Companies in this industry distribute supplies for machinery and equipment used in the manufacturing, oil and gas, and warehousing industries. Major US companies include Applied Industrial Technologies, Fastenal, MRC Global, MSC Industrial Direct, Vallen Distribution, and WW Grainger.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
The entry of online retailers, primarily Amazon Business, into the industrial supply wholesale space has disrupted the business models of traditional players and intensified competition. Online B2B retailers often offer price comparison tools that allow customers to select from several different suppliers, forcing some established industrial supply wholesalers to reduce their prices.
PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Major products include industrial materials and supplies, accounting for about 25% of the industry's revenue, followed by industrial containers and supplies (about 20%), and mechanical power transmission supplies (about 20%). Other products include valves and fittings as well as bearings and bushings.