What RACO International does

RACO International, L.P. is a US-based, family-owned manufacturer of custom electric linear and rotary actuators, founded in 1980 in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania as the American subsidiary of German parent RACO-ELEKTRO-MASCHINEN GmbH (established 1953). The company designs and builds a portfolio of electromechanical motion products including the Modular Actuator MA series (up to 314,700 lbs / 1400 kN thrust and 236-inch stroke), Compact Actuators, Ball and ACME Screws, Linear Modules, LT2060 actuators, Rotary Actuators, the RACOmatic integrated control system, motors and sensors (including the EPS non-contact position sensor), and the RACO SafeStop safety interlock device. Products carry multiple hazardous-environment and functional-safety certifications (ATEX, IECEx, UL Class I Div I, ISO 13849-1, IEC 61508 / EN 62061, ISO 9001), enabling deployment in explosive atmospheres and safety-critical infrastructure.

Name

RACO International

Legal name

RACO International, L.P.

Website

https://racointernational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RACO International manufactures custom electric linear and rotary actuators, ball/ACME screws, and integrated control systems for heavy-duty industrial applications in infrastructure, cranes, bulk materials handling, and hazardous environments, serving government and enterprise customers across North America, Europe, South America, and China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Actuators (Industrial Motion Control)

NAICS

Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (333613), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Actuators & Motion Devices (Linear, Rotary, Electric Actuators for Motion Control) (IMAHAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Linear Motion & Actuation (Linear Motors, Electric Cylinders, Actuators) (IMAGACAG), Linear Motion & Mechanical Power Transmission (Ball/roller screws, linear guides, bearings, couplings) (IMAHAGAM), AC Motors (Induction, Synchronous) (IMAGACAA)

Keywords

• Electric linear actuators
• Rotary actuators
• Ball screw drives
• Industrial motion control
• Electromechanical actuators

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethel Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Electric Actuator Sales: RACO manufactures and sells custom electric linear actuators, rotary actuators, ball screws, ACME screws, linear modules, and related components. Products are sold as complete units with various thrust capacities, stroke lengths, and motor configurations tailored to customer applications.
2. Aftermarket Service and Repair: RACO provides authorized repair and refurbishment services for actuators at their Bethel Park facility, including spare parts supply beyond standard replacement periods. Components can be refurbished or replaced even for obsolete units.
3. Replacement Parts and Spare Parts: All actuator components can be manufactured and supplied as original spare parts, even beyond usual replacement periods, providing a secondary revenue stream from the installed base.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

RACO International designs, manufactures, and sells custom electric linear and rotary actuators built around ball screw and ACME screw drive systems, alongside an integrated control system (RACOmatic), motors and position sensors (EPS), and the SafeStop electromechanical safety device. The product line spans heavy-duty industrial linear actuators (up to 314,700 lbs thrust and 236 inches of stroke), compact and belt-driven linear modules, rotary actuators (300-17,500 lb-ft torque), and explosion-proof variants, supported by an authorized factory service center for repair, refurbishment, and spare parts supply.

Product overview

RACO International is a manufacturer of custom electric actuators offering a portfolio of linear and rotary motion products. The core product line includes the Modular Actuator MA series (heavy duty, up to 314,700 lbs thrust), Compact Actuator (lighter duty, space-efficient), Ball Screws, ACME Screws, Linear Module LM3-LM4 (belt-driven), and LT2060 linear actuator. Supporting products include the RACOmatic control system (turn-key integrated actuator control with fieldbus connectivity for positioning, force control, and multi-axis synchronization), Motors & Sensors (three-phase AC induction motors with electronic position sensors EPS02/EPS06), and RACO SafeStop safety interlocks for freight elevators. The product ecosystem is designed for industrial automation applications across material handling, infrastructure, transportation, cranes/lifts, machinery, and building technology sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RACOmatic: Fully integrated, turn-key electric actuator control system with perfectly matched hardware, software, and sensors for optimized performance.
• RACO SafeStop
• MA Series (Modular Actuator)
• Compact Actuator
• RACO LM Module

Products and services

• Modular Actuator MA Ball or ACME screw driven fully electric linear actuator available in thrusts up to 314,700 lbs (1400 kN) and standard strokes up to 78 inches (2000 mm), with extended strokes up to 236 inches (6000 mm) on larger sizes 9, 10, and 11. Adaptable to most electric motors including AC, DC, and high-performance servo motors.
• Compact Actuator Electric linear actuator with the smallest stroke-to-overall-length ratio, compact and economical design for lighter duty applications. Flexible modular design compatible with Ball Screw and ACME Screw drives, and adaptable to AC, DC, gear, and high-performance Servo motors.
• Ball Screws Precision ball screw drives with efficiency over 95% and design lifespans of several decades, intended for precise and dynamic positioning tasks in industrial operations.
• ACME Screws Self-locking power screws made of high-quality materials that safely hold high static loads in various intermediate positions for robust reliability applications.
• Linear Module LM3/LM4 Belt driven linear actuator housed in an aluminum extrusion, best suited for light load and high speed applications and ideal for multi-axis motion control systems.
• LT2060 Ball screw driven linear actuator constructed in an aluminum housing with a slide carriage capable of handling loads up to 4,500 pounds maximum, with a wide range of drive accessories and environmental configurations available.
• Rotary Actuator Electric rotary actuator using a helical gear design to produce force/torque in a rotational direction for fluid valve control, conveyor positioning, flop gate movements, elevator bucket rotation, dampers, louvers, and rotary position applications. Features IP65 asynchronous three-phase AC induction motor, maintenance-free permanently lubricated gearbox, and torque range 300-17,500 lb-ft depending on operation time.
• RACOmatic Control System Fully integrated turn-key electric actuator control system with perfectly matched hardware, software, and sensors delivering maximum process reliability, high production quality, and precise fully reproducible motion control. Supports 2 or 8 adjustable end positions, stroke-controlled operation, force-controlled operation, variable fieldbus control (PROFIBUS, PROFINET, CANopen, DeviceNet, EtherCAT), and synchronized multi-axis control for up to 4 actuators (up to 24 on Profinet).
• Motors & Sensors Asynchronous three-phase AC induction motors with low moment of inertia for starting and accelerating large masses on S3 intermittent duty cycles, available in 2-8 pole base speeds and common voltages, including explosion-proof variants certified to UL Class I Div I, ATEX, and IECEx with IP67/IP68 enclosures. Also includes Electronic Position Sensors (EPS02 with 2 adjustable relay contacts; EPS06 with analog feedback, 4 intermediate positions, and electronic overload cut-off), mechanical limit switches, rotary angle transducers, potentiometers, and SIL-certified absolute encoders.
• RACO SafeStop Electromechanical safety interlock device for industrial lifts that prevents the lift from operating when maximum permissible loads are exceeded, limits deflection path, and prevents actuator back-driving/drift during loading. Total weight 90 lbs; load capacity 4,400-22,000 lbs per unit.
• Replacement Actuators, Spare Parts and Authorized Repair / Refurbishment Service Authorized factory repair, refurbishment, and spare-parts supply at the Bethel Park, PA facility (the only authorized repair and manufacturing facility in the United States), including replacement actuator components and spare parts available even beyond standard replacement periods and for obsolete units.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 115,000 RACO electric actuators in use worldwide
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Fieldbus Protocol Providers (PROFIBUS, CANopen, DeviceNet, EtherCAT)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025RACO integrates fieldbus communication protocols including PROFIBUS, CANopen, DeviceNet, and EtherCAT into the RACOmatic control system, enabling connection to common industrial automation systems and PLCs. This allows flexible specification of force, position, speed, and ramps from Level II systems.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tolomatic: US-based manufacturer of electric linear actuators, servo-driven actuators, and motion control products serving industrial automation, similar to RACO's Modular Actuator and Compact Actuator lines. Direct overlap in custom-engineered actuator sales for industrial applications.
• Servomech: Italian manufacturer of electromechanical linear actuators (ball screw and ACME screw driven) with comparable thrust ranges and modular design philosophy. Direct peer to RACO in the European and global heavy-duty electric actuator market.
• Duff-Norton: Manufacturer of linear actuators, screw jacks, and lifting systems with ball/ACME screw mechanisms for industrial and infrastructure applications. Comparable to RACO's MA Series in thrust capacity and heavy-duty positioning use cases.
• Exlar (Curtiss-Wright): Curtiss-Wright subsidiary producing electric linear actuators using roller screw technology for high-force, high-cycle industrial applications. Overlaps with RACO in heavy-duty electric linear actuation for defense, energy, and industrial automation.

Broad incumbents

• Ewellix (SKF Motion Technologies): SKF-owned global manufacturer of linear motion products including electric actuators, ball screws, and linear guides. Broader portfolio and global scale than RACO, but direct overlap in ball-screw-driven electric linear actuators for industrial machinery.
• Bosch Rexroth: Global leader in factory automation, hydraulics, and electric linear motion including the eActuator line. Competes with RACO in electric linear actuators and motion control for industrial applications, with substantially larger scale and broader product portfolio.
• Parker Hannifin: Diversified motion and control technologies conglomerate offering electric linear actuators, servo motors, and electromechanical systems. Overlaps with RACO in industrial electric actuators but operates at vastly larger scale across many verticals.
• Thomson Industries: Manufacturer of linear motion components including electric linear actuators, ball screws, and linear guides. Direct product overlap with RACO in ball-screw linear actuators, though Thomson serves broader markets including medical and factory automation.
• Moog Inc. Global designer and manufacturer of high-performance motion control products including electric actuators, servo motors, and motion controllers. Competes with RACO in industrial and infrastructure motion applications, particularly in safety-critical environments.

Emerging players

• Nook Industries: US manufacturer of linear motion products including screw jacks, electric actuators, and ball screws. Comparable niche specialty focus to RACO with a more compact catalog and emphasis on heavy-duty industrial positioning applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RACOINTL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@RACOINTERNATIONAL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/racointernational
• Instagraminstagram.com/raco_intl/?igsh=ZTRwMGhuMGh6ZzE0&utm_source=qr

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 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 RACO International