Marlin Steel Wire Products acquires Franklin Display Group

Marlin Steel Wire Products said July 22, 2026, that Franklin Display Group has joined the Marlin and Madsen family of companies. The deal adds Franklin’s display-rack manufacturing capabilities, 100 employees and 210,000-plus square feet of production space in Belvidere, Illinois, to the broader Marlin business.

Why it matters: - The acquisition expands Marlin Steel Wire Products’ manufacturing footprint and adds new capabilities in retail display products. - Franklin Display Group brings planning, design, engineering, prototyping, manufacturing, materials and finishing, assembly and logistics services into the combined company. - The deal is positioned to broaden options for customers in American manufacturing and retail display production.

What happened: - Marlin Steel Wire Products announced on July 22, 2026, that Franklin Display Group has officially joined the Marlin and Madsen family of companies. - Franklin Display Group was founded in 1978 in Belvidere, Illinois. - Franklin produces tube, wire and sheet metal racks for brands across retail and other consumer markets. - The company has worked with national beverage companies and golf equipment brands. - Bob Berleth, Franklin’s president, will stay on to continue leading the team. - Don Mutert Jr. is stepping into retirement after 43 years with the business.

The details: - Franklin operates two facilities in Belvidere, Illinois, located 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. - Marlin said the Franklin operation adds meaningful depth to the broader capabilities of the Marlin family of companies. - Marlin said the combined business will keep reinvesting in American manufacturing. - Marlin said every product it builds is made in the USA. - More information is available at Marlin Wire. - Marlin’s social channels include LinkedIn and YouTube.

Between the lines: - The transaction appears designed to combine Franklin’s display expertise with Marlin’s broader industrial and manufacturing reach. - Keeping Berleth in place suggests continuity for Franklin’s customers and employees. - The emphasis on safety, domestic production and family ownership points to a cultural fit that Marlin is highlighting as part of the deal.

What's next: - Marlin and Franklin are expected to integrate operations while preserving Franklin’s leadership structure in the near term. - Customers can expect the combined company to market a wider set of manufacturing capabilities and display solutions. - The companies are also likely to use the acquisition to pursue new accounts across retail and related industries.