Central States Manufacturing
Central States Manufacturing is a 100% employee-owned manufacturer of metal roofing, siding, and building components, serving contractors, distributors, building owners, developers, architects, and homeowners through 13+ manufacturing plants, 3,000+ distributors, and seven Metal Central retail stores across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersLowell, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Central States Manufacturing does
Central States Manufacturing is a privately held, 100% employee-owned (ESOP) manufacturer of metal roofing, siding, and building components, founded in 1988 in Lowell, Arkansas. The company produces steel panels with Galvalume coating, organized into exposed-fastener product lines (Panel-Loc Plus, M-Loc, R-Loc, 7.2 Panel, CD 2000, 5V, BarnMaster) and hidden-fastener / standing-seam lines (Horizon-Loc, Central Snap, Central Span, Central Seam Plus, Central-Loc, Precision-Loc, Board & Batten), with proprietary systems including CentralGuard protection (paint, anti-rust layer, steel core with lifetime warranty), Siphon Groove drain technology, and the Central Link digital platform for quoting, ordering, and tracking. Beyond panels, the company offers complete building solutions through Central States Building Works (pre-engineered metal buildings, primary and secondary framing), self-storage-specific products under the Sentry brand (Model 6500 and 7500 roll-up doors and hallway systems), turnkey installation services via the Elevate Structures subsidiary, and seven company-owned Metal Central retail stores.
The company distributes through a hybrid model of over 3,000 local and regional distributors nationwide plus its Metal Central retail stores, supported by 13+ manufacturing plants across Arkansas, Indiana, Texas, Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Missouri, South Carolina, Utah, and additional support facilities. Customers span six defined segments: contractors and metal product distributors (primary), plus building owners, building developers, homeowners, and architects. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time hardware sales of panels, trim, framing components, building packages, and Sentry doors/hallways, with quote-based pricing across Standard, Prime, and Ultra quality tiers. Central States has no external private equity or venture backing, has grown exclusively through organic plant expansion and one disclosed acquisition (Elevate Structures, January 2023), and in April 2026 transitioned leadership to Kurt Weaver as incoming CEO while Jim Sliker became Chairman of the Board.
Central States Manufacturing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Central States Manufacturing
- Legal name
- Central States Manufacturing, Inc.
- Website
- https://centralstatesco.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Central States Manufacturing is a 100% employee-owned manufacturer of metal roofing, siding, and building components, serving contractors, distributors, building owners, developers, architects, and homeowners through 13+ manufacturing plants, 3,000+ distributors, and seven Metal Central retail stores across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Central States Manufacturing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Metal Building Components
- NAICS
- Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing (3323), Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing (332312), Metal Window and Door Manufacturing (332321)
- SIC
- Prefabricated Metal Buildings & Components (3448), Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440), Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Metal Roofing & Wall Panels (Architectural/Structural) (IMADACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Metal Roofing Systems (IMADAFAB), Architectural & Miscellaneous Metals (Stairs, Railings, Ladders) (IMADACAE)
Keywords
Where Central States Manufacturing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lowell
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices15 records
Markets served
Central States Manufacturing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Metal Building Components Sales: One-time product sales of metal roofing panels, siding panels, trim, and accessories. Products are sold through distributors and directly through retail Metal Central stores. Revenue generated per transaction with no recurring component from product sales.
- Metal Building Packages: Complete pre-engineered metal building packages including primary framing, secondary framing, panels, and components for residential, commercial, and agricultural applications.
- Sentry Doors and Hallways: Roll up doors and hallway systems specifically designed for self-storage facilities, sold as components or bundled with building packages.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard, Prime, and Ultra quality tiers available across panel product lines |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Central States Manufacturing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Central States Manufacturing produces metal roofing panels, metal siding panels, and a full range of building components — including exposed-fastener, hidden-fastener, and standing seam panel systems — for residential, agricultural, light commercial, and self-storage construction. The company extends its offering into complete pre-engineered metal building packages (Central States Building Works, Centra Series), self-storage roll-up doors and hallway systems (Sentry), and turnkey installed solutions (Elevate Structures), selling through 3,000+ independent distributors, 7 Metal Central retail stores, and a direct commercial sales team.
Product overview
Central States Manufacturing is a 100% employee-owned manufacturer of metal roofing, siding, and building components serving contractors, distributors, homeowners, building owners, developers, and architects. The product portfolio centers on a comprehensive line of metal panel systems organized by fastener type: hidden fastener systems (Horizon-Loc™, Central Snap®, Central-Loc®, Precision-Loc™, Board & Batten) and exposed fastener systems (Panel-Loc Plus®, Panel-Loc®, M-Loc®, R-Loc®, 7.2 Panel, CD 2000®, 5V, BarnMaster™). Architectural standing seam options include Central Span™ and Central Seam Plus® with FM Global certification. The company extends beyond individual panels to complete building solutions through Central States Building Works, offering pre-engineered metal buildings (Centra Series™), primary and secondary framing components, and self-storage building packages. Sentry™ doors and hallways provide roll-up door and hallway systems for self-storage facilities. Elevate Structures® offers turnkey installed solutions for multi-story storage and multifamily projects. Central Link serves as the customer-facing digital platform for quoting, ordering, and order tracking. Metal Central® retail stores provide brick-and-mortar purchasing options. All products feature CentralGuard® protection system. The company operates 13 manufacturing locations nationwide and sells through over 3,000 distributors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Metal Central: Retail stores offering metal components, accessories, tools, pre-engineered metal building kits, and related products for metal construction projects. Seven stores operate under this brand.
- Elevate Structures
- Sentry
- Central Link
- Central States Building Works
- CentralGuard
- Centra Series
Products and services
- Horizon-Loc
Quantifiable outcome
- Cool Roof Paints can reduce attic temperature by up to 70°F
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Central States Manufacturing
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Central States Manufacturing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Central States Manufacturing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Steel Manufacturers (Unnamed)coreCentral States partners with steel manufacturers who share their sustainability values and have aggressive goals of being carbon neutral by 2050. These partners use electric arc furnace (EAF) technology with recycled ferrous scrap as primary input, limiting carbon emissions while delivering quality products.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Central States Manufacturing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mueller, Inc. Texas-based manufacturer of metal roofing, metal buildings, and components for residential, agricultural, and commercial end markets. Overlapping product range and similar distribution through independent dealers in the South and Midwest.
- Union Corrugating Company: U.S. manufacturer of metal roofing, wall systems, and accessories serving residential, agricultural, and light commercial markets through dealer networks. Closely comparable product set and channel model.
- MBCI (Metal Building Components, Inc.): One of the largest U.S. manufacturers of metal roofing, wall panels, and metal building components serving contractors and distributors. Closest direct competitor to Central States across exposed-fastener and standing-seam panels.
- ATAS International: Manufacturer of metal roofing, wall panels, and accessories used in commercial, institutional, and residential projects. Directly comparable product portfolio (exposed and concealed fastener panels) and architect/distributor GTM motion.
- Revere Building Products: Manufacturer of metal roofing, siding, and building components for residential and light commercial applications. Comparable product mix and distributor-led GTM.
Emerging players
- Kingspan Insulated Panels: Global manufacturer of insulated metal panels and architectural wall systems targeting commercial and industrial construction. Adjacent competitor in architectural panels with growing North American share.
- Metl-Span: Manufacturer of insulated metal panels for walls and roofs in commercial and industrial buildings. Overlaps with Central States' architectural panel offering and competes for similar contractor/developer specifications.
Broad incumbents
- NCI Building Systems (Nucor): Operates Nucor's metal buildings and steel joist businesses, including metal roofing and wall systems backed by vertically integrated steel capacity. Direct overlap with Central States' Building Works pre-engineered metal buildings.
- Cornerstone Building Brands: Largest North American exterior building products manufacturer; owns MBCI, Boral Steel, Firestone Metal Products, and other metal roofing/building brands. Provides broad-incumbent benchmark for pricing, distribution, and category leadership.
Regional players
- True Metals: Distributor/fabricator of metal roofing, siding, and building components serving regional markets. Comparable product scope but primarily a distribution-led model competing for contractor shelf space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Central States Manufacturing social profiles
Digital presenceCentral States Manufacturing compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Central States Manufacturing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Central States Manufacturing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Central States Manufacturing subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Central States Manufacturing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Central States Manufacturing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Central States Manufacturing
What does Central States Manufacturing do?
Central States Manufacturing produces metal roofing panels, metal siding panels, and a full range of building components — including exposed-fastener, hidden-fastener, and standing seam panel systems — for residential, agricultural, light commercial, and self-storage construction. The company extends its offering into complete pre-engineered metal building packages (Central States Building Works, Centra Series), self-storage roll-up doors and hallway systems (Sentry), and turnkey installed solutions (Elevate Structures), selling through 3,000+ independent distributors, 7 Metal Central retail stores, and a direct commercial sales team.
Is Central States Manufacturing a public or private company?
Central States Manufacturing is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Central States Manufacturing founded?
Central States Manufacturing was founded in 1988. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Central States Manufacturing based?
Central States Manufacturing is headquartered in Lowell, United States, in the North America region.
How does Central States Manufacturing make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Metal Building Components Sales are the primary driver. The others are metal Building Packages and sentry Doors and Hallways.
Who are Central States Manufacturing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mueller, Inc., Union Corrugating Company, MBCI (Metal Building Components, Inc.), ATAS International and Revere Building Products. Emerging players are Kingspan Insulated Panels and Metl-Span. Broad incumbents are NCI Building Systems (Nucor) and Cornerstone Building Brands. True Metals is listed as a regional player.
Does Central States Manufacturing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Central States Manufacturing.
What industry is Central States Manufacturing in?
Central States Manufacturing's product category is Metal Building Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADACAG, Metal Roofing & Wall Panels (Architectural/Structural), with a secondary code of IMADAFAB, Metal Roofing Systems. Its NAICS code is 3323 and its SIC code is 3448.