What Tilt-A-Way does

Tilt-A-Way, a subsidiary of family-owned Ideal Manufacturing Inc. (founded 1960, based in Billings, Montana), designs and manufactures patented vertical pivot security gates sold under the Tilt-A-Way brand since 1990. The core product is a vertical-pivoting gate architecture that opens upward rather than sliding or swinging, addressing space constraints, weather exposure, and high-cycle reliability limitations of conventional slide and swing gates. Two proprietary operating systems underpin the lineup: the hydraulic HYJG system (20-25+ year use expectancy, certified to ANSI/CSA/UL STD 325, designed for heavy commercial and industrial applications) and the mechanical DCM system (15-20 year use expectancy, lighter commercial and residential use). The high-end product is the Patriot Gate, a crash-rated anti-ram vertical pivot barrier with DoD and ASTM F2656 certifications at M50 (K12), M40 (K8), and M30 (K4) ratings—the only vertical pivot crash barrier in this class. All gates are custom-built at the Billings facility in 14+ named styles and sizes up to 25 feet wide and 9-11 feet tall, with extensive accessory options (access control integration, wind bracing up to 150 MPH, cold-weather packages, magnetic locks, safety sensors). Every component undergoes 117,000 cycles of pre-production testing; the company has logged more than 2.7 million total test cycles.

The company sells exclusively direct to enterprise and government end-users through a quote-based, consultative sales motion—website quote forms, phone sales (800-523-3888), and annual trade show presence (Inside Self Storage World Expo). Pricing is project-based and varies by gate dimensions, operating system, style selection, crash rating, and customization. Named end users span U.S. Border Patrol, Malmstrom/F.E. Warren/Hill Air Force Bases, Fort Bragg, BNSF Railway, Ford, Western Area Power Administration, Xcel Energy, Oklahoma Gas & Electric, Denver Water, ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66, ExxonMobil, Marathon Petroleum, U-Haul, Extra Space Storage, Novva Data Centers, Denver International Airport, Cleveland Hopkins, Bozeman Yellowstone, and Casagrande Ranch. Geographic reach includes the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, the Virgin Islands, and Europe. Operating leadership rests with the Hoiness family: owner Dave Hoiness (who acquired Ideal Manufacturing from founder Jerry Cysewski in 1995), his son David, his brother Mark, and Dave's 92-year-old father Lewis still assisting with maintenance. Revenue, headcount trends beyond the 11-50 band, and capital structure are not publicly disclosed; the company is a privately held, family-owned specialty manufacturer with no external institutional investment indicated.

Name

Tilt-A-Way

Legal name

Ideal Manufacturing Inc.

Website

https://tiltaway.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tilt-A-Way, a Billings, Montana-based subsidiary of family-owned Ideal Manufacturing Inc., manufactures patented vertical pivot security gates—plus the DoD/ASTM F2656 crash-rated Patriot Gate—for self-storage, military, airport, utility, refinery, data center, and ranch customers across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Security Gates

NAICS

Security Systems Services (56162), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)

SIC

Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822)

akta.pro primary industry

Gate Installation (Manual & Automated) (HSAIAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gate Automation, Access Control & Operator Repair (HSAIAJAD), Automotive/Garage & Gate Access Control (Smart Garage Door, Driveway Gates) (HSAHAEAJ), Gate Repair & Adjustment (Sagging, Alignment, Hinges) (HSAGAJAF)

Keywords

• Vertical pivot gates
• Security gate manufacturer
• Crash rated barriers
• Industrial access control
• Anti-ram vehicle gates

Headquarters

HQ city

Billings

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, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Gate Hardware Sales: Primary revenue from manufacturing and selling custom vertical pivot security gates. Gates are custom-built to customer specifications including size (up to 25ft wide, 9-11ft tall), style (14+ design options), materials, and finishes. Revenue is project-based with significant customization driving price variation.
2. Operating Systems: Sale of hydraulic (HYJG) and mechanical (DCM) operating systems as gate components. Hydraulic systems for heavy commercial/industrial; mechanical for lighter applications. Systems include proprietary electronics.
3. Feature Add-ons and Accessories: Revenue from optional features and accessories including access control systems (keypads, card readers, intercoms), safety sensors, radio controls, magnetic locks, solar power, cold weather packages, custom designs, and custom paint.
4. Professional Services: Technical support, installation guidance, and engineering consultation for custom gate specifications and site requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tilt-A-Way manufactures custom vertical pivot security gates that open upward rather than sliding or swinging, providing space-efficient, fast (~12-13 seconds), and weather-resistant access control. The product line spans 14+ named gate styles, the Patriot Gate anti-ram crash barrier (M30/M40/M50 ASTM/DoD certified), and two proprietary operating systems: the hydraulic HYJG (heavy commercial/industrial, 20-25+ year expectancy) and the mechanical DCM (light commercial/residential, 15-20 year expectancy). All gates are custom-built to size, style, and feature specifications and manufactured in-house in Billings, Montana.

Product overview

Tilt-A-Way is a manufacturer of proprietary vertical pivot gate systems, which open upward rather than sliding or swinging. The product portfolio centers on two core operating systems: the hydraulic HYJG (for high-frequency commercial/industrial use with 20-25+ year expectancy) and the mechanical DCM (for light commercial/residential use with 15-20 year expectancy). Both systems power a range of gate styles including Flathead, Yellowstone, Gallatin, Absaroka, Vigilante, Sweetgrass, Beartooth, Saloon, Whitewater, Branding Iron, Cattleman, Stockman, and Amplimesh. The flagship high-security product is the Patriot Gate, a crash-rated vertical pivot barrier available in M50 (K12), M40 (K8), and M30 (K4) ratings, tested and certified to ASTM and DoD standards at the Texas Transportation Institute Proving Ground. Standard gates accommodate openings up to 25' wide and 9' tall, with custom sizing available. All gates are backed by a 3-year limited warranty and are manufactured in Billings, Montana.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Patriot Gate: Anti-ram vehicle barrier and crash gate system, M30/M40/M50 certified for high-security applications including military, government, and critical infrastructure facilities.
• HYJG (Hydraulic Operating System)
• DCM (Mechanical Operating System)

Products and services

• Tilt-A-Way Custom Vertical Pivot Gates Custom-engineered vertical pivot security gate systems that open upward rather than sliding or swinging, available in 14 named styles (Flathead, Yellowstone, Gallatin, Absaroka, Vigilante, Sweetgrass, Beartooth, Saloon, Whitewater, Branding Iron, Cattleman, Stockman, Amplimesh, and Patriot) for commercial, industrial, military, and residential applications. Standard sizes up to 25 ft wide and 9 ft tall, with custom sizing available (up to 11 ft tall for airport perimeter applications).
• Patriot Gate Anti-Ram Crash Gate High-security, vertical pivot crash barrier and crash gate system with DoD and ASTM F2656 vehicle barrier certifications. Available in M50 (K12), M40 (K8), and M30 (K4) ratings. Largest single-span vertical pivot crash gate available with up to 20-ft clear opening and 9-ft height. Tested at Texas Transportation Institute Proving Ground. Designed for military bases, border facilities, and other high-security / anti-terrorism applications.
• HYJG Hydraulic Operating System

Quantifiable outcome

• ~12-13 second operation vs 20+ seconds typical for slide gates
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• DoorKing (DKS): Established US manufacturer of slide and swing gate operators plus telephone-entry and access-control systems. Comparable in serving self-storage, commercial, and industrial gate customers with similar operator-and-access-control bundles.
• Cova Security Gates: UK-based manufacturer of high-security gates including crash-rated and bi-folding speed gate systems for airports, data centers, and government sites. Comparable niche specialty in high-security vertical-pivot-equivalent products.
• Barkers Fencing: UK manufacturer of high-security fencing, gates, and hostile-vehicle mitigation systems for utilities, data centers, and government sites. Comparable in serving critical-infrastructure perimeter security customers with engineered gate products.
• HySecurity: Manufacturer of hydraulic and electromechanical gate operators and crash-rated anti-ram barriers, including the StrongArm and M30/M40/M50 product lines. Directly comparable in operator technology and high-security vertical certifications.
• Total Recall Corporation: Specialist in crash-rated swing and slide gates plus bollards certified to DoD and ASTM F2656 standards. Direct competitor in the high-security perimeter barrier segment serving military, embassy, and critical-infrastructure customers.
• Gibraltar Perimeter Security: Manufacturer of crash-rated cable barriers, drop-arm barriers, and high-security perimeter gates. Direct competitor in vehicle barrier and anti-ram gate procurement for military, utility, and government customers.
• RSSI (Radar Security Services Inc): Designer and manufacturer of anti-ram vehicle barriers, wedge barriers, and high-security gates with DoD and ASTM crash certifications. Direct competitor for federal and critical-infrastructure perimeter contracts.
• Delta Scientific: Manufacturer of crash-rated vehicle barriers including bollards, gates, and barricades certified to ASTM F2656 and DoD standards. Most direct competitor to Tilt-A-Way's Patriot Gate in the high-security anti-ram segment.

Broad incumbents

• Ameristar Fence Products: Large-scale US manufacturer of ornamental and security fencing plus swing and slide gates. Broader product portfolio than Tilt-A-Way but overlaps in commercial/industrial perimeter access solutions.
• LiftMaster (Chamberlain Group): Largest residential and light-commercial gate operator brand in North America with a broad portfolio across sliding, swinging, and barrier arms. Not a vertical pivot specialist but competes for many of the same access-control end customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Tilt-A-Way