Advanced Building Technologies

What Advanced Building Technologies does

Advanced Building Technologies, operating as ABT Drains, is a privately held U.S. manufacturer founded in 1983 and headquartered at 259 Murdock Rd, Troutman, North Carolina. The company engineers, produces, and sells surface drainage and water management solutions for commercial, transportation, industrial, residential, and green infrastructure applications across all 50 U.S. states and international markets. ABT employs 101-250 people and operates a solar-powered manufacturing facility (300 kW, 1,200-panel installation) that supports both production and offices on site.

ABT's product portfolio is organized around two principal manufacturing technologies: precast polymer concrete trench drains (the PolyDrain family, including PolyDrain, PolyDrain PDX, PaverGrate, PolyDrain Shallow, VectorDrain, Interceptor A-67, Interceptor SuperSlope, and FirstFlush channel filters) and pre-engineered cast-in-place concrete forming systems (the TrenchFormer family, including TFX, MHD, and XHD). The catalog contains over 2,100 SKUs. Material and design IP includes the proprietary PolyDyn polymer concrete and PolyChampion vinylester formulations, the patented Pin-Lock grate retention system (US 6443656B1), the Non-Rigid Bar-Lock system for heavy-duty ports and airports, Permavoid lateral connectors, capillary cylinder passive irrigation, and Biomat filtration. All polyester polymer concrete channels carry UL 723 Class A fire ratings and NFPA compliance. Newer lines (Permavoid 85, 85s, 150, 400MD) extend the platform into stormwater storage, passive irrigation, and first-flush filtration; an associated Sportsedge brand addresses sports-field drainage.

ABT runs a quote-based B2B specification sales model, engaging engineers, designers, and contractors during project design and shipping product directly to job sites. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, with quote requests funneled through the company website and a toll-free line. The company sells across five customer verticals — commercial construction, transportation infrastructure (state DOTs, airports, seaports, rail), industrial facilities, residential construction, and green infrastructure — and reports multiple-year contracts without disclosed pricing. No parent company, subsidiaries, funding rounds, acquisitions, or executive changes beyond the leadership of CEO and President Ralph Brafford are documented in the source materials.

Name

Advanced Building Technologies

Legal name

ABT, Inc.

Website

https://abtdrains.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Advanced Building Technologies (ABT Drains) is a privately held U.S. manufacturer founded in 1983 and headquartered in Troutman, NC, producing engineered polymer concrete trench drains, cast-in-place forming systems, stormwater storage modules, and filtration products for commercial, transportation, industrial, residential, and green infrastructure projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineered Surface Drainage and Water Management Products

NAICS

Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (237110), Concrete Pipe Manufacturing (327332), Other Concrete Product Manufacturing (327390)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Concrete Products, Except Block & Brick (3272)

akta.pro primary industry

Stormwater & Drainage Infrastructure Construction (Sewer, Detention, Outfalls) (IMAFAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stormwater Drainage & Culvert Systems (IMANADAH), Concrete Pipe, Box Culverts & Drainage Structures (IMADAAAD), Storage & Conveyance Structures (Reservoirs, Tanks, Culverts, Tunnels) (IMAFAGAE), Water & Sewer Pipe & Fittings (PVC/HDPE/PP) (IMANADAA)

Keywords

• Trench drain systems
• Polymer concrete drainage
• Stormwater management products
• Cast-in-place forming systems
• Surface water management

Headquarters

HQ city

Troutman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Surface Drainage Products: ABT manufactures and sells engineered surface drainage products including PolyDrain precast polymer concrete trench drains, grates, frames, catch basins, and accessories. Products are sold directly to engineers, designers, and contractors for construction projects.
2. Cast-In-Place Forming Systems: TrenchFormer forming systems sold as pre-engineered components for on-site concrete trench drain construction. Includes EPS formers, steel rails, grates, and installation accessories.
3. Stormwater Management Systems: Permavoid modular stormwater storage modules and related components for water management applications including subbase replacement, passive irrigation, and stormwater detention.
4. Water Treatment Products: FirstFlush filtration systems, oil-water separators, and related filtration media products for stormwater treatment applications.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ABT manufactures and sells engineered surface drainage and water management products, including precast polymer concrete trench drain systems (PolyDrain family), cast-in-place concrete forming systems (TrenchFormer), modular stormwater storage and source-control modules (Permavoid), and stormwater filtration products (FirstFlush, Oil-Water Separator). Products are sold directly to engineers, designers, and contractors for commercial, industrial, transportation, residential, and green infrastructure construction projects across North America and international markets.

Product overview

ABT manufactures engineered surface drainage and water management solutions consisting of two main product families: PolyDrain (precast polymer concrete trench drains including PolyDrain, PolyDrain PDX, Paver Grate, PolyDrain Shallow, VectorDrain, Interceptor A-67, Interceptor SuperSlope, and PolyDrain FirstFlush/Channel Filter) and TrenchFormer (cast-in-place concrete forming systems including TrenchFormer TFX, TrenchFormer MHD, and TrenchFormer XHD). The company also offers Permavoid stormwater management products (Permavoid 400MD, Permavoid 150, Permavoid 85s, Permavoid 85) and an Oil-Water Separator for environmental applications. Products range from residential/commercial drainage to heavy-duty infrastructure for highways, airports, and seaports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Permavoid: Multi-functional stormwater management system engineered to create functional and appealing urban development drainage which treats stormwater as a resource.
• PolyDrain PDX
• PaverGrate
• PolyDrain Shallow
• VectorDrain
• Interceptor
• Interceptor SuperSlope
• TrenchFormer
• TrenchFormer MHD
• TrenchFormer XHD
• FirstFlush
• Oil-Water Separator
• Permavoid 400MD
• Permavoid 150
• Permavoid 85s
• Permavoid 85

Products and services

• PolyDrain Precast Trench Drain System Pre-sloped modular polymer concrete trench drain system with built-in 0.6% slope and smooth radius bottom, designed for commercial and industrial surface drainage applications.
• PolyDrain PDX Variable Width Trench Drain Modular polymer concrete trench drain system with precision premanufactured construction available in 6" to 24" widths, depth increments from 0.197" to 19.69", and slope adaptable from 0% to 4% in 0.5% increments.
• PaverGrate Discrete Slot Drain Discrete slot drain system with 5/16" opening designed for use with brick or stone pavers, providing a nearly invisible surface drain option that is both ADA and heel-proof compliant.
• PolyDrain Shallow Trench Drain Shallow polymer concrete trench drain channel system available in 3.1" and 3.9" depths for installations with slab depth restrictions.
• VectorDrain ADA Slot Trench Drain ADA-compliant slot trench drain system with narrow profile and clean lines, using an underground PVC slotted drain channel with polymer concrete top for pools, patios, and pedestrian applications.
• Interceptor A-67 Highway Drainage System Highway and roadway drainage system with advanced integral frame and grate designed to withstand high-speed traffic and snowplow blades with maximum inlet capacity.
• Interceptor SuperSlope High-Volume Drainage Channel High-volume sloped drainage channel that augments PDX with integral frame and grate, designed for applications traversing extreme grades or requiring extra inflow capacity.
• TrenchFormer TFX Cast-In-Place Forming System Original expanded concrete cast-in-place channel drain forming system with customizable forming sections allowing designers to select width, depth, shape, and slope for any specification; reduces installed costs by at least 33% versus traditional cast-in-place methods.
• TrenchFormer MHD Municipal Heavy Duty Forming System Municipal Heavy Duty cast-in-place trench forming system with ASTM A-36 structural steel frame and four-point pin lock retention system, designed for roads and airports with dynamic loading.
• TrenchFormer XHD Extra Heavy Duty Forming System Extra Heavy Duty cast-in-place trench drain forming system with non-rigid bar-lock system for dynamic longitudinal and vertical retention, engineered for airports, seaports, and intermodal facilities.
• Permavoid Modular Stormwater Management System Multi-functional stormwater management system using ultra-high-strength polypropylene raft with 95% void ratio and patented lateral connectors for sustainable urban development drainage treating stormwater as a resource.
• Permavoid 400MD Structural Cell High-strength structural cells with patented Biomat filtration for stormwater quality and quantity management, capturing large volumes of water and promoting natural stormwater behavior through infiltration, retention, or detention.
• Permavoid 150 Subbase Replacement System Multi-functional water management solution with interlocking high-strength units creating a patented subbase replacement system that attenuates stormwater flows and promotes infiltration beneath impervious surfaces.
• Permavoid 85s Shallow Water Management Module High-strength sustainable water management solution purpose-built for athletic fields, blue-to-green roofs, podium decks, and landscape applications with shallow profile drainage, storage, and conveyance capabilities.
• Permavoid 85 Structural Cell Structural cells with multi-functional water management capabilities promoting sustainable stormwater behavior through interconnected high-strength units that attenuate stormwater flows and enhance landscape resiliency.
• PolyDrain FirstFlush Stormwater Filtration System Precast stormwater filtration system designed to filter oil, grease, and hydrocarbons during the first flush of rainfall, ideal for space-restricted sites where retention ponds are not feasible.
• PolyDrain Channel Filter (TrenchFormer FirstFlush) Cast-in-place stormwater channel filter designed for sites under 100 acres to capture oils, greases, and hydrocarbons during the first-flush effect without impeding bypass flow.
• Oil-Water Separator Gravimetric pre-treatment tank using baffle plate, stand-pipe assembly, and gravity to separate oil, water, and solid particles from site wastewater using cast-in-place forming system.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33% lower installation costs compared to traditional hand-formed cast-in-place trench drain construction
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature11 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NDS Inc. (NDS Dura Slope): NDS is a major manufacturer of drainage and stormwater management products including trench drains (Dura Slope), catch basins, and channel drains. Their product mix in surface drainage directly overlaps with ABT's PolyDrain and TrenchFormer lines, serving similar commercial and residential contractors.
• ACO Drain (ACO Systems): ACO is the most direct competitor to ABT, manufacturing polymer concrete trench drain channels, grates, and stormwater management systems for commercial, industrial, and transportation applications. Both companies compete head-to-head in precast trench drains with similar chemistries and certifications.
• Josam Company: Josam manufactures commercial drainage products including trench drains, area drains, and interceptors for plumbing and mechanical contractors. Their products directly compete with ABT's commercial drainage offerings with similar customer profiles (engineers, contractors, specifiers).
• MIFAB Inc. MIFAB manufactures a broad range of commercial drainage products including trench drains, floor drains, and grease interceptors for plumbing contractors. They compete directly with ABT in commercial construction specifications, particularly for hospitality and food service drainage.
• Trench Drain Supply: A specialized trench drain distributor and manufacturer serving the U.S. market with channel drains, grates, and catch basins. Trench Drain Supply competes with ABT in the same product category, primarily for commercial and residential drainage applications.

Broad incumbents

• Watts Water Technologies: Watts is a diversified manufacturer of water-related products including drainage, plumbing, and water quality systems. While trench drains are not their primary focus, they compete in commercial drainage and offer broader-scale resources, distribution, and brand recognition.
• IPEX (Aliaxis): IPEX is a major manufacturer of plastic piping systems including PVC, HDPE drainage, and fittings used in commercial drainage and water management. While primarily plastic-based, IPEX competes in surface drainage and stormwater conveyance for commercial and infrastructure projects across North America.
• Zurn Industries (Zurn Elkay): Zurn offers commercial drainage products including trench drains, floor drains, and grease interceptors as part of a broader plumbing and water management portfolio. Zurn is larger and broader than ABT but competes in commercial trench drain specifications, particularly in institutional and hospitality projects.
• Smith-Cooper / Jay R. Smith Mfg. Jay R. Smith (now Smith-Cooper) is a long-established manufacturer of commercial drainage and plumbing products including roof drains, floor drains, and trench drains. Their historical specification presence in commercial/institutional projects overlaps with ABT's vertical market focus.

Regional players

• Wavin (Orbia): Wavin is a global leader in plastic pipe systems and stormwater management headquartered in Europe with growing North American presence. While primarily international, Wavin's stormwater management solutions overlap with ABT's modular stormwater offerings in markets outside the U.S.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/abtdrains

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Advanced Building Technologies