BASCO

What BASCO does

BASCO, Inc. is a privately held U.S. wholesale distributor and e-commerce retailer of industrial packaging, containment, and compliance solutions, founded in 1946 and headquartered at 2595 Palmer Ave, University Park, Illinois. The company operates a nationwide network of warehouses supporting next-day shipping with no minimum order requirements, serving a broad base of business buyers across verticals including industrial chemical, food and beverage, nutraceutical/pharmaceutical, cosmetics, aerospace, agriculture, automotive, construction, cannabis/CBD, and honey production.

BASCO's product catalog spans core container categories — drums (steel, plastic, stainless steel, fiber, composite, including reconditioned options), intermediate bulk containers (IBC totes and tanks), pails and buckets, glass containers, plastic containers, metal cans and tins, and caps and closures — supported by material handling, containment and spill management, hazmat/4G UN-rated packaging, drum accessories, MRO supplies, and drum transportation equipment. The company has built a portfolio of proprietary registered brands sold exclusively through its channel, including Flo-King, Flo-Rite, and Kowabunga drum faucets; RightSeal capseals; Multiseal gaskets; EZI-ACTION pumps; and SambaCap tamper-evident closures. Subsidiary and partner properties (Discount Vials, Jar Store) extend the offering into glass vials and consumer-grade containers.

BASCO generates revenue primarily through one-time product sales transacted via its e-commerce site (bascousa.com) with SKU-based Quick Order functionality, an inside sales team reachable at 800-PRO-DRUM, and a wholesale/bulk order program offering volume-based discounts, dedicated account representatives, and priority support. Pricing is unit-based for individual SKUs with quantity-tier "as low as" pricing and no minimum order requirements; wholesale contracts are quote-based with multi-year cadence. The company holds FDA 21 CFR Part 11 (food-grade), GxP (pharmaceutical/nutraceutical), and DOT hazardous materials shipping compliance for Classes 3, 4, and 8, which underpin its ability to serve regulated end-markets. BASCO acquired Youngstown Barrel & Drum on 2020-11-02, and remains founder/family-controlled with no external investment or funding rounds disclosed.

Name

BASCO

Legal name

BASCO, Inc.

Website

https://bascousa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

BASCO is a privately held U.S. wholesale distributor of industrial packaging and containment solutions — drums, IBC totes, pails, glass and metal containers, caps, closures, and hazmat-rated packaging — serving regulated buyers across chemical, food/beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, aerospace, agriculture, automotive, construction, cannabis, and honey production through e-commerce, inside sales, and wholesale programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Packaging Supplies

NAICS

Metal Service Centers and Other Metal Merchant Wholesalers (423510), Gasket, Packing, and Sealing Device Manufacturing (339991)

SIC

Metal Shipping Barrels, Drums, Kegs & Pails (3412), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Hazardous Materials & UN-Certified Bulk Packaging (IMALAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Blow-Molded Drums, Barrels & IBC Components (IMANAGAE), Industrial Liners & Sacks (FFS, Heavy-Duty, Drum Liners) Manufacturing (IMANAEAH)

Keywords

• Industrial packaging supplies
• Wholesale drums containers
• IBC totes distribution
• Spill containment systems
• Hazmat packaging supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

University Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: BASCO generates revenue through the sale of industrial packaging products including drums, IBC totes, pails, containers, caps, closures, and related accessories. Sales are conducted through e-commerce, phone orders, and dedicated wholesale account representatives with volume-based pricing for large orders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BASCO manufactures and wholesale-distributes industrial packaging and containment solutions, including steel, plastic, stainless steel, fiber, and composite drums; intermediate bulk containers (IBC totes and tanks); pails and buckets; glass, plastic, and metal containers; caps and closures; plus supporting lines such as material handling equipment, spill containment systems, UN-certified hazmat/4G packaging, MRO supplies, drum transportation equipment, and proprietary drum accessories (Flo-King and Flo-Rite drum faucets, Kowabunga faucets, RightSeal capseals, Multiseal gaskets, SambaCap tamper-evident seals, EZI-ACTION drum pumps). Products are sold primarily through the bascousa.com e-commerce platform, a phone-based inside sales team, and a wholesale/bulk program with volume discounts and next-day shipping from nationwide warehouses.

Product overview

BASCO is a B2B e-commerce platform for industrial packaging, containment, and shipping supplies with nationwide warehouse coverage and no minimum order requirements. The core offering is organized around container types: Drums (steel, plastic, stainless steel, composite, fiber), Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC totes and tanks), Pails and Buckets (steel, plastic, composite), Glass Containers (bottles, jars, vials), Plastic Containers (bottles, jars, canisters), Metal Containers (cans, tins, bottles), and Caps & Closures. These core container categories are supported by specialized accessories including proprietary faucet brands (Flo-King, Flo-Rite, Kowabunga), RightSeal capseals, Multiseal gaskets, and drum tools. Additional product lines include Material Handling equipment (funnels, scoops, filling equipment, safety, shipping supplies), Containment & Spill Management (absorbents, spill kits, secondary containment), Hazmat & 4G Packaging (UN-certified systems for hazardous materials), MRO Supplies, and Drum Transportation equipment. BASCO operates two subsidiary brands: Discount Vials (glass containers) and Jar Store (jars and containers). The company serves diverse industries including aerospace, agriculture, automotive, beverage, chemical/oil, cannabis, construction, flavoring/food, health/beauty, janitorial, paint/coatings, and pharmaceutical/nutraceutical.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Discount Vials: Glass vial and bottle packaging solutions from Discount Vials, a BASCO company providing glass containers designed to support a wide range of needs from sampling to full production runs.

Products and services

• Drums Steel, plastic, stainless steel, fiber, and composite drums in closed head and open head configurations, including reconditioned options, for industrial liquid and solid storage and transport.
• Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC) IBC totes, tanks, and accessories including composite IBCs, stainless steel tanks, Liquiset systems, rebottled and reconditioned totes, and storage and dispensing systems for bulk liquid handling.
• Pails and Buckets Closed head and open head pails in steel, plastic, and composite materials with various closure options for industrial and consumer packaging applications.
• Glass Containers Glass bottles, jars, and vials including Boston Rounds, Euro Droppers, growlers, candle jars, honey packaging jars, canning jars, and specialty vials for food, beverage, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications.
• Plastic Containers Plastic bottles, jars, canisters, storage and measuring products, paint cans, and 4G systems for hazardous materials packaging, including Boston Rounds, F-Style containers, cubitainers, and specialized pharmaceutical and cosmetic packaging.
• Metal Containers Metal cans, bottles, tins, and measuring cups including aerosol cans, paint cans, F-Style metal containers, candle tins, and metal measuring cups for various industrial and consumer applications.
• Caps and Closures Dispensing closures, droppers, pumps, sprayers, and caps in metal and plastic for various container types including child-resistant and tamper-evident options.
• Material Handling Funnels, scoops, filling equipment, industrial filtration, packing and shipping tools, safety equipment, platform trucks, utility carts, and shipping supplies for warehouse and manufacturing operations.
• Containment and Spill Management Absorbents, spill kits, primary and secondary containment systems, safety cabinets, stormwater management, and drain protection for hazardous material handling and environmental compliance.
• Hazmat and 4G Packaging UN-certified 4G packaging systems, 4GV systems, Cubitainers, F-Style packaging, industrial jug packaging, lab packs, paint can systems, recycling boxes, and cubic yard boxes for compliant hazardous materials shipping.
• MRO Supplies Facilities maintenance equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), cable management, grease guns, inspection lights, safety tools, and industrial signs and labels.
• Drum Accessories Drum-specific accessories including capseals, desiccants, labels, flanges, gaskets, liners, plugs, adapters, vents, and drum tools for maintenance and proper container use.
• Flo-King Drum Faucets Proprietary polyethylene drum faucets with EPDM gaskets for controlled liquid dispensing from drums, available in 2-inch sizes.
• Flo-Rite Drum Faucets Proprietary polyethylene drum faucets available in 3/4-inch sizes with natural and gold color options for drum liquid dispensing.
• Kowabunga Drum Faucets HDPE/PP drum faucets and bung adapters available in multiple sizes for viscous liquid dispensing from drums, including models with drip pans.
• RightSeal Drum Capseals Proprietary plastic drum capseals for tamper-evident drum sealing, available in standard and custom decorated versions for company branding.
• Multiseal Drum Gaskets Proprietary multi-purpose drum gaskets available in EPDM, neoprene, and other materials for leak-tight drum closures.
• SambaCap Tamper-Evident Capseals Proprietary all-plastic tamper-evident capseal brand for secure drum and container closure.
• Drum Transportation Drum handling and transportation equipment including drum trucks, dollies, cradles, racks, dumpers, and fork lift grabbers for safe container movement.
• Powerblanket Honey Heating Blankets Heating blankets designed for 55-gallon drums, particularly for honey producers requiring temperature maintenance for viscosity control.
• Discount Vials Glass Containers A BASCO subsidiary brand providing glass containers and vials for sampling to full production runs, including perfume samplers, roller balls, screw tops, and test tube vials.
• Jar Store Containers A BASCO subsidiary brand offering jars and containers for various packaging needs.
• EZI-ACTION Drum Pumps Proprietary drum pump brand for liquid transfer from drums, including EZI-ACTION Drum Pump models.

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Discount VialscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDiscount Vials is a BASCO company providing glass containers designed to support a wide range of needs from sampling to full production runs. It operates as a subsidiary brand under the BASCO umbrella.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Uline: North America's largest distributor of shipping, industrial, and packaging materials including drums, pails, IBC totes, and hazmat containers. Uline directly competes with BASCO across the same SKU categories and customer segments (industrial chemical, food & beverage, manufacturing) but at significantly greater scale and catalog breadth.
• Berlin Packaging: Largest rigid packaging supplier in North America offering drums, pails, IBCs, and containers with a hybrid distributor-manufacturer model similar to BASCO's. Serves overlapping end markets including chemicals, food & beverage, personal care, and pharmaceuticals.
• Mauser Packaging Solutions: Major manufacturer and reconditioner of industrial drums, IBCs, and intermediate bulk containers serving the chemical, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Directly comparable product offering and overlapping customer base with BASCO's core hazmat and bulk container categories.
• TricorBraun: Global rigid packaging distributor with a hybrid distribution-and-manufacturing model focused on bottles, containers, and closures for food & beverage, personal care, and industrial customers — directly comparable to BASCO's glass, plastic, and metal container lines.
• Schütz Container Systems: Leading global manufacturer of IBC intermediate bulk containers and plastic drums, including reconditioned/recycled IBC programs. Directly comparable product focus on bulk liquid containment sold to the same chemical and food-grade customers BASCO serves.

Broad incumbents

• Grainger: Fortune 500 industrial MRO distributor carrying a broad assortment that includes drums, spill containment, material handling, and safety supplies. While not specialized in packaging the way BASCO is, Grainger competes for the same procurement budgets at industrial customers.
• Greif: Global industrial packaging manufacturer producing steel, plastic, and fibre drums plus IBC totes — the upstream supplier of many containers BASCO distributes. Competes with BASCO when selling direct to large industrial chemical and food customers.
• McMaster-Carr: Industrial supplies superstore with an extensive catalog that includes material handling, containers, and spill-containment products. Competes with BASCO for transactional purchases from maintenance, MRO, and small-quantity industrial buyers.
• Sonoco Products: Global diversified packaging manufacturer offering industrial containers, drums, and specialty packaging serving chemicals, food, and consumer goods. Larger and more diversified than BASCO but overlaps meaningfully in industrial containment and hazardous-materials packaging.

Others

• Discount Vials: Glass vial and bottle packaging distributor that is itself a wholly-owned BASCO subsidiary brand. Listed as a peer because it operates as a distinct go-to-market entity with separate digital channels targeting the same end customers as BASCO's glass container category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bascousa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bascousa
• Xx.com/BascoUSA

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 BASCO