What E-Z LOK does

E-Z LOK is a U.S. manufacturer and distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic, and wood applications, operating as a division of Tool Components, Inc. from Gardena, California. Founded in 1956 and now in its third generation of family ownership, the company sells an extensive catalog of 1,488+ SKUs organized under seven registered sub-brands: E-Z LOK (solid wall inserts for metal), E-Z Coil (helical coil thread repair), E-Z Knife (knife thread for hard woods), E-Z Hex and E-Z Fin (soft wood and plastic), and E-Z Press and E-Z Sonic (thermoset and thermoplastic plastic inserts). Its proprietary technology centers on solid-wall machined construction, self-locking microencapsulated adhesive that seals to 6,000 psi and reaches fastener-readiness in 3–5 minutes, and designs compatible with standard drills and taps, eliminating the need for specialized installation tooling.

The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified and serves three primary verticals: Manufacturing & Industrial (thread repair in soft metals such as aluminum and cast iron), Woodworking & Furniture (cabinetry, furniture assembly, crating), and Plastics Manufacturing (thermoset and thermoplastic assemblies). Distribution is split between a nationwide network of authorized fastener distributors (with a public dealer locator) and a direct e-commerce storefront at ezlok.com. Pricing is purely transactional: individual inserts range from $0.17 to $6.26 and kits from $14.73 to $41.90, with no subscription, licensing, or recurring revenue model.

The company operates with 1–10 employees, holds no disclosed outside funding, and reports no revenue. It maintains industry association memberships (Pacific-West Fastener, MAFDA, NFDA), a free 100+ format CAD model library, and an active YouTube installation-tutorial channel. Its sole disclosed corporate relationship is a sister-company affiliation with TCI Precision Metals, a metal service center also founded in 1956.

Name

E-Z LOK

Legal name

Tool Components, Inc.

Website

https://ezlok.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

E-Z LOK, a third-generation family-owned division of Tool Components, Inc. founded in 1956 in Gardena, California, manufactures and distributes 1,488+ threaded insert SKUs for metal, wood, and plastic applications via a nationwide distributor network and direct e-commerce, serving manufacturing, woodworking, and plastics OEMs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Gardena

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, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Threaded Insert Product Sales: One-time hardware sales of threaded inserts for metal, plastic, and wood applications, along with related installation tools, kits, drills, and taps. Products are sold in various configurations (individual inserts, kits) at unit prices ranging from under $1 to over $40.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

E-Z LOK manufactures and distributes threaded inserts designed to create strong, durable threads in metal, plastic, and wood. The product portfolio includes solid wall, helical coil, knife thread, hex drive, press-in, and ultrasonic insert styles in carbon steel, stainless steel, brass, and zinc alloy. The company also supplies complementary installation tools (drive tools, HSS drills, STI and standard taps), thread repair kits, and extraction tools, sold through a national distributor network and direct e-commerce.

Product overview

E-Z LOK offers an extensive portfolio of threaded insert products designed for repairing damaged or worn-out threads and creating strong threads in various materials. The product line is organized by base material application: E-Z LOK™ Solid Wall and E-Z Coil™ inserts for metal applications; E-Z Knife™ inserts for hard woods; E-Z Hex™ and E-Z Fin™ inserts for soft woods and plastics; and E-Z Press™ and E-Z Sonic™ inserts for plastic applications. The company also provides complementary installation tools (drive tools, drills, taps), thread repair kits, extraction tools, and a free CAD library for design engineers. All products are sold directly through distributors nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• E-Z LOK: Core brand for threaded inserts for metal, featuring solid wall construction in carbon steel and stainless steel.
• E-Z Coil
• E-Z Knife
• E-Z Hex
• E-Z Fin
• E-Z Press
• E-Z Sonic

Products and services

• E-Z LOK Solid Wall Threaded Inserts Solid wall threaded inserts for metal applications, available in carbon steel and stainless steel. Screw machined from solid steel for greater strength and superior pull-out resistance; installs with standard drills and taps, no special installation tools required.
• E-Z Coil Threaded Inserts Coil-style threaded inserts for metal thread repair featuring helically wound wire construction. Designed for use in soft metals such as aluminum, cast iron, and magnesium; installed using STI (Straight Thread Industrial) taps.
• E-Z Knife Threaded Inserts Knife thread inserts designed for hard woods such as oak, cherry, and maple. Proprietary external knife threads slice into wood to provide superior holding power; available in brass and stainless steel.
• E-Z Hex Threaded Inserts Hex drive inserts that provide sturdy machine threads in soft woods, pine, composition board, MDF, and plywood. Die-cast from durable zinc alloy with internal thread sizes ranging from #8 to 3/8-16 and M4 to M10; available in flush and flanged designs.
• E-Z Fin (Finserts) Threaded Inserts Single-fin threaded inserts for soft wood and plastic applications, providing threaded fastening solutions in softer materials.
• E-Z Press Threaded Inserts Press-in threaded inserts for thermoset and thermoplastic plastics, designed for applications requiring secure threaded holes in plastic materials.
• E-Z Sonic (Ultrasonic) Threaded Inserts Heat-set threaded inserts for thermoplastic applications installed using ultrasonic technology, providing strong threaded connections in plastic assembly.
• Thread Repair Kits Complete kits including threaded inserts, installation tools, and accessories for thread repair across metal, wood, and plastic applications. Available as E-Z Coil, E-Z Knife, E-Z Hex, and E-Z Sonic kits.
• Installation Drive Tools Drive tools for installing solid wall, knife thread, and hex drive inserts. Standard hex shaft allows use with power drills or drill presses for higher volume installations.
• STI and Standard Taps STI (Spiral Tap Inserts) taps for coil inserts and standard taps for solid wall inserts, designed for proper thread preparation prior to insert installation.
• HSS Drills HSS (High-Speed Steel) drills designed for creating holes sized for threaded insert installation across product lines.
• Extraction Tools Tools for extracting damaged or worn threaded inserts for replacement, supporting maintenance and repair workflows.

Quantifiable outcome

• Seals against liquids and gases to 6,000 psi when fully cured (72 hours)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Pacific-West Fastener AssociationminorOthersIndustry association created in 2009 as a unification of the Los Angeles Fastener Association and Western Association of Fastener Distributors. Focuses on strengthening member companies through educational opportunities, alliances, advocacy, and effective relationships.
• Mid-Atlantic Fastener Distributors Association (MAFDA)minorOthersVolunteer organization recognizing the equal importance of all industry segments including distributors, manufacturers, importers, and sales representatives in the regional fastener distribution industry.
• National Fastener Distributors Association (NFDA)minorOthersNon-profit trade association serving the North American fastener industry, providing services and benefits to distributors and manufacturers ranging from small family firms to large multinational corporations.
• TCI Precision MetalscoreOthersSister company to E-Z LOK, also founded in 1956. Metal service center and distributor providing machine-ready blanks and contract machining services including sawing, grinding, duplex milling, and CNC turning/milling. Supplies parts nationwide for material supply and value-added precision pre-machining.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Würth Industry: Würth Industry is a large industrial fastening and assembly supplier with a broad portfolio including threaded inserts, screws, and specialty hardware. They overlap with E-Z LOK across all insert categories but operate at much greater global scale and through direct industrial supply contracts.
• PennEngineering (PEM): PEM is a large established self-clinching fastener and threaded insert manufacturer serving electronics, automotive, and industrial markets. They overlap with E-Z LOK on threaded inserts but offer a much broader fastening portfolio and global footprint.

Direct peers

• Spirol: Spirol manufactures threaded inserts, coiled pins, and other fastening components, directly overlapping with E-Z LOK's coil and solid wall insert lines. Both serve automotive, industrial, and electronics OEMs.
• AVK Industrial Products: AVK Industrial Products produces threaded inserts and related fastening components for aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. They compete head-to-head with E-Z LOK on metal inserts and thread repair solutions.
• BigHead Bonding Fasteners: BigHead manufactures specialty threaded inserts and bonding fasteners for plastics, composites, and lightweight materials, overlapping with E-Z LOK's E-Z Press and E-Z Sonic plastic insert lines in similar assembly applications.
• Yardley Products: Yardley Products manufactures specialty threaded inserts and custom fasteners for industrial applications, overlapping directly with E-Z LOK on insert solutions for metal and plastics. Both serve OEM and MRO channels through industrial distribution.
• Groov-Pin Corporation: Groov-Pin manufactures threaded inserts, pins, and custom fasteners for industrial and military applications. They directly compete with E-Z LOK on metal threaded inserts and similar distribution channels.
• Recoil (Baumer HHS): Recoil is a well-known brand of helical coil thread repair inserts that competes directly with E-Z LOK's E-Z Coil offering in automotive, industrial, and MRO markets globally.
• Böllhoff (HELICOIL): Böllhoff manufactures HELICOIL helical coil thread inserts for thread reinforcement and repair, directly competing with E-Z LOK's E-Z Coil line in the metal thread-repair segment. Both companies serve industrial OEM and MRO customers with similar installation methods and certifications.
• Keystone Threaded Inserts: Keystone manufactures brass and stainless threaded inserts for wood and metal, with comparable product categories to E-Z LOK's E-Z Knife and solid wall lines. They target the same woodworking, furniture, and industrial OEM customers with similar SKU breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ezlokinserts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCi5_ypG9bPK7eXN-4AVIwIA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/e-z-lok

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 E-Z LOK