What Cotterman does

Cotterman designs and manufactures rolling metal ladders, fixed ladders, work platforms, crossover bridges, safety gates, and related industrial climbing/access equipment from a network of five US plants. Founded in 1925 in Chicago, Illinois (as I.D. Cotterman Company) and relocated to Croswell, Michigan after a 1979 acquisition by Material Control, Inc., the company pioneered the rolling steel warehouse ladder in the mid-1940s and has since built a multi-product portfolio organized around heavy-duty steel and aluminum construction, serrated/perforated/diamond-plate tread options, OSHA- and ANSI-compliant safety features, and Ready-to-Climb (R2C) pre-assembled shipping. Manufacturing is regionalized across Michigan (HQ plus 30,000 sq ft National Support Center opened 2016), California (1988), Georgia (1989), Texas (2003), and a planned Pennsylvania site (2022), with proprietary two-stage tread forming, robotic welding, and in-house powder coating as core process capabilities.

The business model is sales-led and made-to-order: customers request quotes via the website or by phone (1-800-552-3337), with pricing dependent on configuration, materials, and features. Cotterman serves industrial/warehouse, commercial/national-store, MRO, distributor/reseller, contractor, and OEM segments through direct sales, the Cottermanstore.com e-commerce storefront (replacement parts and smaller transactions), Amazon Marketplace, and industrial resellers, with Net 30 payment terms and FOB-origin shipping. Standard products carry a one-year defect warranty and 300 lb load ratings.

Name

Cotterman

Legal name

Material Control, Inc.

Website

https://cotterman.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Cotterman designs and manufactures rolling metal ladders, fixed ladders, work platforms, and OSHA-compliant safety access equipment from five US plants, serving industrial, commercial, MRO, and OEM customers via direct sales, e-commerce, and distributor channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Ladders and Material Handling Access Equipment

NAICS

Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing (332322)

SIC

Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440)

akta.pro primary industry

Steel Grating, Catwalks & Safety Platforms (IMADACAI)

Keywords

• Industrial rolling ladders
• Material handling equipment
• Warehouse access equipment
• Fixed steel ladders
• Work platforms safety gates

Headquarters

HQ city

Croswell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ladder Sales: Cotterman generates revenue primarily through the manufacture and sale of rolling metal ladders, fixed ladders, work platforms, crossover bridges, and related industrial access equipment. Products are sold as complete units with various configurations (tread types, sizes, materials) and ship either fully assembled Ready to Climb or partially assembled.
2. Replacement Parts & Accessories: Sale of replacement parts including wheels, caster kits, bumpers, crutch tips, touch-up paint, and universal caster boxes through Cottermanstore.com and Amazon marketplace.
3. Custom/Specialty Orders: Made-to-order custom ladder configurations and specialty products including storage tank ladders, dock ladders, and custom designs for specific customer applications like John Deere facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cotterman designs and manufactures heavy-duty rolling metal ladders, fixed steel ladders, work platforms, crossover bridges, track ladders, and related industrial climbing/access equipment. Products feature OSHA-compliant safety design, serrated or alternative treads, 300 lb load ratings, and are built to ship either fully assembled (Ready to Climb) or in modular configurations for industrial, commercial, and MRO customers.

Product overview

Cotterman is a manufacturer of industrial rolling ladders and safety equipment, established in 1925. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of ladder products organized into distinct product lines: Rolling Metal Ladders (the core industry-standard product line including multiple series and variants like TiltNRoll), Workmaster™ Super Duty Ladders, StockNStore™ Folding Ladders, Fixed Ladders (in F-Series and M-Series modular configurations), Track Ladders (Single Trak™ and Dual Trak™ systems), Office Ladders (MasterStep®), Work Stands/Platforms, Crossover Bridges, Specialty Products (dock ladders, storage tank ladders, fold-up steps), Self-Closing Safety Gates, and Bolt On Aluminum Railings. The company also offers replacement parts and kits through Cottermanstore.com. All products are manufactured in the USA withMade-in-USA quality construction, and feature various tread types (serrated, expanded metal, perforated, diamond plate, vinyl, extruded aluminum) and materials (steel, aluminum) to suit different industrial environments and load requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cotterman®: Primary brand for rolling metal ladders and industrial climbing equipment
• Rolling Metal Ladders™
• Workmaster™ Super Duty Ladders
• StockNStore™ Folding Ladders
• TiltNRoll®
• MasterStep®
• DualTrak™
• SingleTrak™
• Self-Closing Safety Gates

Products and services

• Rolling Metal Ladders Heavy-duty rolling warehouse ladders designed for industrial and commercial environments, featuring non-slip serrated steps and wheeled mobility. Includes multiple series (1000, 1200, 1500, 1700, 2600, 6500, Series A) and variants like Aluminum Wheelbarrow Ladder, TiltNRoll, Straddle Base TiltNRoll, and Trailer Access Platform.
• Workmaster Super Duty Ladders Super duty rolling ladders designed for the toughest industrial workspaces, available in steel and aluminum variants.
• StockNStore Folding Ladders Folding rolling ladders designed for office, retail, and industrial use that fold flat for easy storage when not in use, available in steel and aluminum.
• Work Stands and Platforms Work platforms including standard work platforms, dual access work platforms, and adjustable height work platforms for various industrial applications.
• MasterStep Office Ladders Rolling ladders designed for office, retail, and commercial environments with professional aesthetics and practical functionality.
• Step Stands and Stools Compact step stands and stools for light-duty access needs in various work environments.
• Crossover Bridges Platform systems for crossing over conveyor belts, machinery, and other obstacles, available in standard and space saver configurations.
• Fixed Ladders Stationary steel ladders for permanent vertical climbing access, available with walk-thru handrails, safety cages, and in F-Series or M-Series modular configurations.
• Track Ladders (Single Trak and Dual Trak) Shelf-mounted rolling ladders with overhead track systems. Dual Trak provides access to both sides of narrow aisles; Single Trak provides easy access in narrow aisles with upper track mounting.
• Self-Closing Safety Gates Adjustable safety gates for guardrail openings that automatically close after passage. Available in two size ranges (16-26 inches and 24-40 inches) in stainless steel or safety yellow powder coat finish. Meets OSHA 1910 Subpart D and ANSI A1264.1-2017 standards. Spring-loaded, tested to over 1,000,000 cycles.
• Bolt On Aluminum Railings One-piece welded aluminum railings for industrial safety applications, 42 inches high with mid-rail, available in 2-8 foot lengths with optional toeboards.
• Specialty Products Includes Series PC ladders, dock ladders, storage tank access ladders (with hook-top design for portable tank access), and fold-up steps (manual or spring-loaded).
• Replacement Parts and Kits Genuine Cotterman replacement parts including wheel kits (rigid, swivel caster, TiltNRoll), bumper kits, crutch tips, touch-up paint, and universal caster boxes, sold via Cottermanstore.com and Amazon marketplace.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced freight costs through regional manufacturing
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• MSC Industrial Direct: Large industrial MRO distributor (Metalworking/Safety/Climbing categories) carrying industrial ladders and access equipment from multiple manufacturers, including Cotterman — comparable as a channel partner and competitive distribution route.
• W.W. Grainger: Major U.S. industrial MRO distributor that resells Cotterman ladders and competitors' products at scale — comparable as a downstream channel rather than a direct manufacturer competitor.

Direct peers

• Ballymore: Ballymore manufactures rolling metal ladders, work platforms, and safety gates used in industrial and warehouse settings — the closest direct competitor to Cotterman's core product line, including custom and OSHA-compliant configurations.
• Werner Co. Werner is one of the largest U.S. ladder manufacturers with industrial rolling ladders, fixed ladders, and access products, competing with Cotterman across industrial, MRO, and OEM channels.
• EGA Products: EGA is a manufacturer of rolling metal ladders, carts, and material handling equipment for warehouses and distribution centers — directly comparable to Cotterman's warehouse access and material handling adjacencies.
• Featherlite Aluminum Products: Featherlite produces aluminum rolling ladders, work platforms, and custom access equipment, overlapping Cotterman's aluminum Workmaster and StockNStore lines for lighter-duty industrial and commercial use.
• Industrial Ladder & Scaffold: Specialty industrial ladder and scaffold manufacturer serving similar industrial and MRO customers with comparable fixed, rolling, and access equipment offerings.
• Louisville Ladder (BAFCO Enterprises): Louisville Ladder is a long-established U.S. manufacturer of industrial and commercial ladders (step, extension, rolling), overlapping with Cotterman in industrial rolling and fixed ladders sold through distribution.
• Tri-Arc Manufacturing: Tri-Arc manufactures rolling ladders, fixed ladders, work platforms, and custom metal access equipment for industrial customers — directly comparable to Cotterman's made-to-order access product portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Vestil Manufacturing: Vestil is a broad industrial equipment manufacturer spanning ladders, loading dock equipment, carts, and material handling products — offering overlapping ladder and platform SKUs alongside a much wider portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Cotterman