Big Top Fabric Shelters

What Big Top Fabric Shelters does

Big Top Fabric Shelters, legally Big Top Manufacturing, Inc., is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of engineered tension fabric structures founded in 1979 and headquartered in Perry, Florida. The company designs, manufactures, and installs galvanized steel-framed, UV-protective fabric buildings ranging from 20 to 174 feet wide with clear-span interiors, deployed at a documented rate of 2,500 square feet per day. Its proprietary fabric formulation blocks 99.95% of UV-A and UV-B radiation, provides an average 15-degree interior temperature differential versus outside conditions, meets NFPA701 flame-retardant standards, and is translucent enough to enable natural daylighting, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and HVAC.

The company's product portfolio comprises 15 structure types (aircraft hangars, coverall buildings, custom fabric buildings, ecology-block structures, storage buildings, maintenance bays, medical tents, paint and sandblasting tents, permanent tent structures, portable buildings, lunch tents, shipping container hoop buildings, temporary structures, warehouse tents, and waste management buildings) complemented by 8 accessory categories (doors, electrical/lighting, flooring, heating, HVAC, insulation, lightning protection, solar) and 9 service lines including engineering with stamped drawings, consulting, installation, onsite surveying, replacement covers, financing, warranty, and GSA-contracted government procurement. Big Top sells through an enterprise field sales motion, direct quote-based pricing, a GSA Federal Supply Schedule (contract GS-07F-073GA), and an international sales channel, serving 10 verticals: aviation, military, oil and gas, mining and mineral, construction, government, marine, environmental, schools, and sports and events. The business model is primarily one-time equipment sales of custom-fabricated structures plus professional services (installation, engineering, consulting) and recurring hardware sales of replacement covers and accessories.

Name

Big Top Fabric Shelters

Legal name

Big Top Manufacturing, Inc.

Website

https://bigtopusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Big Top Fabric Shelters is a Perry, Florida-based manufacturer founded in 1979 that designs, builds, and installs custom tension fabric structures with galvanized steel frames for military, aviation, oil and gas, mining, construction, government, and other industrial buyers across the U.S. and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Perry

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fabric Structure Sales: One-time sale of custom fabric structures including aircraft hangars, storage buildings, maintenance bays, and specialized industrial shelters. Revenue generated from design, manufacturing, and delivery of tension fabric structures with various customization options.
2. Installation Services: Professional installation services including turnkey installation by Big Top's experienced crew and onsite technical training for self-installation. Travel and accommodations for technicians included in service fees.
3. Consulting Services: Expert consulting services for fabric structures covering site evaluation, foundation recommendations, and environmental considerations.
4. Engineering Services: Custom engineering covering structural design, foundation systems, HVAC integration, electrical and lighting layouts, and insulation specifications with stamped engineering drawings for permitting.
5. Replacement Covers and Accessories: Replacement fabric covers, doors, flooring, HVAC, insulation, lighting, and other accessories sold as separate products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Big Top Fabric Shelters designs, engineers, manufactures, and installs custom tension fabric structures with galvanized steel frames for industrial, military, aviation, government, and commercial applications. The company delivers turnkey shelter solutions ranging from 20 to 174 feet wide without interior columns, complemented by modular accessories (HVAC, lighting, doors, flooring, insulation, solar) and professional services including engineering, installation, consulting, anchoring, and onsite surveying.

Product overview

Big Top Fabric Shelters offers a portfolio of engineered tension fabric structures as a unified product line, supplemented by modular accessories and comprehensive services. The core product portfolio includes 15 distinct structure types: Aircraft Hangars and Sunshades, Coverall Buildings, Custom Fabric Buildings, Ecology Block Fabric Structures, Fabric Storage Buildings, Maintenance Bays, Medical Tents, Paint and Sandblasting Tents, Permanent Tent Structures, Portable Fabric Buildings, Safety Meeting and Lunch Tents, Shipping Container Hoop Buildings, Temporary Structures, Warehouse Tents, and Waste Management Buildings. These structures share a common architectural approach—galvanized steel frames with rip-resistant, UV-protective fabric covers—and differ in size configurations, anchorage methods, and specialized features. The product line is extended by 8 accessory options (Doors, Electrical and Lighting, Flooring, Heating, HVAC, Insulation, Lightning Protection, Solar) that customers can add to customize their structures. Big Top also provides 8 supporting services including Anchoring and Foundations, Consulting, Engineering, Financing, GSA Contract access, Installation, Onsite Surveying, Replacement Covers, and Warranty. The structures serve 11 industries: Aviation, Construction, Environmental, Government, Marine, Military, Mining and Mineral, Oil and Gas, Schools, and Sports and Events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aircraft Hangars and Sunshades Weatherproof fabric aircraft hangars and sunshades for aircraft storage, maintenance, MRO operations, and flight line protection, marketed as a smarter alternative to traditional hangars for military and civilian aviation.
• Coverall Buildings Durable, adaptable, and energy-efficient coverall fabric buildings engineered for industrial and commercial applications.
• Custom Fabric Buildings Engineered-to-order custom fabric buildings tailored to industry-specific challenges and operational demands.
• Ecology Block Fabric Structures Cost-efficient, durable fabric structures anchored to ecology blocks for secure storage and containment, positioned as a smarter, cost-saving alternative to permanent buildings.
• Fabric Storage Buildings Secure, scalable fabric storage buildings engineered for durability, energy efficiency, and rapid deployment across industries.
• Maintenance Bays Durable, weather-resistant maintenance bay fabric structures designed to protect equipment and streamline servicing operations.
• Medical Tents Rapid-deployment, climate-controlled medical tents designed for emergency response, triage, and healthcare operations.
• Paint and Sandblasting Tents EPA-compliant, weatherproof enclosures for safe and controlled sandblasting and painting operations.
• Permanent Tent Structures Long-term, energy-efficient permanent tent structures designed for durability, adaptability, and cost savings across industries.
• Portable Fabric Buildings Portable fabric buildings with integrated mobility options that can be relocated, expanded, or reconfigured.
• Safety Meeting and Lunch Tents Comfortable, protective fabric spaces for workforce dining and safety meetings on industrial and remote sites.
• Shipping Container Hoop Buildings Fabric structures that maximize space, mobility, and efficiency by using shipping containers as anchoring.
• Temporary Structures Rapid-deployment, portable fabric structures for temporary operations across industries.
• Warehouse Tents Durable, scalable fabric warehousing tent solutions for any industry requiring covered storage.
• Waste Management Buildings Fabric structure solutions for recycling and waste management operations including containment and environmental protection.
• Engineering Services Precision-engineered fabric structure design covering structural, foundation, HVAC, electrical, lighting, and insulation specifications with stamped engineering drawings meeting local, state, and federal building codes.
• Installation Services Professional fabric building installation including turnkey installation by Big Top's crew and onsite technical training for self-installation, with travel and accommodations for technicians included in service fees.
• Consulting Services Expert consulting services for fabric structures covering site evaluation, foundation recommendations, and environmental considerations.
• Anchoring and Foundations Expert anchoring and foundation solutions for site-specific performance and long-term stability on dirt, gravel, asphalt, or concrete surfaces.
• Onsite Surveying Expert site evaluations for precision planning, seamless installation, and long-term structural performance.
• Replacement Covers Replacement fabric covers sold as separate products to restore and extend the life of fabric structures.
• GSA Contract Holder Procurement Government Services Administration contract holder program simplifying procurement for federal government agencies (Contract #: GS-07F-073GA).
• Financing Flexible financing options for tension fabric structure purchases.
• Warranty Fabric structure warranty program supporting long-term reliability and peace of mind for customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Deployment rate of 2,500 square feet per day
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ClearSpan Fabric Structures: ClearSpan (a brand under FarmTek/CR Series) manufactures tension fabric and steel buildings sold to agricultural, commercial, and industrial buyers. It overlaps with Big Top's fabric structure portfolio, particularly in storage, warehousing, and equipment shelter applications.
• Sprung Instant Structures: Sprung is one of the most established tension fabric structure manufacturers globally, serving military, industrial, oil & gas, and event customers with clear-span, rapidly deployable buildings. It directly competes with Big Top on product architecture (tensioned fabric on metal frames), customer base, and value proposition of speed versus traditional construction.
• Rubb Inc. Rubb manufactures insulated tension fabric buildings and rapid-deployment shelters for military, aviation, and industrial customers. It competes with Big Top on engineered, code-compliant fabric structures suited to harsh-environment and expeditionary applications.
• Britespan Building Systems: Britespan is a North American manufacturer of fabric-covered steel buildings targeting agricultural, commercial, and industrial storage customers. It directly overlaps with Big Top's fabric storage buildings and warehousing tents in product type and use cases.
• Calhoun Super Structure: Calhoun Super Structure designs and manufactures custom-engineered fabric structures, including tension fabric buildings and shipping-container-mounted shelters. Its product line and core customer verticals (industrial, commercial, government) directly mirror Big Top's offering.
• Shelter-Rite (trading/legacy brand) / Gelco Structures: Gelco Structures (operating the Shelter-Rite legacy line) is a U.S. fabric structure manufacturer serving aviation, industrial, and commercial buyers with engineered clear-span buildings. It competes with Big Top on custom fabric structures for hangars, storage, and industrial enclosures.
• Legacy Building Solutions: Legacy Building Solutions designs and manufactures rigid-frame, fabric-covered buildings for aviation, military, and industrial customers. It competes head-to-head with Big Top on engineered fabric structures with stamped engineering drawings, IBC compliance, and custom sizing.
• Alaska Structures: Alaska Structures is a leading manufacturer of engineered fabric buildings, with deep penetration in U.S. military, government, and oil & gas applications. It is a direct competitor to Big Top across portable shelters, military field structures, and industrial fabric buildings, overlapping on GSA-style procurement channels.
• Cover-All Building Systems (now National Buildings): National Buildings (formerly Cover-All) manufactures pre-engineered fabric and steel buildings for industrial, commercial, and agricultural applications. It is a comparable peer in the engineered fabric structure category with overlapping buyer segments and product positioning.

Others

• Big Ass Fans / Industrial fabric-structure adjacents (OOH: tents & event structures): Event-rental tent companies and broader fabric-structure event/rental providers (e.g., tent rental firms serving Big Top's sports & events and schools segments) are adjacent competitors for those non-industrial verticals, but use a rental rather than sales model and therefore are ecosystem-adjacent rather than direct peers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BigTopShelters
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZ2cMOHAzU9Bblg2uUTZY3A/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/BigTopManufacturing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-top-usa
• Instagraminstagram.com/bigtopmanufacturing

Compliance3 records

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 Big Top Fabric Shelters