What Imbert International does

Imbert International, Inc. is a privately held manufacturers' representative firm incorporated in Illinois and headquartered at 7030 N. Austin Avenue, Niles. Founded in 1950, the company sells engineered HVAC equipment — primarily cooling towers, plate and frame heat exchangers, computer room air conditioning, dehumidification, and air-handling units — into two end markets: the Chicagoland commercial construction industry, where it has operated for 75+ years, and U.S. commercial controlled-environment agriculture (cannabis) cultivation facilities, a vertical it entered in 2019.

The business model is agency-style: Imbert holds authorized-rep relationships with more than 30 manufacturers (including Baltimore Aircoil, Alfa Laval, Seresco, HVAC Manufacturing, Bard Manufacturing, ClimateCraft, Swegon, Colmac, and Delta Therm) and earns commissions on the engineered HVAC products it specs and places on construction projects. The company highlights a team with more than 300 combined years of mechanical-engineering experience, and it complements front-end specification work with adjacent service capabilities including equipment start-up, replacement parts, acoustical construction, and a referral partnership with Chicago Cooling Tower Company for aftermarket service. The most recent product launch is the Seresco NSpire indoor dehumidifier (up to 16 tons, integral centrifugal condenser, no outdoor condenser required), which Imbert represents as an exclusive innovation partner.

There are no disclosed funding rounds, no institutional investors, no acquisitions or leadership changes, and no public financial filings. Operating scope is described as Midwest / United States, with the cannabis line extending the firm's commercial reach nationwide. Social, app, and API footprints are absent or undisclosed, consistent with a relationship-driven B2B rep agency rather than a software-enabled business.

Name

Imbert International

Legal name

Imbert International, Inc.

Website

https://imbertcorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Imbert International is a 1950-founded Illinois manufacturers' representative firm that sells engineered cooling towers, plate and frame heat exchangers, and HVAC equipment from 30+ principals to Chicagoland commercial contractors and U.S. commercial cannabis cultivators, earning commissions on specified project sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HVAC Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies (Hydronics) Merchant Wholesalers (423720)

SIC

Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040), Steam & Air-Conditioning Supply (4961)

akta.pro primary industry

HVAC, Water Heaters & Indoor Air Quality Distribution (CRAOAFAJ)

Keywords

• Cooling tower distribution
• HVAC manufacturers representation
• Plate frame heat exchangers
• Industrial cooling equipment
• Commercial HVAC solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Niles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Manufacturer Representative Commissions: As a manufacturers' representative, Imbert International generates revenue through commissions from the HVAC equipment manufacturers they represent. They provide sales, service, and support for engineered products including cooling towers, heat exchangers, and air conditioning systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Imbert International is a manufacturers' representative firm that sells engineered cooling towers, plate and frame heat exchangers, computer room air conditioning, dehumidifiers, and a full line of quality HVAC products to commercial construction contractors in the Chicagoland area and to commercial cannabis growers across the U.S. The firm acts as an intermediary between 30+ HVAC manufacturers and end-user contractors, bundling technical sales support, equipment service, replacement parts, and acoustical construction services around the represented product lines.

Product overview

Imbert International is a manufacturers' representative company that has been providing engineered cooling towers, plate and frame heat exchangers, computer room air conditioning, and a full line of quality HVAC products and solutions to the Chicagoland construction industry since 1950. The company operates as a multi-brand distributor representing over 30 different manufacturers including BAC, Alfa Laval, Seresco, and others. Their portfolio centers on commercial cooling and dehumidification solutions, serving markets including cannabis industry HVAC since 2019.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cooling Towers

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Baltimore Aircoil (BAC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBaltimore Aircoil (BAC) is a key manufacturing partner for cooling towers, representing one of Imbert's primary product categories.
• Alfa LavalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlfa Laval is a manufacturer partner providing plate and frame heat exchangers to Imbert's customer base.
• Seresco dehumidificationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeresco is a key partner for dehumidification products including the NSpire dehumidifier, which Imbert represents as exclusive innovation partner.
• Agronomic IQminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgronomic IQ is a manufacturer partner serving the cannabis/agricultural HVAC market segment.
• Delta ThermminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelta Therm is an industrial heating equipment manufacturer represented by Imbert.
• HVAC ManufacturingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHVAC Manufacturing is a core manufacturing partner for Imbert, providing various HVAC equipment and technology solutions.
• ClimateCraftminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClimateCraft is a manufacturer partner for specialized climate control equipment.
• Franklin ElectricminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFranklin Electric provides electric motors and drives, represented as part of Imbert's product portfolio.
• Bard Manufacturing Co.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBard Manufacturing provides specialized HVAC units represented by Imbert.
• Colmac CoilminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColmac Coil provides coil products for heat exchange applications.
• Composite Cooling SolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComposite Cooling Solutions provides composite cooling tower solutions.
• SwegonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwegon provides air handling and ventilation equipment.
• RGF Environmental GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRGF Environmental provides air purification and environmental control systems.
• QuestminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQuest provides dehumidification and water heating solutions for commercial applications.
• DriSteem HumidificationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDriSteem provides commercial humidification systems.
• Petra EngineeringminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPetra Engineering provides custom HVAC solutions.
• Climate MasterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClimate Master provides heat pump and HVAC systems.
• Colmac WaterheatminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColmac Waterheat provides water heating equipment.
• Mason IndustriesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMason Industries provides vibration isolation and seismic restraint products.
• American WheatleyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmerican Wheatley provides HVAC equipment and accessories.
• Armstrong / MetalworksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArmstrong/Metalworks provides heating and cooling equipment solutions.
• HyspanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHyspan provides expansion joints and connectors for piping systems.
• High-K Heat ExchangerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHigh-K Heat Exchanger provides specialized heat exchange solutions.
• Griswold ControlsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGriswold Controls provides flow control valves and systems.
• International EnvironmentalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational Environmental provides environmental control solutions.
• PurofluxminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPuroflux provides filtration and separation equipment.
• Van-Packer CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVan-Packer provides custom air handling units.
• ClimacoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClimacool provides cooling solutions.
• EasyWaterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEasyWater provides water treatment solutions.
• Chicago Cooling Tower CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChicago Cooling Tower Company is recommended by Imbert for existing cooling tower service needs, providing a referral partnership for ongoing maintenance services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Alfa Laval: Global supplier of heat exchangers, including plate and frame heat exchangers. A direct manufacturer partner of Imbert and an upstream comparable for the plate heat exchanger product line Imbert channels to construction customers.
• Lennox International: HVAC manufacturer of commercial and residential equipment. A relevant ecosystem peer because Lennox's product portfolio is part of the competitive set Imbert's manufacturer partners (and competitors) offer to commercial customers.
• Carrier: Global HVAC manufacturer whose equipment is commonly represented by rep firms including Imbert. Listed as a peer because Carrier is one of the principals Imbert's channel partners distribute, defining the addressable product set Imbert competes within.
• Baltimore Aircoil Company (BAC): Global manufacturer of cooling towers, evaporative fluid coolers, and ice thermal storage. A direct manufacturer partner of Imbert and a comparable provider of the core cooling tower products Imbert represents to its Chicagoland customers.
• Trane Technologies: Global HVAC manufacturer with a broad commercial equipment portfolio. A key principal in the HVAC rep ecosystem; Trane's product line shapes the demand Imbert channels to Chicagoland contractors.

Broad incumbents

• Watsco: Largest U.S. HVAC distributor (Carrier, Rheem, Goodman). Operates a similar intermediary model between HVAC manufacturers and contractors, though at vastly greater national scale than Imbert.
• Ferguson Enterprises: Largest U.S. distributor of plumbing, HVAC, and waterworks supplies to contractors. While much larger and broader in scope, Ferguson is comparable as a B2B HVAC channel partner serving commercial construction buyers, the same customer base Imbert serves.

Direct peers

• R.E. Michel Company: Wholesale distributor of HVAC equipment, parts, and supplies serving contractors across the U.S. Closely comparable to Imbert in the B2B HVAC channel intermediary model serving commercial construction.
• Johnstone Supply: HVAC distributor cooperative serving independent contractors. Like Imbert, operates as an intermediary between manufacturers and HVAC contractors with a focus on engineered products and parts.

Regional players

• Gensco: Regional HVAC distributor serving the Pacific Northwest and Western U.S. Comparable to Imbert in operating as a manufacturer's representative/distributor for commercial HVAC equipment, but in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Imbert International