What Karl Schmidt does

Karl Schmidt Mfg Inc. is a US-based manufacturer of custom-engineered conveyor systems and material handling equipment purpose-built for the recycling industry. Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Commerce City, Colorado, the company designs and builds drag chain belt conveyors, roller chain belt conveyors, slider bed transfer conveyors, and integrated sorting systems that handle MSW, construction and demolition debris, single- and dual-stream recyclables, e-waste, paper, plastics, tires, and textiles. Notable technical components include a US-patented mixed material sorting system developed roughly two decades ago, UHMW polymer strip technology for friction reduction, Trumpf LaserCat precision laser cutting and CNC machining for in-house fabrication, and Nord gear box drive units. The company has installed over 2,000 conveyors across more than 35 countries and serves marquee accounts including FedEx, Air Systems Design, Goettsch International, Vecoplan, and Newark Pacific Paperboard, with equipment lifecycles documented at 25+ years.

The business operates a direct B2B enterprise sales model with quote-based pricing on custom equipment and no dealer or reseller network. Revenue is generated across five streams: custom conveyor system sales, replacement belt sales (rubber, PVC, and steel with 1-8 week lead times), aftermarket replacement parts (pulleys, sprockets, bearings, motors, drives), general fabrication and contract manufacturing, and installation/delivery/training services bundled with new equipment. The company has 11-50 employees, is privately held, and has had no disclosed funding rounds or institutional investors since founder Karl W. Schmidt retired in 2017 and sold the assets of the predecessor entity Karl Schmidt & Associates. Recent product expansion includes the A.S.T.E.C. (Automatic Sorting Technology) suite covering screens, optical sorting, magnets, Eddy currents, and material conditioners, plus replacement belts compatible with non-Karl Schmidt conveyors, signaling a deliberate broadening from pure conveyor OEM toward integrated MRF solutions and third-party aftermarket capture.

Name

Karl Schmidt

Legal name

Karl Schmidt Mfg Inc.

Website

https://karlschmidt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Karl Schmidt Mfg Inc. is a privately held, Commerce City, Colorado-based manufacturer of custom-engineered conveyor systems and material handling equipment serving recycling facilities, municipalities, and industrial customers across 35+ countries with an installed base of 2,000+ conveyors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Conveyor Systems for Recycling

NAICS

Conveyor and Conveying Equipment Manufacturing (333922)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Material Handling Systems (Belt Conveyors, Feeders, Stackers, Reclaimers) (IMAHABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Recycling Processing (BPALADAC)

Keywords

• Recycling conveyors
• Material handling equipment
• Drag chain conveyors
• Sorting systems
• Recycling industry equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Commerce City

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, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Conveyor System Sales: Sale of custom-manufactured conveyor systems including drag chain belt conveyors, roller chain belt conveyors, slider bed transfer conveyors, and sorting systems. Equipment sold as complete ready-to-run units or custom configured.
2. Replacement Belt Sales: Replacement belts for conveyor systems including steel belts (hinged steel, apron style), chain belt conveyors, rubber belts (3-ply, 2-ply), and PVC belts (350, 250 PIW). Lead time 4-8 weeks for steel belts, 1-2 weeks for rubber/PVC belts.
3. Replacement Parts: Aftermarket replacement parts including pulleys, sprockets, bearings, motors, and drives. Lead time typically 2-4 weeks.
4. General Fabrication and Manufacturing Services: Contract engineering services, general manufacturing, fabrication, and CNC laser cut parts for steel, aluminum, and stainless steel materials.
5. Installation, Delivery, and Training: On-site delivery, installation, and employee training services for new equipment purchases to ensure proper setup and operational proficiency.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Karl Schmidt Mfg Inc. designs, engineers, and manufactures custom heavy-duty conveyor systems and material handling equipment for the recycling industry. Its product portfolio centers on drag chain belt conveyors, roller chain belt conveyors, slider bed transfer conveyors, and integrated sorting systems, supported by replacement belts, replacement parts, general fabrication, and precision laser-cut parts services. Customers include recycling companies, municipalities, e-waste handlers, and industrial operators globally.

Product overview

Karl Schmidt Mfg Inc. is a manufacturer of custom conveyor systems and material handling equipment for the recycling industry, operating since 1977. The product portfolio centers on three core conveyor types: Drag Chain Belt Conveyors (DC series), Roller Chain Belt Conveyors (RC series), and Slider Bed Transfer Conveyors. These are complemented by Sorting Systems, Custom Equipment, and an expanded suite of A.S.T.E.C. (Automatic Sorting Technology) including screens, optical sorting, and material handling accessories. The company also offers extensive aftermarket support through replacement parts (motors, drives, bearings, sprockets) and replacement belts (rubber, PVC, and steel options) for both Karl Schmidt and non-Karl Schmidt conveyors. Services include General Fabrication & Manufacturing (working with steel, stainless steel, and aluminum) and Precision Manufactured Parts using laser cutting and CNC machining. The modular architecture allows customers to configure complete systems by combining core conveyors with sorting technology, screens, optical sorters, and accessories, all backed by engineering, installation, and training services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drag Chain Belt Conveyor Heavy-duty DC131 drag chain belt conveyor system constructed with hot-rolled sheet steel and heavy gauge structural steel, featuring UHMW polymer strips for friction reduction, minimum 2-15/16 inch diameter shafts with SCM pillow block ball bearings, and open-side design for ease of cleaning. Designed for indoor pulp and paper and recycling applications.
• Roller Chain Belt Conveyor RC6-3 roller chain belt conveyor system featuring UHMW polymer strips between chainbelt assembly and steel frame, 2-15/16 inch minimum shaft diameter with pillow block ball bearings, and heavy-duty construction for rugged environments. Available with rubber combo belt, hinged steel, steel apron pan, or z pan configurations.
• Slider Bed Transfer Conveyor Custom-manufactured slider bed transfer conveyor with formed sheet steel frame (10 gauge to 1/4 inch), TEFC rated drive motors (230/460V, 3-phase, 60Hz), helical bevel shaft reducers with torque stabilizer arms, and nominal operating speed of 40 feet per minute. Finished with KS Mfg blue industrial enamel (minimum 2.5 mils DFT).
• Sorting Systems Material sorting systems designed to handle MSW, fiber, C&D, commingles, and recyclable mixtures. Compatible with magnetic systems, Eddy current systems, screening systems, and other common separators. Flexible chainbelt and slider bed conveyor systems can be configured and integrated with various separation equipment.
• Custom Equipment Custom engineered and designed conveyor systems tailored to individual end-user needs, including custom sorting, cutting, splicing, and separation equipment. Integrates with magnetic systems, Eddy current systems, screening systems, and other common separators.
• Replacement Parts for Conveyor Systems Aftermarket replacement parts for conveyor systems including pulleys, sprockets, bearings, motors, and drives. Offers helical gearing drives with 2-4 week lead times and flame-cut hardened steel sprockets for chain-based conveyors.
• Replacement Belts for Non-Karl Schmidt Conveyors Replacement belts for non-Karl Schmidt conveyors including 3-ply roller chain conveyor belts (330 PIW), 2-ply roller chain belts (220 PIW), 3-ply rubber conveyor belts, PVC 350 belts, and PVC 250 belts. Also offers replacement steel conveyor belts including apron-style and hinged steel belts.
• Replacement Belts for Material Handling Systems Wide selection of replacement conveyor belts including rubber, PVC, and steel options. Offers quick deliveries (1-2 weeks for rubber/PVC, 4-8 weeks for steel belts), cut-to-length service, and competitive market pricing.
• General Fabrication & Manufacturing Services General fabrication services working with steel and stainless steel materials for recycling solutions. Specializes in structural steel and stainless materials fabrication, aluminum processing, sheet metal forming, prep, and paint. Services include art-to-part capabilities from customer prints or sketches.
• Precision Manufactured Parts Precision laser cut parts using Trumpf LaserCat and Trumatic L2503 laser cutting centers with 'flying optics' technology. Capable of cutting steel up to 5/8 inch thickness (5'x10'), aluminum up to 3/8 inch thickness, and stainless steel up to 1/4 inch thickness. Also offers plasma table and CNC machine cutting for steel, aluminum, and stainless steel.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35-40% of US solid waste comes from construction and demolition according to EPA; C&D recycling can prevent 150 million metric tons CO2 emissions annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FedExcoreOthersKarl Schmidt Mfg is certified by FedEx to supply welded power conveyors. This certification validates the company's manufacturing quality standards and enables supply to FedEx operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• KWS Manufacturing: Texas-based designer and manufacturer of screw and bulk material handling conveyors. Directly comparable to Karl Schmidt in custom-engineered conveying equipment for industrial customers, including recycling and waste management applications.
• Titan Conveyors: U.S. custom manufacturer of industrial conveyors for material handling and recycling applications. Direct competitor to Karl Schmidt in heavy-duty custom conveyor systems for similar end markets.
• Machinex Technologies: Canadian manufacturer of recycling sorting systems and material recovery facilities (MRFs). Directly competes with Karl Schmidt in integrated sorting systems and conveyor-based recycling equipment for MSW, single-stream, and C&D applications.
• General Kinematics: Manufacturer of vibratory and material handling equipment for recycling, foundry, and bulk processing. Comparable to Karl Schmidt in heavy-duty industrial equipment for recycling and material handling workflows.
• CP Group (CP Manufacturing): U.S. manufacturer of recycling sorting systems, screens, optical sorters, and integrated MRF design. Overlaps with Karl Schmidt's A.S.T.E.C. and sorting systems offering across the same recycling customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Dematic: Global intralogistics provider of automated conveyor, sortation, and material handling systems. Relevant as a broad incumbent in the conveyor and material handling space, though primarily focused on warehousing/distribution automation rather than recycling applications.
• FlexLink (Coesia): Global manufacturer of conveyor and material handling systems owned by Coesia. Serves a much broader set of industries (pharma, automotive, electronics) with modular conveyor platforms; competes on standardized conveying rather than custom recycling equipment.

Emerging players

• Vecoplan: Manufacturer of industrial shredders, grinders, and material processing equipment serving recycling, plastics, and waste-to-energy markets. Karl Schmidt's own customer testimonial cites Vecoplan integrating with KWS conveyors, indicating adjacent solution positioning rather than head-to-head competition.
• Bunting Magnetics: Manufacturer of magnetic separation and metal detection equipment used in recycling and material recovery. Comparable as a complementary separation equipment peer integrated into recycling facility designs.
• Eriez: Manufacturer of magnetic separation, metal detection, and material handling equipment. Karl Schmidt's sorting systems explicitly integrate with Eriez-style magnetic and Eddy current separators, making Eriez a complementary equipment peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Karl Schmidt