Controlco
Controlco is a B2B e-commerce distributor of building automation components — sensors, valves, controllers, VFDs, and actuators — sourced from 22 manufacturers and serving HVAC contractors and commercial facility operators across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1958
- HeadquartersPleasant Hill, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Controlco does
Controlco is a B2B building automation products distributor headquartered in Pleasant Hill, California, operating since 1958 as a multi-brand e-commerce channel for HVAC, combustion, and energy-management components. The company distributes an inventory of over 27,000 SKUs across 12 product categories — including valves, meters, building automation controllers, sensors, actuators, relays, gas detectors, combustion control devices, current switches and transducers, thermostats, VFDs, and panel components — sourced from 22 manufacturer partners such as Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Belimo, Tridium, Siemens, and Schneider Electric. Distribution covers the major building automation protocols (BACnet/IP, BACnet MSTP, Modbus, LonWorks, Sylk Bus), positioning the company as a one-stop shop for HVAC contractors, building automation technicians, and commercial facility operators seeking parts that interoperate across vendor ecosystems.
Controlco monetizes primarily through hardware resale at negotiated, quote-based prices visible only after account login, supported by quick-order and account-registration workflows that target repeat B2B procurement. The go-to-market is sales-led with a digital storefront as a complementary channel, plus certified Niagara 4 training delivered in partnership with Tridium, which adds a technical-education and certification revenue stream beyond pure product resale. Distribution is conducted via a single, U.S.-based direct e-commerce channel rather than through third-party resellers or physical retail outlets, and the company does not manufacture its own products.
Controlco firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Controlco
- Legal name
- Controlco
- Website
- https://controlco.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1958
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Controlco is a B2B e-commerce distributor of building automation components — sensors, valves, controllers, VFDs, and actuators — sourced from 22 manufacturers and serving HVAC contractors and commercial facility operators across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Controlco industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Building Automation Distribution
- NAICS
- Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512), Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314)
- SIC
- Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Building Thermal Controls & Building Management Systems (HVAC BMS) (IMAHAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- HVAC Controls & Optimization (Smart Thermostats, VAV, Chillers/Boilers Controls) (BPABAGAB)
Keywords
Where Controlco is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pleasant Hill
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Controlco business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Revenue generated from the sale of building automation equipment including actuators, sensors, valves, relays, meters, VFDs, gas detectors, and building automation controllers. The company operates an e-commerce platform where customers can browse and purchase products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | B2B distributor pricing model |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Controlco product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Controlco distributes building automation components — including actuators, sensors, valves, thermostats, VFDs, gas detectors, meters, relays, combustion controls, and building automation controllers — through its own B2B e-commerce platform, sourcing more than 27,000 products from 22 manufacturers. The company also delivers certified Niagara 4 training services for building automation professionals working with Tridium-based systems.
Product overview
Controlco is a building automation products distributor operating as a multi-brand ecommerce platform. The company does not manufacture its own products but distributes components from 22 manufacturer brands including Belimo, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Tridium, Schneider Electric, and others. Their product portfolio is organized into 11 categories: Actuators (Belimo, Honeywell), Building Automation controllers/JACE systems (Tridium, Johnson Controls, Honeywell, iSMA), Combustion Control (Fireye, Honeywell), Current Switches and Transducers (Functional Devices, Senva, Veris), Gas Detectors (ACI, Belimo), Meters (Honeywell), Relays (Functional Devices, IDEC), Sensors (ACI, Belimo, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, iSMA, Prolon), Thermostats (Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Schneider Electric), Valves (Belimo, Honeywell), and VFDs (Honeywell). The company also offers Certified Niagara 4 Training services. Controlco serves as a one-stop distributor for building automation professionals needing components across multiple brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Actuators Building automation actuators (damper and valve actuators) with control signals including On/Off, Floating, Modulating, MFT, BACnet/IP, BACnet MSTP, and Sylk; available in 24V and 120V variants. Distributed from manufacturers Belimo and Honeywell.
- Building Automation Controllers Building automation controllers, JACE systems, and supervisor software supporting BACnet/MSTP, BACnet/IP, Modbus, LonWorks, and T1L protocols. Distributed from Honeywell, iSMA Controlii, Johnson Controls, and Tridium.
- Combustion Control Equipment Combustion control devices including flame scanners, programmers, and safety accessories for industrial combustion applications. Distributed from Fireye and Honeywell.
- Current Switches and Transducers Current sensing switches and transducers for monitoring electrical loads in HVAC and building automation systems. Distributed from Functional Devices, Senva, and Veris.
- Gas Detectors Gas detection monitors for Ammonia, CO2, CO, Ethanol, Hydrogen, Methane, NO2, Oxygen, Propane, and Refrigerants, supporting BACnet, Modbus, and CAN Bus protocols. Distributed from ACI and Belimo.
- Meters Power meters and energy monitoring equipment supporting BACnet, Modbus, and EZ-7 protocols with various current ratings and enclosure types. Distributed from Honeywell.
- Relays Industrial control relays with various coil voltages, contact configurations (SPDT, DPDT, 3PDT, 4PDT, SPST), and enclosure options. Distributed from Functional Devices and IDEC.
- Sensors Environmental sensors for temperature, humidity, CO2, pressure, flow, current, and air quality with outputs including 0-5V, 0-10V, 4-20mA, BACnet, Modbus, MP Bus, and Sylk Bus. Distributed from ACI, Belimo, Honeywell, iSMA Controlii, Johnson Controls, and Prolon.
- Thermostats Building automation thermostats and room controllers supporting BACnet MSTP, Modbus RTU, Sylk, and Zigbee protocols. Distributed from Honeywell, Johnson Controls, and Schneider Electric.
- Valves HVAC valves including ball, butterfly, globe, pressure-independent, zone, and potable water valves with various control types, connections, and voltages. Distributed from Belimo and Honeywell.
- VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives) Variable frequency drives for HVAC motor control with horsepower ratings from 1.5 to 450 HP, voltages of 208/230V, 460V, and 575V, with NEMA ratings. Distributed from Honeywell.
- Certified Niagara 4 Training Niagara 4 certification training services for building automation professionals working with Tridium's Niagara platform, delivered in partnership with Tridium.
Companies that use Controlco
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Controlco technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Controlco partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- ACIcoreControlco distributes ACI products including sensors, gas detectors, and temperature measurement equipment.
- BelimocoreMajor distribution partner for Belimo actuators, valves, and sensors. Belimo products represent a significant portion of Controlco's 27,000+ product catalog.
- HoneywellcoreAuthorized distributor of Honeywell building automation products including controllers, thermostats, VFDs, and combustion control equipment.
- Johnson ControlscoreDistributes Johnson Controls products including thermostats, sensors, and building automation controllers.
- Schneider ElectriccoreDistributes Schneider Electric products including thermostats and building automation equipment.
- TridiumcoreAuthorized distributor of Tridium Niagara-based building automation products including JACE controllers. Controlco offers certified Niagara 4 training in partnership with Tridium.
- SiemensmajorDistributes Siemens building automation products including sensors, controllers, and related equipment.
- FireyemajorDistributes Fireye combustion control products including flame sensors, programmers, and combustion management equipment.
- Functional DevicesmajorDistributes Functional Devices products including current switches, transducers, and relay-based control devices.
- DwyermajorDistributes Dwyer instruments including pressure sensors, flow meters, and measurement equipment for building automation applications.
- KMC ControlsmajorDistributes KMC Controls building automation products including sensors, valves, and controllers.
- iSMA ControliimajorDistributes iSMA Controlii BACnet controllers and building automation products.
- MSA Safety IncorporatedminorDistributes MSA Safety gas detection products for industrial safety applications.
- EasyIOminorDistributes EasyIO building automation controllers and sensors.
- ProlonminorDistributes Prolon HVAC and building automation products.
- SenvaminorDistributes Senva current switches, transducers, and sensors.
- VerisminorDistributes Veris current switches, transducers, and power monitoring equipment.
- MaxlineminorDistributes Maxline products for building automation applications.
- IDECminorDistributes IDEC relays and control equipment.
- TosiboxminorDistributes Tosibox IoT and connectivity solutions for building automation.
- WattsenseminorDistributes Wattsense building automation IoT products.
- 75FminorDistributes 75F smart building and HVAC control products.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Controlco competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- WESCO International: WESCO is a Fortune 500 electrical, communications, and utility distribution company with a dedicated building automation portfolio spanning sensors, controls, VFDs, and enterprise integration gear. It is a direct competitor to Controlco on commercial BAS projects but at much larger scale and broader category coverage.
- Rexel: Rexel is a global electrical and automation products distributor with a dedicated Building Automation Solutions offering across Schneider Electric, Honeywell, and Tridium lines. It competes directly with Controlco for mid-market contractor and integrator accounts at significantly larger scale.
- Ferguson Enterprises: Ferguson is one of the largest plumbing and HVAC-R distributors in North America, with growing exposure to building automation controls via its HVAC portfolio. It is comparable to Controlco at the category and customer-overlap level but operates at multibillion-dollar scale.
- Johnstone Supply: Johnstone is the largest HVAC-R parts and equipment cooperative in North America, distributing Honeywell and other BAS-adjacent components alongside complete HVAC equipment. It overlaps with Controlco on building controls SKUs but operates at vastly broader scale across HVAC, refrigeration, and plumbing.
- Graybar: Graybar is a North American electrical and communications products distributor that also distributes BAS-relevant brands. It is a broad-line incumbent that can absorb BAS business from smaller specialists like Controlco when integrating large commercial projects.
- Winsupply: Winsupply is a wholesale distribution group spanning HVAC, plumbing, and industrial supplies, with local companies stocking BAS-relevant components. It is a comparable distribution channel serving contractors but is significantly larger and more diversified than Controlco.
Others
- Hawthorne Cat: Hawthorne Cat is an industrial equipment dealer for Caterpillar engines and related power/control equipment; not a direct competitor, but listed as a control/automation-adjacent distribution business model for size benchmarking. May be omitted if weak relevance.
Direct peers
- Kele Company: Kele is a controls-focused distributor carrying sensors, actuators, valves, gas detection, relays and BAS components across multiple OEMs (ACI, Belimo, Honeywell, Veris, Functional Devices) — a near-identical go-to-market to Controlco, making it the closest like-for-like competitor in the BAS distribution niche.
- JDH Supply: JDH Supply is a temperature controls and BAS specialty distributor focused on commercial HVAC controls and components. It shares Controlco's pure-play positioning around controls/actuators/sensors for the contractor channel.
Emerging players
- McNaughton-McKay Electric: McNaughton-McKay is a regional electrical and automation distributor with growing BAS coverage including Honeywell and Schneider lines. It overlaps with Controlco on commercial BAS accounts but is more concentrated in electrical contracting customers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Controlco social profiles
Digital presenceControlco financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Controlco leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Controlco funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Controlco 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 Controlco
What does Controlco do?
Controlco distributes building automation components — including actuators, sensors, valves, thermostats, VFDs, gas detectors, meters, relays, combustion controls, and building automation controllers — through its own B2B e-commerce platform, sourcing more than 27,000 products from 22 manufacturers. The company also delivers certified Niagara 4 training services for building automation professionals working with Tridium-based systems.
Is Controlco a public or private company?
Controlco is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Controlco founded?
Controlco was founded in 1958. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Controlco based?
Controlco is headquartered in Pleasant Hill, United States, in the North America region.
How does Controlco make money?
One revenue line is on record: product Sales.
Who are Controlco's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are WESCO International, Rexel, Ferguson Enterprises, Johnstone Supply, Graybar and Winsupply. Hawthorne Cat is listed as an others. Direct peers are Kele Company and JDH Supply. McNaughton-McKay Electric is listed as an emerging player.
Does Controlco have an API?
No public API is recorded for Controlco.
What industry is Controlco in?
Controlco's product category is Building Automation Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAKAK, Building Thermal Controls & Building Management Systems (HVAC BMS), with a secondary code of BPABAGAB, HVAC Controls & Optimization (Smart Thermostats, VAV, Chillers/Boilers Controls). Its NAICS code is 334512 and its SIC code is 3822.