A. O. Smith News

A. O. Smith, a pioneer in water heating and water treatment, announces the addition of the Point-Of-Use (POU) Electric Tankless Water Heater to its family of tankless products. The new unit features a reduced, compact footprint, making it easy to install at or near fixtures in light commercial and residential applications.   POU tankless water heater The POU tankless water heater does not require venting, making it an ideal fit for various applications that need immediate hot water...

A. O. Smith, a pioneer in water heating and water treatment, announces the addition of the Voltex® MAX hybrid electric heat pump water heater (HPWH) to its growing family of sustainable products. The Voltex MAX HPWH uses a new smart valve to deliver maximum hot water while the heat pump technology provides maximum savings at all times. The Voltex MAX HPWH can deliver homeowners around 40% higher First Hour Ratings than similarly sized electric water heaters and heat pump water heaters. Usin...

A. O. Smith, a pioneer in water heating and treatment, announces the introduction of the brand-new Learn and Earn training series. The set of courses rewards participants for learning the latest A. O. Smith technologies - the Voltex® AL Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) and the Adapt™ Tankless Water Heater. New and exciting technologies "A. O. Smith is constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation, and with these new and exciting technologies, we want to ensure that our customers hav...

The California Heat Pump Partnership (CAHPP) officially launched its first convening to bring together state agencies, manufacturers representing more than 90% of the U.S. consumer heat pump market, utilities, and other market actors to help achieve the state’s goal to install six million electric heat pumps by 2030. Launched with a shared vision to catalyze a sustainable, decarbonized future, the public-private partnership will drive forward a clean energy economy and advance C...

Global water technology company A. O. Smith Corporation announced the appointment of Stephen Shafer as president and chief operating officer, effective March 18, 2024. Shafer will lead the company’s global business units in this role, including operations, engineering, and IT. “Steve will work with me and our team to drive enhanced performance and continued growth in sales and profitability,” said Kevin Wheeler, chairman and CEO. Shafer's work experience Shafer is an...

A. O. Smith will unveil a new heat pump and tankless water heating technology at the 2024 NAHB International Builders' Show® (IBS) from Feb. 27-29, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Products on display Show attendees can check out the new Voltex® MAX heat pump water heater and the Adapt™ Premium Condensing Gas Tankless Water Heater with X3® Scale Prevention Technology at A. O. Smith’s booth. Additionally, attendees can learn more about the Voltex® AL and Voltex®...

Resideo Technologies, Inc., a renowned global provider of solutions for energy management, home comfort, security, and safety, announced a partnership with A. O. Smith, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of water heaters, in order to help customers reduce demand on the electric grid during peak times. Resideo Grid Services Resideo Grid Services manages ‘bring your own device’ demand response programs on behalf of more than 27 U.S. utilities, retail energy providers and...

The air source heat pump market size was valued at over USD 48 billion in 2020 and its annual installation is anticipated to exceed 17 million units by 2028. Increasing investment to develop green building infrastructure, along with improved technological upgradation, will propel market demand over the forecast years. policies and frameworks Developing countries have issued strict regulatory norms to limit the increasing carbon footprint and thus have introduced favorable policies and framewor...

A. O. Smith., a pioneer in water heating and water treatment solutions announce its 2022 ENERGY STAR® Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy for its commitment to providing professionals and homeowners with energy-efficient solutions. A. O. Smith is one of only a few water heating companies to receive the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year designation four years in a row. Sustainability and energy efficiency “Sustain...

“Stop it!” was a common phrase heard during the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors–National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation’s popular Essentials of Project Management boot camp. There were 22 attendees for the four-day class. The program was broadcast live online from A. O. Smith University, with instruction from Purdue University Professor Emeritus Kirk Alter. Takeaway  “Don’t ever say in my company that ‘the general contractor made...

A. O. Smith Corporation, a platinum sponsor for the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Hot Water Forum, will participate at the only national conference focused exclusively on the water heating industry. This year’s event will highlight ways water systems can help save money, decrease building greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduce harmful pathogens. The virtual conference runs March 21-23 and will bring together manufacturers, utility professionals, government of...

Global water technology company A. O. Smith Corporation announced that it has acquired Giant Factories, Inc., a Canada-based manufacturer of residential and commercial water heaters, with trailing twelve-month sales of approximately USD $105 million. The purchase price is approximately USD $192 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments. Taking into account an expected tax benefit of approximately $6.5 million that the Company will achieve as a result of treating the transaction as a p...

A. O. Smith Corporation released details of a new analytical tool designed to help states, policymakers, utilities, installers, and consumers by analyzing energy use data to help attain achievable solutions to meet Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction goals for the future. The tool, as outlined in an A. O. Smith white paper entitled “Electrification of Water and Space Heating in Buildings,” provides a pragmatic roadmap to reducing GHG emissions resulting from water and space heating in bu...

Global water technology company A. O. Smith Corporation announced the nomination of Victoria M. Holt and Michael M. Larsen to the board of directors. Victoria M. Holt recently retired as president and chief executive officer of publicly-traded Proto Labs, Inc., after leading the company since 2014. Headquartered in Maple Plain, Proto Labs engages in the digital manufacture of custom prototypes and production parts, and offers 3D printing, CNC machining and injection molding services. Ms. Holt p...

Manufacturers continue to make improvements in heat-pump technology, including higher efficiencies, contractor-friendly designs, and innovative extras like two-stage compressors that allow them to run at lower speeds and cut down energy use and homeowners’ bills. Below is a sampling of six of the latest products to hit the heat pump market. Nortek Global HVAC introduced the W-Series of air conditioning and heat pump equipment for residential and light commercial applications, completing i...

A. O. Smith Corporation, the manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment and air purification products, announces the upcoming retirement of Peter Martineau as chief information officer/senior vice president and the hiring of S. Melissa Scheppele as Martineau’s successor. Martineau, who is retiring in late August, and Scheppele, who is joining A. O. Smith on July 13, will work together in the coming weeks to...

A. O. Smith announces that it has been named a ‘2020 Top Workplace’ by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper. The award is based solely on employee feedback gathered from a third-party study conducted earlier this year. Evaluating employee feedback “All of us at A. O. Smith are very excited that our Milwaukee headquarters and technology center have been recognized as a ‘Top Workplace’ in southeast Wisconsin,” said Mark Petrarca, SVP of human resources &am...

The Water Council announces the results and winners of its third-round Tech Challenge competition, selected by corporate sponsors A. O. Smith, Badger Meter and Zurn Industries, a Rexnord company. Launched in 2017 and held twice annually, Tech Challenge is an open innovation contest designed to connect program sponsors to those with novel solutions for emerging freshwater technologies with a high potential for commercialization. The spring 2020 challenge, which ran from April 2 to May 3, sought...

A. O. Smith announced that it has been named a “2020 Top Workplace” by the Tennessean newspaper. The award was based solely on employee feedback gathered from a third-party study conducted recently. “All of us at A. O. Smith are very excited that our Middle Tennessee locations have been recognized as a ‘Top Workplace’ in Middle Tennessee,” said Mark Petrarca, SVP of human resources & public affairs. “This is a testament to the camaraderie and dedica...

A.O. Smith Corporation announced that executive chairman Ajita Rajendra will be retiring effective May 1, 2020. The Company’s Board of Directors has elected Kevin J. Wheeler as chairman of the Milwaukee-based water technology company effective upon Rajendra’s retirement. Wheeler will continue to serve as president and chief executive officer of the company. Rajendra will remain a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Water technology success “Ajita has been an in...

Global water technology company A. O. Smith Corporation (the “Company”) announced that the Company’s upcoming 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) will be held as a virtual meeting only. The change of venue for 2020’s meeting is being made due to the emerging public health threat of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and to support the health and well-being of the Company’s stockholders, employees, directors and communities. As pre...

A.O. Smith, a manufacturer of hot water solutions for homes and businesses, has been named a 2020 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year for its contribution and dedication to manufacturing high-efficiency water heaters. This is the second consecutive year that A. O. Smith has received this honor. Award winners are recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Each year, ENERGY STAR acknowledges businesses and organizations in their respecti...

The Water Council, with its supporting corporate sponsors, has announced the winners for the second round of the Tech Challenge. This round focused on innovative solutions for inline sensors that detect water quality parameters and artificial intelligence for pipe networks and systems. The Tech Challenge program augments corporate open innovation channels and identifies emerging freshwater technologies and ideas with a high potential for commercialization. Throughout the year, several topics of...

A. O. Smith in Milwaukee announced that it has been named a 2019 Top Workplace by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The award was based solely on employee feedback gathered from a third-party study conducted last fall. “We want to say a very big thank you to our dedicated and hardworking employees for all they do - each and every day - and for making A. O. Smith in Milwaukee a 'Top Workplace'”, said Mark Petrarca, Senior Vice President - Human Resources and Public Affairs. “Bein...

Global water technology company A. O. Smith Corporation announced the release of the 2018 A. O. Smith Foundation Community Impact Report. The document details the many ways that the A. O. Smith Foundation is making communities better places to live and work. “We’re proud to be able to support a variety of community organizations in their ongoing efforts to make a positive difference,” said Mark Petrarca, secretary of the A. O. Smith Foundation Board and senior vice president o...

The Water Council and its corporate partners announced the second Tech Challenge, a global competition designed to identify cutting-edge freshwater technologies and ideas with high potential for commercialization or implementation. Finalists have an opportunity to win prize money, access to corporate R&D resources and a chance to partner on the development with corporate sponsors on the marketing, licensing or sale of their winning technology or idea. Tech Challenges are sponsored by corpora...

The Water Council and A. O. Smith Corporation announced the next round of the BREW Accelerator and BREW Corporate Accelerator powered by A. O. Smith Corporation. The program connects water technology startups with resources to validate and advance their business models and technologies. “The Water Council is excited to launch the seventh cohort opportunity with the BREW Accelerator,” stated Steve Glynn, Director of entrepreneurship at The Water Council. “If you're an entrepren...

In an effort to encourage and celebrate scholastic achievement, the A. O. Smith Foundation announced the awards of 24 global merit scholarships to employees’ children pursuing higher education. “Today’s scholars are tomorrow’s leaders,” said Mark Petrarca, Secretary of the A. O. Smith Foundation Board and senior vice president of human resources and public affairs for A. O. Smith Corporation. “There is perhaps nothing more important than fostering young talen...

The Water Council’s BREW Accelerator winners unveiled their innovative freshwater technologies to water industry leaders, investors, community and corporate partners at the annual BREW Demo Day. The BREW (Business – Research – Entrepreneurship – in Water) program is the world’s foremost freshwater business accelerator that fast-tracks early freshwater technology startups and prepares them to enter the global water industry market successfully. With financial suppor...

Global water technology company A. O. Smith Corporation has announced the introduction of its first A. O. Smith line of residential water treatment products available exclusively to the wholesale channel. Designed for plumbing contractors, the new A. O. Smith PRO water treatment line will include high-performance, commercial-grade point-of-use water filtration systems; water softeners and salt-free water conditioners; and water neutralizing and descaling accessories to allow for a fully compreh...