Affiliated Steam & Hot Water

What Affiliated Steam & Hot Water does

Affiliated Steam & Hot Water is a third-generation, family-owned industrial equipment distributor founded in 1958 in Alsip, Illinois by Richard K. (Dick) Lee, currently led by Richard M. (Ricky) Lee. The company distributes steam and hot water utility equipment — including steam traps, condensate pumps, heat exchangers, pressure and temperature controls, water heaters (e.g., Armstrong Digital-Flo at 99.7% efficiency), digital mixing and control valves (e.g., Emech three-way valves, Python 1500), humidifiers, boiler feed units, unit heaters, expansion joints, and insulation — for industrial, commercial, and institutional customers. Its product portfolio includes wireless steam-trap monitoring hardware (Armstrong AIM, SteamEye/Sage), steam-quality meters, and flow meters that it represents on behalf of manufacturers such as Armstrong International, Skidmore, Spence, Cain Industries, and Thrush.

Revenue is generated primarily through quote-based hardware distribution (industrial equipment resale) plus three service lines: (i) energy conservation services such as steam-trap audits and insulation-jacket surveys that help customers access natural-gas utility rebates, (ii) factory-trained repair, refurbishment, and CIP cleaning of heat exchangers and digital mixing valves, and (iii) technical training via hands-on seminars in its Alsip "Live Steam" Demonstration Room and referrals to Armstrong University. The go-to-market combines technically experienced field sales representatives providing a "total system approach" with channel partnerships to mechanical, HVACR, and plumbing contractors. The company operates one headquarters plus satellite offices in Wauwatosa (WI), Brownsburg (IN), Davenport (IA), and Orlando (FL), covering the Midwest U.S. plus Florida, and self-describes as the largest U.S. stocking distributor for many of its represented lines.

Name

Affiliated Steam & Hot Water

Legal name

Affiliated Steam & Hot Water

Website

https://affiliatedsteam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Affiliated Steam & Hot Water is a third-generation, family-owned industrial distributor in Alsip, Illinois, representing premium steam, condensate, hot water, and heat-transfer lines (notably Armstrong) to industrial, commercial, and institutional customers across the Midwest U.S. and Florida, with supporting energy-audit, repair, and training services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Steam and Hot Water Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply (221330), Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (33241), Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414)

SIC

Steam & Air-Conditioning Supply (4961), Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561), Heating Equipment, Except Electric & Warm Air Furnaces (3433)

akta.pro primary industry

Heat Transfer Equipment (Heat Exchangers, Boilers, Condensers) (IMAHAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Expansion Tank, Circulator Pump & Zone Valve Service (HSAOACAG), Water Heater Safety, Code Compliance & Permit Inspection Support (HSAOACAI), Industrial Boilers, HRSGs & Steam Generators (IMAHAFAF)

Keywords

• Steam system equipment
• Industrial hot water solutions
• Heat transfer products
• Condensate management systems
• HVAC distributor services

Headquarters

HQ city

Alsip

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Equipment Distribution: Distribution of steam, condensate, hot water, heat transfer, and pressure/temperature control products to industrial, commercial, and institutional customers. Products include steam traps, pumping traps, condensate pumps, pressure and temperature controls, heating or cooling coils, heat exchangers, air vents, strainers, water heaters, and digital steam and water mixing valves.
2. Energy Conservation Services: Steam trap audits, energy insulation jacket surveys, and energy conservation solutions for facilities. Includes navigation through natural gas rebate programs.
3. Technical Training and Seminars: Educational seminars including Steam Fundamentals, Hands-On Seminars, and Customized Seminars held in the 'Live Steam' Demonstration Room in Alsip, Illinois. Also refers to Armstrong University online training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Affiliated Steam & Hot Water is a factory stocking distributor of steam, condensate, hot water, heat transfer, and pressure/temperature control equipment for industrial, commercial, and institutional customers. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio including steam traps, condensate pumps, heat exchangers, control valves, water heaters, filters, humidifiers, and boiler feed equipment, complemented by energy conservation services such as steam trap audits, insulation surveys, and on-site repair by factory-trained technicians.

Product overview

Affiliated Steam & Hot Water is a distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of steam, condensate, hot water, heat transfer, and pressure/temperature control equipment. The company serves as the nation's largest stocking distributor for many represented product lines. Their product range includes steam traps, condensate pumps, heat exchangers, control valves (including Emech digital temperature control valves), water heaters (Digital-Flo, Flo-Direct), coils, filters, humidifiers, boiler economizers, and unit heaters. They also provide system solutions including steam trap audits, energy insulation jacket surveys, heat exchanger repair services, and professional training seminars conducted in their Live Steam Demonstration Room. The company represents numerous manufacturers including Armstrong International, Skidmore, Spence, Cain Industries, Thrush, and many others, serving industries such as food & beverage, pharmaceutical, healthcare, education, government, hospitality, and industrial manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Steam Traps Steam traps that automatically drain condensate from steam systems while preventing steam loss; includes inverted bucket, thermostatic, float, and disc trap types for industrial applications.
• Condensate Pumps
• Heat Exchangers and Tube Bundles
• Control Valves
• Emech Three-Way Digital Temperature Control Valves
• Steam and Liquid Filters
• Water Heaters
• Hot Water Mixing Valves
• Boiler Feed Units
• Humidifiers
• Unit Heaters
• Boiler Economizers
• Insulation Covers
• Steam Trap Audits
• Energy Insulation Jacket Surveys
• Heat Exchanger Repair and Refurbishment
• Armstrong Brain Digital Mixing Valve Service
• Clean in Place Services
• Steam System Training and Seminars
• Armstrong AIM Wireless Steam Trap Monitoring
• Armstrong SteamEye and Sage Monitoring
• Accelabar and Verabar Flow Meters

Quantifiable outcome

• Armstrong Flo-Direct water heaters deliver 99.7% heat transfer efficiency
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Skidmore PumpscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Affiliated Steam & Hot Water is now representing Skidmore Pumps in Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Since 1921, Skidmore has been manufacturing high quality standard and custom designed condensate return, boiler feed & vacuum pumps. Partnership announced in 2018 as part of expanding product offerings.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Johnstone Supply: Cooperative wholesale distributor of HVAC, heating, and refrigeration products serving independent contractor members. Comparable as a multi-branch industrial and commercial equipment distributor with a relationship-based contractor go-to-market motion.
• Winsupply: U.S. wholesale distributor of plumbing, HVAC, and industrial supplies through a network of local operating companies serving contractors. Directly comparable as a regional industrial mechanical systems distributor with a similar multi-branch, field-sales model.
• ACR Supply: U.S. wholesale distributor of HVAC, refrigeration, heating, and controls serving commercial and industrial customers. Comparable regional distributor business model with overlapping steam, hot water, and controls product lines.
• Hajoca Corporation: Large U.S. wholesale distributor of plumbing, heating, cooling, and industrial products serving contractor and institutional customers. Highly comparable business model to Affiliated Steam as a regional industrial and commercial mechanical systems distributor with technical field sales.
• R.E. Michel Company: U.S. wholesale distributor of HVAC products, controls, and parts serving commercial and residential contractors. Comparable mid-sized regional industrial distributor with similar product categories in heating and hot water equipment.

Regional players

• Reece Group: Leading Australia and New Zealand plumbing, heating, and waterworks distributor with growing U.S. presence. Comparable wholesale distribution model for plumbing, heating, and industrial mechanical systems across multiple geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Watsco, Inc. The largest HVAC/R distributor in North America, distributing heating, cooling, and refrigeration products to contractor and commercial customers. While much larger and broader in scope than Affiliated Steam, it competes for the same commercial and institutional thermal utility spend through related product categories.
• Graybar Electric Company: Large U.S. distributor of electrical, communications, and industrial products serving commercial and industrial customers. Comparable as a broad-line industrial distributor that increasingly bundles controls and monitoring solutions into industrial mechanical systems accounts.
• Ferguson Enterprises: Major U.S. plumbing, HVAC, and waterworks distributor serving contractors and commercial customers. Comparable as a channel partner for industrial and institutional thermal-utility product lines, though at substantially greater scale and breadth than Affiliated Steam.
• Armstrong International: Primary principal manufacturer whose products Affiliated Steam distributes, and the leading global supplier of steam, condensate, and hot water system solutions. Relevant as both principal supplier and an indirect competitor for large end-user accounts that Armstrong services directly.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/affiliatedsteam

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 Affiliated Steam & Hot Water