Marlin Steel Wire Products acquires Franklin Display Group

Marlin Steel Wire Products has acquired Franklin Display Group, adding the Illinois display-maker’s rack design, manufacturing and finishing capabilities to the Marlin and Madsen family of companies. The deal expands Marlin’s American manufacturing footprint and keeps Franklin president Bob Berleth in place to lead the business.

Why it matters: - The acquisition broadens Marlin Steel Wire Products’ manufacturing capabilities and gives customers access to Franklin Display Group’s display-rack expertise. - Franklin Display Group brings added capacity in tube, wire and sheet metal products, along with planning, design, engineering, prototyping, manufacturing, finishing, assembly and logistics. - The deal also underscores a continued bet on U.S.-based manufacturing and reinvestment in domestic production.

What happened: - Marlin Steel Wire Products acquired Franklin Display Group, and Franklin has joined the Marlin and Madsen family of companies. - Franklin Display Group was founded in 1978 in Belvidere, Illinois. - The company works with brands across retail, including national beverage companies and golf equipment brands. - Bob Berleth will stay on as president of Franklin Display Group. - Don Mutert Jr. is retiring after 43 years with the business.

The details: - Franklin Display Group operates two facilities in Belvidere, Illinois, located about a mile apart. - The company has 100 employees and more than 210,000 square feet of manufacturing space. - Franklin’s equipment includes three flat lasers, a CNC tube laser, tube bending, a powder coating line and Schlatter mesh welders. - Franklin has gone more than 600 consecutive days without a lost-time safety incident. - The company was founded by the Mutert family. - Bob Berleth brings 30 years of senior executive leadership experience in manufacturing. - Marlin says the combined company will create new possibilities for customers on both sides. - The company describes all of its products as proudly made in the USA. - More information is available on Marlin Steel Wire Products.

Between the lines: - The acquisition looks designed to add specialized display manufacturing to Marlin’s broader industrial wire capabilities. - Keeping Berleth in place suggests continuity for Franklin’s employees and customer relationships during the ownership change. - The emphasis on safety, family ownership and domestic production points to the cultural fit Marlin is trying to signal.

What’s next: - Franklin Display Group will operate as part of Marlin’s broader family of companies. - The combined businesses are expected to pursue new customer opportunities using Franklin’s display expertise and Marlin’s wider reach. - Marlin and Franklin plan to continue building out American manufacturing capabilities together.