Buchanan Automation
Buchanan Automation is a family-owned value-added industrial automation distributor and engineering services provider founded in 1963, serving Pacific Northwest and Northern California manufacturers with pneumatic, vacuum, electrical, and robotic components from premium brands, plus custom assembly, reverse engineering, and CPR profit-analysis services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1963
- HeadquartersSnohomish, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Buchanan Automation does
Buchanan Automation, Inc. is a family-owned, value-added industrial automation distributor and engineering services provider founded in 1963 by Angus Buchanan and headquartered in Snohomish, Washington, with a second office in Fremont, California. The company designs, sources, and integrates prepackaged pneumatic, vacuum, and electronic automation solutions, holding authorized distributor status for approximately twelve premium brands including MAC Valves, PHD Automation, Schneider Electric, Piab, Balluff, Oriental Motor, Universal Robots, Kawasaki Robotics, Tolomatic, IMI Bimba, Enidine, and 80/20. Its in-house engineering function uses SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and Autodesk Inventor for design, rapid prototyping, and component synthesis, and its Value-Added Department performs custom assembly, reverse engineering, and crossover component sourcing for discontinued or hard-to-source parts. The firm complements product resale with two proprietary service programs: Customer Profit Reinforcement (CPR), a consulting methodology that quantifies savings opportunities at component, process, and measurement levels, and design-to-delivery engineering support.
The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales with territory-assigned Application Specialists (covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Hawaii from Snohomish and Northern California/Nevada from Fremont), supplemented by inside sales and direct technical engineering support. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time component resale, value-added assembly as a service, engineering support engagements, and managed inventory programs that include consignment stock and just-in-time delivery backed by approximately $2 million of maintained inventory. Customers span ten disclosed verticals — Industrial Manufacturing, Semiconductor, Packaging, Food and Beverage, Medical, Logistics, Agricultural, Solar, Specialty Machines, and Wood Processing — indicating a deliberate horizontal diversification across mid-market industrial OEMs and processors rather than reliance on any single end market. Pricing is entirely quote-based with no public rate card, consistent with project-anchored enterprise deals. The company has remained privately held and family-owned across more than six decades, with no disclosed institutional investment, funding rounds, or M&A activity.
Buchanan Automation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Buchanan Automation
- Legal name
- Buchanan Automation, Inc.
- Website
- https://buchanan-a.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1963
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Buchanan Automation is a family-owned value-added industrial automation distributor and engineering services provider founded in 1963, serving Pacific Northwest and Northern California manufacturers with pneumatic, vacuum, electrical, and robotic components from premium brands, plus custom assembly, reverse engineering, and CPR profit-analysis services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Buchanan Automation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Automation Distribution
- NAICS
- Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (333613), Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing (333995), Fluid Power Pump and Motor Manufacturing (333996)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, Nec (5065)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Control System Integration & Engineering Services (Design, Commissioning, Retrofits) (IMAGABAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH), Motion Control Controllers & CNC/Robot Drives (Motion Controllers, Multi-axis) (IMAGACAH)
Keywords
Where Buchanan Automation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Snohomish
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Buchanan Automation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Automation Component Distribution: Distribution and resale of automation components including pneumatic valves, vacuum systems, electrical automation products, robotics, sensors, and motion control devices from multiple manufacturer brands.
- Value-Added Assembly Services: Custom assembly of components into sub-assemblies and kits, including testing and integration services. Provides one PO ordering with JIT delivery.
- Engineering Support Services: Technical engineering support including application engineering assistance, machine start-up support, programming assistance, and training services.
- Inventory Services: Maintains $2 million inventory for immediate availability. Offers consignment inventory and just-in-time delivery options to customers.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Buchanan Automation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Buchanan Automation is a value-added distributor and integrator of industrial automation products, supplying pneumatic, vacuum, and electronic components from leading manufacturers alongside custom engineering, assembly, and profit-optimization services. The company creates prepackaged pneumatic, vacuum, and electronic solutions and subassemblies from design through delivery, supporting both low and high volume applications across multiple manufacturing verticals.
Product overview
Buchanan Automation is a value-added distributor and automation solutions provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of industrial automation products and services. The core offering consists of prepackaged pneumatic, vacuum, and electronic solutions as well as subassemblies from design to delivery. The product portfolio spans multiple product lines including MAC Valves (solenoid valves), PHD Automation (actuators, grippers, cylinders), Schneider Electric (PLCs, HMIs, servo drives, VFDs), Piab Vacuum Technology (suction cups, vacuum pumps), Balluff Sensors (sensors, RFID, vision), Oriental Motor (stepper motors, servo motors, industrial robots), Universal Robots (collaborative robot arms), Kawasaki Robotics (industrial robot series), Tolomatic (linear actuators), IMI Bimba (pneumatic/hydraulic cylinders), and Enidine (shock absorbers, vibration isolation). These products integrate with various industrial communication protocols including EtherNet/IP, EtherCat, Profinet, Modbus/TCP, DeviceNet, Profibus, IO-Link, and CC-Link. The company supplements its product sales with value-added services including custom assemblies, reverse engineering, the Customer Profit Reinforcement (CPR) profit optimization program, and engineering design services using Solid Works, AutoCAD, and Autodesk Inventor. Founded in 1963, the company serves customers from locations in Snohomish, WA (headquarters) and Fremont, CA.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CPR (Customer Profit Reinforcement): A proprietary service program that uncovers and documents savings opportunities for customers by comparing existing processes to solutions Buchanan can provide, ranked by ease of implementation.
Products and services
- MAC Valves Distribution Authorized distribution of MAC Valves industrial solenoid valves including 2, 3, and 4-way direct acting, pilot-operated, remote, and mechanical valves, ISO valves, proportional pressure controllers, hazardous location valves, and Bullet Valve technology for industrial automation customers.
- PHD Automation Products Distribution Authorized distribution of PHD pneumatic, electric, and hydraulic industrial actuators including clamps, cylinders, linear slides, escapements, grippers, multi-motion actuators, rotary actuators, switches, sensors, and blow molding equipment.
- Schneider Electric Automation Products Distribution Authorized distribution of Schneider Electric automation products including Modicon PLCs, Harmony HMIs, Lexium servo drives and motors, and Altivar variable frequency drives for plant and assembly line management.
- Piab Vacuum Technology Distribution Authorized distribution of Piab industrial vacuum technology including COAX vacuum pumps and generators, suction cups, grippers, vacuum cartridges, and combined pump-and-gripper (VGS) systems.
- Balluff Sensors Distribution Authorized distribution of Balluff sensor products including photoelectric, inductive, capacitive, and magnetic sensors, linear position transducers, industrial RFID systems, networking and connectivity products, and vision sensors.
- Oriental Motor Products Distribution Authorized distribution of Oriental Motor motion control products including stepper motors, servo motors, AC motors, brushless DC gear motors, linear and rotary actuators, network communication products, cooling fans, MRC controllers, AZ series drivers, and OVR series industrial robots.
- Universal Robots Cobots Distribution Authorized distribution of Universal Robots collaborative robot arms including UR3e, UR5e, UR10e, and UR16e models with 3–16 kg payloads, along with the Service 360 support package for collaborative applications.
- Tolomatic Actuators Distribution Authorized distribution of Tolomatic electric linear actuators, pneumatic actuators, servo driven high thrust actuators, rodless and rod-style actuators, gear drives, caliper disc brakes, and clutches.
- IMI Bimba Products Distribution Authorized distribution of IMI Bimba pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric solutions including stainless steel body air cylinders (Original Line), electric actuators, TRD hydraulic cylinders, and MFD air preparation (FRL) equipment.
- Kawasaki Robotics Distribution Authorized distribution of Kawasaki industrial robotics including R series (3–80 kg payload), large payload robots (100–300 kg), M series heavy-duty robots (350–1500 kg), duAro dual-arm cobots, palletizing robots, Y series delta pick-and-place robots, medical and pharmaceutical robots, arc welding robots, and wafer transfer robots.
- Enidine Products Distribution Authorized distribution of Enidine energy absorption and vibration isolation products including adjustable and non-adjustable shock absorbers, rate controls, wire rope isolators, compact wire rope isolators, and air springs.
- 80/20 T-Slot Aluminum Construction Distribution Authorized distribution of 80/20 T-slot aluminum construction systems for building frames, enclosures, mounts, and custom automation structures.
- MAC MI/O-67 Fieldbus Valve Bank Platform Fieldbus valve bank platform simplifying system wiring by enabling control of valves, digital I/O, and analog I/O over a single communication cable with IP67 washdown rating.
- IO-Link Systems Distribution Open standard communication system for sensors and actuators, comprising IO-Link Master and IO-Link Devices for easy connection and setup of industrial automation components.
- OVR Series Industrial Robots Distribution Compact industrial robots offered through the Oriental Motor product line, including SCARA (3-axis), Articulated (4, 5, 6-axis), and Cartesian/Gantry robots controlled via MRC Series controllers with AZ Series motor drivers.
- QC Conveyors Flextrac Conveyor Modular conveyor system with infinite configurations, available in aluminum or stainless steel construction with gripper elevator and alpine conveyor options.
- Customer Profit Reinforcement (CPR) Service Proprietary profit optimization service that uncovers and documents savings opportunities by comparing existing processes to proposed solutions, providing customized reports and quantified component, process, and measurement-level improvements ranked by ease of implementation.
- Value Added Department Services Custom assembly services including partial or complete component assembly into sub-assemblies and kits, electrical and pneumatic testing, crossover component sourcing for discontinued parts, and reverse engineering for difficult-to-source, costly, or high-failure-rate products.
- Engineering Design Services Application engineering and design services using AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, and Solid Works for rapid prototyping, design-to-delivery integration of automation components, machine start-up support, programming assistance, and training.
Companies that use Buchanan Automation
Customer profileSegments10 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Buchanan Automation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration22 records
Feature4 records
Buchanan Automation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- MAC ValvescoreAuthorized distributor of MAC Valves including solenoid valves, ISO valves, small and large 3-way and 4-way valves, proportional pressure controllers, and hazardous location valves. MAC is known for high shifting forces and multiple configurations.
- PHD AutomationcoreAuthorized distributor of PHD products including pneumatic and electric grippers, actuators, cylinders, linear slides, rotary actuators, clamps, escapements, multi-motion actuators, switches, sensors, and blow molding equipment.
- Schneider ElectriccoreAuthorized distributor of Schneider Electric products including Modicon PLCs, Harmony HMIs, Lexium servo drives and motors, and Altivar variable frequency drives.
- PiabcoreAuthorized distributor of Piab vacuum technology including COAX vacuum pumps/generators, suction cups, grippers, vacuum cartridges, and combined pump and gripper systems (VGS).
- BalluffcoreAuthorized distributor of Balluff sensors including photoelectric, inductive, capacitive, magnetic sensors, linear position transducers, industrial RFID systems, networking/connectivity products, and vision sensors.
- Oriental MotorcoreAuthorized distributor of Oriental Motor products including stepper motors, servo motors, AC motors, brushless DC gear motors, linear/rotary actuators, network communication products, cooling fans, and small industrial robots (OVR Series).
- Universal RobotscoreAuthorized distributor of Universal Robots collaborative robot arms (cobots) including UR3e, UR5e, UR10e, and UR16e models. Provides Service 360 package for support.
- Kawasaki RoboticscoreAuthorized distributor of Kawasaki Robotics including R series (3-80kg payload), large payload robots (100-300kg), M series (350-1500kg), duAro cobots, palletizing robots, pick & place delta robots, medical/pharmaceutical robots, arc welding robots, sealing robots, paint robots, and wafer transfer robots.
- TolomaticcoreAuthorized distributor of Tolomatic electric linear actuators, pneumatic actuators, servo driven high thrust actuators, rodless actuators, rod-style actuators, gear drives, caliper disc brakes, and clutches.
- IMI BimbacoreAuthorized distributor of IMI Bimba products including pneumatic cylinders (Round Line, Compact, NFPA, Guided Thrusters, Rodless, Rotary), electric actuators, TRD hydraulic cylinders, and air preparation equipment (FRLs).
- 80/20 Inc.coreAuthorized distributor of 80/20 T-slot aluminum construction system for building frames, mounts, and custom structures for automation applications.
- EnidinecoreAuthorized distributor of Enidine products including adjustable and non-adjustable shock absorbers (mid-bore, small bore, large bore, micro-bore), rate controls, wire rope isolators, compact wire rope isolators, and air springs.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Buchanan Automation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Applied Industrial Technologies: Large US industrial distributor offering bearings, power transmission, fluid power, automation, and maintenance products across hundreds of branches. Comparable as a value-added industrial automation distributor serving manufacturers, though far larger and more geographically diverse than Buchanan.
- Rexel USA: Global electrical, lighting, and automation distributor with US operations distributing automation controls, drives, and motor control products. Comparable as an automation distributor carrying Schneider Electric and similar lines, though operating at much larger scale and broader scope.
- WESCO International: Global electrical, communications, and utility distribution company with growing automation and intelligent building offerings. Comparable as a multi-line automation distributor serving industrial customers, but with significantly broader product portfolio and international reach.
- Grainger: Large industrial MRO distributor offering motors, pneumatics, sensors, and automation products with a strong digital platform. Comparable as a broad-line industrial distributor whose product set overlaps significantly with Buchanan's catalog, though Grainger is much larger and far more digitally native.
- RS Components (RS Group): Global high-service distributor of industrial and electronic components including automation, control, pneumatics, and test & measurement products. Comparable as a multi-line automation and electronic component distributor serving industrial customers, though operating at substantially larger global scale.
Direct peers
- AutomationDirect: Direct-to-customer industrial automation distributor selling PLCs, pneumatics, sensors, motors, and motion control products primarily through e-commerce. Overlaps directly with Buchanan's product categories (PLCs, pneumatics, sensors, motion) but competes via a low-cost digital model rather than field sales and engineering services.
- Kaman Distribution Group: Value-added distributor of automation, motion control, fluid power, and engineered products serving industrial customers across the US. Comparable as a regional/multi-regional automation distributor with engineering support services similar to Buchanan's CPR and Value-Added Department.
- McMaster-Carr: Iconic industrial supply distributor known for same-day shipping and an extensive catalog of components including pneumatics, motors, sensors, and motion control. Comparable as a US-based industrial component distributor, but distinguished by its massive digital catalog and national rather than regional focus.
Emerging players
- Festo USA: Global manufacturer and direct supplier of pneumatics, electric automation, and process automation solutions, including valves, cylinders, motion controllers, and robotics. Comparable because Festo sells directly into the same customers and competes with several of Buchanan's distributed pneumatics lines (MAC, PHD, IMI Bimba).
- Yaskawa America: Manufacturer of industrial robots, motion control (servo drives, motors, controllers), and AC drives sold through distribution and direct channels. Comparable as a supplier of robotics and motion control products that overlaps with Kawasaki, Oriental Motor, and Schneider lines distributed by Buchanan, and competes for similar end customers in PNW manufacturing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Buchanan Automation social profiles
Digital presenceBuchanan Automation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Buchanan Automation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Buchanan Automation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Buchanan Automation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Buchanan Automation
What does Buchanan Automation do?
Buchanan Automation is a value-added distributor and integrator of industrial automation products, supplying pneumatic, vacuum, and electronic components from leading manufacturers alongside custom engineering, assembly, and profit-optimization services. The company creates prepackaged pneumatic, vacuum, and electronic solutions and subassemblies from design through delivery, supporting both low and high volume applications across multiple manufacturing verticals.
Is Buchanan Automation a public or private company?
Buchanan Automation is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Buchanan Automation founded?
Buchanan Automation was founded in 1963. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Buchanan Automation based?
Buchanan Automation is headquartered in Snohomish, United States, in the North America region.
How does Buchanan Automation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Automation Component Distribution is the primary driver. The others are value-Added Assembly Services, engineering Support Services and inventory Services.
Who are Buchanan Automation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Applied Industrial Technologies, Rexel USA, WESCO International, Grainger and RS Components (RS Group). Direct peers are AutomationDirect, Kaman Distribution Group and McMaster-Carr. Emerging players are Festo USA and Yaskawa America.
Does Buchanan Automation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Buchanan Automation.
What industry is Buchanan Automation in?
Buchanan Automation's product category is Industrial Automation Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGABAK, Control System Integration & Engineering Services (Design, Commissioning, Retrofits), with a secondary code of IMAHAHAH, Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers). Its NAICS code is 334513 and its SIC code is 5084.