What CMC does

CMC Rescue, Inc. is a private, 100% employee-owned manufacturer of professional rope rescue, rope access, search and rescue (SAR), and height-safety equipment, founded in 1978 and headquartered in Goleta, California. The company designs and produces NFPA- and EN-certified life-safety hardware and personal protective equipment spanning harnesses (ATOM Rescue, ATOM Access, Outback Convertible), descenders (MPD, Rescue 8, CLUTCH), rope grabs (CAPTO, SWIVO), carabiners (ProSeries aluminum and ProSteel), pulleys, litters with patented StratLoad attachment points, rigging systems (AZTEK ProSeries, Arizona Vortex, Double CLUTCH TTRS Kit), and certified winches (Harken LokHead, Traction Winch 500), supported by proprietary patents on method, finish, and attachment innovations and an ISO 9001:2015 quality system.

CMC operates a hybrid go-to-market model that distributes equipment through a domestic and international dealer network, direct enterprise sales to government agencies and industrial accounts, and a full e-commerce storefront at cmcpro.com, while generating ancillary revenue from CMC School professional training programs (Rope Rescue Technician I/II/III, Confined Space, Trench, Tower Rescue), educational materials including rescue manuals and eBooks, and a Field Guide mobile application on iOS and Android. Unit pricing ranges from $18 for basic carabiners to $5,599 for complete systems, with rope sold by the foot, indicating a transactional hardware model with services layered for ecosystem lock-in. The customer base is fragmented across fire departments, SAR organizations, law enforcement tactical units, EMS agencies, and industrial rope access companies, with no anchor customers disclosed, and the company is actively expanding into European markets as of April 2025 while sustaining a steady cadence of new product launches through 2026.

Name

CMC

Legal name

CMC Rescue, Inc.

Website

https://cmcpro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CMC Rescue, Inc. is a 100% employee-owned US manufacturer of NFPA- and EN-certified rope rescue, rope access, and height-safety hardware serving fire departments, SAR teams, law enforcement, EMS, and industrial rope-access professionals through dealers, direct sales, training, and e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rescue and Height Safety Equipment

NAICS

Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)

akta.pro primary industry

Safety, Security & Emergency Supplies/Equipment (First Aid, AEDs, PPE, Lockdown Kits) (EDAEAIAL)

Keywords

• Rope rescue equipment
• Technical rescue gear
• Rope access hardware
• Height safety products
• Rescue training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Goleta

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, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Direct sales of rescue and rope access equipment including harnesses, hardware, rope, litters, and complete rescue kits to professional users. Products sold through dealer network and direct engagement.
2. Training Services: CMC School provides professional rescue training courses including rope rescue technician certification, confined space rescue, trench rescue, and other specialized technical rescue programs.
3. Education Materials: Sale of rescue manuals, field guides, and eBooks for professional rescue training and reference.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CMC designs, manufactures, and distributes professional rope rescue, rope access, and height safety equipment including NFPA- and EN-certified harnesses, carabiners, pulleys, descenders, litters, and rigging systems. The company complements its hardware with CMC School professional rescue training programs, a Field Guide mobile app, and a Quick Quote procurement tool. Customers include fire departments, search and rescue organizations, law enforcement tactical units, industrial rope access companies, EMS agencies, and military units.

Product overview

CMC is a manufacturer of professional rope rescue, access, search and rescue (SAR), and height safety equipment. The product portfolio includes a comprehensive range of life safety gear organized into several interconnected categories: personal protective equipment (harnesses including ATOM Rescue/Access/Outback lines), hardware (MPD multi-purpose devices, CMC CLUTCH by Harken, CAPTO rope grabs, carabiners in ProSeries/ProSteel lines), rope and web products (Static-Pro lifeline, Teufelberger KM III static rope), rigging systems (AZTEK ProSeries System, Double CLUTCH TTRS Kit, Arizona Vortex Kit), rescue litters (Stainless Steel, Titanium variants), patient handling (ProSeries Litter Harness, Patient Tie-In System), and pulley systems. The company also provides associated services including CMC School professional training programs, a Field Guide mobile application, and Quick Quote tool for procurement. CMC collaborates with Harken Industrial on winch products (LokHead Winch Kit, Traction Winch 500) and Teufelberger on rope products. All products are certified to relevant safety standards including NFPA and EN specifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ATOM Rescue Harness NFPA-certified rescue harness delivering performance for professional rescuers including fire departments and SAR teams.
• ATOM Access Harness Durable, comfortable harness built with custom features for industrial rope access technicians performing work at height.
• Outback Convertible Harness Harness designed for backcountry operations, now available with modular Gear Loops in black colorway.
• MPD (Multi-Purpose Device) Patented pulley/rescue belay/descent control device allowing transition from lowering to raising without changing equipment configuration.
• CMC CLUTCH by Harken Rescue and rope access hardware representing the latest evolution in the CMC-Harken collaborative product line.
• CAPTO Intuitive multi-functional rope grab device combining high-efficiency rope handling capabilities for hauling and ascending.
• AZTEK ProSeries System Versatile rope rescue rigging system offering over 100 rigging solutions in a single bag, originally developed by Reed Thorne of Ropes That Rescue.
• ProSeries Aluminum Key-Lock Carabiners NFPA General-Use rescue carabiners and the first aluminum carabiners to meet NFPA strength requirements, with patented key-lock design.
• ProSteel Carabiners Carbon steel carabiners classified to NFPA General Use with high breaking strength, keylock system, and corrosion-resistant Zinc-Nickel treatment.
• Static-Pro Lifeline Extremely low-stretch kernmantle lifeline constructed of 100% High Tenacity Polyester (HTP) fiber for life safety applications.
• Teufelberger KM III Static Rope Superior handling static rope with composite construction featuring continuous filament polyester sheath over nylon fiber core, torque-balanced to eliminate spin during rappel.
• Harken LokHead Winch Kit NFPA-certified high-load, low-friction self-tailing capstan winch with captive head for safety, certified for man-riding applications.
• Harken Traction Winch 500 Lightweight, CE certified portable winch mounted to a robust adapter plate that maximizes operator pulling power by up to 40 times.
• Rescue Pulleys Lightweight, full-strength prusik-minding pulleys ideal for mountain rescue, swiftwater, and technical rescue teams, available in Single and Double versions.
• ProSwivel Pulleys NFPA-certified pulleys with swivel functionality for rope rescue applications.
• Rescue 8 Figure eight descender machined from 12.5mm plate, refined for better performance with modern life safety rope, available in aluminum and steel.
• Stainless Steel Rescue Litter Re-designed classic Stokes military litter featuring patented StratLoad Attachment Points that prevent accidental release.
• ProSeries Litter Harness Fully adjustable litter harness for use with rigid litters, featuring parachute buckles on each of four legs for independent adjustment.
• Patient Tie-In System Quick and easy system for securing patients in litters with color-coded web and snap ring closures for intuitive, safe packaging.
• Double CLUTCH TTRS Kit Twin tension rope system (TTRS) kit for load-sharing applications incorporating SWIVO single pulleys.
• CMC Triskelion Tripod Fully featured industrial rescue tripod setting a new benchmark for rapid deployment in confined space and edge rescue scenarios.
• Arizona Vortex Kit Versatile rope rescue tool named for its origin in Arizona's Red Rock highlands, used worldwide by rescue teams.
• Sewn-Loop Prusiks Factory-sewn prusik loops with SecureStitch technology offering strength equivalent to tied prusik loops.
• Anchor Plates Classic CMC innovation for rope rigging anchoring systems, keeping carabiners from jamming together in rescue systems.
• Pro Pocket Accessory equipment carry solution designed to securely attach to harnesses for carrying runners, prusiks, trauma shears, and gloves.
• Personal Gear Bag Durable gear bag designed to hold harness, helmet, goggles, AZTEK System, and hardware, featuring hide-away shoulder straps for backpack conversion.
• CMC School Training Programs Professional rescue training programs including Rope Rescue Technician I/II/III, Confined Space Rescue, Trench Rescue, Structural Collapse Shoring, Tower Rescue, and specialized workshops for professional rescuers.
• Quick Quote Tool Online procurement tool that generates customized professional quotes for CMC equipment and routes them to dealers, supervisors, or purchasing departments.
• Rescue Field Guide Mobile App Mobile application providing professional rescuers with a digital rescue field guide, available on iOS and Android platforms.
• SWIVO Compact Rope Hardware New compact rope hardware designed for hauling and ascending operations, providing high-efficiency rope handling in a small form factor.
• CMC T95 Backcountry PPE New backcountry personal protective equipment (PPE) built specifically for backcountry rescue operations.
• LineScale 3i+ Load Cell New all-in-one load cell designed for accurate force measurement in rescue, rigging, and load-monitoring operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• AZTEK ProSeries System offers over 100 rigging solutions in a single bag
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Harken IndustrialcoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic partnership for winch and rope handling products. CMC distributes Harken LokHead Winch Kit (NFPA certified) and Harken Traction Winch 500 (CE certified). Products integrated into CMC's confined space rescue and lifting solutions. CLUTCH product developed in partnership with Harken Industrial.
• TeufelbergercoreTechnology or IntegrationCMC distributes Teufelberger KM III static rope - a superior handling kernmantle lifeline featuring composite construction with nylon core and polyester sheath. KM III is torque-balanced to eliminate spin during rappel.
• Ropes That RescuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAZTEK system originally developed by Reed Thorne of Arizona-based Ropes That Rescue. The Arizona Technician's Edge Kit (AZTEK) is now manufactured and distributed by CMC with NFPA certification and ongoing product development.
• ParatechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership creating high angle rescue kits for use with Paratech's Monopod system. CMC distributes Paratech Pods Tie Back Kit and Pods Dual Mainline Kit.
• National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR)minorOthersIndustry membership and support. NASAR is a professional membership association for SAR professionals.
• Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT)minorOthersIndustry membership and support for professional rope access standards.
• International Technical Rescue Association (ITRA)minorOthersInternational technical rescue association membership.
• International Technical Rescue Symposium (ITRS)minorOthersIndustry symposium participation and support.
• ICAR (International Commission for Alpine Rescue)minorOthersInternational mountain rescue organization membership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Petzl: French-headquartered manufacturer of climbing, rope access, and technical rescue equipment including harnesses, descenders, ascenders, and helmets. Directly competes with CMC across every product category and is the established European market leader CMC must displace to scale its EU launch.
• Black Diamond Equipment: Climbing and mountain rescue equipment manufacturer with overlapping product lines in carabiners, harnesses, ascenders, and rescue hardware. Differs in stronger consumer/climbing orientation versus CMC's professional rescue focus, but a frequent co-bidder on fire/rescue and SAR tenders.
• PMI (Pigeon Mountain Industries): Specialized manufacturer of rope rescue equipment, edge protection, and technical rescue gear that competes head-to-head with CMC in fire, rescue, and rope access channels; closely comparable in niche positioning and customer mix.
• Yates Tactical: Manufacturer of tactical, military, and rescue harnesses and load-bearing equipment with strong presence in federal/law enforcement channels directly overlapping CMC's military/government segment.
• Skedco: Manufacturer of rescue litters (including the iconic SKED) and patient packaging systems directly overlapping CMC's Stainless Steel Rescue Litter, ProSeries Litter Harness, and Patient Tie-In System product lines.
• Sterling Rope: Manufacturer of kernmantle ropes, cordage, and rope access equipment used in rescue and industrial settings; mirrors CMC's rope distribution approach and overlaps end customers and channel partners.
• Skylotec: European rope access and fall protection manufacturer with strong position in tower, wind, and industrial rope access channels - a direct competitive overlap with CMC's industrial rope access segment and a key incumbent in the EU markets CMC is entering.

Broad incumbents

• 3M Fall Protection (DBI-Sala): Broad-based fall protection business within 3M that competes across harnesses, SRLs, and rescue/retrieval systems; serves many of the same fire/rescue and industrial customers as CMC but as part of a much larger diversified safety conglomerate with bundled procurement advantages.
• MSA Safety: Diversified safety equipment manufacturer serving fire service, industrial, and military markets with overlapping harness/rescue/SCBA offerings; significantly larger scale and broader product portfolio than CMC, often able to bundle rescue gear with broader apparatus bids.
• Honeywell Safety Products: Industrial safety division within Honeywell producing fall protection PPE including Miller brand harnesses and rescue products that overlap CMC's industrial rope access and personal fall protection channels at much greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cmcpro_official

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 CMC