CEMCO

What CEMCO does

CEMCO (legal name California Expanded Metal Products Co. Inc.) is a privately held US manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing and metal lath products, founded in 1974 and headquartered in City of Industry, California. The company operates four manufacturing facilities across Los Angeles, Commerce City CO, Fort Worth TX, and Pittsburg CA, equipped with 60+ state-of-the-art roll formers producing more than 1,000 SKUs from mill-certified hot-dipped galvanized steel. Its product portfolio spans structural load-bearing studs and tracks, interior non-load bearing framing systems (ViperStud, Viper-X), the Sure-Span floor joist system, CST slotted tracks, Sure-Board shear wall panels, ProX headers, shaft wall and area separation studs, plus a metal lath line (expanded, self-furred, paper-backed, Cem-Mesh, Hi-Rib) and firestop specialty products (FireRip, HOTROD, Fire Bead, Fire Gasket, Sound Gasket) backed by four intumescent firestopping patents. Products carry SFIA, ICC-ES ESR#3016, ICC-ES ESR#1623, and 200+ UL fire-rated assembly certifications, with code compliance to IBC, IRC, and CBC.

The company sells exclusively through a preferred distributor network covering the Western United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Pacific Rim, supplemented by inside/outside sales representatives, technical services, structural engineering, AIA continuing education, and an IAS-accredited testing laboratory. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; revenue derives from hardware sales of steel framing and metal lath to commercial, institutional, mid-rise/multi-family, and residential construction end-markets. Notable enterprise project wins include SoFi Stadium (over 10 million pounds of steel), Loma Linda Hospital (4.75 million pounds), LAX Mid-Field Terminal, the US Olympic & Paralympic Museum, and The (W)rapper in Los Angeles.

CEMCO is owned by JFE Shoji America (the US arm of Japanese steel major JFE Steel) following an earlier period of ownership by the Poliquin family since 1981. Current leadership includes President and CEO Tom Porter. In February 2025 the company secured a $3.7 million patent infringement verdict and permanent injunction against KPSI Innovations; in February 2026 it opened an expanded Denver manufacturing plant. CEMCO also bundles clips and connectors through a partnership with The Steel Network (TSN) to offer an integrated framing-plus-accessories solution to contractors and distributors.

Name

CEMCO

Legal name

California Expanded Metal Products Co. Inc.

Website

https://cemcosteel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CEMCO is a US manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing, metal lath, and patented firestop products, serving commercial, institutional, mid-rise, and residential construction through a four-plant distributor network spanning the Western US, Canada, Mexico, and the Pacific Rim.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Steel Framing & Metal Lath Manufacturing

NAICS

Plate Work and Fabricated Structural Product Manufacturing (33231), Forging and Stamping (3321)

SIC

Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440), Sheet Metal Work (3444)

akta.pro primary industry

Steel Joists, Joist Girders & Decking (IMADACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Metal Cladding, Soffits & Trim (Non-Panel Components) (IMADACAM)

Keywords

• Cold-formed steel framing
• Metal lath products
• Firestop products
• Steel construction materials
• Building code compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Steel Framing Products: Revenue from manufacturing and selling cold-formed steel framing products including load bearing studs, tracks, and specialty framing systems. Products sold through distributor network to commercial, institutional, and residential construction projects.
2. Metal Lath Products: Revenue from expanded metal lath products, self-furred, paper-backed, Cem-Mesh, and Hi-Rib products produced from hot-dipped galvanized steel. Includes lath and plaster accessories.
3. Firestop/Specialty Products: Revenue from fire-rated products including head-of-wall assemblies, shaft wall products, and intumescent firestopping technology.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CEMCO manufactures cold-formed steel framing products, metal lath, and firestop specialty products from hot-dipped galvanized steel for commercial, institutional, mid-rise, multi-family, and residential construction. The company operates four strategically located manufacturing facilities in California, Colorado, and Texas, producing over 1,000 products including load-bearing studs/tracks, ViperStud interior framing, Sure-Span floor joists, CST slotted tracks, Sure-Board shear panels, and intumescent firestopping systems. Products are SFIA certified, ICC-ES verified, and UL listed for code-compliant construction.

Product overview

CEMCO is a manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing and metal lath systems offering a comprehensive portfolio of products for commercial, institutional, mid-rise, multi-family, and residential construction. The core product line includes Steel Framing Products (structural load-bearing studs/tracks, non-load bearing interior studs including ViperStuds and Viper-X brands, Sure-Span Floor Joist System, CST Slotted Tracks, Sure-Board for Shear shear wall panels, ProX Headers, CT Shaft Wall Studs, and Area Separation H-Studs), Metal Lath Products (expanded, self-furred, paper-backed, Cem-Mesh, and Hi-Rib), Firestop Products (FireRip, HOTROD, HOTROD XL, Fire Bead, Fire Gasket, Sound Gasket), and Resilient Sound Channels (RC1-XD, RC1, RC2). The company also distributes TSN Clips and Connectors through a partnership with The Steel Network. Products are manufactured from mill-certified hot-dipped galvanized steel at four facilities and are SFIA certified code compliant with ICC-ES ESR#3016 and ICC ES ESR#1623 certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Steel Framing Products Cold-formed steel framing products including structural load-bearing studs and tracks, non-load bearing interior studs, and accessories for commercial, institutional, mid-rise, multi-family, and residential wall applications. Manufactured from mill-certified hot-dipped galvanized steel to IBC, IRC, and CBC Building Code tolerances.
• ViperStuds Interior non-load bearing steel studs designed for partition wall applications with certifications across over 50 UL fire-rated assemblies providing 1 to 4 hours of fire protection.
• Viper-X Interior non-load bearing steel framing products certified in several UL fire-rated assemblies for 1 to 4 hours of fire protection.
• Sure-Span Floor Joist System Structural floor joist system tested and approved by UL in floor/ceiling assemblies with subfloor products from USG, Hacker Industries, MAXXON, and others. Also suitable for roof systems.
• CST Slotted Tracks Slotted track products (CST, CST325, and FAS brands) certified in over 200 UL fire-rated assemblies for head-of-wall applications requiring 1 and 2-hour fire-rated systems.
• Sure-Board for Shear Patented shear wall panel product designed for stronger, longer-lasting, and more reliable shear wall assemblies used in floor-ceiling and wall applications.
• ProX Header Header system designed for rough openings in steel framing construction.
• CT Shaft Wall Studs Steel studs designed for shaft wall applications in fire-rated assemblies.
• Area Separation (H-Studs) H-Stud products designed for area separation walls in multi-family and townhouse construction.
• Metal Lath Products Expanded, self-furred, paper-backed, Cem-Mesh, and Hi-Rib metal lath products produced from hot-dipped galvanized steel, along with lath and plaster accessories including expansion and control joints, screeds, corners, and architectural profiles. ICC ES ESR#1623 certified.
• Firestop Products Innovative firestopping products for head-of-wall applications including FireRip, HOTROD, HOTROD XL, Fire Bead, Fire Gasket, and Sound Gasket. Designed to replace systems vulnerable to fatigue and inelasticity issues, leveraging CEMCO's four patents for intumescent firestopping technology.
• TSN Clips and Connectors Steel framing clips and connectors offered through partnership with The Steel Network (TSN), enabling integrated steel framing and clip/connector solutions for construction projects.
• RC1-XD (Xtra-Duty) Resilient Channel Xtra-Duty resilient channel with 1-1/2 inch wide top flange and 1/2 inch nailing/screw attachment flange providing 1/2 inch furring height for high-performance sound control. Produced from hot-dipped galvanized steel with G40 standard coating weight (G60 available on request).
• FireRip High deflection dynamic joint protection product designed for fire-rated assembly applications in construction.
• Structural Engineering Services Engineering services from CEMCO's staff of structural engineers ranging from simple calculations to complete building design. Helps ensure buildings are designed to current codes and specifications while controlling costs and keeping projects on schedule.
• Technical Services Technical services group providing immediate product support for all of CEMCO's steel framing, metal lath, and accessory products including product specification and engineering support.
• Architectural Support Services Architectural support services including AIA certified continuing education (CE) courses offered on-line and face-to-face, enabling architects to earn AIA CE credits through CEMCO.
• IAS Accredited Testing Laboratory IAS Accredited in-house Testing Laboratory providing product validation and code compliance testing for CEMCO's steel framing, metal lath, and firestop products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 UL fire rated assemblies certified for ViperStud products (1-4 hours fire protection)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• The Steel Network (TSN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEMCO has partnered with The Steel Network (TSN) to offer a one-stop-shop for both steel framing and clip/connector needs. TSN provides clips and connectors that complement CEMCO's steel framing products, enabling integrated solutions for construction projects.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MBA Building Supplies: Manufacturer and distributor of metal lath, steel framing, and plastering accessories. Overlaps directly with CEMCO's metal lath and accessory categories.
• Super Stud Building Products: East Coast-based manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing products including studs, joists, and accessories. Competes with CEMCO for multi-family and commercial framing projects.
• Telling Industries: Manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing, metal lath, and accessories serving residential and commercial construction. Comparable product portfolio and US manufacturing footprint to CEMCO.
• Marino\WARE: Manufacturer of steel framing, metal lath, and accessories for commercial and residential construction. Competes directly with CEMCO in studs, tracks, and firestopping products across North America.
• The Steel Network (TSN): Manufacturer of steel framing clips, connectors, and complementary structural components. CEMCO's existing TSN partnership already couples the two product lines, and TSN competes in adjacent framing hardware.
• ClarkDietrich Building Systems: Largest North American manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing, metal lath, and related products. Direct competitor across studs, tracks, joists, and accessories, with broader national geographic coverage than CEMCO.
• Structa Wire Corp: Manufacturer of welded wire lath and metal lath products used in stucco and plaster assemblies. Closely comparable to CEMCO's metal lath business line.

Emerging players

• Hadrian Solutions: Provider of cold-formed steel design software and engineering services for steel framing. Adjacent to CEMCO's Structural Engineering services and targeting the same architect/contractor workflow.
• Quail Steel (a division of Online Metals): Specialty steel framing and metal products manufacturer. Smaller-scale emerging player that overlaps with CEMCO on roll-formed steel components for commercial construction.

Broad incumbents

• Knauf: Global building materials manufacturer with extensive drywall, insulation, and plaster system offerings. Competes indirectly with CEMCO through integrated wall systems incorporating metal lath and framing components.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cemco_steel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8Of9x7jzwecdN8Qofj1qoQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/269116079840330
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-expanded-metal-products-co--inc--aka-cemco
• Instagraminstagram.com/cemco_steel

Compliance5 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 CEMCO