Stainless Headers Mfg., Inc

What Stainless Headers Mfg., Inc does

Stainless Headers Mfg., Inc is a privately held custom header and exhaust component manufacturer headquartered in Lake City, Minnesota. The company fabricates and sells hand-built header build kits, turbo headers, merge collectors, mandrel bends, flanges, formed collectors, under-car exhaust components, and complete turbo kits, using 100% USA-made materials including 321 stainless, 304 stainless, mild steel, and aluminum. Notable technical capabilities include 3D printed 316 stainless steel turbo collectors and elbows, mandrel bending for consistent airflow, and ceramic coating services rated from 1200F to 2200F that reflect heat and provide corrosion resistance. The company also supplies aviation manufacturing facilities, indicating its quality standards meet those industries' specifications.

The company generates revenue through one-time product sales across multiple categories (individual components priced $5-$100+, turbo headers $1,000-$2,000, complete turbo kits $5,500-$6,000+) plus ceramic coating services ($250-$600), private labeling, and header welding services. Its go-to-market is primarily direct-to-consumer e-commerce through its own website with phone support (1-800-290-3920), supplemented by a Builder Locator network that refers customers to approved fabricators and chassis shops. Distribution is domestic US only, with free ground shipping on orders over $299.

Its primary customer segments are custom header builders and fabricators (professional shops), performance enthusiasts and racers (drag racing, road racing, street performance), forced induction/turbo enthusiasts, and marine applications. The company maintains supplier relationships with BorgWarner, CompTurbo Technologies, Garrett-Motion, Turbosmart, Mishimoto, K&N, and AeroQuip to assemble its forced induction product line. No funding rounds, institutional investors, parent company, or management team are disclosed, and the business appears to be an independently owned, founder/family-operated small manufacturer.

Name

Stainless Headers Mfg., Inc

Legal name

Stainless Headers Mfg., Inc

Website

https://stainlessheaders.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stainless Headers Mfg., Inc is a privately held US manufacturer of custom headers, turbo headers, and exhaust components, serving professional fabricators, performance enthusiasts, racers, and marine customers through direct-to-consumer e-commerce from Lake City, Minnesota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Headers and Header Components: One-time product sales of custom headers, header build kits, and individual header components (flanges, merge collectors, mandrel bends, slip joints, etc.) to custom header builders, fabricators, and performance enthusiasts. Products are custom-built to meet each customer's individual needs.
2. Turbo Systems and Forced Induction Products: Sales of complete turbo kits, turbochargers (BorgWarner, CompTurbo, Garrett-Motion), turbo headers, wastegates, blow-off valves, intercoolers, and related forced induction components.
3. Under Car Exhaust Components: Sales of under car exhaust products including bullet race mufflers, H-pipes, X-pipes, Y-pipes, exhaust tubing, mandrel bends, and custom stainless steel exhaust assemblies.
4. Ceramic Coating Services: Aftermarket ceramic coating service for exhaust parts with temperature ratings from 1200F to 2200F, offering thermal barrier properties and corrosion resistance. Price ranges from $250-$600 depending on header type.
5. Private Labeling: Private labeling services available for custom header builders and chassis shops through their private labeling program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Stainless Headers Mfg., Inc manufactures and sells custom headers, header build kits, header components, turbo headers, under-car exhaust, oval exhaust, and forced induction products including complete turbo kits and turbochargers. All products are hand-crafted in the USA using 321 stainless, 304 stainless, mild steel, and aluminum materials, with aviation-manufacturing-grade quality standards. The company also offers ceramic coating services, header welding, and private labeling for chassis shops and custom header builders.

Product overview

Stainless Headers Mfg., Inc is a custom header fabrication company operating as a single unified manufacturer with a modular product architecture. Their core offerings center on custom headers and exhaust components, with the primary product lines including Custom Header Build Kits (Naturally Aspirated, Fender Exit, Zoomie, Turbo, and Turbo Manifold variants), Custom Turbo Headers (Bolt-On and Elbow components), and Header Components (merge collectors, mandrel bends, flanges, tubing, and accessories). These are supported by complementary product families: Forced Induction Components (turbo kits, turbochargers from BorgWarner/Garrett-CompTurbo, wastegates, blow-off valves, intercoolers), Under Car Exhaust (mufflers, H/X/Y-pipes, tubing, bends), and Oval Exhaust Components (low-profile oval tubing and transitions). Add-on services include Ceramic Coatings (1200F-2200F thermal barrier coating) and Header Welding Services. Specialty offerings include Titanium Zoomie Headers, 3D Printed Performance Products (316 stainless collectors and elbows), Dragster Headers, Marine Exhaust, and Aluminum Components. The company also offers Builder Locator (a network referral resource), Private Labeling, and Header Calculators/Guides for customers. All products are hand-crafted in the USA using time-tested fabrication methods with materials including 321 stainless, 304 stainless, mild steel, and aluminum.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Header Build Kits Engine-specific header build kits sold to custom header builders, fabricators, and performance enthusiasts for fabricating custom headers in Naturally Aspirated, Fender Exit, Custom Zoomie, Turbo, Custom Turbo Manifold, and Bend-Only configurations.
• Custom Turbo Headers Bolt-on turbo headers and turbo header elbows with custom components for forced induction applications, available for Big Block Chevy, Small Block Ford, Barra 4L I-6, and Pontiac 400/455 applications.
• Forced Induction Components Complete turbo kits, performance turbochargers (BorgWarner, CompTurbo, Garrett-Motion), external wastegates, blow-off valves, intercoolers, couplers, hoses, and clamps for turbocharged engines.
• Header Components Fabrication components including merge collectors, mandrel bends, header flanges, formed collectors, collector mufflers, slip joints, transition reducers, straight tubing, turbo elbows, performance megaphones, bullhorn tips, and exhaust flex joints.
• Under Car Exhaust Custom stainless steel under car exhaust systems including bullet race mufflers, H-pipes, X-pipes, Y-pipes, exhaust tubing, mandrel bends, oval components, and complete build kits.
• Oval Exhaust Components Low-profile oval exhaust tubing, mandrel bends, oval-to-round transitions, custom oval mufflers, pie cut kits, X-pipes, slip joints, twists, and turn downs for ground clearance optimization.
• Ceramic Coating Services High-temperature ceramic coating service for exhaust components, ranging from 1200F to 2200F temperature ratings, providing thermal barrier protection and corrosion resistance with multiple color options at $250-$600 depending on header type.
• Header Welding Services Professional header welding services for custom header fabrication and repairs.
• Private Labeling Services Private labeling services for dealers and chassis shops to brand custom header products under their own labels.
• 3D Printed Performance Products 3D printed 316 stainless steel formed turbo collectors and turbo elbows with integrated wastegate tubes for precision performance applications.
• Marine Exhaust Components Stainless steel marine exhaust manifolds and headers for boat applications, including Big Block Chevy marine exhaust manifolds.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ceramic coating reflects heat away from engine bay allowing cooler engine temperatures, improving horsepower, torque, and overall efficiency
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BorgWarnercoreTechnology or IntegrationBorgWarner is a key supplier of turbochargers to Stainless Headers Mfg., providing Airwerks turbochargers for complete turbo kits and individual sales. Products include S200-SX, S300-SX3, S400SX, S480SX4, and S500SX series turbos.
• CompTurbo TechnologiescoreTechnology or IntegrationCompTurbo Technologies supplies turbochargers and related components including CTRX wastegates (45mm and 60mm) and CTRX blow-off valves (50mm). All CompTurbo turbochargers are made-to-order with 3-5 week lead times.
• TurbosmartcoreTechnology or IntegrationTurbosmart supplies external wastegates (40mm CompGate, 45mm HyperGate, 50mm ProGate, 60mm PowerGate) and blow-off valves for turbo header applications.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hooker Headers: Hooker Headers (a Holley brand) is a direct competitor manufacturing custom and bolt-on exhaust headers, turbo headers, and exhaust components for muscle cars and performance enthusiasts. Overlapping product lines, customer base (racers and builders), and distribution channels make it the most directly comparable peer.
• BBK Performance: BBK Performance manufactures headers, cold air intakes, exhaust components, and throttle bodies for Mustang, Camaro, and other performance vehicles. Directly comparable headers and exhaust product line targeting enthusiast and racing segments.
• Kooks Headers & Exhaust: Kooks manufactures custom stainless steel headers, turbo headers, and exhaust systems for performance and racing applications. Closely comparable premium-positioned, USA-built stainless header specialist serving racers and enthusiasts.
• Borla Performance Industries: Borla manufactures stainless steel performance exhaust systems, headers, and cat-back exhausts for street, racing, and marine applications. Direct overlap in stainless steel exhaust components, marine offerings, and premium USA-built positioning.
• MagnaFlow: MagnaFlow produces performance exhaust systems, headers, and catalytic converters for cars, trucks, and motorsports. Comparable product categories (headers and exhaust) with a much larger distribution footprint and broader market reach.
• Patriot Exhaust (Holley): Patriot Exhaust builds headers and exhaust systems designed for street rods, classics, and muscle cars. Comparable product overlap in headers, with a focus on custom-fit solutions for the same enthusiast and builder customer base.
• Flowmaster (Holley): Flowmaster manufactures performance mufflers, exhaust systems, and headers for muscle cars and trucks. Sister brand to Hooker under Holley, offering overlapping headers and exhaust product lines for similar enthusiasts.
• Doug's Headers (Holley): Doug's Headers offers tubular headers and exhaust components for domestic performance cars and trucks. Direct peer competing in headers and exhaust for racers and enthusiasts, now part of the broader Holley portfolio.

Emerging players

• TurboSmart: TurboSmart manufactures external wastegates, blow-off valves, and boost controllers for turbocharged performance applications. Currently a supplier to SHM (core partnership), but could expand into adjacent header/manifold offerings as it scales.

Broad incumbents

• Holley Performance Products: Holley is a broad incumbent in the performance automotive aftermarket, owning Hooker, Flowmaster, Patriot, Doug's, and many other header/exhaust brands. While not a direct single-product peer, it is the largest aggregator competing against SHM across multiple brand touchpoints.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/stainless_headers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stainless-headers

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 Stainless Headers Mfg., Inc