Behlen Building Systems
Behlen Building Systems, a division of Behlen Mfg. Co. (founded 1936), designs and manufactures custom pre-engineered metal building systems and standing-seam roof systems through an authorized builder network, operating two plants in Columbus, NE and Sarasota, FL for U.S. agricultural, industrial, commercial, and community projects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1950
- HeadquartersColumbus, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Behlen Building Systems does
Behlen Building Systems is a division of Behlen Mfg. Co., a family-owned private business headquartered in Columbus, Nebraska, that designs and manufactures custom pre-engineered metal building systems (PEMB) and standing-seam roof systems for agricultural, industrial, commercial, community, aviation, and marine applications across the United States. The company was established within Behlen Mfg. Co. in 1950 and operates two manufacturing facilities — the original plant in Columbus, NE and a second facility in Sarasota, FL added through a 2020 merger — producing a portfolio that includes the EagleSpan clear-span system (commonly used for aircraft hangars), S-Span convex-profile systems, the ZL-24 and ZL-16 standing-seam roofs, and ADP-1 and ADP-2 wall and roof panels built from 26-gauge, 80 KSI steel.
The business sells custom, project-based metal building systems through an authorized network of Behlen Builders — trained metal building contractors who handle design assistance, erection, and installation — with project inquiries initiated via the company's website contact form and quotes generated per project rather than via published price lists. Pricing is opaque, contracts are project-specific (often multi-year in cadence as noted in source material), and revenue is split between complete building systems and standalone roof/panel retrofit sales. Customer mix spans small commercial projects (e.g., microbreweries, retail stores) up to multi-hundred-thousand square-foot enterprise and municipal builds (e.g., Buffalo County Fairgrounds Expo Center, Haulover Marine Center, The Refinery Sports Complex), with no publicly disclosed revenue figures.
The company's growth posture combines operational scale (two plants, builder network across the U.S.), brand heritage (90th anniversary in 2026, 'Good Iron People' identity), and incremental product and digital investment — most recently the Low-Complexity PD8 building line paired with an Airbuildr-powered quote customization tool — while remaining a privately held, family-operated manufacturer with no venture capital, public listing, or AI/data-product signals in evidence.
Behlen Building Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Behlen Building Systems
- Legal name
- Behlen Mfg. Co.
- Website
- https://behlenbuildingsystems.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1950
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Behlen Building Systems, a division of Behlen Mfg. Co. (founded 1936), designs and manufactures custom pre-engineered metal building systems and standing-seam roof systems through an authorized builder network, operating two plants in Columbus, NE and Sarasota, FL for U.S. agricultural, industrial, commercial, and community projects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Behlen Building Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings
- NAICS
- Prefabricated Metal Building and Component Manufacturing (332311), Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing (332312), Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing (332322)
- SIC
- Prefabricated Metal Buildings & Components (3448), Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440), Sheet Metal Work (3444)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Metal Roofing Systems (IMADAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Metal Cladding, Soffits & Trim (Non-Panel Components) (IMADACAM), Cold-Formed Steel Framing & Studs (IMADACAF)
Keywords
Where Behlen Building Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Behlen Building Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Pre-Engineered Metal Building Systems: Behlen designs, manufactures, and sells custom pre-engineered metal building systems (MBS) including structural frames, roof systems, and wall panels. Revenue is generated through direct project-based sales to customers who work with the authorized builder network for installation.
- Roof System Sales: Behlen also sells standalone roof systems (ZL-24, ZL-16, ADP-1, ADP-2) to customers for new construction or retrofit applications.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Behlen Building Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Behlen Building Systems, a division of Behlen Mfg. Co., manufactures custom pre-engineered metal building systems, standing seam roof systems, and metal roof and wall panels. The company supplies framed building systems, including the S-Span and EagleSpan product lines, as well as low-complexity PD8 buildings and rural/agricultural farm buildings. Its products are designed for commercial, industrial, agricultural, and low-rise construction applications, delivered through a network of authorized Behlen builders.
Product overview
Behlen Building Systems, a division of Behlen Mfg. Co., delivers custom pre-engineered metal building systems (MBS) and roof systems backed by decades of craftsmanship. The portfolio is organized into two main categories: Building Systems (including Behlen Metal Frame Buildings, S-Span, EagleSpan for aircraft hangars, Rural Farm Buildings, and Low-Complexity PD8 Buildings) and Roof Systems (featuring ZL-24 SSR and ZL-16 SSR standing seam roofs). Supporting products include ADP-1 and ADP-2 wall and roof panels. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Columbus, NE and Sarasota, FL, serving the agricultural, industrial, commercial, and community sectors through an authorized builder network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Behlen Metal Frame Buildings: Custom metal frame building systems for various applications.
- S-Span Building and Roof System
- EagleSpan Building System
- ZL-24 SSR
- ZL-16 SSR
- ADP-1
- ADP-2
Products and services
- Behlen Metal Frame Buildings Custom pre-engineered steel-framed building systems designed and manufactured for commercial, industrial, and institutional construction projects.
- S-Span Building and Roof System A proprietary self-supporting building and roof system using Behlen's S-Span technology for low-rise pre-engineered metal buildings.
- EagleSpan Building System A proprietary framing and roof system offered alongside the S-Span line for low-rise pre-engineered metal building applications.
- Rural Farm Buildings Pre-engineered metal farm buildings intended for rural and agricultural applications such as grain storage, livestock, and equipment shelter.
- Low-Complexity PD8 Buildings A streamlined, low-complexity version of Behlen's pre-engineered metal building offering for projects requiring a simpler design profile and faster delivery.
- Behlen ZL-24 SSR Standing Seam Roof A 24-gauge standing seam roof (SSR) panel system engineered for use with Behlen pre-engineered metal buildings.
- Behlen ZL-16 SSR Standing Seam Roof A heavier 16-gauge standing seam roof (SSR) panel system engineered for use with Behlen pre-engineered metal buildings.
- ADP-1 Roof and Wall Panel Architectural ADP-1 metal panel for roof and wall cladding applications on Behlen pre-engineered metal buildings.
- ADP-2 Wall Panel Architectural ADP-2 metal wall panel designed for vertical wall cladding on Behlen pre-engineered metal buildings.
Quantifiable outcome
- MBCEA 2026 Building of the Year awarded to The Refinery Sports Complex (Behlen project), 200,000 sq. ft. with 240 ft wide by 500 ft long clear-span structure
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Behlen Building Systems
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Behlen Building Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Behlen Building Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Behlen Mfg. Co.coreBehlen Building Systems is a division of Behlen Mfg. Co., the parent company based in Columbus, NE. The parent company handles corporate functions including HR, careers, privacy, and overall governance. Behlen Mfg. Co. was founded in 1936, making the company one of the oldest metal building manufacturers in the United States. Behlen Building Systems benefits from the parent company's 90-year legacy, brand reputation, and corporate infrastructure.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Behlen Building Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Butler Manufacturing: Long-established PEMB brand and a BlueScope Buildings subsidiary, widely recognized for custom metal building systems across agricultural, commercial, and industrial markets. Direct product, channel, and customer overlap with Behlen.
- Metallic Building Company: Cornerstone-owned PEMB manufacturer serving automotive, commercial, industrial, and institutional markets. Direct product and customer overlap with Behlen's commercial and industrial segments.
- Varco Pruden Buildings: PEMB manufacturer and BlueScope Buildings subsidiary offering pre-engineered steel building systems for commercial, industrial, and community projects. Directly comparable in product offering, customization model, and authorized builder distribution.
- Nucor Building Systems: Pre-engineered metal building division of Nucor Corporation, the largest US steel producer. Competes head-to-head with Behlen in custom PEMB across agricultural, industrial, and commercial segments, with the strategic advantage of vertical integration into steel supply.
- Ceco Building Systems: Cornerstone subsidiary producing pre-engineered metal buildings for commercial, industrial, agricultural, and institutional customers. Same product category and sales-assisted channel model as Behlen.
- Star Building Systems: PEMB manufacturer under Cornerstone Building Brands, offering custom metal building systems through a builder network comparable to Behlen's authorized builder model.
- Kirby Building Systems: Independently operated PEMB manufacturer serving industrial, commercial, and institutional customers across the southern and central US. Direct overlap with Behlen's product portfolio and core geographies.
- American Buildings Company: Cornerstone subsidiary producing custom-engineered metal building systems for industrial, commercial, and institutional applications. Directly competes with Behlen across the same agricultural, commercial, and community verticals.
Broad incumbents
- Cornerstone Building Brands: Largest North American manufacturer of exterior building products, parent of American Buildings, Ceco Building Systems, Metallic Building Company, and Star Building Systems. Directly overlaps with Behlen's PEMB portfolio under multiple go-to-market brands.
- BlueScope Buildings: North American arm of global steelmaker BlueScope, parent of Butler Manufacturing and Varco Pruden Buildings. Directly overlaps with Behlen's full PEMB portfolio while operating broader regional capacity and a multi-brand go-to-market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Behlen Building Systems social profiles
Digital presenceBehlen Building Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Behlen Building Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Behlen Building Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Behlen Building Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Behlen Building Systems
What does Behlen Building Systems do?
Behlen Building Systems, a division of Behlen Mfg. Co., manufactures custom pre-engineered metal building systems, standing seam roof systems, and metal roof and wall panels. The company supplies framed building systems, including the S-Span and EagleSpan product lines, as well as low-complexity PD8 buildings and rural/agricultural farm buildings. Its products are designed for commercial, industrial, agricultural, and low-rise construction applications, delivered through a network of authorized Behlen builders.
Is Behlen Building Systems a public or private company?
Behlen Building Systems is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Behlen Building Systems founded?
Behlen Building Systems was founded in 1950. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Behlen Building Systems based?
Behlen Building Systems is headquartered in Columbus, United States, in the North America region.
How does Behlen Building Systems make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Custom Pre-Engineered Metal Building Systems are the primary driver. The others are roof System Sales.
Who are Behlen Building Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Butler Manufacturing, Metallic Building Company, Varco Pruden Buildings, Nucor Building Systems, Ceco Building Systems, Star Building Systems, Kirby Building Systems and American Buildings Company. Broad incumbents are Cornerstone Building Brands and BlueScope Buildings.
Does Behlen Building Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Behlen Building Systems.
What industry is Behlen Building Systems in?
Behlen Building Systems's product category is Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAFAB, Metal Roofing Systems, with a secondary code of IMADACAM, Metal Cladding, Soffits & Trim (Non-Panel Components). Its NAICS code is 332311 and its SIC code is 3448.