Held Monday and Tuesday during SHOT Week®, the Supplier Showcase features more than 600 exhibitors providing numerous materials and solutions for manufacturers. These suppliers excel in all assets of the production process, enabling manufacturers to focus on selling their products.
In an exclusive SHOT Show® Q&A, CF Manufacturing General Manager TJ Meqdad shared insights into his company’s role as a behind‑the‑scenes production partner for the firearms industry and his expectations for 2026. Specializing in AR/MSR platform components, CF recently expanded into both traditional and additive-manufactured suppressor production.
Visit the CF Manufacturing booth during SHOT Week’s two-day Supplier Showcase, located in The Venetian Expo, Level 5 — 51801.
Who is CF Manufacturing?
TJ Meqdad (TM): CF Manufacturing is a background producer for the firearms industry. We’ve been around since 2014, producing parts since 2015. We primarily focus on the AR-type market with production in upper receivers, lower receivers, hand guards and some auxiliary parts. We also stock some designs and we do custom work for clients in the industry who want their own product line.
What Kinds of Conversations are You Having at SHOT Show?
TM: We’re a background producer. If people are getting into the industry or trying to diversify within the industry and they’re looking for other partners — that’s where we come into play. We produce variance lower receivers, it’s a big component of our industry. We do upper receivers, custom-design hand guards, some small auxiliary parts (like gas box and gas tubes) for people in the industry. Our primary thing is to take the manufacturing side off of the client so they can focus more on pushing product itself.
What are you looking forward to in 2026?
TM: Last year was light for most people, but we grew and added clients. The main reason why we’re growing during this time is because we’re consistent. We don’t play games; we have the ability to produce the quantities that we commit to. We’re just a consistent partner for a lot of our people.
Clients are price-sensitive and we’re very competitive on that front. And we’re also getting into avenues that are attractive to our clients. For instance, in 2025 and into 2026, we’re getting into suppressor manufacturing for our clients. So that’s a big front for this next year.
Tell Us About the Evolution in Your Product Manufacturing
TM: We really dove deeply into the suppressor market. We have the ability to offer traditional-machined suppressors out of 17-4 stainless steel. We’re also in additive manufacturing, which is metal printing. We’re able to print titanium suppressors for clients, both on their print and generic print we have with their art or design on the exterior. We have both avenues on suppressors most of the market is focused on.
The big sell point for us is getting into suppressors represents a multimillion-dollar investment. Whereas for us, being a manufacturing partner that offers these items to our clients, they don’t have to invest in the machinery and time. They can sign up with a variance and meet some minimum quantities. Then they can primarily focus on selling parts instead of going through making parts and then focusing on the second half, which of sales.
Where Can We Find You at SHOT Show?
TM: We’re in Booth 51801 on the Supplier Showcase. We’re right by the entrance — we’ve actually been there since the first Supplier Showcase. It’s pretty hard to miss us. We’ll be there those two days [Monday and Tuesday], signing people up, getting in touch with existing customers and future customers talking about their variance needs.
Where Can We Learn More About CF Manufacturing?
TM: A great place to start is on our website. It’s a simple website, just a contact form with a little bit of a background on us. Fill out the contact us form and we’ll get in touch. In our business, it’s a much more personal relationship. We like to reach out to our customers and see what their needs are — whether we’re their primary source or their backup source. It has to begin somewhere, and a phone call is usually where that starts.
Find More Exhibitors in the SHOT Show Planner
All of the 2026 SHOT Show exhibitors have their company information, company description and product categories on display in the Show Planner. Available on desktop and mobile, this planning tool gives you extra time to explore manufacturers and product highlights to fulfill any inventory or equipment need. Start scheduling appointments now for SHOT Week. View new products. Registered attendees can log in to the Planner to access even more details.
