A. O. Smith

A. O. Smith Corporation is an American manufacturing company headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its business is now centered on water heating, boilers, and water treatment, although the company developed through a much broader history of metalworking, automotive components, motors, fiberglass products, storage systems, and defense manufacturing. The company is one of the largest manufacturers and marketers of water heaters in North America and also supplies water-purification products in Asian markets. The business began in 1874 as C. J. Smith and Sons, founded by Charles Jeremiah Smith. Its early products included baby carriages and bicycle components. The company developed expertise in forming steel tubing and later became an important supplier of bicycle parts. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Arthur Oliver Smith expanded the business into pressed-steel vehicle frames. A. O. Smith subsequently supplied frames and other components to automobile manufacturers including Peerless, Cadillac, and Ford, while also experimenting with motorized bicycles and automobiles. Water heating became increasingly important during the twentieth century. The company developed glass-lined steel technologies, patented a glass-lined water heater in 1936, and began mass production of residential water heaters in 1939. Wartime production temporarily redirected much of the company’s manufacturing capacity toward bombs, aircraft components, landing gear, propeller blades, military vehicles, and other defense-related products. After the war, A. O. Smith expanded residential production and entered the commercial water-heater market through the acquisition of The Burkay Company. The company later built a portfolio spanning commercial water heaters, boilers, glass-fused-to-steel tanks, motors, fiberglass pipe, automotive frames, and industrial storage products. Its automotive business became a major operation before being sold in 1997, and its electric-motor business was sold in 2011. These divestitures helped sharpen the company’s strategic focus on water heating and water treatment. A. O. Smith expanded through acquisitions and international ventures in the 1990s and 2000s. Its water-heating portfolio came to include brands such as State Water Heaters, American Water Heaters, GSW, John Wood, Reliance, Lochinvar, Takagi, Giant, and U.S. Craftmaster. The company also established or expanded manufacturing and commercial operations in China, India, Canada, Europe, and other markets. In 2009 it entered water purification in China, and in 2016 it acquired Aquasana, a U.S. water-filtration company. In 2024 it completed the acquisition of Pureit, Hindustan Unilever’s water-purification business. Today, A. O. Smith serves residential, commercial, institutional, and selected industrial customers. Its products address domestic hot water, commercial hot-water supply, hydronic heating, filtration, purification, and water-quality management. Demand is influenced by new construction, replacement cycles, energy-efficiency standards, water scarcity and quality concerns, commercial building investment, and household adoption of filtration systems. The company operates a global manufacturing network that includes facilities in North America, India, China, and the Netherlands.

A. O. Smith traces its corporate history to 1874, when Charles Jeremiah Smith established C. J. Smith and Sons as a manufacturer of baby carriages and bicycle parts. The company developed early expertise in forming steel tubing from sheet metal, particularly for bicycle frames, and by 1895 had become a leading bicycle-parts manufacturer. The company’s direction broadened under Arthur Oliver Smith, who developed a pressed-steel vehicle frame in 1899. A. O. Smith supplied frames to automobile companies including Peerless, Cadillac, and Ford. It incorporated in Milwaukee as A. O. Smith Company in 1904 and later experimented with motorized bicycles and automobiles, including the Smith Motor Wheel and Smith Flyer. In 1916 the company was incorporated in New York. During the 1920s and 1930s, its engineers developed manufacturing technologies with applications in welding, automobile frames, pressure vessels, pipelines, and glass-lined steel tanks. In 1933 the company used a glass-to-steel fusion process to manufacture brewery tanks. It patented a glass-lined water heater in 1936 and began mass-producing residential water heaters in 1939. World War II redirected the company’s production toward military needs. By the end of the war, it had manufactured bombs, aircraft components, landing gear, propeller blades, military vehicle frames, and other defense-related products. Following the war, A. O. Smith expanded residential water-heater capacity and entered the commercial water-heater market in 1948 through the acquisition of The Burkay Company. It also introduced glass-fused-to-steel agricultural storage products and expanded into motors, fiberglass, oil-field pipe, automotive frames, and other industrial markets. In the 1950s and 1960s, the company developed commercial water-heating products, hermetic motors, and specialized motor designs. It opened Canadian operations, expanded into Europe, and introduced the Conservationist residential water-heater line in 1974. The company’s diversification continued into the 1980s and 1990s. Its Automotive Products unit produced very large volumes of passenger-car and truck frames, while the Motor division expanded in North America, Mexico, and Europe. Acquisitions added dry-storage, motor, compressor, and water-heating capabilities. In 1995, A. O. Smith established Asian joint ventures involving fiberglass products and residential water heaters. It later opened a water-heater plant in Nanjing, China. A strategic refocusing took place in the late 1990s and 2000s. After roughly nine decades in automotive manufacturing, A. O. Smith sold its Automotive Products Company to Tower International in 1997. The company continued acquiring water-heating and boiler businesses, including State Industries, APCOM, Lochinvar, GSW, and American Water Heater. These transactions expanded its residential and commercial product range and added recognized regional brands. A. O. Smith also acquired or developed motor businesses before selling its electric-motor operations to Regal-Beloit in 2011. International water businesses became more significant in the twenty-first century. The company established water-purification operations in Shanghai in 2009 and opened a residential water-heater plant in Bengaluru in 2010. The Indian operation later expanded to include water-purification products. A. O. Smith acquired the North American operations of Takagi in 2010, adding tankless-water-heating capabilities. In 2016, A. O. Smith acquired Aquasana, broadening its direct consumer water-filtration business. In November 2024, it completed the purchase of Pureit from Hindustan Unilever for ₹600 crore, extending its water-purification presence in India and related markets. The modern company concentrates on water heating, boilers, water treatment, and purification, with a manufacturing and operating network spanning North America, Asia, and Europe.

1. 2024Pureit acquisition completed

   A. O. Smith completed its acquisition of Pureit, the water-purification business formerly owned by Hindustan Unilever.

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2. 2016Aquasana acquired

   The company acquired Aquasana, an Austin-based water-filtration business.

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3. 2011Electric-motor business sold

   A. O. Smith sold its electric-motor business to Regal-Beloit, continuing its strategic concentration on water-related products.

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4. 2010Indian manufacturing operation opened

   The company opened a residential water-heater plant in Bengaluru and acquired Takagi’s North American operations.

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5. 2009Water-purification business established in China

   A. O. Smith entered the water-purification industry through a new Shanghai water-treatment venture.

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6. 2006GSW and American Water Heater acquired

   Acquisitions of GSW and American Water Heater expanded the company’s North American residential and commercial water-heater portfolio.

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7. 1997Automotive Products Company sold

   A. O. Smith sold its Automotive Products Company to Tower International after approximately 90 years in automotive manufacturing.

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8. 1974Conservationist residential line introduced

   The company introduced its Conservationist residential water-heater line as energy conservation became a more prominent product consideration.

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9. 1948Commercial water-heater market entered

   A. O. Smith entered commercial water heating by acquiring The Burkay Company.

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10. 1939Residential water-heater mass production begins

    The company began mass-producing residential water heaters before wartime production shifted much of its capacity to military work.

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11. 1936Glass-lined water heater patented

    A. O. Smith patented a glass-lined water heater, a technology that became important to its later water-heating business.

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12. 1904A. O. Smith Company incorporated in Milwaukee

    The company adopted the A. O. Smith Company name and incorporated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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13. 1899Pressed-steel vehicle frame developed

    Arthur Oliver Smith developed an early pressed-steel automobile frame, beginning the company’s major involvement in automotive manufacturing.

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14. 1874C. J. Smith and Sons is founded

    Charles Jeremiah Smith established the business that became A. O. Smith, initially making baby carriages and bicycle parts.

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A global water-technology manufacturer positioned around dependable hot-water supply, energy efficiency, commercial system performance, and improved drinking-water quality.

• Residential Water HeatersWater-heating equipment

  Water heaters for household hot-water supply, including products designed for different fuel types, capacities, installation environments, and efficiency requirements. Residential water heating is one of the company’s foundational product categories and is sold under A. O. Smith and several regional brands.

• Commercial Water HeatersWater-heating equipment

  High-capacity water-heating systems for commercial buildings, institutions, hospitality, and other applications with substantial or continuous hot-water demand. The portfolio includes storage and high-efficiency systems and is supported by brands such as A. O. Smith, State, and other regional marques.

• Lochinvar BoilersBoilers and hydronic heating

  High-efficiency boilers and related equipment for commercial hot-water and hydronic-heating applications. Lochinvar became part of A. O. Smith’s portfolio through acquisition and provides products for buildings and institutional installations.

• Water Filtration and Purification SystemsWater treatment

  Filtration, purification, and drinking-water treatment products for residential and selected commercial users. The business includes A. O. Smith water-treatment products, Aquasana filtration systems, and Pureit purification products in markets where those brands operate.

• Glass-Fused-to-Steel TanksStorage systems

  Durable storage tanks made using glass-fused-to-steel technology. The company developed this capability through its historical tank and storage businesses, including Aquastore products and related industrial applications.

• 2024Acquisition of PureitM&A

  A. O. Smith continued expanding its water-purification activities, particularly in Asian consumer markets.

  What changed. The company completed the acquisition of Pureit, Hindustan Unilever’s water-purification business, for ₹600 crore.

  Aftermath. The acquisition strengthened A. O. Smith’s purification portfolio and its position in India and related markets.

  Acquisition price. ₹600 crore (2024)

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• 2016Acquisition of AquasanaM&A

  A. O. Smith sought to expand beyond water heating into consumer water filtration.

  What changed. The company acquired Austin-based Aquasana from L’Catterton for $87 million.

  Aftermath. Aquasana added a recognized consumer filtration business to A. O. Smith’s water-technology portfolio.

  Acquisition price. $87 million (2016)

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• 2011Electric-motor business divestedStrategy

  A. O. Smith had operated motor businesses for decades, including hermetic motors and HVAC-related products.

  What changed. The company sold its electric-motor business to Regal-Beloit.

  Aftermath. The divestiture further concentrated the company on water heating, boilers, water treatment, and purification.

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• 1997Exit from automotive frame manufacturingStrategy

  Automotive products had been a major part of the company for much of the twentieth century, but A. O. Smith was increasingly emphasizing water heating and other businesses.

  What changed. The company sold its Automotive Products Company to Tower International.

  Aftermath. The transaction marked a major step in the company’s long-term shift away from automotive manufacturing.

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• 2024A. O. Smith completes acquisition of Pureit

  The company completed the acquisition of Pureit, Hindustan Unilever’s water-purification business, strengthening its presence in consumer water treatment.

  M&A
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• 2016A. O. Smith acquires Aquasana

  A. O. Smith acquired Austin-based water-filtration company Aquasana, expanding its consumer water-treatment portfolio.

  M&A
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1. A. O. Smith
2. A. O. Smith official corporate website