What King Industrial Supply does

King Industrial Supply is a privately-held regional industrial distributor headquartered in Tiffin, Ohio, founded in 1996 and operated since 2001 by co-owners Brent D. Busdeker and Jason Herbert. The company distributes cutting tools, abrasives, filtration products, industrial lubricants, gaging instruments, MRO/safety/hand tools, industrial vending solutions, and work-holding equipment to manufacturers primarily in Ohio. Its catalog is built on relationships with more than 50 named suppliers and manufacturers, including Kennametal, OSG, Cleveland Twist Drill, Walter, Haas, and Mitutoyo, allowing it to function as a multi-brand, broad-line value-added reseller rather than a single-vendor distributor.

The business operates a sales-led go-to-market model supported by a sales engineering team, an in-house tool reconditioning service, and an e-commerce storefront for transactional purchases. A higher-value service layer has been added through the AIS (Automated Inventory Solutions) vending partnership, which embeds automated inventory hardware at customer sites and deepens account integration. The combination of multi-brand supply, in-house reconditioning, and on-site vending positions the company as a technical solutions provider within its regional footprint rather than a pure catalog reseller.

The company employs between 11 and 50 people, has not disclosed external funding, and has maintained stable ownership for over two decades. Its revenue mechanics are typical of regional industrial distribution: a markup on distributed goods, supplemented by service and vending contract revenue. The absence of disclosed geographic expansion, M&A activity, or external capital signals a deliberate focus on organic, account-level growth within Ohio rather than a scaled national distribution play.

Name

King Industrial Supply

Legal name

King Industrial Supply, Inc.

Website

https://kingindustrialsupply.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

King Industrial Supply is a privately-held regional industrial distributor based in Tiffin, Ohio, selling cutting tools, abrasives, MRO supplies, gaging, and vending solutions from 50+ manufacturers to manufacturers primarily in Ohio, using a sales-led model with e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Supply Distribution

NAICS

Industrial Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423840), Industrial Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42384), Industrial Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (42383)

SIC

Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial MRO Supplies for Vehicle/Equipment Workshops (Bearings, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Fasteners) (TLAKAOAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workshop Tools, Equipment & Lift Systems Distribution (TLAKAOAM), Industrial Supplies & MRO Marketplaces (CRAFAHAA)

Keywords

• Industrial supply distribution
• Cutting tools distribution
• Abrasive products supply
• MRO supplies
• Plant filtration solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Tiffin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industrial Supply Distribution: Revenue generated through the distribution and sale of industrial supplies including cutting tools, abrasives, plant filtration, safety equipment, and MRO supplies to manufacturers. The company offers products through an online e-commerce store and direct sales channels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

King Industrial Supply distributes cutting tools, abrasives, plant filtration products, lubricants, gaging equipment, work holding devices, safety gear, hand tools, and automated inventory vending solutions to manufacturers. The company operates an e-commerce store (ecom.kingindustrialsupply.com) and a direct sales team, sourcing products from 50+ vendor partners across multiple industrial categories.

Product overview

King Industrial Supply is an industrial distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) supplies organized into eight product categories: Abrasives (discs, wheels, brushes, diamonds), Filters (plant filtration), Lubricants (coolant, oils, cleaners), Gaging (precision measurement), Cutting Tools (bandsaw blades, drills, endmills, taps), MRO/Safety/Hand Tools, Vending (automated inventory solutions), and Work Holding (collets, holders, live tooling). The company serves manufacturers through direct sales and an online e-commerce platform, distributing products from multiple vendor partners across all categories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Abrasives

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and moderate.

• ARC Abrasives, Inc.minorOthersVendor partner providing abrasive products including discs, wheels, and brushes for King Industrial Supply's product catalog.
• Brush ResearchminorOthersVendor partner supplying brushes for industrial applications.
• Buffalo Abrasives Inc.minorOthersVendor partner providing abrasive products.
• Continental Diamond (CDT)minorOthersVendor partner supplying diamond abrasives.
• CGW AbrasiveminorOthersVendor partner for abrasive products.
• Cibo Abrasives USAminorOthersVendor partner supplying abrasives.
• Ingersoll Cutting ToolscoreOthersKey vendor partner providing cutting tools including bandsaw blades, drills, endmills, reamers, inserts, and taps. A major supplier in the cutting tools category.
• GuhringcoreOthersKey vendor partner supplying precision cutting tools.
• KyoceracoreOthersKey vendor partner providing cutting tool solutions.
• American FiltrationminorOthersVendor partner providing filtration products for plant operations.
• Advanced Chemical SolutionsminorOthersVendor partner supplying coolants, oils, cleaners, and rust preventatives.
• AIS - Automated Inventory SolutionsmoderateTechnology or IntegrationVendor partner providing automated inventory solutions including vending technology for MRO supply management.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Fastenal: Major industrial and construction supplies distributor with a heavy direct-sales model and growing vending/onsite presence that mirrors King's AIS partnership direction. Overlaps with King on fasteners, cutting tools, and MRO consumables sold into manufacturers.
• Grainger: U.S. industrial supply incumbent with the broadest MRO catalog and the largest digital procurement platform. Competes with King for the same manufacturer customers but at a far larger scale and across many more product categories.
• Motion Industries: Large industrial distribution incumbent supplying bearings, power transmission, fluid power, and MRO items. Overlaps with King on the MRO/safety/hand tools side and competes for the same Ohio manufacturer customers, though broader and heavier on industrial components.

Direct peers

• Maritool: Specialty distributor of precision cutting tools, tool holders, and work holding products to manufacturers. Highly comparable product mix and similar mid-market manufacturer customer base, though smaller and more niche than King.
• MSC Industrial Direct: One of the largest U.S. distributors of metalworking and MRO supplies to manufacturers, with a catalog that directly overlaps King's cutting tools, abrasives, work holding, and MRO product lines. Comparable as a direct competitor targeting the same mid-market manufacturer buyer.
• KBC Tools & Machinery: Industrial distributor of cutting tools, abrasives, machinery, and MRO supplies focused on metalworking customers. Direct overlap with King in product categories and customer profile, with a stronger online catalog presence.
• Würth Industry North America: Division of the Würth Group focused on industrial supply, including cutting tools, fasteners, and MRO consumables sold into manufacturers. Comparable business model combining direct sales, technical support, and C-part management solutions.
• Travers Tool Co. Distributor specializing in cutting tools, abrasives, measuring instruments, and work holding — essentially the same product mix King carries. Comparable as a focused, mid-size industrial supply competitor targeting metalworking manufacturers.
• McMaster-Carr: Catalog and online distributor of industrial supplies including cutting tools, abrasives, work holding, and MRO items sold to manufacturers. Direct overlap in product categories and target customer, differentiated by national scale and a benchmark digital catalog.

Emerging players

• Zoro Tools: Online-first industrial and MRO supplies marketplace operated by Grainger. Competes with King's e-commerce storefront by offering broad selection, fast shipping, and transparent pricing to small and mid-sized manufacturers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kingindustrialsupply
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/king-industrial-supply-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 King Industrial Supply