Ability & Drive

What Ability & Drive does

Ability & Drive II LLP is a New Jersey-based industrial distribution and sourcing company specializing in European-made automation components for the North American market. Founded in 2003 by former Lenze Aftermarket Division leaders Steve Elman and Amy Berrier, the firm serves as a single-source supplier for European automation hardware including clutches and brakes, gearboxes, motors (AC, DC, servo), sensors, encoders, resolvers, servo controllers, frequency inverters, and industrial lighting. It holds distribution agreements with more than 16 European and North American manufacturers including Lenze, Lafert/SITI, KEB, INTORQ, Bonfiglioli, Motovario, STM, Baumer, Bockwoldt, Dietz, EMOD, Comer, Marzorati, MWM, Encoder Products Company, and Rohrlux, and maintains sourcing relationships with over 3,500 European sub-suppliers through partners in Germany, Italy, and the UK.

The business operates through two complementary revenue streams: hardware distribution of branded European components and value-added services including European sourcing (procurement, customs clearance, currency conversion, consolidated shipping), authorized Lenze disco repair (the only such authorized facility in North America), on-site field services for variable frequency inverters and servo drives, single-source supply chain management, and machine consulting for installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. The go-to-market is sales-led with a website-based Request a Quote system and consultative field engagement targeting MRO end users, resellers, and OEM customers primarily in the corrugated, printing, robotics, and material handling verticals.

Revenue is generated via quote-based transactional pricing without disclosed contract values or recurring agreements, supported by a small woman-owned business operating structure with offices in Wharton, Boonton, and Rockaway, NJ. Customer logos include Boeing, 3M, Pfizer, Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch, Ford, ExxonMobil, ABB, and General Mills, alongside mid-market and SMB accounts. The company has no external equity funding and is independently owned by its founding partners.

Name

Ability & Drive

Legal name

Ability & Drive II LLP

Website

https://abilityanddrive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ability & Drive is a New Jersey-based distributor and sourcing intermediary that supplies European industrial automation components, repair services, and technical consulting to North American MRO and OEM customers across corrugated, printing, robotics, and material handling industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wharton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Components Distribution: Sale of industrial automation components including motors, gearboxes, brakes, clutches, sensors, feedback devices, inverters, and lighting. Components are sourced from European manufacturers and sold to North American industrial clients.
2. European Sourcing Services: Procurement services that identify, locate, quote, order, and import European industrial parts. Services include currency conversion, customs clearance, tariff payment, and consolidated or direct shipping.
3. Industrial Repair Services: Repair services for mechanical and electronic components including variable frequency inverters and servo drives. The company is the only authorized Lenze disco (mechanically variable speed) drive repair facility in North America.
4. Machine Consulting Services: Technical consulting for installation, maintenance, and repair of automation equipment including on-site machine surveys and customized solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Ability & Drive distributes European industrial automation components (motors, gearboxes, brakes, clutches, sensors, servo controllers, encoders, resolvers, inverters, and industrial lighting) from 16+ premier European manufacturers to North American industrial customers. The firm complements distribution with value-added services including authorized Lenze disco drive repair (exclusive in North America), European sourcing from a 3500+ manufacturer database, single-source supply chain management, on-site field service, and machine consulting. Its primary role is as a manufacturers' representative and technical sourcing intermediary rather than a product manufacturer.

Product overview

Ability & Drive is a European industrial automation parts distributor and sourcing company offering a comprehensive portfolio of branded components and value-added services. The product portfolio centers on core automation components including clutches & brakes (spring applied, electromagnetic, permanent magnet), gearboxes (inline/axial and right angle in helical, worm, planetary, bevel designs), motors (AC, DC, servo in IEC/NEMA frames), sensors (optoelectronic, inductive, capacitive, ultrasonic), feedback devices (encoders, resolvers), servo controllers, and industrial lighting. The company distributes products from 16+ European manufacturers including Lenze, KEB, INTORQ, Lafert/SITI, Bonfiglioli, Motovario, STM, Baumer, EMOD, Comer, Bockwoldt, Dietz, MWM, Encoder Products Co., and Rohrlux. Value-added services include European sourcing (procurement from 3500+ manufacturers via partners in Germany, Italy, UK), industrial equipment repairs (including exclusive North American Lenze disco repair), field services, single source supply chain management, and machine consulting. This is a distribution/sourcing model, not a unified software platform—the products are distinct physical components supplemented by sourcing and repair services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Clutches and Brakes Distribution of spring-applied (failsafe) brakes, electromagnetic brakes and clutches, permanent magnet brakes, and brake rectifiers for industrial automation. Configurations include bearing-mounted and shaft-mounted designs, multiple stator voltages, IP ratings, hand release, and microswitch monitoring. Sourced from European manufacturers including Lenze, KEB, INTORQ, and MWM. Serves MRO and OEM customers across material handling, food and beverage, packaging, and general industrial applications.
• Industrial Gearboxes Distribution of inline/axial gearboxes (helical, shaft-mounted/parallel, planetary) and right angle gearboxes (worm, bevel, helical bevel, helical worm, planetary, spiral-bevel). Delivered with closely stepped ratios, low backlash, and high permissible radial forces for high-torque and high-speed applications. Sourced from European manufacturers including Bockwoldt, Bonfiglioli, Motovario, STM, Lenze, and Marzorati.
• Industrial Sensors Distribution of industrial sensors including optoelectronic, inductive proximity, capacitive proximity, ultrasonic, magnetic switches, radar, level, flow, edge, and fiber optic types. Supports automotive, robotics, and process industry applications. Sourced from Dietz Sensortechnik and Baumer Group.
• Servo Controllers and Drives Distribution of servo controllers and positioning drives for closed-loop control of position, velocity, and torque. Supports Profibus, CAN, EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet, and Modbus protocols. Targets precise motion control OEMs and system integrators.
• Industrial Motors Distribution of AC motors (IE3 premium and IE4 super-premium efficiency), DC and permanent magnet motors (brushed, brushless/BLDC, PMDC, wound stator, shunt wound), and servo motors (synchronous and asynchronous). Covers general purpose, inverter duty, severe duty, stainless steel, intrinsically safe, brake motors, washdown, and feedback configurations. Sourced from Lafert/SITI, EMOD, Comer, Lenze, and other European OEMs.
• Feedback Devices (Encoders and Resolvers) Distribution of shaft/rotary encoders (incremental and absolute, optical, mechanical, resistive, magnetic) and brushless transmitter resolvers. Used as analog rotary position feedback for servo and motion control systems. Sourced from Baumer Group and Encoder Products Company.
• Frequency Inverter Drives Distribution of variable frequency inverter drives that vary motor frequency and adjust voltage to produce variable output speeds. Multiple intelligence levels, IP20-NEMA4X enclosures, optional encoder/resolver feedback, cold plate, push through, and water cooled configurations. Used for motor speed control in industrial machinery.
• Industrial Lighting Distribution of machine lights, handheld work lights, Opus standard work lights, and LED work lights with voltages from 12V to 230V. Chemically resistant, impact resistant, IP66-rated, and OEM-private-label variants available. Sourced from Rohrlux.
• European Sourcing Services Procurement service sourcing European industrial automation components and spare parts through partner offices in Germany, Italy, and the UK. Includes identification, USD quotation, ordering, currency conversion, shipping arrangement, customs clearance, and delivery to the Wharton, NJ warehouse. Targets North American industrial buyers who cannot buy direct from European sub-suppliers.
• Industrial Equipment Repairs Repair services for mechanical and electronic industrial automation components including variable frequency inverters and servo drives. Authorized Lenze disco (mechanically variable speed) drive repair facility for North America. Service goal is rapid return to production with thousands of units repaired since 1993.
• Field Services On-site maintenance, repair, and retrofit services for variable frequency inverters and servo drives including PLC troubleshooting and integration. Mechanical field service for mission-critical breakdowns executed after customer consultation.
• Single Source Supply Integrated supply chain service consolidating procurement across 3500+ European and Asian manufacturers, providing consignment inventory, reduced stock levels, and door-to-door expedited shipments. Targets MRO end users and resellers seeking to streamline European parts sourcing.
• Machine Consulting Technical consulting for installation, maintenance, and repair of automation equipment, including on-site machine surveys, troubleshooting, fault elimination, and tuning. Industry coverage spans food and beverage, material handling, aerospace, automotive, wind, and water.

Quantifiable outcome

• Customers fix machines instead of buying new, achieving significant cost savings
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered premier and core.

• Lafert/SITIpremierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSince 1989, Lafert North America has supplied Italian manufactured IEC metric motors and SITI metric gearboxes to the US, Canada & Mexico. Lafert provides exceptional customer service with 8 North American warehouses and custom capabilities.
• LenzecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal specialist of motion centric automation headquartered in Aerzen, Germany. Lenze is a global manufacturer of electrical and mechanical drives, inverters, motion control and automation technology with 52 subsidiaries worldwide. Ability & Drive specializes in Lenze legacy items and is the only authorized Lenze disco repair facility in North America.
• BockwoldtpremierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFounded in Hamburg, Germany and now located in Bad Oldesloe. Produces gearboxes and geared motors for more than 100 years with state of the art production facilities offering high quality at competitive price.
• Dietz SensortechnikpremierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman company founded in 2000 producing sensors including fork light barriers, frame light barriers, high-performance light barriers, light curtains, fiber optics, inductive sensors, capacitive sensors, ultrasonic sensors, ring sensors, radar sensors, flow meters, and level sensors.
• STMpremierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHeadquartered in Milan, Italy with 19 branches and sales network in 78 countries on 5 continents. Designs and manufactures gearboxes, geared motors, mechanical variators, electric motors and inverters.
• EMOD MotorenpremierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman manufacturer of high-quality AC/DC motors with facilities in Bad Salzschlirf and Fulda. Product range includes standard and custom motors from 0.06kW to 1700kW including single phase, variable speed polyphase, DC, encapsulated, servo, submersible, and water cooled motors.
• KEBcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading German manufacturer of automation products located in Barntrup, Germany with production facilities in America, China, Japan. Founded in 1972, KEB started with electromagnetic clutches and brakes and expanded to complete production system technology.
• INTORQcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman manufacturer of brakes and clutches spun off from Lenze in 2005. Produces wide range of brakes and clutches for theatre, wind power, redundant brakes for elevators, industrial gearmotors and servomotors.
• MarzoratipremierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocated in Brugherio, Italy near Milan. Leading manufacturer of bevel gearboxes, speed regulation gearboxes, phase shifting gearboxes, linear actuators, screw jacks, precision couplings and electromagnetic brakes and clutches.
• MotovariopremierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFounded in 1965 in Formigine, Italy. Produces gearboxes, gearmotors, AC motors, variators, and frequency inverters. Acquired Spaggiari in 1999 and Pujol Muntala in 2014.
• M.W.M. (Freni e Frizioni)premierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocated in Milan, Italy. Produces extensive line of brakes, friction clutches, toothed clutches, torque limiting devices with electromagnetic, pneumatic, hydraulic and mechanical control.
• Encoder Products Co. (EPC)premierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLargest encoder manufacturer in North America headquartered in Idaho. Produces incremental and absolute rotary encoders including stainless steel line with IP67 rating.
• ComerpremierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocated in Vigevano, Italy. Produces full range of Asynchronous, Synchronous and DC motors with power range of 0.19kW to 1350kW. Produced largest motor in 2015 at 80,000Nm torque and 1.7MW max power.
• BonfigliolipremierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian manufacturer with divisions in Wind, Mobile, Photovoltaic and Industrial. Industrial unit includes Mechatronics and Power Transmission with gearmotors, planetary gearboxes, electric motors, frequency inverters, HMI's.
• Baumer GrouppremierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocated in Frauenfeld, Switzerland. Leading manufacturer of rotary and linear encoders, sensors, measuring instruments for automated image processing. Includes Huebner-Berlin, Thalheim and IVO brands.
• RohrluxpremierChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocated in Leer, northern Germany. Producing lighting solutions for 60+ years with flexibility for private-labeled and special characteristic models for OEMs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AutomationDirect: AutomationDirect is a direct competitor selling industrial automation components (PLCs, drives, motors, sensors, encoders) to North American customers through direct/e-commerce channels. Like Ability & Drive, it sources automation hardware and resells to industrial end users, though it carries proprietary and private-label brands rather than European OEM brands.
• Radwell International: Radwell International distributes new and repaired industrial automation and electrical components, including hard-to-find and legacy parts, to North American industrial customers. Its repair services and obsolete-part sourcing model closely mirrors Ability & Drive's Lenze disco repair franchise and European sourcing service.
• Power/mation: Power/mation is an industrial automation distributor serving the upper Midwest with motion control, drives, motors, and controls. It represents many of the same European lines (Lenze, etc.) and targets similar OEM and MRO customers, making it a directly comparable peer.
• Marshall Industrial Automation: Marshall Industrial Automation distributes motion control and industrial automation components (gearboxes, motors, drives, sensors) from leading brands. It serves a similar industrial customer base with comparable product categories and consultative technical sales.

Broad incumbents

• Kaman Industrial Technologies: Kaman Industrial Technologies is a larger broad-line industrial distributor offering automation, bearings, power transmission, and fluid power components. It overlaps with Ability & Drive in automation components but serves a much broader industrial customer base across more geographies.
• Motion Industries: Motion Industries is one of the largest industrial MRO distributors in North America, distributing bearings, power transmission, electrical, and automation components. It competes with Ability & Drive at the upper end of the market and has scale advantages on broad-line accounts.
• RS Group (Allied Electronics): RS Group (formerly Allied Electronics) is a global broad-line distributor of industrial and electronic components with a large North American catalog. It carries many of the same automation brands Ability & Drive distributes and competes on selection and e-commerce convenience.
• Grainger: Grainger is the largest broad-line industrial MRO distributor in North America. While it does not specialize in European automation components, it competes with Ability & Drive for the same MRO and plant maintenance procurement budgets at large enterprise customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ability-drive-ii-llp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Ability & Drive