Industrial distribution has no shortage of acquisition-driven growth stories. What makes Singer Industrial different is how it has grown.
MDM’s latest case study report — authored by Executive Editor Mike Hockett — explores how the industrial rubber, fluid power and automation products distribution platform built a harmonious family of 55-plus distributors united toward a common goal without sacrificing the individual identities that make each of them thrive.
Premium members can view it right here as part of their subscription, and it’s available here in the MDM Store.
The report packages our three-part Premium article series that published during late February to mid-March along with additional reporting. It’s the eighth case study we’ve published since 2024. See the others, in order, below:
Read on below for a synopsis of what’s included in our Singer Industrial Case Study.
Over the past two decades, Singer has built a North American platform that spans 110-plus locations and roughly 1,500 employees. Yet despite that scale, Singer has resisted the urge to centralize everything under a single operating model.
Instead, the company has developed what it calls a “coordinated autonomy” approach — balancing shared resources, technology and strategic alignment with local leadership, entrepreneurial culture and market-level decision-making.
That philosophy has shaped nearly every aspect of Singer’s business, from how it evaluates acquisition targets and integrates new companies to how it invests in technology across its growing platform.
This new MDM Case Study examines the operating principles behind Singer’s growth and the lessons they offer for distributors navigating consolidation, succession planning, digital transformation and long-term strategic planning.
Drawing on exclusive interviews with President Pete Haberbosch and Chief Operating Officer Chris Holder, the report explores:
- How Singer preserves the identity and legacy of acquired distributors while building a unified platform
- The company’s disciplined, relationship-driven M&A strategy and acquisition criteria
- Why people and culture remain central to integration success
- How a multiyear ERP transformation is helping connect more than 55 operating businesses
- Singer’s evolving approach to data, AI and cybersecurity
Whether you lead an independent distributor, a multi-branch organization or an acquisition-focused platform, Singer Industrial’s story offers a compelling look at how scale, technology and local autonomy can work together to create sustainable growth.