About Us
Mission Statement
Our metal fence, rail, column, and gate solutions help U.S. home and business owners enhance the security, style and value of their property. We diminish consumers’ frustrations associated with long lead-times, poor quality, and over-priced materials. We do this by engaging top talent to continuously improve our order-to-delivery processes that make available “best in class” products.
Our drive for distinction gives every Gilpin Products’ customer a “pride of ownership” feeling that no other manufacturer in this industry can provide.
Company History
Founded in 1937 as Gilpin Ironworks by brothers Hubert and Forrest Gilpin, the company located on 14 th Street in Decatur, IN fabricated and installed custom railings in northeast Indiana while selling door to door. Growth was gradual but steady and by 1945 the company had to move to a new, larger location on Washington Street in Decatur, IN.
In the late 1940s, Forrest left to pursue other interests, but Hubert kept the business going with help from his wife and son, Max. Incorporated in 1960 by Hubert and his son Max, Gilpin ended the installation side of the business and focused solely on the manufacturing of ornamental iron railings and steel fence. Due to the continued growth and expansion of the railing business, in 1961 the Gilpin’s purchased eight acres of ground at 1819 Patterson Street, Decatur, IN and a new factory was built. Later additions over the last 4 decades have nearly quadrupled the size of this current location.
When Max retired in 1995, he sold the company to Forrest’s son, Paul Gilpin. In the late 1990s, Paul’s son Todd Gilpin joined the family business. In 2005, Gilpin Ironworks bought the assets of Kingsford Products out of Baltimore, OH. Gilpin Inc had become the largest mass producer of iron (steel) railings in the United States. In addition, this acquisition added a respected line of aluminum railing and fencing to the company’s product offerings to make Gilpin a complete supplier of metal ornamental railing and fence products. The company name was accordingly changed from Gilpin Ironworks to Gilpin Inc. All the acquired Ohio manufacturing operations were gradually moved over to Decatur, In and concluded in 2015 when the new 12,000 sq ftexpansion building was completed.
In 2018, Gilpin Inc. became Gilpin Products, LLC when it was fully bought by its present owner and President Jed Morris. All primary railing and fence products are still 100% hand-crafted in the USA by Hoosier workers. Products are sold nationwide through national home centers, co-ops, hardware chains and online distributors.
