The C.A. Lawton
The C.A. Lawton Co. is a 5th-generation, family-owned U.S. foundry manufacturing large gray and ductile iron castings (500–45,000 lbs) with on-site pattern making, machining, and ASME pressure vessel capability for industrial OEM customers across construction, mining, energy, and machinery verticals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1879
- HeadquartersDe Pere, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What The C.A. Lawton does
The C.A. Lawton Co. is a 145-year-old, 5th-generation family-owned foundry-centered manufacturer that produces large gray and ductile iron castings for industrial OEM customers in the United States. The company operates two production facilities — its De Pere, Wisconsin headquarters (castings 500–20,000 lbs) and a Minster, Ohio plant capable of casting up to 45,000 lbs — using a no-bake, furan sand molding system. C.A. Lawton is a division of Lawton Standard Co., a family of five iron and one steel foundries operating under a 'Planet, People, then Profit' philosophy, with shared engineering, sales, marketing, compliance, and EHS resources across the platform.
The company's product offering is vertically integrated: in-house pattern making, casting, machining, testing, and assembly are bundled under single-source accountability, eliminating the need for multiple suppliers on large custom castings. Specialty capabilities include ASME ductile iron pressure vessels (a capability shared with only a few iron foundries in North America) and Magmasoft solidification simulation software for defect prediction. The company holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001, ISO 45001:2018, and ASME certifications, and was the first foundry ever to achieve Wisconsin DNR Green Tier 2 status (2021, renewed 2025). End markets served include construction and mining equipment (Komatsu is a named customer), industrial machinery and equipment, commercial air handling, municipal water systems, paper, mining, and energy and power generation.
Revenue is generated through quote-based, custom one-time sales of castings priced by size (500–45,000 lbs), material (gray or ductile iron), complexity, and volume, typically under multi-year contracts with enterprise OEMs. Go-to-market is direct sales-led, with engineering collaboration embedded in the quoting process. The company operates without external institutional or private equity ownership and does not publicly disclose revenue.
The C.A. Lawton firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The C.A. Lawton
- Legal name
- The C.A. Lawton Co.
- Website
- https://calawton.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1879
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The C.A. Lawton Co. is a 5th-generation, family-owned U.S. foundry manufacturing large gray and ductile iron castings (500–45,000 lbs) with on-site pattern making, machining, and ASME pressure vessel capability for industrial OEM customers across construction, mining, energy, and machinery verticals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The C.A. Lawton industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Iron Castings and Foundry Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Steel Foundries (except Investment) (331513)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Primary Metal Products (3390)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty & Alloy Steel (Stainless, Tool Steel, Electrical Steel, High-Strength/HSLA) (IMAKABAJ)
Keywords
Where The C.A. Lawton is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- De Pere
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The C.A. Lawton business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Iron Casting Manufacturing and Sales: The company manufactures large gray and ductile iron castings and machined components. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales of custom castings based on customer specifications, with pattern making, casting, machining, testing, and assembly services bundled under single-source accountability.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom iron casting pricing based on specifications |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
The C.A. Lawton product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The C.A. Lawton Co. is a foundry-centered manufacturer that produces large gray and ductile iron castings ranging from 500 to 45,000 pounds using a no-bake, furan sand system. It also provides on-site pattern making, machining, testing, and assembly, giving industrial OEM customers a single-source supplier for custom cast components including large machine bases, structural frames, and ASME-certified ductile iron pressure vessels.
Product overview
The C.A. Lawton Co. is a foundry-centered manufacturer offering a vertically integrated portfolio of iron casting products and services. The core offering consists of large iron castings (500 to 45,000 pounds) in both gray and ductile iron, produced using a no-bake, furan sand system. The company provides on-site pattern making, casting, machining, testing, and assembly capabilities under single-source accountability. Specialty products include ASME ductile iron pressure vessels—a capability limited to few North American foundries. Machine bases and structural frames represent a key product family for industrial applications. The company operates two facilities: De Pere, Wisconsin (500lb to 20,000lb range) and Minster, Ohio (up to 45,000lbs).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Large Iron Casting Custom gray and ductile iron castings ranging from 500 to 45,000 pounds, produced on-site using a no-bake, furan sand system for industrial OEM customers requiring heavy equipment components.
- Pattern Making On-site pattern making services in which C.A. Lawton collaborates with customers to design and produce patterns that determine the shape, dimensional accuracy, and integrity of castings, supported by in-house pattern storage.
- Machining On-site CNC machining services for castings, simplifying the supply chain by providing finished machined components directly from the foundry or via trusted supplier partners.
- ASME Ductile Iron Pressure Vessels Production of ASME-certified ductile iron pressure vessels registered with the National Board, requiring consistent processes and strict procedural requirements to ensure structural integrity in pressurized end-use applications.
- Machine Bases and Frames Large cast iron machine bases and structural frames for CNC machines, lathes, milling equipment, heavy-duty machinery, and industrial applications, engineered to provide stability, precision, and vibration damping in demanding environments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Delivered large machine bases weighing over 17,000 pounds with dimensions of 144" x 68" x 66"
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The C.A. Lawton
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The C.A. Lawton technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
The C.A. Lawton partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Lawton Standard Family of CompaniescoreC.A. Lawton is a division of Lawton Standard, a family of foundries (5 iron and 1 steel) operating under shared philosophy of 'Planet, People, then Profit.' The family enables shared resources including engineers, HR, IT, sales, marketing, compliance, and EHS experts across all locations. Cross-pollination of best practices and experimentation across facilities.
- Northern Iron & Machine (NIM)coreAcquired by Lawton Standard in August 2022. Located in St. Paul, Minnesota, NIM produces and machines high-quality cast gray, ductile, and austempered iron castings up to 250 lbs. Expands Lawton Standard offerings by both size and method, benefiting both Lawton and NIM customers with expanded sourcing options.
- Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcescoreLawton has been a participant in Wisconsin DNR's Green Tier program since 2013, achieving Tier 2 status as first foundry ever to do so. The partnership involves negotiated environmental performance commitments, access to Green Tier Registration Operation Permit (ROP-G), and collaborative approach to reduce regulatory burden while incentivizing environmental excellence.
- Wisconsin Sustainable Business CouncilmajorMember of the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council, participating in the Green Masters Program. The partnership provides sustainability benchmarks and frameworks for comparing performance against other manufacturers in the state.
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Industrial Assessment CenterminorUWM's Industrial Assessment Center conducted an assessment of the De Pere facility in 2022, providing recommendations that resulted in over $9,000 in energy savings through projects including energy assessments, compressed air system upgrades, and efficient lighting installations.
- De Pere Area Chamber of CommerceminorChamber membership strengthens connection to local community and provides networking opportunities with area businesses to promote economic growth.
- American Foundry SocietymajorActive member of the American Foundry Society. Featured in Modern Casting magazine for Green Tier 2 renewal. The AFS Vision is to be recognized worldwide as the leading voice and resource on technical, management, and advocacy priorities pertaining to the metalcasting industry.
- CintasminorPPE supplier providing flame-resistant clothing including t-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, coveralls, and jeans for foundry workers. Cintas tested various flame-resistant protective gear options for Lawton's foundry environment.
- KomatsuminorLawton partnered with Komatsu to donate to Ronald McDonald House Charities. Komatsu manufactures construction, mining, and industrial equipment for which Lawton produces iron castings.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The C.A. Lawton competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Grede Holdings: US iron foundry producing gray, ductile, and compacted graphite iron castings for automotive, commercial vehicle, and industrial customers. Highly comparable on materials, end-markets, and vertical integration in casting/machining.
- East Jordan Iron Works: Iron foundry producing municipal and industrial castings including ductile iron pipe fittings and access products. Comparable on ductile iron process, municipal water segment, and US-based foundry operations.
- MetalTek International: Specialty metal casting company producing iron, steel, and high-alloy castings for industrial OEMs. Comparable on the specialty-foundry positioning, engineered castings, and pattern-to-machined-part value chain.
- Dotson Iron Castings: Minnesota-based iron foundry producing ductile and gray iron castings for heavy industry. Comparable on materials, regional Midwest footprint, and industrial OEM customer mix.
- Waupaca Foundry: One of the largest iron foundries in North America, producing gray and ductile iron castings for industrial, automotive, and heavy-equipment OEMs. Directly comparable to C.A. Lawton in process (no-bake/no-bake green sand), material (iron), and customer base (industrial OEMs).
- Charlotte Pipe and Foundry: US manufacturer of cast iron pipe and fittings, plus iron foundry operations serving plumbing, municipal, and industrial markets. Comparable on iron casting processes, ductile iron expertise, and municipal water end-market.
- Atlas Foundry (formerly Neenah Foundry): Iron foundry producing gray and ductile iron castings for industrial markets. Highly comparable on materials, US Midwest operations, and industrial OEM customer base.
- American Cast Iron Pipe Company: Diversified iron manufacturer producing ductile iron pipe and fittings plus steel casting operations. Comparable on ductile iron production, ASME-grade quality systems, and infrastructure/municipal end-markets.
Broad incumbents
- Bradken: Global metal casting and engineering company serving mining, infrastructure, and industrial markets. Comparable on heavy iron casting capability and mining/industrial OEM customer base, though larger and more diversified geographically.
Emerging players
- Stahl Specialty Company: US iron and steel foundry producing specialty castings for industrial markets. Comparable on material portfolio and specialty casting focus, though smaller in scale than C.A. Lawton.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The C.A. Lawton social profiles
Digital presenceThe C.A. Lawton compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
The C.A. Lawton financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The C.A. Lawton leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
The C.A. Lawton funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The C.A. Lawton 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 The C.A. Lawton
What does The C.A. Lawton do?
The C.A. Lawton Co. is a foundry-centered manufacturer that produces large gray and ductile iron castings ranging from 500 to 45,000 pounds using a no-bake, furan sand system. It also provides on-site pattern making, machining, testing, and assembly, giving industrial OEM customers a single-source supplier for custom cast components including large machine bases, structural frames, and ASME-certified ductile iron pressure vessels.
Is The C.A. Lawton a public or private company?
The C.A. Lawton is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was The C.A. Lawton founded?
The C.A. Lawton was founded in 1879. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The C.A. Lawton based?
The C.A. Lawton is headquartered in De Pere, United States, in the North America region.
How does The C.A. Lawton make money?
One revenue line is on record: iron Casting Manufacturing and Sales.
Who are The C.A. Lawton's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Grede Holdings, East Jordan Iron Works, MetalTek International, Dotson Iron Castings, Waupaca Foundry, Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, Atlas Foundry (formerly Neenah Foundry) and American Cast Iron Pipe Company. Bradken is listed as a broad incumbent. Stahl Specialty Company is listed as an emerging player.
Does The C.A. Lawton have an API?
No public API is recorded for The C.A. Lawton.
What industry is The C.A. Lawton in?
The C.A. Lawton's product category is Iron Castings and Foundry Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKABAJ, Specialty & Alloy Steel (Stainless, Tool Steel, Electrical Steel, High-Strength/HSLA). Its NAICS code is 331513 and its SIC code is 3390.