Nicopress

What Nicopress does

Nicopress, a brand of The National Telephone Supply Company (founded 1901 in Cleveland, Ohio), designs and manufactures an integrated system of mechanical compression sleeves and matched swaging tools used to terminate wire rope, cable, synthetic/fiber rope and electrical conductors. The core technology is swage compression: a metal sleeve (copper, zinc-plated copper, tin-plated copper, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, Elgiloy, MP35N) is mechanically compressed around the cable using a Nicopress tool, producing a permanent termination rated at approximately 100% of cable breaking strength. Sleeves and tools share a lettered groove-matching convention, and every tool is supplied with a Go-Gauge for objective post-press verification. The product line spans standard electrical-mechanical connectors from 24 AWG to 7/8" O.D., micro medical connectors down to 0.003" (0.08 mm), and 35-ton hydraulic swagers operating at 10,000 PSI.

The company serves nine primary verticals: utility (electrical/gas), aerospace/military/defense, railroad signal and catenary, entertainment and theatrical rigging, OEM/industrial, oil exploration and production, medical, agriculture/farm/ranch/vineyard, and specialty solutions (lifting, mining, marine, fall protection). Revenue is generated through one-time hardware sales of sleeves and swaging tools (manual, battery, hydraulic, pneumatic), supplemented by custom-engineered connection solutions and prototype work for customer-specific applications. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; sales are driven by a global authorized distributor network (U.S./Canada plus international across Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania), inside-sales customer service, engineering-led enterprise field sales, and event-driven demand generation through industry conferences and association memberships (12 industry associations including AREMA, APTA, PLASA, USITT, IEEE PES, AGA, APPA).

Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, anchored by a Director of Sales & Marketing, dedicated account managers, an inside-sales/customer-service team answering phone and email directly, and the Director of Engineering engaging with manufacturing leads on bespoke connector designs. Approximately 95% of products are manufactured at the Cleveland, Ohio headquarters, with roughly 90% of materials domestically sourced and supplier relationships often exceeding 30 years. The company is ISO 9001:2015 with Design certified (valid through March 2029), conforms to MS-51844 military specifications, ASME B30.9 and EN13411-3 standards, and offers DFARS and Buy American Act compliant options. Nicopress is privately held with no disclosed external investor, funding events, or M&A activity.

Name

Nicopress

Legal name

The National Telephone Supply Company

Website

https://nicopress.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nicopress (founded 1901, Cleveland, OH) designs and manufactures an integrated system of compression sleeves and matched swaging tools used to terminate wire rope, cable, synthetic rope and electrical conductors in utility, aerospace/defense, rail, entertainment rigging, medical, OEM, oil & gas, and agricultural applications, sold via a global authorized distributor network and direct quote-based sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Compression Product Sales: One-time sale of mechanical and electro-mechanical compression fittings — wire rope sleeves, stop sleeves, splicing sleeves, dead-ends, jumper (loop) sleeves, reducing sleeves, repair sleeves, tap sleeves, cable rings, cable saddles — in copper, zinc-plated copper, tin-plated copper, stainless steel, aluminum and titanium materials. Products sold individually via distributor network.
2. Swaging Tool Sales: One-time sale of manual, battery-powered, hydraulic, and pneumatic swaging/crimping/cutting tools plus interchangeable dies (6 ton, 12 ton, 35 ton, 60 ton, 100 ton, W-type dies) and accessories including Go-Gauges and hydraulic pumps (e.g., NEH-1). Tool families segmented into 3, 17, 30, 50, and 60 Series.
3. Custom Engineered Connection Solutions: Bespoke engineering services for connector design and prototyping, including custom samples, DFARS-compliant and Buy American Act-compliant products, and tailored connection systems to customer-specific requirements. Includes design assistance for unique applications and contract manufacturing runs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Nicopress designs, manufactures, and sells an integrated system of mechanical and electro-mechanical compression sleeves (copper, zinc-plated copper, tin-plated copper, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, Elgiloy, MP35N) along with matched swaging tools (manual, battery, hydraulic, pneumatic) used to permanently terminate wire rope, cable, synthetic rope, and electrical conductors. More than 95% of products are manufactured at its Cleveland, Ohio facility and sold globally through authorized distributors for safety-critical applications in utilities, aerospace, defense, rail, oil & gas, medical, entertainment rigging, and agriculture.

Product overview

Nicopress (a brand of The National Telephone Supply Company, founded 1901 in Cleveland, Ohio) sells an integrated, system-level product portfolio rather than a single software product. The portfolio is organized into three top-level categories — Compression Products (mechanical and electro-mechanical sleeves and fittings), Swaging Tools (manual, battery, hydraulic, pneumatic, and cutter tools with matching dies and gauges), and Cable Rings & Saddles — plus a dedicated Catenary sub-line for railroad overhead suspension. Specific named offerings include the FW Series Fence Wire Oval Sleeves, the Black Oxide Copper Oval Sleeves for entertainment/rigging, the 5612M Battery 12 Ton and 5606M Battery 6 Ton pistol/in-line battery swagers, the 635 / 635-A 35-ton and 3512 / 3512-H / 3512 WC 12-ton hydraulic swagers (paired with the NEH-1 electric-hydraulic pump), manual toggle-action hand tools (17, 31, 32, 51, 64, and 3 series such as 17-B4-TC, 31-B, 31-CJ, 31-DJ, 31-EJ, 32-234, 51-G-887, 3-56, and 64-2345), the 1-VC1 cable and fence cutter, and Compression "Go" gauges for post-press verification. The company positions the lineup as a tightly coupled system in which sleeves, tools, dies, and gauges are designed, tested, and calibrated together so that an installer uses matched components for a given wire size and material (copper, zinc-plated copper, tin-plated copper, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, etc.).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nicotap: Nicotap is a branded sleeve product line of The National Telephone Supply Company, referenced in the privacy policy as a trademark and described in the part-numbering guide as a class of sleeves (prefix "T") alongside power and signal sleeves.

Products and services

• Compression Products (Sleeves and Fittings) Mechanical and electro-mechanical compression sleeves and fittings for splicing and terminating wire rope, synthetic/fiber rope, electrical conductors, railroad signal wire, tracer wire, fence wire, and oil well cables. Includes wire rope oval sleeves, stop sleeves, splicing sleeves, dead-ends, tap sleeves, repair sleeves, reducing sleeves, jumper sleeves, and full-tension connectors in copper, zinc-plated copper, tin-plated copper, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, and other alloys.
• Swaging Tools Hand, battery, hydraulic, pneumatic, and cutter swaging/crimping tools plus matching dies and gauges engineered to compress Nicopress sleeves across wire rope, synthetic rope, power distribution, railroad/signal, tracer wire, fence wire, oil well, and catenary applications.
• Cable Rings & Saddles Standard and extra-long cable rings plus cable ring saddles (with PVC-coated and stainless-steel variants) used to support aerial messenger cables in mines, tunnels, and similar heavy-cable suspension environments.
• Catenary Products & Tools Dedicated catenary dead-end compression products and hydraulic swaging tools/dies (12 ton, 35 ton, 60 ton) used to mechanically terminate catenary cable and hold overhead suspension lines to full tension for railroad and light rail applications.
• 5612M Battery 12 Ton Swaging Tool 12-ton pistol-grip battery swaging tool with 180° rotating head and forged jaws; optimized hydraulics with selectable auto-retract, single-handed operation, LED work lighting, and two Makita batteries with charger; rated for wire rope from 3/64" to 1/2" (1 mm–13 mm). Delivers ~110 crimps per charge with 20% faster advance and 30% quicker retraction.
• 5606M Battery 6 Ton Swaging Tool 6-ton in-line battery swaging tool with lightweight ergonomic one-handed design; rated for wire rope from 3/64" to 3/8" (1 mm–10 mm) and approximately 400 crimps per charge; compatible with the 6-ton oval die series (6-OVAL-B4, C, G, M, P, X, F2, F6, G9, H5 and 6-M).
• 635 / 635-A Hydraulic 35 Ton Swaging Tool 35-ton hydraulic compression tool (manual pump on 635, separate power source on 635-A) with interchangeable tool dies that press copper, aluminum, and steel splicing sleeves; swages sleeves up through 5/8" (16 mm); 635-A operates at 10,000 PSI.
• 3512 / 3512-H / 3512 WC Hydraulic 12 Ton Swaging Tool 12-ton hydraulic compression tool head (3512-H) for use with a separate hydraulic source, plus hand-operated 3512 WC version; swages the full range of Nicopress sleeves up through 1/2" (12 mm).
• 1-VC1 Wire Rope & Cable Cutter Made-in-USA professional cable and wire rope cutter for repetitive industrial use; cuts cable up to 3/16" and fence wire up to 9 SWG (5 mm); forged and hardened alloy steel with ergonomic non-slip grips and safety closure latch; 7.5" (190 mm) long, 13 oz (3.7 kg).
• Black Oxide Copper Oval Sleeves Oval compression sleeves (e.g., 618 series) finished with a flat black oxide coating for stage and entertainment rigging; intended for wire rope eye splices and lap splices, including rotation-resistant wire rope, when used with matched Nicopress tools and Go-Gauge verification; covers wire rope sizes from 1/16 in. through 5/8 in., with metric equivalents from 1 mm to 16 mm.
• Fence Wire Oval Sleeves & Taps Zinc-plated copper oval lap splice sleeves (FW-1-2 through FW-5-6), fence splice sleeves, and Nicopress Fence Taps for splicing, dead-ending, and electrically tapping woven, barbed, and high-tensile agricultural fence wire for cattle, equestrian, poultry, bramble, orchard fencing, vineyard and orchard trellising, and working pens.
• Compression "Go" Gauges "Go"/Go-No-Go gauges supplied with Nicopress tools (and available separately) to verify that swaged sleeves are compressed within dimensional tolerance after every press, providing objective confirmation that the swage is within tolerance.
• Custom Engineered Connection Solutions Bespoke engineering services for connector design and prototyping, including custom samples, DFARS-compliant and Buy American Act-compliant products, and tailored connection systems to customer-specific requirements. Includes design assistance for unique applications and contract manufacturing runs from miniature 0.003" medical wire up to 5/8" cable assemblies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 100% of cable's Rated Breaking Strength (RBS) when properly installed, including military-spec cable (3x7, 7x7, 7x19, 6x19 IWRC)
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Perry Johnson Registrars (PJR)coreOthersAccredited quality and environmental management systems certification body that partnered with Nicopress (The National Telephone Supply Company) to achieve ISO 9001:2015 certification. The demanding certification and audit process includes quality management system development, management system documentation review, pre-audit, initial assessment, and clearance of non-conformances. PJR conducts regular independent audits to verify continued ISO compliance.
• MakitacoreTechnology or IntegrationMakita batteries and 120VAC charger are supplied with the Nicopress 5612M Battery 12 Ton Tool for continuous operation. The 5612M is a 12-ton pistol grip battery swaging tool supplied with 2 Makita batteries and a 120VAC charger, with batteries featuring a state-of-charge indicator.
• VER Sales (versales.com)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized online e-commerce storefront fulfilling direct online purchase of select Nicopress products. "Buy Now" links on product pages (e.g., 635-A Hydraulic 35 Ton Tool, 5606M Battery 6 Ton Tool, NEH-1 Hydraulic Pump, 6-OVAL series dies, 618-13-G9 sleeve) route customers to versales.com to complete purchase. Customers are warned they are leaving the Nicopress website to be redirected to the VER Sales website.
• Keystone Fence SupplyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorImportant authorized distributor in the fence industry. Sales representative Mike Parker worked directly with Keystone Fence Supply to further evaluate the effectiveness of Nicopress sleeves, providing them with essential support to strengthen the partnership and ensure the product meets real-world demands.
• Blue Submarine / Backstage #101 (South Korea)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Nicopress distributor in South Korea. Located in DABOKSOL Bldg., 913-17 Bandgbae-Dong, Sehco-Gu, Seoul, SOUTH KOREA 06686. Phone +82 2 466 7541. Distributes Nicopress products in the Korean market.
• Hong Kong Spread International LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Nicopress distributor in China and Hong Kong. Offices at C306 Huangdu Plaza Yitian Road, Futian Dist, Shenzhen, Guangdong CHINA 51800 (phone +86 189 265 99399) and 15b,15f Cheuk Nang Plaza, 250 Hennessy Road, HONG KONG CHINA 51800 (phone +852 8192 9950). Distributes Nicopress products in the Greater China region.
• Cats Engineering SAS (blackz.fr)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Nicopress distributor in France. Located at 88 avenue de l'Europe, local 8, 77184 Emerainville FRANCE. Phone +33 7 81 07 33 01. Distributes Nicopress products in the French market.
• Flint Hire and Supply LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Nicopress distributor in the United Kingdom. Located at Unit 9, Deptford Trading Estate, Blackhorse Road, London SE8 5HY, UNITED KINGDOM. Phone +44 020 7703 9786. Distributes Nicopress products in the UK market.
• LAS Aerospace LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Nicopress distributor in the United Kingdom. Located at Okehampton Point, Exeter Road Industrial Estate, Okehampton Devon EX20 1UA. Phone +44 (0)1837 658081. Distributes Nicopress aerospace/defense products in the UK market.
• MennensminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Nicopress distributor in the Netherlands. Located at Contactweg 40, 1014 AN Amsterdam, Postbus 8051, 1005 AB Amsterdam, NEDERLANDS. Phone +31 (0)20 581 18 11. Distributes Nicopress products in the Dutch market.
• Robert Lindemann KGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Nicopress distributor in Germany. Located at Wendenstr 455, D-20537 Hamburg, GERMANY. Phone +49 (0) 40 211197 - 0. Distributes Nicopress products in the German market.
• Arcus Wire GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Nicopress distributor in Australia. Two locations: Unit 2/6 Greenfield Street, Banksmeadow NSW 2019 (phone +612 9666 5900) and 9 Keller Crescent, Carrara QLD 4211 (phone +617 5575 5611). Distributes Nicopress products in the Australian market.
• American Railway Engineering & Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA)minorOthersMember industry association. Industry-association partnership that positions Nicopress among railway engineering standards bodies.
• Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT)minorOthersMember industry association for the challenge course / adventure course industry, relevant to Nicopress's fall protection and rigging connectors.
• American Gas Association (AGA)minorOthersMember industry association relevant to Nicopress's gas utility compression connectors business.
• American Public Power Association (APPA)minorOthersMember industry association relevant to Nicopress's electric utility compression connectors business.
• American Public Transportation Association (APTA)minorOthersMember industry association relevant to Nicopress's passenger rail and transit catenary/signal connector business.
• American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA)minorOthersMember industry association relevant to Nicopress's short line and regional railroad connector business.
• Associated Wire Rope Fabricators (AWRF)minorOthersMember industry association directly relevant to Nicopress's core wire rope connector product line.
• IEEE Power & Energy Society (IEEE PES)minorOthersMember industry association relevant to Nicopress's power and energy / utility connector business.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)minorOthersMember industry association relevant to Nicopress's rural electric cooperative utility connector business.
• Professional Lighting & Sound Association (PLASA)minorOthersMember industry association relevant to Nicopress's entertainment / stage rigging connector business.
• Railway Systems Suppliers, Inc. (RSSI)minorOthersMember industry association relevant to Nicopress's railroad systems connector and tool business.
• United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT)minorOthersMember industry association relevant to Nicopress's theatrical rigging connector business.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Greenlee (Emerson): Manufacturer of professional tools for electricians and utility/rail workers, including battery and hydraulic crimping tools and dies. Directly comparable to Nicopress's battery/hydraulic swaging tool lines (5612M, 5606M, 635-A) and shares electric utility and rail customers.
• Klein Tools: U.S. manufacturer of hand tools used by electricians, linemen, and tradespeople, including crimping and cable-cutting tools. Closely comparable on hand swaging/crimping tool design and U.S.-manufactured positioning, and shares end-buyers in electrical and utility trades.
• Preformed Line Products (PLP): Public manufacturer of formed wire products and cable connectors for utility, rail, communications, and aerospace/defense. Directly comparable to Nicopress on utility power distribution and rail signal/catenary compression connectors, with overlapping channel-to-distributor business model.
• Loos & Co: U.S. manufacturer of wire rope, cable, and wire rope terminations serving marine, aerospace, industrial, and entertainment rigging markets. Closely comparable to Nicopress's wire rope sleeves, terminations, and rigging products in marine, defense, and entertainment end-markets.

Broad incumbents

• TE Connectivity: Global connector and sensor manufacturer with products spanning aerospace/defense, rail, industrial, and medical. Overlaps with Nicopress in mil-spec electrical connectors and aerospace/defense applications, but at much greater scale and breadth.
• Thomas & Betts (ABB): ABB-owned compression connector and tooling line covering electrical power, utility, and industrial applications. Competes head-to-head with Nicopress on copper/aluminum compression sleeves and crimping tools as part of a much wider electrical components portfolio.
• Hubbell Power Systems: Hubbell utility-side business selling connectors, splices, and termination products for electric and gas utilities. Directly comparable end-customers and applications (transmission lines, distribution, rail signal) to Nicopress's Utility segment.
• AFL (Fujikura): Fujikura subsidiary supplying fiber optic and conductor connectivity products for utility, rail, telecom, and aerospace. Overlaps with Nicopress in power and signal compression connectors, particularly in utility/rail catenary applications, with a larger global footprint.
• Burndy (Hubbell): Hubbell-owned compression connector and tooling brand serving utility, industrial, and military markets. Directly competes with Nicopress sleeves and tools but offers a much broader connector portfolio and global field-sales footprint.
• 3M Electrical Markets: 3M's electrical division supplies connectors, splices, and termination products for utility, rail, and industrial markets. Comparable to Nicopress's compression sleeve approach but with a much broader product portfolio and global field-sales force.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nicopress-products-nts-

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Nicopress