About
Sailrite Enterprises assembles portable and industrial walking-foot sewing machines at its headquarters and factory in Columbia City, Indiana. Jim and Connie Grant founded the company in 1969 as a supplier for sailors who sewed their own sails and canvas covers, and their son, Matt Grant, now leads the business with his wife, Hallie. Matt Grant developed the Ultrafeed, a portable, all-metal walking-foot machine for sewing sails, canvas, and upholstery, and filed a patent application on its design in 2000. Key castings and internal metal parts for the Ultrafeed are produced by manufacturing partners in Taiwan and China and shipped to Columbia City, where workers install motors, assemble the machines, and tune and test each one before shipment.
The larger Fabricator industrial walking-foot machine is also assembled, timed, and tested in Columbia City from parts sourced internationally, and Sailrite makes several custom machine parts in-house, including balance wheels and presser feet. The machines are used by home sewers, boat owners and small marine canvas and upholstery shops, placing them between the household and light commercial markets. Sailrite also sells fabric, hardware, tools, and sewing supplies for marine, upholstery, RV, and hobby projects.
