STH

What STH does

STH Inc. (legal entity Shafer, Troxell & Howe Inc.) is a third-generation manufacturer's representative firm specializing in the specification, sale, service, and commissioning of pre-engineered and packaged pumping systems for commercial, municipal, and industrial end markets. Founded in 1932 as the Lyle F. Howe Company (the original Peerless fire-pump commercial rep) and incorporated under its current name in 1973, STH today operates from Frederick, Maryland, serving Maryland, Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Delaware, and West Virginia. Its core product portfolio centers on NFPA-compliant fire pump systems (diesel and electric, with controllers and transfer switches), domestic water booster systems with variable frequency drives, sump/sewage/grinder systems, HVAC and industrial pumps (ANSI, end-suction, vertical turbine, horizontal split-case), as well as control panels, VFDs, and ancillary components.

The company's revenue model mixes (i) manufacturer's representative commissions on equipment sales from a 40+-brand line card that includes Grundfos, Peerless, SyncroFlo, Tornatech, Firetrol, Cla-Val, Liberty Pumps, Watertronics, Topp, Eaton, Yaskawa, and others; (ii) recurring Preventative Maintenance Agreement fees (over 1,800 active agreements at tiered annual/bi-annual/quarterly/monthly cadences); (iii) one-time start-up and commissioning fees performed by factory-certified technicians; and (iv) field service, repair, rental, and emergency-response work. Go-to-market is sales-led, with six sales teams (Aftermarket, Fire, Commercial/New Construction, Municipal/Industrial, Engineering, and Inside Sales) supported by application engineering, an estimating department, a state-of-the-art training facility, and Lunch & Learn / Engineering Symposium content that targets engineering specifiers and contractors. Ownership is held by President Gareth Koogle (joined 1989, majority shareholder since 2001) and VP Sales Jeff Russell (co-owner since 2001).

Name

STH

Legal name

Shafer, Troxell & Howe Inc.

Website

https://sthinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

STH is a third-generation manufacturer's representative in Frederick, Maryland, selling, servicing, and commissioning pre-engineered fire pumps, water booster systems, sump/sewage systems, and industrial pumps from 40+ manufacturer brands across the Mid-Atlantic commercial and municipal markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial and Municipal Pump Systems Distribution and Service

NAICS

Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391), Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing (332912), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341)

SIC

Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580), Heating Equip, Except Elec & Warm Air; & Plumbing Fixtures (3430)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Metering Pumps (IMAHANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Expansion Tank, Circulator Pump & Zone Valve Service (HSAOACAG), Refrigeration Systems Maintenance (Commercial/Industrial) (BPABACAI)

Keywords

• Manufacturer representative pumps
• Fire pump systems
• Water booster systems
• Wastewater pumping solutions
• Pump maintenance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Frederick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Manufacturer Representative Sales: STH operates as a third-generation manufacturer's representative earning commissions from the sale of pre-engineered pump systems and related equipment from manufacturer partners. They market products and services for their represented manufacturers to commercial and municipal end customers.
2. Field Service and Maintenance: Factory-certified service technicians provide repairs, preventative maintenance, and emergency services for pump systems. Revenue generated from service calls, maintenance agreements, and repair work.
3. Preventative Maintenance Agreements: STH manages over 1,800 Preventative Maintenance (PM) Agreements with property managers and building owners, providing recurring revenue through scheduled maintenance visits.
4. System Start-Up and Commissioning: Factory-certified commissioning services for pump systems including inspection, calibration, and performance verification, generating one-time fees per project.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

STH is a third-generation manufacturer's representative that supplies, installs, and services pre-engineered pump systems—including fire pumps, domestic water boosters, sump and sewage pumps, HVAC pumps, and related controls—on behalf of more than 40 manufacturer brands. The firm complements its equipment sales with factory-certified start-up and commissioning, a preventative maintenance program covering 1,800+ agreements, 24/7 emergency repair, municipal design engineering, and pump energy audits for commercial, municipal, and industrial clients in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Product overview

STH (Shafer, Troxell & Howe Inc.) is a third-generation manufacturer's representative specializing in the application, sale, and service of pre-engineered and packaged pump systems for commercial and municipal markets. The core product portfolio consists of Fire Pump Systems (NFPA-compliant diesel and electric fire pumps with controllers and transfer switches), Domestic Water Booster Systems (VFD-controlled pressure systems for hospitals, high-rises, and commercial buildings), Sump & Sewage Systems (commercial and industrial wastewater management), and HVAC Pump Systems. Supporting these core offerings are value-added services including System Start-Up & Commissioning, Preventative Maintenance Programs (managing over 1,800 PM agreements), Municipal Design Engineering, Aftermarket Plumbing Services, New Construction Plumbing, and Industrial Pumping Solutions. STH represents over 40 manufacturer brands including SyncroFlo booster systems, Peerless fire pumps, Grundfos pumps, Topp fiberglass basins, Watertronics control panels, Tornatech and Firetrol fire pump controllers, and Cla-Val control valves. The company operates from Frederick, Maryland serving Maryland, Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Delaware, and West Virginia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fire Pump Systems NFPA-compliant fire pump systems including diesel and electric fire pumps, controllers, transfer switches, and relief valves for building fire protection.
• Domestic Water Booster Systems Commercial and municipal booster pump packages with VFD control for consistent water pressure in hospitals, labs, high-rises, and high-demand environments.
• Sump, Sewage and Septic Systems Commercial and industrial sump, grinder, and sewage pump systems for flood prevention and wastewater management in municipal, commercial, and mission-critical buildings.
• HVAC Pump Systems Pump and motor repairs, replacements, mechanical seal and bearing replacements for climate control systems in commercial buildings.
• Rental Pumps Temporary rental pumps available in 208- or 460-Volt configurations delivering up to 120 GPM flow and 170 PSI pressure boost, with delivery, setup, wiring, programming, and commissioning services, for emergency and short-term needs.
• Industrial Pumping Solutions Engineered pumping and process systems for industrial environments including ANSI pumps, vertical turbines, horizontal split case pumps, packaged pump stations for utility water, process fluids, and chemical handling, plus custom control panels, VFDs, and system automation.
• Municipal Water and Wastewater Solutions Engineered pumping solutions for municipal infrastructure including water booster systems, wastewater and stormwater solutions, pump stations, chemical dosing systems, and engineering support.
• New Construction Plumbing Ground-up design to final startup for builders, engineers, contractors, and owners in the construction market covering domestic booster systems, storm and sanitary drainage, fire pumps, and water treatment and filtration.
• Aftermarket Plumbing Services Comprehensive service, repair, and replacement support for existing plumbing and pumping systems including domestic boosters, fire pumps, sump/sewage systems, HVAC pumps, PRV rebuilds, VFD conversions, pump repairs, fire system maintenance, cooling tower filtration, and energy audits.
• Municipal Design Engineering Application engineering, CAD drawings, budget pricing, and specification development services for municipal water pumping and wastewater systems.
• System Start-Up and Commissioning Factory-certified start-up and commissioning services for booster systems, fire pumps, VFDs, and sump/sewage systems with detailed documentation and checklist submission.
• Preventative Maintenance Program Factory-certified preventative maintenance services covering booster pumps, fire pumps, sump/sewage systems, HVAC pumps, and rainwater harvesting systems, with over 1,800 PM agreements under management and tiered service levels performed annually, bi-annually, quarterly, or monthly.
• 24/7 Emergency Pump Repair Services Round-the-clock emergency pump repair services with stock and rental pumps available for immediate response to mission-critical failures.
• SyncroFlo Booster Systems SyncroFlo brand booster pump packages including duplex and triplex configurations with VFD controllers, marketed and sold by STH for commercial booster applications.
• Peerless Fire Pumps Peerless brand fire pumps including horizontal split case and diesel fire pumps, marketed and sold by STH.
• Grundfos Pumps Grundfos brand pumps including commercial boosters, submersible pumps, and smart pump systems with VFD integration, marketed and sold by STH in its territory.
• Topp Fiberglass Basins and Pump Stations Topp brand fiberglass basins and pump stations for wastewater applications, marketed and sold by STH.
• Watertronics Control Panels and Monitoring Watertronics brand control panels and monitoring systems for pump applications, marketed and sold by STH.
• Tornatech Fire Pump Controllers Tornatech brand fire pump controllers and transfer switches for NFPA-compliant fire protection systems, marketed and sold by STH.
• Firetrol Fire Pump Controllers Firetrol brand fire pump controllers and related fire protection equipment, marketed and sold by STH for fire protection applications.
• Cla-Val Control Valves Cla-Val brand pressure-reducing, flow control, and pump control valves for water distribution and pump system applications, marketed and sold by STH.

Quantifiable outcome

• 48-hour turnaround on repair quotes
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ashland PumpminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAshland Pump is one of the manufacturers represented by STH in their product portfolio. STH serves as the manufacturer's representative selling Ashland Pump products to commercial and municipal customers.
• GrundfoscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGrundfos is a major manufacturer represented by STH, providing pumps and pumping solutions. STH markets and sells Grundfos products including booster pumps, sewage pumps, and related equipment in their territory.
• Peerless PumpcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSTH was originally established as the Peerless fire pump representative serving the commercial market in 1932. Peerless remains a key manufacturer partner providing fire pumps and process pumps.
• SyncroFlocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSyncroFlo is a key manufacturer partner providing commercial booster pump systems including VFD controller packages. STH markets SyncroFlo booster products and offers VFD conversion packages with energy savings analysis.
• Cla-ValminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCla-Val is a manufacturer of control valves represented by STH for use in pump systems and water distribution applications.
• Liberty PumpsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLiberty Pumps is a manufacturer represented by STH, specializing in sump pumps, sewage pumps, and grinder pumps for residential and commercial applications.
• WatertronicsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWatertronics is a manufacturer represented by STH, providing pump control panels and monitoring solutions.
• TornatechminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTornatech is a manufacturer of fire pump controllers and related equipment represented by STH for fire protection system applications.
• ToppminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTopp Fiberglass Basins is a manufacturer providing fiberglass basins for pump stations and sewage systems, represented by STH.
• EatonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEaton is a manufacturer represented by STH, providing electrical and power management components for pump control systems.
• FiretrolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFiretrol is a manufacturer of fire pump controllers and transfer switches represented by STH for fire protection applications.
• YaskawaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYaskawa is a manufacturer of variable frequency drives (VFDs) and motion control products represented by STH for pump system applications.
• EASA (Electrical Apparatus Service Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTH VP Bill Wendorf serves as Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of EASA, supporting industry standards development, collaboration, and professional development for service technicians.
• ASPE (American Society of Plumbing Engineers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTH participates in Washington D.C. and Baltimore ASPE Associations to support the engineering community with product selection and specifications.
• MD-RWA, DRWA, WV-RWA, Chesapeake Tri-AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTH supports local engineering community through participation in regional water and wastewater associations including MD-RWA, DRWA, WV-RWA, and Chesapeake Tri-Association.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DXP Enterprises: DXP Enterprises is a publicly traded industrial distributor and pump MRO service provider with rotating equipment, repair, and preventative maintenance offerings. Its integrated distribution-plus-service model and national footprint closely mirror STH's rep-plus-service business, making it a directly comparable peer.
• Jensen Engineered Systems: Jensen Engineered Systems is a regional manufacturer's representative and integrator for pumps and process equipment serving commercial and industrial customers. Its rep-firm-plus-engineered-systems business model and regional scope make it one of the closest direct comparables to STH.
• Industrial Service Solutions: Industrial Service Solutions delivers rotating equipment repair, field service, and engineered solutions for pumps, motors, and drives. Its focus on industrial pump MRO and certified technicians aligns tightly with STH's service-side offering.
• SyncroFlo: SyncroFlo is a commercial booster system packager and a core represented brand of STH. Its packaged booster products compete for the same engineering specification and end-customer projects that STH's rep business targets.
• Rain for Rent: Rain for Rent provides pump rental, sales, and service for industrial, municipal, and construction customers across the US. It overlaps directly with STH's rental pump program, sump/sewage solutions, and 24/7 emergency service model.

Broad incumbents

• Pool Corporation: Pool Corporation is a specialty distributor that combines product distribution with installation and service for a niche water systems market. Its distribution-plus-services model and recurring customer relationships provide a useful analog to STH's commercial pump distribution plus PM business.
• Watsco: Watsco is the largest US HVAC distribution company. While its primary focus is climate control, its commercial HVAC pump and service offerings intersect with STH's HVAC pump service line at national scale.
• Xylem: Xylem is a global water technology company with leading pump brands (Bell & Gossett, Flygt) and a growing services business. Its water utility and commercial pump service operations overlap with STH's municipal and industrial segments.
• Flowserve: Flowserve is a global manufacturer and servicer of pumps, valves, and seals for industrial markets. Its installed-base service business and process industry focus are comparable to STH's industrial pumping solutions segment.
• Ferguson Enterprises: Ferguson is the largest US plumbing and HVAC distributor with broad residential, commercial, and industrial coverage. Its commercial plumbing and water systems business competes with STH at a national scale but offers far broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sthinc/about

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 STH