Wardcraft

What Wardcraft does

Wardcraft Industries, LLC, operating as Wardcraft Conveyors, is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of custom and standard industrial conveyor systems founded in 1897 and headquartered in Spring Arbor, Michigan. The company engineers and builds application-specific material handling equipment for harsh industrial environments, with a product portfolio organized into belted conveyors (Slug-Vayor, Parts-Vayor, Modular Slug-Vayor, Horizontal, Telescoping, Plastic Modular, Washdown, Aggregate, Low Back Pressure), steel belt and specialty conveyors (Steel Hinge, Magna-Vayor, Central Scrap System, Table Top Chain, Slat Top, Wire Mesh, Accumulating, Cooling, Drag), and an extensive accessories line including the patented Di-Clamp quick die change system with its Di-Lifter, Di-Rack, Di-Cart, MS Rail, and S Rail components.

Underlying technologies span reinforced low-profile belt frames for under-press installation, beltless magnetic drives using permanent magnets over stainless slide plates, interlocking steel hinge plates for hot and abrasive scrap handling, and modular plastic belt systems for sanitary washdown applications. Notable proprietary innovations include the Magna-Vayor's permanent-magnet conveying architecture, the Modular Slug-Vayor's V-guided low-profile modular construction, and the Di-Clamp's patented sleeve-inside-a-sleeve half-turn locking mechanism rated to 50 tons and backed by a 7-year warranty.

Wardcraft monetizes through one-time capital equipment sales, OEM-fit spare parts, preventive maintenance and emergency repair services, and conveyor rebuilds that the company claims save 20–50% versus full replacement. Go-to-market is sales-led and B2B, with quote-based pricing reached through phone (800 782 2779) and website contact forms. The company serves twelve verticals — primarily automotive, metal stamping, forging, and food processing, with secondary exposure to HVAC, die casting, and system integrators/OEMs — and operates a mutual referral relationship with sister companies Orbitform (assembly equipment) and C&B Machinery (precision grinding) for complementary solutions.

Name

Wardcraft

Legal name

Wardcraft Industries, LLC.

Website

https://wardcraftconveyor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1897

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wardcraft Conveyors is a Michigan-based, family-founded industrial manufacturer (est. 1897) that designs and builds custom and standard conveyor systems for automotive, stamping, forging, and food processing customers across the U.S.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Conveyor Systems

NAICS

Conveyor and Conveying Equipment Manufacturing (333922)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Material Handling Systems (Belt Conveyors, Feeders, Stackers, Reclaimers) (IMAHABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Loading/Unloading & Transfer Equipment (Telescopic Conveyors, Loaders, Tipplers) (IMAHABAI), Conveying, Hoisting & Materials Handling Systems (Conveyors, Stackers/Reclaimers, Winches) (IMAKANAE)

Keywords

• Industrial conveyor systems
• Material handling equipment
• Quick die change
• Heavy-duty belt conveyors
• Steel hinge conveyors

Headquarters

HQ city

Spring Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Conveyor Equipment Sales: Sale of custom and standard conveyor systems including belted conveyors, steel hinge conveyors, magnetic conveyors, and accessories. Equipment is sold as one-time capital purchases with application-specific customization.
2. Spare Parts: Replacement parts including OEM-fit belts, bearings, rollers, pulleys, drives, and hardware to support customer maintenance needs and reduce downtime.
3. Service and Maintenance: Preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, emergency repairs, and remote monitoring/diagnostics services to keep conveyor systems operating efficiently.
4. Conveyor Rebuilds: Comprehensive renovation of existing conveyor systems addressing wear and tear with performance upgrades. Cost-effective alternative to full replacement, potentially saving 20-50% or more versus new systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wardcraft Conveyors designs, manufactures, and services custom and standard industrial conveyor systems for material handling in harsh production environments. Its portfolio spans belted conveyors (Slug-Vayor, Parts-Vayor, Modular Slug-Vayor, Horizontal, Telescoping, Plastic Modular, Washdown, Aggregate, Low Back Pressure), steel hinge conveyors (Steel Hinge, Magna-Vayor, Wire Mesh, Cooling, Drag, Central Scrap), and quick die change accessories (Di-Clamp, Di-Lifter, Di-Rack, Di-Cart, rails, bolster extensions, shakers, quench tanks). The company also sells OEM spare parts and provides preventive maintenance, emergency repair, remote monitoring/diagnostics, and full conveyor rebuilds.

Product overview

Wardcraft designs and builds application-specific conveyor systems organized into three main product families: Belted Conveyors (including Slug-Vayor, Parts-Vayor, Modular Slug-Vayor, Horizontal, Horizontal V-Guide, Telescoping, Plastic Modular, Washdown, Aggregate, and Low Back Pressure), Steel Hinge Conveyors (including Steel Hinge, Magna-Vayor, Central Scrap System, Table Top Chain, Slat Top, Wire Mesh, Accumulating, Cooling Conveyor, and Drag), and Accessories (including Rotary Dumper, Rotary Chute, Shuttle Conveyor, Di-Lifter, Di-Clamp, Di-Rack, Di-Cart, MS Rail, S Rail, Bolster Extensions, Shaker, Quench Tank, and Beltless Magnetic). The company also provides lifecycle support services including spare parts, maintenance/repair, and conveyor rebuilds. The product portfolio ranges from light-duty part handling to heavy-duty scrap and forging applications, plus beltless magnetic and sanitary/washdown solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Slug-Vayor: Heavy-duty belt conveyor originally designed for metal stamping environments, known for durability and low profile.
• Parts-Vayor
• Modular Slug-Vayor (MSV)
• Magna-Vayor

Products and services

• Slug-Vayor Heavy-Duty Belt Conveyor Heavy-duty belt conveyor with a low-profile steel frame and reinforced construction, originally designed for metal stamping environments and now used in various applications requiring durability and a low profile for handling abrasive scrap and impact loads.
• Parts-Vayor Inclined Belt Conveyor Heavy-duty inclined belt conveyor with a cleated belt designed to move materials, especially parts, from one level to another, ensuring accurate control and separation of materials on inclines.
• Modular Slug-Vayor (MSV)
• Horizontal Belt Conveyor Material handling system that transports items across a flat, level plane, typically in industrial settings such as assembly lines and distribution centers.
• Horizontal V-Guide Belt Conveyor Horizontal belt conveyor using V-shaped profiles attached to the belt underside for improved belt tracking and drift prevention on long narrow runs.
• Telescoping Belt Conveyor Extendable belt conveyor that can extend and retract to reach trucks, presses, or stations, then retract to save floor space and improve ergonomics.
• Plastic Modular Belt Conveyor Conveyor with interlocking plastic modules driven by sprockets, offering clean, durable, positive-drive operation with quick section replacement capability.
• Washdown Sanitary Conveyor Stainless hygienic conveyor designed for frequent washdown and food processing environments, featuring open crevice-minimized designs with food-grade belting.
• Aggregate Conveyor High-capacity conveyor for abrasive aggregates such as sand, gravel, and crushed stone across mining, quarrying, and construction applications.
• Low Back Pressure Accumulation Conveyor Accumulation conveyor with low-friction surfaces and zoned control designed to prevent damage to fragile products during accumulation.
• Steel Hinge Conveyor Heavy-duty conveyor with interlocking steel plates connected by hinges forming a continuous belt, designed for scrap metal, parts, and abrasive materials in harsh conditions.
• Magna-Vayor Magnetic Conveyor Magnetic conveyor that moves metal along a stainless slide plate using powerful permanent magnets for safer, low-maintenance conveying of ferrous materials.
• Central Scrap System Automated solution that gathers and transports waste material from various points in a manufacturing area to a central location for collection or disposal.
• Table Top Chain Conveyor Flat top conveyor using plastic or stainless tabletop chain for smooth, stable transport of containers and packaged goods through curves.
• Slat Top Conveyor Conveyor with rigid slat surfaces on chain, suitable for tough, hot, or uneven products in automotive and appliance assembly applications.
• Wire Mesh Conveyor Conveyor belt made of metal strips connected by cross rods creating an open mesh surface for airflow, cooling, washing, and drying applications.
• Accumulating Conveyor Temporary buffer zone conveyor allowing products to be stored until downstream processes are ready, preventing backups and reducing jams.
• Cooling Conveyor Specialized conveyor system designed to lower product temperature in-line using wire mesh surfaces and optional fans for food processing, casting, and molding applications.
• Drag Chain Conveyor Conveyor system using chains with attached paddles or flights to drag material along a path, known for durability and ability to handle heavy loads.
• Di-Clamp Quick Die Change System Patented heavy-duty clamping solution for quick die changes with a half-turn locking mechanism that eliminates loose hardware, reduces downtime, and provides load ratings up to 50 tons with a 7-year full warranty.
• Di-Lifter Die Handling Device Device used in quick die change systems to raise and lower dies for easier and faster die changes, reducing manual handling and ergonomic risk.
• Di-Rack Die Storage System Organized die storage system that pre-stages dies near the press to cut changeover time and maximize floor space.
• Di-Cart Die Transport Cart Specialized cart for transporting heavy dies and molds between storage and press machines in quick die change systems.
• MS Rail Die Handling Rails Compact roller rails for medium-weight dies and smaller presses in quick die change systems, with approximately 4,000 lb capacity per roller.
• S Rail Heavy-Duty Die Handling Rails Stationary roller rails for extra-heavy dies with very high load capacity, featuring rollers sized for approximately 8,000 lb per roller.
• Bolster Extensions Cantilevered sections that extend the press bolster to facilitate easier die loading and unloading using forklifts or cranes.
• Rotary Dumper Large equipment that rotates railcars to unload bulk materials onto a conveyor system with dust collection and high throughput capability.
• Rotary Chute Transfer chute that rotates to direct material flow to different discharge points from a single conveyor discharge.
• Shuttle Conveyor Bi-directional conveyor with rail-mounted carriage that travels back and forth for precise material distribution to multiple locations from a single line.
• Shaker Conveyor (Air/Electric) Vibratory conveyor using controlled shaking or vibrating motion to move bulk materials, parts, and scrap with energy efficiency and minimal maintenance.
• Quench Tank System Liquid-tight tank with conveyor system for rapid cooling after heat treatment, using water, oil, or polymer quenching media.
• Beltless Magnetic Conveyor Beltless magnetic conveyor using permanent magnets to move ferrous materials along a stationary slide plate, eliminating traditional belt wear.
• OEM Spare Parts OEM-fit replacement belts, bearings, rollers, pulleys, drives, and hardware sold to minimize downtime and support scheduled preventive maintenance for installed conveyor systems.
• Conveyor Service and Maintenance Preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, emergency repairs, and remote monitoring/diagnostics services to ensure installed conveyor systems operate efficiently and reliably.
• Conveyor Rebuilds Comprehensive renovation of existing conveyor systems addressing wear and tear with performance upgrades, offering 20-50% cost savings versus full replacement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Conveyor rebuilds can save 20-50% or more compared to full replacement

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OrbitformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company to Wardcraft Conveyors, Orbitform designs and builds permanent assembly equipment including fastening, forming, and automation solutions. Based in Jackson, Michigan, they serve automotive, aerospace, medical, hand tool, and HVAC industries with systems for consistent quality and long-term reliability. The relationship provides complementary material handling and assembly capabilities for shared manufacturing customers.
• C&B MachineryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering partner for high-performance double-disc and clamp-bore grinding machines. C&B Machinery delivers accuracy, efficiency, and reliability for production lines. Wardcraft recommends their conveyors to C&B Machinery customers as complementary equipment, creating mutual referral relationship for manufacturing customers needing both grinding and material handling solutions.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Titan Conveyors: Titan Conveyors designs and builds heavy-duty industrial conveyors including belt, slider bed, and roller models for stamping, scrap, and recycling applications. Directly comparable to Wardcraft's Slug-Vayor and steel hinge lines for under-press scrap and heavy material handling.
• Flexicon Corporation: Flexicon specializes in bulk material handling conveyors (flexible screw, tubular cable, pneumatic, and bulk belt conveyors) for food, chemical, mineral, and plastics industries. Comparable to Wardcraft's steel hinge, drag, and aggregate conveyor lines serving forging, die casting, and aggregate applications.
• QC Conveyors: QC Conveyors produces low-profile, pre-engineered belt conveyors (inclined, horizontal, sanitary) for industrial and packaging customers. Comparable to Wardcraft's modular and horizontal product families targeting small-footprint industrial installations.
• LEWCO Inc. LEWCO manufactures industrial conveyors and process ovens for automotive, forging, heat treating, and heavy manufacturing. Comparable to Wardcraft because both supply heat-resistant steel hinge, quench, and cooling conveyors into forging and metal-stamping operations.
• Span Tech Conveyors: Span Tech designs specialty plastic chain and modular conveyors for food, packaging, and industrial applications. Comparable to Wardcraft's plastic modular and washdown lines, particularly in food processing and sanitary production environments.
• mk North America: mk North America produces engineered industrial conveyors (flat belt, timing belt, chain, modular) for automotive, packaging, and material handling. Comparable to Wardcraft in serving automotive and industrial assembly customers with application-engineered conveyor systems.
• Conveyor Engineering & Manufacturing Co. Conveyor Engineering & Manufacturing builds screw, drag, and bulk material conveyors for grain, food, and industrial customers. Comparable to Wardcraft's drag and aggregate conveyor offerings used in bulk and scrap handling applications.

Emerging players

• Storch Magnetics: Storch Magnetics manufactures magnetic conveyors, magnetic separation equipment, and material handling magnets for stamping and scrap applications. Comparable to Wardcraft's Magna-Vayor and beltless magnetic conveyors, particularly in ferrous scrap handling under stamping presses.

Broad incumbents

• Dorner Mfg. Corp. Dorner manufactures low-profile belt, modular, and sanitary conveyors used heavily in packaging, food processing, and light-industrial automation. Comparable to Wardcraft's plastic modular, washdown, and low-profile modular Slug-Vayor offerings targeting food processing and tight-space installations.
• Hytrol Conveyor Company: Hytrol is one of the largest North American manufacturers of unit-handling conveyors (belt, roller, sortation, automation), serving distribution, manufacturing, and e-commerce customers. Comparable to Wardcraft because both supply industrial conveyor systems to manufacturing facilities, though Hytrol's catalog is far broader and its scale substantially larger.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Thewardcraftconveyor
• Facebookfacebook.com/Ward1897
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wardcraft-industries
• Xx.com/Ward1897

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Wardcraft