Minuteman

What Minuteman does

Minuteman, operating commercially as MASEAS (Minuteman | Empire Automation Systems), is a privately held regional industrial automation distributor serving the Northeastern United States. The company runs two sales-led divisions - Minuteman Automation Systems (New England: MA, CT, RI, NH, VT, ME), headquartered in Wakefield, MA, and Empire Automation Systems (New York: upstate, central, western, and southern tier), headquartered in Rochester, NY - collectively serving over 1,000 industrial customers including OEMs, machine builders, system integrators, and manufacturing plants. MASEAS is the authorized regional distributor for more than 120 manufacturer partners across robotics (ABB, Brooks, DENSO, IAI, SCHUNK), motion control (Applied Motion Products, Exlar, Nexen, Nidec), vision (Zebra, Apera AI, Baumer, Pickit, Metaphase), pneumatics and vacuum (Clippard, Emerson ASCO/Aventics, COVAL, Schmalz, Camozzi, ROSS), electrical control (B&R, Murrelektronik, EXOR), safety (SICK, Contrinex), sensing (Baumer), structural (mk North America), and marking/traceability (Gravotech, Teledyne DALSA). The primary revenue model is hardware distribution via quote-based sales through outside sales engineers, supplemented by professional services from the Automated Solutions Group (ASG), a value-added engineering division spun out as its own legal entity in 2022 that provides prototyping, robot programming, panel builds, simulation (e.g., ABB reach/cycle studies), and small-scale engineered solutions. Leadership is concentrated under sole owner and CEO Don Davis, who acquired full ownership of Empire Automation Systems in 2005 and purchased Minuteman Controls in 2014 before unifying both under the MASEAS brand in 2016.

Name

Minuteman

Legal name

Minuteman | Empire Automation Systems

Website

https://maseas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Minuteman (MASEAS) is a privately held regional industrial automation distributor serving New England and New York through two divisions, distributing components and systems from 120+ manufacturer partners to 1,000+ industrial customers and providing value-added engineering services through its Automated Solutions Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Distribution

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (3332)

SIC

Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAHAHAJ

Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Machinery & Heavy Equipment/Industrial Automation & Robotics Equipment

SECONDARYIMAHAHAH

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

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Machinery & Heavy Equipment/Industrial Automation & Robotics Equipment

SECONDARYIMAHAHAG

Motion Control Components (Servos, Drives, Motors, Encoders)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Machinery & Heavy Equipment/Industrial Automation & Robotics Equipment

SECONDARYIMAGABAG

Motion & Machine Control (CNC, Robotics Controllers, Servo/Motion Controllers)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Electrical Equipment & Industrial Electronics/Industrial Automation & Control Systems (PLCs, SCADA, DCS)

Keywords

• Industrial automation distribution
• Robotic integration services
• Pneumatic vacuum components
• Motion control products
• Machine vision systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Distribution: MASEAS generates revenue primarily through the distribution of industrial automation components and systems sourced from a network of 120+ manufacturer partners. The company acts as a regional authorized distributor, reselling products across categories including robotics, motion control, pneumatics, vision, safety, and sensing.
2. Value-Added Services (ASG): The Automated Solutions Group (ASG) provides engineering and integration services including prototyping, robot programming, panel builds, design, and small-scale engineered solutions, generating service revenue alongside product sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Minuteman (operating as MASEAS — Minuteman | Empire Automation Systems) is a regional industrial automation distributor serving the Northeastern United States through two divisions: Minuteman Automation Systems (New England) and Empire Automation Systems (New York). The company distributes robotics, motion control, pneumatics, vacuum, vision, safety, sensing, electrical controls, structural, marking, process control, and high pressure components from 120+ authorized manufacturer partners. Its Automated Solutions Group (ASG) provides value-added engineering services including prototyping, robot programming, panel builds, simulations, and custom solution design.

Product overview

Minuteman (MASEAS) is an industrial automation distribution company offering a comprehensive portfolio of automation products through two divisions: Minuteman Automation Systems (serving New England) and Empire Automation Systems (serving New York). The core offering includes distribution of robotic products (ABB, Brooks Automation, DENSO, IAI, SCHUNK), motion control components, vision systems, pneumatic and vacuum products, electrical controls, safety equipment, and structural solutions from over 120 manufacturer partners. The company operates the Automated Solutions Group (ASG) as a value-added services division providing prototyping, design, assembly, programming (ABB, DENSO, Brooks robots; B&R, EXOR HMIs; Zebra, Apera AI, Pickit cameras), simulations, and panel build services. The product portfolio spans 12 product categories including Robotic, Assembly & Feeding, Electrical Control, Motion Control, Pneumatic & Vacuum, Vision, Safety, Sensing, Structural, Marking & Traceability, Process Control, and High Pressure products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Robotic Products
• Vision Products
• Motion Control Products
• Pneumatic & Vacuum Products
• Electrical Control Products
• Assembly & Feeding Products
• Safety Products
• Sensing Products
• Structural Products
• Marking & Traceability Products
• Process Control Products
• High Pressure Products
• Automated Solutions Group (ASG) Engineering Services

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• COVALcoreTechnology or Integration · 2 January 2025COVAL joined MASEAS as the newest partner in January 2025. COVAL brings over 30 years of experience in vacuum technology with specialized teams serving food & beverage, aerospace, packaging, and other industries. Products include standard and specialized suction cups, vacuum pumps, vacuum switches, and vacuum grippers.
• Apera AIcoreTechnology or Integration · 15 May 2023Apera AI joined MASEAS as the newest partner in May 2023, bringing 4D vision technology built around AI and machine learning. The Apera Vue software is robot-agnostic and suitable for bin picking, assembly, packaging, and sorting applications with vision cycle times as low as 0.3 seconds (3 Hz).
• AsyrilcoreTechnology or Integration · 26 May 2022Asyril partnered with MASEAS in May 2022 to bring part feeding solutions to customers. Asyril develops flexible feeding solutions based on 3-axis vibration technology and vision-based smart control (EYE+ controller) that sorts parts from <0.1 to 150 mm. Products include the Asycube series for automated assembly of complex or delicate parts.
• Zebra TechnologiescoreTechnology or Integration · 19 May 2022MASEAS partnered with Zebra Technologies in May 2022 to expand vision capabilities. Zebra provides machine vision systems and fixed industrial scanners, including products from its 2022 acquisition of Matrox Imaging. Focus areas include fixed industrial scanners (FS10, FS/VS20/40/70) and machine vision cameras (VS70), with software platforms Aurora and Design Assistant.
• Emerson (ASCO & Aventics)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2018Emerson acquired Aventics in 2018 and ASCO and Numatics thereafter, consolidating Numatics into the Aventics brand. MASEAS distributes ASCO fluid control solutions (solenoid valves, pinch valves, microfluidic products) and Aventics products (cylinders, actuators, valves, air preparation, vacuum technologies, handling solutions). In 2025, Emerson acquired Afag and its portfolio will be rebranded under Aventics.
• B&R AutomationcoreTechnology or Integration · 6 July 2017B&R Automation is an innovative automation company that became a business unit of ABB Group in July 2017. B&R provides machine and factory automation, motion control, HMI, and integrated safety technology, with Industrial IoT standards including OPC UA, POWERLINK, and openSAFETY.
• ABB RoboticscoreTechnology or IntegrationABB Robotics is a featured partner of MASEAS, providing a complete suite of industrial and collaborative robots including articulated, delta, SCARA, and cobot models. MASEAS offers ABB robots through its ASG services including programming, simulation, and custom integration.
• Cleco Production ToolscoreTechnology or IntegrationCleco Production Tools is a global leader in electric and pneumatic assembly tools including nutrunners, screwdrivers, impact wrenches, pulse tools, torque wrenches, grinders, sanders, and controllers. Serves automotive, aerospace, electronics, construction, and industrial automation industries.
• ClippardcoreTechnology or IntegrationClippard has over 70 years of experience manufacturing miniature pneumatic components under its 'Minimatic' fluid power design line. Products include electronic valves, proportional valves, isolation valves, pressure regulators, control valves, directional control valves, and fittings.
• Intelligent Actuator (IAI)coreTechnology or IntegrationIAI is known for its ROBO Cylinder series of electric cylinders as a cost-effective alternative to pneumatic components. The product suite also includes SCARA robots, table top robots, and cartesian robots. MASEAS offers IAI products through ASG services including programming and integration.
• MurrelektronikcoreTechnology or IntegrationMurrelektronik is a global leader in automation solutions focused on four core product lines: power supplies and control, interfaces, cables/connectors, and I/O systems. The company emphasizes Next Level Solutions including IO-Link rollout, industrial Ethernet migration, safety, mechatronic elements, and IoT.
• SCHUNKcoreTechnology or IntegrationSCHUNK is the world's competence leader for clamping technology and gripping systems, with the largest portfolio of standard gripping and clamping components (over 11,000 products). Products include parallel/centric/angular/magnetic/adhesive grippers, rotary actuators, linear modules, change systems, toolholders, workpiece clamping, and force/torque sensors.
• SchmalzcoreTechnology or IntegrationSchmalz is the market leader in vacuum automation and handling solutions, with companies in 18 countries and partners in over 80 countries. Products include vacuum cups, layer gripping systems, area gripping systems, vacuum generators, valve technology, switches, and robotic handling sets including the MATCH end-of-arm ecosystem.
• ASG (Automated Solutions Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASG is the internal value-added services division of MASEAS itself, providing prototyping, design, assembly, programming (ABB, DENSO, Brooks robots; Gravotech; B&R; IAI; Zebra; Apera AI; Pickit), simulations, and panel builds. Formed in 2013 and later established as its own legal entity.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Digi-Key Electronics: Massive electronic and automation component distributor with deep catalog and broad supplier relationships; overlaps with MASEAS on sensors, motion, and control components but operates at vastly larger scale with primarily digital/e-commerce fulfillment.
• MSC Industrial Supply: Major industrial product distributor with a Metalworking and MRO focus; overlaps on industrial supplies and tooling but is less specialized than MASEAS on automation-integration services.
• Rexel: Global electrical and automation distribution group with significant North American presence; serves similar industrial customers with automation components, lighting, and electrical products, but at a much broader geographic and product scale.
• Graybar: Large North American electrical and industrial automation distributor serving contractors and industrial customers; overlaps with MASEAS on automation components but emphasizes electrical infrastructure and a broader customer mix.
• Mouser Electronics: Global authorized distributor of semiconductors and electronic components with a growing industrial automation portfolio; competes on similar SKUs (sensors, controllers, motion) but emphasizes engineering buyers rather than field-sales-led automation projects.
• Applied Industrial Technologies: Large North American industrial distributor focusing on fluid power, bearings, power transmission, and automation; the closest broad-line competitor on fluid power/pneumatics and motion products that overlap with MASEAS's portfolio.

Others

• WAGO Corporation: Manufacturer of interconnection, interface, and automation products; not a distributor but a MASEAS-adjacent supplier and comparable in terms of serving industrial automation buyers with control and I/O products.

Direct peers

• Radwell International: Industrial automation parts and repair distributor serving North American manufacturers; comparable regional-distribution-plus-services model targeting the same industrial customer base with similar industrial controls and automation SKUs.
• RS Group (Allied Electronics & Automation): Global industrial automation and electronics distributor operating the Allied Electronics brand in North America; the closest large-scale comparable to MASEAS in terms of multi-category automation component distribution to industrial customers.

Emerging players

• McMaster-Carr: Iconic industrial supply distributor with strong catalog depth on mechanical and electrical components; competes on discrete components like fittings, pneumatics, and sensors but offers no integration engineering services like ASG.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MinutemanEmpire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minutemanempire

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Minuteman