Gilco Scaffolding Co.

What Gilco Scaffolding Co. does

Gilco Scaffolding Co. is a family-owned and operated construction access and scaffolding contractor founded in 1938 in Chicago, Illinois, currently operating from its headquarters at 515 Jarvis Ave, Des Plaines. The company provides installation, rental, and sales of scaffolding systems and related construction access equipment to construction contractors and building maintenance customers across the Chicagoland metropolitan area, including Chicago, Des Plaines, Glenview, Niles, Mount Prospect, and Park Ridge.

The core technology offering centers on scaffolding and elevated access systems, including electric powered swing stages, mast climbers (hydraulic, gas, and electric), suspended scaffolding platforms, stair towers with lockable casters, and cantilevered landing platforms rated for 2,000-4,000 pound loads. Adjacent product lines include sidewalk canopies for pedestrian protection, debris chutes for multi-story waste removal, shoring and wall bracing systems for structural support, construction fencing with jersey barriers, and accessories such as SW Type Series Frames, putlogs, casters, work cages, and fall protection equipment. The company is a certified service provider for Power Climber Swing Stage Motors and handles City of Chicago permit services for suspended work platforms.

Gilco's business model combines recurring equipment rental, one-time equipment sales, and professional design and installation services. Pricing is quote-based with no publicly disclosed rate cards, and customer acquisition is sales-led via phone (847-298-1717) and a website inquiry form, supplemented by an online rental platform. In 2024, Gilco was acquired by Sunbelt Rentals, transitioning the company from independent family ownership to a subsidiary within a national equipment rental platform.

Name

Gilco Scaffolding Co.

Legal name

Gilco Scaffolding Co

Website

https://gilcoscaffolding.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Gilco Scaffolding Co. is a family-owned Chicago-area scaffolding contractor (founded 1938) that provides installation, rental, and sales of scaffolding, canopies, shoring, debris chutes, and access systems to construction contractors across the Chicagoland region. The company was acquired by Sunbelt Rentals in 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Scaffolding Services

SIC

Construction Machinery & Equip (3531)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Access & Scaffolding Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAL)

Keywords

• Scaffold rental services
• Construction access systems
• Shoring installation
• Suspended swing stages
• Mast climber platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Plaines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rental: Gilco offers rental of scaffolding equipment, mast climbers, stair towers, suspended scaffolds, landing platforms, debris chutes, and construction fencing to construction contractors.
2. Equipment Sales: Sales of scaffolding systems and related construction equipment including SW Type Series Frames, putlogs, and casters.
3. Shoring Installation Services: Full-service shoring installation including engineering analysis, custom design, and professional installation of shoring systems for construction projects.
4. Expert Design and Installation: Expert design and installation services for suspended work platforms, including City of Chicago permit service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Gilco Scaffolding Co. provides installation, rental, and sales of scaffolding systems, sidewalk canopies, suspended scaffolds, shoring, stair towers, construction fencing, mast climbers, debris chutes, wall bracing, and landing platforms for construction contractors in the Chicagoland region. The company offers full-service design, engineering, and professional installation including City of Chicago permit service.

Product overview

Gilco Scaffolding Co. is a family-owned scaffolding contractor established in 1938, offering a comprehensive portfolio of construction access and safety equipment as a single unified product line. The core offering centers on scaffolding systems (suspended scaffolds, mast climbers, stair towers) combined with protective equipment (sidewalk canopies, construction fencing, debris chutes) and structural support services (shoring installation, wall bracing, landing platforms). Accessories include putlogs/scaffold trusses, casters, SW Type Series Frames, Work Cages, and Fall Protection Equipment. The company provides rental, sales, and installation services for all products, serving the Chicagoland construction industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scaffolding Services Full-service scaffolding solutions providing temporary sturdy platforms for construction access at elevated heights, enabling workers to safely conduct tasks such as cleaning, painting, repairs, wiring, and plastering for construction contractors in all construction trades.
• Sidewalk Canopy Overhead protection structures set up on sidewalks and building exteriors to protect pedestrians against falling debris during construction, demolition, repair, or modification work, for construction contractors and project owners.
• Suspended Scaffolds Electric powered swing stages providing safe and cost-effective access up and down tall buildings, tanks, stacks, and other structures for maintenance and construction work, for construction contractors and building maintenance operators.
• Shoring Installation Services Full-service shoring installation including engineering analysis, custom design, and professional installation of temporary structural support systems for buildings during construction, excavation, or when traditional support systems are modified or damaged, preventing structural collapse.
• Stair Towers Portable stair units with lockable casters providing flexible elevated access for construction tasks such as painting, plastering, HVAC repairs, window washing, and overhead work, for construction contractors.
• Construction Fencing & Jersey Barriers Safety fencing systems with square tubing and galvanized steel piping plus jersey barriers for site security, crowd control, and pedestrian protection at construction zones, for construction contractors and project owners.
• Wall Bracing Steel brace systems installed to support structures, restore stability to foundations, and prevent further damage from bowing, buckling, or foundation settlement, for construction contractors and property owners.
• Mast Climbers Vertical climbing work platforms that move along a mast structure, operated by hydraulic, gas-powered, or electric motor systems for efficient transport of workers and materials to various heights, with single or twin tower configurations using anchoring systems, for construction contractors.
• Debris Chutes Temporary structures for funneling construction waste materials from upper floors to dumpsters below, enabling safe debris removal from multi-story buildings, for construction contractors.
• Landing Platforms Cantilevered deck systems installed on upper floors of commercial buildings enabling cranes to safely deposit materials outside structures and place them inside, with load capacities rated from 2000 to 4000 pounds, for construction contractors.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Sunbelt RentalsflagshipOthersGilco Scaffolding Co. has been acquired by Sunbelt Rentals. The website prominently states 'We are now part of Sunbelt Rentals'. This represents a significant corporate partnership/acquisition that integrates Gilco's scaffolding services into Sunbelt Rentals' equipment rental network.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• PERI Group: PERI is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of formwork, scaffolding, and shoring systems with significant U.S. presence. It competes directly with Gilco in shoring installation and system scaffolding for commercial construction.
• BrandSafway: BrandSafway is the largest scaffolding and access-services company in North America, offering system scaffolding, suspended scaffolds, mast climbers, and shoring. It directly competes with Gilco in scaffolding rental and installation across the U.S. and represents the national-scale incumbent Gilco is now part of via Sunbelt's network.
• Doka USA: Doka manufactures formwork and scaffolding systems and provides engineering and installation services. It competes with Gilco's shoring installation business and supplies access solutions to large commercial contractors.
• ULMA Construction: ULMA provides formwork, shoring, and scaffolding systems with engineering and on-site services across the Americas. It is comparable to Gilco in integrated shoring and scaffolding delivery for mid-to-large commercial projects.
• Sunbelt Rentals: Sunbelt Rentals acquired Gilco in 2024 and is one of the largest equipment rental companies in North America, offering aerial work platforms, scaffolding, and contractor equipment. It is both Gilco's parent and a direct competitor to Gilco in broader equipment rental markets.
• AT-PAC: AT-PAC manufactures and supplies scaffolding systems (ringlock/cuplock) and provides access solutions for industrial and commercial construction. It overlaps with Gilco in modular scaffolding supply and access engineering.

Broad incumbents

• United Rentals: United Rentals is the largest equipment rental company in the world and offers aerial work platforms, scaffolding accessories, and construction access solutions as part of a much broader rental fleet. It competes with Gilco for contractor access-equipment spend, especially on large multi-site jobs.
• Herc Rentals: Herc Rentals is a national equipment rental company offering aerial work platforms and contractor equipment including access solutions. It competes broadly with Gilco/Sunbelt for access-equipment business on commercial and industrial jobsites.

Emerging players

• Hünnebeck (BrandSafway brand): Hünnebeck offers formwork and scaffolding solutions focused on commercial and industrial projects in select markets. It is comparable to Gilco in scaffolding system design, rental, and installation services.

Regional players

• Swing Staging (regional Chicagoland competitor): Swing Staging is a regional suspended scaffold and access company serving the U.S. with overlap to Gilco's swing stage and suspended scaffold product lines. It represents a same-category, overlapping-geography peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gilco-scaffolding-co-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Gilco Scaffolding Co.