Applied Controls

What Applied Controls does

Applied Controls Corporation, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an industrial process-controls manufacturer's representative serving refining, power, chemical, food and beverage, cement, and general-industry customers across the central United States through field offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Kansas City. Its portfolio spans heat trace and heating systems (Thermon), online gas and liquid analyzers including CEMS compliance solutions (Mettler Toledo INGOLD/THORNTOWN, ThermoFisher Orion, RC Systems, Galvanic Applied Sciences), instrumentation and enclosures, and electrical controls for explosion-proof and hazardous-area applications (Siemens, Pepperl+Fuchs, Intertec, KENCO Engineering).

The company operates a manufacturer's-rep business model: it holds territorial representation rights from a roster of process-instrumentation OEMs and earns commissions/specification-driven revenue on the equipment it specifies into plant projects. Applied Controls has incrementally extended beyond pure distribution into value-add engineering, offering dedicated heat trace engineering and project services for Thermon systems, which raises the technical content of each sale and deepens its role in capex and turnaround cycles.

Applied Controls is part of the FloWorks International LLC (formerly Shale-Inland Holdings) family of process-industry brands, giving it access to cross-company sourcing, distribution, and customer relationships within a larger industrial holdings platform. The firm employs between 11 and 50 people, is led by President Tim Leger, and does not publicly disclose revenue.

Name

Applied Controls

Legal name

Applied Controls Corporation

Website

https://appliedcontrolscorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Applied Controls Corporation is a Tulsa-based manufacturer's representative for industrial process controls, representing Thermon, Siemens, Mettler Toledo, and other OEMs in heat trace, analyzers, instrumentation, and hazardous-area electrical controls for refining, power, chemical, food and beverage, and cement customers across the central United States, and is part of the FloWorks International family of brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Process Controls Distribution

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)

akta.pro primary industry

Process Automation Instrumentation & Control (DCS, Valves, Actuators, Analyzers) (IMAHAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pneumatic Components (FRLs, Cylinders, Valves) (IMAHAGAC), Control System Integration & Engineering Services (Design, Commissioning, Retrofits) (IMAGABAK)

Keywords

• Industrial process controls
• Online analyzer systems
• Heat trace engineering
• Process instrumentation
• Manufacturer representative services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tulsa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Manufacturer's Representative Sales: Applied Controls serves as a manufacturer's representative for industrial process control manufacturers, earning commissions on sales of process controls including online analyzers, measurement instruments, electrical controls, and heat trace/heating systems.
2. Heat Trace Engineering Services: Provides engineering-based solutions for complete heat tracing systems including initial planning, scope development, engineering design services, audits & as-builts, training, and technical support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Applied Controls is a manufacturer's representative that sells industrial process controls — including online analyzers, measurement instruments, electrical controls, and heat trace/heating systems — on behalf of quality manufacturers to refining, power, chemical, food & beverage, cement, and general industry customers. The company supplements product distribution with engineering services for heat tracing system design and turnkey analyzer system solutions from initial design through start-up, training, and ongoing service.

Product overview

Applied Controls is a manufacturer's representative of industrial process controls serving refining, power, chemical, food & beverage, cement, and general industry sectors. The company operates as a distributor and service provider representing quality manufacturers of process controls across four main product categories: Heat Trace/Heating Systems, Online Analyzers, Instrumentation & Enclosures, and Electrical Controls. They offer engineering services for heat trace systems and provide turnkey solutions for on-line continuous analyzer systems from design through installation and servicing. The portfolio includes products from represented manufacturers including Thermon, Siemens, Mettler Toledo, ThermoFisher-Orion, Pepperl+Fuchs, RC Systems, Galvanic Applied Sciences, Intertec, and Kenco Engineering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Heating Systems Industrial heating systems and heat tracing solutions including electrical and steam heat trace products, heated blankets, heating systems, and tubing bundles sourced from represented manufacturers, targeted at industrial process companies needing freeze protection, condensation prevention, and process temperature maintenance.
• Online Analyzers Online continuous analyzer systems for gas and liquid analysis, ranging from wall-mounted units to complete shelter houses, engineered for hazardous areas (NEC, CSA Class 1 Division 1, 2 and IEC & ATEX Zones 0, 1, 2) and including CEMS compliance solutions. Targeted at refining, power, chemical, food & beverage, and cement operators requiring continuous process measurement.
• Instrumentation & Enclosures Process instrumentation solutions including devices for pressure, temperature, flow, level, and weight measurement, plus protective enclosures for sensitive field-mounted instruments. Targeted at industrial process plants requiring reliable measurement and field instrument protection.
• Electrical Controls Electrical explosion-proof controls designed for industrial and hazardous area applications, sourced from represented manufacturers (including Pepperl+Fuchs, inventor of the proximity switch). Targeted at process plants operating in classified hazardous locations.
• Heat Trace Services Engineering-based solutions for complete heat tracing systems, including initial planning, scope identification, preliminary feasibility studies, design engineering services, audits and as-builts, training, technical support, and liaison between manufacturers and contractors during installation. Targeted at industrial process operators needing turnkey heat trace project coordination.

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ThermoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresented manufacturer providing electrical and steam heat trace products including heat trace, heated blankets, heating systems, temporary power solutions, and tubing bundles.
• Mettler Toledo (INGOLD/THORNTON)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresented manufacturer specializing in pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, turbidity, CO2 for process analytics (INGOLD) and pure water treatment measurement for pharmaceutical, semiconductor and power industries (THORNTON).
• ThermoFisher Scientific (Orion)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresented manufacturer of water analysis instruments covering pH, ISE, conductivity, dissolved oxygen meters, electrodes, solutions, colorimetry and on-line process monitors for environmental, food and beverage, pharmaceutical markets.
• SiemenscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresented manufacturer providing complete portfolio of measuring instruments for extractive continuous process gas analytics, in-situ laser analyzers, and process instrumentation (pressure, temperature, flow, level, weight).
• RC SystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresented manufacturer specializing in ambient air monitoring and control with fixed and temporary ambient gas detection products using wired and wireless communications, known for reliability and performance.
• Galvanic Applied SciencescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresented manufacturer providing rugged, fit-for-purpose gas and liquid measurement systems solving critical process-analysis and measurement problems.
• Pepperl+FuchscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresented manufacturer pioneering electrical explosion protection and sensor technology, inventor of the proximity switch, serving customers worldwide.
• InterteccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresented manufacturer providing unique systems for reliable protection of sensitive field-mounted instruments.
• KENCO EngineeringcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresented manufacturer recognized as key supplier of instrumentation for oil and gas, petrochemical, power, pulp and paper industries, known for Liquid Level Gauges and Oil Level Controllers.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Rexel: Global electrical and industrial distributor (EPA: RXL) offering automation, energy efficiency, and process control products across multiple continents. Broad incumbent with overlapping categories in electrical controls, instrumentation, and hazardous-area products, though at much larger scale.
• Applied Industrial Technologies: Public industrial distributor (NYSE: AIT) selling bearings, power transmission, fluid power, and industrial products including process control and maintenance items. Broad incumbent in industrial distribution with overlapping channels to similar industrial process customers, though far larger and more diversified than Applied Controls.
• Sonepar: Privately held global electrical distribution leader operating in 40+ countries with industrial automation and process control offerings. Broad incumbent serving the same industrial customer base as Applied Controls, including hazardous area and instrumentation products.
• MSC Industrial Direct: Large public industrial MRO distributor (NYSE: MSM) supplying metalworking, maintenance, repair, and safety products to industrial customers. Broad incumbent with overlapping customer base in heavy industry though a different product mix (more metalworking/fasteners, less process instrumentation).
• WESCO International: Large public electrical and communications distributor (NYSE: WCC) offering process control, automation, and electrical products through its EES and CSS segments. Broad incumbent serving many of the same end markets (refining, power, chemical) with a complementary MRO and OEM portfolio.

Regional players

• Border States Electric: Private US employee-owned electrical distributor headquartered in North Dakota with strong central US presence (overlapping Applied Controls' Tulsa/Kansas City footprint). Regional distributor with industrial automation and energy customer overlap, though broader in scope.
• Davis Controls: Canadian industrial distributor and rep specializing in process instrumentation, gas detection, and analytical measurement. Regional peer with similar product focus (analyzers, measurement, hazardous area) but primarily serving Canadian customers.

Direct peers

• French Gerleman: Midwestern industrial distributor and manufacturer's representative of automation, electrical, and motion control products serving industrial customers. Direct peer in business model (independent rep with field sales engineers) and approximate geography (St. Louis-based, serving similar US Midwest industrial customers).
• SunSource (SunSource Holdings): Private industrial distribution and service platform focused on fluid power, motion control, and process technologies sold to industrial customers. Compare with Applied Controls as a specialty distributor/rep with a multi-vendor portfolio and value-added engineering services.
• Industrial Service Solutions (ISSI): US industrial services and distribution group providing process instrumentation, automation, and field services to industrial customers. Direct peer as a multi-line industrial rep and service provider with similar turnkey engineering and analyzer capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 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 Applied Controls