What Telling Industries does

Telling Industries (TELLING®) is a US-based manufacturer of premium metal framing products and accessories, headquartered in Willoughby, Ohio, and founded in 2012. The company operates from facilities including a corporate headquarters in Willoughby and an Osceola production facility, employing more than 200 individuals. Its stated customer base is construction contractors, architects, and commercial construction end-customers operating in hospitality, healthcare, education, government, and data center verticals.

The company's core products are roll-formed galvanized steel C-shaped studs, track, connectors, clips, and accessories engineered for both load-bearing structural and non-structural interior framing. Telling also markets a portfolio of patented proprietary products, including the VersaDry System (a steel shelf that allows drywall to be installed two inches off the floor to mitigate water wicking) and the ASW Break Away Aluminum Clips for break-away framing connections. The portfolio spans exterior structural framing, interior non-structural framing (both traditional and Equivalent EQ variants via the Supreme Framing System partnership), accessories, and connectors, with code-compliant ICC-ES, ASTM, UL, and LEED-aligned certifications. The recent product roadmap is centered on incremental, labor-saving innovations rather than fundamental process retooling.

Telling operates a B2B, sales-led go-to-market model without publicly disclosed pricing. Revenue is generated through direct sales of metal framing hardware via a network of local sales representatives, supported by the BuildStrong Submittals Portal (submittals.buildstrong.com), where customers and design professionals generate product submittals. Visible project credentials include supplying metal framing for the Cotton Annex (Washington, D.C.) at 1.2 million pounds, the Gaylord Texan Resort ($120 million expansion, ~800,000 pounds), the Mecklenburg County school complex in Virginia, CaroMont Regional Medical Center (part of a $300 million facility investment), and the Pryor Creek data center in Oklahoma. Marketing is conducted through the company website, email newsletters, industry events, and continuing education programs targeting architects.

Name

Telling Industries

Legal name

Telling Industries

Website

https://buildstrong.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Telling Industries is a US-based manufacturer of premium metal framing products and accessories, serving contractors, architects, and commercial developers through direct sales of roll-formed galvanized steel studs, track, connectors, and patented proprietary systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Metal Framing and Construction Materials

NAICS

Plate Work and Fabricated Structural Product Manufacturing (33231), Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel (3312)

SIC

Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440), Sheet Metal Work (3444)

akta.pro primary industry

Cold-Formed Steel Framing & Studs (IMADACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aluminum Value-Added Components (Automotive, Aerospace, Packaging, Building Systems) (IMAKACAM)

Keywords

• Metal framing products
• Structural steel studs
• Cold-formed steel framing
• Construction connectors clips
• Galvanized steel track

Headquarters

HQ city

Willoughby

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Metal Framing Products: Full line manufacturer of premium metal framing products and accessories. Revenue generated from the sale of structural and non-structural metal framing studs, track, connectors, clips, and accessories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Telling Industries is a full-line manufacturer of premium metal framing products and accessories. The portfolio includes exterior structural framing (engineered C-shaped load-bearing members roll formed from high-grade galvanized steel), interior non-structural framing (Traditional and Equivalent EQ via the Supreme Framing System), connectors and clips, accessories, and patented proprietary products such as the VersaDry System and ASW Break Away Aluminum Clips. Products are sold to commercial construction contractors, architects, and developers through a sales-led B2B channel.

Product overview

TELLING Industries is a full line manufacturer of premium metal framing products and accessories. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized into several product categories: Exterior Structural Framing (code compliant load bearing C-shaped members roll formed from galvanized steel), Interior Non-Structural Framing (including Traditional Non-Structural Framing and Equivalent EQ Non-Structural Framing via the Supreme Framing System partnership), Accessories, and Connectors & Clips. The company also features Proprietary Products covered by patents and New Product Innovations including the VersaDry System (which allows drywall installation 2 inches off the floor to mitigate water wicking) and the new ASW Break Away ASW Aluminum Clips. As an innovation leader in metal framing, products are designed to simplify installation, saving labor, time and money.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exterior Structural Framing Full product line of code-compliant structural metal framing for load-bearing applications; engineered C-shaped members roll formed with the highest-grade galvanized steel available, intended for exterior structural framing on commercial construction projects.
• Interior Non-Structural Framing Interior non-structural metal framing offering all the benefits of traditional flat steel studs and track for non-load-bearing applications; encompasses Traditional Non-Structural Framing and Equivalent EQ Non-Structural Framing.
• Traditional Non-Structural Framing Full-gauge traditional metal framing stud and track products for interior non-structural applications on commercial builds.
• Equivalent EQ Non-Structural Framing Equivalent EQ framing delivered through the Supreme Framing System partnership, providing all the benefits of traditional flat steel studs and track in an equivalent-gauge non-structural system.
• Accessories Full range of metal framing accessories that complement Telling Industries' interior and exterior framing products, positioning the company as a one-stop shop for metal framing product needs.
• Connectors & Clips Extensive line of metal framing connectors and clips, with standard gauges and sizes complemented by specialty options for both load-bearing and non-load-bearing applications.
• VersaDry System Patented proprietary metal framing system that allows drywall to be installed 2 inches off the floor on a steel shelf; the shelf mitigates wicking of water and eliminates the need for caulk, resulting in cost and labor savings on commercial construction projects.
• ASW Break Away Aluminum Clips Patented proprietary aluminum clips engineered for break-away connections in metal framing applications, providing ease of use and unique functionality available exclusively through Telling Industries.

Quantifiable outcome

• VersaDry System eliminates need for caulk, reducing labor and material costs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Supreme Framing SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTELLING® is a proud partner in the Supreme Framing System. Supreme offers all the benefits of traditional flat steel studs and track and is a partner relationship for non-structural framing products.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SCAFCO Steel Stud Company: Manufacturer of steel studs, track, joists, and framing components for commercial and residential construction. Competes with Telling on the same core framing SKUs into U.S. contractor and distributor channels.
• Marino\WARE: Direct competitor offering a full line of steel framing studs, track, joists, and accessories to commercial contractors. Comparable mid-to-large manufacturer serving similar contractor, architect, and developer channels.
• CEMCO (California Expanded Metal Products): Manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing, metal lath, and accessories for commercial construction. Competes head-to-head with Telling on studs, track, connectors, and code-compliant structural framing for non-residential projects.
• Steel Network, Inc. Producer of cold-formed steel studs, connectors, and accessories. Directly comparable product portfolio to Telling's exterior structural, interior non-structural, connectors & clips lines, serving the same commercial specification ecosystem.
• ATAS International: Manufacturer of architectural metal panels, trim, and accessories for commercial building envelopes and interiors. Overlaps with Telling's architectural/connector/clips product lines and serves the same architect/contractor base on non-residential projects.
• ClarkDietrich Building Systems: Largest U.S. manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing, studs, track, and accessories. Directly overlapping product mix (exterior structural, interior non-structural, connectors, clips), overlapping customer base (contractors and architects), and overlapping go-to-market via specification and distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Nucor Corporation: Largest U.S. steel producer with downstream building products (joists, deck, fabricated concrete reinforcing steel via Vulcraft and Harris). Competes indirectly through steel supply and selective downstream framing products; could be both supplier and adjacent competitor.
• Worthington Enterprises: Diversified metal products manufacturer with a building products segment serving construction and infrastructure. Comparable in metal-processing orientation and downstream building products exposure though broader portfolio than Telling.
• Cornerstone Building Brands: Largest North American manufacturer of exterior building products (metal buildings, roofing, wall systems). Adjacent product overlap in metal framing components and serves a similar non-residential commercial construction customer base.

Others

• Knauf: Global manufacturer of drywall, insulation, and related wall systems. Complementary to Telling's framing products in the wall assembly stack (steel studs + drywall + finishing); not a direct framing competitor but adjacent ecosystem participant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/telling-industries-llc

Compliance12 records

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 Telling Industries