Ameri-Ken

What Ameri-Ken does

Ameri-Ken (operating as AmeriKen Online!) is a US-based, family-owned distributor and custom manufacturer of diecutting supplies, equipment, and services for the packaging, printing, and converting industries. Founded in 1953 by Don and Ray Kengott and headquartered in Wood Dale, Illinois, the company operates five distribution and service centers across the United States (Illinois, Nevada, Georgia, Texas, and Pennsylvania) and maintains an inventory of over 3 million diecutting punches available across its network through a proprietary integrated computer system. The company is led by third-generation family members Mark and Paul Kengott, who assumed joint leadership effective May 25, 2025.

The company's product portfolio spans six core categories: diecutting punches, steel rule, diemaking supplies, diecutting supplies, tools and equipment (including Cutawl saws, Helmold manual equipment, CimPACK CAD software, and Cutlite Penta laser cutting systems), and custom hard tooling. Manufacturing capability is anchored in CNC precision equipment and an exclusive vacuum carbonitriding heat treatment process, supporting engineered products such as combo dies, seamless rule body punches, segment dies, and special machined shapes used in membrane switches, gaskets, flex circuits, and military aircraft components. Proprietary brand extensions include Speedy Crease, ProCrease, Ken-Score, Pentra, and Speedy-Nick product lines.

Ameri-Ken generates revenue through hardware sales across all six product categories, supplemented by professional services including express re-sharpening of cutting knives, notcher knives, and miter knives (2-3 day standard turnaround, 1-day express) and engineering consultation. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company sells through a direct-to-consumer model combining e-commerce (ameriken.com), phone sales (866-4-PUNCHES), and direct sales at each of its five physical locations, with domestic-only geographic scope.

Name

Ameri-Ken

Legal name

AmeriKen Online!

Website

https://ameriken.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ameri-Ken is a US-based, family-owned distributor and custom manufacturer of diecutting punches, steel rule, consumables, and custom hard tooling, serving die shops, packaging manufacturers, and specialty industrial customers through five US locations and an e-commerce channel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Diecutting Tools and Supplies

NAICS

Special Die and Tool, Die Set, Jig, and Fixture Manufacturing (333514), Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing (333515), Saw Blade and Handtool Manufacturing (332216)

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541)

akta.pro primary industry

Finishing, Converting & Die-Cutting Services (IMALAKAN)

Keywords

• Die cutting supplies
• Steel rule dies
• Diemaking equipment
• Custom hard tooling
• Packaging tooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Wood Dale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Diecutting Punches: Sale of diecutting punches including tube, cup, straight wall, feed-thru, side outlet, specialty, and rotary punches. Over 3 million in stock with custom engineering capabilities.
2. Steel Rule: Sale of steel rule for flat and rotary diecutting applications including cutting, creasing, perforating, and specialty rule.
3. Diemaking Supplies: Ejection rubber, dieboard, mallets, metal perf, ruling tools, and other diemaking supplies.
4. Diecutting Supplies: Matrix, stripping parts, mylar, hoops, and other diecutting supplies for flat and rotary applications.
5. Tools & Equipment: Die shop equipment including Cutawl saws, Helmold manual equipment, CAD software, and laser cutting systems.
6. Custom Tooling: Custom hard tooling including combo dies, seamless rule, segment dies, and special machined shapes. Custom engineering services for difficult diecutting problems.
7. Re-Sharpening Services: Express re-sharpening services for cutting knives, notcher knives, and miter knives. 2-3 day standard turnaround with express one-day service available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ameri-Ken manufactures and distributes a comprehensive portfolio of diecutting tools, steel rule, diemaking and diecutting consumables, die shop equipment, and custom engineered hard tooling for the packaging, printing, and converting industries. The company complements its product catalog with re-sharpening services for cutting knives and engineering consultation for difficult diecutting applications, operating across five U.S. locations supported by a proprietary inventory integration system.

Product overview

AmeriKen is a die supply superstore offering a comprehensive portfolio of diecutting products and services through five U.S. locations. The core product offering centers on diecutting punches (over 3 million in stock) and steel rule, supported by extensive diemaking and diecutting supplies. The portfolio includes proprietary brands such as Speedy Crease, ProCrease, and Ken-Score matrix products, alongside industry equipment from partners like Helmold and Cutawl. Custom tooling services (Hard Tooling) provide combo dies, seamless rule body punches, segment dies, and special machined shapes engineered to specification. The company also offers CimPACK CAD software for diemakers, re-sharpening services, and engineering consultation. All locations are connected via a proprietary integrated computer system providing seamless inventory access and order tracking from 8:00 AM ET to 4:30 PM PT.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Diecutting Punches Over 3 million diecutting punches in stock, including tube, cup, straight wall, feed-thru, side outlet, rotary, and specialty punches for flat and rotary diecutting applications.
• Steel Rule Extensive inventory of steel rule for flat and rotary diecutting, including cutting rule, creasing rule, perforating rule, rotary rule, specialty rule (Bendex, Helmex, Duredge, Nataloy), and specialty shapes such as zipper rule and edge wave rule.
• Diemaking Supplies Diemaking materials including ejection rubber (standard, crease, slot, profile, specialty), dieboard (maple flat, euro birch, rotary), mallets, metal perf, ruling tools, lead edge protectors, jigsaw blades, and adhesives.
• Diecutting Supplies Diecutting consumables including creasing matrix (Speedy Crease, ProCrease, Ken-Score, Pentra, Fibrix, Syntrix), make-ready supplies (shim tape, quoins, nylon locating pins), nicking tools (Speedy-Nick, QuickNick Grinder), Bobst accessories, jackets and plates, and blanking systems.
• Tools and Equipment Die shop equipment including Cutawl Saws (K-12F, K-12C-50, K-12C-66), Helmold manual equipment (benders, rule cutters, notchers, miter machines), and CimPACK CAD software for diemakers.
• Custom Hard Tooling Custom engineered hard tooling including combo dies, seamless rule body punches, segment dies, special applications, positive stripping systems, and special machined shapes for high-tolerance diecutting problems such as membrane switches, gaskets, flex circuits, and military aircraft components.
• CimPACK for Diemakers Packaging design software for diemakers with Basic, Advanced, and Rotary editions, supporting DXF, DWG, HPGL, and other CAD file formats with automatic matrix designing and sample making capabilities.
• Express Re-Sharpening Services Re-sharpening services for all brands and types of cutting knives, notcher knives, miter knives, and automated bender tooling, with 2-3 day standard turnaround and express one-day service available.
• Engineering Service Technical engineering consultation for intricate cutout shapes and difficult diecutting problems, offering reduced cost per cut, decreased setup time, automatic stripping, and increased tool life.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3 million punches in stock for immediate shipment
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Steel Rule / Die Supply Distributors: Smaller US regional die-supply distributors carry overlapping punch, steel rule, and consumable inventories to AmeriKen. They compete on local availability and price for the same die-shop customer base but lack AmeriKen's national footprint and proprietary tooling depth.
• Atlas Die LLC: Atlas Die is a direct competitor in the US steel rule die and die-supply market, offering diecutting punches, steel rule, and custom tooling to die shops and converters. Highly comparable to AmeriKen's core product portfolio and customer segments.
• Rollem International: Rollem produces finishing and cutting equipment (slitting, scoring, perforating) for the print and packaging industry, addressing similar die-shop and converter workflows to those served by AmeriKen's equipment line.
• Spartanics: Spartanics manufactures laser die-cutting systems and sheet-cutting equipment for labels, packaging, and printing — addressing the same die-shop and converter customer segments as AmeriKen, with a focus on automated cutting machinery that competes for the same capex budgets.
• Cole Tool & Die: Cole Tool & Die is a custom die manufacturer serving packaging and industrial customers in North America. Comparable to AmeriKen's custom hard-tooling line in serving converters requiring engineered dies for difficult applications.
• Preco Inc. Preco produces laser die-cutting systems and contract manufacturing for die boards and tooling. Directly comparable to AmeriKen's Cutlite Penta laser offerings and serves the same packaging and converter markets.

Broad incumbents

• Heidelberg (Heidelberger Druckmaschinen): Heidelberg is a major incumbent in printing and packaging equipment, including diecutting and finishing systems. Overlaps with AmeriKen's serving customer base of commercial print and packaging converters but at a much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Bobst Group: Bobst is a large global manufacturer of packaging and printing machinery, including diecutting presses, folder-gluers, and consumables. While much larger and broader, Bobst supplies many of the same packaging converters that buy AmeriKen's consumables and competes in custom tooling.
• Masterwork MK (formerly Masterwork Machinery): Masterwork MK is a major Chinese manufacturer of diecutting and finishing equipment, serving packaging converters globally with presses and tooling. Competes with AmeriKen's custom hard tooling and equipment offerings, particularly for converters seeking lower-cost machinery.

Emerging players

• Zund (Zünd Systemtechnik AG): Zünd manufactures modular digital cutting systems that compete with traditional die-cutting for packaging, signage, and graphics. Overlaps with AmeriKen's customer base as converters evaluate digital alternatives to steel rule.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Ameri-Ken