Motion Industries
Motion Industries is North America's largest industrial MRO and bearing distributor, operating 465 branches across the US, Canada, and Mexico. As a subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company, it serves manufacturers and process industries with industrial supplies, value-added services, and an e-commerce platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1947
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Motion Industries does
Motion Industries is a Birmingham, Alabama-based industrial distribution company founded in 1946, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC). The company holds the self-described position of North America's largest bearing and industrial MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) distributor, serving manufacturing, processing, and industrial customers across the United States, Canada, and Mexico through a network of 465 branch locations plus the motion.com e-commerce platform. Its served verticals span manufacturing, automotive, food and beverage, oil and gas, data centers, semiconductors, and aggregate/cement operations.
Motion Industries firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Motion Industries
- Legal name
- Motion Industries, Inc.
- Website
- https://motion.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1947
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Motion Industries is North America's largest industrial MRO and bearing distributor, operating 465 branches across the US, Canada, and Mexico. As a subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company, it serves manufacturers and process industries with industrial supplies, value-added services, and an e-commerce platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Motion Industries industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial MRO Distribution
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers (42312), Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing (333995), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080), Ball & Roller Bearings (3562), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial MRO Supplies for Vehicle/Equipment Workshops (Bearings, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Fasteners) (TLAKAOAK)
Keywords
Where Motion Industries is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Motion Industries business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Industrial Product Distribution: Motion Industries generates revenue through the distribution of industrial supplies, bearings, mechanical power transmission components, hydraulics, pneumatics, and MRO products. Revenue is generated through product sales with pricing based on unit costs, volume discounts for business accounts, and account-based pricing structures.
- Specialized Services: Motion provides specialized services including bearing repair, MotionAi automation solutions, Motion Conveyance Solutions, Motion Onsite Solutions, and Motion Repair & Services, adding value-added services to product sales.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Business Account - Discount pricing and quick quotes |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Motion Industries product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Motion Industries is North America's largest industrial parts distributor, selling maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supplies — including bearings, hydraulics, pneumatics, mechanical power transmission, material handling, safety/PPE, janitorial, facility maintenance, and cutting tools — through 465+ branches across the US, Canada, and Mexico and its motion.com e-commerce platform. It supplements distribution with specialized service offerings such as MotionAi automation and control panels, Motion Conveyance Solutions, Motion Onsite Solutions, and Motion Repair & Services.
Product overview
Motion Industries is North America's largest industrial parts distributor, offering a comprehensive e-commerce catalog of maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supplies through its motion.com platform. The portfolio centers on core product categories: Bearings (ball, roller, plain, sleeve bearings), Hydraulics (pumps, valves, cylinders, accumulators), Mechanical Power Transmission (belts, chains, pulleys, gear reducers), Pneumatics (air compressors, cylinders, valves), and Safety/PPE (hand, hearing, eye, head protection). Supporting categories include Material Handling, Janitorial supplies, Adhesives/Sealants/Tape, Facility Maintenance, Tools & Testing Instruments, Electrical, Cutting Tools, Chemical & Lubricants, Linear Motion, Process Pumps, Seals & Gaskets, Hose & Fittings, Abrasives, and Raw Materials. The company operates 465+ branch locations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Proprietary products include the Motion Lube Caddy, a towable lubrication cart for servicing machinery. Motion Industries is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Motion Ai: Motion's automation and electrical division offering industrial control panels and automation solutions.
- Motion Automation Intelligence
- Motion Onsite Solutions
- Motion Repair & Services
- Motion Conveyance Solutions
- Motion Lube Caddy
Products and services
- Bearings
Quantifiable outcome
- Motion improved product classification efficiency through AI and machine learning
Companies that use Motion Industries
Customer profileSegments7 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
Motion Industries technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Motion Industries partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Motion Industries competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- W.W. Grainger: W.W. Grainger is the largest industrial MRO distributor in North America, operating a multi-channel model (branch, online, catalog) that closely mirrors Motion's go-to-market. Both compete head-to-head for plant-level MRO budgets across bearings, power transmission, safety, and material handling categories.
- MSC Industrial Direct: MSC Industrial is a leading direct marketer and distributor of metalworking and MRO supplies to industrial customers across North America. It competes directly with Motion in cutting tools, bearings, fluid power, and shop supplies via a similar branch-and-catalog model.
- Fastenal: Fastenal operates the largest industrial vending and onsite supply network in North America, with deep overlap in fasteners, PPE, and MRO consumables. Its onsite/vending model and growing industrial product breadth put it in direct competition with Motion's branch-based distribution.
- Applied Industrial Technologies: Applied Industrial Technologies is a major distributor of bearings, power transmission, fluid power, and industrial rubber products with a multi-channel U.S./Canada/Mexico footprint. Its product mix and geographic reach make it one of the closest direct comparisons to Motion Industries.
- DXP Enterprises: DXP Enterprises is a Houston-based industrial distributor specializing in rotating equipment, bearings, power transmission, and fluid power serving customers across the U.S. It directly competes with Motion in oil & gas, petrochemical, and general industrial MRO segments.
- BDI (Bearing Distributors Inc.): BDI is a specialized bearing and power transmission distributor with branches across the U.S. and Canada, focused on the same core product categories where Motion is the market leader. Its geographic overlap and product focus make it a direct bearing-distribution competitor.
Regional players
- Wajax Corporation: Wajax is one of Canada's largest industrial distributors, providing bearings, power transmission, fluid power, and material handling equipment across the country. Its Canadian focus and product overlap make it a strong regional comparison to Motion's Canadian operations.
Others
- Kaman Distribution Group: Kaman Distribution Group was a major industrial distributor acquired by Motion Industries for $1.3B in 2021. It is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Motion but historically was a comparable peer in bearings, fluid power, and automation distribution.
Broad incumbents
- McMaster-Carr: McMaster-Carr is the dominant catalog and e-commerce industrial MRO supplier, known for SKU breadth and rapid fulfillment. It competes with Motion on long-tail industrial supplies, particularly with smaller and mid-market buyers who prefer online procurement.
- Genuine Parts Company: Genuine Parts Company is Motion's NYSE-listed parent and the broader industrial and automotive parts holding company. Its Industrial Parts segment essentially constitutes Motion Industries and serves as the parent-level comparable for portfolio investors.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Motion Industries social profiles
Digital presenceMotion Industries financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Motion Industries leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Motion Industries subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries11 records
Motion Industries funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Motion Industries M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A26 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Motion Industries
What does Motion Industries do?
Motion Industries is North America's largest industrial parts distributor, selling maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supplies — including bearings, hydraulics, pneumatics, mechanical power transmission, material handling, safety/PPE, janitorial, facility maintenance, and cutting tools — through 465+ branches across the US, Canada, and Mexico and its motion.com e-commerce platform. It supplements distribution with specialized service offerings such as MotionAi automation and control panels, Motion Conveyance Solutions, Motion Onsite Solutions, and Motion Repair & Services.
Is Motion Industries a public or private company?
Motion Industries is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Motion Industries founded?
Motion Industries was founded in 1947. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Motion Industries based?
Motion Industries is headquartered in Birmingham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Motion Industries make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Industrial Product Distribution is the primary driver. The others are specialized Services.
Who are Motion Industries's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are W.W. Grainger, MSC Industrial Direct, Fastenal, Applied Industrial Technologies, DXP Enterprises and BDI (Bearing Distributors Inc.). Wajax Corporation is listed as a regional player. Kaman Distribution Group is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are McMaster-Carr and Genuine Parts Company.
Does Motion Industries have an API?
No public API is recorded for Motion Industries.
What industry is Motion Industries in?
Motion Industries's product category is Industrial MRO Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAKAOAK, Industrial MRO Supplies for Vehicle/Equipment Workshops (Bearings, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Fasteners). Its NAICS code is 42312 and its SIC code is 5080.