Forecast Sales

What Forecast Sales does

Forecast Sales, operating under the Pirate Brand trade name, is a privately held manufacturer and wholesaler of sandblasting equipment and aftermarket replacement parts founded in 1991 and headquartered at 2719 Tobey Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana. The company employs between 51 and 100 people and serves industrial abrasive blasting operators - contractors and companies performing surface preparation, rust removal, paint stripping, and cleaning - across a domestic (United States) market.

The product portfolio centers on blast pot systems (portable 6.5 cu ft units with pressure hold and APV II auto air valve technology, and bulk 160 cu ft machines with 12VDC electric controls and four outlets), complemented by NIOSH-certified respiratory protection (RPB NOVA 3 respirator package, TC-19C-456 Type CE) and supporting gas monitoring equipment (RPB GX4), 16,000 lb GVWR highway trailers for equipment transport, and proprietary conversion kits featuring tungsten carbide components. Underlying technology is primarily mechanical and electromechanical - pressure-hold pneumatic systems, 12VDC electric controls, and wear-resistant tungsten carbide parts - rather than software-defined.

The company monetizes through one-time hardware sales distributed via two channels: an authorized distributor network with a formal application and online locator (targeting enterprise/contractor accounts) and a direct-to-customer e-commerce storefront at pirate-brand.com with phone-based sales support (targeting SMB and individual buyers). Pricing is quote-based rather than publicly listed, and revenue mechanics depend on unit shipments of capital equipment and replacement parts rather than recurring contracts. The company self-positions as the "#1 source for aftermarket abrasive blasting parts and supplies" and invests in a Knowledge Center and social media presence for category education. No funding rounds, M&A activity, leadership changes, or material geographic expansion are disclosed in the available data.

Name

Forecast Sales

Legal name

Pirate Brand

Website

https://forecastsalesinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Forecast Sales, dba Pirate Brand, is a privately held Indianapolis-based manufacturer and wholesaler founded in 1991 that produces aftermarket abrasive blasting equipment (blast pots, trailers), replacement parts, and NIOSH-certified respiratory protection for industrial surface-preparation contractors and operators across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equipment and Parts Sales: One-time sales of abrasive blasting equipment, parts, and supplies including blast pots, respirators, trailers, trailers, conversion kits, and accessories through distributor and direct-to-customer channels.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Forecast Sales, operating as Pirate Brand, manufactures and wholesales aftermarket abrasive blasting equipment, replacement parts, and safety/respiratory protection supplies. The product portfolio centers on sandblast pots (bulk and portable pressure hold systems), respirators, gas monitors, transport trailers, and tungsten carbide conversion kits, sold through an authorized distributor network and direct e-commerce storefront.

Product overview

Pirate Brand is a B2B e-commerce distributor specializing in aftermarket abrasive blasting equipment, parts, and supplies. The product portfolio centers on sandblast pots and blast machines (both bulk and portable), complemented by safety equipment including respirators and gas monitors, transport trailers, and conversion kits/accessories. Products primarily feature RPB (Radiological Protection Equipment) brand components for respiratory safety and Pirate Brand's own equipment for blast operations. The company operates as a distributor network, allowing customers to purchase through their platform or via authorized distributors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RPB GX4 Gas Monitor with 12VDC Battery Clips

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Wheelabrator Group: Global surface-preparation equipment manufacturer offering shot-blast and air-blast systems plus aftermarket services. Larger incumbent that competes for industrial blasting project work adjacent to Pirate Brand's portable/bulk pot segment.
• Norton | Saint-Gobain Abrasives: Major abrasives manufacturer offering blasting media and surface-preparation consumables. Competes with Pirate Brand on the consumables side of the blasting value chain rather than equipment, but is a frequent channel counterpart.
• Graco Inc. Diversified manufacturer of fluid handling and industrial spray equipment with overlapping surface-preparation and protective-coating applications. Larger incumbent with broader portfolio that competes indirectly through contractor-grade equipment.

Direct peers

• Marco Group International: Distributor and manufacturer of abrasive blasting equipment, parts, and respiratory protection for industrial users. Closely comparable dual-channel distribution model serving abrasive blasting contractors.
• Empire Abrasive Equipment: Manufacturer of air-blast and wet-blast abrasive blasting machines, parts, and supplies serving industrial contractors. Closely comparable product portfolio to Pirate Brand's blast pot and conversion kit offering.
• Clemco Industries: Long-established U.S. manufacturer of abrasive blasting equipment (blast machines, hoses, nozzles, safety gear). Directly competes with Pirate Brand in portable and bulk blast pots and aftermarket parts distribution for industrial surface preparation.
• Pangborn Group: Manufacturer of shot-blast and air-blast surface preparation equipment and spare parts serving foundries, automotive, and heavy industry. Comparable to Pirate Brand in equipment design and aftermarket parts economics.
• Surface Preparation Texas (SPT): Distributor and service provider of abrasive blasting equipment, parts, and consumables to industrial contractors across the southern U.S. Comparable to Pirate Brand in distribution-led go-to-market for surface-preparation consumables.
• Schmidt / Abrasive Blast Systems (BLASTCO): Manufacturer of blast cabinets, blast rooms, and portable abrasive blast equipment, with a strong parts and consumables aftermarket. Comparable to Pirate Brand as both a manufacturer and aftermarket supplier of surface-preparation equipment.

Emerging players

• Midwest Finishing Systems: Specialty distributor of blasting, spray, and finishing equipment and parts serving U.S. industrial customers. Comparable as an emerging regional player in the same product categories as Pirate Brand.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCoY_795xNL4Z6Kt9qTzNW7w
• Facebookfacebook.com/piratebrand
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forecast-sales-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/p1rate_brand

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 Forecast Sales