Showman Fabricators

What Showman Fabricators does

Showman Fabricators, doing business as ShowFab, is a privately held, founder-led custom scenic and industrial fabrication company headquartered in a 100,000 square-foot facility at 15 Law Drive, Fairfield, New Jersey (relocated from Bayonne, NJ in 2017 after nearly three decades in New York). Founded in 1986 and rebranded to ShowFab in the mid-2010s, the firm pioneered CNC router adoption in scenic fabrication in 1989 and now operates thirteen CNC technologies under one roof, including a Multicam 5000 Series router, a BLM LC5 6000-watt fiber laser with 3D tube cutting, an OMAX 80X waterjet with Tilt-A-Jet, a Massivit 5000 large-format 3D printer, an Amada HM 2204 press brake, and a 3D foam mill.

The company is vertically integrated, taking projects from concept development and CAD modeling (including 3D LiDAR point-cloud scanning) through CNC cutting, metal fabrication, scenic carpentry, scenic painting, graphics printing, automation and electricals, and final installation. Beyond core custom fabrication, it operates two branded service lines: ShowCut, a low-volume/high-mix CNC job shop for external clients, and authorized distribution for ModTruss modular truss systems (purchase and rental).

ShowFab serves marquee enterprise clients across six vertical markets — Film & Television (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CNN, Netflix, Apple Studios, NFL Studios), Theater (Moulin Rouge, Peter and the Starcatcher, New York New York, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Little Mermaid, Disney Live), Museum & Fine Arts (Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Guggenheim, Louis Vuitton exhibitions), Retail & Luxury Brands (Tiffany, Nike, Apple, Audemars Piguet), Experiential Marketing, and Themed Entertainment (Norwegian Cruise Line, Legoland, American Dream). Revenue is generated through project-based, quote-driven engagements with dedicated account executives and project managers; pricing is custom and not publicly disclosed. Distribution is direct enterprise sales only, with relationships reinforced through design-firm partnerships (Jack Morton Worldwide, Clickspring Design, The Lighting Design Group) and a long-term technology relationship with Nord Drivesystems.

Name

Showman Fabricators

Legal name

ShowFab

Website

https://showfab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Scenic Fabrication Services

NAICS

Commercial Screen Printing (323113)

SIC

Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440)

akta.pro primary industry

Scenic Fabrication & Set/Stage Carpentry (MPAGAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Event Fabrication & Scenic/Set Build (Custom Builds, Installations) (BPAFAGAK)

Keywords

• Custom fabrication services
• Scenic fabrication
• CNC machining services
• Themed entertainment fabrication
• Metal fabrication

Headquarters

HQ city

Bayonne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Fabrication Projects: Project-based custom fabrication services for entertainment, retail, and themed environments. Pricing based on project scope, materials, and complexity. Services span from concept development through final installation.
2. ModTruss Sales and Distribution: Authorized distributor offering ModTruss purchase and rental options including truss, extrusion, plates, joist hangers, pipe adapters, motion rigging, hinges, and hardware
3. ShowCut Job Shop Services: Low volume, high mix CNC services including routing, laser cutting, water jet, foam milling, printing and 3D printing for external clients

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Showman Fabricators (ShowFab) provides vertically integrated custom fabrication services spanning concept development through final installation. Core offerings include CNC cutting (routing, laser, water jet, foam milling), press brake metal bending, metal fabrication, carpentry and millwork, scenic paint and finishing, graphic printing, large format 3D printing, automation and electrics, and project management. The company serves film and television, theater, museum and fine arts, retail and luxury brands, experiential marketing, and themed entertainment clients.

Product overview

ShowFab (formerly Showman Fabricators) operates as a vertically integrated custom fabrication company offering a comprehensive suite of services from concept to completion. The core offerings center on Custom Fabrication as the primary service, supported by two key branded programs: ShowCut (CNC job shop services for cutting, bending, 3D printing, and milling) and ModTruss (modular truss distribution and rental). These are complemented by twelve specialized service capabilities including routers and CNC cutting, laser cutting, water jet cutting, foam milling and hotwire cutting, press brake metal bending, graphic printing and installations, project management, technical design, automation and electrics, carpentry and millwork, metal fabrication, scenic paint and finishing, and large format 3D printing. The company serves diverse markets including film and television, theater, museum and fine arts, retail and luxury brands, experiential marketing, and themed entertainment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ShowCut: Job shop services providing low volume, high mix CNC capabilities including cutting, bending, 3D printing, and milling services for external clients.
• ModTruss

Products and services

• Custom Fabrication Full-spectrum custom fabrication services spanning from concept to completion, including laser cutting, foam milling, technical design, scenic painting, carpentry, metal fabrication, and automation. Serves diverse markets including film, television, theater, retail, museums, and themed entertainment.
• ShowCut Job shop services providing CNC cutting, bending, 3D printing, and milling services. Low volume, high mix specialists offering prototyping to production capabilities for custom parts on demand for external clients.
• ModTruss Distribution Authorized supplier and distributor for ModTruss and accessories including truss, extrusion, plates, joist hangers, pipe adapters, motion rigging, hinges, access components, and hardware. Available for purchase and rental. Features 100% reusability and reconfigurability with patented clover and bolt hole pattern design for broadcasting, film, and live events markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% recycling rate with 100% take-back option for installations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers26 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Nord DrivesystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-term supplier of gearmotors for positioning massive scenery in broadcast sets. Provides brake motors for driving metal weldments that hang above sets. Farrow has worked with Nord since graduate school at Yale School of Drama. Partnership includes quarterly maintenance support and inspection visits. Equipment includes 15 hp SK9042.1 Helical Bevel UNICASE right-angle gearmotors with custom-turned cable drums.
• Broadway Green AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry alliance focused on sustainability in the performing arts. Donyale Werle serves as co-chair of the pre/post-production committee. ShowFab received special recognition for environmental efforts through this partnership.
• ModTrusscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized supplier and distributor for all ModTruss and ModTruss accessories. Offers both purchase and rental options. ModTruss features 100% reusability and reconfigurability with patented clover and bolt hole pattern for seamless assembly. Products include truss, extrusion, plates, joist hangers, pipe adapters, motion rigging, hinges, and hardware.
• Jack Morton WorldwidemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal brand experience agency. ShowFab served as scenic fabricator for NBC Studio 3B project designed by Jack Morton Worldwide. Collaboration with Jack Morton, Clickspring Design, and The Lighting Design Group for WNBC newscast studio.
• Clickspring DesignmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction design firm and longtime partner. Worked with ShowFab on CNN Heroes event and NBC projects. Highly collaborative relationship enabling bold design approaches.
• The Lighting Design GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLighting design firm and longtime partner. Collaborated on CNN Heroes event, NBC Studio 3B, and other broadcast projects. Provided lighting design for WNBC new set including Niel Galen as Senior Lighting Designer.
• Metal AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAWS-supported program showcasing metal fabrication industry. Stephanie Hoffman visited ShowFab's facility to create behind-the-scenes content. Showcases welding and metal fabrication careers and processes.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tait Towers: Global provider of staging, scenic fabrication, automation, and rigging for live entertainment, Broadway, and experiential events. Closest direct peer to ShowFab's scenic fabrication and automation capabilities in entertainment markets.
• Moss Inc. Custom fabrication and large-format graphics for retail environments, brand experiences, and events. Direct peer to ShowFab in retail/luxury and experiential fabrication with comparable print + fabrication + install model.
• Atomic Design: Custom scenic fabrication shop serving experiential marketing, museums, retail, and corporate events. Direct peer with comparable custom fabrication services for brand experiences and themed environments.
• DCL (Design Communications Ltd): Fabricator of brand environments, retail fixtures, and custom exhibits. Direct peer serving overlapping customer base (luxury brands, retail, museums) with custom fabrication focus.
• Uni-Systems: Specialty engineering and fabrication of kinetic architecture, moving structures, and automation for entertainment and architectural markets. Direct peer in ShowFab's automation and broadcast set motion work.
• Whitley Manufacturing: Custom modular construction and fabrication serving theatrical, museum, retail, and themed entertainment clients. Direct peer with comparable custom scenic fabrication capabilities and project-based model.

Broad incumbents

• Production Resource Group (PRG): Global entertainment technology and scenic services provider for live events, broadcast, and theater. Larger incumbent with overlapping capabilities in staging, scenic elements, and rigging across all ShowFab end markets.
• GES (Global Experience Specialists): Large-scale exhibit, event, and experiential services provider with in-house fabrication capabilities. Broader incumbent serving many of the same trade show, brand experience, and museum end markets.

Emerging players

• 4Wall Entertainment: Provider of lighting, rigging, and scenic services for entertainment, broadcast, and live events. Partial overlap with ShowFab's entertainment vertical but more lighting/rigging-centric than fabrication-centric.

Others

• Jack Morton Worldwide: Global brand experience agency that designs and produces immersive brand experiences. Functions as both a strategic partner and downstream buyer of scenic fabrication services; comparable as adjacent ecosystem participant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/showfab
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqK4C6tyLc8EDjbDjID9kRA
• Facebookfacebook.com/showman-fabricators-129792444023
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/showman-fabricators
• Instagraminstagram.com/showmanfabricators
• TikToktiktok.com/@showfab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Showman Fabricators