CBT Company
CBT Company is a family-owned industrial distributor founded in 1921, supplying over 2 million SKUs of mechanical power transmission, automation, electrical, and conveyance products to manufacturing customers across six industry verticals in the US Midwest.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1921
- HeadquartersCincinnati, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CBT Company does
CBT Company, legally The Belting Company of Cincinnati (dba CBT Co.), is a family-owned industrial distributor founded in 1921 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company distributes over 2 million SKUs across more than 30 product categories — including bearings, belting and conveyor components, belts and pulleys, motors, motor controls, PLCs, pneumatics, lighting, sensors, power transmission components, and facility-maintenance supplies — sourced from tier-one manufacturers such as Rockwell Automation/Allen Bradley, ABB, Dodge, Gates, Regal Rexnord, Cisco, Panduit, and Flexco. CBT serves six industry verticals: Automotive, Distribution Centers, Food & Beverage, Life Sciences, Material Handling, and Metals & Steel.
The business model is hybrid product distribution plus value-added services. Revenue is generated primarily through transactional product sales delivered via an e-commerce storefront (cbtcompany.com) and a regional field-sales motion supported by registered account pricing. Adjacent professional-services revenue includes automation integration, conveyor systems, digital enablement, electrical/power/lighting, facility and storeroom management, mechanical services, project-based services, and safety solutions, delivered by specialists with over 1,000 years of combined experience. Pricing is largely quote-based, with some published retail unit pricing on standard SKUs and account-level agreements for registered customers.
CBT operates five branch locations — Cincinnati and Springboro, Ohio; Sidney, Ohio; and Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky (the latter two added through the May 2023 acquisition of Crush Bearings and Drives). The company maintains over 12 million critical parts in inventory across its branches and differentiates through the Supplies On Site (S.O.S.) on-site trailer program, which delivers zero-lead-time material availability to customer project sites. Digital tools include the CBT Belt Configurator, integrated Gates and Rockwell configurators, and CBT Xlerate (a Microsoft Office add-in that embeds CBT product data into customers' bills of materials). Authorized distributor status with Rockwell Automation enables delivery of higher-margin services including Plant Floor Electrical Audit, Modernization & Migrations, Enclosure Modification, and Rockwell Learning+ training.
CBT Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CBT Company
- Legal name
- The Belting Company of Cincinnati dba CBT Co.
- Website
- https://cbtcompany.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1921
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CBT Company is a family-owned industrial distributor founded in 1921, supplying over 2 million SKUs of mechanical power transmission, automation, electrical, and conveyance products to manufacturing customers across six industry verticals in the US Midwest.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where CBT Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cincinnati
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
CBT Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales: CBT generates revenue through the sale of industrial automation, electrical, digital, mechanical, and conveyance products from leading manufacturers. Products include bearings, motors, conveyors, PLCs, lighting, wiring, safety equipment, and 2M+ product SKUs. Sales occur through e-commerce, account management, and field sales.
- Services Revenue: CBT provides services including automation, conveyor systems, digital enablement, electrical/power/lighting, facility & storeroom management, mechanical services, project-based services, and safety solutions. These are delivered by industry specialists with over 1,000 years combined experience.
- Training Services: CBT offers training programs including Rockwell Learning+ and training schedules for customers to learn about products and technologies
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Retail pricing for standard products |
| Other | Monthly | Account-based pricing agreements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
CBT Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CBT Company is an industrial distributor and solutions provider selling more than 2 million SKUs across bearings, belting, motors, electrical components, pneumatics, automation, safety, and material handling, sourced from manufacturers such as Rockwell Automation, Allen Bradley, ABB, Dodge, Gates, and Cisco. The company also delivers services including automation, conveyor systems, digital enablement, plant floor electrical audits, modernization and migrations, enclosure modification, hygienic design, training, and its on-site Supplies On Site (S.O.S.) trailer program for zero-lead-time material availability at customer project sites.
Product overview
CBT Company is an industrial distributor and solutions provider offering over 2 million products across 32+ product categories including bearings, belting, motors, electrical components, pneumatics, lighting, linear components, and more. The company provides comprehensive services including Rockwell Automation authorized services, plant floor electrical audits, modernization and migrations, enclosure modification, safety audits and training, on-site belt fabrication, digital enablement solutions, and hygienic design services. CBT serves six industry verticals: Automotive, Distribution Centers, Food & Beverage, Life Sciences, Material Handling, and Metals & Steel. The company operates 5 locations with over 300 employees and has been family-owned since 1921. Notable digital tools include the CBT Belt Configurator, Gates Configurator, Rockwell Configurator, and the CBT Xlerate Office add-in.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Supplies On Site (S.O.S.) Program On-site trailer program in which a trailer is shipped complete to the customer project site with materials, technology, and a dedicated material handling expert to deliver zero-lead-time availability for industrial maintenance and project work.
- CBT Belt Configurator Online tool hosted on cbtcompany.com for configuring and selecting industrial belts for customer applications.
- Rockwell Configurator Rockwell Automation product configuration tool available on cbtcompany.com for selecting automation and control solutions (login required).
- CBT Xlerate Microsoft Office add-in developed for CBT customers that pulls CBT product data directly into the user's bill of materials workflow to accelerate industrial purchasing.
- Gates Configurator Gates product configuration tool hosted on cbtcompany.com for selecting belts and power transmission products.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 12 million critical parts in inventory at multiple locations with expedited shipping options
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CBT Company
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CBT Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
CBT Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Rockwell AutomationcoreCBT is an authorized Rockwell Automation distributor and services provider, offering Rockwell products including Plant Floor Electrical Audit, Modernization & Migrations, Enclosure Modification, and access to training through Rockwell Learning+.
- Allen BradleycoreCBT is an authorized Allen Bradley distributor, offering Allen Bradley industrial automation products including PLCs, motor controls, and sensors.
- ABBmajorFeatured partner offering ABB industrial automation, robotics, and power transmission products.
- DodgemajorFeatured partner for mechanical power transmission products including bearings, couplings, and conveyor components.
- Gates CorporationmajorFeatured partner for industrial belts, hoses, and related power transmission products.
- CiscomajorFeatured partner for industrial networking and communications equipment.
- PanduitmajorFeatured partner for industrial infrastructure solutions including wiring, cable management, and networking.
- Regal RexnordmajorFeatured partner for power transmission and motor control products.
- FlexcomajorFeatured partner for belt conveyor products including fasteners, cleaners, and accessories.
- IntraloxmajorFeatured partner for conveyor belting solutions.
- nVentmajorFeatured partner for electrical connection and protection solutions.
- HabasitmajorFeatured partner for fabric-based conveyor belting and power transmission products.
- DensomajorFeatured partner for industrial robotics and automotive components.
- BaldormajorFeatured partner for industrial motors, featuring Baldor Reliance products.
- HubbellmajorFeatured partner for electrical wiring devices, lighting controls, and industrial electrical products.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CBT Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Applied Industrial Technologies: Public industrial distributor of bearings, power transmission, fluid power, and MRO products serving similar manufacturing verticals. Closely aligned business model with CBT in product breadth, technical services, and authorized-distributor relationships with brands like Dodge and Rexnord.
- MSC Industrial Direct: Large direct marketer and distributor of metalworking and MRO products to industrial customers across the U.S. Comparable in product breadth, customer base, and distribution model, with stronger digital and national scale than CBT.
- BDI (Bearing Distributors Inc.): Specialty industrial distributor focused on bearings, power transmission, and fluid power with multi-region U.S. locations. Highly comparable to CBT in product mix, customer verticals, and authorized-distributor model for brands like SKF and Timken.
- Ohio Transmission Corporation: Regional industrial distributor headquartered in Ohio offering pumps, fluid power, motion control, and power transmission products. Closely comparable to CBT in geographic base (Ohio), product mix, and mid-market industrial customer focus.
- R.S. Hughes Co. Industrial distributor specializing in adhesives, sealants, tapes, abrasives, and fluid power across multiple U.S. locations. Comparable regional distributor model with technical sales force and authorized-distributor manufacturer relationships.
- EIS Group: Specialty distributor of electrical, automation, and electronic components serving industrial customers. Comparable in authorized-distributor model (e.g., for electrical and automation brands) and in serving manufacturing verticals similar to CBT.
Broad incumbents
- Motion Industries: One of the largest industrial parts distributors in North America, offering bearings, power transmission, electrical, and fluid power. Broader scale and footprint than CBT but directly comparable in product categories and customer verticals.
- W.W. Grainger: The largest industrial MRO distributor in North America with a broad product catalog and deep digital infrastructure. Overlaps with CBT across virtually all product categories but operates at dramatically greater scale and digital maturity.
- McMaster-Carr: Industry-leading catalog distributor of industrial supplies with a renowned digital buying experience and broad SKU coverage. Overlaps with CBT on routine MRO and components, with a far more sophisticated e-commerce platform.
- Kaman Industrial Technologies: Industrial distributor of bearings, power transmission, fluid power, and automation products across the U.S. (now part of Motion Industries). Directly comparable product mix and customer base to CBT, though at greater scale post-integration.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CBT Company social profiles
Digital presenceCBT Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CBT Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CBT Company subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CBT Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CBT Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CBT Company
What does CBT Company do?
CBT Company is an industrial distributor and solutions provider selling more than 2 million SKUs across bearings, belting, motors, electrical components, pneumatics, automation, safety, and material handling, sourced from manufacturers such as Rockwell Automation, Allen Bradley, ABB, Dodge, Gates, and Cisco. The company also delivers services including automation, conveyor systems, digital enablement, plant floor electrical audits, modernization and migrations, enclosure modification, hygienic design, training, and its on-site Supplies On Site (S.O.S.) trailer program for zero-lead-time material availability at customer project sites.
Is CBT Company a public or private company?
CBT Company is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was CBT Company founded?
CBT Company was founded in 1921. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CBT Company based?
CBT Company is headquartered in Cincinnati, United States, in the North America region.
How does CBT Company make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are services Revenue and training Services.
Who are CBT Company's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Applied Industrial Technologies, MSC Industrial Direct, BDI (Bearing Distributors Inc.), Ohio Transmission Corporation, R.S. Hughes Co. and EIS Group. Broad incumbents are Motion Industries, W.W. Grainger, McMaster-Carr and Kaman Industrial Technologies.
Does CBT Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for CBT Company.