Stagemaker

What Stagemaker does

Stagemaker is a brand of electric chain hoists, motors and rigging accessories purpose-built for the entertainment industry, founded in 1975 by French manufacturer Verlinde and now distributed in the Americas by R&M Materials Handling, Inc. (Springfield, Ohio), with Verlinde (Vernouillet, France) serving EMEA and APAC. Its product portfolio centers on three generations of electric chain hoists — the legacy SM Series (launched 1998), the current SR Series (1/8 to 5 ton capacity), and the newly launched SL Series (premium, D8+, IP66/NEMA 4X-rated) — supported by manual hoists (RMII), lever pullers (RL/RLP), beam clamps (RBC), trolleys (RPT/RPTC), and a controllers/accessories ecosystem (Configurations A/B/S, pigtails in dual twist-lock, SOCA 7-pin and P14 military-grade formats).

The company's technical differentiation rests on a stack of patented mechanical innovations: the Perfect Push 5-pocket load wheel with 5 intermediate teeth for chain guiding, the Chain Flux / CHAINFlux horizontal-flow chain guide, and the Limit Flux magnetic limit switch for non-contact over-travel protection. Safety compliance is central — D8+, BGV-C1, BGV-D8+, CSA C/US, IP66, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications enable use in overhead-above-person applications across touring productions, permanent venues, rental fleets, and broadcast. Marquee project references include 500+ hoists for the Beijing 2008 Olympics opening ceremony, 448 hoists for the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, four SM10 hoists elevating a 5-ton media cube at Arena Zagreb, and ongoing use in Chris Tomlin tours and Cirque Du Soleil's Paramour.

Stagemaker's revenue mechanics are project-driven hardware sales (quote-based, no public pricing), sold through a multi-tier channel: regional sales representatives covering every US state and Canadian province, R&M Materials Handling as primary Americas distributor, a direct Business Development Manager for US/Canada/Latin America, and Verlinde for international markets. Marketing relies on industry trade shows (LDI), case studies, technical blog content, YouTube product demos, and dealer locator/distributor portal tools. End customers span entertainment and live events, rental companies, production companies, permanent venues (theaters, houses of worship, arenas, convention centers), and exhibition/trade show riggers across 11+ countries.

Name

Stagemaker

Legal name

R&M Materials Handling, Inc.

Website

https://us.stagemaker.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stagemaker is a 50-year-old brand of electric chain hoists, motors and rigging accessories built specifically for the entertainment industry — serving touring productions, rental fleets, theaters, arenas, houses of worship and broadcast venues through patented mechanical designs and safety-critical certifications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entertainment Rigging Equipment

NAICS

Elevator and Moving Stairway Manufacturing (333921)

SIC

Motors & Generators (3621)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAHAJAG

Hoists (Electric, Manual & Pneumatic)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Machinery & Heavy Equipment/Lifting, Hoisting & Crane Equipment

Keywords

• Entertainment chain hoists
• Theatrical rigging motors
• Stage lifting equipment
• Concert rigging hoists
• Manual lever pullers

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Entertainment Hoist Sales: Stagemaker generates revenue through the sale of electric chain hoists, motors, and accessories for the entertainment industry. Products are sold through a network of regional sales representatives and distributors across North America. Revenue is derived from one-time hardware sales with potential for aftermarket parts and service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Stagemaker designs, manufactures, and sells electric and manual chain hoists, motors, and rigging accessories engineered specifically for the entertainment industry. Its products enable the safe and accurate positioning of stage and theatrical equipment such as speakers, lighting systems, stage sets, and sceneries for theaters, touring productions, convention centers, houses of worship, and live event venues. The portfolio spans the SL Series, SR Series, SM Series electric hoists, manual chain hoists, lever pullers, beam clamps, trolleys, controllers, and connectors.

Product overview

Stagemaker is a manufacturer of electric and manual chain hoists designed specifically for the entertainment industry, supporting theaters, touring productions, convention centers, and arena shows. The product portfolio centers on three generations of electric chain hoists: the current SL Series (premium, IP66-rated with D8+ safety), the SR Series (mid-range with patented Perfect Push and Chain Flux technologies), and the legacy SM Series. Supporting the hoist lines are manual products including the RMII manual chain hoist, RL/RLP lever pullers, RBC beam clamps, and RPT/RPTC trolleys. A full range of controllers (Configurations A, B, and S), pigtails, and connectors enable integration with various power and control systems. The products share common safety features including dual braking systems, magnetic limit switches, and chain guide technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SR Series: Concert hoists with ergonomic design, double braking system, and capacity range from 1/8 to 5 ton for theaters, touring, and live events
• SL Series
• SM Series
• RMII Manual Chain Hoists
• RL/RLP Lever Pullers
• RBC Beam Clamps
• RPT/RPTC Manual Trolleys
• STAGEMAKER Controllers

Products and services

• Stagemaker SL Series Electric Chain Hoists Premium electric chain hoist line featuring D8+ safety rating, IP66/NEMA 4X environmental protection, Perfect Push MKII chain guidance, and CHAINFlux MKII technology, designed for theaters, studios, live events and exhibitions with loads up to 2 tons.
• Stagemaker SR Series Electric Chain Hoists Entertainment chain hoist with 1/8 to 5 ton capacity range (125-5000 kg), featuring Perfect Push 5-pocket load wheel, Chain Flux chain guide, and Limit Flux magnetic limit switch. Available in SR1, SR5, SR10, and SR25 models with body up/down configurations.
• Stagemaker SM Series Electric Chain Hoists Earlier generation entertainment chain hoists including SM1, SM2, SM5, SM10, SM16, SM20, and SM25 models, available in multiple configurations (A, B, C, D, E, S, V).
• RMII Manual Chain Hoist Standard duty manual chain hoist available in 1/2-5 ton capacities with 10 ft standard lift (up to 98 ft custom), featuring overload limiting device, grade 80 alloy steel load chain, and dual pawl Weston-style brake; meets ASME B30.16.
• RL/RLP Manual Lever Pullers Lever pullers available in 1/4 to 6 ton capacities with 5 ft standard lift; RL is standard duty and RLP is premium, featuring 360-degree handle rotation, dual pawl Weston-style brake, and all-steel construction meeting ASME B30.21.
• RBC Beam Clamps Adjustable beam clamps for 1-5 ton capacities with built-in suspension bar for low headroom applications, compatible with tapered or flat beam types.
• RPT/RPTC Manual Trolleys Push trolleys (RPT) and hand geared trolleys (RPTC) available in 1/2-5 ton (RPT) and 1-10 ton (RPTC) capacities, featuring crown-tread wheels, sealed bearings, and adjustable flange width.
• Stagemaker Controllers Remote control systems for operating hoists individually or in groups, available in Configuration A (direct motor control), Configuration B (3-phase with low voltage control), and Configuration S (single-phase); includes pendant controllers, pickle grips, and group control options.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ hoists used for Beijing Olympics 2008 opening ceremony
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature13 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TLS Productions (Hibino USA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 September 2019TLS Productions is a distributor of R&M Materials Handling's Stagemaker entertainment range of hoists. TLS provided rigging equipment and traveling head rigger for Chris Tomlin's 2018 and 2019 tours, demonstrating the company's role as a key channel partner delivering Stagemaker products to end customers.
• Scenic SolutionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2014Scenic Solutions installed the LED video screen system at Fairhaven Church in Ohio, using Stagemaker Motors to hang the equipment on separate trusses.
• Clifton Productions (Australia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2014Clifton Productions, a leader in Australian lighting and exhibition rigging, selected Stademarker hoists meeting their high safety standards and quiet, lightweight requirements with IP54 rating.
• Light and Sound Design D.O.OminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2009Light and Sound Design D.O.O (General Manager Mr. Milan Scepanovic) chose Stagemaker SM10 hoists for Arena Zagreb media cube installation based on quality/price ratio, support, and good working history with equipment.
• SCENETEK (Denmark)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2009SCENETEK chose STAGEMAKER SM10 hoists with variable speed systems to lift stage equipment for the Theatre Concert 'Come Together' show in Copenhagen.
• VMI (Kuala Lumpur)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2004VMI located in Kuala Lumpur managed installation and commissioning of 448 Stagemaker hoists for the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre project. VMI serves as the local installation and service partner for Stademarker products in the Malaysian region.
• PROSS AutomaticaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2004PROSS Automatica supplied and installed equipment to motorize the giant video scoreboard at Palacio de los Deportes Martin Carpena in Malaga, using 8 STAGEMAKER SM25 motors.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Moveit: German manufacturer of heavy-duty electric chain hoists for stage, theatre and touring applications, with capacities up to multi-ton loads. Directly comparable specialization in entertainment rigging, similar D8-grade safety ratings, and overlapping customer base in European touring and venue installations.
• ChainMaster: German specialist manufacturer of chain hoists and chain-hoist controllers designed specifically for the entertainment industry. Directly comparable product line (electric chain hoists for stage and theatre rigging) and similar use cases in touring productions and permanent installations.
• Kinesys (TAIT): Entertainment motion-control and automation company that develops chain-hoist-based winch systems and rigging automation for concerts, theatre and events. Comparable as a specialist provider of automated overhead lifting solutions that competes with Stagemaker's higher-end controllers and SR/SL product lines on complex show installs.
• Area Four Industries: Manufacturer of staging, trussing and rigging products through the Milos, Litec, Tomcat and JTE brands, all of which integrate chain hoists and motors for entertainment rigging. Comparable as a specialist supplier of rigging hardware into the same touring, rental, and venue customer base that Stagemaker serves.
• Verlinde: French hoist and crane manufacturer that originally created the Stagemaker brand in 1975 and still produces entertainment-grade electric chain hoists in Europe. Verlinde is the closest direct comparable because of its overlapping product architecture (entertainment chain hoists up to multi-ton capacities) and shared engineering lineage with Stagemaker.

Broad incumbents

• Columbus McKinnon: Global leader in material handling with an Entertainment Technology product line that includes electric chain hoists and rigging for stage/theatrical applications. Comparable as a large incumbent operating across both industrial and entertainment end markets, with overlapping D8+ safety compliance and global dealer reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stagemaker
• Facebookfacebook.com/StagemakerUSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stagemaker-us

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Stagemaker