Wedoany.com Report on Feb 25th, The trend of consolidation in the metal fabrication industry continues, with Morton Industries recently completing the acquisition of Superior Tube Products in Davenport, Iowa. This deal, finalized at the end of last year, is expected to boost Morton's revenue by approximately 5%.
Morton's projected revenue for 2025 is $135 million, ranking it 15th on The Fabricator's 2025 FAB 40 list, which features larger manufacturing companies in the United States. Headquartered in Morton, Illinois, Morton has secured employment for all 47 Superior employees following the acquisition. The company provided these employees with flexible relocation options, including comprehensive relocation support, allowing them to choose to move to any Morton facility or adopt a remote work model. It also funded on-site facility visits for employees and their families to help them make their choice.
Chris Ober, President and CEO of Morton, stated, "Most of them needed to relocate, and many indeed did. We were surprised by the number who accepted, so we are very pleased with this outcome. This is part of our commitment to ensuring that the people we bring in can maintain their jobs."
Currently, Morton employs approximately 750 people across six locations. Ober noted that this acquisition was partly to address gaps in Morton's own product offerings, such as the equipment and tooling needed to bend 7-inch outer diameter tubing. The company has transferred Superior's 7-inch bending equipment and tooling to its headquarters in Illinois, along with the equipment used for bending curved rollover tubes for off-road vehicles.
Ober mentioned that other surplus equipment held by Superior is being auctioned. He explained, "Every competitor has its unique strengths. In Superior's case, they were true specialists in larger diameter bending, which we valued. The acquisition covered not just the equipment but also the customer base that uses this equipment and tooling, as well as the skilled employees who operate it. This was very attractive and perfectly aligned with our needs."
Additionally, Morton decided to transfer equipment serving another Superior niche market—high-volume handles for consumer-grade lawn and snow removal equipment—to its facility in Dunlap, Tennessee. Morton recently leased an additional 60,000 square feet of production space in Dunlap, and the Superior acquisition will effectively utilize this new space. Ober added, "Tennessee is a good location for us. We realized that as the market grows, we need more space."
