with secondary engagement into vocational and trade-school programs.

The company's competitive positioning rests on 75+ years of operating history, the foundational late-1920s invention of the twisted-wire form tie by founder Lee Gates Sr., a tiered hardware lineup that pairs Gates steel hardware with commonly available lumber and plywood, in-house engineering and custom-fabrication capability exceeding 100 years of combined experience, and an event-led, sales-led GTM anchored by World of Concrete presence and the Concrete Facts multimedia series.

Name

Gates & Sons

Legal name

Gates & Sons, Inc.

Website

https://gatesconcreteforms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Gates & Sons is a family-owned Denver-based manufacturer of concrete forming hardware and wood-based formwork systems — including Cam Lock, Anchor-Lock, and Lok Fast Column Clamp product lines — sold through a national US dealer network plus direct sales offices, serving residential and commercial concrete contractors nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Concrete Forming Systems

NAICS

Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing (332322)

SIC

Screw Machine Products (3451)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping) (IMAHADAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Post, Footing & Foundation Work for Outdoor Structures (HSAIAJAL)

Keywords

• Concrete forming systems
• Concrete formwork hardware
• Wall forming equipment
• Column forming clamps
• Gang forming systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Concrete Forming Hardware and Formwork Systems Sales: Gates & Sons manufactures and sells concrete forming hardware (brackets, clamps, ties) and wood-based forming systems. Products include the Horizontal Rod System, Cam-Lock System, Anchor-Lock Gang Systems (#3, #5, #9), and Lok Fast Column Clamps. Systems use common lumber (2x4, 2x6, 4x4) and 3/4-inch plywood combined with Gates' proprietary steel hardware.
2. Custom Wood Form Fabrication: Gates designs and builds custom column and gang forms to specification, including custom wood forms, column forms, radius forms, and specialty forms for challenging tunnel jobs or complex concrete shapes. Forms can be bid for durability (high reusability) or economically (one-time use). Forms arrive at jobsite ready to set with minimal assembly.
3. Equipment and Hardware Rental: Gates hardware including Cam Lock brackets, Stiffback clamps, Scaffold brackets, Anchor Locks, Adjustable Form Braces, and Lok Fast Column clamps are available for rental to contractors.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gates & Sons manufactures and sells concrete forming hardware (brackets, clamps, ties) and wood-based forming systems for residential, commercial, and infrastructure construction. The company designs and fabricates custom column, gang, and radius forms to specification, with hardware available for purchase or rental through a nationwide dealer network.

Product overview

Gates & Sons is a manufacturer of concrete forming systems serving residential and commercial construction since 1948. The product portfolio consists of five main forming system families: (1) Horizontal Rod System for residential construction featuring 5/8" horizontal rods and 3/4" HDO plywood panels; (2) Cam Lock System - a versatile hand-set forming system with brackets, stiffbacks, and cushion cone ties for quick setup; (3) Anchor Lock Gang Systems in three sizes (#3 light-duty, #5 mid-weight, #9 heavy-duty) for large commercial forming with 2,250# to 10,000# safe working loads; (4) Lok Fast Column Clamp for rapid column placement in three size ranges; and (5) Elevator Shaft Forms including Lift n' Lock Safety Platform with Collapsible Inside Corner and Pin N Lock Outside Corner. The company also offers Specialty Forms including Radius Forms compatible with all main systems, Custom Wood Forms for complex shapes, Stadium/Auditorium Seating Risers (both gang and handset configurations), and accessory products including Scaffold Brackets, Safety Rail Posts, and various Concrete Form Ties. All products are designed for the construction industry's cast-in-place concrete needs and are available for purchase or rental.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Horizontal Rod System Residential concrete forming system featuring 5/8-inch horizontal rods for tie engagement, 3/4-inch HDO or Barrier Film plywood panels, hinged corners, and EZ Break-Back galvanized or CB welded wire ties. Designed for residential wall, foundation, and retaining wall contractors needing an efficient, lightweight, affordable forming solution.
• Cam Lock System Hand-set commercial forming system where a Cam Lock bracket engages a loop-end tie to secure 2x4 walers, with self-centering plastic cushion cones, 2,250 lb safe working load at 2:1 safety factor, stackable design, and scaffold bracket compatibility. Includes Dual-Duty Scaffold Bracket and Safety Rail Post accessories. Used by commercial concrete contractors.
• #3 Anchor Lock Gang System Gates' lightest gang forming system at approximately 5 lb/sq ft, featuring pass-thru ties with 1.5-inch breakback, 2,250 lb safe working load, and straightforward design for quick fabrication and easy modification. Targeted at commercial contractors needing cost-efficient gang forming.
• #5 Anchor Lock Gang System Mid-weight gang forming system at approximately 7 lb/sq ft with 3,250 lb safe working load at 2:1 safety factor, 24x24 inch tie spacing, supporting taper ties or threaded 3/8-inch inner ties for medium-duty commercial applications.
• #9 Anchor Lock Gang System Heavy-weight gang forming system at approximately 9 lb/sq ft with 10,000 lb taper tie and 9,000 lb inner tie safe working loads at 2:1 safety factor, 36x36 inch tie spacing, and taper ties with slotted ends for multiple wall thicknesses. Built for heavy-duty commercial and infrastructure concrete projects.
• Lok Fast Column Clamp Flagship column forming system and one of the fastest column clamp systems available, available in three size ranges (8-24 inches, 12-36 inches, 24-48 inches), with no loose parts when assembled and 1/4 x 3 x 4 inch angle construction. Forms open in two 90-degree halves for crane stripping.
• Lift n' Lock Safety Platform Safety platform for elevator shaft forming (precast or cast-in-place) with adjustable brackets securing forms to previous pour via vertical and horizontal adjusters, 2,250 lb safe working load per bracket at 4:1 safety factor, dual wood stringers with 3/4-inch plywood deck. Can also brace gang forms when designed with LVL beams and plywood deck.
• Radius Forms Radius forming options compatible with Cam Lock, #3, #5, #9 Anchor Lock, and V-Lock systems, offering wood or steel radius walers with attached adjusters for true radius forming. Suitable for applications from low retaining walls to large water treatment tanks.
• Custom Wood Forms Custom-designed and fabricated wood forms for complex concrete shapes that cannot be easily formed with modular systems. Forms can be built for high-reuse durability or one-time economy, with more than 100 years of combined in-house manufacturing experience. Arrives at jobsite ready to set with minimal assembly.
• Gang Form Riser Versatile gang form for stadium seating and stair applications, with replaceable form faces, rolling wheel option to minimize crane time, and configurable for precise radius or varying rise/run, including parabolic stadium designs. Offered in straight and radius configurations.
• Handset Riser Hand-set riser forming system for stair applications where cranes are not accessible or gang form reuse is not economical. Produces architectural finish on radius or straight step applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gates Cam Lock System can complete linear footage within a day on high-rise projects
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UFP Concrete Forming SolutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUFP Concrete Forming Solutions is a key distribution partner for Gates products. Will Hopkins, Regional Sales Manager at UFP, noted Gates hardware is available throughout major cities nationwide. Gates and UFP co-sponsored the World of Concrete 2022 cornhole tournament, demonstrating a strong GTM partnership. Gates' family-oriented values resonate with UFP's ethos.
• Mills SupplycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMills Supply is a family-operated mill supply business based in Louisville, Kentucky (since 1991) with nearly 150 employees. Long-standing partnership with Gates for concrete forming products. Both companies share a vision of propelling the industry in Louisville to new horizons, with Gates' swift and effective solutions resonating with Mills Supply's customer-first ethos.
• Concrete LogisticscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConcrete Logistics, owned by Michael Allegro and established in 2012, is a partner that sources Gates products for specialized projects. When a customer needed a custom radius battered wall for Charleston's Battery Park, Concrete Logistics turned to Gates for an innovative solution. Gates provided engineering insights and precise forms, enabling the project's success.
• Wayland Carpenter and Millwright Training CenterminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJeramiah Coyle, Carpenter Instructor at Wayland Carpenter and Millwright Training Center, conducts Cam-Lock form building training using Gates products. Gates National Retail Sales Manager Don Valdez collaborates with the training center to provide hands-on training sessions for vocational students.
• Hawaii Community CollegeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAn Associate Professor of Carpentry at Hawaii Community College incorporates Gates concrete forming products into their two-year vocational program for residential carpentry training, demonstrating Gates products as teaching tools for real-world construction skills.
• Gerald H. Phipps Construction CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerald H. Phipps Construction Companies has partnered with Gates & Sons since 1995. Mike Mann emphasized Gates' involvement from project pre-planning through execution, providing comprehensive forming solutions including formwork design and task sequencing optimization.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Meadow Burke: Meadow Burke supplies a broad range of concrete construction accessories and forming hardware, with overlapping SKUs in form ties, brackets, and accessories that directly compete with Gates' tie and bracket product lines.
• Doka: Doka is a global formwork manufacturer with a strong presence in infrastructure and high-rise construction, competing with Gates' Anchor-Lock gang systems and custom wood form capabilities on commercial and civil projects.
• PERI: PERI is a global formwork and scaffolding leader, offering wall, column, slab, and tunnel formwork systems. While multinational and far larger, PERI overlaps with Gates in commercial wall and column forming and represents the high-end competition Gates encounters on large projects.
• BrandSafway (Safway/Brand Industrial Services): BrandSafway is a large diversified access, formwork, and scaffolding services provider, competing with Gates on commercial and infrastructure forming where bundled forming-and-access solutions are sold to general contractors.
• ULMA Construction: ULMA is a formwork and scaffolding provider serving residential, commercial, and infrastructure markets. Its wall and column formwork systems overlap with Gates' Cam-Lock and gang forming offerings in the mid-to-large commercial segment.
• Symons (Dayton Superior): Symons by Dayton Superior is a legacy concrete forming brand within a broader concrete accessories and forming portfolio, competing with Gates on handset and gang forming systems while offering a much wider product line.

Emerging players

• Riser Solutions Inc. Riser Solutions is a specialty formwork partner that integrates Gates forming products (Riser Ties, Radius Wall Forms) into riser and radius wall applications for stadium, church, and architectural concrete projects—an emerging ecosystem player adjacent to Gates' specialty forming business.

Direct peers

• Aluma Systems: Aluma Systems specializes in aluminum handset and gang forming systems for residential and commercial concrete construction, directly comparable to Gates' wood-based and steel hardware forming approach for walls and columns.
• EFCO (Hünnebeck by BrandSafway): EFCO is a direct competitor in concrete forming systems, offering modular handset and gang forming for walls, columns, and heavy civil construction—directly comparable to Gates' Cam-Lock, Anchor-Lock, and Lok Fast product families.
• Western Forms: Western Forms manufactures aluminum and steel concrete forming systems for residential and light commercial construction, overlapping with Gates' Horizontal Rod and Cam-Lock residential/light commercial offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GatesConcreteForms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Gates & Sons