About

Made in America since 1917

We are proud to be a fourth generation family owned and operated business.

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Owner Mark Krauss (left) with Sales staff at IFAI Expo

American Cord & Webbing Co., Inc. (“ACW”), a family owned and operated business, was established in 1917 by founder, Max Krauss, grandfather of the current Owner, Mark Krauss. At the end of World War I, Max purchased a warehouse filled with excess military boots, and as a result, the company began as a distributor of various military products. Max stripped the shoe laces off of the boots and eventually sold the laces at a profit.

At that time, ACW was located at 374 Broadway in lower Manhattan and later relocated to the garment and textile district of Manhattan to better serve the growing domestic apparel industry. Unfortunately, Max passed away at an early age and in 1950, his son Jack Krauss took over the business at just 28 years of age. Eventually, domestic manufacturing shifted away from apparel toward industrial goods. So, in 1991, the Company moved its headquarters and office to Rhode Island and has remained there since.

ACW has a storied history. In the 1930’s, ACW assisted in the design and development of paracord. In the 1950’s, the company lobbied to pass laws that required seat belts in every automobile. In the 1980’s ACW assisted in establishing personal flotation safety and testing standards. And in the 2000’s, ACW helped to rewrite military specifications for webbing products.

Throughout ACW’s 104-year history, the Company has transformed from a small distributor of military products to a global ISO-9000 manufacturing company specializing in webbing, plastic buckles, metal hardware, cord and industrial sewn straps. Learn More


ACW's CORE VALUES

  1. HONESTY & KEEPING OUR COMMITMENTS
  2. ALWAYS DOING THE RIGHT THING TO KEEP OUR CUSTOMERS HAPPY
  3. HAVING KNOWLEDGEABLE & COMMITTED EMPLOYEES
  4. CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT ALONG ALL AVENUES
  5. LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE

Pioneering the Industry for the Last 100 Years

1917

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ACW founded as American Cord & Webbing in New York City.

1962

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Strap Assembly & Manufacturing and Warehouse moved to Lincoln, Rhode Island.

1980s

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ACW developed plastic buckle line; Manufacturing took place off-site.

1990

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Sales, Distribution and Strap Production Operations combined under one roof in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

2007

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ACW acquired New England Weaving Company.

2010

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ACW acquired West Haven Buckle.

2010-2011

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ACW expands its Woonsocket facility to unite its three divisions under one roof — Custom Fabrication, Weaving, Injection Molding.

2011

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ACW acquired Molded Plastic Components, Inc.

2012

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ACW introduces FireLoc® into the marketplace; a complete line of heat-resistant thermoplastic hardware with UL/ULC approval.

2013

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ACW receives US Army Natick Soldier RD&E Center approval for its military plastic hardware line of products.

2017

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ACW celebrates 100 years!

2020

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Mark Krauss, Owner of American Cord & Webbing Acquires Advantage Plastic Products

Our engineers and staff will work with you to develop custom products to fit your needs.

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