C.H. Reed, Inc.

What C.H. Reed, Inc. does

C.H. Reed, Inc. is a family-owned industrial equipment distributor founded in 1948 and headquartered in Hanover, Pennsylvania. The company distributes compressed air systems, paint finishing equipment, and fluid handling systems, carrying product lines from Quincy Compressor (where it holds True Blue Distributor status), Graco (where it ranks in the Top 20 North American distributors), Chicago Pneumatic, and Carlisle Fluid Technologies. Its portfolio serves manufacturers and industrial operators across the mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes regions, with branch-based sales, installation, and aftermarket service capabilities.

The company's business model combines equipment sales with recurring aftermarket revenue from parts, service, and maintenance contracts tied to its installed customer base. Operations span at least six branch locations across Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and Michigan, providing field service coverage across PA, MD, DE, VA, WV, OH, NY, and MI. End markets include general manufacturing, automotive, industrial production, and aerospace customers requiring fluid handling and finish-quality equipment.

In August 2018, the company sold its Assembly Tool Division to refocus on its compressed air, paint finishing, and fluid handling distribution core. Subsequent strategic activity has emphasized geographic expansion (Toledo branch in September 2020, Buffalo/Rochester expansion in May 2022, Pittsburgh branch relocation in November 2023) and channel digitization, capped by the 2024 launch of a B2B e-commerce platform at shop.chreed.com. Leadership rests with President Bob Shields following the April 2023 passing of Tom Rogers. The company has been recognized repeatedly as a top Graco distributor, and serves more than 4,000 active customers.

Name

C.H. Reed, Inc.

Legal name

C. H. Reed, Inc.

Website

https://chreed.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

C.H. Reed, Inc. is a family-owned industrial distributor founded in 1948 in Hanover, PA, selling and servicing compressed air, paint finishing, and fluid handling equipment to manufacturing and industrial customers across the mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes regions through six branch locations and a B2B e-commerce channel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Compressed Air & Finishing Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391), Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing (333912), Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339), Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564)

akta.pro primary industry

Air & Gas Compressors (General Purpose) (IMAHANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pump & Compressor Packages (Skids, Booster Sets) (IMAHANAG), Pneumatic Air Preparation & Distribution (FRL assemblies, manifolds, air headers) (IMAHAGAD), Pneumatic Components (FRLs, Cylinders, Valves) (IMAHAGAC)

Keywords

• Compressed air systems
• Industrial air compressors
• Paint finishing equipment
• Fluid handling solutions
• Preventative maintenance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sale of industrial equipment including air compressors (rotary screw, reciprocating, oil-free, centrifugal), paint finishing equipment, fluid handling pumps, spray booths, powder coating equipment, plural component metering systems, and accessories.
2. Service and Maintenance: Preventative maintenance programs, emergency repair services, equipment start-ups, scheduled maintenance, and technician services delivered by certified technicians across all branch locations.
3. Aftermarket Parts: Replacement parts, filters, lubricants, fittings, and accessories through both branch locations and the online B2B e-commerce store (shop.chreed.com).
4. System Auditing and Consulting: Compressed air system auditing, leak detection surveys, and process analysis services to identify energy savings and efficiency improvements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

C.H. Reed distributes and services industrial compressed air equipment, paint finishing systems, and fluid handling technologies from leading OEMs (Quincy Compressor, Graco, Chicago Pneumatic, Carlisle Fluid Technologies, Col-Met). The company sells air compressors, spray application equipment, powder coating systems, pumps, and engineered custom solutions, and delivers certified technician maintenance, system auditing, and leak detection services to manufacturing customers across the mid-Atlantic and Midwest United States.

Product overview

C.H. Reed, Inc. is a distributor and service provider of industrial compressed air equipment, paint finishing systems, and fluid handling technologies. The company operates across three core product groups: Compressed Air Systems & Equipment (including rotary screw, reciprocating, and oil-free air compressors, nitrogen generators, vacuum pumps, and air treatment equipment from Quincy Compressor and Chicago Pneumatic); Paint Finishing & Fluid Handling Technologies (including spray guns, plural component metering equipment, powder coating systems, and engineered custom solutions from Graco, Nordson, and Col-Met); and comprehensive service offerings including preventative maintenance programs, system auditing, and leak detection. The company serves manufacturers in food & beverage, metal fabrication, automotive, pharmaceutical, and other industries across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, and New York through multiple branch locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rotary Screw Air Compressors Positive displacement air compressors using meshed rotating screws to compress air, available with variable speed drive options for energy efficiency; for industrial manufacturers requiring continuous compressed air supply.
• Reciprocating Air Compressors Positive displacement compressors using pistons for cyclic air compression, suitable for various industrial applications; for manufacturers needing intermittent or shop-air compressed air.
• Oil-Free Air Compressors Compressors designed to deliver 100% oil-free air meeting ISO 8573-1 Class Zero standards; for food, pharmaceutical, and sensitive manufacturing applications requiring contamination-free air.
• Centrifugal Air Compressors Dynamic compressors using rotating impellers to accelerate air and convert kinetic energy into pressure; for high-volume industrial air needs at large manufacturing facilities.
• Compressed Air Piping Transair compressed air piping systems for interconnecting equipment to air receivers and distribution networks; for manufacturers building or expanding compressed air infrastructure.
• Nitrogen Generators On-site nitrogen generation systems for industrial applications requiring nitrogen gas supply; for manufacturers needing an alternative to delivered nitrogen.
• Vacuum Pumps Industrial vacuum pumps for various manufacturing and processing applications; for manufacturers requiring vacuum for production processes.
• Industrial Paint Sprayer Solutions Paint application equipment including spray guns, pumps, and accessories for high-quality industrial finishes; for manufacturers requiring consistent industrial paint finishing.
• Plural Component Metering Equipment Equipment for mixing and proportioning multiple-component materials such as epoxies, urethanes, and polyureas with precision ratio control; for manufacturers applying protective and specialty coatings.
• Powder Coating Equipment Equipment for electrostatic powder coating applications including spray guns, booths, and curing ovens; for manufacturers applying powder coatings to metal and other substrates.
• Meter, Mix, & Dispense Equipment Precision equipment for portioning and dispensing precise shots of liquids, adhesives, and coatings; for manufacturers requiring accurate multi-component dispensing.
• Protective Coating Application Equipment Spray equipment for applying protective coatings including corrosion-resistant, fireproofing, and wear-resistant materials; for manufacturers applying industrial protective coatings.
• Process Pumps Industrial process pumps for fluid transfer applications including hydraulic and pneumatic powered options; for manufacturers requiring fluid transfer in production processes.
• Sanitary Pumps & Packages Pumps designed for sanitary applications in food, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries; for regulated manufacturers requiring hygienic fluid handling.
• Solvent Recyclers Equipment for recycling solvents used in finishing operations to reduce waste and environmental impact; for manufacturers seeking to reduce solvent disposal costs.
• Paint Booth Sales & Oven Solutions Paint booths, powder booths, ovens, washers, and integrated finishing systems from Col-Met and other manufacturers; for manufacturers setting up or upgrading finishing facilities.
• Engineered Systems & Automation Custom, non-standard tailored solutions developed by C.H. Reed's Engineered Systems Department for complex compressed air, paint finishing, and fluid handling applications including custom fabrication and integration; for manufacturers with non-standard requirements.
• Preventative Maintenance Programs Routine inspections, service, and planned maintenance programs for air compressors and paint finishing equipment delivered by certified technicians across all branch locations; for manufacturers seeking to maximize equipment uptime.
• Compressed Air System Auditing Professional air audit services to identify productivity and quality improvements, including leak detection surveys and exact air consumption analysis; for manufacturers seeking to reduce energy costs and improve efficiency.
• Leak Detection Services Detection and identification of air leaks in compressed air systems to eliminate wasted energy and reduce operating costs; for manufacturers seeking to reduce compressed air energy waste.
• Quincy ICONS Monitoring System Intelligent data monitoring and connectivity system for air compressors enabling remote monitoring, proactive service planning, and real-time performance tracking; can be installed by C.H. Reed's controls team on a wide array of compressor brands; for manufacturers seeking predictive maintenance capabilities.
• Graco SaniSpray HP Airless Disinfectant Sprayers Airless sprayers designed for disinfectant application in response to COVID-19 and general sanitization needs; for facility managers and manufacturers requiring disinfection capabilities.
• Compressed Air Treatment Equipment Air treatment equipment including filters, dryers, and separators to ensure clean, dry compressed air quality; for manufacturers requiring treated compressed air for sensitive processes.
• Industrial Cooling Systems Cooling systems for industrial compressed air applications including refrigerated and water-cooled options; for manufacturers requiring temperature control for compressed air systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy savings: 50% reduction in air pressure and energy consumption in specific manufacturing applications
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Quincy CompressorcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1948C.H. Reed is a 'True Blue' Quincy Compressor distributor with over 70 years of trusted business relationship. The company is the only Quincy Compressor distributor in the Toledo, Ohio region (as of January 2023). C.H. Reed offers Quincy air compressors including rotary screw, reciprocating, oil-free, and centrifugal models, along with factory-authorized service and the Q-Connect monitoring system. Quincy ICONS remote monitoring can be installed on Quincy and other compressor brands.
• GracocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorC.H. Reed is a Top 20 North American Distributor for Graco products including paint finishing equipment, fluid handling pumps, plural component metering systems, protective coatings sprayers, and foam equipment. The company offers Graco's full line of industrial spray equipment, proportioning systems (ProMix, ProMix 2KS, ProMix PD2K), and accessories.
• Chicago PneumaticcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorC.H. Reed is an authorized distributor for Chicago Pneumatic air compressors and industrial equipment, providing compressed air solutions alongside Quincy Compressor products.
• Carlisle Fluid TechnologiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorC.H. Reed distributes Carlisle Fluid Technologies products including Ransburg electrostatic spray guns and IntelliFlow plural component proportioning systems. Carlisle conducts product training at C.H. Reed's Hanover location for sales team and customer demonstrations.
• MANTECminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerC.H. Reed partners with MANTEC, a Pennsylvania-based non-profit organization dedicated to helping small to mid-sized manufacturing enterprises improve through LEAN manufacturing processes. C.H. Reed hosted the 2013 Lean Technology Forum with MANTEC.
• Energy, Materials & Sustainability Consulting (EMS)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerC.H. Reed partnered with EMS to complete a 20-hour sustainability training course. EMS is a Pennsylvania-based consultancy with expertise in sustainability, energy efficiency audits, clean & lean manufacturing, and regulatory compliance training.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Nordson Corporation: Global manufacturer of precision dispensing and test equipment for adhesives, coatings, and finishing applications, including powder coating and liquid spray systems. Comparable to C.H. Reed's paint finishing product line as an OEM whose equipment C.H. Reed's customers also purchase, and a competing brand in the protective coatings and finishing equipment market.
• MSC Industrial: Large U.S. metalworking and industrial MRO distributor with extensive catalog, e-commerce, and field sales channels. Comparable to C.H. Reed in serving mid-market manufacturers with industrial supplies, though MSC is much broader in product scope and competes for the same shop-floor parts and consumables spend.
• Grainger: Largest U.S. industrial MRO distributor operating a KeepStock, vending, and e-commerce model for facilities maintenance. Comparable to C.H. Reed at the customer overlap level — same mid-Atlantic industrial customers buy from both — but Grainger competes primarily on parts/consumables breadth rather than capital compressed air and finishing systems.
• Kaeser Compressors: Privately held German compressor OEM with a strong U.S. presence built on direct sales and a network of authorized distributors. Comparable to C.H. Reed in targeting mid-market industrial compressed air customers with rotary screw and reciprocating compressors, and competing for the same independent distributor partners.
• Atlas Copco: Global industrial compressor OEM and service provider with a broad portfolio of oil-free, rotary screw, and centrifugal compressors plus connected monitoring. Comparable to C.H. Reed as a direct competitor in the compressed air equipment market, though Atlas Copco operates primarily via direct sales and large service centers rather than the regional distributor model.
• Applied Industrial Technologies: Large U.S. industrial distributor serving MRO and OEM customers with fluid power, bearings, motion control, and industrial supplies. Comparable to C.H. Reed as a multi-product industrial distributor, though at substantially greater scale (~$1.7B revenue) and broader product breadth across the same mid-Atlantic/Midwest manufacturing base.
• Ingersoll Rand: Major global compressor and fluid handling OEM serving industrial and life sciences markets. Direct competitor to C.H. Reed on rotary screw and oil-free compressors, but with much larger scale, direct-to-customer sales, and a national service footprint that competes with C.H. Reed's regional territory.

Direct peers

• Sullivan-Palatek: Manufacturer of industrial rotary screw and reciprocating air compressors, plus oil-free models for industrial customers. Comparable to C.H. Reed's core compressed air equipment business as a competing mid-market compressor OEM supplying the same type of industrial end users.
• Powerex: U.S.-based manufacturer of oil-less reciprocating and scroll compressors for medical, laboratory, and industrial applications. Comparable to C.H. Reed as a competing compressor OEM that supplies overlapping industrial customer segments, though Powerex focuses on manufacturing and direct OEM sales rather than distribution.

Regional players

• Smith Compressed Air Systems: Regional compressed air equipment distributor and service provider in the Midwest serving manufacturing customers with rotary screw, reciprocating, and oil-free compressors. Closest operating-model peer to C.H. Reed as another family-built, regional, service-led compressed air distributor with overlapping end markets, though geographically centered in Iowa rather than the mid-Atlantic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chreedinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/chreedinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ch-reed-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 C.H. Reed, Inc.