Composite Access Products

What Composite Access Products does

Composite Access Products (CAP) is a privately held US manufacturer of compression-molded composite manhole covers and frames, headquartered and produced in McAllen, Texas. Founded in 2015 by composites-industry veteran W. Chad Nunnery, the company is the only US-based manufacturer that molds composite manhole covers in-house rather than outsourcing or importing, using a proprietary combination of continuous/long and short fibers with compression molding to differentiate from the RIM, RTM, and SMC processes used by competing composite cover makers. The product line spans the CAP ONE series (24", 30", and 36" clear openings), the flagship CAP ONE-36 with over 100,000-pound load capacity, the patented CAP RF for RFID-enabled asset tracking, the CAP STONE aesthetic line, the patent-pending HALO riser ring system, and the CAP CLAW ergonomic lifting tool. CAP holds state DOT approvals including TXDOT for unrestricted within-roadway use and meets AASHTO M 306 HS-25 traffic ratings.

CAP sells primarily to municipal governments, water and wastewater utilities, and public works departments across 48 states, with secondary reach into telecom, electrical utility, and food-service verticals. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales (phone, website, email) with channel partners including Core & Main (national distributor) and Streamline Sales and Marketing (Colorado/Utah regional representation). Pricing is quote-based for most products, with the CAP CLAW tool publicly priced at $300 and HALO installations at $300-$500 per manhole. Revenue mechanics are anchored in hardware sales of long-life infrastructure assets sold to a highly distributed base of over 1,000 municipal customers. Marketing is supported by industry trade shows (WWETT, Tri-State, Colorado Rural Water), trade publication coverage (Municipal Sewer and Water, I&I Magazine), a PBS educational broadcast featuring Dennis Quaid, and a Spanish-language website serving Hispanic-majority municipalities. The company has received the American Composite Manufacturers Association's Award for Composites Excellence (2020 winner, 2023 finalist) and has helped customers such as Fulton County, GA eliminate sewer overflows and Manatee County, FL withstand Hurricane Helene storm surge with sealed composite covers.

Name

Composite Access Products

Legal name

Composite Access Products

Website

https://justcapthat.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Composite Access Products (CAP) manufactures compression-molded composite manhole covers and frames in McAllen, Texas, serving municipal governments, water and wastewater utilities, and public works departments across 48 states with watertight, corrosion-resistant infrastructure products and accessories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Composite Manhole Covers and Infrastructure Access Products

NAICS

Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326), Laminated Plastics Plate, Sheet (except Packaging), and Shape Manufacturing (32613)

SIC

Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820)

akta.pro primary industry

FRP/GRP & Composite Materials (Resins, Fibers, Core Materials) (IMAJAKAC)

Keywords

• Composite manhole covers
• Manhole frames infrastructure
• Municipal sewer infrastructure
• Wastewater access products
• Composite access covers

Headquarters

HQ city

Mcallen

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Composite Manhole Covers and Frames: CAP manufactures and sells composite manhole covers and frames in multiple sizes (24", 30", 36") with various locking mechanisms. Products include CAP ONE series, CAP STONE aesthetic covers, and specialized configurations for wastewater, stormwater, grease traps, telecom, and electrical vault applications.
2. CAP CLAW Tool: Ergonomic dual-function manhole cover lifting tool with magnetic receiver and various sockets for all fastening systems. Price: $300.
3. HALO Riser Ring System: Composite riser ring system for road maintenance and grade adjustments. Compatible exclusively with CAP frames and covers. Stackable design for future repaving without excavation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Composite Access Products manufactures and sells compression-molded composite manhole covers and frames for municipal wastewater, stormwater, telecom, and electrical infrastructure applications. The company offers a range of products including the CAP ONE series (24", 30", 36" clear openings), CAP STONE aesthetic covers, CAP RF RFID-enabled covers, HALO Top Riser Ring System, and CAP CLAW lifting tool. CAP is the only US manufacturer to mold composite manhole covers in-house with state DOT approval for within-roadway use.

Product overview

Composite Access Products (CAP) manufactures a product line of compression-molded composite manhole covers and frames, distinguished by proprietary continuous/long and short fiber technology. The core CAP ONE series (24", 30", 36") serves general utility access across wastewater, stormwater, electrical, telecom, and broadband applications. The flagship CAP ONE – 36 offers maximum capacity for heavy-duty applications with a 41-inch cover and 100,000+ pound rating. Specialized sub-products include CAP RF (RFID-enabled asset tracking), CAP STONE (aesthetic stone-textured covers), and the HALO riser ring system for rapid elevation adjustment. The CAP CLAW tool supports ergonomic cover handling. All products share compression-molded composite construction, HS-25 traffic ratings, watertight sealing, and corrosion resistance. CAP is the only US manufacturer molding composite covers in-house with state DOT approval for unrestricted within-roadway use.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CAP ONE: Standard composite manhole cover and frame assembly available in 24, 30, and 36 inch clear opening sizes for water, wastewater, electrical, and broadband markets.
• CAP STONE
• CAP RF
• HALO
• CAP CLAW

Products and services

• CAP ONE Series (24", 30", 36") Standard composite manhole cover and frame product line available in 24", 30", and 36" clear openings. Compression-molded with continuous/long and short fiber composite meeting AASHTO M 306 HS-25 proof load requirements, featuring gasketed and bolted watertight seal, 316 stainless steel hardware, and encapsulated neodymium magnet for standard metal detector locating. Weighs approximately half traditional iron covers.
• CAP ONE – 36 The largest and most heavy-duty CAP product, featuring a 41-inch diameter cover with 2-inch thickness and over 100,000-pound load rating. Offers 36-inch clear opening frame with 8-inch longer flanges, thicker walls, and double the frame edge compared to standard covers. Third-party certified watertight at 0.00 gpm submerged in 15 inches of water overnight.
• HALO Top Riser Ring System Patent-pending traffic-rated composite riser ring system exclusively compatible with CAP frames and covers. Enables rapid elevation adjustment for repaving projects in minutes by one person without excavation, costing $300–$500 per manhole versus $5,000–$10,000 for traditional excavation and concrete curing. Watertight, corrosion-resistant, and stackable for future repaving projects.
• CAP CLAW Dual-function ergonomic manhole cover lifting tool combining a piking hook and wrench. Features waist-height operation for safer lumbar lifting with balanced weight providing rotation for rapid bolt turning. Magnetic receiver accepts multiple sockets for CAP's hex, penta, and Allen-style fastener heads, plus quarter-turn paddle lock engagement. Priced at $300. Can open CAP ONE 36 (41-inch cover) in under 30 seconds with single operator.
• CAP STONE Aesthetic composite manhole cover line featuring stone-like textures and custom color matching (sandstone, gray granite) for integration with pavers, landscaping, parks, campuses, and planned communities. Also offers color options for utility identification (blue for potable/stormwater, green for sanitary sewers, collegiate colors). Includes UV inhibitors to minimize color fading.
• CAP RF (Radio Frequency) Patented compression-molded composite manhole cover with RFID hardware encapsulated directly in the composite substrate during molding. Enables point-of-use storage and retrieval of manhole ID, rim elevation, GPS coordinates, maintenance history, in-hole asset information (ARVs, meters, sensors), and operating instructions without opening the cover. Locatable via RF scanners. Signal-transparent composite eliminates need for antenna holes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero sewer overflows reported - 'It was the first time in the history of the county that we reported no spills.'
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Core & MaincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Major national distributor processing CAP orders. Demonstrated rapid order fulfillment with one large order processed in two days from PO receipt: raw material acquisition, production scheduling, molding, testing, hardware assembly, and packaging.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Core & Main: Core & Main is a major US water, wastewater, and infrastructure distribution partner of CAP, processing large orders rapidly. Not a peer manufacturer but the most consequential channel partner — relevant for understanding CAP's go-to-market dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• EJ Group (East Jordan Iron Works): EJ is the dominant North American manhole cover and drainage infrastructure manufacturer, with both iron and composite product lines (COMPOSOLITE). Directly comparable as a supplier of municipal manhole access products, but vastly larger and broader in catalog.
• Oldcastle Infrastructure: Oldcastle (CRH) is a major US manufacturer of concrete and polymer manhole structures, inlets, and access products serving municipal infrastructure. Directly comparable end markets and product category, with scale advantages.
• Neenah Foundry: Neenah Enterprises is a long-established US iron foundry producing manhole covers, frames, and municipal infrastructure castings. Directly comparable end-customer and product category but in traditional iron rather than composites — CAP's primary displacement target.
• Contech Engineered Solutions: Contech offers a broad portfolio of stormwater, sanitary, and infrastructure products including composite access solutions. Comparable end-customer (municipalities, DOTs) and overlapping product category, but vastly larger and portfolio-driven.

Direct peers

• Hamilton Kent: Hamilton Kent manufactures composite manhole adjustment risers and access products for the wastewater and utility markets. Comparable as a direct composite-access-product competitor to CAP, particularly in North American municipal channels.
• Ladtech Inc. Ladtech produces HDPE and composite manhole/structure adjustment risers and grade rings for municipal infrastructure. Closely comparable product category (composite access/grade adjustment) and overlapping buyer (public works, utilities).
• Fibrelite: Fibrelite manufactures composite (GRP/Fiberglass) access covers and trench panels for utility and municipal applications. Closely comparable product (composite manhole/utility covers) and end-customer base globally.

Emerging players

• Blackthorn Composites: Smaller composite manufacturer with exposure to infrastructure access products. Less direct overlap than Hamilton Kent or Ladtech, but operates in the same composites-for-municipal-infrastructure niche.

Regional players

• Reln Pty Ltd: Australia-based manufacturer of plastic/composite drainage and access products for infrastructure. Comparable in product family (composite infrastructure access) but geographically focused on Australia/NZ rather than competing directly with CAP in the US.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=YqI0x8dKW1Q
• Xx.com/CAPmanholecover
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/composite-access-products

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 Composite Access Products