What Kendall Electric does

Kendall Electric is an employee-owned, U.S. electrical wholesale distributor founded in 1973 and headquartered in Portage, Michigan. Operating as a division of The Kendall Group — a diversified industrial conglomerate of eight specialized business units covering electrical, automation, lighting, process control, instrumentation, and energy systems — Kendall Electric distributes automation products (PLCs, distributed I/O, signal conditioners, DataCom), electrical products (conduit, distribution equipment, enclosures, transformers, wiring devices), industrial control (drives, motors, contactors, safety devices), and tools/hardware to seven primary vertical markets: manufacturing, construction, commercial facilities, institutional, machine builders, system integrators, and utilities.

The company monetizes through four primary revenue streams: (1) core electrical and automation product distribution sold via take-rate/transactional pricing, (2) automation and technical services including PLC/HMI migration, VFD startup, and engineering support, (3) vendor managed inventory (VMI) programs with on-site stocking, barcoding, and min/max optimization, and (4) job site support services (material staging, trailer setup, wire pulling, kitting). Pricing is quote-based for project and bulk orders and transactional for catalog items, with no public pricing disclosure.

Kendall Electric runs a sales-led GTM model combining industry-specialized field sales teams with inside sales and a digital commerce stack that includes an online shop, the OE Touch mobile app (iOS/Android with barcode scanning), and EDI/cXML/punchout catalog integrations with Ariba/SAP, Jaggaer/SciQuest, Coupa, and Oracle procurement systems. Distribution is delivered through a multi-state branch network with local inventory, distribution centers, warehouses, and will-call locations across the Midwest, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley, Great Lakes, and South Central regions. Adjacent services — networking infrastructure design, TÜV Rheinland-certified safety assessments, NFPA 70E training, and Rockwell Automation instructor-led courses — deepen account stickiness and create service-led differentiation beyond pure product distribution.

Name

Kendall Electric

Legal name

Kendall Electric

Website

https://kendallelectric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Kendall Electric is an employee-owned U.S. electrical wholesale distributor serving manufacturing, construction, commercial, institutional, utility, machine builder, and system integrator customers with electrical, automation, and safety products plus technical, VMI, job site, and digital commerce services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Electrical Distribution

NAICS

Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing (3359)

SIC

Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, Nec (5065), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrical Supplies Retail (Wiring, Switches, Breakers, Conduit) (CRAIADAE)

Keywords

• Electrical distribution
• Industrial automation
• Electrical products
• Vendor managed inventory
• Power distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Portage

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electrical Product Distribution: Core revenue from distribution of electrical products including automation products, industrial control, tools and hardware, wire/cable, lighting, and related components. Products are sold through branches and delivered to customer sites.
2. Automation and Technical Services: Services including automation lifecycle support, PLC/HMI migration, network design, safety assessments (arc flash, thermography, LOTO), training (NFPA 70E, Rockwell courses), and VFD startup services.
3. Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI): On-site inventory management services with custom stocking programs, barcoding, min/max levels, and inventory analysis to reduce downtime and simplify procurement.
4. Job Site Support Services: On-site services including material staging, trailer setup, wire pulling, and kitting services for construction and industrial projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kendall Electric distributes electrical, automation, industrial control, and tools/hardware products from manufacturers such as Rockwell Automation, Hubbell, Brady, Acuity Brands, and Grace Technologies through a network of U.S. branches and an online shop. The company complements product distribution with paid services including plant networking design, automation lifecycle support (PLC/HMI migration, VFD startup), safety assessments (arc flash, thermography, LOTO), vendor managed inventory, on-site job site support (material staging, wire pulling), digital commerce integrations (EDI, cXML, punchout catalogs), and technical training (Rockwell instructor-led courses, NFPA 70E, Learning+ e-learning).

Product overview

Kendall Electric is an employee-owned electrical distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services. The core product offering spans four main categories: Automation Products (PLCs, I/O, sensors, DataCom), Electrical Products (conduit, distribution, enclosures, wiring, transformers, lighting), Industrial Control (drives, motors, contactors, safety devices), and Tools & Hardware (cable tools, testing equipment, fasteners). These are complemented by six service pillars: Networking Infrastructure Services (network design, cybersecurity, diagnostics), Automation Services (lifecycle support, migration, VFD services, repairs), Safety Services (arc flash assessments, NFPA 70E training, thermography), Job Site Support (material staging, project management, wire pulling), Vendor Managed Inventory (stocking programs, barcoding, min/max optimization), and Digital Commerce (online ordering, mobile app, EDI/cXML, punchout catalogs). Training services include Rockwell instructor-led courses, Kendall Connected Training, Learning+ e-learning platform, and NFPA 70E certification. The company operates across multiple markets including Manufacturing, Construction, Commercial Facilities, Institutional, Machine Builders, System Integrators, and Utility sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kendall Connected Training: Hands-on instructor-led training sessions featuring tutorials and practice with specifically designed workstations.
• Kendall Technology Updates
• Kendall Quick Connect
• OE Touch

Products and services

• Automation Products Comprehensive range of automation components including Condition Monitoring, Distributed I/O, PLC Components, PLC Modules, Programmable Relays, Signal Conditioners, and DataCom products for industrial and commercial customers building or maintaining automated systems.
• Electrical Products Broad electrical product portfolio covering conduit and conduit fittings, distribution equipment, electrical boxes and covers, enclosures, fittings and connectors, fuses, grounding and bonding, raceways, transformers, UPS and power conditioning, wiring connectors, wiring devices, and energy products (heat cables, heating/fans/ventilation) for electrical contractors and facility teams.
• Industrial Control Products Industrial control components including alarms/security/signaling, contactors, drives and accessories, industrial quick connects, limit switches, motors, photoelectric sensors, pushbuttons and pilot lights, safety control devices, and lighting products (lamps, ballasts, fixtures) for manufacturing and process control applications.
• Tools and Hardware Professional tools and hardware including cable fishing/pulling tools, cable/wire tools, fasteners, general purpose hand and power tools, tapes and insulating products, testing and measuring equipment, and wire/cord/cable products (building wires, cable trays, electronics cables, portable cords, power and control cables) for electrical contractors and maintenance teams.
• Networking Infrastructure Services Design and deployment of secure, reliable plant networks including supply of network switches, Ethernet modules, gateways, wireless access points, patch panels, and patch cords, plus diagnostics and optimization, server migration and virtualization, proactive disaster planning, network modernization, cybersecurity and segmentation, and network design and engineering services for industrial customers.
• Automation Services Full-lifecycle automation support including automation asset assessment, PLC/HMI migration, device firmware flashing, engineering server and workstation software preloading, automation lifecycle and migration support, VFD preventative maintenance, VFD startup, capacitor reforming, repair and remanufacturing, custom starter builds, motor rewind services, gearbox evaluation and repair, efficiency reporting, and engineering support for industrial customers.
• Safety Services Comprehensive workplace safety solutions including arc flash assessment, arc flash/NFPA 70E training, digital thermography study, lockout/tagout (LOTO), machine safety audits, and machine safety risk assessment delivered by TÜV Rheinland-certified Functional Safety Technicians for industrial and manufacturing customers.
• Job Site Support On-site services for construction and industrial projects including job boxes/carts/trailers for mobile storage, project management for lighting and switchgear projects, material staging and storage with just-in-time delivery, and wire pulling solutions with pre-cut and labeled wire setups.
• Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) Inventory management services including inventory analysis, material procurement process analysis, on-site stocking programs, inventory evaluation, product standardization, bar code labeling, establishing min/max levels, and material handling and storage optimization to reduce downtime and simplify procurement for industrial customers.
• Digital Commerce Online ordering and procurement tools including the online shop with order tracking, invoicing, and BOM management; the OE Touch mobile app for iOS/Android with barcode scanning, product groups, and order tracking; EDI and cXML transactions for automated procurement; and catalog punchout integrations with enterprise procurement systems (Ariba/SAP, Jaggaer/SciQuest, Coupa, Oracle).
• Training and Education Workforce training programs including Rockwell Instructor-Led Training, Kendall Connected Training with hands-on workstations, Kendall Technology Updates, Customer Updates (tailored presentations), Kendall Quick Connect video series, NFPA 70E and Safety Training, and the Learning+ from Rockwell Automation e-learning platform with 25+ modules for industrial customers and electrical professionals.

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Rockwell AutomationcoreTechnology or IntegrationRockwell Automation is a key technology partner providing automation products (PLCs, HMIs, drives) and training content. Kendall Electric offers Rockwell-certified instructor-led training, Learning+ online platform access, and technical support for Rockwell platforms including ControlLogix, PlantPAx, and Kinetix motion control systems.
• The Kendall Group (Parent Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKendall Electric is part of The Kendall Group, a network of eight specialized business divisions providing expertise in electrical, automation, lighting, process control, instrumentation, and energy systems. The divisions include Iris, Merlo Energy, Galloup, Relay and Power Systems, Great Lakes Automation, and Kendall Lighting Center.
• Hubbell Wiring Device-KellemsmajorTechnology or IntegrationHubbell is a key supplier partner providing Circuit-Lock motor disconnects, wiring devices, and safety products. Kendall Electric features Hubbell products prominently including sloped top motor disconnects with LEDs.
• Grace Technologies (Proxxi)majorTechnology or IntegrationPartnership featuring Proxxi wearable voltage detection wristbands for enhanced worker safety. Proxxi provides real-time voltage alerts to help workers recognize electrical hazards.
• Brady CorporationmajorTechnology or IntegrationBrady provides industrial safety products including ToughStripe Max floor tape and projected LED safety signs. Featured products enhance workplace safety communication in industrial environments.
• Acuity BrandsmajorTechnology or IntegrationLighting manufacturer providing REBL LED High Bay and other commercial/industrial lighting solutions for energy efficiency upgrades.
• TÜV RheinlandcoreTechnology or IntegrationTÜV Rheinland provides functional safety technician certification for Kendall Electric safety service personnel, ensuring certified expertise for machine safety assessments.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Graybar Electric Company: Graybar is a Fortune 500, employee-owned electrical and communications distributor in the U.S. with hundreds of branch locations. The employee-ownership model, broad electrical/communications/automation portfolio, and emphasis on value-added services make Graybar the most structurally comparable peer to Kendall Electric.
• Sonepar USA: Sonepar USA is the U.S. division of Sonepar, the world's largest electrical distribution group. With national branch coverage and a comparable electrical, automation, and lighting product portfolio, Sonepar is a direct peer competing for many of the same manufacturing, construction, and utility customers as Kendall Electric.
• WESCO International: WESCO International is one of the largest publicly traded electrical, communications, and utility distribution companies in North America, with a similar mix of electrical products, automation, and value-added services (including network, security, and integrated supply). It is the closest publicly traded comparable to Kendall Electric, competing in the same verticals and with overlapping supplier partnerships.
• Rexel USA: Rexel USA is the U.S. arm of global electrical distributor Rexel Group, distributing electrical, lighting, communications, and data networking products through branches nationwide. It is a direct peer to Kendall Electric in product mix and customer verticals, with the additional scale advantage of a global parent.
• Johnstone Supply: Johnstone Supply is a wholesale distributor of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical products organized as a member-owned cooperative across more than 400 stores in the U.S. While primarily HVAC-focused, its electrical product line and cooperative/member-ownership structure create meaningful overlap with Kendall Electric.
• Crescent Electric Supply Company: Crescent Electric Supply is a U.S. electrical distributor with branches across the Midwest, South, and Mid-Atlantic. Its regional branch footprint and broad electrical/industrial product line closely mirror Kendall Electric's go-to-market and customer base.
• Border States Electric: Border States Electric is a 100% employee-owned regional electrical distributor serving the Midwest, Plains, and Southwest U.S. The employee-ownership structure, electrical and automation product focus, and adjacent regional geography make Border States one of the closest private peers to Kendall Electric.
• State Electric Supply: State Electric Supply is a regional industrial electrical distributor serving the U.S. with a comparable product portfolio (electrical, automation, lighting) and similar focus on construction, industrial, and utility customers, making it a relevant regional peer to Kendall Electric.
• McNaughton-McKay Electric: McNaughton-McKay is a regional industrial electrical and automation distributor headquartered in Michigan, with a particular strength in Rockwell Automation products. The Midwestern footprint, automation focus, and overlapping supplier relationships (especially Rockwell) make it a particularly close peer to Kendall Electric.

Broad incumbents

• HD Supply (now White Cap / formerly HD Supply Holdings): HD Supply is a large-scale industrial distribution platform serving maintenance, repair, and operations customers, including an electrical and lighting vertical. Its broader MRO focus makes it a wider-incumbent peer to Kendall Electric rather than a head-to-head electrical specialist.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Kendall Electric