Diversified Metal Fabricators

What Diversified Metal Fabricators does

Diversified Metal Fabricators (DMF), founded in 1972 and headquartered at 665 Pylant Street NE in Atlanta, Georgia, is a family-owned manufacturer of hydraulic hi-rail equipment (railgear) that converts highway vehicles into rail-capable vehicles for railroad maintenance, construction, and inspection. The company's product line spans from light-duty systems for pickups and SUVs (RW-1013, RW-1016) through medium-duty units (RW-1019B, RW-1212, RW-1420) to heavy-duty railgear for trucks over 33,000 lbs GVWR (RW-1630, RW-1650), with specialized offerings including the RW-2300HS hydrostatic system for transmission-independent operation, the Roto-180 rotating system for curved track work, and a family of excavator railgear (RW-1650G/GX). Proprietary design features include articulated dual-scissor deployment, over-center load support, independent rubber suspension, and wireless control, with products supported by a $1M+ parts inventory, same-day shipping, a nationwide authorized service center network, and a $400/session Inspection & Service School training program.

DMF operates a factory-direct sales model out of a 52,000+ sq ft Atlanta production facility, generating revenue through new equipment sales (one-time), replacement parts and components, factory and authorized service-center repair, and training services. The company targets railroad operators, contractors, and construction equipment users across the U.S. and internationally, with sales driven through direct phone, email, and contact-form channels. With 11-50 employees, 300+ combined years of staff experience, and more than 30,000 units sold and 20,000+ in active service worldwide, DMF occupies a niche specialty-manufacturing position in the railroad equipment supply chain. The company has remained privately held and family-owned throughout its 50+ year history, with no disclosed external investors, acquisitions, or leadership changes.

Name

Diversified Metal Fabricators

Legal name

Diversified Metal Fabricators, Inc.

Website

https://dmfatlanta.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Diversified Metal Fabricators is a family-owned Atlanta manufacturer founded in 1972 that designs and builds hydraulic hi-rail (railgear) systems converting highway vehicles for railroad track operation, serving railroad operators, contractors, and excavator fleet customers across multiple vehicle weight classes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Railroad Railgear Manufacturing

NAICS

Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336)

SIC

Railroad Equipment (3743)

akta.pro primary industry

Rail Maintenance & Track Vehicles (Hi-Rail, Track Machines, Inspection Vehicles) (IMAHAIAK)

Keywords

• Railgear manufacturing
• Hi-rail equipment
• Railroad maintenance vehicles
• Vehicle track conversion
• Excavator rail systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

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, Inventory, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Railgear Equipment Sales: New equipment sales including complete railgear systems, front and rear guide wheel assemblies, and complete installation kits for various vehicle chassis. One-time hardware sales with optional accessories and upgrades.
2. Parts and Components: Replacement parts, hydraulic components, wheels, bearings, and service parts. Over $1 million in inventory with same-day shipment capability for standard items. Ongoing revenue from maintenance and repairs.
3. Service and Repair: Factory service support, troubleshooting, maintenance services. Service coordinator assists with vehicle servicing nationwide through authorized repair facilities.
4. Training Services: DMF Inspection and Service School training at $400 per session. Technical courses familiarize shops with DMF products, leading to inclusion on Service Center List.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DMF manufactures hydraulic railgear systems that convert standard highway vehicles (pickups, medium-duty trucks, heavy-duty trucks, and excavators) into hi-rail vehicles capable of operating on railroad tracks. The company also produces the Roto-180 rotating rail system, remote control systems, mid-mount configurations, and a full line of replacement parts, factory service, and technical training programs for railgear installation and maintenance.

Product overview

Diversified Metal Fabricators (DMF) is a family-owned railroad railgear manufacturer serving the railroad industry since 1972. The company produces a comprehensive portfolio of hi-rail gear systems enabling vehicles to operate on railroad tracks. The product line spans from light-duty systems (RW-1013 for pickups/SUVs up to 11,500 lbs GVWR) through medium-duty (RW-1212, RW-1420 for 19,500-33,000 lbs) to heavy-duty railgear (RW-1630/1650 for 33,000+ lbs). Specialized products include the RW-2300HS hydrostatic system with independent operation capability, Roto-180 rotating systems for curved track applications, and excavator-specific railgear (RW-1650G/GX). Supporting offerings include remote control systems, mid-mount options, auxiliary equipment, technical manuals, and inspection/service training programs. DMF maintains over $1 million in parts inventory with same-day shipment capability and a nationwide network of certified service centers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DMF Railgear: Primary product line brand for railroad railgear systems including RW series products for various vehicle weight capacities.

Products and services

• RW-1013 Railgear Light-duty hydraulic railgear system for pickup and SUV chassis (8,000 to 11,500 lbs GVWR) with rubber torsion suspension at each guidewheel and wireless controls.
• RW-1016 Railgear Independent suspension railgear system for heavy-duty pickup chassis (Ford F250/350, GM 2500/3500HD, RAM 2500/3500) using rubber springs for smooth ride over uneven rail.
• RW-1019B Railgear Compact mid-duty railgear for vehicles with 12,000-19,500 lbs GVWR featuring swinging deployment path, true over-center design at front and rear, and improved ground clearance.
• RW-1212 Railgear Medium-duty railgear for vehicles up to 28,000 lbs GVWR featuring articulated dual-scissor action for independent side movement during rail engagement.
• RW-1420 Railgear Scaled-down version of patented RW-1630 for medium-duty vehicles up to 33,000 lbs GVWR, with dual-scissor deployment action and side-shift capability.
• RW-1630 / RW-1650 Heavy-Duty Railgear Heavy-duty railgear for large trucks (33,000+ lbs GVWR). RW-1630 features front guide wheel assembly using vehicle suspension and rear articulated dual-scissor action; RW-1650 adds 70,000 lbs per guide wheel axle capacity at 20 MPH with steel forged front wheels and thru-hardened rear wheels.
• RW-2300HS Hydrostatic Railgear Advanced hydrostatic railgear system enabling independent vehicle operation without transmission integration, with wireless control, 33,000 lb GAWR front system, and up to 200,000 lbs GCWR on level rail.
• Roto-180 Rotating Rail System Rotating railgear system for articulated vehicles, enabling operation on curved tracks with full rotational movement capability.
• Raildogs Compact railgear attachment system for vehicles requiring temporary rail conversion capability.
• RW-1650G Excavator Railgear Excavator-specific railgear system for Gradall XL3330-V and XL4330-V equipment, designed for track work using excavator equipment.
• RW-1630/50G Excavator Railgear Excavator railgear system designed for heavy construction equipment requiring rail travel capability.
• RW-1650GX Excavator Railgear Reinforced excavator railgear with enhanced outer structure for demanding applications on Gradall XL3330-V and XL4330-V equipment.
• Remote Control Railgear Wireless remote control system for railgear operation, enabling operators to deploy and retract railgear from a distance.
• DMF Inspection & Service Training Technical training courses at $400 per session covering FRA requirements, maintenance, troubleshooting, and adjustments of DMF products. Successful completion qualifies shops for the DMF authorized Service Center List.
• Parts & Service Support Parts department and nationwide service department offering replacement parts, hydraulic components, wheels, bearings, factory troubleshooting, and maintenance services coordinated through authorized service centers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30,000 railgear units sold globally since 1972
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Service Center NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDMF maintains a network of authorized service centers nationwide. Service centers are trained through DMF's Inspection & Service School and listed on the company website for customer referrals. This partnership enables localized installation, service, and repair for railgear products.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Knox Kershaw Inc. Knox Kershaw is a leading US manufacturer of hi-rail/railgear equipment and track maintenance machinery, directly competing with DMF in converting highway vehicles for rail use. Both serve Class I railroads, short lines, and contractors with overlapping product capabilities.
• Harsco Rail: Harsco Rail designs and manufactures track maintenance equipment, railgear, and on-track machinery for transit and freight railroads globally. It competes with DMF across both hi-rail conversion kits and dedicated rail maintenance vehicles.
• Nordco: Nordco manufactures railroad MRO equipment including tie cranes, scarifiers, and material handling machinery used on track. It addresses the same Class I railroad maintenance buyer as DMF, though with a different product mix focused on larger equipment.

Broad incumbents

• Loram Maintenance of Way: Loram is one of the largest rail maintenance services and equipment providers in North America, offering grinding, ballast cleaning, and track inspection equipment. It serves the same railroad capex buyer as DMF with broader service and equipment capabilities.
• Plasser American: Plasser American is the US arm of Plasser & Theurer, supplying large mechanized track maintenance and renewal machinery (tampers, stabilizers, ballast regulators). It targets the same railroad MRO market as DMF but at the heavy/high-capacity end of the product spectrum.
• Progress Rail (Caterpillar): Progress Rail, a Caterpillar subsidiary, manufactures locomotives, railcars, and a broad range of MRO and track products. It is a much larger incumbent serving the same Class I and transit customer base as DMF across multiple rail equipment categories.

Regional players

• Herzog Railroad Services: Herzog provides rail MRO services, equipment, and automated track inspection technology primarily in North America. While more service-led than DMF, it overlaps on track maintenance equipment and serves similar railroad and transit customers.

Emerging players

• Sperry Rail Service: Sperry Rail Service provides rail flaw detection and track inspection services and equipment, addressing a portion of DMF's railroad MRO buyer base. It is more specialized (inspection) than DMF but is a comparable small-to-mid-size rail equipment/services company.
• American Equipment Company: American Equipment supplies hi-rail gear, railroad cranes, and specialty rail maintenance equipment to short-line and industrial railroads. It overlaps with DMF's light- and medium-duty hi-rail conversion product set.

Others

• Marmon Rail (Marmon Group): Marmon Rail supplies rail-related products including track hardware, lubrication equipment, and freight car components, serving similar railroad MRO customers as DMF. The adjacency is more in customer overlap than in direct product competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AtlantaDmf
• Facebookfacebook.com/DMF-Atlanta-101237414687473
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dmf-atlanta

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 Diversified Metal Fabricators