Star Manufacturing

What Star Manufacturing does

Star Manufacturing (legal entity: Star Distribution and Manufacturing LLC) is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based electrical controls engineering and custom panel fabrication firm founded in February 2009 by Mario Listo. The company designs, builds, programs, and services electrical control systems for industrial manufacturers (primary segment), medical equipment OEMs, mining and metals operators, military/defense contractors, and industrial OEMs. Its core technical stack spans AutoCAD/AutoCAD Electrical/E-Plan-based schematic design, PLC/HMI/robot programming, UL-certified panel fabrication under UL508a, UL698, and UL1203, plus multi-material laser etching and cutting using feed-through laser systems with XYZ axis capability.

The company operates a project-based, quote-driven revenue model with five interlocking streams: one-time control panel design/build contracts, professional engineering and design services, on-site field installation and start-up, kitting and assembly distribution, and laser engraving/production marking. GTM is direct enterprise field sales supported by founder-led technical consultation; the firm markets almost exclusively through its website and reputation-based referrals, with no active digital marketing, channel partners, or disclosed pricing. Customer segments are vertical-diversified but small in scale, and no named customer logos are publicly disclosed.

Star is founder-owned, bootstrapped, and has no institutional investors, parent company, M&A history, or external funding rounds on record. The firm operates from two Cincinnati-area buildings totaling over 30,000 square feet of manufacturing space — up from a 7,600 sq ft starting footprint in 2009 — with a stated expansion target of 60,000 square feet. Headcount is in the 11–50 range and the company holds CSA and TUV production certifications in addition to its UL approvals.

Name

Star Manufacturing

Legal name

Star Distribution and Manufacturing LLC

Website

https://starmanufacture.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Star Manufacturing is a Cincinnati-based, founder-owned electrical controls engineering firm that designs, builds, and services UL-certified custom control panels and provides PLC/HMI programming, field installation, kitting, and laser engraving for industrial, medical, military, and OEM customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Electrical Control Panels

NAICS

Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (3353)

SIC

Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Control Panels & Enclosures (Panel Building, MCCs, Integration) (IMAGABAJ)

Keywords

• Electrical control panels
• Industrial automation services
• Custom panel manufacturing
• Control system engineering
• Laser engraving services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Control Panel Design and Manufacturing: Custom design, build-to-print, and manufacturing of electrical control panels including UL/cUL, process control, motor control, operator stations, and custom enclosures. Revenue generated through project-based manufacturing contracts.
2. Engineering Services: Electrical control system design, CAD design services, electrical schematic creation, project management, PLC/HMI/robot programming, start-up services, and troubleshooting. Provided as consulting and project-based services.
3. Field Installation and Service: On-site installation, machine wiring, start-up services, PLC and HMI programming, on-site panel building, and engineering consultation delivered at customer facilities.
4. Kitting and Assembly Services: Bundling and kitting of parts with distribution center capabilities allowing customers to purchase multiple products and receive assembled components in a single shipment.
5. Laser Engraving and Production Marking: Laser etching, cutting, and production marking services for various materials including integration and training services for OEM applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Star Manufacturing designs, builds, and commissions custom electrical control panels (UL508a, UL698, UL1203, CSA, TUV certified) and provides the surrounding engineering, PLC/HMI/robot programming, field installation, industrial kitting, and laser engraving/marking services that complete a turnkey control system project for industrial customers.

Product overview

Star Manufacturing is an electrical controls company offering a comprehensive suite of manufacturing services centered around custom electrical control panels. The portfolio consists of five core offerings: Engineering Services (providing electrical design, CAD services, schematic creation, and PLC/HMI/Robot programming); Control Panels (custom-built UL-certified panels including process control, motor control, operator consoles, and custom enclosures); Field Service/Installation (on-site start-up, machine wiring, PLC programming, and troubleshooting); Kitting Services (bundling and assembly of parts for distribution); and Laser Engraving (laser etching, cutting, and production marking for various materials). These services are designed to serve as a one-stop shop for manufacturing needs, from design through build to installation and support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Engineering Services In-house electrical control system design, CAD and schematic services using AutoCAD, AutoCAD Electrical, and E-Plan, PLC/HMI/Robot programming, part identification/labeling/marking, data collection solutions, and start-up/troubleshooting services for industrial customers needing complete control system engineering.
• Control Panels Custom electrical control panels for industrial customers, including UL/cUL panels, process control panels, operator stations and consoles, motor control panels, E-stop boxes, test panels, junction boxes, and custom enclosures. All panels undergo documented visual and function quality-control testing and can be produced to UL508a, UL698, UL1203, CSA, and TUV standards.
• Field Service and Installation On-site installation, start-up services, machine wiring and hookup, PLC and HMI programming, on-site panel building, engineering consultation, and troubleshooting delivered at customer facilities.
• Kitting Services Industrial kitting and bundling of parts with distribution-center capability, enabling customers to purchase multiple products and receive them as assembled components in a single shipment, delivering cost savings, scalability, accuracy, and flexibility.
• Laser Engraving Laser etching, cutting, and production marking for acrylic, wood, marble, metals, leather, belting, glass, and other materials using feed-through laser systems with XYZ axis capability, plus integration and training services for OEM production applications in medical, military, and industrial markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cost reduction through overhead reduction and efficient kitting processes
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/star-distribution-and-manufacturring-llc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Star Manufacturing