Ergonomic Partners

What Ergonomic Partners does

Ergonomic Partners, a division of Tri-State Equipment Company Inc., is a Bridgeton, Missouri-based material handling solutions provider operating since 2006 with 101-250 employees and 65+ years of combined industry experience inherited from its parent. The company combines in-house custom engineering and manufacturing of ergonomic lifting devices (vacuum lifters, pneumatic and mechanical grippers, manipulator arms, zero gravity balancers, custom end effectors) with master distribution of leading branded material handling equipment, including Gorbel, CM, Budgit, Coffing, Harrington, Demag, and Conductix-Wampfler. It also integrates industrial robotic automation solutions — robotic welding cells, robotic palletizing systems, and CNC machine tending cobot cells using KUKA and Yaskawa robots — and builds overhead bridge cranes up to 100 tons capacity at its St. Louis, Missouri facility.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: one-time sales of custom-engineered lifting devices and robotic work cells; distribution of off-the-shelf hoists, cranes, lift tables, and accessories (with standard hoists shipping in 1-2 days from stock); and turnkey professional services covering design, fabrication, installation, and ongoing service. The go-to-market is sales-led, anchored by 5 branch locations and 11+ sales offices across the Midwest, South Central, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic United States, supplemented by an e-commerce storefront, a 24/7 service line, and direct field sales coverage extending into Canada and Mexico. Pricing is quote-based across all product categories, with Section 179 tax incentive positioning used to drive year-end purchasing decisions.

Ergonomic Partners serves enterprise and mid-market customers across four primary verticals: manufacturing and fabrication (automotive, aerospace, metalworking); process and specialty industries (pharmaceutical, food processing, tire and rubber, packaging); aerospace, HVAC, and electronics; and warehousing and logistics. Sister divisions under Tri-State Equipment Company Inc. — the Crane Division and the Engineered Fall Protection Division — extend the product portfolio into overhead crane equipment and fall arrest systems, enabling cross-sell into the same industrial customer base. The company maintains a multi-channel marketing presence across website, YouTube, social media, email, direct sales, and tax-incentive content marketing.

Name

Ergonomic Partners

Legal name

Tri-State Equipment Company Inc.

Website

https://ergonomicpartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ergonomic Partners is a Bridgeton, Missouri-based material handling solutions provider that designs and manufactures custom ergonomic lifting devices and robotic automation systems in-house, while serving as a master distributor for leading brands like Gorbel, CM, and Harrington across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Material Handling Equipment

NAICS

Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923), Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (33392), Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537)

akta.pro primary industry

Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial) (IMAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hoists (Electric, Manual & Pneumatic) (IMAHAJAG)

Keywords

• Ergonomic lifting equipment
• Material handling solutions
• Custom lifting devices
• Overhead bridge cranes
• Industrial robotic automation

Headquarters

HQ city

Bridgeton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Lifting Device Sales: Design, engineering, and fabrication of custom ergonomic lifting devices tailored to specific customer applications, parts, and work cells. Revenue generated through one-time custom equipment sales with optional installation services.
2. Off-the-Shelf Material Handling Equipment Distribution: Master distributor of leading brands including Gorbel, CM, Budgit, Harrington, Demag, Conductix, and others. Sells chain hoists, workstation cranes, jib cranes, gantry cranes, electric hoists, lift tables, and related accessories. Products ship in 1-2 days from stock.
3. Installation and Turnkey Services: Provides complete turnkey solutions from initial design and engineering through fabrication, installation, and ongoing service for material handling applications.
4. E-Commerce Store: Online storefront selling crane controls, radio remote controls, table lift kits, hoists, cranes, and related components directly to buyers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ergonomic Partners designs, engineers, and manufactures custom ergonomic lifting devices in-house at its St. Louis, Missouri facility, and serves as a master distributor for leading material handling brands. The company provides turnkey material handling solutions — from initial design and engineering through fabrication, installation, and service — including vacuum lifters, pneumatic manipulator arms, zero-gravity intelligent lifting devices, custom end effectors, overhead bridge cranes (up to 100 tons), workstation/jib/gantry cranes, electric/air/hand chain hoists, lift tables, and robotic automation systems (robotic welding cells, palletizing systems, CNC machine tending cobots).

Product overview

Ergonomic Partners is a turnkey solution provider and manufacturer of ergonomic material handling equipment serving clients across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from its St. Louis, Missouri headquarters. The company operates with over 65 years of experience and combines custom-engineered lifting devices manufactured in-house with distributed branded products from major manufacturers. The core product portfolio centers on Custom Lifting Devices (vacuum lifters, pneumatic/mechanical grippers, manipulator arms, custom end effectors, zero gravity balancers, tool balancers) and Industrial Robots and Automation Systems (robotic welding cells, palletizing systems, welding cobots, machine tending robots). Supporting the custom portfolio, the company distributes a comprehensive range of branded crane and hoist products including Gorbel workstation cranes, overhead bridge cranes (up to 100 tons), jib cranes, gantry cranes, and electric/air/hand chain hoists from CM, Budgit, Coffing, Harrington, Demag, and Gorbel. Additional product lines encompass lift tables and scissor lifts, work positioners, variable speed drives, radio remote controls, push button stations, battery powered hand trucks, pallet handling equipment, and industrial conveyors. The company designs, engineers, and manufactures all custom lifting devices at its in-house facility, while also serving as a master distributor for third-party branded material handling equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Lifting Devices

Quantifiable outcome

• Equipment investments of $120,000 can yield $42,000 in potential tax savings under Section 179 (at 35% tax rate), reducing true cost to $78,000.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GorbelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGorbel is a key brand distributed by Ergonomic Partners, including Gorbel workstation cranes, jib cranes, G-Force intelligent lifting devices, Easy Arm intelligent lifts, and Gorbel GS electric chain hoists.
• CM (Columbus McKinnon)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCM is a major brand partner for electric and hand chain hoists distributed by Ergonomic Partners. Products include CM Lodestar, CM Shopstar electric chain hoists, and CM trolleys and beam clamps.
• BudgitcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBudgit is a key brand partner for electric chain hoists distributed by Ergonomic Partners.
• Harrington HoistscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHarrington is a key brand partner for electric chain hoists and below-the-hook lifting devices distributed by Ergonomic Partners.
• DemagcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDemag is a key brand partner for overhead bridge cranes and electric chain hoists distributed by Ergonomic Partners.
• Conductix-WampflercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConductix-Wampfler is a key brand partner for tool balancers, push button pendants, and material handling electrification products distributed by Ergonomic Partners.
• SouthworthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouthworth is a brand partner for mobile scissor lifts and pallet levelers distributed by Ergonomic Partners.
• BishamonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBishamon is a brand partner for mobile scissor lifts distributed by Ergonomic Partners.
• Magnetek ElectromotiveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMagnetek Electromotive is a brand partner for pendant push button stations distributed by Ergonomic Partners.
• R&M (Renold Jeffrey)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorR&M (Renold Jeffrey) is a brand partner for wire rope hoists, including the SpaceMaster SX hoist, distributed by Ergonomic Partners.
• J.D. NeuhausminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJ.D. Neuhaus is a brand partner for air chain hoists distributed by Ergonomic Partners.
• Tri-State Equipment Company Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerErgonomic Partners is a division of Tri-State Equipment Company Inc., a St. Louis-based company with 65+ years of experience providing turnkey material handling solutions including overhead cranes, custom lifting devices, and robotic automation. Both entities share the Bridgeton, MO headquarters.
• Engineered Fall ProtectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineered Fall Protection is a sister division of Ergonomic Partners under Tri-State Equipment Company, providing fall arrest systems as a complementary safety product line for material handling customers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ingersoll Rand: Diversified industrial manufacturer including air balancers (IR Zimmerman), air hoists and ergonomic lifting solutions — comparable product category and overlapping customers, but with much broader industrial portfolio.
• Konecranes: Global leader in overhead cranes, hoists and material handling service — sets the competitive ceiling in heavy-industrial crane capacity (well beyond Ergonomic Partners' 100-ton ceiling) and competes in service/aftermarket.
• Columbus McKinnon: Large incumbent hoist, crane and chain manufacturer (CM Lodestar, CM Shopstar) distributed by Ergonomic Partners; competes broadly across the same end markets with a much larger global footprint and broader product line.
• Demag (Terex Material Handling): Global manufacturer of Demag overhead cranes, electric chain hoists and material handling components — a strategic brand partner of Ergonomic Partners and a much larger incumbent competing across the same crane and hoist categories.

Direct peers

• Gorbel: Manufacturer of intelligent lifting devices (G-Force, Easy Arm), workstation cranes, jib cranes and gantry cranes — Ergonomic Partners' most strategic brand partner and the most direct competitor in custom-engineered ergonomic lifting solutions for industrial work cells.
• Spanco: Manufacturer of jib cranes, gantry cranes, workstation bridge cranes and ergonomic lifting equipment — a closely matched mid-market competitor targeting the same factory-floor ergonomic material handling use cases.
• Handling Specialty: Custom-engineered lifting, handling and positioning solutions for manufacturing and industrial customers — a comparable niche custom integrator competing for similar custom-engineered work cell projects.
• Southworth Products: Manufacturer of lift tables, scissor lifts, pallet positioners and ergonomic handling equipment — Ergonomic Partners distributes Southworth products and competes head-to-head in ergonomic lift tables and pallet handling.
• Harrington Hoists: Manufacturer of electric chain hoists and below-the-hook lifting devices — directly comparable product category to what Ergonomic Partners distributes, serving overlapping industrial customer bases.
• Air Technical Industries: Custom manufacturer of overhead cranes, jib cranes, manipulator arms and ergonomic lifting devices — a similarly sized niche custom-engineered material handling competitor with comparable custom-engineering value proposition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ergopartners
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ergonomicpartners
• Facebookfacebook.com/Ergonomic-Partners-148190079240
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ergonomic-partners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 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 Ergonomic Partners