What Activ-Air Automation does

Activ-Air Automation Limited is a UK-based independent distributor of compressed air and pneumatic equipment, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Sutton, Surrey. The company serves four customer segments — MRO (maintenance and repair operations), end users (manufacturing facilities), OEMs, and resellers — through a five-branch regional network covering South of England and East Anglia, with offices in London (Sutton), Aylesbury, Bristol, Chelmsford, and Norwich. Activ-Air does not manufacture its own products; it is an authorised distributor for global brands including ALMiG, IMI Norgren, SMC, Festo, ABAC, and Hydrovane, offering the full combined portfolio of these vendors under one regional sales and service umbrella.

The product offering is organised around two categories. Air compressors span 0.5 kW to 250 kW, covering hobby and light industrial units (e.g., ALMiG Combi, Hydrovane rotary vane, ABAC light industrial, Activ-Air portable and diesel) through to industrial compressors (ALMiG Belt, Variable, Gear, Flex, V and G Drive series). Pneumatic equipment includes electric and pneumatic actuators, control valves, air preparation (filters, regulators, lubricators), fittings and tubing (Pneufit C, Pneufit Push-in, Pneufit S stainless steel), control panels, and instrumentation. Specialist categories extend the catalogue into air purification, medical air systems, hydrovane/vacuum/nitrogen, and energy saving with heat recovery, addressing regulated and efficiency-focused end markets.

Revenue is generated through one-time equipment sales from third-party manufacturers and recurring professional services covering installation, service, and repair. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales via the five-branch network and telephone sales desks, backed by on-call technical engineers and a 'large stockholding' at each branch for rapid fulfilment. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company is privately held with no disclosed parent, investors, or M&A activity in the input data.

Name

Activ-Air Automation

Legal name

Activ-Air Automation Limited

Website

https://activ-air.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Activ-Air Automation is a UK-based independent distributor of compressed air and pneumatic equipment serving MRO, manufacturing, OEMs, and resellers across South England and East Anglia through five regional branches under multi-vendor brand partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Compressed Air Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing (333912), Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing (333995), Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391)

SIC

Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

Air & Gas Compressors (General Purpose) (IMAHANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Actuators & Motion Devices (Linear, Rotary, Electric Actuators for Motion Control) (IMAHAGAG), Pneumatic Air Preparation & Distribution (FRL assemblies, manifolds, air headers) (IMAHAGAD), Vacuum Systems & Components (Vacuum Pumps, Ejectors, Cups, Grippers) (IMAHAGAN)

Keywords

• Air compressors
• Pneumatic equipment
• Compressed air systems
• Industrial equipment distribution
• Fluid control products

Headquarters

HQ city

Sutton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sale of air compressors and pneumatic equipment from leading manufacturers including ALMiG, IMI Norgren, SMC, Festo, ABAC, and Hydrovane brands.
2. Service and Repair: Installation, service and repair operations for compressed air equipment to maintain factory production.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Activ-Air Automation distributes air compressors (ranging from 0.5 kW to 250 kW) and pneumatic equipment including actuators, control valves, air preparation equipment, fittings, tubing, control panels, and instrumentation. The company also provides installation, service and repair support for compressed air systems across its five UK regional branches.

Product overview

Activ-Air Automation is a distributor of compressed air solutions and pneumatic equipment, not a software platform company. The offering consists of physical products organized into two core categories: Air Compressors (ranging from 0.5 kW to 250 kW for hobby/light industrial to industrial applications, including ALMiG branded compressors like Combi, Belt, Variable, Gear, Flex, and V/G Drive series, plus Hydrovane, ABAC, and Activ-Air branded portable and diesel units) and Pneumatic Equipment (including actuators, control valves, air preparation, fittings/tubing, control panels, and instrumentation). The company distributes multiple brand portfolios including IMI Norgren (Pneufit fittings, valves, cylinders), SMC (electric actuators, vacuum products, fluid control), and Festo (filters, regulators, valve terminals). Additional offerings include air purification, medical air systems, installation/repair services, and energy saving solutions. The business operates five regional branches across South of England and East Anglia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Air Compressors
• Pneumatic Equipment Wide range of pneumatic products including actuators, control valves, air preparation equipment, fittings, tubing, control panels, and instrumentation. Distributed from leading brands including IMI Norgren, SMC, and Festo.
• Air Purification Systems Air purification and treatment systems for compressed air quality control.
• Medical Air Systems Specialized compressed air systems designed for medical applications.
• Installation, Service & Repair Comprehensive installation, service and repair services for compressed air equipment, supporting customer factory production.
• Energy Saving & Heat Recovery Solutions for energy efficiency and heat recovery in compressed air systems.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IMI NorgrencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial partner distributing IMI Norgren pneumatic products including valves, cylinders, airline equipment, fittings, and tubing. Comprehensive range of Pneufit C, Pneufit Push-in, and Pneufit S stainless steel fitting ranges.
• SMCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorised distributor of SMC pneumatics products including electric actuators, control valves, airline equipment, fittings and tubing, vacuum products, sensors, switches, and fluid control equipment. SMC is the worldwide leading expert in pneumatics with 12,000 basic products and 500 sales offices in 83 countries.
• FestocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorised distributor of Festo pneumatics including filters, regulators, lubricators, valve and valve terminals, cylinders, actuators, fittings and tubings. Festo is a worldwide symbol of expertise in factory automation for more than 60 years.
• ALMiGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorised distributor of ALMiG compressors including Combi, Belt, Variable Speed, Gear, Flex, and V and G Drive series. Products range from 5.5 kW to 200+ kW for industrial applications.
• ABACminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorised distributor of ABAC light industrial compressors ranging from 2.2 kW to 15 kW.
• HydrovaneminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorised distributor of Hydrovane compressors, the world-famous brand supporting small workshops around the world.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• CompAir: Established UK and European compressed air equipment manufacturer with a broad compressor portfolio (oil-injected, oil-free, VSD, portable). Competes head-to-head with Activ-Air in UK industrial compressor sales and service.
• Ingersoll Rand: Global compressor and flow control manufacturer with a strong UK presence serving industrial, MRO, and OEM customers. Overlaps with Activ-Air in compressor and pneumatic product lines through direct and channel distribution.
• Atlas Copco UK: Global leader in compressors and pneumatic products with a major UK direct sales and service operation. Direct overlap in compressor product lines (oil-injected, oil-free, VSD) and broad industrial customer base in the UK market, though it competes via direct OEM channels rather than independent distribution.
• Brammer (now Rubix UK): Major UK industrial MRO distributor with broad coverage of bearings, power transmission, fluid power, and compressed air products. Overlaps with Activ-Air in the pneumatic distribution and MRO end-market, competing for the same maintenance-driven customer spend.

Direct peers

• BOGE Kompressoren: German manufacturer and supplier of air compressors and compressed air systems, actively selling into the UK industrial market through direct and channel sales. Highly comparable to Activ-Air's ALMiG-distributed compressor range, serving overlapping end-users in MRO and OEM segments.
• Direct Air Compressors: UK independent distributor of compressed air equipment and accessories, providing sales, service, and spares across industrial and light-industrial customer segments. Closely matches Activ-Air's distributor-led business model and product range.
• Pneumatic Components Ltd (PCL): UK-based distributor of pneumatic components, fittings, actuators, and air preparation equipment from leading manufacturers. Directly comparable to Activ-Air's pneumatic-equipment distribution business, with similar product portfolio, customer segments, and technical-support-led value proposition.
• Airtec Pneumatics: UK distributor of pneumatic equipment, air preparation, fittings, and actuators serving industrial customers. Comparable regional distributor business with overlapping product lines (FRL, actuators, valves) and similar MRO / OEM / end-user segmentation.

Regional players

• HPC Compressed Air Systems: UK-based independent distributor of compressed air equipment and pneumatic products. Directly comparable regional/distributor business model with multi-branch coverage, multi-brand partnerships, and installation/service offerings similar to Activ-Air.
• Air Engineering & Supply (UK): UK independent compressed air specialist providing sales, installation, and servicing of air compressors and pneumatic equipment. Closely mirrors Activ-Air's regional-branch, multi-brand-distributor operating model in the UK industrial market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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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 Activ-Air Automation