Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute

What Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute does

The Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute (CLFMI) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1960 by small chain link fence manufacturing firms seeking to compete with larger integrated steel companies in the post-WWII market. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, CLFMI serves as the recognized industry spokesperson and standards-setting body for chain link fence manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors with manufacturing facilities in North America. The organization is governed by an elected board drawn from member companies, with Bill Peterson as President and Mark Levin (CAE, CSP) serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Staff Officer.

CLFMI's core offerings are a portfolio of technical publications and specification documents — including the CLFMI Product Manual, Wind Load Guide, Security Fencing Recommendations Guide, Field Inspection Guide, and Tested and Proven Performance report — that are referenced by architects, engineers, specifiers, contractors, and government agencies. The institute partners with ASTM International on standards development and maintains relationships with federal agencies including the EPA (storm water Group Permit), DHS (Fencelab Program), CPSC (Swimming Pool Guidelines), and the US Department of Commerce/ITC (import tracking). Supporting services include a Technical Support Committee of volunteer industry professionals, the Les Grube Memorial Design Award program, a quarterly Statistical Program with member benchmarking, an Economic and Market Forecast Report overseen by former Bank of America Chief Economist Dr. Lynn Reaser, vertical-specific Guides to Market Opportunities, and an expanded Product/Service Locator that drives leads to member firms.

CLFMI funds operations through recurring annual membership dues from Active, Associate, and Provisional members, supplemented by registration fees for its annual and summer meetings ($925-$950 per member attendee), trade show participation, and members-only programs. The organization operates with 1-10 staff, has no parent company or external investors, and does not directly sell chain link products — distribution is handled entirely through its member companies' own channels across correctional, petrochemical, commercial, energy, infrastructure, airport, and residential end-markets.

Name

Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute

Legal name

Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute

Website

https://chainlinkinfo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CLFMI is a 1960-founded nonprofit trade association serving North American chain link fence manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors through industry standards, technical publications, statistical and economic forecasting, advocacy with federal agencies, and the Les Grube Memorial Design Award program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services for Chain Link Fence Industry

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD)

Keywords

• Chain link fencing
• Industry standards
• Trade association
• Perimeter security
• Technical specifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Annual membership fees from Active, Associate, and Provisional members engaged in chain link fence manufacturing, distribution, or related services.
2. Annual and Summer Meeting registration: Registration fees for annual meetings and summer conferences. 2026 Summer Meeting registration: $950 for members, $875 for spouse/guest, plus optional golf outing at $275. 2025 Annual Meeting: $925 for members, $875 for spouse/guest.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute (CLFMI) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1960 that serves chain link fence manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers in North America. Its core offerings are industry standards and technical publications (Product Manual, Wind Load Guide, Security Fencing Recommendations, Field Inspection Guide), a member directory/Product-Service Locator, statistical and economic forecasting programs, industry-wide testing programs, and the Les Grube Memorial Design Award program. CLFMI also advocates on behalf of members with government agencies such as the EPA, CPSC, DHS, and the Department of Commerce.

Product overview

The Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute (CLFMI) is an industry trade association founded in 1960, not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of technical publications, standards, specifications, and membership services for the chain link fence manufacturing industry. The core products include the CLFMI Product Manual (nationally-recognized quality standards for chain link fence fabric and framework), the Wind Load Guide for Line Post Spacing and Size selection, Security Fencing Recommendations, Field Inspection Guide, and Tested and Proven Performance reports. The association also manages the Les Grube Memorial Design Award program recognizing innovative uses of chain link fencing. Supporting services include a Product/Service Locator (member directory), Technical Support Committee, Statistical and Economic Modeling Programs, Guides to Market Opportunities, and Industry-Wide Testing Programs. Additionally, CLFMI provides specialized fencing solution guides for correctional, petrochemical, commercial, energy, infrastructure, and airport security applications, all referencing ASTM and federal standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CLFMI Product Manual A 32-page guidebook providing nationally-recognized standards of quality for chain link fence fabric and framework, referencing all applicable ASTM and federal standards. Aimed at architects, specifiers, engineers, contractors, and government agencies that specify chain link fence products.
• Wind Load Guide for the Selection of Line Post Spacing and Size A 32-page guide for architects, specifiers, and engineers with information on factors influencing line post size and spacing, including 12 tables for determining appropriate spacings in various wind load conditions.
• Security Fencing Recommendations Guide Guide providing recommendations on which chain link fencing systems to use for various levels of perimeter security, including references to applicable ASTM and Federal specifications and sample installation drawings.
• Field Inspection Guide Guide providing installers and inspectors with a handy list of inspection procedures, guidelines and standards, including a tear-off report form.
• Tested and Proven Performance of Security Grade Chain 12-page report providing security and fence professionals with information and test data needed to specify and select security grade chain link fence systems based on forced entry penetration time or vehicular impact protection.
• Guide for Specifying High-Security Chain Link Fence and Gates Guide (CLF HSF 0518) helping decision-makers and security teams ensure they get the most out of their perimeter security investment.
• Les Grube Memorial Design Award Annual design award recognizing uniquely creative and practical uses of chain link fencing materials, given to both the designing architect and installing contractor. Includes cash awards of $2,500 for architect and $1,000 for contractor.
• Product/Service Locator CLFMI Member Directory connecting customers to manufacturers, suppliers, and services committed to CLFMI standards of quality, service, and safety. The expanded locator generates direct contacts for member firms.
• Technical Support Services Staffed by volunteer fence industry professionals (Ted Eysenbach, Charles Naegele, Steve Peters, Bill Peterson, Jeff Van Buren, Brian McMillan, Steve Bailow) providing technical guidance and project assistance to chain link fence specifiers, contractors, and end-users.
• Statistical and Economic Modeling Programs Quarterly statistical reporting and economic forecasting reports providing members with detailed trends and forecasts across five specific end-use markets. The economic forecast is overseen by Dr. Lynn Reaser, former Chief Economist for Bank of America.
• Guides to Market Opportunities Members-only market-specific guides (utility, military, aviation) developed with industry research, including a study of the utility industry conducted with the University of Maryland's Smith School of Business, to help members access markets faster with direct contact to decision-makers.
• Industry-Wide Testing Programs Industry-wide product testing coordinated with credible third-party laboratories including Southwest Research Institute, providing members with third-party data to market their products' capabilities in accordance with ASTM F2781.
• Step-by-Step Chain Link Fence Installation Guide 4-page easy-to-understand guide helping do-it-yourselfers install chain link fence on their property.
• CLFMI Annual and Summer Meetings Recurring member conferences including the Annual Meeting and Summer Meeting. The 2026 Summer Meeting registration is $950 for members and $875 for spouse/guest, plus an optional $275 golf outing. The 2025 Annual Meeting is $925 for members and $875 for spouse/guest.

Quantifiable outcome

• One member firm estimates the Group Permit saved nearly $80,000 in testing costs, paperwork compliance, and personnel costs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• American Fence AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCLFMI links to the American Fence Association website for the 'Find a Contractor' service, directing consumers to find qualified fence contractors.
• National Building MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLFMI sponsored the 'Between Fences' exhibit at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., the only full exhibit about the role fences have played in U.S. architectural history, with a distinct chain link focus throughout. Also spawned a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit.
• American Institute of ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted the Grand Opening of the 'Between Fences' exhibit at the National Building Museum.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLFMI successfully petitioned the EPA to allow member companies to file a Group Permit for storm water testing rather than separate permits for each facility, saving members significant compliance costs.
• Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLFMI was instrumental in having chain link fence identified as a practical and safe option in CPSC Swimming Pool Guidelines, helping gain inclusion of knuckle/knuckle designs.
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLFMI was included in DHS Fencelab Program, testing various fencing systems for border protection. CLFMI monitored the program and ensured security-grade chain link fencing systems were included among those tested.
• U.S. Department of Commerce / International Trade Commission (ITC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLFMI successfully advocated for breaking out chain link products in Dept. of Commerce Import Reports, allowing ITC to track imports of metallic and color coated chain link fabric separately.
• ASTM InternationalcoreTechnology or IntegrationCLFMI works with ASTM and other recognized standards-setting bodies to establish accepted standards for chain link fence production.
• University of Maryland Smith School of BusinessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLFMI contracted with the University of Maryland's Smith School of Business to conduct a study of the utility industry in North America, developing marketing strategy insights.
• GovSec and ASIS ExhibitionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCLFMI participates in GovSec and ASIS Exhibitions trade shows to promote members' products and provide direct leads.
• Dr. Lynn ReaserminorOthersFormer Chief Economist for Bank of America and Chief Economic Advisor for the State of California oversees CLFMI's Economic and Market Forecast program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clfmi_chainlink
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ChainLinkFenceinfo
• Facebookfacebook.com/chainlinkfencemanufacturers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chain-link-fence-manufacturers-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/chainlinkinfo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute