What SVI International does

SVI International, Inc. is a U.S.-based B2B parts distributor and manufacturer of automotive lifts, founded in 1977 and headquartered in DeKalb, Illinois. The company stocks over 40,000 repair parts across 50 product lines, serving as a single-source supplier for replacement parts covering most major automotive lift, truck lift, bus lift, and shop equipment brands throughout North America. Its inventory spans air compressor parts, pneumatic systems, hose reels, mufflers, and shop airline products, with two ready-ship warehouses in Chicago and Los Angeles supporting fulfillment to a network of 2,000+ distributors and direct B2B customers.

SVI's business model is a capital-light distribution and light-manufacturing operation. Revenue is generated through one-time parts sales via a distributor channel, direct phone orders (1-800-321-8173), and an e-commerce storefront with quote-based and online ordering. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated B2B, with a pay-as-you-go billing cadence. The company positions itself as the industry's "problem solver" for hard-to-find, obsolete, and custom specialty lift components, leveraging deep technical expertise on equipment compatibility as a key differentiator.

In May 2024, The Zabel Companies acquired SVI International, with Barings acting as lead agent, sole lender, and minority equity investor. The transaction establishes SVI as a Zabel platform investment in the fragmented automotive aftermarket parts distribution sector. The company continues to operate from its DeKalb headquarters with a lean headcount of 11–50 employees.

Name

SVI International

Legal name

SVI International, Inc.

Website

https://sviinternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SVI International is a 47-year-old B2B parts distributor and manufacturer of automotive lifts and shop equipment, stocking 40,000+ repair parts across 50 product lines and serving 2,000+ distributors throughout North America from its DeKalb, Illinois headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Lift & Shop Equipment Parts

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (33331), Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance (8113)

SIC

Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013), Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010)

akta.pro primary industry

General Automotive Repair & Maintenance (TLAKAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Replacement Wear Parts Manufacturing (Filters/Belts/Hoses/Wipers/Spark Plugs) (IMACANAA)

Keywords

• Automotive lift parts
• Shop equipment parts
• Air compressor parts
• Automotive repair supplies
• Lift repair components

Headquarters

HQ city

Dekalb

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Parts Sales: SVI International generates revenue through the sale of automotive lift repair parts, shop equipment parts, and related components. The business operates on a parts distribution model with both catalog/mass-market parts and custom specialty solutions. Sales occur through distributor network, direct phone orders, and online ordering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SVI International manufactures automotive lifts and distributes replacement parts for automotive lifts, shop equipment, and air compressors. The company stocks over 40,000 repair parts across 50 product lines supporting most makes and models of lifts and equipment, and serves more than 2,000 distributors across North America from warehouses in Chicago and Los Angeles. It also handles custom specialty lift requests and innovative product solutions for non-standard applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Air Compressor Parts
• Compressor Replacement Products
• Hose Reels and Hose Stops
• Mufflers / Noise Control
• Quick Pneumatics: FastPipe Air Systems
• Shop Airline Products

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Rotary Lift: One of the largest manufacturers of vehicle lifts in North America and a leading supplier of automotive shop equipment. Directly comparable to SVI as both a lift manufacturer and a major source of replacement parts — competing for the same end-customer repair shops.
• BendPak: Manufacturer of car lifts, pipe benders, and other shop equipment with a strong direct-to-shop distribution model. Overlaps with SVI on automotive lift product lines and competes for both OEM and parts business in the same repair shop customer base.
• Mohawk Lifts: US-based manufacturer of automotive lifts (two-post, four-post, scissor, alignment lifts). Directly comparable to SVI on the manufacturing side and competes for parts business from independent repair shops and dealerships.
• Challenger Lifts: Manufacturer of vehicle lifts (two-post, four-post, scissor, mobile column) sold through a distributor network. Closely comparable to SVI's model of manufacturing lifts and selling parts and equipment through a similar channel.
• Stertil-Koni: Specialist in heavy-duty vehicle lifting systems (mobile column lifts, platform lifts, in-ground lifts). Comparable to SVI as a lift manufacturer with a parts and service business targeting commercial vehicle service shops.
• Gray Manufacturing: Manufacturer of lifts, jacks, and other heavy-duty vehicle service equipment. Comparable to SVI in the lift manufacturing niche and the sale of replacement parts and accessories to automotive and commercial service shops.
• Forward Lift: Manufacturer of two-post, four-post, and specialty vehicle lifts distributed through dealer networks. Directly comparable to SVI in automotive lift manufacturing and parts support for independent repair shops.

Emerging players

• Nussbaum Automotive Lifts: Germany-based manufacturer of premium automotive lifts expanding in the North American market. Comparable to SVI on the lift product side, and is gaining traction with US distributors as a challenger brand.

Broad incumbents

• Hunter Engineering: Large, established manufacturer of automotive service equipment including wheel alignment, tire changers, and lift systems. Comparable to SVI as a broad supplier to repair shops, but with much larger scale and a wider product portfolio.
• SPX / Robinair (Dover): Manufacturer of automotive service tools, A/C recovery equipment, and shop equipment under the Robinair, SPX, and related brands. Comparable to SVI as a supplier of shop equipment and parts, but operates at much larger scale across multiple service categories.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sviinternationalinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/svi-international-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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 SVI International