Specialty construction products may represent a small portion of a building project, but they are often essential to getting a facility ready for occupancy. Inter-Co Division 10 specializes in supplying and installing these critical finishing elements across large commercial and institutional projects throughout North America. We spoke with Jim Weber, President and Owner, about the company’s growth, its expansion into the New York market, and why specialization matters in Division 10 construction. 

 

Q: To start, can you tell us a bit about Inter-Co Division 10 and what you do? 

We are a specialty construction distribution company focused entirely on Division 10 products. That includes things like toilet partitions, lockers, washroom accessories, fire protection equipment, operable walls, and a wide range of other specialty items that go into buildings. 

The company was founded in Toronto in 1978, and I purchased it in 2009. Since then we’ve been on a fairly aggressive growth path. Today we’re the largest specialty distributor of Division 10 products in North America, and we supply and install these systems across major projects including office towers, hospitals, stadiums, schools, and public facilities. 

While what we do is often a small part of a very large project, it’s also a critical one. If the washrooms aren’t finished, the building can’t open. 

 

 

Q: Who are your typical customers on these projects? 

About 90 percent of our work is with general contractors. We work closely with their estimating teams early in the process, helping them budget the Division 10 scope of work before construction even begins. 

Large projects can take years from initial pricing to completion, so we often act as a trusted advisor during that early planning phase. Later in the project we work directly with project management teams as the building nears completion. Because we’re typically one of the final trades on site, our work happens right up against opening day. 

 

Q: Inter-Co has expanded significantly over the past decade. What’s driving that growth? 

Construction has been strong, and our customers have been very receptive to what we do. The biggest factor is specialization. Many competitors treat Division 10 products as an add-on to other lines of business, whereas it’s our entire focus. 

 

 

Q: You’ve recently expanded into the New York and New Jersey market. Why is that region important? 

If you want to be the leading Division 10 distributor in North America, you have to have a real presence in the New York market. The size and complexity of the projects there make it impossible to ignore. 

Last year we acquired ModuleX Partitions in Hillside, New Jersey, which gave us a strong local team and reputation to build on. We’ve since expanded into a larger facility in Kearny, New Jersey that positions us well to serve Manhattan, Long Island, and the surrounding region. 

 

 

Q: What can visitors expect when they stop by your stand at New York Build? 

We’ll have product samples and displays, but the most important thing we’re bringing to the show is our people. Our sales, estimating, and project management teams will be there to explain what we do and how we support our customers throughout the life of a project. 

For us, the show is really about introducing Interco Division 10 to the New York market and connecting with the contractors, designers, and facility teams working on projects in the region.