American Power Innovations

What American Power Innovations does

American Power Innovations, LLC is a Tulsa, Oklahoma-based custom manufacturer of industrial power distribution and motor control equipment, operating from a 100,000+ square foot facility since its 1940 founding as Layco Electric Innovations. The company designs, fabricates, and commissions Power Distribution Centers (PDCs), Motor Control Centers (MCCs) in low- and medium-voltage configurations, custom Switchracks, VFD skid systems with NEMA 3R outdoor enclosures, and UL508A-certified PLC and electrical control panels. Products are built-to-order, fully assembled, wired, and tested in-house before shipment, and are integrated with customers' existing infrastructure including VFDs, switchgear, UPS/battery backup, RTUs, and analyzers.

The company serves enterprise and government customers across at least eight industrial verticals — utilities, energy, oil and gas, chemical/petrochemical, data centers, defense, manufacturing/aggregates, water/wastewater, mining, and municipalities — with use cases spanning hazardous-area power distribution, motor speed and torque control, process automation, and critical load protection. Revenue is generated through two streams: custom hardware sales (PDCs, MCCs, switchracks, VFD skids, control panels) priced via project quotes, and engineering/field services including installation supervision, start-up and commissioning, troubleshooting, and maintenance contracts.

American Power Innovations is structured as a private LLC under Oklahoma law. In 2025, the company rebranded from Layco Electric Innovations and installed a new executive team — CEO Brandon Lenhart (former VP of Operations at Argonaut Private Equity and U.S. Navy TOPGUN graduate), CFO Zach Gray (U.S. Army veteran and PE-backed midstream CFO), COO Michael Barber (former Managing Director at SHAPE Technologies Group), and EVP Shawn Lay (former Senior Sales Engineer at Eaton Corporation). The company maintains an extensive certification portfolio spanning UL/cUL 508A, UL NNNY, UL Certified for Prefabricated Buildings, ISNET, DISA, CSA, IEC Ex, ATEX, and InMetro. Distribution is direct, domestic, and quote-driven, with the central U.S. Tulsa location cited as enabling efficient nationwide delivery.

Name

American Power Innovations

Legal name

American Power Innovations, LLC

Website

https://americanpowerinnovations.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

American Power Innovations is a Tulsa, Oklahoma-based custom manufacturer of power distribution centers, motor control centers, switchracks, VFD skids, and UL508A-certified control panels for utilities, oil and gas, defense, data centers, chemical, manufacturing, and water/wastewater customers across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Power Distribution Equipment

NAICS

Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314)

SIC

Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)

akta.pro primary industry

Low-Voltage Switchboards & Panelboards (LV distribution panels, MCCs, switchboards) (IMAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Control Cabinets & Power Distribution (Panels, Switchgear for Automation) (IMAHAHAK), Medium/Low-Voltage Power Distribution (MCCs, Panels, UPS, Grounding) (EUAEAFAB), Power Distribution & Switchgear (UPS, PDUs, Busway) (HDABAKAA)

Keywords

• Custom power distribution
• Motor control centers
• Switchrack manufacturing
• VFD skid systems
• UL508A control panels

Headquarters

HQ city

Tulsa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Power Distribution Equipment Sales: Custom-manufactured power distribution products including PDCs, MCCs, switchracks, VFD skids, and control panels sold to industrial customers. Products are custom-engineered to customer specifications and delivered as turnkey solutions.
2. Engineering and Professional Services: On-site repair services, troubleshooting, unloading and installation supervision, start-up and commissioning services, and routine maintenance. The company operates service contracts and has dedicated service technicians available.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

American Power Innovations designs and manufactures custom-engineered power distribution solutions from its Tulsa, Oklahoma facility. The company produces Power Distribution Centers (PDCs), Motor Control Centers (MCCs), Switchracks, VFD Skid Systems, and UL508A-certified Custom Control Panels for industrial customers. Products are built to customer specifications, fully assembled, wired, and tested before shipment, with supporting field services for installation, commissioning, and maintenance.

Product overview

American Power Innovations designs and manufactures custom power distribution solutions as a portfolio of hardware products. The product line centers on Power Distribution Centers (PDCs) and Motor Control Centers (MCCs) as primary turnkey solutions, complemented by Switchracks for compact power distribution, VFD Skid Systems for precision motor control, and UL508A-certified Custom Control Panels for automation. All products are custom-engineered and built in-house at their Tulsa, OK facility. The portfolio is supported by engineering services and on-site field services including repairs, commissioning, and maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Power Distribution Centers (PDCs) Custom engineered, prefabricated control enclosures designed to protect critical power distribution elements including VFDs, relay panels, switchgear, UPS systems, motor control centers, PLC panels, RTUs, and analyzers. Features modular, transportable designs with in-house fabrication in Tulsa, OK. Targets industrial customers in oil and gas, utilities, and process automation.
• Motor Control Centers (MCCs) Custom-engineered control centers available in low-voltage and medium-voltage configurations with custom powder coated, stainless steel, or painted enclosures. Includes integrated PLC installation and VFD control with reduced-voltage starter bypass options. Fully assembled, wired, and tested before shipment.
• Switchracks Custom-engineered, prewired switchracks manufactured to exact specifications for distributing low-voltage power in compact units. Available in outdoor and indoor configurations for providing power to facility load locations and managing power distribution in hazardous areas. Over 30 years of custom switchrack manufacturing experience.
• VFD Skid Systems Custom variable frequency drive skid systems providing precise control over motor speed and torque. Available in low voltage and medium voltage configurations with outdoor NEMA 3R enclosures engineered for reliability, ease of maintenance, and integration with existing infrastructure. Designed to improve efficiency, reduce wear, and lower energy costs.
• Custom Control Panels UL508A certified custom PLC panels and electrical control panels designed and fabricated for process automation and system control. Built for oil and gas environments, manufacturing, and process automation applications requiring precision, reliability, and seamless integration.
• Field Services On-site repair, troubleshooting, and maintenance services for power distribution equipment. Includes unloading and installation supervision, start-up and commissioning, routine maintenance, and service contracts delivered by a dedicated team of service technicians.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products shipped fully assembled, wired, and tested before shipment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Eaton Corporation: Global power management major with deep switchgear, MCC, and power distribution product lines serving the same utilities, data center, oil & gas, and industrial customers. Directly comparable product set; API's EVP is a former Eaton senior sales engineer.
• Schneider Electric: Global energy management and automation leader with a comprehensive switchgear, motor control, and power distribution portfolio. Targets the same data center, utility, and industrial customers with catalog and engineered solutions.
• ABB: Multinational electrification and automation company with switchgear, motor control, VFD, and electrical enclosure product lines that overlap directly with API's PDC, MCC, switchrack, and VFD skid offerings.
• Siemens Energy: Global energy and electrical infrastructure provider with switchgear, transformers, motor control, and power distribution systems for utilities, data centers, and industrial markets. Overlaps API's product portfolio and end markets at scale.
• Hubbell Incorporated: Electrical products manufacturer with switchgear, enclosures, and power distribution product lines serving utility, industrial, and data center customers. Comparable product breadth in the switchboard/panel space.
• GE Industrial Solutions (now ABB): Legacy GE business now part of ABB offering switchgear, motor control, and power distribution products to industrial and utility customers. Directly comparable product category and customer verticals.

Direct peers

• Powell Industries: Houston-based custom-engineered manufacturer of switchgear, switchboards, and power control buildings for utilities, oil & gas, and industrial customers. Closest direct peer in product category, customer verticals, and custom turnkey delivery model.
• Industrial Electric Manufacturing (IEM): U.S. custom manufacturer of power distribution equipment, switchgear, and e-houses for data center, utility, and industrial customers. Closely mirrors API's custom-engineered, UL-certified, turnkey delivery model.
• ESL Power Systems: Custom manufacturer of UL-listed power distribution equipment including switchboards, panelboards, and e-houses for data center, utility, and industrial markets. Direct mid-market peer to API's custom PDC and MCC business.

Emerging players

• Starline (Legrand) / nVent: Provider of power distribution solutions including busway, PDUs, and enclosures for data centers and industrial facilities. Comparable in adjacent power distribution categories serving data center customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/americanpowerinnovations
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-power-innovations

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Power Innovations