Aviation Ground Equipment

What Aviation Ground Equipment does

Aviation Ground Equipment Corp. (AGEC) is a U.S.-based manufacturer and distributor of ground support equipment (GSE) serving both military and commercial aviation. Founded in 1984 and privately held, the company designs and builds ground power units (GPUs), static frequency converters, multi-output diesel carts, mobile load banks, air conditioning units, air start units, and supporting cables/connectors. Its technology is centered on power conversion — 270 VDC for advanced military aircraft including the F-35, 400Hz for conventional military and commercial fleets, and 28.5 VDC — with proprietary features including an F-35-approved standalone 270 VDC Diesel Power Cart, a universal 7000 Series Mobile Load Bank, and smart operator control panels with Built-In-Test diagnostics. AGEC operates a 92,000 sq. ft. ISO9001:2015-certified manufacturing facility in Franklin, OH, complemented by a corporate office in Freeport, NY.

The company monetizes primarily through hardware sales of custom military GSE under multi-year IDIQ and firm-fixed-price contracts, supplemented by commercial distribution of Hobart, Trilectron, Terex/Genie, BYD, and Mototok products, and aftermarket parts and spares. Ancillary revenue streams include technical manual development and customized operator/maintainer training services. Pricing is exclusively quote-based with no public disclosure or self-serve channel. Customer concentration sits heavily in U.S. defense — U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy/NAVAIR, U.S. Coast Guard, and Lockheed Martin — with the December 2022 $482 million USAF contract representing the largest single award in the military GPU segment. The company supports a 40+ year operating history, is described as veteran-owned, and reports 11-50 employees.

Name

Aviation Ground Equipment

Legal name

Aviation Ground Equipment Corp.

Website

https://aviationgroundequip.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aviation Ground Equipment Corp. (AGEC) is a privately held, veteran-owned U.S. manufacturer and distributor of ground support equipment for military and commercial aviation, specializing in 270 VDC, 400Hz, and 28.5VDC power systems for the F-35 program, U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Ground Support Equipment

NAICS

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

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Aerospace Ground Support Equipment (GSE) & Test Systems (IMABAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Airport Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Vehicle Manufacturing (IMACAFAK), Ground Operations Decarbonization (electric GSE, renewable power, charging) (THABANAG)

Keywords

• Ground support equipment
• Military aircraft power
• Aviation ground power units
• Portable load banks
• Aircraft frequency conversion

Headquarters

HQ city

Melville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Revenue model

1. Ground Support Equipment Manufacturing & Sales: Design, manufacture, and sale of custom ground power units (270VDC, 400Hz, 28VDC), load banks, air conditioning units, and frequency converters for military and commercial aviation. Major government contracts including $482M USAF GPU contract and F-35 support equipment contracts.
2. Aftermarket Parts & Spares: Sale of replacement parts, cables, connectors, hoses, and accessories for ground support equipment. Stocks genuine Hobart and Trilectron spare parts. Includes PCA hoses, GPU cables, ASU spares, and PCA spares.
3. Training Services: Customized training courses for end users covering safety, familiarization, controls and indicators, theory of operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. Offered for operators, sustainers, and maintainers.
4. Technical Manual Development: Development and production of technical manuals including Operation and Maintenance Manuals, Illustrated Parts Breakdown, and Logistics Technical Data. Leverages in-house design and manufacturing experience.
5. Distribution of Third-Party Products: Authorized distribution of Hobart Ground Power, Trilectron, Terex/Genie products, and BYD Lithium Baggage Tractors. Revenue from markup on redistributed commercial products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aviation Ground Equipment Corp. (AGEC) manufactures and distributes ground support equipment (GSE) for military and commercial aviation. The company designs and builds custom military ground power units (270 VDC, 400Hz, 28.5VDC), multi-output diesel carts, static frequency converters, mobile load banks, and air conditioning units, and serves as an authorized distributor of Hobart Ground Power, Trilectron, and Terex/Genie products for commercial customers. Its military products support platforms including the F-35, E-2D Hawkeye, V-22 Osprey, and F/A-18.

Product overview

Aviation Ground Equipment Corp (AGEC) is a manufacturer and distributor of ground support equipment serving the commercial and military aviation industry for over 40 years. The company's product portfolio includes two major segments: Commercial products (Ground Power Units, Air Conditioning & Heating, Load Banks, Air Start units, Terex/Genie Light Towers, and Cables & Connectors distributed as authorized distributor of Hobart Ground Power & Trilectron) and Military products (270 VDC Diesel & Electric Power carts, Multi-Output Diesel carts, Multi-Output Frequency Converters, Mobile Load Banks, and Air Conditioning units). AGEC also provides comprehensive parts and services including ASU hoses & connectors, GPU cables & connectors, PCA hoses & connectors, and spare parts for multiple equipment brands. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Franklin, OH with over 80,000 sq. ft. of dedicated manufacturing space and serves major defense contractors including Lockheed Martin, US Air Force, US Navy, and US Coast Guard.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AGEC: Company's own brand for ground power load banks, aircraft air-conditioners, heaters, and cables and connectors.

Products and services

• 270 VDC Electric Power Cart (AGEC 1100 Series) Four-wheeled manually propelled vehicle designed for flight deck and land-based theater conditions, featuring integrated power frequency converter providing 270 VDC main and auxiliary power for F-35 aircraft.
• 270 VDC Diesel Power Cart (AGEC 1101 Series) Only standalone 270 VDC Diesel power unit approved for use on F-35, featuring integrated power frequency converter with three modes of operation: Diesel Input, Facility Input, and 50/60 Hz Output. EPA Tier 3, EU STAGE III A compliant engine.
• 110 kVA Multi-Output Static Frequency Converter (SFC) Multiple output static frequency converter built for shipboard and land-based use, supplying 400Hz, 28.5VDC, and LMCO F-35 approved 270VDC power for U.S. Navy and other military aircraft.
• AGEC 7000 Series Mobile Load Bank Universal mobile load bank providing resistive and reactive testing for 400Hz, 28.5VDC, and 270VDC power. Designed to withstand demanding environments including shipboard use with a fully programmable digital operating, control, and monitoring system.
• 90 kVA (72kW) Multi-Output Diesel Cart Multi-output diesel ground power unit producing 72kW/90kVA with configurable options for 400Hz, 28VDC, and 270VDC output; modern alternative to legacy Essex B809 and John Hollingsworth -86 units.
• 120 kVA (100kW) Multi-Output Diesel Cart (MEPP) Multi-output diesel ground power unit configured as a modern alternative to Essex C637 MEPP for Navy fleet, allowing selectable output options using 120kVA 400Hz unit as base.
• 140-180 kVA Multi-Output Diesel Cart Military-grade multi-output diesel power unit allowing the user to choose up to three different output modes using a 140-180 kVA 400Hz base, suited for land-based theaters to shipboard environments.
• 270 VDC Vertical Hangar Power Unit Stationary 270 VDC power unit ideal for hangar or stationary parking power with proprietary digital user interface, built to meet rigorous F-35 power standards.
• 90-180 kVA Multi-Output Frequency Converter Multiple output frequency converter for shipboard and land-based use providing 400Hz, 28.5VDC, and F-35 approved 270VDC power.
• ACLB Series Portable 400Hz Load Banks (72/80/100/120 kW) Portable air-cooled 400Hz load banks for field servicing and testing of 115/200 Volt 400Hz generators, available in 72kW, 80kW, 100kW, and 120kW capacities with adjustable load steps.
• DCLB Series Portable 28.5 VDC Load Banks Portable 28.5 VDC load banks (DCLB-28 1500 AMP and DCLB-29 2000 AMP) for field servicing and testing of 28.5 Volt ground power units, with continuous loads at 300, 600, and 900 AMP and aircraft-start simulation.
• DCLB-270 Portable 72kW 270 VDC Load Bank Portable 270 VDC load bank designed for field servicing and testing of 270 VDC power supplies, air cooled and self-contained with adjustable load from 0 to 72 kW in eight steps.
• Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) / Aircraft Air Conditioning Units Air conditioning units for aircraft available in 5-120 ton capacities in diesel engine-driven (truck/trailer-mounted) and line-powered mobile or fixed configurations.
• Air Start Units (ASU) Air start units for aircraft engine starting available in 100/120, 180, and 270 pounds-per-minute capacities.
• Terex RL4 Compact Light Tower 23.4 ft vertical mast light tower with 4,000 Watts of light from four 1,000W metal halide lamps and 359-degree non-continuous rotation.
• Terex AL5 Light Tower 30 ft floodlight tower with 359-degree rotation and optional 20kW generator for worksite flexibility.
• Ground Support Equipment Parts, Cables & Connectors Spare parts, cables, connectors, and hoses for ground support equipment including ASU hoses & connectors, GPU cables & connectors (270 VDC, 28.5 VDC, 115/200 VAC 400Hz), PCA hoses & connectors, and genuine Hobart and Trilectron spare parts.
• Training Services Customized training courses for end users covering safety, familiarization, controls and indicators, theory of operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. Offered for operators, sustainers, and maintainers.
• Technical Manual Development Development and production of technical manuals including Operation and Maintenance Manuals, Illustrated Parts Breakdown, and Logistics Technical Data, leveraging in-house design and manufacturing experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• F-35 Ground Power Units operating at over 98% fully mission capable with over 20,000 hours of operation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ITW GSEcoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-term commercial ground power partnership spanning over 35 years. AGEC works closely with ITW GSE to supply ground power equipment including ITW GSE 4400 ground power units and Tier 4 Final Diesel Mobile Electric Power Plants. Joint efforts for US Coast Guard procurement.
• Hobart Ground PowercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor of Hobart Ground Power equipment. Stocks genuine Hobart spare parts and accessories for ground power units. Part of distribution network for commercial products.
• TrilectroncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor of Trilectron ground support equipment. Stocks genuine Trilectron spare parts. Part of distribution network for commercial products.
• Terex/GenieminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor of Terex/Genie light towers including RL4 Compact Light Towers and AL5 light towers. Part of commercial distribution network.
• BYDminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor of BYD Lithium Baggage Tractors as part of commercial product offerings.
• MototokminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAGEC supplies Mototok towbarless tugs as part of ground support equipment product mix. Equipment delivered to Cal Fire for aerial firefighting support.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stinar Corporation: US-based manufacturer of military and commercial aircraft ground support equipment including GPUs, ACUs, and catering trucks. Competes for the same federal procurement vehicles AGEC targets.
• Tronair: Manufacturer of aviation ground support equipment including GPUs, tow bars, and jacks. AGEC's authorized distribution partner for select products and a competing manufacturer in commercial and military GSE.
• ITW GSE: Manufacturer of military and commercial GPUs (formerly Hobart Ground Power). Direct competitor on USAF/Navy ground power programs and co-partner with AGEC on the USCG Tier 4 MEPP program; closest analogue in product portfolio and customer set.
• TLD Group: Global manufacturer of airport and military GSE including GPUs, ACUs, and air start units. Competes head-to-head with AGEC on military multi-output diesel carts and frequency converters serving NATO air forces.
• Trilectron: Manufacturer of aircraft ground power and air conditioning equipment for military and commercial customers. AGEC distributes Trilectron products and competes in overlapping military GPU categories.
• Powervamp (Power Systems): UK-based manufacturer of military and aviation GPUs including 270VDC systems. Emerging competitor in the same 270VDC military power niche AGEC has sole-source positions for on F-35.

Regional players

• Guinault: French manufacturer of military and commercial aircraft GPUs and ground power equipment, supplying French and allied militaries. Comparable product line but predominantly serves European air forces rather than US DoD.

Broad incumbents

• Velocity Airport Solutions (formerly Cavotec): Provider of ground support equipment including 400Hz GPUs, pre-conditioned air, and aircraft charging systems for commercial airports. Overlaps with AGEC's commercial distribution arm and broader airport electrification efforts.
• Textron Specialized Vehicles (TUG/Motive): Textron subsidiary manufacturing aircraft tow tugs, baggage tractors, and other GSE distributed in some channels alongside AGEC's product range. Larger defense and industrial conglomerate with broader portfolio.
• JBT AeroTech: Broad aerospace ground support and gate equipment division of JBT Corporation, supplying GPUs, ACUs, and air stairs to airlines and militaries globally. Larger incumbent with overlapping military GSE offerings and broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Aviation Ground Equipment