MSC

About MSC Industrial Supply

Few names in industrial distribution carry the weight and legacy of MSC Industrial Supply. Founded in 1941 by Sidney Jacobson as a small storefront operation in New York City's Little Italy, MSC set out with a singular focus: supplying quality cutting tools and accessories to local machine shops. Over the decades, that modest beginning grew into one of the largest industrial supply distributors in North America, with a catalog spanning more than 1.5 million metalworking and MRO products from over 2,000 leading brands.

The name "MSC" itself traces back to a pivotal 1970 acquisition — the Manhattan Supply Company — which helped transform the business from a regional tool supplier into a nationally recognized distributor. Headquartered in Melville, New York, MSC has continued expanding its footprint through strategic acquisitions over the decades, adding deep expertise in metalworking, fasteners, abrasives, and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supplies along the way.

A Legacy Built on Product Depth and Technical Expertise

What sets MSC apart from general-purpose suppliers is its roots in metalworking. MSC was the first company to bring a catalog concept to the cutting tools and metalworking industry — a pioneering move that eventually evolved into the legendary "Big Book," a comprehensive resource that became an industry standard. Today, that same commitment to depth and accessibility lives on through mscdirect.com, one of the most robust industrial e-commerce platforms in the country.

MSC's product lineup reads like a master checklist for any machine shop, manufacturing floor, or maintenance department. Core categories include:

• Cutting Tools – Indexable inserts, end mills, drill bits, threading tools, and saw blades for turning, milling, holemaking, and more
• Hand Tools & Power Tools – Industrial-grade wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, angle grinders, and specialty tools built for demanding environments
• Abrasives – Grinding wheels, sanding discs, flap wheels, and surface conditioning products across a wide range of grits and materials
• Measuring & Inspecting – Calipers, micrometers, combination squares, and precision gauging instruments
• Safety Equipment – Personal protective equipment (PPE), fall protection, first aid, and facility safety supplies
• Fasteners – Bolts, screws, nuts, and specialty OEM components from an expansive inventory built in part through the acquisition of All Integrated Solutions and Tower Fasteners
• Lubricants, Coolants & Fluids – Cutting fluids, machine oils, and metalworking coolants that extend tool life and improve surface finish
• Fleet Maintenance & MRO Supplies – Hose, fittings, valves, HVAC components, janitorial supplies, and everything needed to keep a facility running

More Than a Distributor

MSC's value goes beyond product selection. The company has built a reputation for technical support and application optimization — a team of specialists who can survey operations, recommend tooling improvements, and help customers reduce cycle times and total cost of ownership. Innovations like vendor-managed inventory (VMI) programs and industrial vending machine solutions reflect MSC's ongoing investment in making supply management seamless for its customers across automotive, aerospace, medical, and manufacturing sectors.

With more than 80 years of experience, a workforce of approximately 7,000 associates, and a network of Customer Fulfillment Centers designed to support rapid delivery, MSC Industrial Supply remains one of the most trusted names for professionals who depend on reliable tooling and supplies to keep their operations moving.