A. O. Smith
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing, Water technology |
| Founded | 1 January 1874 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States |
| Founder | Charles Jeremiah Smith |
| Headquarters | Milwaukee , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (27 countries) |
Key people | Kevin J. Wheeler (CEO) |
| Products | Residential and commercial water heaters, boilers, water treatment and purification equipment, air purification systems |
| Revenue | US$3.82 billion (2024) |
| US$699 million (2024) | |
| US$534 million (2024) | |
| Total assets | US$3.24 billion (2024) |
| Total equity | US$1.88 billion (2024) |
Number of employees | 12,700 (2024) |
| Website | www |
A. O. Smith Corporation stands as a prominent American producer specializing in residential and commercial water heaters and boilers, commanding the largest market share across North America. The firm also supplies water treatment and purification solutions, concentrating its efforts mainly on the Asian market. With a presence in 27 countries worldwide, A. O. Smith maintains five manufacturing sites in North America alongside additional production facilities located in Bengaluru, India; Nanjing, China; and Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
Established in 1874 by Charles Jeremiah Smith and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, A. O. Smith has progressively shifted its business focus toward water technology products and services. Its operations encompass divisions dedicated to water heaters, boilers, water treatment equipment, and air purification systems.
Historically, the company expanded into diverse product categories, including significant contributions to military manufacturing during both World Wars, ranking 74th among U.S. companies for wartime contracts. Currently, A. O. Smith’s strategic direction prioritizes innovation and global expansion to drive sustained growth.
As of 2024, the corporation reported revenues of US$3.82 billion, with operating income reaching US$699 million and net income totaling US$534 million. Its asset base amounts to US$3.24 billion, supported by equity valued at US$1.88 billion. The workforce comprises roughly 12,700 employees worldwide under the leadership of CEO Kevin J. Wheeler.
History
The origins of A. O. Smith Corporation trace back to 1874 when Charles Jeremiah Smith founded C. J. Smith and Sons, initially producing bicycle components and steel tubing for frames. By 1895, it had become the foremost manufacturer of bicycle parts in the industry. In 1899, Arthur Oliver Smith, son of the founder, created the first pressed steel frame for vehicles, supplying leading automakers such as Peerless, Cadillac, and Ford. The company was incorporated as A. O. Smith Company in Milwaukee in 1904.
With Lloyd Raymond Smith at the helm from 1913, the firm launched the Smith Motor Wheel in 1914 and began producing the Smith Flyer automobile in 1915 before selling the product line to Briggs & Stratton. During World War I, it contributed to the war effort by manufacturing bomb casings. The 1920s saw A. O. Smith innovate coated welding rods and establish the automotive industry's first automated frame factory.
In 1933, the company introduced glass-fused-to-steel tanks, manufacturing over 11,000 units mainly for breweries and patented a glass-lined water heater by 1936 that entered mass production by 1939. During World War II, production shifted toward military needs including bomb casings and aircraft parts. Following the war, A. O. Smith expanded its residential water heater production with a new facility in Illinois and acquired The Burkay Company in 1948 to enter the commercial water heater market.
The 1950s featured acquisitions such as Whirl-A-Way Motors, consolidating electric motor manufacturing and pioneering hermetic motors essential for HVAC compressor technology. The company diversified into fiberglass products and oilfield piping through its Smith Fiberglass Products division. Growth continued with a Canadian manufacturing plant established during the 1960s and European operations launched by the early 1970s.
Leadership transitioned to Lloyd B. Smith in 1967, marking the fourth generation of family management. Significant milestones included producing its ten-millionth residential water heater by 1969 and introducing energy-saving product lines like Conservationist heaters in 1974. By the late 1970s, glass-fused-to-steel storage tanks were added to its offerings.
Throughout the 1980s, A. O. Smith had manufactured over one hundred million automobile frames while expanding electric motor assembly into Mexico. Innovations included insulation technologies designed for environmentally friendly refrigerants. Strategic acquisitions during the 1990s such as Peabody TecTank and partnerships in Asia extended its market reach within fiberglass piping and water heater segments. Divesting its Automotive Products division in 1997 allowed renewed focus on motors and water-related products; subsequent purchases of UPPCO, Inc., General Electric’s compressor motor business, and Magnetek’s motor unit further enhanced its market position.
During the 2000s, A. O. Smith aggressively expanded through acquisitions including State Industries, Shenzhen Speeda Industrial, Athens Products, The Changheng Group, Lochinvar Corporation, among others—broadening its portfolio across HVAC motors, boilers, and water heaters worldwide. Its entry into water purification began with a joint venture in Shanghai in 2009 followed by establishing a manufacturing plant in India by 2010. The divestiture of its electric motor business to Regal-Beloit in 2011 marked a strategic realignment.
Recent acquisitions include Austin-based filtration specialist Aquasana for $87 million in 2016 and Pureit from Hindustan Unilever for ₹600 crore in November 2024—bolstering A. O. Smith’s footprint within global water purification sectors.
This historical overview demonstrates A. O. Smith’s transformation from a regional manufacturer into a diversified international leader with a strong business framework centered on innovation, targeted acquisitions, and expanding influence across residential and commercial water heating, electric motors, and water treatment industries.
Brands
A. O. Smith maintains a global presence through multiple brand identities, including A. O. Smith itself in regions such as the United States, Canada, China, Europe, Turkey, India, and Vietnam. Additional brands under its umbrella include GSW and John Wood in Canada, as well as State Water Heaters, American Water Heaters, Reliance Water Heaters, Lochinvar, Takagi, Giant Factories Inc., and U.S. Craftmaster Water Heaters.
Products
Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, A. O. Smith Water Products Company operates the largest water heater manufacturing plant worldwide, located in Ashland City, Tennessee. Its extensive range of offerings encompasses residential water heaters powered by gas, propane, electricity, hybrid systems, tankless designs, and solar energy. For commercial applications, the company produces oil-fired, gas, and electric water heaters along with boilers, storage tanks, and skid-mounted systems. The product lineup also includes various accessories such as pump tanks and expansion tanks.
A. O. Smith Foundation
The A. O. Smith Foundation, founded in 1955 as a private nonprofit organization funded through A. O. Smith Corporation’s earnings, has contributed close to $50 million to support charitable causes, educational programs, scientific research, literary projects, and civic initiatives—primarily benefiting communities where A. O. Smith operates facilities.
See also
External links
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- 1874 establishments in Wisconsin
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- Companies in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats
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