What Klute Steel does

Klute, Inc. (dba Klute Steel) is a third-generation, family-owned steel fabricator headquartered in York, Nebraska, specializing in custom structural steel for the US electric utility industry. Founded in 1961 as a welding and repair shop in Bradshaw, Nebraska, the company entered utility steel fabrication in 1998 and reoriented fully to electric substations and transmission lines in 2008, selling its legacy farm-machinery repair business. Its core products are equipment supports (bus supports, switch stands, PT stands, lightning arresters, box bay structures), dead-end and static masts for up to 765kV substations, transmission line poles up to 130+ feet tall and 45,000 lb sections, stairs/railing/platforms/grating, and engineering/detailing with licensed Professional Engineers.

The technology base centers on heavy fabrication assets including a custom 60-foot press brake (2013), large-format flat plate and tube lasers (2021), advanced 3D modeling and detailing software, robotic/automated processes, and in-house ultrasonic non-destructive testing (NDT) on all full penetration welds. Manufacturing is concentrated at the York facility with a satellite detailing/engineering office opened in Omaha in 2024, and a new dedicated tapered tubular pole production building was completed in late 2024.

Klute generates revenue through project-based custom steel fabrication contracts (one-time, quote-driven engagements) with electric utilities and their engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) partners; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales supported by a network of nine independent manufacturer representative firms covering all major US states. Certifications (AISC, ISO 9001:2015) function as a regulatory prerequisite for utility-scale work, and long-tenured galvanizing and anchor-fabricator partnerships (since 1998) vertically extend the offering into a 'one-stop shop' for substation and transmission line steel.

Name

Klute Steel

Legal name

Klute, Inc.

Website

https://kluteinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Klute, Inc. is a third-generation, family-owned custom steel fabricator headquartered in York, Nebraska, producing equipment supports, dead-end and static masts, and transmission line poles up to 765kV for US electric utilities, engineering firms, and EPCs through project-based contracts supported by a nationwide manufacturer representative network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Structural Steel Fabrication for Utilities

NAICS

Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel (3312), Iron and Steel Pipe and Tube Manufacturing from Purchased Steel (331210)

SIC

Sheet Metal Work (3444)

akta.pro primary industry

Steel Service Centers & Processing (Slitting, Cut-to-Length, Blanking, Leveling) (IMAKABAL)

Keywords

• Steel fabrication services
• Substation structural steel
• Transmission line poles
• Electric utility fabrication
• Custom steel manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Steel Fabrication: Project-based custom steel fabrication for electric utility substations and transmission lines. Products include equipment supports, dead-end and static masts, transmission line poles, stairs/railing/platforms, and engineering/detailing services. Revenue generated through direct project contracts with utilities and their contractors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Klute Steel is a family-owned custom steel fabricator producing made-to-order substation and transmission line structural steel for the electric utility industry. The product portfolio spans equipment supports, dead-end and static masts (rated up to 765kV), transmission line poles (up to 130+ feet tall), access structures, in-house engineering and detailing with PE stamping, anchor bolts and galvanizing services. The company operates manufacturing facilities in York, Nebraska and an engineering office in Omaha.

Product overview

Klute Steel is a family-owned steel fabricator offering a one-stop shop for substation and transmission line steel products for the electric utility industry. The product portfolio includes seven core offerings: Equipment Supports (bus supports, switch stands, PT stands, lightning arresters, box bay structures), Dead-End and Static Masts (for up to 765kV substations), Transmission Line Poles (up to 130+ feet tall), Stairs/Railing/Platforms/Grating, Engineering and Detailing (with licensed PE stamping), Anchor Bolts (through partner fabricators), and Galvanizing services. The company operates manufacturing facilities in York, Nebraska and Omaha, Nebraska, with investments in advanced technology including a 60-foot press brake, tube lasers, and flat plate lasers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Equipment Supports Custom steel fabrication of substation equipment supports including bus supports, switch stands, PT stands, lightning arresters, and box bay structures. Uses in-house CNC and laser cutting for precision and is targeted at electric utility substation projects.
• Dead-End and Static Masts Custom-fabricated HSS, wide flange, and tapered tubular dead-ends and static masts produced using the company's 60-foot press brake, capable of bending up to 3/4-inch thick steel for 500kV and 765kV substations. All tapered tubular products are test-fit and ultrasonically inspected.
• Transmission Line Poles Custom-engineered transmission line poles built in small batches, including wood pole equivalents, in galvanized and weathering finishes and in base-plated or direct-embedded configurations. Capable of producing pole sections up to 45,000 pounds with overall heights exceeding 130 feet.
• Stairs, Railing, Platforms and Grating Access and grounding solutions for substation projects, including switch platforms, building access platforms, staircases, control building platforms, and transformer pits. Built from wide flange beams or channel with pipe railings.
• Engineering and Detailing In-house engineering and detailing service using advanced 3D modeling software to produce accurate calculations and blueprints. Team includes licensed Professional Engineers (PE) able to stamp drawings in almost every US state; supports real-time design changes during fabrication.
• Anchor Bolts and Embeds Headed anchors, templates, anchor cages, post-installed anchors, embed plates and channels supplied through the company's network of partner anchor fabricators across the United States to complete substation structural packages.
• Galvanizing Metal finishing service provided through ISO 9001 certified galvanizing partners (primary partnership since 1998), with options including dulling, extra mils, and CorroCote coating for embed products, followed by cleaning and quality checks at Klute's dedicated shipping/receiving facility before shipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% on-time delivery and 100% defect-free product goal
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Primary Galvanizer (Partnership since 1998)coreOthersLong-standing partnership with primary galvanizer since 1998. Multiple ISO 9001 certified galvanizers available to meet various project needs including dulling, extra mils, and CorroCote for embeds.
• Anchor Fabricators NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnerships with many well-regarded anchor fabricators across the country to provide headed anchors, templates, anchor cages, and post-installed anchors. Also provides embed plates and channels.
• Energy RepscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional sales representative firm covering multiple states including Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wyoming, and regions like Eastern Wyoming, Eastern Nevada, Southern Idaho, Northern California, Northern Idaho, Eastern Washington, and Public Power territories. Multiple representatives: Russell Abercrombie, Karen Barnett, Logan Blanton, Grant Bouknight, Billy Brown, Bob Gonzalez, Keith Kibler, Jason Kohtz, Derrick Malone, Kashyap Naik, Jack O'Connor, Ty O'Connor, Jared Reeves, Chuck Sedgwick, Mike Self, and Steve Johnson.
• KDJcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional sales representative covering South Texas, East Texas, Central Texas, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Oklahoma regions. Representatives include Robert Alexander, Monica Alvarez, Scott Blackerby, Dallas Collins, Kyle Cowan, Ryan Marietta, Dominick Mason, Todd Moore, Nick Leckey, Michael Lenth, Rusty Hartman, Stephen Turner, and Scott Youngblood.
• EMS PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional sales representative covering North Dakota, Montana, Northern Illinois, Minnesota regions. Representatives include Dan Avery, Sean Dunham, Mike Ellias, Matt Hoese, John Primus, Jordan Rykal, Zack Schommer, and JJ Svac.
• Hees Enterprises, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional sales representative covering Southern Idaho, Eastern Washington, Western Washington, Northwest Nevada, Western Wyoming. Representatives include Brad Farmer, Jeff Kaiser, Fergus Loughran, Joe Morgan, and Justin Roths.
• Martini & AssociatescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional sales representative covering Northern New York and Southern New York. Representatives include Vince Brown and PJ Martini.
• U&I ProductscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional sales representative covering Northeast Ohio, Northern and Central Ohio, Southwest Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, Western Virginia (AEP & FirstEnergy), and Duke Energy territories. Representatives include Justin Grabfelder, Steve Gray, Gabe Hart, Jim Murray, Ben Saunders, Chris Tynan, and Dave Woods.
• Geo. E. Honn Co.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional sales representative covering Northern California. Representative is James Magolske.
• Pacific Power RepscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional sales representative covering Southern California. Representative is Greg Alertyn.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Aluma-Form: Utility structures manufacturer focused on aluminum and steel substation components for the electric utility market. Overlaps Klute's substation equipment support and structural product lines.
• DIS-TRAN Steel: Direct competitor specializing in substation steel packaging and fabrication for electric utilities. Highly comparable offering of structural substation components with similar project-based B2B motion to investor-owned and public-power utilities.
• Sabre Industries: Major manufacturer of steel utility structures including transmission poles and substation steel. Direct competitor in the same product categories Klute serves, with broader geographic coverage and larger project capacity.
• MacLean Power Systems: Manufacturer of steel and concrete utility poles, transmission hardware, and substation products. Competes with Klute on transmission line pole and substation hardware business to U.S. utilities.

Broad incumbents

• Valmont Industries: Diversified global manufacturer with a large utility structures division producing steel and concrete transmission and substation products. Larger and broader portfolio than Klute but directly competes in steel utility structures.
• Hubbell Power Systems: Large incumbent serving investor-owned utilities with a broad catalog of transmission, substation, and distribution products. Overlaps Klute's customer base and sells adjacent hardware into the same projects.
• Nucor Corporation: Largest U.S. steel producer with growing downstream fabricated structures and joist businesses serving infrastructure and utility markets. Provides both Klute's raw steel input and increasingly competes as a fabricator in adjacent utility structures.
• Marmon Utility (Berkshire Hathaway): Diversified utility products group under Marmon/Berkshire Hathaway producing overhead transmission and substation hardware. Indirect competitor with broader product portfolio and substantially larger scale.

Emerging players

• Strongwell: Manufacturer of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) structural products serving utility, industrial, and infrastructure markets. Competes with steel fabricators like Klute on selected transmission and substation structure applications where corrosion or weight matters.
• AFL (fiber optic / utility infrastructure): Utility infrastructure provider expanding into substation and transmission-adjacent products. Overlaps with Klute's customer base at utilities and could become a more direct competitor in substation hardware over time.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Klute Steel