What Production Industries does

Production Industries is a U.S.-based, privately held manufacturer of engineered class, heavy-duty conveyor chains and complementary parts, founded in 1952 and operating as a subsidiary of Frost Inc. since 2004. All manufacturing is conducted at a single facility in Traverse City, Michigan, where skilled workers fabricate custom and standard chains (Flat Top, Gull Wing/V-Top, Apron, Piano Hinge, European Style, Food Grade, CC-5 A/B, Water-Screen) along with supporting components (sprockets, shafts, pillow blocks, take-ups, conveyor wheels, and replacement parts). The product portfolio is engineered for harsh operating environments and serves eight primary verticals: Automotive, Paper Mill, Recycling, Food Processing, Forestry, Mining, Municipalities/Wastewater Treatment, and Refineries, with USDA-approved food grade stainless steel chains and specialized European style enclosed track chains representing differentiated offerings in meat processing.

The company operates a sales-led, quote-based B2B go-to-market model, with customers initiating contact via phone (+1.800.791.1409), email ([email protected]), or a website Request A Quote form. The Sales and Engineering team, which has 50+ years of combined experience, provides consultative engagement to recommend chain solutions based on project requirements and budget. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and follows a custom quote structure typical of heavy industrial equipment sales. Channel presence includes a LinkedIn corporate page, attendance at industry trade shows (notably IPPE for meat processing), and downloadable corporate and product brochures.

The business is differentiated by custom engineering breadth (chain widths from 6" to over 96", configurable materials, bearings, and hub styles), OEM-compatible replacement parts manufactured regardless of original equipment manufacturer, and the backing of Frost Inc., a 4th-generation family-owned conglomerate founded in 1915. Strategic positioning emphasizes long product lifecycles, harsh-environment durability, and consultative technical sales rather than high-volume or technology-driven differentiation.

Name

Production Industries

Legal name

Production Industries

Website

https://prodind.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Production Industries is a U.S. manufacturer of engineered, heavy-duty conveyor chains and custom replacement parts, founded in 1952 and based in Traverse City, Michigan. It serves automotive, paper mill, recycling, food processing, forestry, mining, wastewater, and refinery customers through custom quote-based B2B sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Conveyor Chain Manufacturing

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (33324), Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Ropes, Cords, Twines & Netting (Mooring/Lifting/Fishing/Load Restraint) (IMAOADAK)

Keywords

• Engineered conveyor chain
• Heavy-duty industrial chain
• Conveyor replacement parts
• Food grade chain
• Custom chain manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Traverse City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Heavy-Duty Conveyor Chain Sales: Manufacturing and selling engineered class, heavy-duty conveyor chains and parts for industrial applications. Products include standard and custom chains for various conveyor applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Production Industries designs, engineers, and manufactures standard and custom Engineered Class, heavy-duty conveyor chains and parts for industrial applications such as automotive, paper mill, recycling, food processing, forestry, mining, municipal/wastewater treatment, and refineries. All manufacturing is performed at the company's facility in Traverse City, Michigan, with the sales and engineering team providing consultative support to recommend chain solutions tailored to each customer's project and budget.

Product overview

Production Industries is a heavy-duty engineered conveyor chain and parts manufacturer that operates as a subsidiary of Frost Inc. The company produces a comprehensive portfolio of Engineered Class Conveyor Chains including Flat Top Chain, Gull Wing/V-Top Chain, Apron Chain, Piano Hinge Chain, European Style Chains (with sub-products: Hog Stunner Chain, Dressing & Machine Line Chain, Head Chain, Knuckle Dressing Chain, Hollow Pin Pan Chain, and Chill Chain), Food Grade Chain, and CC-5 A/B Chain. Supporting products include Water-Screen Chain, Sprockets/Shafts/Pillow Blocks/Take-Ups, Wheels, and Replacement and Special Parts. These products serve industries including Automotive, Paper Mill, Recycling, Food Processing, Forestry, Mining, and Municipalities/Wastewater Treatment, all manufactured at the company's facility in Traverse City, Michigan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flat Top Chain Flat top conveyor chains designed with bolted or welded flat tops for carrying light to heavy weights, primarily used in Automotive and Industrial applications; configurable with single, double, or triple strands.
• Gull Wing / V-Top Chain Conveyor chain designed and manufactured for custom or standard sizes, primarily used in Paper Mill, Aluminum Coil Manufacturing and Direct Transfer Conveyor applications to transport medium to heavy products.
• Apron Chain Robust pan conveyor chain built with superior strength for reliable conveyance in heavy-duty bulk material handling applications.
• Piano Hinge Chain Versatile conveyor chain solution offering leak-proof protection for medium-duty bulk material handling applications, with chain widths from 6" to over 96" and pitch lengths from 6" to 18".
• European Style Chains European Style Chains, Components and Attachments for Overhead Enclosed Track Conveyors in the Red Meat Processing industry, made from high alloy steel to withstand harsh environments.
• Food Grade Chain USDA approved Stainless Steel and Food Grade Plated Chain for Pork and Red Meat Processing facilities, available in various attachment styles, rollers, and finishes.
• CC-5 A/B Chain One of the strongest roller chains, designed to convey a variety of materials for applications like Automotive, Glass Manufacturing and Large Castings, with 6" pitch and high sidebar.
• Water-Screen Chain OEM compatible replacement Water-Screen Conveyor Chain and Parts for Environmental, Waste-Water Treatment and Dredging applications, made to OEM specifications.
• Sprockets, Shafts, Pillow Blocks and Take-Ups Fabricated customized components for light to heavy-duty conveyor applications, including sprockets with standard, compensator or skip teeth, and shafts in heat treated carbon steel or stainless steel.
• Conveyor Wheels Robust conveyor wheels with multiple custom configurations and options, available in diameters from 1.5" to over 8", made from cast, steel, stainless steel, UHMW, bronze, and nylon materials.
• Replacement and Special Parts Manufacturer of conveyor replacement and special parts including dogs, bolts, pans, buckets, belts and brackets, designed and fabricated regardless of Original Equipment Manufacturer.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products have been performing for years in many customers' operations

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• SEDIS Chain: SEDIS is a French manufacturer of industrial roller chains, conveyor chains, and chain attachments for material handling and mechanical power transmission. It is comparable to Production Industries in engineered chain offerings but primarily serves European markets rather than North America.
• iwis (Joh. Winklhofer Beteiligungs GmbH): iwis is a German manufacturer of precision roller chains, conveyor chains, and chain drive systems for industrial applications. It competes with Production Industries in engineered chain categories but is geographically concentrated in Europe.

Broad incumbents

• Tsubaki Nakashima: Tsubaki is a global Japanese manufacturer of industrial roller chains, conveyor chains, and power transmission products serving automotive, steel, food, and material handling industries. It directly competes with Production Industries in engineered conveyor chains, especially food-grade and heavy-duty industrial segments, but operates at far larger scale globally.
• Regal Rexnord (Rexnord Chain): Regal Rexnord, through its former Rexnord chain business, manufactures engineered-class roller chains and conveyor chains for industrial applications including automotive, mining, and food processing. It is a direct product-level competitor to Production Industries' heavy-duty chain portfolio but operates as a large diversified industrial conglomerate.

Others

• Frost Inc. (sibling companies): Frost Inc. is the parent company and operator of the "Frost family of conveyor companies," which includes Production Industries and other conveyor-related entities. While not a direct competitor, the relationship provides cross-company synergies, shared customers, and combined procurement scale relevant to valuing Production Industries.

Direct peers

• Renold Chain: Renold is a UK-based manufacturer specializing in industrial roller chains, leaf chains, and engineered conveyor chains for heavy-duty applications including mining, cement, and bulk material handling. It is a direct peer in engineered-class chain manufacturing with overlapping end markets in harsh-environment material handling.
• Webster Industries: Webster Industries is a US manufacturer of engineered conveyor chains, leaf chains, and custom chain products serving automotive, food processing, and heavy industry. It is one of the closest direct peers to Production Industries in terms of size, US manufacturing footprint, and engineered-class chain focus.
• Diamond Chain Company: Diamond Chain Company manufactures roller chains and conveyor chains for industrial applications including food processing, packaging, and material handling. It directly overlaps with Production Industries in engineered chain products and shares food-grade and industrial customer segments.
• Martin Sprocket & Gear: Martin Sprocket & Gear manufactures power transmission and material handling products including conveyor chain, sprockets, and related components. It directly overlaps with Production Industries' sprocket, shaft, and chain offerings for industrial customers across similar end markets.

Emerging players

• Forbo Movement Systems: Forbo Movement Systems manufactures lightweight and heavyweight conveyor belts and chain-related components for industrial conveying applications. It is comparable to Production Industries in industrial materials handling equipment but focuses on belt rather than chain-based conveyors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/production-industries-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Production Industries