Our Company

From the beginning. We have set ourselves apart from competitors by:

Delivering the products that customers need, when they need them
Servicing our customers with unmatched efficiency
Establishing exclusive relationships with leading manufacturers
Assembling a product management team that offers outstanding sales support and technical expertise

Our History

Since its inception in 1974, United Central Industrial Supply has been dedicated to providing mine and industrial operators throughout North America with the highest quality supplies and repair services. During the first two decades of growth, we worked closely with our core mining customers to support their procurement activities, providing reliable sourcing and prices that they could rely on. We merged with several supply houses that were vertically integrated with mine operators, enabling United Central to add scale, while the mining companies focus solely on production activities.

Next, we focused on expanding our product categories and expertise to ensure the we could deliver the mission critical items that our customers required from us, including fluid conveyance, material handling and value-added expertise.

In 2018, we joined forces with SunSource, a pre-eminent engineered products, services and solutions platform across fluid power, fluid process, fluid conveyance, and automation. Being a SunSource company has enabled United Central to significantly expand beyond its core mining expertise to serve diverse array of industrial markets by leveraging an unrivaled product portfolio and technical expertise. We’ve maintained our culture and mission that has made successful … getting our customers the right product, at the right place, at the right time.

United Central has over 49 years of experience serving mining and industrial customers.  Our relationships with customers average 30 years and vendor relations average 40+ years.  Our focus on specific industries and our ability to understand customers’ needs has enabled United to perpetuate its position as the leading supplier to the markets we serve.

 

Our compelling value proposition includes the following key components:

Comprehensive Product Offering

  • One-stop shop with 70,000 SKU’s and #1 and #2 brands in the majority of products
  • Growing base of  specialty products (safety and electrical among others)
  • Exclusive distribution rights to multiple leading manufacturers

Unmatched Sourcing Efforts

  • Partner with more than 1,200 leading manufacturers
  • Scale drives ability to get better performance from vendors
  • Largest customer for majority of suppliers

Superior Distribution Network

  • Multiple branch locations in close proximity to customers
  • Just-in-time delivery for 90% of orders
  • United Central employees are on site a number of times each week, providing industry leading customer service

Bundle Service Offering

  • Extensive range of value-added services
  • Service centers provide factory-authorized repair
  • Unmatched technical expertise and product managers foster productive relationships

Customer-Oriented Focus

  • Deep relationships from the executive ranks to local staff at customer facilities
  • 24-hour service and availability
  • Offer customized programs and pricing to help customers achieve savings

Industry

United Central maintains long-term, trusted relationships with our customers by consistently exceeding expectations on key criteria such as availability, delivery time, technical expertise, value-added services, and low-cost solutions. As a testament to United Central’s customer value-proposition, our top customers have partnered with United Central for an average of nearly 25 years. Relationships span from the executive ranks to local staff, as United Central uses a multi-layered strategy aimed at developing as many touch points as possible to meet our customer needs. 

Suppliers

United Central sources the majority of its product offering from the #1 or #2 brand, enjoys relationships with the top ten suppliers for more than three decades, and has an extensive stable base of more than 1,200 suppliers. The breadth of United Central’s supplier network ensures UC’s ability to address customers’ product needs. United Central’s deep supplier relationships are supported through regular senior management interaction and United Central’s unique distribution capabilities. Manufacturers view United Central as a key partner that manages inventory availability in close proximity to customer sites, and interacts on a daily basis with our customers. United Central’s strong relationships with its suppliers, in combination with the volume of purchases, afford United Central tremendous leverage. In fact, United Central is often the
suppliers’ largest customer, positioning United Central to secure preferred service, delivery and aftermarket support at our customers facilities.

Products

United Central is a preferred supplier of products that combines the broadest product offering in the marketplace with value-added services to provide customers a complete set of solutions addressing all supply and related service needs. The Company distributes approximately 70,000 SKUs from over 1,200 manufacturers and offers the #1 or #2 leading brand in the majority of its products. 

Value Added Services

Leveraging 49+ years of experience of product distribution and delivering exceptional customer service, United Central offers an expanding set of services to enhance its value proposition. The Company’s services are comprised of (i) product managers and field service technicians that provide technical support, on-site training, and technical advice; (ii) product repair and maintenance; (iii) cable customization; (iv) 24-hour emergency service; and (v) inventory management.

Product Managers and Field Service Technicians

United Central’s product managers and dedicated field service technicians provide technical expertise and routinely visit customer sites to collaborate with them on product selection, on-site training, technical advisory, and regulatory compliance. These individuals visit customer locations across the country, averaging more than 180 days per year on-site at customer locations.

United Central’s advisory role with the customers positions us as a trusted partner plus fosters confidence with them to deliver the premium value required. Product managers and technicians are widely regarded in the industry as subject matter experts capable of providing technical expertise that provide a competitive advantage versus other competitors.

Repair and Maintenance

United Central’s factory authorized service centers represent a core component of UC’s overall value proposition. Primary focus of these centers is the repair of gas detection and communication products.

24-Hour Emergency Services

United Central’s 25+branch facilities are strategically located in close proximity to customers, enabling UC to provide emergency delivery services at any time. 

Inventory Management Services

United Central helps customers manage inventory of various products to minimize cost and maximize efficiency. United Central provides vendor-managed inventory services for several of its larger customers. In this program, a United Central representative visits the customer’s warehouse multiple times per week to gauge inventory levels. If products reach a predetermined minimum stock level, United Central will automatically replenish the customer’s inventory to a predetermined maximum stock level. This program ensures customers have the necessary products to continue operations and avoid downtime, while optimizing inventory levels. This is an added-value service.

Key Sales Resources

Field Sales Force

The field sales force consists of 30+ sales representatives who each manage a designated sales territory from a branch location under the supervision of the branch manager. Outside sales representatives are responsible for managing relationships with local customers, and performing on-site technical support and customer service.

Inside Sales Force

The inside sales force consists of more than sales representatives who function as the key points of contact for responding to general and routine customer inquiries. Inside sales representatives are primarily responsible for responding to price inquiries, availability requests, and new order fulfillment and tracking.

Product Managers and Field Service Technicians 

United Central’s product managers and dedicated field service technicians support the inside and outside sales representatives by representing a specific product group and providing customers with technical expertise, on-site training, and technical advice.

In summary United Central has the necessary resources and capabilities and financial strength to deliver premium value to various customers across multiple industry segments.

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