Equipment & Supply

What Equipment & Supply does

Equipment & Supply, Inc. is a privately held aerospace ground support equipment (GSE) manufacturer and surplus inventory supplier, founded in 1972 and headquartered at 4507 Highway 74 West, Monroe, North Carolina — approximately 20 miles from downtown Charlotte. The company operates a 140,000+ square foot facility split between 40,000 square feet of machining and fabrication space and 80,000 square feet of inventory storage, and it reports a surplus inventory of more than 65,000 unique part numbers supporting aging military and commercial aircraft (including C-5, C-17, C-130, CH-47, H-3/H-53/SH-60, and F-4 through F-18 platforms).

The product portfolio comprises 11 core categories — aircraft test equipment, specialty tools, maintenance and work stands, tire bead breakers, hydraulic jacks, center-line loaders, munitions/shipping/transport trailers, engine transport systems, tow bars, electrical test equipment, and cargo systems — supplied both as newly manufactured units built to print and as new or refurbished surplus. In-house capabilities span engineering (64-bit CAD, .stp/.step/.igs compatibility), CNC machining, fabrication, AWS-certified welding (D17.1 Class A aerospace, D1.1 alloy, D1.2 aluminum, D1.6 stainless), full finishing (cad plating, anodizing, hard anodizing, zinc, bead, oxide, chrome, painting), assembly, and a comprehensive test battery including CMM, Optical Comparator, Laser Micrometer, dead load, compression, hydraulic, magnetic particle, dye penetrant, hardness, electrical, vibration, and finishing thickness. Certifications include ISO 9001:2015, AS9100D (renewed 27 Sep 2024), ITAR registration under CAGE Code 53327, and the AWS welding stack.

The business model is B2B and sales-led. Revenue is generated through two streams: hardware sales of new and surplus GSE, and professional services for custom manufacturing, engineering, and testing. The go-to-market is direct sales engagement with the U.S. Department of Defense and commercial aerospace customers; there is no disclosed distributor or reseller network, and pricing is quoted per project rather than published. Marketing is limited to the company website (equipsy.com) and direct outreach. The company is privately held with no disclosed investors, funding rounds, M&A activity, or parent organization.

Name

Equipment & Supply

Legal name

Equipment and Supply, Inc.

Website

https://equipsy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Equipment & Supply, Inc. is a privately held Monroe, North Carolina manufacturer and supplier of aircraft ground support equipment and surplus aerospace components, serving the U.S. Department of Defense and commercial aerospace customers from a 140,000+ square foot facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Ground Support Equipment

NAICS

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Aerospace Ground Support Equipment (GSE) & Test Systems (IMABAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Airport Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Vehicle Manufacturing (IMACAFAK), Ground Support Equipment (GSE) MRO (Airport Tugs, Loaders, GPUs) (TLAKAHAG)

Keywords

• Aircraft ground support equipment
• Aerospace component manufacturing
• Military aerospace equipment
• Aerospace machining fabrication
• Surplus aircraft parts

Headquarters

HQ city

Monroe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ground Support Equipment Sales: Sale of newly manufactured and surplus aircraft ground support equipment including test equipment, specialty tools, maintenance stands, jacks, loaders, trailers, and transport systems.
2. Manufacturing & Fabrication Services: Provides machining, fabrication, welding, finishing, painting, assembly, and engineering services for aerospace ground support equipment. Revenue generated through billable manufacturing services.
3. Surplus Inventory Sales: Sale of surplus aerospace components from inventory of 65,000+ unique part numbers. Provides new and refurbished surplus equipment to support aging aircraft still in operation.
4. Engineering & Testing Services: Provides engineering design services using 70+ years of experience and 64-bit CAD capabilities, along with comprehensive testing services for ground support equipment.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Equipment & Supply, Inc. manufactures and supplies aircraft ground support equipment and aerospace components for the U.S. Department of Defense and commercial aerospace industry. The company produces newly manufactured GSE — including test equipment, specialty tools, maintenance stands, hydraulic jacks, center-line loaders, trailers, engine transport systems, tow bars, and cargo systems — and distributes an inventory of 65,000+ unique new and refurbished surplus aerospace part numbers to support aging military and commercial aircraft.

Product overview

Equipment & Supply, Inc. is a manufacturer and supplier of aircraft ground support equipment serving the military and commercial aerospace industry. The company offers a portfolio of 11 core product categories including aircraft test equipment, specialty tools, maintenance stands, hydraulic jacks, center-line loaders, trailers, engine transport systems, tow bars, electrical test equipment, and cargo systems. The company also maintains surplus inventory exceeding 65,000 unique part numbers for legacy aircraft support. Services include machining, fabrication and welding (AWS certified), finishing, painting, assembly, engineering, and testing capabilities. The company operates from a 140,000+ square foot facility in Monroe, North Carolina, with 40,000 square feet dedicated to manufacturing and 80,000 square feet for inventory storage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aircraft Test Equipment Testing equipment for aircraft maintenance and diagnostics, used by military and commercial aerospace customers to verify airframe, engine, and system condition during maintenance operations.
• Aircraft and Engine Specialty Tools Specialized hand and power tools designed for aircraft and engine maintenance and repair operations on military and commercial aircraft platforms.
• Maintenance and Work Stands Stands and work platforms used for aircraft maintenance, inspection, and component-access activities in hangars and on flight lines.
• Tire Bead Breakers Tools for breaking aircraft tire beads during tire replacement and maintenance operations on military and commercial aircraft.
• Hydraulic Jacks Hydraulic lifting equipment for aircraft ground support operations, used to raise airframes during maintenance, tire service, and undercarriage work.
• Center-Line Loaders Equipment for loading and unloading cargo along aircraft center lines during airlift and transport operations, primarily for military cargo aircraft such as the C-5, C-17, and C-130.
• Aerospace Trailers (munitions, shipping, transport) Trailers for transporting munitions, shipping containers, and general cargo in aerospace operations, including munitions handling trailers for military aircraft loading.
• Engine Transport Systems Systems designed for safely transporting aircraft engines between hangars, maintenance facilities, and storage areas.
• Tow Bars Ground support equipment for towing aircraft on the tarmac between hangars, gates, and maintenance areas.
• Electrical Test Equipment Testing equipment for aircraft electrical systems diagnostics and verification during maintenance and pre-flight operations.
• Cargo Systems Systems for loading, unloading, and handling cargo on military and commercial aircraft, including rollers, rails, and load restraint equipment.
• Surplus Aircraft Components Sale of new and refurbished surplus aerospace components from an inventory of 65,000+ unique part numbers to support aging aircraft still in operation across both military and commercial fleets.
• Machining and Fabrication Services Custom CNC machining and metal fabrication services for aerospace ground support equipment, delivered from a 40,000 sq ft production facility with 180+ years of combined machining experience.
• Certified Aerospace Welding Services In-house welding services certified to AWS D17.1 Class A (aerospace fusion welding), AWS D1.1 (alloy steels), AWS D1.2 (aluminum), and AWS D1.6 (stainless steel) for aerospace and ground support equipment production.
• Finishing and Painting Services Complete in-house finishing services including cad plating, anodizing, hard anodizing, painting, zinc plating, bead finishing, oxide treatment, and chrome plating for aerospace components.
• Assembly Services Mechanical assembly services for aerospace ground support equipment, integrating manufactured and sourced components into finished, tested units.
• Aerospace Engineering Design Services Engineering design and CAD services using 64-bit CAD software (supporting .stp, .step, .igs formats), backed by 70+ years of engineering experience, for aerospace ground support equipment and component design.
• Testing and Quality Inspection Services Comprehensive battery of testing including dead load, compression, hydraulic, visual inspection, magnetic particle, dye penetrant, hardness, electrical, vibration, and finishing thickness testing, supported by CMM, optical comparator, and laser micrometer inspection.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% inspection of all newly manufactured parts prior to shipment with full material traceability
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

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

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Tronair: Tronair is one of the largest independent manufacturers of aircraft ground support equipment, producing jacks, tow bars, maintenance stands, hydraulic equipment, and ground power units. It is a directly comparable competitor in the same product categories Equipment & Supply serves, with similar B2B distribution to military, commercial, and general aviation customers.
• AERO Specialties: AERO Specialties manufactures and distributes aircraft ground support equipment including tow bars, jacks, ground power units, and maintenance equipment. It serves both commercial and military aerospace customers, making it a directly comparable competitor in the same product segments.
• JBT AeroTech: JBT AeroTech, a segment of JBT Corporation, manufactures a broad portfolio of airport ground support equipment including cargo loaders, deicers, ground power units, and air conditioning units. It is a direct peer serving commercial and military aerospace customers with overlapping GSE product lines.
• TLD Group: TLD Group is a global manufacturer of aircraft ground support equipment, producing tractors, belt loaders, container loaders, and air start units for airlines, airports, and military operators. It competes with Equipment & Supply across multiple GSE categories serving the same aerospace customer base.
• Aviation Ground Equipment Corporation (AGEC): AGEC designs and manufactures aircraft ground support equipment including maintenance platforms, stands, and tow bars. It is a directly comparable specialty GSE manufacturer serving military and commercial aerospace operators.

Broad incumbents

• Textron Aviation / Textron Ground Support Equipment: Textron operates multiple aviation and industrial businesses including ground support equipment through its systems segment. As a broad incumbent aerospace and defense conglomerate, it offers overlapping GSE capabilities as part of a wider portfolio serving military, commercial, and general aviation.

Emerging players

• Hydro Systems / Hydro Engineering: Hydro Systems produces ground support and hydraulic equipment for aerospace applications, including jacks and lifting devices. It has partial overlap with Equipment & Supply's hydraulic jack and ground support product lines.
• Power Systems International (PSI): PSI manufactures ground power units and electrical ground support equipment for military and commercial aircraft. Its electrical test equipment and ground power offerings overlap with Equipment & Supply's electrical test equipment category.

Regional players

• Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. Aircraft Spruce distributes a broad catalog of aircraft parts, pilot supplies, and ground support tools, with a focus on general aviation and some military/commercial overlap. It is comparable to Equipment & Supply's surplus parts distribution and tooling business, though oriented toward a different customer mix.
• Drake Air Inc. Drake Air designs and manufactures specialty aircraft ground support equipment and tooling, including tow bars, jacks, and maintenance stands. It operates primarily in the U.S. defense and commercial aerospace aftermarket, comparable to Equipment & Supply's domestic GSE manufacturing focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Compliance8 records

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 Equipment & Supply