Expello Air Products

What Expello Air Products does

Expello Air Products manufactures automatic drain valves and air dryer systems for compressed air systems in commercial vehicles. The company's product portfolio includes the Electronic Drain Valve (15-watt thermostatically controlled heater, 1-second purge every 5 minutes), Pneumatic Drain Valve (purges on compressor cut-in/cut-out cycles with optional 50-watt heater), Shop Drain Valve (for stationary shop compressors), and the Expello/Stark Air Dryer (vacuum-formed micro-glass fiber filter technology achieving 36 CFM flow rate and 99.9% oil removal). All drain valves carry a three-year unlimited mileage warranty; air dryers carry a one-year warranty. The company claims 40+ years of brand presence in commercial vehicle air system protection.

The company operates as a unit of D&D Instruments, a diversified conglomerate headquartered at 2525 Winter Street NE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, with 11-50 employees. Expello does not sell direct to end customers; instead it distributes exclusively through authorized channel partners including FleetPride (nationwide US), PACCAR Parts/TRP, and over 30 regional distributors covering all 50 US states, all Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico, and Latin America. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and some SKUs require phone ordering. Revenue comes from hardware sales of valves and air dryers through these distributor relationships. Marketing is limited to blog content, case studies, and a Facebook page.

The primary customer segment is waste hauling fleets, where freeze-up of air brakes in winter is a documented $80-$270 per event cost driver; a 100-vehicle pilot with a large national waste hauler's St. Paul division reportedly eliminated freeze-up events entirely after Expello valve installation. The product addresses a narrow but operationally critical maintenance problem in heavy-duty trucks, trailers, buses, and RVs with compressed air brake systems.

Name

Expello Air Products

Legal name

Expello, a unit of D&D Instruments

Website

https://expelloairproducts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Expello Air Products manufactures automatic drain valves and air dryers for compressed air systems in commercial vehicles (trucks, trailers, buses). The company sells exclusively through authorized distributors across North America, the Caribbean, and Latin America as a unit of D&D Instruments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Vehicle Air Brake Components

NAICS

Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing (332912), Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413)

SIC

Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydraulic & Pneumatic Systems Service (Liftgates, Air Systems) (TLAKABAJ)

Keywords

• Automatic drain valves
• Commercial vehicle air brake components
• Compressed air dryers
• Truck air system protection
• Fleet air brake maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Drain Valve Hardware Sales: Expello generates revenue through the sale of automatic drain valves (electronic and pneumatic variants) and air dryer systems. Products are sold through distributors as hardware/components. Each valve is priced per part number with varying specifications (voltage, inlet size).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Expello Air Products manufactures automatic drain valves (electronic and pneumatic variants) and air dryer systems for compressed air brake systems in commercial vehicles such as trucks, trailers, buses, and RVs. The valves automatically purge moisture, dirt, oil, and rust from air tanks to prevent frozen air brakes, while the air dryers filter and coalesce contaminants using vacuum-formed micro-glass fiber filter technology.

Product overview

Expello Air Products manufactures a portfolio of automatic drain valves and air dryers for compressed air systems in commercial vehicles. The product lineup includes the Electronic Drain Valve (thermostatically-controlled, 5-minute purge cycle), Pneumatic Drain Valve (compressor-cycled purging), Shop Drain Valve (for stationary compressors), and Expello Air Dryer/Stark Air Dryer (filtering and coalescing system). All components carry a three-year unlimited mileage warranty. Products are distributed through a network of distributors across North America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Expello Drain Valves: Automatic drain valves for expelling moisture, dirt, oil and rust from compressed air systems in vehicles
• Expello Air Dryers
• Stark Air Dryer

Products and services

• Electronic Drain Valve Automatic drain valve that replaces manual drain petcocks on air tanks in vehicles and trailers. Features a 15-watt thermostatically controlled heater and expels contaminants in a 1-second burst every 5 minutes of vehicle on time. Sold to commercial vehicle operators and fleet maintenance buyers via authorized distributors.
• Pneumatic Drain Valve Drain valve that purges contaminants from air tanks with a blast of air whenever the compressor cycles (cut in and cut out). Available with optional 50-watt heater for cold weather protection. Designed for trucks, trailers, buses, RVs, and other equipment with compressed air systems.
• The Shop Drain Valve Automatic drain valve for stationary shop air compressors that removes moisture by connecting to the compressor's governor, purging when the compressor reaches cut in and cut out. Targets repair shops and maintenance facilities.
• Expello Air Dryer (Stark Air Dryer) Filtering and coalescing air dryer system that removes oil, carbon, dirt, sludge, and moisture from air brake systems. Uses vacuum-formed micro-glass fiber filter technology with 36 CFM flow rate. Fits both governor and unloader controlled air systems. Targets heavy-duty fleets including on- and off-highway vehicles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Freeze-up events eliminated completely in pilot fleet of 100 vehicles
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and flagship.

• FleetPridecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNationwide commercial truck and trailer parts distributor offering Expello drain valves and air dryers through their US locations. Products available via FleetPride website search.
• PACCAR Parts (TRP)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPACCAR's Truck Parts (TRP) retail network distributes Expello products nationally through their authorized retailers.
• Peterbilt PacificregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPeterbilt truck dealership with locations serving British Columbia. Distributes Expello drain valves for commercial vehicles.
• Inland KenworthregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKenworth truck dealership serving British Columbia and Arizona with multiple locations. Distributes Expello products.
• Stahl PeterbiltregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPeterbilt truck dealership serving Alberta. Distributes Expello drain valves and air dryers.
• Rush Truck CentersregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor truck dealership chain with locations in Georgia (Atlanta, Augusta, Doraville, Gainesville, Smyrna) distributing Expello products.
• Ride-Air Controls Inc.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOntario-based distributor of commercial vehicle parts and controls, distributing Expello products in the Canadian market.
• Parts for TrucksregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian commercial truck parts distributor with locations serving Atlantic Canada (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island).
• CBM CompanyregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQuebec-based commercial vehicle parts distributor, distributing Expello products in the French-speaking Canadian market.
• D&D InstrumentsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerD&D Instruments is the parent company and owner of Expello Air Products. Expello operates as a unit of D&D Instruments based in Minneapolis, MN.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Cummins: Global manufacturer of diesel engines and compressed air system components for commercial vehicles. Comparable in the broader commercial vehicle compressed air equipment market, including compressor-related components.
• Parker Hannifin: Diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies including pneumatic valves, fluid power components, and filtration products. Comparable as a broader fluid power / pneumatic component supplier serving compressed air applications.
• SMC Corporation: Global leader in pneumatic and automation components. Comparable as a broader pneumatic component manufacturer serving compressed air system applications including valves and air preparation.

Direct peers

• Knorr-Bremse: Global leader in air brake systems for commercial vehicles and rail, and parent of Bendix CVS. Directly competes with Expello in air dryers and air system components for heavy-duty trucks globally.
• Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems: Major manufacturer of air dryers, air brake components, and compressed air system solutions for commercial vehicles, now part of Knorr-Bremse. Direct competitor to Expello in the air dryer and drain valve market serving the same heavy-duty truck fleet customers.
• Meritor: Manufacturer of drivetrain, mobility, and air brake system components for commercial vehicles. Competes with Expello in air system components, including valves and related hardware for trucks and trailers.
• WABCO: Major supplier of air brake systems and compressed air treatment products for commercial vehicles, now part of ZF Friedrichshafen. Direct competitor in air system components for heavy-duty trucks and buses.
• Haldex: Manufacturer of air brake system components including automatic drain valves and air dryers for commercial vehicles. Directly competes with Expello in pneumatic moisture management for trucks, trailers, and buses.

Emerging players

• Norgren (IMI Precision Engineering): Manufacturer of pneumatic components, valves, and air preparation equipment. Comparable in the pneumatic fluid power and air treatment component space, with overlap in industrial compressed air applications.

Others

• Festo: Manufacturer of pneumatic and electric automation technology. Adjacent comparable in pneumatic valves, compressed air preparation, and air treatment components used across industrial compressed air systems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/expelloairproducts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Expello Air Products