Valmont Industries, Inc. operates as a diversified manufacturer of products and services for infrastructure and agriculture markets.
Segments
The company has two segments, Infrastructure and Agriculture.
Infrastructure: This segment consists of the manufacture and distribution of products and solutions to serve the infrastructure markets of utility, solar, lighting and transportation, and telecommunications, along with coatings services to protect metal products.
Agriculture: This segment co...
Valmont Industries, Inc. operates as a diversified manufacturer of products and services for infrastructure and agriculture markets.
Segments
The company has two segments, Infrastructure and Agriculture.
Infrastructure: This segment consists of the manufacture and distribution of products and solutions to serve the infrastructure markets of utility, solar, lighting and transportation, and telecommunications, along with coatings services to protect metal products.
Agriculture: This segment consists of the manufacture of center pivot and linear irrigation equipment components for agricultural markets, including aftermarket parts and tubular products, and advanced technology solutions for precision agriculture.
Infrastructure
Products segment
Utility: The company designs, engineers, and manufactures structures made of steel, pre-stressed concrete, and composites to support the infrastructure necessary for electrical transmission, substations, and distribution applications within the utility industry. Transmission involves moving high-voltage power from generation sources to consumption points, while substations play a crucial role in transforming electricity to make it suitable for both transmission and distribution to end-users.
The company’s scalable solutions feature innovative designs that address the growing demand for reliable energy, especially considering increasing concerns about grid resilience due to natural disasters like fires, storms, and floods. Each project is complex, requiring significant engineering expertise to address various loading conditions and environmental factors. By addressing factors such as wind speeds and specific power line requirements, the company contributes to the development of resilient infrastructure that can withstand the challenges of an evolving energy landscape.
Lighting and Transportation (‘L&T’): The company designs, engineers, and manufactures poles and structures made of steel, aluminum, wood, and composites to support a wide range of lighting and transportation needs. The company’s products serve infrastructure, commercial, and residential projects, creating well-lit environments for streets, highways, parking lots, and public spaces, including sports complexes. The company prioritizes structural requirements and aesthetic appeal, ensuring that its design complies with local standards and preferences.
The company’s offerings include traffic and sign structures that support traffic signals and overhead signage, specifically designed to facilitate efficient traffic flow and enhance public safety. Each structure is meticulously engineered to meet environmental conditions, such as wind and ice, as well as load requirements for lighting fixtures and signage. Additionally, the company’s patented vibration mitigation technology improves roadway safety by reducing wind-induced vibrations and material fatigue, promoting long-term stability and durability.
The company also provides comprehensive highway safety systems, including guardrail barriers, wire rope safety barriers, and crash attenuation barriers, primarily serving the Australian and Indian markets. These products are designed to enhance roadway safety, reduce the impact of collisions, and improve driver protection. The company’s L&T solutions not only meet the technical, aesthetic, and safety requirements of modern infrastructure projects but also contribute to the development of cohesive and functional public spaces.
Coatings: The company’s finishing services prevent corrosion, extend product lifespans, and enhance material aesthetics. The company offers various finishing options, including galvanizing and painting, tailored to meet the specific needs of diverse applications. The company’s hot-dip galvanizing process applies a protective zinc coating to steel, creating a protective bond that prevents rust and corrosion, ensuring long-lasting durability. For underground steel installations, its CorroCote solution offers added protection against soil and moisture corrosion. The company’s painting services, including powder coating, provide both aesthetic appeal and durability for various industries. These coating solutions cater to a wide array of industry needs, enhancing performance and extending product life for the company’s customers.
Telecommunications: The company designs, manufactures, and distributes a broad range of products for the wireless communication market. Valmont Site Pro 1 supports wireless carriers and contractors through multiple nationwide warehouses and a catalog of wireless site components including antenna mounts and accessories. The company’s offering also includes towers, small cell structures, camouflage concealment solutions, and passive intermodulation (‘PIM’) mitigation equipment, all essential for meeting the increasing demands of 5G networks and rising data consumption. A typical wireless communication cell site consists of a steel pole or tower, an enclosure for housing radio equipment, antennas for data and voice transmission, and mounting components that connect the antennas to cabling and equipment. The company’s steel mounting solutions and other products play a vital role in 5G infrastructure expansion. In urban areas, small cell applications help densify networks, enhancing signal strength and coverage. To blend telecommunication structures into their surroundings, the company offers concealment solutions, such as faux trees. The company’s PIM mitigation technology addresses signal interference issues, improving network performance. Each structure is engineered to meet specific customer requirements, considering factors such as equipment and antenna specifications, wind and soil conditions, aesthetic demands, and compliance with safety standards.
Solar: The company’s single-axis solar tracker is a fully integrated system that combines steel structures, electric motors, and electronic controllers. This tracker adjusts the position of solar panels throughout the day to maintain optimal alignment with the sun, significantly enhancing energy production. The company’s trackers feature a modular design, enabling easy installation and minimal maintenance. Additionally, their flexible design maximizes site utilization, making them particularly advantageous for solar projects developed in challenging locations. The company’s customers include engineering, procurement, and construction firms specializing in solar energy projects, as well as solar developers, independent power producers, and utilities.
Markets
The key markets for the company’s Infrastructure product lines benefit from various local, state, and federal government funding initiatives.
A significant market for the company’s Infrastructure segment is the utility industry in North America, which is increasing investment in critical electrical grid upgrades to improve reliability, integrate renewable energy sources, and expand transmission capacity.
The company also serves the transportation, commercial construction, and industrial markets. The company’s transportation product portfolio includes traffic structures, bridge systems, roadway and street lighting, and high-mast lighting.
The company has established long-term relationships with lighting and equipment manufacturers serving this market.
The company’s customers include wireless carriers, cell site operators, and state and federal agencies that require products for two-way radio communication, radar, broadcasting, and security applications. As utilities accelerate the development of large-scale solar power projects and micro-grid applications, the company’s single-axis solar tracker solutions will play a crucial role in maximizing energy production.
Distribution Methods
The company’s Infrastructure products are distributed through a combination of direct sales force and commissioned agents. The company’s sales team works closely with end-users and distributors, representing Valmont, as well as light fixture and traffic signal manufacturers. This collaborative approach enables the company’s agents to deliver a comprehensive package that includes poles, fixtures, and other equipment directly to the end-user. Commercial lighting, wireless communication, access systems, and highway safety products are sold by the company’s internal sales teams or through independent commissioned agents.
The company is one of the world’s largest custom galvanizers, its sales account for only a small fraction of the overall galvanizing market.
Agriculture segment
Products
Irrigation Equipment and Parts: Under the company’s Valley brand, it manufactures and distributes center pivot and lateral move irrigation equipment, along with service parts, to enhance agricultural productivity. The company’s irrigation machines, powered by electricity—whether sourced from the grid, solar panels, or diesel generators—are engineered to move across farm fields, while conserving water, energy, and labor. These machines typically consist of a pipeline supported by a series of towers, each equipped with a drivetrain and tires for mobility.
The most common type of mechanized irrigation machine is the center pivot, which rotates in a circular pattern. To accommodate different field shapes, the company offers corner machines that irrigate the corners of square or rectangular fields. Additionally, linear machines move vertically across fields rather than rotating, offering versatility for a variety of field layouts. The company’s irrigation systems are highly customizable, capable of servicing fields from four to over 500 acres, with the standard configuration in the U.S. designed for a 160-acre tract. For international markets, the company’s irrigation machines are largely consistent with those produced for North America, ensuring uniform quality and functionality. In addition to irrigation equipment, the company also produces tubular products, primarily for industrial customers in the agriculture, transportation, and steel service sectors.
Technology Products and Services: The company offers a comprehensive suite of technology solutions designed to enhance agricultural efficiency through advanced monitoring, analysis, and automation. With over 150,000 connected devices, the company’s technology solutions help farmers detect potential crop issues early while optimizing water and energy use.
In 2021, the company expanded its capabilities by acquiring Prospera Technologies, Ltd., a leading provider of artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions for agronomic monitoring. The company leverages this expertise to focus on irrigation optimization, machine health advancements, and predictive analytics. As pioneers of the mechanized irrigation industry, the company maintains its leadership in innovation and remain at the forefront of integrating these technologies with the company’s cloud-based platform. This approach delivers data-driven irrigation strategies tailored to each field and crop.
With AgSense remote monitoring and control, growers can manage irrigation and ancillary equipment in real time, optimizing operations based on weather conditions, soil moisture levels, and crop needs. These tools promote efficient water use, reduce waste, and help maintain optimal growing conditions. By providing actionable data insights, the company empowers growers to maximize productivity while conserving valuable resources.
Markets
Water scarcity is a key driver of demand in the company’s Agriculture segment.
Distribution Methods
The company markets its irrigation machines, technology offerings, and service parts through an extensive network of independent dealers. In North America, approximately 250 dealer locations serve the company’s customers, with around 400 dealers covering international markets across more than 60 countries.
To ensure dealers can meet customer needs effectively, the company’s technical and sales teams provide ongoing training and support. Internationally, the company’s dealers receive additional support through regional operations in South America, South Africa, Western Europe, Australia, China, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as its manufacturing facility in Valley, Nebraska. This support structure allows the company to deliver tailored solutions and maintain strong, lasting relationships with customers worldwide.
Acquisitions
In 2024, the company acquired an additional 60% of ConcealFab, Inc., a 5G infrastructure and PIM mitigation solutions company in Colorado (Infrastructure).
In 2024, the company acquired the remaining 25% of Valmont Substations, LLC, a utility substation product provider in Kansas (Infrastructure).
Divestitures
In 2024, the company divested George Industries, a coating and anodizing company in California (Infrastructure).
Research and Development
For the fiscal year ended December 28, 2024, the company’s research and development costs were approximately $59,000.
History
Valmont Industries, Inc. was founded in 1946. The company was incorporated in 1974.