What KH Industries does

KH Industries, founded in 1960 in Hamburg, New York by Karl Baake Sr. (a German tool-and-die maker), designs and manufactures industrial retractable cord reels, power distribution products, and portable lighting engineered for harsh and hazardous environments. The portfolio spans four cord reel series (RTB, RTF, RTA, CRK) addressing indoor, outdoor, marine, and Class I Division 1 use cases; the HazRay explosion-proof LED lighting line; NightRay remote-control vehicle spotlights; and supporting power products including pendant stations, power pendant outlet boxes, portable outlet boxes, power stringers, plugs and connectors, festoon systems, and cord reel power stations. All engineering, sales, and service operations are US-based, with vertically integrated manufacturing (metal fabrication, plastic injection molding, tool-and-die, assembly) carried out in a 150,000 SF Hamburg, NY facility and certified to ISO 9001, UL 355, UL 844, NEMA 2/4/4X, and CSA/ETL standards.

KH Industries generates revenue primarily through one-time hardware sales of catalog and custom-configured cord reels, power products, and lighting, supplemented by custom engineering services for OEMs and demanding end-use applications. Pricing is quote-based with multi-year supply arrangements for OEM and custom engagements. The go-to-market is a hybrid model: a multi-tier channel partner program (electrical distributors, contractors, OEMs, architects and engineers) handles the majority of reach, while a US-based technical sales team and a website storefront with "Request a Quote" and "Talk to an Expert" CTAs serve direct enterprise and mid-market buyers across at least 12 verticals, including aviation MRO, utilities and first-responder fleets, general manufacturing, naval shipbuilding and maintenance, commercial and retail logistics, military and defense, mining/oil/gas, education, medical and healthcare, commercial kitchens, and event logistics.

The company is privately held, independently owned, and bootstrapped, with no disclosed institutional funding rounds or parent company. Its competitive position rests on 65+ years of continuous US manufacturing, the cited regulatory and safety certifications, a diversified vertical mix that reduces single-end-market exposure, and documented operational outcomes at named enterprise customers (e.g., 50% cord service life lift in freight rail MRO, 65% reduction in trip incidents in manufacturing MRO areas, and 90% reduction in annual cable replacement costs at a major convention center). Strategic activity in the past five years has been measured and capital-light: a focused product cadence (HazRay 2019, CRK 2020, COVID-19 emergency lighting 2020) and a single disclosed acquisition (Alert Reel Manufacturing in October 2021), alongside ongoing investment in factory automation and channel program buildout.

Name

KH Industries

Legal name

KH Industries

Website

https://khindustries.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Short description

KH Industries is a US-based, family-founded manufacturer of industrial retractable cord reels, power distribution products, and hazardous-location lighting, serving military, aviation, utility, manufacturing, and OEM customers through a national channel partner program from its Hamburg, NY facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Power Equipment and Lighting

NAICS

Wiring Device Manufacturing (33593), Electric Lamp Bulb and Other Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (335139), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (3353), Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing (3359)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)

akta.pro primary industry

Wiring Devices & Receptacles (switches, sockets, plugs, industrial outlets, pin & sleeve) (IMAGAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Flexible Cords, Portable Power & Cord Sets (IMADAMAI), Hazardous Location & Explosion-Proof Lighting (ATEX/IECEx, intrinsically safe fixtures) (IMAGAIAC)

Keywords

• Industrial cord reels
• Power distribution products
• Hazardous location lighting
• Explosion-proof lighting
• Portable industrial lighting

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Revenue model

1. Industrial Cord Reel Sales: Sale of industrial retractable cord reels in various configurations including light duty, heavy duty, indoor, outdoor, hazardous location, and specialty reels. Revenue is one-time per unit with potential for repeat orders.
2. Industrial Power Products Sales: Sale of power distribution products including pendant stations, outlet boxes, power stringers, plugs, connectors, and festoon systems. One-time product sales.
3. Industrial Lighting Products Sales: Sale of hazardous location lighting (HazRay series), temporary industrial lighting, and remote control vehicle spotlights. Includes portable LED work lights.
4. Custom Engineering Solutions: Custom configuration and engineering services for non-standard applications. Technical sales team works with customers to develop tailored power and lighting solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

KH Industries manufactures industrial retractable cord reels, power distribution products (pendant stations, outlet boxes, power stringers, plugs & connectors, festoon systems), and portable lighting (explosion-proof hazardous location lights, vehicle spotlights, temporary work lights). Products are engineered for harsh and hazardous industrial environments and are sold in standard and custom-configured forms.

Product overview

KH Industries offers a comprehensive portfolio of industrial power and lighting products built for demanding environments. The core offering centers on retractable cord reels (including RTB, RTF, RTA, and CRK Series) which integrate with power distribution products like pendant stations, outlet boxes, power stringers, and cord reel power stations to create complete power access solutions. The lighting portfolio includes HazRay explosion-proof hazardous location lights, NightRay vehicle spotlights, and temporary industrial lighting (Add-A-Lights, quad lights, portable work lights). Products are available in standard configurations and custom engineering options, serving industries including utilities, manufacturing, construction, aviation, military, and event logistics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HazRay: Hazardous location LED lighting product line for Class 1 Division 1 environments
• NightRay
• RTB Series
• RTF Series
• RTA Series
• CRK Series

Products and services

• Industrial Retractable Cord Reels

Quantifiable outcome

• Cord service life increased approximately 50% in freight rail MRO applications
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments12 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Electrical DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational network of electrical wholesalers reselling KH industrial power and lighting products. Distributors receive exclusive support programs, engineering support, priority access to new product releases, and product savings. Technical sales team works with distributors on specifications and custom solutions.
• ContractorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElectrical and industrial contractors who specify and install KH products on job sites. Partners gain access to engineering authority, technical guidance, and reliable US manufacturing.
• OEM ManufacturerscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerOriginal equipment manufacturers integrating KH power and lighting products into their equipment. KH provides custom configurations, engineering support, and compliance-ready products for OEM applications.
• Architects & EngineersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArchitecture, engineering, and construction professionals specifying power and lighting solutions for industrial projects. KH provides technical documentation, CAD drawings, and specification support.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Reelcraft Industries: Reelcraft is a leading US manufacturer of industrial retractable cord reels, hose reels, and power management products for MRO, automotive, and industrial markets. It is the closest direct competitor to KH's core cord reel business across light, medium, and heavy-duty segments.
• Coxreels: Coxreels manufactures heavy-duty industrial retractable cord and hose reels for demanding environments including manufacturing, fleet, and aerospace MRO. Its product breadth and industrial channel overlap with KH's RTB/RTF Series cord reels make it a directly comparable peer.
• Conductix-Wampfler: Conductix-Wampfler specializes in industrial power and data transmission systems, including cord reels, festoon systems, and overhead power distribution — directly overlapping KH's retractable cord reels and festoon product lines for industrial and crane applications.
• Ericson Manufacturing: Ericson designs and manufactures portable electrical power distribution products, plugs and connectors, and temporary lighting for industrial and construction job sites — directly comparable to KH's power pendant outlet boxes, portable outlet boxes, and stringer products.
• Molex (Woodhead): Molex's Woodhead industrial products include portable outlet boxes, temporary power distribution, and hazardous location cords and connectors for industrial job sites. Its product set closely matches KH's portable outlet boxes, stringers, and power pendant offerings.
• Larson Electronics: Larson Electronics manufactures industrial and hazardous location portable lighting, including explosion-proof LED fixtures, string lights, and portable power solutions. It is a directly comparable peer to KH's HazRay explosion-proof lighting and temporary industrial lighting lines.

Broad incumbents

• Hubbell Wiring Device-Kellems: Hubbell's Wiring Device-Kellems division manufactures wiring devices including GFCI, switches, and cord reels distributed through the same electrical wholesaler channel as KH. As a much larger incumbent, it competes on breadth and channel relationships rather than specialty cord reel customization.
• Leviton Manufacturing: Leviton is a large US manufacturer of wiring devices, switches, receptacles, and industrial plugs and connectors sold through the same electrical distribution network KH relies on. It overlaps with KH's plugs & connectors and power pendant offerings as part of a much broader catalog.
• Appleton Group (Emerson): Emerson's Appleton Group manufactures hazardous location lighting, enclosures, and electrical fittings for oil & gas, mining, and industrial markets. Its explosion-proof lighting portfolio directly competes with KH's HazRay product line but as part of a much larger hazardous location portfolio.
• Eaton Corporation (Crouse-Hinds): Eaton's Crouse-Hinds division produces hazardous location lighting, plugs and receptacles, and power distribution equipment for industrial and process markets. It overlaps with KH's HazRay lighting, plugs & connectors, and industrial power products from within Eaton's broader electrical portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/khindustries1

Compliance9 records

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&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KH Industries