Showman Fabricators
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersBayonne, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
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.
Showman Fabricators firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Showman Fabricators industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Showman Fabricators is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bayonne
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Showman Fabricators business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom fabrication projects are quoted based on individual project requirements |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Showman Fabricators product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Showman Fabricators
Customer profileNamed customers26 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Showman Fabricators technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Showman Fabricators partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Nord DrivesystemscoreLong-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 AllianceminorIndustry 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.
- ModTrusscoreAuthorized 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 WorldwidemajorGlobal 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 DesignmajorProduction 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 GroupmajorLighting 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 AmericaminorAWS-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
Showman Fabricators competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Showman Fabricators social profiles
Digital presenceShowman Fabricators financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Showman Fabricators leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Showman Fabricators funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Showman Fabricators 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 Showman Fabricators
What does Showman Fabricators do?
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.
Is Showman Fabricators a public or private company?
Showman Fabricators is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Showman Fabricators founded?
Showman Fabricators was founded in 1986. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Showman Fabricators based?
Showman Fabricators is headquartered in Bayonne, United States, in the North America region.
How does Showman Fabricators make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom Fabrication Projects are the primary driver. The others are modTruss Sales and Distribution and showCut Job Shop Services.
Who are Showman Fabricators's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tait Towers, Moss Inc., Atomic Design, DCL (Design Communications Ltd), Uni-Systems and Whitley Manufacturing. Broad incumbents are Production Resource Group (PRG) and GES (Global Experience Specialists). 4Wall Entertainment is listed as an emerging player. Jack Morton Worldwide is listed as an others.
Does Showman Fabricators have an API?
No public API is recorded for Showman Fabricators.
What industry is Showman Fabricators in?
Showman Fabricators's product category is Custom Scenic Fabrication Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAKAG, Scenic Fabrication & Set/Stage Carpentry, with a secondary code of BPAFAGAK, Event Fabrication & Scenic/Set Build (Custom Builds, Installations). Its NAICS code is 323113 and its SIC code is 3440.