Wilkinson Star

What Wilkinson Star does

Wilkinson Star Limited is a privately held, family-owned wholesale distributor of industrial welding and compressed air equipment, founded in 1971 and headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom. The company operates exclusively on a wholesale basis to a nationwide network of authorised distributors across the UK and Ireland, offering an aggregated catalogue of more than 20,000 product lines drawn from exclusive distribution agreements with global manufacturers including Jasic (welding inverters), Fiac (air compressors), Mosa (engine-driven equipment), Tecna (resistance welding), Exact (pipe cutting), Maxphotonics (laser welding systems), and F-Tech (fume extraction). In parallel, it distributes its own proprietary sub-brands such as Weldstar, Starparts, G-Tech, VIRO Tech, Standard Power, and Custor covering consumables, PPE, gas equipment, and tools.

The company is not purely a logistics intermediary; it operates a vertically integrated technical and light-manufacturing footprint at its Wardley Industrial Estate site, including a Welding Training Academy/Demonstration Centre, a Technical Support Centre, the Inverter Technology Centre (opened 2015), and a Fiac compressor assembly line (operating since 1991) where belt-driven piston compressors (2hp–10hp) are individually tested for EC compliance. Sales and technical support are delivered through a national team of Area Managers and Technical Engineers covering the UK and Ireland, complemented by a 24/7 B2B e-commerce portal for account-holding distributors.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through hardware sales (wholesale) to its distributor channel, with no disclosed direct-to-end-user sales, subscription, or service-line revenue. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is governed by trade-account terms negotiated with each distributor. The company does not disclose revenue, has no external institutional shareholders, and operates without any reported funding rounds or M&A activity in the source material.

Name

Wilkinson Star

Legal name

Wilkinson Star Limited

Website

https://wilkinsonstar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Wilkinson Star Limited is a privately held UK family-owned wholesale distributor, founded in 1971 and headquartered in Manchester, supplying over 20,000 lines of welding, compressed air, and safety equipment exclusively to an authorised distributor network across the UK and Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Welding Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Hardware Merchant Wholesalers (423710)

SIC

Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive, Tools & Industrial Supplies (B2B) (CRAEAEAH)

Keywords

• Welding equipment distribution
• Compressed air products
• Welding consumables supply
• Industrial PPE equipment
• B2B wholesale distributor

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Distribution: Wilkinson Star operates as a multi-brand wholesale distributor offering over 20,000 product lines from global manufacturers exclusively on a wholesale basis to authorised distributors across the UK and Ireland.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Wilkinson Star is a UK and Ireland wholesale distributor of industrial welding and compressed air equipment, carrying over 20,000 product lines on an exclusive basis from global manufacturers (Jasic, Fiac, Mosa, Tecna, Autostar, Exact, F-Tech, Weldstar/Maxphotonics, and own-brand Starparts). The company sells strictly on a wholesale basis to a nationwide network of authorised distributors, supported by in-house UK assembly of compressors, an Inverter Technology Centre, a Welding Training Academy, and a 24/7 B2B ordering portal.

Product overview

Wilkinson Star is a leading UK and Ireland wholesaler of welding and compressed air products offering an extensive range of over 20,000 high quality product lines on an exclusive basis from global industry leading manufacturers. The portfolio comprises multibrand industrial equipment including welding inverters (Jasic), laser welding systems (Weldstar), air compressors (Fiac), pipe cutting systems (Exact), fume extraction (F-Tech), resistance welding (Tecna), torches and consumables (Starparts), gas equipment (G-Tech), hand tools (Standard Power, Custor), sanitising systems (VIRO Tech), and engine-driven equipment (Mosa, Autostar). Products are supported by welding training academy, technical support centre, and inverter technology centre in Manchester. A B2B online portal (wilkinsonstar247.com) enables 24/7 ordering and account management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Weldstar: Welding equipment brand featuring laser welding systems
• Starparts
• Weldstar 247

Products and services

• Weldstar Laser Welding System Portable handheld laser welding system developed by Maxphotonics and distributed by Wilkinson Star under the Weldstar brand. Built around advanced air cooling using phase change heat conduction technology, the 39KG unit delivers high beam stability, neat welding seams, improved weld strength, and minimum deformation for industrial welding applications.
• Jasic Welding Inverters Welding inverter equipment from the Jasic brand, distributed exclusively by Wilkinson Star in the UK and Ireland market as part of their multi-brand welding range for industrial users.
• Fiac Air Compressors Air compressors and accessories from Fiac, including belt-driven piston compressors (2hp-10hp) assembled in Wilkinson Star's Manchester facility and rotary screw compressors (5.5hp-125hp) including refrigerant dryers and inverter controlled models. Wilkinson Star has been sole UK distributor since 1992.
• Exact Pipe Cutting Systems Pipe cutting and finishing systems for metal, plastic, and ventilation pipes, distributed under the Exact Tools brand. Uses cold cutting technology that creates virtually no sparks and produces clean straight cuts without rework.
• F-Tech Welding Fume Extraction Systems Fume extraction systems and extraction torches for welding safety, addressing HSE welding fume regulations and the IARC carcinogenic classification of welding fume including mild steel. Distributed under the F-Tech brand.
• Mosa Engine-Driven Welding and Power Equipment Engine-driven welding generators and power generation equipment from the Mosa brand, distributed exclusively by Wilkinson Star in the UK and Ireland, suitable for remote site welding and power applications.
• Tecna Resistance Spot Welders Resistance spot welding equipment from the Tecna brand, distributed exclusively by Wilkinson Star for industrial resistance welding applications.
• Autostar Automotive Welding and Fabrication Equipment Automotive welding and fabrication equipment distributed under the Autostar brand exclusively by Wilkinson Star in the UK and Ireland.
• Starparts Torches, Consumables and PPE Welding torches, consumables, and personal protective equipment (PPE) supplied under Wilkinson Star's own Starparts brand and distributed exclusively through the authorised distributor network.
• G-Tech Gas Equipment Gas equipment and gas-related welding solutions distributed under the G-Tech brand.
• VIRO Tech Sanitising Systems Sanitising and hygiene systems distributed under the VIRO Tech brand.
• Standard Power Air Tools Air-powered hand tools distributed under the Standard Power brand, forming part of Wilkinson Star's comprehensive air tool range for industrial users.
• Custor Hand Tools Hand tools distributed under the Custor brand, complementing Wilkinson Star's air-powered tool range for industrial users.
• Wilkinson Star 24/7 B2B Ordering Portal (wilkinsonstar247.com) Distributor B2B website allowing 24/7 online ordering, stock checking, saving favourite products, viewing account balance, viewing account statistics, checking credit limit, and viewing order history for authorised wholesale distributors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800% faster assembly capacity

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• JasiccoreTechnology or IntegrationJasic is a major brand in Wilkinson Star's portfolio, offering welding inverters. Wilkinson Star distributes Jasic products exclusively in the UK and Ireland market as part of their multi-brand product range.
• WeldstarcoreTechnology or IntegrationWeldstar is an exclusive brand distributed by Wilkinson Star covering welding wire and laser welding systems. The Weldstar Laser Systems product line features portable handheld laser welding machines.
• MosacoreTechnology or IntegrationMosa engine-driven products are distributed exclusively by Wilkinson Star in the UK and Ireland. These include engine-driven welding generators for remote site work.
• TecnacoreTechnology or IntegrationTecna spot welders are distributed exclusively by Wilkinson Star. Tecna specialises in resistance welding equipment for industrial applications.
• AutostarcoreTechnology or IntegrationAutostar equipment brand distributed exclusively by Wilkinson Star in UK and Ireland market as part of multi-brand product range.
• FiaccoreTechnology or IntegrationWilkinson Star has been the sole UK distributor of Fiac air compressor products since 1992. Fiac is a leading Italian air compressor manufacturer. Wilkinson Star also assembles belt driven piston compressors (2hp-10hp) in their Manchester facility.
• Exact ToolscoreTechnology or IntegrationExact Tools introduced their pipe cutting system in 2002. Wilkinson Star distributes the Exact pipe cutting systems brand in UK and Ireland. The system revolutionises efficiency of pipe cutting with cold cutting technology that creates virtually no sparks.
• MaxphotonicscoreTechnology or IntegrationMaxphotonics developed the Weldstar laser welding system with 18 years in the laser industry. They created the lightest and smallest handheld laser welding machine in the world with air cooling system. Wilkinson Star distributes this technology under the Weldstar Laser Systems brand.
• StarpartscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStarparts is Wilkinson Star's own brand covering torches, consumables and PPE equipment. Distributed exclusively through Wilkinson Star's authorised distributor network.
• Ftech/F-TechcoreTechnology or IntegrationF-Tech fume extraction systems are distributed by Wilkinson Star. These systems address HSE regulations regarding welding fume exposure, including mild steel welding fume classified as Group 1 carcinogenic by IARC.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SIP Industrial Products: UK-based manufacturer and distributor of welding equipment, air compressors and garage/workshop tools. Operates in the same core welding and compressed-air product categories as Wilkinson Star and serves an overlapping industrial and trade customer base.
• Cromwell Tools: UK industrial tooling, PPE and MRO products distributor supplying manufacturers and workshops. Comparable B2B wholesale motion, multi-brand catalogue and trade customer base to Wilkinson Star's welding and PPE distribution.
• Edmundson Electrical: One of the largest electrical and industrial product wholesalers in the UK, running a multi-brand catalogue distributed through a branch network. Closely mirrors Wilkinson Star's multibrand authorised-distributor model for industrial buyers, just oriented to electrical rather than welding products.

Broad incumbents

• Rexel UK: Global electrical and industrial distribution group with substantial UK operations. Operates an analogous wholesale-distributor model for industrial technical products at much larger scale; relevant peer for benchmarking margin and channel economics.
• Toolstation: Travis Perkins-owned trade tools and equipment retailer/distributor serving UK tradespeople and small industrial buyers. Comparable in serving the same trade workshop customers, though with a broader tools focus than welding-specific.
• Travis Perkins: Largest UK builders' merchant with extensive industrial, tool and consumables ranges. Indirect peer via overlapping PPE, tools and construction-grade welding supply customers, and relevant for distribution-economics comparison.
• SIG plc: UK specialist distributor of building products and insulation. Comparable specialist wholesaler structure focused on construction and industrial trade customers, though oriented to building envelope rather than welding.

Regional players

• Air Liquide UK: Industrial gases supplier in the UK, including welding gases and gas equipment. Adjacent to Wilkinson Star's G-Tech gas equipment category and serves overlapping fabrication and manufacturing buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wilkinsonstaruk
• Facebookfacebook.com/wilkinsonstaruk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wilkinson-star-ltd-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Wilkinson Star