Penn Elcom
Penn Elcom is a UK-founded, globally distributed manufacturer of flight case hardware, 19-inch server racks, speaker hardware, LED lighting and AV accessories, serving pro audio, broadcast, IT and live event customers across 100+ countries via direct e-commerce and an exclusive distributor network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Penn Elcom does
Penn Elcom Limited is a UK-registered private limited company founded in 1974 that designs, manufactures and distributes a broad portfolio of physical hardware for the pro audio, AV, broadcast, IT, data centre, live events, military and medical sectors. Its catalogue spans flight case hardware (latches, handles, corners, castors, extrusions, hinges and accessories), 19-inch server racks and enclosures, crating hardware, speaker hardware, professional cables and connectors, LED lighting components, computer holders and parcel boxes, complemented by three proprietary browser-based tools (Panel Designer, Case Designer and Rack Unit Calculator) that let customers configure, visualise and price bespoke solutions. Manufacturing is split between the UK (Tyne & Wear and East Sussex), Germany (European HQ in Emmerich Am Rhein) and two sites in China (Dongguan and Tianjin).
The company monetises primarily through unit-priced hardware sales via its own multi-currency e-commerce storefront (penn-elcom.com) and regional websites in 13+ country storefronts, supported by dedicated company accounts with credit facilities, quantity pricing and drop shipping. A parallel go-to-market layer consists of exclusive official distributors in 100+ countries (e.g. Diamant Group in Mexico, Winston Cases in Ireland, XPro Music Group across Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay), plus owned sales offices across the UK, four US locations, Canada, Mexico, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Colombia, Peru and Lebanon. Revenue is completed by a small software subscription stream from the Case Designer and a custom manufacturing service for bespoke or modified products. Marketing relies on email, organic social (including the #PennOnTour user-generated content campaign), industry association memberships (PLASA, Secured by Design, RecoLight, SSA UK) and trade show presence.
Penn Elcom firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Penn Elcom
- Legal name
- Penn Elcom Limited
- Website
- https://penn-elcom.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Penn Elcom is a UK-founded, globally distributed manufacturer of flight case hardware, 19-inch server racks, speaker hardware, LED lighting and AV accessories, serving pro audio, broadcast, IT and live event customers across 100+ countries via direct e-commerce and an exclusive distributor network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Penn Elcom industry classification
Industry- Product category
- AV Racking & Flight Case Hardware
- NAICS
- Hardware Manufacturing (332510), Hardware Merchant Wholesalers (42371), Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (334118), Hardware Manufacturing (33251)
- SIC
- Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420), Wholesale-Hardware (5072), Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Enclosures, Thermal Management & Hardware (Fasteners) Retail (CRACAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Spare Parts & Replacement Components Retail (Batteries, Screens, Chargers) (CRACAJAG), Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) & Shelf-Edge Hardware (HDACAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Penn Elcom is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices12 records
Markets served
Penn Elcom business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales (E-commerce): Direct-to-consumer and B2B sales of flight case hardware, 19-inch racks, speaker hardware, LED lighting, cables, and accessories through their online storefront. Offers retail customer accounts and dedicated company accounts with credit facilities, improved quantity pricing, and drop shipping options.
- Custom Manufacturing: Custom product design and manufacturing services to fulfil specific requirements, as well as customization of pre-existing products to suit customer needs.
- Software Subscriptions: Case Designer software subscriptions (mentioned in relation to discount exclusions on the tool).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard E-commerce Pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Company Account Pricing |
| Subscription | One time/ perpetual license | Newsletter Subscription Discount |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Penn Elcom product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Penn Elcom manufactures and globally distributes a broad range of physical hardware for professional equipment protection and mounting: flight case components (latches, handles, corners, castors, extrusions, panels, hinges, fasteners), 19-inch server racks and enclosures, speaker cabinet hardware, professional AV cables and Neutrik connectors, LED lighting modules, and ergonomic computer holders. The catalogue is supported by proprietary browser-based Panel Designer, Case Designer, and Rack Unit Calculator software tools that let customers configure and quote custom solutions, alongside in-house custom manufacturing services.
Product overview
Penn Elcom is a global manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional hardware products and software tools. The core offerings include Flight Case Hardware (latches, handles, corners, castors, extrusions, and 26+ subcategories), 19 Inch Racking solutions (server enclosures, shelves, power distribution, and cooling), Crating Hardware (industrial shipping hardware), Speaker Hardware (cabinet components), Cables & Connectors (professional AV cabling), LED Lighting (profiles, drivers, controls), Computer Holders, and Parcel Boxes. The product line is complemented by software tools including Panel Designer (custom rack panel design), Case Designer (flight case visualization), and Rack Unit Calculator. Custom manufacturing services enable bespoke product development. The portfolio serves pro audio, AV, broadcast, IT, data center, military, medical, and live event industries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Flight Case Hardware Comprehensive range of hardware components for flight case construction including latches, handles, corners, castors, hinges, extrusions, panels, fasteners and accessories designed for protecting equipment during transport in touring, broadcast, and industrial applications.
- 19 Inch Racking Server racks, enclosures, and rack-mount accessories for IT, data center, and AV applications including cabinets, shelves, drawers, cooling systems, and power distribution units.
- Crating Hardware Industrial hardware for wooden crate construction including pallet cushions, spacers, cleat locks, spring locks, hinges, hasps, latches, heavy-duty brackets, foam, glue, castors, and skids for secure shipping and storage.
- Speaker Hardware Hardware components for speaker cabinet construction and installation including custom grilles, corners, clamps, poles, mounting brackets, feet, handles, carpet, paint, and foam.
- Cables & Connectors Professional audio and AV cables, leads, wall plates, stage boxes, and cable protection systems, including Neutrik connectors, stocked for pro audio and AV system builds.
- LED Lighting LED lighting solutions including aluminium profiles, flex strips, modules, drivers, and controls for architectural and commercial lighting installations, incorporating Osram and Inventronics components.
- Computer Holders Ergonomic mounting solutions for computers and laptops including under-desk CPU holders, computer drawers, and cable management trays for office and workstation use.
- Parcel Boxes Secure parcel delivery boxes for residential and commercial properties to protect packages from theft and weather.
- Panel Designer Browser-based design tool enabling users to create custom rack panels with cut-outs, text, and graphics, with automatic clearance calculations and live pricing, available to customers designing bespoke 19-inch rack panels.
- Case Designer Flight case design software rebuilt from the ground up with a new software stack, providing improved performance, expanded hardware options, and live pricing so case builders can visualize and quote custom cases quickly, sold on subscription.
- Rack Unit Calculator Online utility tool for calculating rack unit requirements and dimensions for 19-inch rack installations, used by IT, AV, and broadcast customers during rack planning.
- Custom Manufacturing Bespoke design and manufacturing service that produces custom hardware or modifies existing Penn Elcom catalogue products to meet specialized customer requirements, delivered through in-house manufacturing facilities in the UK, Germany, and China.
Companies that use Penn Elcom
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Penn Elcom technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Penn Elcom partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Diamant Group World AudiocoreOfficial distributor for Penn Elcom products in Mexico with multiple locations in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Toluca, and Monterrey.
- Winston CasescoreOfficial distributor for Penn Elcom products in Ireland, based in Dublin.
- P A Systems A/ScoreOfficial distributor for Penn Elcom products in Norway, based in Oslo.
- XPro Music GroupcoreOfficial distributor for Penn Elcom products in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay.
- UKMA-1 LtdcoreOfficial distributor for Penn Elcom products in Ukraine, based in Kiev.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Penn Elcom competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Rittal: Global industrial enclosure and IT rack manufacturer serving data centres, industrial automation, and infrastructure. Competes with Penn Elcom's 19-inch rack line for IT/data centre buyers with a much broader portfolio of enclosure solutions.
- Middle Atlantic Products (Legrand AV): Manufacturer of AV racks, enclosures, and infrastructure for AV integrators, broadcast, and IT. Direct overlap on the 19-inch rack product line for the Broadcast/AV Integration customer segment that Penn Elcom also prioritises.
- Pelican Products: Large diversified manufacturer of protective cases for industrial, military, and consumer applications. While not focused on pro-audio flight case hardware, it competes for protective case applications and is frequently evaluated by the same enterprise buyers in defense and medical.
- Tripp Lite: Manufacturer of power, rack, cooling and connectivity solutions for IT and data centre applications. Competes with Penn Elcom for IT and data centre customers needing rack, PDU, and cooling hardware.
- Huber + Suhner: Swiss manufacturer of connectivity and cable solutions for communications, transportation, and industrial markets. Overlaps with Penn Elcom's cables & connectors category, particularly for pro-audio customers.
Direct peers
- SKB Cases: US-based manufacturer of molded and heavy-duty flight cases for musical instruments, pro audio, and military applications. Competes with Penn Elcom's cases and rack hardware for touring musicians, AV integrators, and military equipment protection.
- Adam Hall Group: Manufacturer and distributor of flight case hardware, pro-audio, lighting, and stage hardware under brands like Adam Hall Hardware and Defender. Direct competitor to Penn Elcom's flight case hardware catalogue, with overlapping SKUs and a similar European customer base.
- Gator Cases (Gator Frameworks): Manufacturer of cases, stands, racks and accessories for musical instruments and pro audio. Overlaps with Penn Elcom's flight case hardware, speaker hardware, and 19-inch rack product categories, serving similar musicians and production customers.
- B&W International: European manufacturer of rugged cases and custom transit cases for pro audio, military, medical and industrial buyers. Comparable product offering (cases, foam inserts, hardware) with overlapping customer segments.
Others
- Neutrik: Manufacturer of professional audio connectors and accessories. An existing supplier/partner of Penn Elcom, it represents an adjacent product peer in the cables and connectors category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Penn Elcom social profiles
Digital presencePenn Elcom compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Penn Elcom financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Penn Elcom leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Penn Elcom subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Penn Elcom funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Penn Elcom M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Penn Elcom
What does Penn Elcom do?
Penn Elcom manufactures and globally distributes a broad range of physical hardware for professional equipment protection and mounting: flight case components (latches, handles, corners, castors, extrusions, panels, hinges, fasteners), 19-inch server racks and enclosures, speaker cabinet hardware, professional AV cables and Neutrik connectors, LED lighting modules, and ergonomic computer holders. The catalogue is supported by proprietary browser-based Panel Designer, Case Designer, and Rack Unit Calculator software tools that let customers configure and quote custom solutions, alongside in-house custom manufacturing services.
Is Penn Elcom a public or private company?
Penn Elcom is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Penn Elcom founded?
Penn Elcom was founded in 1974. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Penn Elcom based?
Penn Elcom is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Penn Elcom make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (E-commerce) is the primary driver. The others are custom Manufacturing and software Subscriptions.
Who are Penn Elcom's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Rittal, Middle Atlantic Products (Legrand AV), Pelican Products, Tripp Lite and Huber + Suhner. Direct peers are SKB Cases, Adam Hall Group, Gator Cases (Gator Frameworks) and B&W International. Neutrik is listed as an others.
Does Penn Elcom have an API?
No public API is recorded for Penn Elcom.
What industry is Penn Elcom in?
Penn Elcom's product category is AV Racking & Flight Case Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAKAL, Enclosures, Thermal Management & Hardware (Fasteners) Retail, with a secondary code of CRACAJAG, Spare Parts & Replacement Components Retail (Batteries, Screens, Chargers). Its NAICS code is 332510 and its SIC code is 3420.