GripWorks

What GripWorks does

GripWorks is a division of Sinclair & Rush, Inc., manufacturing custom and stock hand grips and foam tubing from dip-molded vinyl, injection-molded plastic, and proprietary foam compounds. Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Arnold, Missouri, the company operates the world's largest dip molding operation with high-speed equipment capable of producing 100+ grips per cycle. Its technical differentiator is a pioneered double-dip molding process that produces dual-wall grips combining durable internal liners with softer exterior materials, supported by six proprietary material brands (Softex, Flexfit, Vynafoam, Vynaprene, Polysuede, VynaFlex) developed through in-house compounding. The portfolio includes stock hand grips, custom dip molded grips, injection molded grips (including 100+ models acquired from Hunt Wilde in 2011), foam grips and tubes, vinyl sleeves, and plastisol formulations.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market model: enterprise field sales (National Sales Manager, Regional Account Managers, Territory Managers) serve OEM customers with custom quote-based production runs of 2,500–5,000+ grips, while an e-commerce storefront sells stock items in lower quantities. Distribution spans four continents — US (Arnold MO, Fenton MO, Portland OR), UK (Maidstone, Rochester), China (Changzhou), and Australia (Sydney, Victoria) — serving over 20,000 customers across fitness, lawn & garden, hand tools, bicycle/recreation, medical, and custom OEM segments. Pricing is quote-based for custom work with volume discounts and tooling costs described as a fraction of injection molding alternatives; $50 minimums apply for stock items, and samples are typically provided free. ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications support OEM supplier qualification. Vertical integration extends from raw material compounding through design/CAD/3D-printed prototyping to printing, packaging, and finishing services under one roof.

GripWorks operates within the broader Sinclair & Rush platform, which also encompasses StockCap (protective caps and plugs), VisiPak (clear plastic packaging), and Indepak (thermoforming), providing cross-sell synergies in the product-protection market. Marquee customer logos include Craftsman, Scotts, Rubbermaid, Klein Tools, GRIT Freedom Chair, and Hip and Core, indicating penetration of both consumer-recognized brands and specialty industrial OEMs.

Name

GripWorks

Legal name

Sinclair & Rush, Inc.

Website

https://gripworks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

GripWorks, a division of Sinclair & Rush, manufactures custom and stock dip-molded vinyl, injection-molded plastic, and foam hand grips and tubing for OEMs in fitness, lawn and garden, hand tools, medical, and consumer products markets, serving 20,000+ customers globally from plants on four continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Hand Grip Manufacturing

NAICS

Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326), Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing (33221)

SIC

Fabricated Rubber Products, Nec (3060), Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

Screw Caps (Plastic & Metal) (IMALALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vibration Control & Anti-Vibration Products (Mounts, Bushings, Isolators) (IMANALAD), Bindery & Finishing Services (Binding, Laminating, Cutting, Folding, Collating) (EDAEAJAE)

Keywords

• Dip molded grips
• Injection molded grips
• Foam tubing products
• Custom hand grips
• Vinyl plastisol grips

Headquarters

HQ city

Arnold

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Hand Grips Manufacturing: Primary revenue stream from manufacturing custom-designed hand grips and foam tubing for OEM customers. Orders for non-stock items typically require production runs of 2,500 to 5,000 grips minimum. Pricing is quote-based with volume discounts available.
2. Stock Hand Grips Sales: Sale of stock hand grips available in smaller quantities with lower minimums. Products include vinyl grips, foam grips, dip molded, injection molded and foam extruded varieties. Sold through e-commerce store and sales team.
3. VynaFlex Plastisol: Sale of plastisol coating materials in 1 gallon cans, 5 gallon pails, and 55 gallon drums. Primarily focused on dip coating and dip molding industries.
4. Printing, Packaging & Finishing Services: Secondary operations including silkscreen printing, pad printing, heat stamp, decal application, punching, slicing, washing and packaging services for grips.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GripWorks manufactures dip molded vinyl, injection-molded plastic, and foam grips and tubes. The company offers custom design, prototyping, and packaging services for OEM customers worldwide. As a division of Sinclair & Rush, Inc., founded in 1950, GripWorks produces both standard catalog items and custom-engineered grip solutions.

Product overview

GripWorks is a manufacturer of foam and plastic hand grips and foam tubing, organized as a platform of core grip product lines supported by manufacturing capabilities and finishing services. The product portfolio centers on six main grip categories: Stock Hand Grips (ready-made for immediate shipment), Dip Molded Plastic Grips (using proprietary double-dip technology), Injection Molded Plastic Grips (including the acquired Hunt Wilde line of 100+ models), Foam Grips Tubes & Wrap (proprietary NPVC, EPDM, UV-NPVC, and Resilience foam materials), Vinyl Tubes & Sleeves (for open-ended applications), and VynaFlex Plastisol (dip coating formulations). These products are complemented by manufacturing capabilities (design services, dip molding, injection molding, foam extrusion & sculpting) and finishing operations (printing, packaging, punching, slicing). The company operates as a division of Sinclair & Rush with global manufacturing operations across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VynaFlex: Plastisol brand within the Sinclair & Rush family, specializing in dip coating and dip molding processes with proprietary formulations.
• Hunt Wilde
• StockCap
• VisiPak

Products and services

• Dip Molded Vinyl Grips Vinyl plastisol grips produced through dip molding process, used by OEM manufacturers requiring ergonomic hand grips for tools, equipment, and consumer products.
• Injection Molded Plastic Grips Custom injection-molded plastic grips designed for OEM applications requiring durable, precision-formed hand grip components.
• Foam Grips and Foam Tubing Foam grips and foam tubing produced through foam extrusion processes for OEM customers in various industrial and consumer applications.
• Custom Design and Prototyping Services Custom design, prototyping, and packaging services for OEM customers requiring tailored grip solutions for specific applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• High-speed machines capable of dipping over 100 grips per cycle with hourly output of thousands of grips
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MRPC (Molded Rubber & Plastic Corporation): Custom molder of rubber, silicone, and plastic components serving medical, industrial, and consumer OEMs. Comparable to GripWorks as a custom molded component supplier with similar tooling, design, and finishing service capabilities.
• Decatur Plastic Products: Custom plastic injection molder serving industrial, medical, and consumer markets with in-house tooling and finishing. Comparable to GripWorks' injection molding business line, particularly the former Hunt Wilde bicycle grip line.
• Allen Field Company: Manufacturer of custom plastic and rubber molded components including hand grips, caps, and protective products for OEM customers. Closely comparable to GripWorks in custom molded grip and dip molding services for the hand tool and fitness markets.
• Reiss Manufacturing: Manufacturer of vinyl and rubber products including grips, sleeves, and protective components. Comparable to GripWorks in dip-molded vinyl and rubber grip offerings for industrial OEM customers.

Others

• Stanley Black & Decker: Major global tool and outdoor equipment OEM that is both a customer and adjacency to GripWorks (Craftsman, Klein Tools are GripWorks customers). Relevant as a key end-market and supply chain partner rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Hexpol AB: Global rubber compounding and molded rubber products group serving automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Comparable to GripWorks as a much larger diversified rubber products incumbent with proprietary compounding capabilities.
• IDEX Corporation: Manufacturer of engineered industrial components and systems across fluidics, health and science, and fire & safety. Comparable to GripWorks as a diversified industrial specialty components platform, though at a different scale and segment mix.
• Illinois Tool Works (ITW): Diversified industrial manufacturer with multiple segments producing engineered components, fasteners, and finishing solutions. Comparable to GripWorks as a broad industrial components incumbent, though GripWorks is a niche specialist.
• Carlisle Companies: Diversified manufacturer of engineered products including rubber, plastic, and foam components for industrial customers. Comparable to GripWorks in industrial rubber and foam component manufacturing, though at far greater scale and breadth.

Emerging players

• HBD Industries / HBD/Thermoid: Manufacturer of rubber and polymer products including molded grips, sleeves, and tubing for industrial markets. Comparable to GripWorks in rubber and polymer grip and tubing manufacturing for OEM customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 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 GripWorks