Aircraft & Commercial Enterprises

What Aircraft & Commercial Enterprises does

Aircraft & Commercial Enterprises, Inc. (A.C.E.) is a privately held, woman-owned, family-operated distributor of certified electronic components serving the aerospace and defense, rail, and shipboard industries. Founded in 1984 in Derby, Kansas by Jo and Grant Helmer and their son Mike, the company is now transitioning leadership to the next generation under Sam (Mike's daughter). Its product portfolio spans mil-spec circular connectors (D38999 Series I-II-III), D-Sub connectors, backshells, ARINC connectors, wire harness protection, heat shrink tubing (M23053, STS, crimp splices), identification and labeling products (wire markers, UID labels, RFID tags), tapes meeting military specifications, fasteners, wire and cable, interconnect devices, active/passive components, semiconductors, and tools. Distribution agreements with 3M (Platinum Tier 1), Brady, Amphenol/PCD, Sumitomo, and Gravotech anchor the line card.

A.C.E. supplements core distribution with value-added services: custom printing (thermal transfer, fiber laser marking, ink-jet, Gerber print-cut, color thermal transfer, 3D print), kitting of cut pieces and electrical components, on-site printer installation and training, and supply chain programs including same-day shipping, JIT deliveries, Dock-to-Stock (DTS), Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI), consigned inventory, and Aircraft on Ground (AOG) with DPAS priority handling. EDI capabilities and a 24/7 e-commerce storefront support B2B ordering.

The business model is hardware-led distribution with a complementary professional-services tail. Revenue is generated primarily through product sales to enterprise aerospace, defense, rail, and shipboard customers, supplemented by custom printing, kitting, and technical support services. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and requires account registration. Quality credentials include ISO 9001:2015, AS9100D, AS9120B, and SAM SDB certifications, alongside Boeing Supplier Excellence (2019) and Northrop Grumman Platinum Preferred (2014, 2015) awards. Operations are U.S.-domestic with a Derby, Kansas headquarters.

Name

Aircraft & Commercial Enterprises

Legal name

Aircraft & Commercial Enterprises Inc.

Website

https://aircoment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aircraft & Commercial Enterprises (A.C.E.) is a woman-owned, family-operated Derby, Kansas-based distributor of certified electronic components — connectors, backshells, wire harness protection, identification products, and shrink tubing — for aerospace and defense, rail, and shipboard customers, complemented by custom printing, kitting, and supply chain services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace & Defense Electronic Components Distribution

NAICS

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

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Electronic Components & Accessories (3670)

akta.pro primary industry

Parts Distribution & Spares Management (Aftermarket) (IMABALAK)

Keywords

• Electronic component distribution
• Aerospace parts distribution
• Wire harness protection
• Military specification components
• Connector and backshell supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Derby

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Distribution: Distribution of connectors, backshells, identification solutions, printers, software, wire harness protection products, and related components to aerospace, defense, rail, and shipboard industries. Same-day shipping on in-stock items with coordinated Just-in-Time deliveries.
2. Custom Printing Services: Custom printing for wire markers, UID labels, and RFID tags using various printing methods including thermal transfer and laser marking; kitting and labeling services
3. Technical Support Services: On-site installation, training, technical support for printers and equipment, extended service contracts, and software upgrades

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Aircraft & Commercial Enterprises (A.C.E.) is a woman-owned, family-operated distributor of electronic components and assemblies serving aerospace & defense, rail, and shipboard industries. The company distributes connectors, backshells, identification solutions, wire harness protection products, shrink tubing, tapes, fasteners, wire and cable, interconnect devices, tools, and active/passive electronic components sourced from manufacturers including 3M, Brady, Amphenol/PCD, Sumitomo, and Gravotech. Value-added services include custom printing, kitting, technical support, and supply chain solutions such as JIT delivery, VMI, and AOG/DPAS priority handling.

Product overview

Aircraft & Commercial Enterprises (A.C.E.) is a small, woman-owned distributor serving the Aerospace & Defense, Rail, and Shipboard industries. The company operates as a broad-line distributor of electronic components and assemblies, with a portfolio spanning multiple product categories including connectors and backshells, wire harness protection, identification and labeling products, shrink tubing, tapes, fasteners, wire and cable, interconnect devices, tools, and active/passive electronic components. The product offering includes branded products from major manufacturers like Brady, Gravotech, 3M, Amphenol, Sumitomo, and others. Value-added services complement the distribution business, including custom printing (thermal transfer, laser marking, ink-jet), kitting of cut pieces and labels, technical support with on-site installation and training, and supply chain solutions including JIT delivery, vendor-managed inventory, and AOG expediting. The company also offers EDI capabilities for B2B order and payment processing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Same-day shipping on all in-stock items
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• 3McoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor3M Platinum Tier 1 Distributor status for aerospace, industrial, safety, and electrical products including tapes, adhesives, and identification solutions
• BradycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor of Brady identification products including labels, wire markers, cable tags, ID tapes, and printing systems
• Amphenol/PCDcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor of Amphenol/PCD D-Sub connectors, splices, modules, and backshells
• SumitomocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor of Sumitomo heat shrink products including M23053, Solder Termination Sleeves (STS), and crimp splices
• GravotechcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor of Gravotech laser marking systems, engraving systems, and dot peen equipment

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heilind Electronics: Authorized distributor of connectors, interconnect, and electromechanical components serving aerospace, defense, and industrial customers. Highly comparable to A.C.E. in product mix (connectors, backshells, wire management) and AS9120-driven aerospace quality orientation, but materially larger and multi-site.
• PEI-Genesis: Specialized authorized distributor and value-added assembler of connectors for aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Same customer base (Boeing, Northrop, defense primes), similar AS9100 certifications, and overlapping EWIS-adjacent product portfolio, but operates at significantly larger scale with global footprint.
• Powell Electronics: Authorized distributor of connectors, electromechanical and interconnection products serving aerospace and defense primes. Overlaps directly with A.C.E.'s connectors-and-backshells core offering and shares the same AS9120/AS9100 aerospace-certification route to market.
• Sager Electronics: Authorized distributor of electronic and electromechanical components with a strong aerospace and industrial power/connector focus. Direct overlap with A.C.E.'s connector, identification, and wire-harness distribution offering and shares the value-add distribution playbook.
• Hughes-Peters: Mid-sized authorized distributor of electromechanical, interconnect, and passive components serving aerospace, defense, and industrial customers. Closest size-comparable peer, with similar AS9120-quality positioning and overlapping Boeing/Collins-tier customer base.
• Marsh Electronics: Independent authorized distributor of electronic components focused on aerospace, defense, and industrial markets with strong connector and electromechanical exposure. Comparable scale, product mix (connectors, passives, identification), and aerospace/defense customer concentration profile.

Broad incumbents

• TTI Inc. One of the largest authorized distributors of interconnect, passive, electromechanical, and discrete components globally, with significant aerospace and defense exposure. Directly overlaps A.C.E.'s connector, EWIS, and passives distribution; far larger and broader line card.
• Arrow Electronics: Global broad-line electronic components distributor with a large aerospace, defense, and transportation vertical. Comparable in product categories (connectors, passives, wire management) but operates at vastly larger scale with both component distribution and embedded solutions.
• Avnet: Global broad-line electronic components distributor serving industrial, aerospace, defense, and transportation. Comparable in breadth of product portfolio (connectors, semiconductors, passives) but with global reach, capital base, and integration services A.C.E. cannot match.
• Digi-Key Electronics: Massive broad-line electronic components distributor with extensive connector, wire-management, and identification inventory and a strong engineer/customer self-service e-commerce motion. Overlaps with A.C.E.'s e-commerce-enabled direct distribution model but at fundamentally different scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Aircraft & Commercial Enterprises