Akron Hardware Employee Directory
WholesaleOhio, United States11-50 Employees
Akron Hardware is a specialized wholesale distributor that supplies door hardware, parts, and components, emphasizing reliable service and rapid fulfillment within the architectural hardware market. Based in Akron, Ohio, the company serves commercial and residential hardware customers, aiming to shorten lead times through a broad, ready-to-ship inventory. Founded in 1960 by Joe Orihel and Roger Judy in downtown Akron, the business pivoted from a small contract distributor toward nationwide distribution after recognizing the constraints of longer manufacturer lead times; in 1978 it became the first nationwide wholesale distributor of Corbin products. The company expanded its footprint with a new Akron facility and distribution centers in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, enabling two-day or faster shipping to most of the United States via FedEx Ground. In 2011, Akron Hardware acquired Hardware Supplies of America, adding assets in Greenville, NC, a fifth distribution center in Texas, and a sales office in North Carolina to support both commercial and residential markets. In 2017, the firm was acquired by High Road Capital Partners; the combined network with Midwest Wholesale Hardware and Strauss Lock Distributors is described as the door hardware industry's largest one-day shipping network, reinforcing the company's speed and breadth of inventory.