Guardian Electric Mfg. Co,

What Guardian Electric Mfg. Co, does

Guardian Electric Manufacturing Co. is a U.S.-based custom manufacturer of precision-engineered electromagnetic and electromechanical components, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kelco Industries, a diversified American manufacturing conglomerate headquartered in Illinois. Founded in 1932 and operating under the Kelco umbrella since 1909, the company specializes in control grips, switches, relays, solenoids, and coils designed for mission-critical aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. Its technology centers on custom manufacturing of flight-critical and hermetically sealed components — including the CH-53K Sikorsky helicopter control grip — with vibration-resistant construction, high-temperature tolerance, and aerospace-grade material selection. All production is U.S.-based and certified to AS9100/ISO 9001 with ITAR registration for export-controlled defense work, and ISO 13485 for medical-grade manufacturing.

The company's products are sold via a direct enterprise field sales motion to prime contractors and OEMs in aerospace and defense. Pricing is quote-based reflecting the custom nature of each engagement, and contracts typically span multiple years, aligning revenue with long program lifecycles. Named customers include Boeing, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Sikorsky, Virgin Galactic, and the U.S. Department of Defense. Beyond aerospace and defense, Guardian Electric serves energy and power generation, medical and pharmaceutical, and broader industrial segments, leveraging the parent Kelco Industries' four-subsidiary structure (Guardian Electric, Flex-Weld, Advanced Molding Technologies, and Western Consolidated Technologies) for integrated component solutions.

In 2025, the parent Kelco Industries acquired Intersol Industries Inc., extending the solenoid portfolio and electromagnetic device capability. The company markets primarily through corporate channels operated by Kelco Industries (LinkedIn, Facebook, email newsletter, and a direct website hosting capability brochures and line cards), with a growing distributor channel complementing direct sales. The business model is project-based custom manufacturing revenue tied to defense procurement cycles, with no public revenue disclosure and no external investor or PE backing evidenced in the source data.

Name

Guardian Electric Mfg. Co,

Legal name

Guardian Electric Manufacturing Co.

Website

https://guardian-electric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Guardian Electric Manufacturing Co. is a U.S.-based, AS9100/ITAR-certified custom manufacturer of mission-critical control grips, switches, relays, solenoids, and coils for aerospace, defense, and industrial OEMs, operating as a subsidiary of Kelco Industries since 1909.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electromechanical Components Manufacturing

NAICS

Capacitor, Resistor, Coil, Transformer, and Other Inductor Manufacturing (334416), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314), Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (334419), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531)

SIC

Electronic Coils, Transformers & Other Inductors (3677), Electronic Components, Nec (3679), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)

akta.pro primary industry

Electromechanical Components (Relays, Switches, Potentiometers, Encoders) (IMAGAJAB)

Keywords

• Aerospace solenoids manufacturing
• Electromechanical components supply
• Control grips production
• Defense relay manufacturing
• Precision switch components

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodstock

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Component Manufacturing: Project-based custom manufacturing of aerospace and industrial components. Revenue is generated through design, prototyping, and production contracts for mission-critical control components including solenoids, switches, relays, and control grips. Pricing is quote-based reflecting the custom nature of each application.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Guardian Electric Manufacturing Co. designs and manufactures custom-engineered electromagnetic and electromechanical components, including solenoids, coils, control grips, switches, and relays. These mission-critical components are built to AS9100/ISO quality standards and ITAR registration for aerospace, defense, space/rocketry, energy, and medical applications. The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kelco Industries and offers full vertical integration from design and prototyping through scalable production.

Product overview

Guardian Electric Manufacturing Co. operates as a subsidiary of Kelco Industries, specializing in mission-critical electromagnetic devices and motion control components. The product portfolio includes custom solenoids (tubular and custom-designed), coils, control grips (aircraft grips for platforms like CH-53K and Sikorsky), switches, and relays. These products are designed for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications requiring flight-critical qualification, vibration resistance, and high-temperature tolerance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Guardian Electric - Solenoids & Coils Precision-engineered solenoids and coils for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications, including tubular and custom-designed solenoids with vibration-resistant construction and high-temperature tolerance. Used in flight-critical and defense-qualified systems.
• Guardian Electric - Control Grips Mission-critical control grips for aerospace and defense systems, including aircraft control grips designed for CH-53K and Sikorsky platforms. Built for helicopter and fixed-wing applications.
• Guardian Electric - Switches & Relays Precision switches and relays for flight-critical and defense-qualified applications, supporting air, land, and sea systems. Engineered for stringent aerospace and military specifications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mission reliability through vibration-resistant construction and high-temperature tolerance

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Intersol Industries Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKelco Industries acquired Intersol Industries Inc., a manufacturer of custom electromagnetic devices including tubular and custom-designed solenoids. This acquisition strengthens Guardian Electric's solenoid manufacturing capabilities and expands the product portfolio.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Honeywell International: Honeywell Aerospace supplies a broad portfolio of avionics, switches, sensors, and electromechanical components to commercial and defense customers. Serves the same aerospace primes and overlaps with Guardian Electric's component offerings as part of a much wider portfolio.
• Curtiss-Wright Corporation: Curtiss-Wright manufactures engineered components, systems, and subsystems for defense, commercial aerospace, and industrial markets. Overlaps with Guardian Electric on mission-critical electromechanical and motion-control components within a broader product range.
• Meggitt PLC: Meggitt (now part of Parker Hannifin) supplies aerospace and defense components including sensors, switches, and heat-resistant electromechanical devices. Comparable in serving flight-critical applications with vibration- and high-temperature-tolerant components.
• TransDigm Group: TransDigm owns dozens of aerospace component specialists (including Leach International) producing proprietary, sole-source electromechanical parts for defense and commercial aviation. Closely comparable business model of niche, high-margin, certified aerospace components.
• Safran Group: Safran's aerospace division supplies propulsion, avionics, and electromechanical components for civil and military aircraft. Overlaps with Guardian Electric's mission-critical control components as part of a much larger Tier-1 supplier portfolio.

Direct peers

• Stoneridge Inc. Stoneridge designs and manufactures switches, sensors, and electronic systems for commercial, military, and off-highway vehicles. Comparable in the design and supply of precision switches and electromechanical controls.
• Moog Inc. Moog designs and manufactures precision motion control products, including solenoids, valves, and electromechanical actuators, for aerospace and defense markets. Overlaps with Guardian Electric's solenoid and motion control offering for flight-critical applications.
• TE Connectivity: TE Connectivity manufactures relays, switches, sensors, and electromechanical components for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. Directly comparable as a supplier of mission-critical switching and inductive components to the same aerospace/defense primes that Guardian Electric serves.
• Sensata Technologies: Sensata produces sensors, switches, and electromechanical components for aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Comparable to Guardian Electric in custom-engineered precision switches and control components.
• Leach International: Leach International (part of TransDigm Group) manufactures aerospace-grade relays, contactors, and solid-state power controllers. A direct peer in mission-critical switching and electromagnetic components for defense and aerospace platforms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/guardian-electric-mfg-co-257301617683541
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/guardian-electric-mfg.-co-
• Xx.com/guardian_elec

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 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 Guardian Electric Mfg. Co,