C.J. Anderson

What C.J. Anderson does

C.J. Anderson & Company is a privately held, family-owned American manufacturer of specialty elevator equipment founded in 1910 by Swedish immigrants Carl John Anderson and his brothers in Chicago, Illinois, and currently operating from a single foundry and manufacturing facility in Harwood Heights, Illinois (relocated there in 1984 under Sybert family ownership). The company designs, casts, machines, and assembles built-to-order elevator fixtures, control systems, switches, door locking devices, retiring cams, selector/leveling systems, and cab equipment, with particular depth in three niches: (1) historically accurate Classic Antique cast brass fixtures spanning 11 styles from the 1910s-1940s, supported by original casting patterns still in use; (2) NEMA 4/12/4X water/dust/corrosion-resistant fixtures for transit, food processing, and coastal environments; and (3) NEMA 7/9 explosion-proof elevator equipment for Class I & II hazardous locations serving oil refineries, chemical plants, grain elevators, mining operations, and aerospace launch facilities such as Kennedy Space Center and SpaceX.

The company monetizes through one-time hardware sales and professional services (fixture refurbishment and replication), with quote-based pricing for custom builds and unit pricing on catalog items. Distribution is direct via a BigCommerce e-commerce storefront, phone/email sales team, will-call pickup, and UPS Ground/Air/International shipping, with NET 30 terms available for approved commercial accounts. End customers include elevator contractors, historic building owners (Hotel Monteleone, Ahwahnee Hotel, Massachusetts State Capitol), transit authorities (MBTA), breweries (Anheuser-Busch), aquariums (Georgia Aquarium), stadiums (T-Mobile Park), and hazardous-location industrial operators. The company holds ASME compliance, Buy American certification, and NEMA 7/9 hazardous-location certifications, and maintains memberships in NAEC, Elevator U, EESF, Chicago Elevator Association, and ASME.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Headcount is stated at 11-50 employees. The company carries no external investment, has no parent company, and has no subsidiaries, operating as a multi-generational family business with no AI/ML or software product surface. The business model is fundamentally analog, project-driven, and reliant on the irreplaceable century-old casting pattern archive as its core differentiator.

Name

C.J. Anderson

Legal name

C.J. Anderson & Company

Website

https://cjanderson.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

C.J. Anderson & Company is a 1910-founded, family-owned American manufacturer of specialty elevator fixtures, switches, door locking devices, and NEMA-rated explosion-proof and corrosion-resistant elevator equipment, serving historic buildings, transit authorities, breweries, refineries, and aerospace launch facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Elevator Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Elevator and Moving Stairway Manufacturing (333921), Ornamental and Architectural Metal Products Manufacturing (33232), Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313)

SIC

Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442)

akta.pro primary industry

Elevator Modernization & Retrofit (Controllers, Drives, Door Systems) (BPABAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Metal Cladding, Soffits & Trim (Non-Panel Components) (IMADACAM)

Keywords

• Elevator fixtures manufacturing
• Elevator control systems
• Elevator door interlocks
• Explosion-proof elevator equipment
• Historic elevator restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Harwood Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Elevator Equipment Sales: Primary revenue from manufacturing and selling elevator fixtures, control systems, switches, door interlocks, retiring cams, and replacement parts. Products sold through e-commerce website, phone orders, and quote-based custom orders. One-time hardware sales with no recurring subscription component.
2. Fixture Restoration Services: Restoration services for existing elevator fixtures including disassembly, cleaning, rebuilding with upgraded internals and LEDs. Services for dial indicators, hall stations, car stations, hall lanterns, and position indicators. Fixture Quote Turnaround Time: 1-2 Days After Photos Received.
3. Fixture Replication Services: Recreation of fixtures from original pieces provided by customers. Pattern made from original and recast, with replicated piece approximately 1/4" to 1/2" smaller overall.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

C.J. Anderson & Company manufactures elevator fixtures, control systems, switches, door locking devices, retiring cams, and specialty elevator components at its Harwood Heights, Illinois foundry. The product portfolio spans 11 distinct Classic Antique cast brass fixture styles (dating 1910s-1940s), NEMA 4/12/4X water/dust/corrosion resistant fixtures, NEMA 7/9 explosion-proof hazardous-location equipment, and modern replacement parts. The company also provides fixture refurbishment, restoration, and replication services for historic building elevator modernization.

Product overview

C.J. Anderson & Company is an elevator equipment manufacturer founded in 1910, operating as a single unified product portfolio of elevator components and fixtures rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings center on Built-to-Order Elevator Fixtures—including 11 distinct Classic Antique Cast Brass Styles, Historic Dial Indicators, and lever-activated fixtures—complemented by comprehensive Hoistway Equipment (Door Locking Devices, Switches, Retiring Cams, Selector/Leveling Systems), Cab Equipment (Door Safety Devices, Telephones, Intercoms, Alarm Bells), Controller Accessories spanning legacy (1910-1989) and modern (1990-present) systems, and specialty lines including NEMA 4/12/4X Water/Dust/Corrosion Resistant Fixtures and NEMA 7/9 Hazardous Location Explosion-Proof Equipment. The company also offers Fixture Refurbishment Services for restoring existing antique fixtures. Products are manufactured in Harwood Heights, Illinois with a focus on durability for harsh environments and historic authenticity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Built-to-Order Elevator Fixtures Custom-built elevator fixtures manufactured to customer specifications, including car stations, hall stations, position indicators, and cover plates. Designed for both historic restoration and modern elevator projects.
• Cast Brass Cover Plates (Classic Antique Styles 1-11) Solid cast brass face plates available in 11 distinct antique styles dating from the 1910s through 1940s, with buttons machined from solid brass bar stock. Used for historic elevator restoration projects requiring authentic period fixtures.
• Historic Cast Brass Dial Indicators Vintage/antique dial position indicators combining cast brass aesthetics with modern solid-state technology, available in 180 and 360-degree configurations for historic and reproduction elevators.
• Water/Dust/Corrosion Resistant Fixtures (NEMA 4/12/4X) Weatherproof and corrosion-resistant elevator equipment rated NEMA 4, 12, and 4X for challenging environments including transit elevators, airports, meat processing plants, breweries, and food/pharmaceutical facilities requiring frequent washdowns with disinfecting solutions.
• Hazardous Location Equipment (NEMA 7/9) Explosion-proof elevator components certified for Class I and II, Division 1 and 2 hazardous areas, meeting UL/CSA standards for oil refineries, grain elevators, chemical plants, water reclamation facilities, pharmaceutical companies, rocket launch towers, gas processing facilities, mines, coker plants, and processing plants.
• NEMA 4/12 Lever Fixtures Water and dust resistant lever-activated elevator fixtures originally designed by C.J. Anderson, rated for harsh environments and high voltage lines up to 440VDC.
• FT-13 High Voltage Fixtures Heavy-duty cast brass lever fixtures rated for up to 480VAC/DC, designed for constant pressure elevator systems with higher voltage requirements in older buildings with 220-440VDC systems.
• Elevator Controllers Elevator control systems including legacy controllers (1910-1989) and modernization solutions (1990 to present) for elevator operation, supported by wiring diagrams and replacement parts.
• Door Locking Devices Elevator door interlocks including vertical bi-parting, vertical single slide, horizontal single slide, single swinging door, and double swinging door configurations for elevator hoistway equipment.
• Elevator Switches Comprehensive switch lineup including gate switches, limit switches, slack cable switches, floor switches, leveling switches, and machine limit switches for elevator hoistway applications.
• Retiring Cams Elevator retiring cams for door opening and closing operations in hoistway equipment applications.
• Selector/Leveling Systems Selector and leveling systems for accurate elevator floor positioning and door synchronization.
• FC2A Car Switches Manual elevator car switches for attendant-operated elevators, available with call registration annunciators and supporting various speed configurations.
• Elevator Operator Folding Seat Heavy-duty oak elevator operator folding seat with cast brass bracket, dimensions 21 inches folded, 12H x 14D x 10W inches extended, for attendant-operated elevators.
• Fixture Refurbishment Services Restoration of existing elevator fixtures (cast brass/bronze, sheet stock brass, stainless steel) to like-new condition, including disassembly, cleaning, rebuilding with upgraded internals and LEDs, and replication of historic patterns from customer-supplied originals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fixture Quote Turnaround: 24 Hours
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC)coreOthersNAEC is the original trade association representing elevator contractors, suppliers, and professionals dedicated to advancing the vertical transportation industry. Through its advocacy, educational programs, annual conventions, and networking opportunities, NAEC fosters best practices, industry safety, and innovation.
• Elevator UminorOthersProfessional association focused on the unique needs of elevator professionals within universities, hospitals, and institutional facilities. Promotes elevator safety, performance, and in-house maintenance management.
• Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation (EESF)minorOthersNonprofit organization committed to educating the public on safe behaviors around elevators, escalators, and moving walks. Outreach reduces preventable accidents and builds awareness in vertical transportation safety.
• Chicago Elevator Association (CEA)minorOthersRegional industry group that brings together elevator contractors, consultants, suppliers, and inspectors in the Chicago area to share knowledge and strengthen the vertical transportation community.
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)coreOthersGlobal authority behind elevator safety codes in North America. Supports engineers and manufacturers through standards, training, and certifications that enhance mechanical safety and innovation. CJA's products comply with ASME standards.
• Buy American CompliantminorOthersProducts meet federal requirements for domestic sourcing under the Buy American Act. Supports U.S. manufacturing and is vital for government-funded infrastructure projects.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ECI (Elevator Controls, Inc.): ECI manufactures elevator controllers, fixtures, and modernization equipment. Direct overlap with CJA's controller accessories (legacy and modern) and built-to-order fixture offerings, serving the elevator modernization market.
• Monitor Elevator Products: Monitor Elevator Products manufactures elevator fixtures, car operating panels, and hall stations. Direct competitor in the elevator fixtures segment with comparable specialty and custom product offerings to CJA.
• Hollister-Whitney Elevator Company: Hollister-Whitney manufactures elevator safety components, buffers, and related equipment with a long history in the industry. Comparable to CJA as a long-established specialty elevator equipment manufacturer serving both modernization and new construction markets.
• Adams Elevator Equipment Company: Adams Elevator Equipment manufactures classic and specialty elevator fixtures, car stations, hall stations, and related elevator components. Highly comparable to C.J. Anderson as a direct competitor in the niche of period-appropriate and custom elevator fixtures for historic and specialty buildings.
• PTL Equipment Company: PTL Equipment is a specialty elevator parts manufacturer offering fixtures, switches, and components to the elevator industry. Comparable niche positioning to CJA in serving elevator contractors with specialty parts and fixtures.
• GAL Manufacturing Corporation: GAL Manufacturing is a direct competitor producing elevator door locks, interlock systems, and related hoistway equipment. Strong overlap with CJA's door locking devices and hoistway product lines for both modernization and new installation markets.
• Innovation Industries Inc. Innovation Industries manufactures elevator door protection devices, photo eyes, and related safety equipment. Overlaps with CJA's door safety devices and hoistway equipment categories in the elevator component market.

Broad incumbents

• KONE Corporation: KONE is a global elevator and escalator manufacturer with broad modernization and service offerings. Functions as a broad incumbent whose comprehensive product portfolio and global service network contrasts with CJA's specialized focus on niche elevator components.
• Otis Worldwide Corporation: Otis is the world's largest elevator and escalator manufacturer offering new installation, modernization, and service. While not competing in CJA's specialty niches directly, Otis represents the broad incumbent whose scale advantages could pressure niche specialists if they target these segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cjandersonco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 C.J. Anderson