Control Gear

What Control Gear does

Control Gear Group Ltd is a privately held, founder-influenced UK fluid power specialist headquartered in Pontypridd, South Wales, established in 1973 (with founder roots dating to 1958). It supplies and services industrial air compressors, pneumatics, hydraulics, vacuum pumps, nitrogen generators, filtration, dust and fume extraction, process valves, hose and fittings, spray finishing, and industrial gases, and is one of the largest independent Fluid Power companies in the UK. The technical foundation rests on distributed best-in-class manufacturer platforms (Atlas Copco, Festo, IMI Norgren, HYDAC, HPC/Kaeser, Gardner Denver, Boge, Avelair) layered with proprietary service offerings including the Guardian Service Plan (fixed-price multi-year maintenance contracts), ultrasonic leak detection, flow monitoring, AIRnet modular pipework, VSD+ variable-speed-drive compressor technology, and PSSR 2000 Written Scheme of Examination compliance documentation. The company operates from a single headquarters serving South Wales and the West of England (Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Bristol, Stroud, Swindon) with a field-sales and service-engineer-led go-to-market targeting enterprise customers in aerospace, manufacturing, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, transport, education, chemical, and energy verticals. Revenue is generated through a mix of hardware product sales, recurring multi-year service contracts, professional installation and commissioning, and hire/leasing of compressor equipment, with pricing primarily quote-based and complemented by a self-service e-commerce shop for consumable parts.

Name

Control Gear

Legal name

Control Gear Group Ltd

Website

https://controlgear.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Control Gear Group is a UK-based independent fluid power specialist (est. 1973) supplying industrial air compressors, pneumatics, hydraulics, vacuum pumps, filtration, and related services to enterprise customers across South Wales and the West of England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Fluid Power Equipment

NAICS

Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing (332912), Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391), Fluid Power Pump and Motor Manufacturing (333996), Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing (333912), Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415)

SIC

Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561), Gaskets, Packg & Sealg Devices & Rubber & Plastics Hose (3050), Steam & Air-Conditioning Supply (4961)

akta.pro primary industry

Pneumatic Components (FRLs, Cylinders, Valves) (IMAHAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hoses, Tubing & Fittings (Hydraulic/Pneumatic Lines & Connectors) (IMAHAGAH), Vacuum Systems & Components (Vacuum Pumps, Ejectors, Cups, Grippers) (IMAHAGAN), Pneumatic Air Preparation & Distribution (FRL assemblies, manifolds, air headers) (IMAHAGAD), Hydraulic, Pneumatic & Fluid Power Systems MRO (Cylinders, Pumps, Valves, Hoses) (TLAKAHAI)

Keywords

• Compressed air equipment
• Industrial fluid power
• Pneumatic systems
• Hydraulic components
• Vacuum pumps

Headquarters

HQ city

Pontypridd

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Sales of compressed air equipment, pneumatics, hydraulics, valves, filters, and industrial components through their e-commerce shop. Products sourced from manufacturer partners including Atlas Copco, Festo, IMI Norgren, and HYDAC.
2. Service and Maintenance Contracts: Guardian Service Plans providing all-inclusive maintenance coverage for 7-9 year terms, including scheduled servicing, parts, labour, and emergency call-outs. Flexible ad hoc servicing and support plans also offered.
3. Installation and Commissioning: Professional installation services including custom pipework for compressed air and gas generation systems, system commissioning, and retrofit services.
4. Hire and Leasing: Flexible air compressor hire and leasing options for short-term needs or businesses preferring operational expenditure over capital expenditure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Control Gear is an independent fluid power specialist that supplies, installs, and services industrial compressed air, pneumatic, hydraulic, vacuum, filtration, and process control equipment across South Wales and the West of England. As an authorised Atlas Copco Premier Distributor and partner of Festo, IMI Norgren, and HYDAC, the company sells air compressors, nitrogen generators, vacuum pumps, chillers, pneumatics, hydraulics, process valves, dust and fume extraction systems, industrial hoses, and filtration products, complemented by maintenance contracts (Guardian Service Plan), leak detection, flow monitoring, and PSSR 2000 compliance services.

Product overview

Control Gear Group is an independent fluid power company established in 1973, offering a comprehensive portfolio of industrial equipment, compressed air systems, and technical services. The core offering encompasses air compressors (rotary screw, piston, portable), pneumatics (Festo, IMI Norgren), hydraulics (HYDAC), process valves and actuators, industrial filtration, dust and fume extraction, hose and fittings, spray finishing systems, and nitrogen generators. The company provides related services including compressor servicing, leak detection, flow monitoring, PSSR 2000 compliance (Written Scheme of Examination), breathing air quality testing, and the Guardian Service Plan maintenance contracts. As an Atlas Copco Premier Distributor, Control Gear also offers SMARTLINK remote monitoring and AIRnet modular pipework systems. The portfolio operates as a multi-product industrial solutions ecosystem rather than a single unified platform, serving sectors including aerospace, agriculture, automotive, chemical, construction, electronics, energy, food and beverage, logistics, manufacturing, medical, mining, oil and gas, packaging, pharmaceutical, recycling, defence, transport, and universities across South Wales, the West of England, and the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Air Compressors

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy savings up to 50% with VSD+ technology
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Atlas CopcocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAtlas Copco Premier Distributor providing comprehensive access to Atlas Copco compressed air equipment including GA series oil-injected compressors, ZT/ZR oil-free series, VSD+ technology, and SMARTLINK remote monitoring. Partnership enables one-stop solution for entire compressor fleets with full manufacturer support.
• FestocoreTechnology or IntegrationFesto Pneumatics & Automation partner providing industrial pneumatic components, automation systems, and smart pneumatics solutions. Partnership supports customised pneumatics solutions for diverse industrial applications.
• IMI NorgrencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorised IMI Norgren Distributor supplying industrial pneumatic valves, FRL units, and motion control equipment. Norgren brand consolidated under IMI Norgren in June 2024 alongside IMI Bimba and IMI Bahr.
• HYDACsupportingTechnology or IntegrationHYDAC hydraulic filtration and electronic solutions partner providing hydraulic system components, accumulators, and filtration products.
• HPC (Kaeser Kompressoren)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of industrial air compressors alongside Atlas Copco, Gardner Denver, Boge, and Avelair brands for comprehensive compressed air solutions.
• British Compressed Air Society (BCAS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association providing compressed air quality guidance and best practice standards including BCAS Guideline 102 for food and beverage grade compressed air. BCAS publications support compliance and training.
• British Fluid Power Association (BFPA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade association representing manufacturers and distributors of hydraulic and pneumatic equipment in the UK. Provides technical guidance including BFPA Data Book for cylinder sizing and holds secretariat for BSI committee MCE 18/-/3.
• British Retail Consortium (BRCGS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood safety certification scheme partnered through BCAS Guideline 102 for food manufacturers building prerequisite programmes and HACCP plans involving compressed air.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Emerson / ASCO: Industrial valve, solenoid, and process-control manufacturer with broad UK presence; overlaps with Control Gear's process valves and actuator product line on the same industrial customers.
• Festo: Global pneumatics and automation manufacturer whose products Control Gear distributes as an authorised partner; Festo also sells direct and through other UK partners, overlapping on pneumatic components, cylinders, valves, and automation solutions.
• HYDAC: Manufacturer of hydraulic filtration, accumulators, and electronic control solutions — products Control Gear distributes and services — with direct UK sales teams competing for industrial hydraulic system specifications.
• SMC Corporation: Global pneumatics and automation components manufacturer with direct UK subsidiary; competes with Control Gear's Festo and IMI Norgren pneumatic product offerings across cylinders, valves, FRLs, and air-preparation equipment.
• BOGE Kompressoren: German manufacturer of screw, piston, and oil-free compressors sold into UK industry through distributors, directly competing on the equipment lines Control Gear also specifies for its customers.
• Gardner Denver (CompAir): Owner of the CompAir brand of oil-injected and oil-free compressors, competing with Atlas Copco on the same rotary-screw and oil-free specifications that Control Gear supplies to UK manufacturing customers.
• IMI Precision Engineering: Owner of the IMI Norgren brand that Control Gear is an authorised distributor for; competes on pneumatic valves, FRL units, and motion-control products in the same UK industrial customer base.
• Kaeser Kompressoren: German manufacturer of industrial compressors and blowers with direct UK sales/service operations and distributor partners (including HPC, a Control Gear supplier partner). Competitor on the same compressed-air equipment specification across UK industrial accounts.
• Ingersoll Rand: Global compressed air and fluid power manufacturer with direct UK sales and service capability, competing head-to-head with Control Gear's Atlas Copco offering on screw compressors, dryers, and filters.
• Atlas Copco: Global manufacturer of compressors, vacuum pumps, and industrial tools that also sells directly and through a Premier Distributor network, of which Control Gear is one. Both supply compressed air equipment and service to overlapping UK industrial customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/controlgeargroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/control-gear

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Control Gear