What Eckel does

Eckel is a US-based designer and manufacturer of hydraulic power tongs, hydraulic power units, and tubular-connection accessories serving the global oil and gas industry. Founded in 1958 and headquartered at a 140,663 sq ft ISO 9001:2015 certified facility in Odessa, Texas, the company designs and manufactures essentially every part of its products in-house using numerically controlled machines and proprietary heat treating ovens. The product line spans four core tong categories (tubing, casing, drill pipe, and riser) covering pipe sizes from 2-1/16 to 36 inches and torques from 15,000 to 200,000 ft-lbs, supported by diesel and electric hydraulic power units, computerized torque control systems (CT3000, CT4500, Trip Master), Tri-Grip® hydraulic backups, and a full die/accessory aftermarket.

The company's technical differentiation rests on a registered patent portfolio and trademarked technologies embedded in its equipment. The Radial Lock Door (US Patent 6,279,426, protected in Canada, Germany, Norway, the UK, and the US) provides latchless door locking for crew safety; Hydra-Shift® enables on-the-fly two-speed shifts; True Grit® tungsten-carbide-faced dies deliver up to 3x longer life on corrosion-resistant alloy and fiberglass tubulars; Tri-Grip® (industry standard since 1996) and Wedge Drive Tri-Grip® provide three-head backups for demanding connections; and a patent-pending Case Stiffener Technology enhances torque output and reduces gear-tooth wear.

Eckel operates a direct enterprise field-sales model, taking customer inquiries via an online Request Quote form and shipping hardware directly from its Odessa headquarters to more than 100 countries worldwide. Its end customers are oil and gas drilling operators (onshore and offshore), well completion companies, and well servicing/workover operators requiring high-torque, premium-connection tubular make-up and break-out equipment. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of capital equipment (tongs, power units, backups, torque control systems) plus recurring aftermarket revenue from dies and replacement parts. The company is privately held, with three wholly-owned subsidiaries (Eckel Manufacturing Co., Eckel International, Eckel Heat Treating Co.), no disclosed parent company, no external institutional investors, and no public listing.

Name

Eckel

Legal name

Eckel Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Website

https://eckel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Eckel is a US-based manufacturer, founded in 1958 and headquartered in Odessa, Texas, that designs and produces hydraulic power tongs, hydraulic power units, and tubular-connection accessories for oil and gas drilling, completion, and well-servicing operators worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oil and Gas Drilling Equipment

NAICS

Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333132), Fluid Power Pump and Motor Manufacturing (333996), Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing (333995)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Oilfield Equipment Manufacturing & Supply (Wellheads, BOPs, Surface Equipment) (EUALABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydraulic Power Units & Systems (HPUs, Manifolds, Integrated Circuits) (IMAHAGAB), Hydraulic Components (Pumps, Motors, Cylinders) (IMAHAGAA)

Keywords

• Hydraulic power tongs
• Oil and gas equipment
• Hydraulic power units
• Tubular make-up tools
• Drilling tongs

Headquarters

HQ city

Odessa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hydraulic Power Tong Sales: Manufacture and sale of hydraulic power tongs including tubing tongs, casing tongs, drill pipe tongs, and riser tongs. Over 40 models available covering sizes from 2-1/16 through 36 inches. Sales direct to oil and gas operators and service companies.
2. Hydraulic Power Unit Sales: Diesel and electric hydraulic power units that provide power to the tongs. Standard configurations at 65 GPM and 2,500 psi. Custom configurations available for nonstandard requirements.
3. Accessories and Parts: Sales of tong accessories including rig dies, wrap-around dies, True Grit® dies, hydraulic backups, torque control systems, and replacement parts. Expendable parts sourced from recognized brands for easy replacement worldwide.
4. Customization and Options: Custom tong options including lift cylinders, lift cylinder controls, spring hangers, torque gauge assembly, torque control system, compression or tension load cells, integrated hydraulic backup, door interlock, and RPM controls.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Eckel engineers, manufactures, and sells hydraulic power tongs, hydraulic power units, and related accessories used to make up and break out tubular connections in oil and gas drilling, completion, and well-servicing operations. The company offers more than 40 tong models covering tubular sizes from 2-1/16 through 36 inches, supported by diesel and electric power units, torque control systems, hydraulic backups, and proprietary dies. Products are built in-house at the company's ISO 9001:2015 certified Odessa, Texas facility and shipped directly to customers in over 100 countries.

Product overview

Eckel is a manufacturer of hydraulic power tongs and related equipment for the oil and gas industry. The product portfolio includes four main categories of hydraulic power tongs (Tubing, Casing, Drill Pipe, and Riser Tongs) ranging from 2-1/16 through 36 inches with torques up to 200,000 ft-lbs. Supporting products include Hydraulic Power Units (Diesel and Electric variants), Torque Control Systems (CT3000, CT4500, Trip Master), Hydraulic Backups (Tri-Grip and Wedge Drive Tri-Grip), and various die accessories (True Grit, Wrap-Around, Rig Dies). The tongs feature proprietary technologies including Hydra-Shift speed shifting, Radial Lock Door, and Case Stiffener technology. Remote operated tongs enable hazardous location operations with fully hydraulic control.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tubing Tongs Hydraulic power tongs designed for running tubing strings to extract oil and gas from reservoirs, ruggedly built for higher torques required to break premium connections, covering 2-3/8 through 5-1/2 inch capacity.
• Casing Tongs Hydraulic power tongs engineered for today's premium casing connections with Standard, Hydra-Shift, High Torque, and Ultra High Torque variants, torque from 15,000 to 200,000 ft-lbs, and capacity from 7.25 through 36 inches.
• Drill Pipe Tongs Industrial tubular tongs for drilling operations designed to reduce drill time and lower costs, ideal for quick and safe make-up and break-out of drill pipe and drill collars, covering 4-1/2 through 9-7/8 inch capacity.
• Riser Tongs Hydraulic power tongs for offshore riser connections between floating structures and subsea equipment, designed for deep-water applications with fatigue resistant, sealable, high-pressure threaded risers, covering 14 through 20 inch capacity.
• Diesel Hydraulic Power Units Diesel engine powered hydraulic power units providing reliable power at 65 GPM and 2,500 psi, available in Single Point Lift, Full Frame, Compact Frame, and Cold Weather configurations, with optional automatic shutdown systems for explosive gas environments.
• Electric Hydraulic Power Units Electric motor driven hydraulic power units providing reliable power at 65 GPM and 2,500 psi, available in Single Point Lift, Full Frame, and Hazardous Locations configurations, with custom configurations available to match requirements.
• CT 3000 Torque Control System Dual processor computerized torque control system with high resolution graphics and four make-up programs, featuring user-friendly software and add-on modules including internal pressure testing and hazardous area accessories.
• CT 4500 Torque Control System Computerized torque control system that mounts directly on the tong with real-time graphics, LCD display of torque, hard copy report generation, operated by the tong operator using solid state technology and a 16-bit processor.
• Trip Master Torque Control System Affordable computerized torque control system for monitoring torque turn values when making up tubular connections (Tubing, Casing, and Drill Pipe).
• Tri-Grip Hydraulic Backup Three-head hydraulic backup that ensures slip-free make-up and break-out of tubular connections with adjustable height and compatibility with various die types, available in compression and tension load cell models.
• Wedge Drive Tri-Grip Hydraulic Backup High-performance three-head hydraulic backup using a single wedge drive to actuate two pivot heads while a third stationary head provides reactionary force, delivering lighter weight, simpler hydraulics, and increased pipe coverage for larger casing and drill pipe connections.
• True Grit® Faced Dies Tungsten carbide grit-faced dies set as the industry standard for handling Corrosion Resistant Alloys and fiberglass tubulars where reduced marking is desired, lasting up to 3 times longer than competing grit-faced dies with penetration typically less than half of API allowable surface defect depth.
• Wrap-Around Dies Wide-angle wrap-around dies considered the best choice for thinner wall tubulars where point loading is a concern, symmetrically spaced at all times to ensure equally distributed load on the tubular, available in Coarse Tooth, Pyramid Fine Tooth, and True Grit® variants.
• Rig Dies Typically 1-inch and 1-1/4-inch wide dies for casing and drill pipe applications where tool joint outside diameters vary, available in coarse tooth and coated contour True Grit® variants.
• Remote Operated Tongs Hydraulically controlled tongs for remote make-up and break-out of tubular connections, controlling tong door, backing pin, mechanical gear shift, power tong rotation, motor speed, and backup gripping functions through a totally hydraulic system with no electrical or electronic devices, suited to hazardous locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• True Grit® Dies last up to 3 times longer than competing technologies
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Forum Energy Technologies: Forum Energy Technologies manufactures drilling and subsea products including power tongs, tubular running tools, and handling equipment for the oil and gas industry, directly competing with Eckel's core hydraulic tong product lines.
• Frank's International (Innovex International): Frank's International / Innovex specializes in tubular running services and equipment, including power tongs, casing running tools, and tubular handling products, directly overlapping with Eckel's casing and tubing tong offerings.
• BICO Drilling Tools: BICO Drilling Tools manufactures drilling tools and downhole equipment, with overlapping focus on drilling and tubular handling products used in oil and gas operations, making it a relevant smaller-scale peer to Eckel.

Broad incumbents

• National Oilwell Varco (NOV): NOV is one of the largest oilfield equipment OEMs, with a broad portfolio that includes tubular running tools, power tongs, and integrated drilling packages, competing with Eckel in casing and drill pipe tongs while also offering full drilling rig systems.
• Weatherford International: Weatherford is a major oilfield services and equipment provider offering drilling, evaluation, and completions tools, including tubular running equipment that overlaps with Eckel's product lines for drilling and well construction.
• Schlumberger (SLB): Schlumberger is the world's largest oilfield services company, providing integrated drilling, completions, and production solutions, including Cameron subsea and surface equipment that competes with Eckel in riser and offshore tubular handling.

Others

• Hunting PLC: Hunting PLC manufactures and supplies a broad range of oilfield equipment, including drilling tools, tubulars, and well intervention products, competing with Eckel in tubular handling and connection equipment across global markets.
• Vallourec: Vallourec is a leading supplier of premium tubular solutions for the oil and gas industry, and while not a direct tong competitor, it influences premium connection specifications and standards that drive demand for high-torque tongs like Eckel's.
• Tenaris: Tenaris is a global manufacturer of steel pipes and premium connections for the energy industry, setting connection standards and supplying tubulars that drive requirements for high-torque power tongs, similar to Vallourec's relationship to Eckel's market.

Emerging players

• Drill-Quip: Drill-Quip designs and manufactures subsea wellhead systems and offshore drilling equipment, with partial overlap with Eckel's riser tong and offshore tubular handling products for deep-water applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/eckeltongs

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 Eckel