Edward J. Darby & Son
Edward J. Darby & Son is a family-owned Philadelphia wire mesh and wire cloth manufacturer and distributor, founded 1854, selling woven and welded mesh in 10+ alloys plus custom manufacturing and fabrication services to industrial, commercial, and consumer buyers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1854
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Edward J. Darby & Son does
Edward J. Darby & Son, Inc. is a Philadelphia-based, family-owned manufacturer and distributor of woven and welded wire mesh and wire cloth, operating continuously since 1854. The company stocks an extensive inventory across ten or more alloys — aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, galvanized steel, Monel 400, plain steel, T-304 and T-316 stainless steel, and specialty alloys (Hastelloy C276, Inconel, Molybdenum, NiChrome A, Titanium, Tungsten, FeCrAly) — and sells stock items in standard roll sizes while also offering custom manufacturing for non-standard specifications. In-house fabrication services (shearing, cutting, welding, notching, slitting, seaming, flattening, punching, and inspection) and value-added programs (JIT, blanket orders, OEM fabrication, expediting, special packaging, chemical/physical certifications) supplement the core product.
The customer base is deliberately horizontal: industrial users in refinery, oil field, chemical, hydrocarbon, and marine applications are the primary segment, but the firm also serves manufacturing and processing facilities, specialty applications (filtration, food processing, architectural, decorative), and a long tail of consumers and hobbyists. Distribution is multi-channel, combining an online catalog/RFQ storefront, inside sales via a toll-free number, and walk-in will-call at the North Philadelphia headquarters. Pricing is unit-based for standard items with quantity discounts for industrial users, and spot-quote/contract-based for larger volumes, life-of-part agreements, and custom jobs.
The business model is classic industrial distribution: buy/hold inventory, sell at quantity-based margins, and capture higher-margin fabrication and custom work on top. With 11-50 employees and no disclosed revenue, the firm appears to be a small, profitable, privately held operator that has compounded through 170+ years of survival (Civil War era, two World Wars, Great Depression, Great Recession, COVID-19) rather than through venture or acquisition-driven scaling.
Edward J. Darby & Son firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Edward J. Darby & Son
- Legal name
- Edward J. Darby & Son, Inc.
- Website
- https://darbywiremesh.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1854
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Edward J. Darby & Son is a family-owned Philadelphia wire mesh and wire cloth manufacturer and distributor, founded 1854, selling woven and welded mesh in 10+ alloys plus custom manufacturing and fabrication services to industrial, commercial, and consumer buyers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Edward J. Darby & Son industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Wire Mesh Products
- NAICS
- Spring and Wire Product Manufacturing (33261), Other Fabricated Wire Product Manufacturing (332618)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Fabricated Textile Products (2390), Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Man Made Fiber & Silk (2221)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Fabric Mills (Performance/Protective/Medical Substrates) (IMAOABAH)
Keywords
Where Edward J. Darby & Son is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Edward J. Darby & Son business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Wire Mesh Product Sales: Sale of woven and welded wire mesh products in various metals and alloys from stock inventory. Products include aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, galvanized, Monel, plain steel, T-304 stainless steel, T-316 stainless steel, and specialty alloys. Sold in various sizes from small sheets to 100 ft rolls.
- Custom Manufacturing: Custom manufacturing services for non-stock specifications, special alloys (Hastelloy C276, Inconel, Molybdenum, NiChrome A, Titanium, Tungsten, FeCrAly), and unique mesh configurations
- Fabrication Services: Value-added fabrication services including shearing, cutting to size, welding, notching, slitting, seaming, flattening, punching, and inspection. Also includes fabricated products like discs, extruder screens, and general use sieves.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Wire Mesh - Unit Pricing |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Custom/Spot Quote Pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Edward J. Darby & Son product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Edward J. Darby & Son manufactures and distributes industrial wire mesh and wire cloth in a wide range of alloys including aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, galvanized, Monel, plain steel, and stainless steel (T-304 and T-316). The company produces standard mesh specifications as well as custom fabricated wire mesh products tailored to buyer specifications. It serves industrial users such as refineries, oil fields, chemical processors, food and pharmaceutical processors, and research labs, alongside walk-in consumers, hobbyists, and small shops.
Product overview
Edward J. Darby & Son is a supplier of woven and welded wire mesh and wire cloth since 1854. The core product is wire mesh available in various metal types (aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, galvanized steel, Monel, plain steel, stainless steel T-304, T-316, and special alloys) and forms (woven and welded). The company offers custom manufacturing and fabrication services including cutting, welding, notching, slitting, and inspection. Primary applications include filtration and separation, fencing and enclosures, infill panels, fireplace screens, construction, agriculture, security, and decorative uses. Products are sold through direct sales with RFQ functionality and online purchasing for standard items.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wire Mesh and Wire Cloth (Multiple Alloys)
Companies that use Edward J. Darby & Son
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Edward J. Darby & Son technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Edward J. Darby & Son partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Edward J. Darby & Son competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- McNichols: Nationwide distributor of wire cloth and 'hole products' including perforated and expanded metal. Direct competitor across mesh-by-material categories and serves similar industrial and architectural applications as Darby.
- Banker Wire: Manufacturer of woven and welded wire mesh primarily serving architectural and decorative applications. Comparable to Darby in custom woven mesh production and overlap in industrial/decorative end uses.
- Dorstener Wire Tech: Manufacturer and distributor of industrial wire cloth and woven wire mesh. Overlaps with Darby across metallic mesh materials (stainless steel, bronze, brass, etc.) for filtration and industrial process applications.
- Gerard Daniel Worldwide: Manufacturer and distributor of woven wire cloth, filtration media, and fabricated wire mesh products. Directly comparable offering, target industries, and custom manufacturing capabilities to Darby's.
- TWP Inc. Specialty distributor of wire mesh, filter cloth, and industrial fabrics. Direct overlap with Darby in woven and welded mesh across multiple alloys, serving both industrial and consumer/hobbyist segments through e-commerce.
- Belleville Wire Cloth Co. Custom manufacturer of industrial wire cloth and fabricated wire mesh screens. Direct competitor in custom woven mesh production for filtration, separation, and sifting applications similar to Darby's fabrication services.
Broad incumbents
- Grainger: Massive MRO industrial distributor carrying wire mesh, hardware cloth, and related supplies. Overlaps with Darby's stock product offerings, particularly for SMB and maintenance buyer segments, though Grainger is far broader.
- Industrial Metal Supply: West Coast metals service center distributing aluminum, steel, and specialty metal products including mesh. Competes with Darby in aluminum and stainless steel mesh categories, especially for industrial and architectural buyers.
- W.S. Tyler: Long-established manufacturer of wire cloth and screening products serving mining, aggregate, and industrial filtration markets. Overlaps with Darby's plain steel and industrial separation product lines, with a longer legacy in screening media.
Emerging players
- OnlineMetals: E-commerce-first metals distributor offering small-quantity metal and wire products to makers, hobbyists, and SMBs. Comparable to Darby's emerging direct-to-consumer/channel motion via their online catalog.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Edward J. Darby & Son social profiles
Digital presenceEdward J. Darby & Son financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Edward J. Darby & Son leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Edward J. Darby & Son funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Edward J. Darby & Son M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Edward J. Darby & Son
What does Edward J. Darby & Son do?
Edward J. Darby & Son manufactures and distributes industrial wire mesh and wire cloth in a wide range of alloys including aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, galvanized, Monel, plain steel, and stainless steel (T-304 and T-316). The company produces standard mesh specifications as well as custom fabricated wire mesh products tailored to buyer specifications. It serves industrial users such as refineries, oil fields, chemical processors, food and pharmaceutical processors, and research labs, alongside walk-in consumers, hobbyists, and small shops.
Is Edward J. Darby & Son a public or private company?
Edward J. Darby & Son is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Edward J. Darby & Son founded?
Edward J. Darby & Son was founded in 1854. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Edward J. Darby & Son based?
Edward J. Darby & Son is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Edward J. Darby & Son make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Wire Mesh Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Manufacturing and fabrication Services.
Who are Edward J. Darby & Son's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are McNichols, Banker Wire, Dorstener Wire Tech, Gerard Daniel Worldwide, TWP Inc. and Belleville Wire Cloth Co.. Broad incumbents are Grainger, Industrial Metal Supply and W.S. Tyler. OnlineMetals is listed as an emerging player.
Does Edward J. Darby & Son have an API?
No public API is recorded for Edward J. Darby & Son.
What industry is Edward J. Darby & Son in?
Edward J. Darby & Son's product category is Industrial Wire Mesh Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOABAH, Technical Fabric Mills (Performance/Protective/Medical Substrates). Its NAICS code is 33261 and its SIC code is 2390.