Distribution International

What Distribution International does

Distribution International is a North American specialty distributor and custom fabricator of thermal and acoustical insulation products serving industrial, commercial, marine, and government end-markets. Founded approximately 30 years ago (circa 1995) and headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company operates approximately 101 branches across the United States and Canada, including a wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, Crossroads C&I, with 17 locations. It distributes products from over 200 leading manufacturers — including Johns Manville, Owens Corning, Rockwool, 3M, Armacell, Aspen Aerogels, Knauf, and Thermal Ceramics — and supplements distribution with in-house custom fabrication supported by CNC precision cutting, multi-axis milling, and 3D computer-aided drawing workflows.

The product portfolio is organized across five categories: insulation products (aerogel, calcium silicate, cellular glass, fiberglass, mineral wool, perlite, phenolic, polyisocyanurate, polystyrene, elastomeric, PVC, and spray foam); refractories; specialty products (HVAC, marine, abatement, fire wrap, passive fire protection); MRO supplies; and custom fabricated products. Proprietary patent-pending offerings include DI Fit Aerogel Fittings and DI Fit Engineered Elbows, alongside the MIT division's removable insulation blankets (Dura-Temp, Heat Holder, Unipad) and precision Engineered Head Segments. Six USCG-certified marine fabrication facilities and compliance with IMO/SOLAS and multiple MIL specifications enable work on commercial, offshore, naval, and military vessel programs.

Distribution International operates a hybrid B2B go-to-market combining what it describes as the industry's largest field sales force with an e-commerce platform at shop.distributioninternational.com. Pricing is quote-based, customers apply for credit accounts, and consolidated billing is offered. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TopBuild, a Fortune 500 parent, and has held Great Place to Work Certification for three consecutive years. Its primary customer segments are industrial & manufacturing facilities, commercial construction, marine, and oil & gas operators, with secondary exposure to mining, HVAC, food and beverage, abatement, OEM, government, and healthcare end-markets.

Name

Distribution International

Legal name

Specialty Distribution Group, LLC

Website

https://distributioninternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Distribution International is a North American specialty distributor and custom fabricator of industrial, commercial, and marine insulation products, operating approximately 101 branches across the U.S. and Canada as a wholly-owned subsidiary of TopBuild.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Insulation Distribution

NAICS

Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423730), Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423740)

SIC

Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070), Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564)

akta.pro primary industry

HVAC, Water Heaters & Indoor Air Quality Distribution (CRAOAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine HVAC, Refrigeration & Ventilation Systems (IMAJAIAE), Marine MRO Parts & Consumables Distribution (TLAKAOAJ)

Keywords

• Industrial insulation distribution
• Mechanical insulation products
• Custom insulation fabrication
• Marine insulation supplies
• Commercial building insulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Product Distribution: Distribution of industrial, commercial, and marine insulation products from 200+ leading manufacturers. Products include insulation materials (aerogel, fiberglass, mineral wool, calcium silicate, cellular glass, perlite, phenolic, polyisocyanurate, polystyrene, PVC, elastomeric), refractories, specialty products (HVAC, marine, abatement, fire wrap, passive fire protection), and MRO supplies.
2. Custom Fabrication Services: In-house custom insulation fabrication services using fiberglass, polyisocyanurate, calcium silicate, cellular glass, mineral wool, and other materials. Services include pre-formed elbows, engineered head segments, valve covers, fittings, and jacketing solutions. Fabrication reduces labor costs and shortens installation timelines for customers.
3. Removable Insulation Blankets (MIT Division): Custom design and fabrication of removable insulation blankets through their Mechanical Insulation Technologies (MIT) division. Products include Dura-Temp Blankets for high-temperature equipment, Heat Holder Blankets for lower-temperature applications, and Unipad Blankets for fire protection.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Distribution International distributes thermal and acoustical insulation products, refractories, HVAC, marine, MRO, and specialty products from over 200 manufacturers to industrial, commercial, and marine end-markets across North America. The company also operates in-house custom fabrication facilities producing precision-fabricated elbows, fittings, valve covers, tank head segments, jacketing, and removable insulation blankets, supported by a network of approximately 101 branches and an e-commerce storefront.

Product overview

Distribution International is a specialty distributor of mechanical insulation and related accessories serving industrial, commercial, marine, and residential end-markets across North America. The company operates approximately 101 branches including 17 in Canada through its Crossroads C&I subsidiary, partnering with over 200 manufacturers. Their product portfolio is organized into five main categories: (1) Insulation Products including aerogel, calcium silicate, cellular glass (Foamglas), fiberglass, mineral wool, perlite, phenolic, polyisocyanurate, polystyrene, elastomeric, PVC, spray foam, and super mat; (2) Refractories including ceramic fiber, modules, anchors, bricks, castable, and cement; (3) Specialty Products including abatement supplies, fire wrap, HVAC, marine insulation, and passive fire protection; (4) MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Operations) supplies; and (5) Custom Fabrication Services. The company offers proprietary branded fabricated products including DI Fit Aerogel Fittings (patent-pending), DI Fit Engineered Elbows (patent-pending), and Engineered Head Segments, as well as removable insulation blankets under the MIT (Mechanical Insulation Technologies) division with Dura-Temp, Heat Holder, and Unipad product lines. Fabrication capabilities span CNC precision cutting, multi-axis milling, and custom fabrication of insulation materials into pipe covers, elbows, fittings, tank heads, and custom shapes for complex installations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aerogel Insulation High-performance aerogel insulation in blankets, pipe covering, and elbows (ArmaGel DT, ArmaGel HT, Cryogel, Pyrogel brands) covering cryogenic to 1200°F temperature ranges, sold to industrial, commercial, and marine customers through branches and e-commerce.
• Calcium Silicate Insulation
• Cellular Glass (Foamglas) Insulation
• Fiberglass Insulation
• Mineral Wool Insulation
• Perlite Insulation
• Phenolic Insulation
• Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso) Insulation
• Polystyrene Insulation
• Elastomeric and Polyethylene Insulation
• Spray Foam Insulation
• DI Fit Aerogel Fittings Patent-pending pre-formed aerogel fittings that eliminate on-site fabrication through a single-piece design conforming precisely to elbows, reducing installation time and labor while improving thermal performance with zero through-joints in double-layer applications.
• DI Fit Engineered Elbows
• Engineered Head Segments
• Metal Jacketing Systems
• Removable Insulation Blankets (MIT Division)
• Custom Insulation Fabrication Services
• Marine Insulation (Neptune)
• Refractories and Ceramic Fiber Products
• PVC Insulation Products
• Insulation Accessories
• MRO Supplies
• HVAC Products

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 50% less labor required in the field for DI Fit Engineered Elbows compared to mitered elbows
• +3 more outcomes

Segments12 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Johns ManvillecoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor manufacturer partner supplying insulation products including Cross Flo metal jacketing systems featured in DI 101 webinars. Johns Manville is one of the 200+ leading manufacturers Distribution International partners with.
• Aspen Aerogels Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationKey manufacturer partner for aerogel insulation products. Aspen Aerogels is one of the 200+ leading manufacturers Distribution International partners with to supply superior availability and product knowledge.
• Owens CorningcoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor manufacturer partner featured in DI webinars on fiberglass solutions for data centers. Owens Corning is one of the 200+ leading manufacturers Distribution International partners with.
• RockwoolcoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer partner for mineral wool insulation, including ProRox with CR-Tech (Corrosion Resistant Technology) featured in DI webinars. Rockwool products received MP Corrosion Innovation of the Year Award 2025.
• 3McoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer partner featured in DI webinars on fire barrier solutions including 3M VentureClad Insulation Jacketing System. 3M is one of the 200+ leading manufacturers Distribution International partners with.
• ArmacellcoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer partner supplying elastomeric and polyimide insulation products. Armacell is one of the 200+ leading manufacturers Distribution International partners with.
• Knauf InsulationcoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer partner for fiberglass and mineral wool insulation products. Knauf is one of the 200+ leading manufacturers Distribution International partners with.
• Morgan Advanced Materials (Thermal Ceramics)coreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer partner for high-performance insulation solutions including FireMaster XLS and high-quality blanket insulation. Featured in DI webinars on fire protection and thermal efficiency.
• Aeroflex USAcoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer partner for aerogel insulation products. Aeroflex USA is one of the 200+ leading manufacturers Distribution International partners with.
• Alpha Engineered CompositescoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer partner for specialty insulation composites. Alpha Engineered Composites is one of the 200+ leading manufacturers Distribution International partners with.
• AlkegencoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer partner for specialty insulation and filtration products. Alkegen is one of the 200+ leading manufacturers Distribution International partners with.
• Ideal Products of AmericacoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer partner for insulation accessories and specialty products. Ideal Products is one of the 200+ leading manufacturers Distribution International partners with.
• RPR Products Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer partner for insulation products. RPR Products is one of the 200+ leading manufacturers Distribution International partners with.
• Proto CorporationcoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer partner for insulation products. Proto Corporation is one of the 200+ leading manufacturers Distribution International partners with.
• TopBuildcoreOthersDistribution International is a TopBuild Company. TopBuild is the parent company, and both entities have achieved Great Place to Work Certification for three consecutive years. Distribution International operates as an affiliated business of TopBuild.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Winsupply: U.S. wholesale distribution and supply-chain company focused on plumbing, HVAC, hydronics, and industrial supplies. Comparable B2B distributor model with similar contractor customer base.
• SRS Distribution: National building-products distributor serving residential and commercial contractors with roofing, insulation, drywall, and HVAC products. Comparable specialty-distribution footprint and growth-by-acquisition history.
• TopBuild Corp. Public parent company of Distribution International, also operating Service Partners. Comparable overall insulation-distribution and installation business model; provides parent-level scale, capital, and strategic context for valuing DI.
• Ferguson Enterprises: Largest U.S. distributor of plumbing, HVAC, waterworks, and specialty products. Adjacent rather than direct competitor because Ferguson is a broad-line incumbent; overlaps with DI in HVAC distribution and industrial customer base.
• White Cap (formerly HD Supply Construction Solutions): Large distributor of specialty construction supplies including mechanical insulation, firestopping, and safety products to commercial and industrial contractors. Significant overlap in product lines and contractor customers.
• Watsco: Largest U.S. distributor of air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment and parts. Overlaps with DI in HVAC/refrigeration insulation distribution, though Watsco focuses more on unitary equipment than industrial specialty insulation.
• Johnstone Supply: Cooperative wholesale distributor of HVAC, refrigeration, and plumbing supplies with hundreds of branches across North America. Overlaps with DI on HVAC and elastomeric insulation distribution to contractors.

Direct peers

• Service Partners: Residential and light-commercial insulation distributor and a fellow TopBuild subsidiary. Most direct comparable in product category, manufacturer-partner model, and parent ownership, though focused on residential rather than industrial/marine.
• Specialty Insulation Group: Distributor and fabricator of industrial insulation products serving petrochemical, marine, and power-generation customers. Comparable product mix, fabrication services, and end-market exposure to Distribution International.
• Insulation Distributors Inc. (IDI): Specialty distributor of mechanical insulation and accessories for HVAC, plumbing, and industrial applications across the U.S. Direct competitor to DI with overlapping product portfolio and customer base in commercial and industrial insulation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/135330393165933
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/distribution-international

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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

M&A15 records

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Distribution International