KNAPP Connectors

Name

KNAPP Connectors

Legal name

KNAPP USA INC

Website

https://knappconnectors.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Structural Wood Connectors

NAICS

Spring and Wire Product Manufacturing (33261)

SIC

Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

Connectors & Interconnect Components (Industrial connectors, terminals, sockets, backplane) (IMAGAJAC)

Keywords

• Concealed wood connectors
• Beam hanger hardware
• Structural timber fasteners
• Hidden joinery systems
• Furniture connector hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Mill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wood Connector Hardware Sales: Primary revenue from selling proprietary wood connector hardware including beam hangers, furniture connectors, millwork connectors, structural screws, and accessories. Products sold in packs with per-unit and pack pricing. Supports both wholesale distributor relationships and direct e-commerce sales.
2. R&D Consultation Services: Custom connector development services including concept refinement, prototype creation, and tailored engineering solutions. Initial consultations are free; projects involving NDA-protected development generate service revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KNAPP Connectors designs, engineers, and manufactures concealed wood connector hardware — including the RICON, RICON S, MEGANT, and GIGANT beam hanger lines, the WALCO wall connector, and Mod-eez, DUO, and Zipbolt furniture connector systems — for timber-frame builders, post-and-beam constructors, and commercial furniture manufacturers. The company supplies load-rated, fully hidden structural joining solutions through U.S. distributors, independent sales reps, and direct online ordering.

Product overview

KNAPP Connectors is a global manufacturer of concealed wood connector systems and structural fastening solutions. The company offers multiple integrated product lines including beam hangers (RICON, RICON S, MEGANT, GIGANT) for mass timber and heavy timber construction, wall connectors (WALCO) for prefab and CLT walls, and furniture assembly systems (Mod-eez, DUO, Zipbolt). Supporting product lines include biscuit, dovetail, dowel, hook, and clamp connectors for millwork, casework, and cabinetry applications. The portfolio is complemented by structural and woodworking screws, sample packs, starter kits with tooling, and accessories. All products are engineered in Austria and Germany with international structural approvals including ICC-ES ESR-4300 and European ETA certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RICON: Concealed beam hanger system for structural timber connections. Includes RICON EA (single beam hangers) and RICON DA (double connection systems for cross joints).
• RICON S
• MEGANT
• GIGANT
• WALCO
• Mod-eez
• DUO System
• Zipbolt
• Biscuit Connectors
• KNAPP-Dowel
• FASCO

Products and services

• RICON Concealed beam hanger system used to join heavy timber beams and posts in timber-frame and post-and-beam construction, providing load-rated structural connection while remaining invisible after installation.
• RICON S Stainless-steel version of the RICON concealed beam hanger for heavy timber connections requiring corrosion resistance in exposed or treated-timber applications.
• MEGANT Heavy-load concealed beam connector engineered for large-section timber, providing high-capacity hidden structural connections for primary beams and girders in timber construction.
• GIGANT Largest-capacity concealed beam connector in the KNAPP line, used to join the heaviest timber sections where very high structural loads must be transferred through a fully hidden connection.
• WALCO Concealed wall connector system used to anchor timber-frame wall panels to floor plates or foundations while keeping the connection fully hidden from view.
• Mod-eez Concealed mechanical connector for furniture and cabinetry, allowing fast, repeatable, hidden assembly of case goods, cabinets, and store fixtures.
• DUO Two-part concealed connector system for furniture manufacturing, providing a fully hidden mechanical joint between mating components such as panels, rails, and posts.
• Zipbolt Fast-connect concealed fastener for knockdown and assembled furniture, enabling rapid mechanical joining with an integrated tool-driven cam mechanism and a fully hidden profile.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35mm insertion travel for RICON S connectors enabling fast drop-in assembly
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• KNAPP GmbH AustriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and original manufacturer based in Austria. Responsible for product innovation, core engineering, and global brand stewardship. ICC-ES Report ESR-4300 held by KNAPP GmbH for North American compliance.
• ICC Evaluation ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICC-ES evaluated RICON S VS Series connectors under Report ESR-4300, confirming compliance with International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) for structural applications in North America.
• Holzforschung AustriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTesting and certification organization that tested and certified DUO Fastening System connectors with documented load values for safe, repeatable construction.
• EOTA (European Organisation for Technical Assessment)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean technical assessment body providing ETA certifications for RICON (ETA 10/0189), MEGANT (ETA 15/0667), and related connector systems, enabling compliance with European building standards.
• Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik (DIBt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman Institute for Construction Technology providing technical approvals and certifications for construction products including KNAPP wood connector systems.

Scale indicators3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• fischer Group: German specialist in fastening systems including anchors, screws, and structural connectors for construction. Comparable as a broader fastener incumbent with overlapping timber construction application space.
• Würth Group: German global leader in fastening and assembly materials for construction and woodworking. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose wood construction fastener lines overlap with KNAPP's structural screw and connector portfolio.
• Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc. US-based leader in structural connectors for timber and concrete construction. Comparable as an incumbent in code-compliant structural fasteners, though more visible/hardware-heavy versus KNAPP's concealed aesthetic.
• Häfele SE & Co KG: German global hardware and fittings supplier serving furniture, cabinetry, and construction with fastening solutions and connectors. Comparable as a broader incumbent overlapping with KNAPP in furniture hardware and architectural connectors.

Emerging players

• Meplac GmbH: European supplier of concealed mass timber connectors for beam and post connections. Directly comparable as a niche specialist in the same concealed structural timber connector category as KNAPP's RICON/MEGANT lines.
• BOVA Wood Connectors: Specialty manufacturer of concealed wood fasteners and joinery systems for furniture and cabinetry. Directly comparable as a niche player focused on the same concealed wood connector category as KNAPP's furniture/millwork lines.

Direct peers

• Eurotec GmbH: German specialist in fastening systems for timber construction including hidden deck fasteners and wood-to-wood connectors. Directly comparable given product overlap in concealed wood fastening and shared European manufacturing base.
• Blum GmbH: Austrian-headquartered manufacturer of concealed furniture fittings, hinges, and connector systems. Closely comparable to KNAPP given shared Austrian engineering heritage, focus on concealed hardware, and furniture/case goods customer overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_9J0JdwlIaXfsfe-Jv3n0w?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/KNAPPconnectors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knapp-connectors
• Instagraminstagram.com/knappconnectors

Compliance9 records

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 KNAPP Connectors