Mr. Manhole
Mr. Manhole (Critex LLC) is a privately-held Ohio manufacturer of patented circular-cutting equipment used by municipalities, paving contractors, and utility contractors to rehabilitate manholes faster, safer, and with 20% less material than traditional methods.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersDelphos, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Mr. Manhole does
Mr. Manhole (operated by Critex LLC) is a privately-held industrial equipment manufacturer founded in 2002 by Mike Crites and headquartered in Delphos, Ohio. The company designs, manufactures, and sells patented circular-cutting equipment — the Gold Series Six Shooter, Platinum Six Shooter, and B-52 Cutter — used to remove and rehabilitate manhole frames in roadways. The core technology is a skid-steer-mounted, hydraulically-driven circular cutting device with adjustable diameter and depth control that cuts 20% less debris and uses 20% less replacement material than traditional square-cut methods, enabling a full repair in roughly one hour rather than a full day. Supporting products include the Mr. Mister silica-control misting system, Speedplates for one-motion frame lifting, the Vylon Collar riser system, the Cookie Cutter for road penetrations, the Newcon Method for new construction, the Water Valve Repair System, replacement parts, and online Savings/Material calculators.
The business operates through a hybrid model: direct equipment sales and a rental program for municipalities, paving contractors, and utility contractors; a certified installer network of 712 contractors worldwide who receive lead forwarding, training, and marketing support; international distribution across Canada, Australia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, South Korea, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and China; and equipment financing facilitated through Centra Funding. The customer base is diversified across municipal sewer and water departments (e.g., Lexington KY, Ames IA, Washington MO) and paving/utility contractors (e.g., Grace Pacific, Save Our Sewers, Advanced Asphalt), with no single customer disclosed as material to revenue.
The company has limited headcount (1-10 employees with named roles including a COO, regional sales, sales/marketing, shop, inventory/shipping, and office administration), is founder-owned, has never raised external funding, and operates profitably with no public revenue disclosure. Marketing reach is unusually broad for the size, with features on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, The CW, Cheddar, and UNILAD Tech, plus consistent trade-publication coverage and an active Utility Expo presence including a 2023 VR demonstration.
Mr. Manhole firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mr. Manhole
- Legal name
- Critex LLC
- Website
- https://mrmanhole.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Mr. Manhole (Critex LLC) is a privately-held Ohio manufacturer of patented circular-cutting equipment used by municipalities, paving contractors, and utility contractors to rehabilitate manholes faster, safer, and with 20% less material than traditional methods.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mr. Manhole industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Manhole Rehabilitation Equipment
- NAICS
- Saw Blade and Handtool Manufacturing (332216), Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing (333515), Construction Machinery Manufacturing (333120), Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing (3331)
- SIC
- Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Attachments & Work Tools MRO (Buckets, Breakers, Grapples, Augers, Forks) (TLAKAHAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial Saws & Cutting Systems (Band/Circular Saws, Abrasive Cutting) (IMAHADAL)
Keywords
Where Mr. Manhole is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Delphos
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mr. Manhole business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Equipment Sales: Sale of manhole cutting machines (Gold Series Six Shooter, Platinum Six Shooter, B-52 Cutter) and accessories; one-time purchase model with optional rental program
- Rental Program: Short-term rental of Mr. Manhole equipment packages shipped to customers; includes all necessary tools and materials for manhole repairs
- Replacement Parts & Accessories: Replacement parts (cutting teeth, wear parts, drive motors), Speedplates, accessories, and consumables; ongoing revenue stream from installed base
- Financing Services: Facilitates financing through Centra Funding (up to 60-month terms, zero down, new business accepted) which may include accessories, shipping and soft costs
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Equipment Purchase |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Rental Program |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Mr. Manhole product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mr. Manhole manufactures and sells patented circular cutting manhole rehabilitation equipment and accessories, including the Gold Series Six Shooter, Platinum Six Shooter, and B-52 Manhole Cutter systems that mount to standard skid steers. The company also offers equipment rental programs, replacement parts, complementary accessories (Speedplates, Mr. Mister silica control, Vylon Collar, Cookie Cutter System, Casting Lifter, Debris Shield), and certified installer training.
Product overview
Mr. Manhole offers a comprehensive product ecosystem centered on its patented Circular Cutting Technology for manhole rehabilitation and repair. The core product line consists of three distinct manhole cutters: the Gold Series Six Shooter, Platinum Six Shooter, and B-52 Manhole Cutter, each engineered for speed, precision, and safety with adjustable cutting diameters. The system operates as an integrated method where the cutter mounts to standard skid steers, Speedplates lock into frames for lifting, and specialized sealants and Vylon liner materials create watertight repairs. Accessory modules include the Mr. Mister silica control misting system, Debris Shield for crew safety, Cookie Cutter System for road penetrations, Water Valve Repair System, and Casting Lifter for frame handling. The company also offers rental programs, financing through Centra Funding, and complementary tools including Savings Calculator and Material Calculator for project planning. All products are manufactured in the USA with full engineering specifications available for various repair scenarios including roadway, masonry, and yard applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gold Series Six Shooter: Manhole cutter system designed for speed, precision, and safety with adjustable cutting diameters and depth control.
- Platinum Six Shooter
- B-52 Cutter
- Mr. Mister
- Speedplates
- Vylon Collar System
- Cookie Cutter System
Products and services
- B-52 Manhole Cutter Industrial manhole cutting machine engineered for speed, precision, and safety with adjustable cutting diameters and depth control; mounts to standard skid steer and uses 6-arm cutting device with replaceable shark teeth. Built for large-scale operations.
- Gold Series Six Shooter Manhole cutting system with 6-arm cutting device and adjustable depth control; capable of cutting through asphalt, concrete, and rebar with replaceable shark teeth. Designed for speed and efficiency for municipalities and contractors.
- Platinum Six Shooter Premium manhole cutting system with enhanced capabilities for larger projects and heavier duty applications. Features the same patented circular cutting technology with adjustable cutting diameter and hydraulic lift system.
- Mr. Mister Silica Control System Commercial misting system that attaches to the manhole cutter to control silica dust during cutting, reducing respirable silica to less than 0.011 mg/m3 (well below OSHA action level of 0.025 mg/m3) and keeping crews OSHA compliant.
- Speedplates Proprietary locking plates that lock into the manhole frame and enable lifting of the entire structure in one motion from the skid steer seat; essential component of the Cut-Pull-Plate method.
- Cookie Cutter System Round coring machine for road penetrations that attaches to skid loaders, combined with vacuum excavation for quick, safe, and fully engineered road repairs. Includes personnel protection cage certified to 10 ft depth.
- Newcon Method / Newcon Plate New construction method for installing and removing steel plates during road reconstruction projects; steel plates are placed on cones during road construction, GPS located, then cut out after paving is complete.
- Water Valve Repair System System for adjusting water valve boxes to grade after paving cycles, using the same cutting equipment with specialized centering cones and reducer rings.
- Mr. Manhole Rental Program Equipment rental program allowing contractors and municipalities to rent Mr. Manhole tools with shipped packages and training included, enabling try-before-buy with minimal upfront capital expenditure.
- Casting Lifter Bracket Tool for safely lifting manhole frames and lids, eliminating manual handling and reducing worker injury risk during manhole rehabilitation.
- Debris Shield Safety accessory that keeps the job site free of dirt and debris for easy cleanup and crew protection during manhole cutting operations.
- Vylon Collar System Lightweight riser system for setting manholes to grade without shimming or heavy rings.
- Replacement Parts Wide range of wear parts and replacement components including cutting teeth, guideshaft lift pins, wear blocks, rubber damping pads, and drive motors for all Mr. Manhole cutter models.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5x faster: crews complete 10+ repairs/day vs 1-2 repairs/day with traditional methods
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Mr. Manhole
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Mr. Manhole technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Mr. Manhole partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mr. Manhole competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Aries Industries: Manufacturer of sewer and manhole inspection/camera systems used in pipeline condition assessment; comparable as a specialty equipment maker serving the same municipal sewer/manhole workflow during the inspection phase that precedes rehabilitation.
- Envirosight: Provider of sewer and manhole inspection robotics and cameras; emerging specialist serving the same municipal sewer infrastructure market during the assessment step of the manhole rehabilitation workflow.
Broad incumbents
- EJ (East Jordan Iron Works): Largest North American manufacturer of iron manhole covers, frames, and drainage infrastructure; broad incumbent serving the same municipal manhole ecosystem with the adjacent product category of manhole castings.
- Vermeer Corporation: Large established manufacturer of construction, environmental, and underground infrastructure equipment; broad incumbent serving the same municipal/utility contractors with a much wider product portfolio that includes trenchless and underground tools.
- Ditch Witch (Charles Machine Works): Major manufacturer of underground construction equipment for utility installation and rehabilitation; broad incumbent with extensive dealer network serving the same utility contractor base that Mr. Manhole targets.
- Vactor Manufacturing: Manufacturer of sewer and storm-water cleaning equipment including manhole rehabilitation trucks; broad incumbent serving the same municipal/utilities customer with complementary cleaning and rehab equipment.
Direct peers
- Cretex Specialty Products: Manufacturer of manhole chimney seals, joint sealants, and manhole adjustment products; directly comparable in product category (manhole rehabilitation components) and customer base (municipal water/wastewater engineers).
- Logiball: Specialty manufacturer of manhole sealing and injection equipment for sewer rehabilitation; comparable because it sells patented manhole/sewer sealing tools and accessories to the same municipal and contractor buyer.
- HammerHead Trenchless: Specialty manufacturer of trenchless rehabilitation equipment for underground infrastructure; comparable because it builds patented methods and equipment for municipal sewer/stormwater rehabilitation, overlapping with Mr. Manhole's infrastructure rehab focus.
- Sewer Equipment Company of Minnesota (SEC): Long-standing manufacturer of municipal sewer and manhole maintenance equipment (manhole inspection, cleaning, rehab tools); closest direct peer because it serves the same municipal/utilities customers with equipment for manhole and sewer maintenance.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mr. Manhole social profiles
Digital presenceMr. Manhole compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Mr. Manhole financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mr. Manhole leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Mr. Manhole funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mr. Manhole 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 Mr. Manhole
What does Mr. Manhole do?
Mr. Manhole manufactures and sells patented circular cutting manhole rehabilitation equipment and accessories, including the Gold Series Six Shooter, Platinum Six Shooter, and B-52 Manhole Cutter systems that mount to standard skid steers. The company also offers equipment rental programs, replacement parts, complementary accessories (Speedplates, Mr. Mister silica control, Vylon Collar, Cookie Cutter System, Casting Lifter, Debris Shield), and certified installer training.
Is Mr. Manhole a public or private company?
Mr. Manhole is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Mr. Manhole founded?
Mr. Manhole was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Mr. Manhole based?
Mr. Manhole is headquartered in Delphos, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mr. Manhole make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are rental Program, replacement Parts & Accessories and financing Services.
Who are Mr. Manhole's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Aries Industries and Envirosight. Broad incumbents are EJ (East Jordan Iron Works), Vermeer Corporation, Ditch Witch (Charles Machine Works) and Vactor Manufacturing. Direct peers are Cretex Specialty Products, Logiball, HammerHead Trenchless and Sewer Equipment Company of Minnesota (SEC).
Does Mr. Manhole have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mr. Manhole.
What industry is Mr. Manhole in?
Mr. Manhole's product category is Manhole Rehabilitation Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAKAHAL, Attachments & Work Tools MRO (Buckets, Breakers, Grapples, Augers, Forks), with a secondary code of IMAHADAL, Industrial Saws & Cutting Systems (Band/Circular Saws, Abrasive Cutting). Its NAICS code is 332216 and its SIC code is 3531.