E.J. Bartells
E.J. Bartells is a Renton, Washington-based industrial insulation distributor and fabricator serving industrial, commercial, and marine customers across the United States, operating as a subsidiary of Distribution International's 75+ branch specialty distribution network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1923
- HeadquartersRenton, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What E.J. Bartells does
E.J. Bartells is a Renton, Washington-based supplier of mechanical and industrial insulation, fabrication, refractory, and HVAC products, founded in 1923 and operating as part of Distribution International (legal entity Specialty Distribution Group, LLC, headquartered in Houston, TX). The company distributes a broad portfolio spanning aerogel (Cryogel, Pyrogel, ArmaGel), fiberglass, calcium silicate, mineral wool, ceramic fiber, elastomeric and polyethylene, phenolic, polyisocyanurate, polystyrene, PVC, and spray foam, alongside aluminum and stainless steel jacketing accessories, refractories, MRO supplies, and specialty items including fire wrap, abatement, and passive fire protection. The business is differentiated at the fabrication layer by its proprietary DI Fit branded products — DI Fit Aerogel Fittings and DI Fit Engineered Elbows — which are pre-engineered to reduce field labor and shipping costs versus site-fabricated alternatives.
The revenue model is a hybrid of one-time product distribution and value-added fabrication services, with pricing conducted via quote at order acceptance rather than public list pricing. Distribution International's stated GTM motion is enterprise field sales supported by a network of 75+ U.S. branch locations and an e-commerce storefront (shop.distributioninternational.com) with account login, quote request, and order tracking. Customer concentration is spread across nine verticals, with industrial & manufacturing, commercial construction, marine, and oil & gas identified as primary segments and food & beverage, power generation, government, healthcare, and OEM as secondary; key industries cited include petrochemical, heavy commercial, power generation, and food and beverage processing.
The business relies on a broad manufacturer partnership ecosystem — Johns Manville, Owens Corning, Rockwool, Aspen Aerogels, Armacell, 3M, Knauf, Morgan Advanced Materials, Alkegen, Aeroflex USA, and others — which underwrites product breadth and pricing competitiveness. Marketing is executed through content marketing (blog articles on elastomeric and thermal pipe insulation), webinars (the DI 101 series), and an Education Hub targeting top-of-funnel specifier engagement, with branch-based sales and the e-commerce platform functioning as bottom-of-funnel conversion channels.
E.J. Bartells firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- E.J. Bartells
- Legal name
- Specialty Distribution Group, LLC
- Website
- https://ejbartells.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1923
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- E.J. Bartells is a Renton, Washington-based industrial insulation distributor and fabricator serving industrial, commercial, and marine customers across the United States, operating as a subsidiary of Distribution International's 75+ branch specialty distribution network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
E.J. Bartells industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Insulation Distribution
- SIC
- Wholesale-Lumber & Other Construction Materials (5030)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Insulation Retail (Fiberglass, Foam Board, Spray Foam Kits) (CRAIAEAE)
Keywords
Where E.J. Bartells is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Renton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
E.J. Bartells business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Insulation Product Distribution: Distribution of industrial, commercial, and marine insulation products including Aerogel, Fiberglass, Calcium Silicate, Mineral Wool, Ceramic Fiber, Elastomeric, PVC, and related accessories. Products are sold through 75+ branch locations across the US.
- Custom Fabrication Services: Fabrication services for insulation materials including custom cutting, fitting, and finishing for specific project requirements. Services include DI Fit Aerogel Fittings, DI Fit Engineered Elbows, and custom fabrication of Fiberglass, Polyiso, and other materials.
- MRO and Specialty Products: Maintenance, repair, and operations supplies including safety equipment, tools, abatement products, HVAC components, and marine-specific insulation products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | B2B distribution pricing - quote-based |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
E.J. Bartells product offering
Product offeringCore offering
E.J. Bartells distributes mechanical and industrial insulation, fabrication, refractory, and HVAC products, supplying aerogel, fiberglass, calcium silicate, mineral wool, ceramic fiber, elastomeric, and PVC insulation alongside related accessories. The company offers custom fabrication services—including its proprietary DI Fit Aerogel Fittings and DI Fit Engineered Elbows—to industrial, commercial, marine, oil & gas, and construction customers through 75+ branch locations nationwide as part of the Distribution International network.
Product overview
Distribution International operates as an Industrial, Commercial & Marine Insulation Distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of insulation products, refractories, specialty products, MRO supplies, and fabrication services. The core offering includes insulation materials across multiple categories (Aerogel, Calcium Silicate, Fiberglass, Mineral Wool, etc.), supplemented by refractory products (Ceramic Fiber, Bricks, Castable), specialty offerings (Abatement, Fire Wrap, HVAC, Marine, Passive Fire Protection), and MRO supplies. The company differentiates through fabrication services including DI Fit Aerogel Fittings and DI Fit Engineered Elbows, which are proprietary branded products designed to reduce labor costs and improve safety.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DI Fit Aerogel Fittings: Innovative Aerogel Fittings designed to reduce labor and improve safety
- DI Fit Engineered Elbows
- DI
- Crossroads C&I
Products and services
- Industrial Insulation Products
- Refractory Products
- Specialty Products
- MRO Supplies (Maintenance, Repair, Operations)
- Custom Fabrication Services
- DI Fit Aerogel Fittings
- DI Fit Engineered Elbows
Companies that use E.J. Bartells
Customer profileSegments9 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
E.J. Bartells technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
E.J. Bartells partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Johns ManvillemajorManufacturer partner supplying fiberglass and mineral wool insulation products to Distribution International network of 75+ branches.
- Aspen AerogelscoreSupplier of aerogel insulation products (Cryogel, Pyrogel) which Distribution International distributes and fabricates into DI Fit Aerogel Fittings.
- Owens CorningmajorManufacturer partner supplying fiberglass insulation products through Distribution International branches.
- RockwoolmajorManufacturer partner supplying mineral wool insulation products through Distribution International.
- ArmacellcoreManufacturer of elastomeric insulation products distributed by Distribution International.
- 3MmajorSupplier of fire barrier solutions and insulation jacketing systems including 3M VentureClad, featured in DI 101 Webinar Series.
- Knauf InsulationmajorManufacturer partner supplying fiberglass and mineral wool insulation products.
- Morgan Advanced MaterialscoreManufacturer of ceramic fiber and refractory products distributed by Distribution International.
- AlkegencoreManufacturer partner supplying specialty insulation materials.
- Ideal Products of AmericaminorManufacturer partner in the Distribution International network.
- RPR ProductsminorManufacturer partner in the Distribution International network.
- Aeroflex USAcoreManufacturer of elastomeric insulation products distributed by Distribution International.
- Alpha Engineered CompositesminorManufacturer partner in the Distribution International network.
- Proto CorpminorManufacturer partner in the Distribution International network.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
E.J. Bartells competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- MSC Industrial Direct: Large industrial metalworking and MRO distributor serving manufacturers with broad maintenance and production supplies. Comparable in business model (B2B industrial distribution, large catalog) and customer base (industrial manufacturers), though without EJB's specialized insulation focus.
- Fastenal: Large industrial supply chain solutions provider selling fasteners, tools, and MRO to manufacturing, construction, and industrial customers through branches and on-site vending. Overlaps with EJB's B2B branch-based distribution model and industrial customer base as a broad incumbent.
- ABC Supply Co. Largest US wholesale distributor of roofing, siding, and building products serving contractors and builders. Comparable as a broad construction-supply incumbent with overlapping commercial construction and HVAC-adjacent categories, though EJB is more industrially focused.
- Ferguson Enterprises: Large US distributor of plumbing, HVAC, and industrial supplies serving mechanical contractors, commercial, and industrial customers. Overlaps with EJB on the HVAC/components side and shares a B2B contractor/government customer base at significantly larger scale.
- Grainger: Major US industrial MRO distributor serving plant, facility, and contractor buyers with a broad product catalog. Overlaps with EJB's industrial MRO and HVAC product categories and similar B2B customer base, but operates as a broad incumbent rather than an insulation specialist.
- HD Supply: Large multi-category facilities maintenance, MRO and construction supply distributor serving industrial, commercial, and infrastructure customers across the US. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating in adjacent insulation-adjacent categories (MRO, building materials) at much larger scale than EJB.
Direct peers
- Thermaxx Jackets: Manufacturer and distributor of removable/reusable insulation blankets and jackets for industrial and marine applications. Directly comparable niche to EJB's removable insulation blanket fabrication and industrial/marine end markets.
- Industrial Insulation Group (IIG): US manufacturer and fabricator of industrial insulation products (calcium silicate, perlite, mineral wool) for petrochemical, power, and process industries. Directly comparable to EJB on product categories, end markets, and value-added fabrication services.
- Specialty Insulation Group: Fabricator and distributor of industrial insulation products including pipe coverings, blocks, and engineered fittings for process and marine applications. Directly comparable to EJB on custom fabrication capabilities and industrial insulation customer base.
- Insulation Corporation of America (ICA): US fabricator and distributor of mechanical and industrial insulation, including pipe coverings and acoustical products. Directly comparable to EJB on industrial insulation fabrication, distribution model, and core mechanical insulation customer base.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
E.J. Bartells social profiles
Digital presenceE.J. Bartells financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
E.J. Bartells leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
E.J. Bartells funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
E.J. Bartells M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about E.J. Bartells
What does E.J. Bartells do?
E.J. Bartells distributes mechanical and industrial insulation, fabrication, refractory, and HVAC products, supplying aerogel, fiberglass, calcium silicate, mineral wool, ceramic fiber, elastomeric, and PVC insulation alongside related accessories. The company offers custom fabrication services—including its proprietary DI Fit Aerogel Fittings and DI Fit Engineered Elbows—to industrial, commercial, marine, oil & gas, and construction customers through 75+ branch locations nationwide as part of the Distribution International network.
Is E.J. Bartells a public or private company?
E.J. Bartells is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was E.J. Bartells founded?
E.J. Bartells was founded in 1923. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is E.J. Bartells based?
E.J. Bartells is headquartered in Renton, United States, in the North America region.
How does E.J. Bartells make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Insulation Product Distribution is the primary driver. The others are custom Fabrication Services and MRO and Specialty Products.
Who are E.J. Bartells's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are MSC Industrial Direct, Fastenal, ABC Supply Co., Ferguson Enterprises, Grainger and HD Supply. Direct peers are Thermaxx Jackets, Industrial Insulation Group (IIG), Specialty Insulation Group and Insulation Corporation of America (ICA).
Does E.J. Bartells have an API?
No public API is recorded for E.J. Bartells.
What industry is E.J. Bartells in?
E.J. Bartells's product category is Industrial Insulation Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAIAEAE, Insulation Retail (Fiberglass, Foam Board, Spray Foam Kits). Its SIC code is 5030.