Jack Frost Ironworks

What Jack Frost Ironworks does

Ralph H. Simpson Co. is a structural and miscellaneous metals contractor serving the Chicagoland market, founded in 1842 and operating as a privately held, union shop affiliated with Iron Workers Regional Shop Local #853. The company fabricates and erects structural steel, miscellaneous steel (CMU clips, embeds, ladders, platforms, grating, roof davits, custom support materials), metal stairs and railings, and architectural ironwork for general contractors, architects, and building owners. Operations are split between an Elmhurst headquarters and a 13,000 sq ft Fox Lake fabrication building with a 1-acre storage lot.

The company's core technology stack centers on metal fabrication and welding, augmented by an in-house ULTRALOX aluminum railing and balcony product line built on patented interlocking technology licensed from ULTRALOX. This partnership enables component inventory management (the Ultralox Inventory System) and in-house fabrication of picket, glass panel, fencing, cable, and screen railing systems, reducing lead times relative to third-party sourcing. Project delivery follows a shop-drawings-to-installation control model, with creative problem-solving applied to design changes, tight installation conditions, and multi-trade coordination challenges.

Revenue is generated through project-based, quote-priced contracts with general contractors and building owners across commercial, institutional, and residential construction in the Chicagoland area — no pricing is publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales: a dedicated estimating/sales team engages GCs via phone (630.782.9007), a website with project portfolio and blog, and direct partnerships with GCs and engineering firms (e.g., Turner Construction, Pierce Engineers on the Brookfield Zoo Chicago North American Prairie Aviary). In 2024, Ralph H. Simpson Co. acquired Jack Frost Ironworks, integrating its structural and ornamental ironwork team and capabilities into the parent entity. Leadership consists of President Kristopher M. Haas and Vice President Matthew C. Prodehl, supported by long-tenured detailers, engineers, and union erectors.

Name

Jack Frost Ironworks

Legal name

Ralph H. Simpson Co.

Website

https://jackfrostironworks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1842

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ralph H. Simpson Co. (which acquired Jack Frost Ironworks in 2024) is a Chicagoland structural and miscellaneous metals fabricator serving general contractors, architects, and building owners across commercial, institutional, and residential construction projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fox Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Metal Fabrication Services: Project-based fabrication services for structural steel, miscellaneous steel, stairs, railings, and architectural metalwork. Revenue generated through direct project contracts with general contractors, architects, and building owners.
2. ULTRALOX Aluminum Railings & Balconies: Sale and installation of ULTRALOX aluminum railing systems and balconies for residential and commercial projects, including fully assembled balcony systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Jack Frost Ironworks, now part of Ralph H. Simpson Co., is a structural and miscellaneous metals contractor that fabricates and erects steel and iron products for construction projects in the Chicagoland area. Its core offerings include structural steel, miscellaneous steel components (CMU clips, embeds, ladders, platforms, grating, roof davits), stairs and railings, architectural/ornamental ironwork, and ULTRALOX aluminum railing and balcony systems. The company operates as a union shop with 13,000 square feet of fabrication space and a 1-acre storage lot, serving general contractors and builders on commercial and residential construction projects.

Product overview

Ralph H. Simpson Co., which acquired Jack Frost Ironworks, is a structural and miscellaneous metals contractor offering a comprehensive portfolio of ironwork and steel fabrication products. The product line includes Miscellaneous Steel (CMU clips, embeds, partitions, ladders, platforms, grating, roof davits), Stairs and Railings (egress stairs, concrete railings, stainless steel railings, guardrails, safety railings), ULTRALOX Aluminum Railings & Balconies (featuring patented interlocking technology for picket, glass, fencing, cable, and screen styles), Architectural Ironwork for decorative installations, and Structural Steel fabrication. The company operates as a union shop (Iron Workers Regional Shop Local #853) with 13,000 square feet of fabrication space and a 1-acre storage lot, serving Chicagoland construction projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Miscellaneous Steel Fabrication Custom fabrication of miscellaneous steel products including CMU clips, embeds, toilet partitions, vanity supports, folding partition supports, ladders, miscellaneous support material, platforms, grating, and roof davits for commercial construction projects.
• Structural Steel Fabrication & Erection Structural steel fabrication and erection for building construction projects, including collaboration with general contractors on commercial buildings such as the Brookfield Zoo North American Prairie Aviary.
• Stairs and Railings Fabrication of metal stairs and railings including standard egress metal stairs, concrete stair railings, stainless steel stair and ramp railings, guardrails, planter railings, and safety railings.
• ULTRALOX Aluminum Railings & Balconies Aluminum railings and balcony systems using patented ULTRALOX Interlocking Technology, available in traditional picket railing, glass panel, fencing, cable systems, and screen options for residential and commercial projects.
• Architectural Ironwork Decorative and ornamental architectural ironwork installations for aesthetic building applications, including custom design-build metalwork for architects and design teams.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced lead times by weeks through in-house ULTRALOX fabrication capability

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ULTRALOXcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to provide ULTRALOX aluminum railings and balconies using patented interlocking technology. Ralph H. Simpson fabricates aluminum railings in-house, controlling the process from shop drawings to installation and reducing lead times by weeks.
• Chicago Women In Trades (CWIT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support CWIT's Women in Welding Program through quarterly workshops providing hands-on training and theoretical knowledge. Addresses skilled labor shortage by empowering women with welding skills and career opportunities.
• Turner ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral contractor partnership on Brookfield Zoo Chicago North American Prairie Aviary project. Ralph H. Simpson provided structural steel and miscellaneous metals fabrication for the enclosure.
• Pierce EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering collaboration on Brookfield Zoo project to adapt design from rigid mesh to flexible mesh with upsized lacing bar and additional HSS struts, ensuring cost-effective and timely solution.
• Iron Workers Regional Shop Local #853coreOthersProud union shop affiliated with Iron Workers Regional Shop Local #853, representing production workers and ensuring skilled labor standards.
• NommaminorOthersMember of Nomma organization, an industry association for metal fabricators.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Arcosa, Inc. Diversified infrastructure products company with a structural steel fabrication segment. Comparable as a broader incumbent with overlapping structural and miscellaneous metals offerings.
• Commercial Metals Company (CMC): Vertically integrated steel producer and rebar/structural fabrication operator. Represents a large incumbent whose fabrication arm competes for the same commercial and infrastructure projects.
• Nucor Corporation: Largest steel producer in the U.S. with adjacent fabrication and joist/deck businesses. Comparable as an upstream/downstream steel incumbent whose scale dwarfs regional fabricators but who competes for the same end-project bidding.

Direct peers

• Banker Steel Company: Structural steel fabricator serving large commercial and institutional projects. Directly comparable product mix (structural steel, miscellaneous metals) and delivery model (project-based GC relationships).
• Schuff Steel: Structural steel fabricator and erector for commercial, healthcare, and industrial buildings. Closely comparable as a structural and miscellaneous metals contractor with end-to-end detailing, fabrication, and erection.
• SteelFab: Structural and miscellaneous steel fabricator with multiple fabrication facilities serving commercial, industrial, and healthcare markets. Comparable scale and product scope to Ralph H. Simpson/Jack Frost Ironworks, with similar project-based GC delivery.
• DBM Global: One of North America's largest structural steel fabricators operating through subsidiaries such as Schuff Steel and Banker Steel. Directly comparable as a multi-plant structural and miscellaneous metals contractor serving commercial/institutional construction.
• Canam Steel Corporation: Structural steel fabricator serving commercial, institutional, and industrial construction across North America. Comparable product mix (structural steel and miscellaneous metals) and project-based contract model.
• Zalk Josephs Fabricators: Structural and miscellaneous steel fabricator for commercial, healthcare, and educational buildings. Comparable as a shop-based miscellaneous metals and structural steel contractor serving GCs and developers.

Regional players

• Olympic Steel: Cleveland-based steel service center and metal fabrication business serving the Midwest and beyond. Comparable as a regional metal-processing and fabrication peer whose Midwest footprint overlaps with Chicagoland demand.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jack-frost-iron-works

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Jack Frost Ironworks