What Midwest Technology Products does

Midwest Technology Products is a family-owned educational supply distributor headquartered in Sioux City, Iowa, operating under four generations of Peete family ownership since its founding in 1909 as Peete's Hardware. The company has exclusively focused on K-12 education markets for over 50 years and currently offers more than 10,000 products sourced from 700+ vendors across STEM, Career & Technical Education (CTE), Makerspace/Fab Lab, Safety, Furniture, and Supplies & Tools categories. Vendor relationships span premium brands such as Bosch, DeWalt, Festool, JET, Miller Electric, SawStop, and Sphero, with the catalog organized into specialized buyer guides (Welding, STEM, Metalworking, Woodworking, Automotive, Tool List, and the 2026-2027 full catalog).

The business operates a BigCommerce-powered e-commerce storefront supported by phone-based sales (1-800-831-5904) and competitive bidding/RFQ processes, with participation in the AEPA cooperative purchasing program (Contract 022.5B) covering 28 member cooperatives that collectively serve more than 25 million students. Schools transact on Net 30 payment terms with purchase orders, while individual non-school buyers face a $50 minimum and prepayment requirement; orders above $1,500 qualify for free shipping. Value-added services include custom kits and bundles, same-day quotes, price matching on equivalent items, and on-site installation for furniture and equipment.

The company employs approximately 6 people and does not disclose revenue, funding, or institutional ownership. Great-granddaughter Robin Peete assumed day-to-day operational leadership in 2004. Products are distributed nationally within the United States; international orders are not accepted through the website and require phone contact. The technology footprint is limited to the e-commerce platform, with no proprietary software, mobile app, API, or AI capabilities disclosed.

Name

Midwest Technology Products

Legal name

Midwest Technology Products

Website

https://midwesttechnology.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Family-owned K-12 educational supply distributor (founded 1909, Sioux City, IA) offering over 10,000 STEM, CTE, and Makerspace products from 700+ vendors through e-commerce, AEPA cooperative purchasing, and competitive bidding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Toy and Hobby Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423920), Hardware Retailers (44414), Electronics and Appliance Retailers (4492)

SIC

Wholesale-Hardware (5072), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070), Wholesale-Furniture & Home Furnishings (5020)

akta.pro primary industry

DIY Kits, STEM Electronics & Maker Bundles Retail (CRACAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Noncommercial/Institutional Broadline Distributors (K-12, Higher Ed, Healthcare, Government) (AFAIAAAC)

Keywords

• STEM educational supplies
• Career technical education
• Makerspace equipment
• School shop supplies
• Educational furniture distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Sioux City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: One-time product sales of STEM, CTE, and Makerspace equipment and supplies to educational institutions. Includes tools, machinery, safety products, furniture, and consumable supplies. School orders accepted on Net 30 terms with purchase orders. Personal/non-school orders require prepayment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Midwest Technology Products is a family-owned distributor and reseller of STEM, CTE, and Makerspace equipment, supplies, safety products, and furniture for K-12 schools. The company operates a BigCommerce e-commerce storefront with over 10,000 products sourced from 700 vendors including Bosch, DeWalt, Festool, JET, Miller Electric, SawStop, and Sphero, and supports schools through AEPA cooperative purchasing, direct phone sales, and competitive bidding.

Product overview

Midwest Technology Products is a family-owned educational supplier offering a catalog of over 10,000 products from 700 vendors for STEM, CTE, and Makerspace programs. The core offering consists of product categories including STEM Products (Alternative Energy, Audio & Video, Building & Engineering, Electronics Project Kits, Robotics, Science, VR & AR), Fab Lab & Makerspace equipment (3D Printing, CNC Machines, Laser Cutters, Vinyl Cutters), CTE supplies (Automotive, Welding, Woodworking, Metalworking, HVAC, Small Engine), Safety Products, Furniture, and Supplies & Tools. The company publishes multiple specialized catalogs (2026-2027 Catalog, Welding Catalog, STEM Catalog, Metalworking Highlights, Woodworking Highlights, Automotive Catalog) and offers custom kits, bundles, and packages. Major vendor brands include Bosch, DeWalt, Diversified Woodcrafts, Festool, Miller Electric, SawStop, and Sphero. Schools can purchase through AEPA cooperative purchasing contracts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STEM Products Educational STEM products including Alternative Energy, Audio & Video, Building & Engineering, Electronics Project Kits, Electronics Supplies, Robotics, Science, and VR & AR items for K-12 classrooms.
• Fab Lab & Makerspace Equipment Makerspace equipment including Arts and Crafts, Heat Press, CNC Machines, 3D Printing, Laser Cutters, Plastics & Mold Making, and Vinyl Cutters for educational facilities.
• CTE (Career & Technical Education) Supplies CTE supplies for Automotive, Drafting, Electrical & Lighting, HVAC, Foundry Supplies, Industrial Technology, Metalworking, Small Engine, Welding, and Woodworking programs.
• Safety Products Safety equipment including Anti-Restart Devices, Eye & Face Protection, Eye Wash & Shower Stations, Fire Blankets, First Aid Supplies, Gloves, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Protection, Safety Signs, Safety Cabinets, Safety Cans, and Safety Tape and Paint.
• Educational Furniture Educational furniture including Tables & Chairs, Workspaces, and Storage solutions for classrooms and workshops.
• Supplies & Tools General supplies and tools for educational settings, including consumables and hand tools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Schools pre-approved for purchasing
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies (AEPA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAEPA is a nationwide group of non-profit educational organizations working collaboratively to save school districts time and money through cooperative purchasing. AEPA has more than $330 million in annual projected purchases, 28 member cooperatives, representing schools serving more than 25 million students. Midwest participates in AEPA Contract 022.5B for Career and Technical Education products.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Really Good Stuff: K-12 classroom supplies and educational materials retailer selling to teachers and schools; shares the teacher-direct and school-District customer base even if CTE is less central.
• Arbor Scientific: STEM/physics supplies specialist serving middle and high school science classrooms; comparable in STEM electronics, robotics, and physics lab equipment.
• School Specialty: Largest scaled K-12 supplies distributor in the US; directly competes with Midwest on classroom, STEM, and CTE equipment sold into the same school procurement workflows.
• Frey Scientific: K-12 science and STEM supplies distributor with school-focused catalogs and procurement terms, comparable to Midwest's STEM-side offerings.
• Paxton/Patterson: Specialty distributor of CTE and industrial-technology equipment to K-12 schools; competes head-on with Midwest's automotive, welding, metalworking, and woodworking categories.
• Pitsco Education: Direct competitor in K-12 STEM, CTE, and Makerspace curriculum and equipment, with overlapping product categories (robotics, 3D printing, makerspace kits) and the same school-district customer base as Midwest.
• Ward's Science: Educational science and STEM supplies distributor serving K-12 and higher-ed labs; comparable e-commerce-plus-school-account model and overlapping STEM category.

Broad incumbents

• W.W. Grainger: Massive industrial MRO distributor with an education vertical; competes with Midwest on tools, safety, and shop equipment but from a far broader industrial catalog and sales force.
• MSC Industrial Direct: Industrial supplies distributor with metalworking, tooling, and safety lines that overlap Midwest's CTE catalog; an institutional buyer alternative for school shop programs.

Emerging players

• Amazon Business: Growing institutional procurement channel for K-12 schools, offering broad tools/safety/MRO assortments at aggressive pricing; a competitive threat to Midwest's commodity and AEPA-routed orders.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/midwest-technology-products

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 Midwest Technology Products