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Innovating Concrete Forming: Gates & Sons’ Journey from Twisted Wire Ties to Custom Solutions

A family-owned manufacturer transformed concrete construction by prioritizing customization and speed over one-size-fits-all solutions

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By Shanice Bennerson · Concrete SolutionsConstructionFamily Owned BusinessGates & Sons
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Key takeaways

01

Gates & Sons transitioned from standard twisted wire ties to tailored concrete forming products to meet diverse contractor needs.

02

Speed and customization became their core competitive advantages over mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions.

03

A family-owned business model supported agile decision-making and closer client relationships.

Discover the story of Lee Gates Sr., the visionary founder, who introduced the twisted wire tie—an innovation that revolutionized concrete construction. Witness how Gates & Sons' commitment to excellence and responsiveness to clients' evolving needs have shaped the company's identity as an American-made product manufacturer. Explore their wood-based forming systems that empower clients to adapt forms to the job, rather than the other way around, fostering efficiency and precision.

Join us as we highlight the company's dedication to providing timely solutions, even for specialty products, and their seamless integration of customer feedback into their product lineup. Gain insights into how Gates & Sons' familial atmosphere fosters a culture of collaboration and trust, extending to their valued clients and partners.

Wood-based forming systems that empower clients to adapt forms to the job, rather than the other way around, fostering efficiency and precision.

Experience firsthand the passion and commitment that drive Gates & Sons to play a vital role in building cities and infrastructure across the nation. From custom solutions for unique shapes to reducing labor times and enhancing concrete quality, this video showcases how Gates & Sons continue to push boundaries, one innovative concrete form at a time.

From custom solutions for unique shapes to reducing labor times and enhancing concrete quality, this video showcases how Gates & Sons continue to push boundaries, one innovative concrete form at a time.
Video TranscriptExpand ↓

Gates and tons is a manufacturer of concrete forming accessories. We have product lines that span from residential foundation work all the way to large commercial structures such as high rise office buildings or residential. And we've been doing a lot of stadium work as well. The Lee Gates senior started a a company as a general contractor. So they were building buildings here in Denver, Colorado in the early days. And at one point, on on a large they got an idea. He came up with a thing that's that's really the the hallmark of what we do and they found of everything that is is a Gates product is is the twisted wire tie. Leemate his own machines, and they work tirelessly to make ties for their own use at a job site, and that made them more competitive. We provide customized forming solutions for each particular job. We can cut and fit things to fit specific shapes, radiuses, you know, octagons, all kinds of weird things like that. We don't have pre made preset form sizes. We can do just about any sider shape that people don't. We can drastically cut labor times by providing prebuilt forms that are delivered directly to the upside ready to set and pour. A lot of our competitors are modular, and their forms come in specific shapes and sizes, and it's much to make those fit every application. We can turn out a new product for a customer based off of their direct needs and and have it in the field. Say in the matter of weeks, really shows our dedication in trying to help them operate more safely, more efficiently, and turning out a more quality concrete product. All of Gates's forming systems are wood based systems. What this allows is for customers to easily modify forms to fit the job as opposed to changing the job to forms. Gates helps them to accomplish this by being able to provide the accessories that we manufacture in a very timely fashion, even when they are specialty products as opposed to items that we We are making the products that are helping build the cities and infrastructure throughout this country. And I think that is something that is actually important to contractors. Last summer, we had a contractor that was looking for a scaffolding solution for his column forms. We were able to provide a solution within a couple of days, and it ended up being a win for the customer and for us. We were able to add a new product to our lineup as well. Jason Sun's manufacturers quality, American made products, and we do it in a timely fashion. Our customers have ever changing needs, being an American company, and and being able to respond to their needs leak is something that's also very important to them. It almost feels like everyone is is family. And we certainly strive to treat everyone that way, and it's one of the things I love the most about working here.

About the author

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Shanice Bennerson

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About the Expert

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Shanice Bennerson