What Cornerstone Technical Group does

Cornerstone Technical Group, Inc. is a privately held value-added distributor and engineering services firm headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee, founded in 1999. The company distributes high-tech industrial automation products across motion control, process visualization, and sensing, representing 24+ manufacturer partners including ABB, Bosch Rexroth, Kollmorgen, Trio Motion, Nidec/Control Techniques, NSK, and Wittenstein. Its product portfolio spans AC/DC motors and drives, servo and stepper systems, linear and rotary actuators, encoders, gearboxes, PLCs, motion controllers, HMIs, industrial computers, sensors (capacitive, inductive, photoelectric, laser distance), barcode scanners, RFID tags and readers, RTLS, robotics (Cartesian, parallel, SCARA, six-axis, cobots), vision systems, and a proprietary line of OT-focused cybersecurity appliances (ICS-Defender, IAM Defender, Cybersecurity Console, ICS-Netwise).

The company operates a two-pronged business model. The distribution arm generates hardware resale revenue with application engineering support, while a separately rooted engineering services group, in operation since the company's founding, provides software engineering, IoT/IIoT implementation, vision and RFID integration, robotic and motion control integration, custom application programming, business process consulting, and financial-to-manufacturing system integration. GTM is sales-led: Outside Sales representatives target key accounts and grow existing base business, supported by an online quote request flow and a website that doubles as the primary digital presence. Cornerstone positions itself as a consultative problem-solver that guides customers from initial concept through product selection, post-sale training, and implementation, rather than as a transactional box-mover.

Operationally, the company employs 11-50 people, serves the North American market, and is led by President Brad Baxter alongside application engineers Daryl Dennison and Adam Szczuka. It is independently owned with no disclosed parent company, funding rounds, or M&A activity. Revenue, customer count, and pricing are not publicly disclosed. The business is structured to monetize through product distribution margins on industrial automation hardware, higher-margin professional services engagements, and the proprietary OT cybersecurity product line.

Name

Cornerstone Technical Group

Legal name

Cornerstone Technical Group, Inc.

Website

https://cornerstonetechnical.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cornerstone Technical Group is a Franklin, Tennessee-based value-added distributor of industrial automation products, representing 24+ manufacturers across motion control, sensing, robotics, and OT cybersecurity, and offering engineering services for manufacturing system integration to North American industrial customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Distribution

NAICS

Other Specialized Design Services (541490), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAM)

Keywords

• Industrial automation distribution
• Motion control products
• OT cybersecurity solutions
• RFID asset tracking
• Engineering integration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Franklin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Distribution: Revenue generated from distributing industrial automation products from 24+ manufacturer partners including motors, drives, actuators, sensors, PLCs, robotics, and cybersecurity devices. The company acts as a value-added reseller providing application engineering and product selection support.
2. Engineering and Programming Services: Custom software engineering, system integration, and programming services including IoT implementation, custom application programming, business process consulting, and legacy software migration. Services were founded in 1999.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Cornerstone Technical Group is a value-added distributor of high-tech industrial automation products representing 24+ manufacturer partners (motors, drives, sensors, PLCs, robotics, RFID/RTLS, vision systems, HMIs) along with a proprietary line of OT-focused cybersecurity products (ICS-Defender, IAM Defender, Cybersecurity Console, ICS-Netwise). The firm also provides engineering and programming services for IoT/IIoT implementation, motion control integration, vision/RFID/robotic integration, and custom application programming, guiding customers from system conceptualization through product selection to post-sale training and implementation.

Product overview

Cornerstone Technical Group is a distributor of high-tech industrial automation products with a focus on motion control, process visualization, and sensing solutions. The company operates as a multi-product distributor representing over 25 manufacturer brands including ABB, Bosch Rexroth, Kollmorgen, Trio Motion, and others. Their portfolio includes both product categories (motors, drives, actuators, sensors, robotics, RFID/RTLS systems, barcode/ID solutions, vision systems, industrial computers, PLCs, and HMIs) and a line of proprietary OT-focused cybersecurity products (ICS-Defender, IAM Defender, Cybersecurity Console, and ICS-Netwise). They also offer engineering and programming services for IoT/IIoT implementation, system integration, and custom application development. The company guides customers from concept through implementation, combining product selection with post-sale training and support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ICS-Defender: OT focused network security appliance for the OT/IIoT space featuring NAT, Firewall, VPN, DNS, DPI of industrial protocols, hot standby.
• IAM Defender
• Cybersecurity Console
• ICS-Netwise

Products and services

• ICS-Defender

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% or less capex for RTLS implementation compared to alternatives
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ABBcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorABB is a leading supplier of industrial robots, modular manufacturing systems and safety equipment. Cornerstone represents ABB's vast array of robots for any payload, reach and speed requirements.
• Ametek (Dunkermotor)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmetek engineers and manufactures system solutions based on brushless DC servo motors, integrated power/logic controllers, planetary/worm gearboxes, encoders and brakes, and integrated linear motors.
• AUBO RoboticscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAUBO Robotics creates open architecture, precision-calibrated, simple-to-operate collaborative robots. Based in Detroit, Michigan, they exclusively serve the North American Market with warehouse, service, training, and technical support.
• Bosch RexrothcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBosch Rexroth provides safe, efficient, intelligent and high performance motion and controls solutions. Cornerstone represents their complete portfolio.
• CoFil (Colombo Filippetti)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoFil is one of the world's leaders in cam mechanisms for industrial automation. They custom build precision mechanisms for any motion axes requirements (rotary, linear, custom cycloidal).
• DatalogiccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDatalogic Automation is a major worldwide producer of automatic identification, detection and marking solutions for industrial automation with wide range of data capture solutions for industrial and logistic applications.
• DynicsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading manufacturer of flat panel display industrial computers ranging from 10.4 inch dual scan to 21 inch active matrix SXGA touchscreens and keypad interfaces. Also OT-focused cybersecurity devices and software.
• E-DriveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEdrive manufacturers a wide array of electric cylinders with options for forces from 200 pounds to over 30 tons, suitable for new applications and pneumatic/hydraulic replacement.
• ExlarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElectric actuators delivering an unmatched range of capabilities, power and performance in both linear and rotary configurations.
• ITT VidarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSevere duty motors with embedded variable speed intelligence. VIDAR's patented AC-Link technology replaces conventional AC-to-DC-to-AC VFD technology with streamlined AC-to-AC approach, shrinking VFD by 60%.
• KollmorgencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading provider of motion systems and components with over sixty years of motion control design and development expertise, delivering breakthrough solutions in performance, reliability and ease-of-use.
• LeuzecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeuze offers an extensive line of sensors and corresponding accessories for industrial automation in six different product areas, from simple standard sensors to innovative high-tech solutions.
• MacronminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProven leader in modular belt drive actuators. Extruded aluminum units capable of strokes up to 500 feet and speeds over 200 inches per second. Assembled into single, two, and three axis gantries.
• Measurement Specialists / National ScaleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS manufacturer of load cells, force transducers, load pins, instrumentation, and mounting assemblies. Specializes in custom design and manufacture where off-the-shelf units won't work.
• Nidec / Control TechniquescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading manufacturer of AC variable speed drives, servos and power conversion equipment for commercial and industrial applications with focus on performance, reliability and energy efficiency.
• NSKcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal manufacturer of ball and roller bearings, linear motion technology, automotive components and steering systems with full range of services including reconditioning, ball screw repair, and predictive maintenance.
• RFID InccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRFID Inc. is the oldest active RFID company in the world and preeminent source of RFID knowledge, focused on manufacture for resale and development of new RFID systems.
• RKI InstrumentsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary focus on gas detection systems monitoring hazardous gases such as oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, methane, and volatile organic compounds for manufacturing plants and confined spaces.
• RTAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEtherCat based stepper drives that can be used with or without encoders, with AC or DC supplies, integrated IO and rated currents to 6 Amps.
• Stober DrivesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEstablished in 1991 in Maysville, Kentucky to manufacture and assemble gearboxes for the North American market, supplying gear solutions for servo and power transmission markets.
• ThomsoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOften the ideal motion control solution is the optimal balance of performance, life and cost. Thomson is best positioned to help configure the optimal solution for applications.
• TR ElectroniccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSince 1989, TR Electronic North America has become an industry leader in position feedback, drive technology and sensor solutions through complete line of absolute encoders, linear measurement systems and industrial sensors.
• Trio Motion TechnologycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufacturing and distributing high-quality motion control products since 1987 with over 125,000 controllers sold.
• WittensteincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOffers low-backlash planetary gearboxes, servo right-angle gearboxes, Galaxie zero backlash gearboxes, rotary servo actuators and solutions for demanding applications and harsh environments.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AutomationDirect: Direct competitor in industrial automation product distribution, selling PLCs, drives, motion control, sensors and HMI products to North American manufacturers. Highly comparable value-added/catalog distribution model targeting the same SMB-to-mid-market industrial customer base.

Broad incumbents

• RS (Allied Electronics & Automation): One of the largest broad-line industrial electronics and automation distributors globally, carrying PLCs, drives, sensors and industrial controls. Comparable as a one-stop distributor of automation components but operates at far greater scale and global footprint.
• WAGO: Manufacturer and global supplier of automation, interconnection and electrical interface products including PLCs, I/O and motion. Overlaps Cornerstone's automation product portfolio and serves the same industrial manufacturing customers, though WAGO sells primarily as an OEM.
• Phoenix Contact: Global manufacturer of automation, connection and interface solutions including controllers, I/O, networking and surge protection. Comparable as a broad-line industrial automation incumbent whose products Cornerstone's customers also deploy.
• Festo: Global supplier of pneumatic and electric automation technology, motion control, and factory/process automation solutions. Highly comparable in motion-control and automation categories, though Festo sells primarily as an OEM with worldwide reach.
• Beckhoff Automation: Provider of PC-based control, drive technology, I/O and automation software for industrial applications. Comparable in motion/PLC and system integration segments that Cornerstone serves through its engineering services.
• Yaskawa America: Manufacturer of motion control, AC drives, servo systems and industrial robots in North America. Directly comparable product overlap (servos, drives, robots) with Cornerstone's represented lines from Kollmorgen, Bosch Rexroth and ABB.
• Omron Automation: Global automation supplier of PLCs, motion control, sensors, safety and robotics for industrial manufacturers. Comparable as a broad-line automation incumbent whose products overlap Cornerstone's PLC, sensor and robotics portfolio.

Emerging players

• Claroty: Venture-backed OT cybersecurity platform specializing in asset discovery, network protection and threat detection for industrial environments. Direct competitor to Cornerstone's ICS-Defender/ICS-Netwise suite in the OT security category.
• Acieta: North American robotics and automation integrator providing custom cells, vision integration and engineering services to manufacturers. Comparable as a value-added industrial automation integrator serving similar mid-market industrial customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Cornerstone Technical Group