Builders' Hardware and Specialty Company

What Builders' Hardware and Specialty Company does

Builders' Hardware and Specialty Company, operating under the multi-brand umbrella of CBX Solutions, is a private wholesale distributor and service provider of architectural and commercial door hardware and locking products in the United States. Founded in 1956 and headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with operational branches such as CBX Solutions 470 in Erie, Pennsylvania, the company supplies Doors, Frames, and Hardware (Division 8), Division 10 Specialties, Electronic Security and Communications Solutions (Division 27 & 28), and Movable Wall Systems to institutional and commercial customers. Its primary verticals are healthcare and education, with featured projects including Mount Nittany Health's 10-story patient bed tower, LECOM Medical Center's ER/ICU expansion, and Slippery Rock University's Student Success Center renovation.

The company operates an enterprise field-sales go-to-market model, with regional branch locations serving as combined sales and service centers staffed by specialized Maintenance, Repair, and Operation (MRO) teams. Beyond product distribution, Builders' Hardware generates revenue from a broad services portfolio including pre-construction consulting, specification and design support, installation and pre-installation, fire door inspections, engineering, locksmithing, systems integration, network solutions and A/V, managed services, and online buyer portals. Pricing is project-quote-based with multi-year contractual structures rather than published tiers, and customer relationships are anchored in long-cycle institutional construction and ongoing facility maintenance programs for facility managers, general contractors, architects, and developers.

The business model combines one-time product sales with recurring professional-services and aftermarket MRO revenue across multiple CSI construction divisions, targeting fragmented, compliance-driven demand from healthcare and education facility owners. Distribution is executed through a regional branch network that provides local presence while connecting customers to the broader CBX product portfolio and major architectural hardware brands. Operational scale is estimated at 101–250 employees with regional rather than national reach, and no public financial disclosures, funding history, or ownership details are available in the source material.

Name

Builders' Hardware and Specialty Company

Legal name

CBX Solutions

Website

https://builders-hardware.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Builders' Hardware and Specialty Company, operating as CBX Solutions, is a private wholesale distributor and service provider of architectural door hardware, electronic security, and Division 8/10/27/28 building products, serving healthcare, education, and facility management customers through a regional branch network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Door Hardware Distribution

NAICS

Hardware Retailers (44414)

SIC

Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Hardware & Door Controls (Hinges, Locks, Closers, Panic Devices) (IMADAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lock, Latch & Handle Hardware Repair/Replacement (Non-locksmith) (HSAGAEAF), Door Repair & Adjustment (Interior/Exterior, Hinges, Closers) (HSAGAEAA), Custom Window & Door Fabrication & Replacement (HSAPAJAI), Windows (IMADAIAC)

Keywords

• Architectural door hardware
• Commercial door solutions
• Electronic security systems
• Fire door inspections
• Installation and maintenance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Canton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Sale of architectural and commercial door hardware, locking products, and locking solutions for new and retrofit applications across various vertical markets.
2. Services Revenue: Revenue generated from installation services, pre-installation services, maintenance and repair services (aftermarket), engineering services, locksmithing, fire door inspections, and managed services.
3. Pre-Construction and Consulting Services: Revenue from specification, design services, and pre-construction consulting for door opening solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Builders' Hardware distributes and services architectural and commercial door hardware, locks, doors, frames, electronic security systems, and related building specialties (Divisions 8, 10, 27 & 28) for new construction and retrofit applications. The company sells all major brands of door hardware and complements these products with installation, pre-construction, fire door inspection, engineering, locksmithing, MRO maintenance, systems integration, and managed services for healthcare, education, and commercial facility customers.

Product overview

Builders' Hardware and Specialty Company (operating as CBX Solutions) is a distributor and service provider for architectural and commercial door hardware and locking products. The company offers a portfolio of hardware products including Doors/Frames/Hardware (Division 8), Electronic Security & Communications Solutions (Division 27 & 28), Division 10 Specialties, and Movable Wall Systems. These products are complemented by a suite of services including Fire Door Inspections, Pre-Construction Services, Installation & Pre-Install Services, Maintenance Services (Aftermarket & Repair), Engineering Services, Locksmithing, Systems Integration, Network Solutions & A/V, Buyer Portals, Specification & Design, and Managed Services. The company specializes in serving vertical markets including education and healthcare, providing both products and integrated service solutions for facility managers, general contractors, architects, and developers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Doors, Frames, and Hardware (Division 8) Architectural and commercial doors, frames, and hardware products for new construction and retrofit applications, covering Division 8 construction specifications and distributed across all major brands of door hardware and locking products.
• Electronic Security & Communications Solutions (Division 27 & 28) Electronic security and communications systems covering Division 27 and 28 specifications for access control, safety, and building communications.
• Division 10 Specialties Specialty construction products under Division 10 specifications, including specialties and accessories for architectural projects.
• Movable Wall Systems Flexible movable wall systems for commercial and architectural applications enabling reconfiguration of interior spaces.
• Fire Door Inspections Inspection services for fire door assemblies to ensure compliance with safety codes and regulations.
• Pre-Construction Services Consultation, design, and planning services delivered during the pre-construction phase of architectural projects involving door opening solutions.
• Installation & Pre-Install Services Professional installation of door hardware and opening solutions, including pre-installation preparation and coordination, delivered on-site through branch locations.
• Maintenance Services (Aftermarket & Repair) Ongoing aftermarket maintenance, repair, and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) support delivered through regional service centers and dedicated MRO teams.
• Engineering Services Technical engineering support for door opening solutions and architectural hardware specifications.
• Locksmithing Professional locksmithing services for commercial and architectural door hardware applications.
• Systems Integration Integration of electronic security and communication systems with building infrastructure and security platforms.
• Network Solutions & A/V Network infrastructure and audio-visual solutions supplied as part of building technology systems.
• Buyer Portals Online procurement and management tools for customers to order and track products and services.
• Specification & Design Design and specification support services for architects and project teams specifying door opening solutions.
• Managed Services Ongoing management and support services for installed systems, hardware, and door opening solutions.

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Whiting TurnercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral Contractor for Mount Nittany Health project (new 10-story patient bed tower and parking structure expansion). Represents a key project-based partnership in the healthcare construction segment.
• Coates ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral Contractor for Slippery Rock University Student Success Center renovation project. Key partnership in education sector construction projects.
• Strada Architecture LLCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitectural firm for Slippery Rock University Student Success Center project. Partnership involves specification and design collaboration for door opening solutions.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• W.W. Grainger: National industrial and facilities MRO distributor offering hardware, locks, and maintenance supplies to commercial and institutional buyers. Comparable to Builders' Hardware in serving facility-manager and maintenance buyer personas with hardware MRO products.
• ASSA ABLOY: Global manufacturer and distributor of door opening solutions, including locks, hardware, access control, and electrified solutions. Comparable as a broad incumbent across the same architectural hardware and electronic security categories that Builders' Hardware distributes.
• Allegion: Global manufacturer of security and door hardware brands (Schlage, Von Duprin, LCN) supplying institutional and commercial markets. Comparable to Builders' Hardware in target end markets (healthcare, education, commercial) and product scope across mechanical and electrified hardware.
• MSC Industrial Direct: Large national metalworking and MRO distributor serving industrial and institutional customers with hardware, tools, and maintenance supplies. Comparable to Builders' Hardware in MRO product distribution to facility and maintenance buyers, though broader in scope.
• dormakaba: Major global manufacturer of access solutions, door hardware, and entrance systems for commercial and institutional buildings. Overlaps with Builders' Hardware in Division 8 specifications, electronic access, and healthcare/education verticals.
• HD Supply Facilities Maintenance: Large national facilities maintenance and MRO distributor serving commercial, healthcare, and education customers with maintenance and repair supplies. Comparable to Builders' Hardware in serving facility managers with ongoing MRO and aftermarket needs.

Direct peers

• Security Lock Distributors: Independent architectural hardware and security products distributor serving the Northeast with multi-brand locks, door hardware, and access control. Closely comparable to Builders' Hardware in product mix, regional distributor model, and institutional customer base.
• Cook & Boardman: Likely parent/affiliated organization of Builders' Hardware (CBX Solutions), operating as a national distributor of architectural doors, frames, and hardware with branch locations across multiple states. Directly comparable in product portfolio, Division 8/10/27/28 service scope, and vertical-market focus on healthcare and education.
• R.R. Brink Locking Systems: Independent architectural door hardware and electronic security distributor with services including installation, key systems, and access control. Comparable to Builders' Hardware in product breadth, value-add services, and commercial/institutional target market.

Regional players

• Vallen Distribution: North American distributor of indirect MRO supplies, safety products, and maintenance services with a branch-based service model. Comparable to Builders' Hardware in regional branch-led distribution, MRO focus, and value-add services for industrial and institutional customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Builders' Hardware and Specialty Company