Ball Chain Manufacturing

What Ball Chain Manufacturing does

Ball Chain Manufacturing Co., Inc. is a 5th-generation family-owned manufacturer founded in 1938, headquartered in a 70,000 square foot facility in Mount Vernon, New York. It is the only remaining U.S. manufacturer of ball chain and the exclusive supplier of ball chain to the U.S. military for military identification dog tag necklaces, producing millions of feet of chain per week. The company operates two principal divisions: Ball Chain Mfg. Co., Inc., which produces ball chain products for industrial, architectural (ShimmerScreen decorative curtains), and military end-uses, and LogoTags, its commercial promotional products division. LogoTags offers custom challenge coins, dog tags, race medals, bottle openers, lapel pins, patches, charms, keychains, poker chips, golf products, bracelets, and apparel through its own e-commerce storefront (LogoTags.com), supported by an inside sales team available seven days a week. The apparel line was added in 2021 via the acquisition of T-Shirt Works, bringing screen printing and embroidery in-house.

The business model is predominantly one-time product sales with unit-based pricing and volume discounts, including a no-setup-fee policy on most products and a dedicated high-volume division for orders of 10,000+ pieces that handles packaging and distribution. Revenue streams also include premium express/rush production services (24-72 hour turnaround using proprietary 3D UV printing on real metal blanks) and product sourcing services for enterprise buyers. Customers span U.S. military and government agencies, Fortune 500 corporations (Disney, NASA, Honeywell, Bacardi, Bayer, Mack Trucks), sports teams (New York Jets), endurance race organizers, first responders, clubs and organizations, and SMB/individual buyers for events and weddings. The company is ISO 9001 certified, Green Business Bureau certified, and remains entirely under family ownership with no external investors, operating globally from a single domestic manufacturing footprint supplemented by overseas production partners for select products.

Name

Ball Chain Manufacturing

Legal name

Ball Chain Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Website

https://logotags.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Ball Chain Manufacturing Co., Inc. is a 5th-generation family-owned U.S. manufacturer founded in 1938, producing ball chains and custom promotional products — including challenge coins, dog tags, race medals, lapel pins, and apparel — at its Mount Vernon, NY facility, serving military, corporate, sports, and event customers through its LogoTags.com e-commerce platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Promotional Products

NAICS

Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423910), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159), Toy and Hobby Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42392)

SIC

Wholesale-Jewelry, Watches, Precious Stones & Metals (5094), Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Chains & Wire Manufacturing (CRAKAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bag & Accessory Components/Hardware (Straps, Buckles, Zippers) (CRAAAJAJ), Textiles, Fabrics, Trims & Components Suppliers (CRAAAAAL)

Keywords

• Ball chain manufacturing
• Custom promotional products
• Custom challenge coins
• Military dog tags
• Custom lapel pins

Headquarters

HQ city

Mount Vernon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Promotional Products: One-time product sales of custom promotional items including challenge coins, dog tags, medals, bottle openers, lapel pins, patches, charms, keychains, bracelets, poker chips, and custom metal tags. Revenue generated through unit pricing with volume-based discounts. No setup fees for most standard products.
2. Express/Rush Products: Premium pricing for expedited production of custom challenge coins, medals, and lapel pins with 24-72 hour turnaround. Higher per-unit pricing for rush orders with in-house UV printing capabilities.
3. Custom Apparel: Screen printing and embroidery services added after acquiring T-Shirt Works in 2021. In-house apparel customization including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and caps.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ball Chain Manufacturing Co., Inc., operating through its LogoTags division, manufactures and sells ball chain and a broad line of custom promotional products including dog tags, challenge coins, race medals, bottle openers, lapel pins, embroidered patches, charms, keychains, bracelets, poker chips, and custom apparel. The company is the world's largest producer of ball chain and the exclusive supplier of ball chain to the U.S. military for military ID dog tag necklaces, operating a 70,000 sq ft production facility in Mount Vernon, NY.

Product overview

Ball Chain Manufacturing Co., Inc. (operating as LogoTags) is a promotional products company that functions as both a manufacturer and distributor. The company operates two main divisions: the LogoTags promotional products division offering custom challenge coins, dog tags, race medals, bottle openers, jewelry, patches, pins, golf products, bracelets, poker chips, keychains, apparel, and eco-friendly products; and the Ball Chain Architectural division distributing ShimmerScreen decorative ball chain curtains. The core manufacturing operation produces the company's flagship product—ball chains for military dog tags—with LogoTags serving as the commercial extension offering customization services. The company manufactures in-house at its 70,000 sq ft Mount Vernon, NY facility while also working with overseas production partners for certain products. Services include free artwork, no setup fees on most products, high-volume order specialization (10,000+ pieces), and rush production options. Recent expansion includes in-house screen printing and embroidery following the 2021 acquisition of T-Shirt Works.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LogoTags: Promotional products division offering custom challenge coins, dog tags, bottle openers, medals, pins, charms and metal tags.
• ShimmerScreen

Products and services

• Custom Dog Tags Custom metal dog tags in military-style embossed, color printed, and laser engraved variants, sold with free USA-made ball chain necklaces. Offered in stainless steel and anodized aluminum materials with various sizes and accessories for military, corporate, event, and individual customers.
• Custom Challenge Coins Premium custom military-style challenge coins manufactured in solid brass with free artwork, unlimited revisions, and no setup fees. Available in sizes from 1.25 to 3 inches with various plating and edge options including 2D and 3D designs for military, first responders, and corporate customers.
• Express Challenge Coins Full-color 3D UV printed custom challenge coins on real metal blanks with 24-72 hour production turnaround. Available in 1.75 and 2 inch sizes with six plating options; no mold fees or setup fees.
• Custom Race Medals Custom die-struck race medals for marathons, 5K/10K races, half marathons, triathlons, cycling events, and obstacle course races. Made in solid metal with no setup fees and free artwork assistance, targeted at endurance event organizers.
• Express Race Medals Full-color 3D UV printed race medals on real metal blanks with 24-72 hour production turnaround. Available in 2.5 inch standard size with six plating options for last-minute race orders.
• Laser Engraved Items In-house laser engraving services on anodized aluminum, stainless steel, and other materials. Includes laser engraved dog tags, bottle openers, business cards, carabiners, circle tags, and bone-shaped pet tags produced at the Mount Vernon, NY facility.
• Custom Bottle Openers Custom novelty bottle openers in multiple styles including credit card, wrench, and keychain formats. Produced in various materials, colors, and shapes with laser engraving and color printing options for marketing giveaways and wedding favors.
• Custom Drinking Straws Eco-friendly custom drinking straws in bamboo and stainless steel materials with laser engraved artwork. Includes reusable metal straw sets with cleaning brushes packaged in custom branded cotton bags for promotional campaigns.
• Custom Charms & Jewelry Custom brass charms, pendants, and jewelry tags in any shape or design. Available in various finishes with laser engraving options and low order minimums for fashion and brand merchandise.
• Custom Embroidered Patches Custom embroidered patches for sports teams, fire departments, military organizations, and businesses. Available in multiple styles, fabrics, and thread options with no setup fees for standard sizes.
• Custom Lapel Pins Custom lapel pins available in color printed UV, stamped steel, stainless steel offset, and aluminum offset styles. Includes butterfly clutch backing and free epoxy coating options for recognition and brand identity programs.
• Golf Products Custom golf products including divot tools, ball markers, golf towels, hat clips, and custom printed Vice Drive and Vice Tour golf balls for tournaments and corporate events.
• Bracelets & Wristbands Custom bracelets and wristbands including silicone wristbands, paracord survival bracelets, slap bracelets, and slap watches in various colors with custom printing for camps, schools, and business promotional giveaways.
• Custom Poker Chips Custom poker chips in 11.5 gram and ceramic options with color printed designs. Produced in USA with fast turnaround from the New York factory for casinos, events, and promotional use.
• Custom Keychains Custom promotional keychains including carabiners, lanyards, and silicone bracelet keychains with various attachment options for marketing giveaways.
• Custom Apparel Custom screen printed and embroidered apparel including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and caps. In-house production capability acquired from T-Shirt Works in 2021 and integrated at the Mount Vernon, NY facility.
• Rush Products Service Expedited production service across multiple promotional product lines with priority art and approval process. Some products ship within 1 business day after payment and approval, supporting customers with tight deadlines.
• Product Sourcing Services Custom product sourcing and supply chain management services leveraging 80+ years of manufacturing experience and international supplier relationships, targeted at volume orders of 10,000+ pieces for promotional product campaigns.
• Ball Chain Products World's largest manufacturer of ball chain, producing over 4 million feet per week. Exclusive supplier of ball chain to the U.S. military for dog tag necklaces, with additional applications in light fixtures, plumbing devices, key chains, and chain necklaces.
• ShimmerScreen Architectural Ball Chain Curtains Decorative ball chain curtains distributed by the Ball Chain Architectural division, used as architectural and decorative elements in interior design applications.
• Custom Packaging & Distribution Services Custom packaging, warehousing, and distribution services including pricing, delivery, and quality control for large volume promotional product orders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Production capacity of millions of feet of ball chain per week
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• T-Shirt WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Acquired in 2021 to expand in-house screen printing and embroidery capabilities. Now offering custom t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and caps with same-day capabilities at their Mount Vernon, NY facility.
• Overseas Production PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongtime production partners overseas that supplement domestic manufacturing for certain products, bringing customers promotional items from the international stage.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Crown Trophy: One of the largest custom awards, trophies, and challenge coin manufacturers in North America with hundreds of franchise centers. Direct overlap with LogoTags in challenge coins, medals, recognition awards, and promotional products for corporate, sports, and military customers.
• Quality Logo Products: Leading online custom promotional products distributor offering dog tags, keychains, drinkware, apparel, and similar items to B2B customers. Comparable e-commerce-first GTM, similar SKU breadth in low-cost promotional merchandise, and competing for the same SMB and enterprise buyers.
• Signature Coins: Custom challenge coin specialist offering military, corporate, and sports coins. Direct overlap with LogoTags' core challenge coin offering, serving similar customer segments including military units, first responders, and corporate event buyers.
• All American Awards: Manufacturer of custom challenge coins, medals, pins, and belt buckles with strong military and first-responder customer base. Closely comparable product mix to LogoTags' challenge coin and medal line and similar Made-in-USA positioning.
• ID Wholesaler: Specializes in custom ID cards, dog tags, name badges, and lanyards for businesses, schools, and events. Direct overlap with LogoTags' dog tag product line and similar B2B e-commerce/inside-sales motion targeting institutional buyers.
• Discount Mugs: Large-scale custom promotional products manufacturer/distributor offering drinkware, bags, apparel, and accessories at competitive price points. Competes with LogoTags in custom merchandise for enterprise customers and shares the high-volume B2B promotional category.

Broad incumbents

• 4imprint: Public, large-scale promotional products distributor with a much broader catalog across nearly every category LogoTags serves. Competes for enterprise promotional spend with a fully self-service e-commerce platform; significantly larger scale and digital maturity than LogoTags.
• HALO (HALO Recognition): Large corporate branded merchandise and recognition provider serving Fortune 1000 customers with awards, apparel, and promotional products. Overlaps with LogoTags in recognition items, branded merchandise, and corporate accounts but at materially larger scale and broader portfolio.
• National Pen: Long-established promotional products company (pens, drinkware, bags, awards) with global sourcing and enterprise sales force. Competes in adjacent promotional categories and shares B2B enterprise customers with LogoTags, including corporate gifting and event merchandise.

Emerging players

• Rapid 3D Print /3D Printed Challenge Coins: Smaller emerging players using 3D printing and digital print-on-demand for custom challenge coins, medals, and promotional items. Threatens LogoTags' express tier and standard coin production by offering faster turnarounds and small-batch economics without large manufacturing investment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Ball Chain Manufacturing