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Lochinvar's History
dates back to 1919 with its founder Walter Vallett, Sr.'s
entry into the water heater business. Mr. Vallett was a true industry pioneer,
having been instrumental in the development of the first automatic gas fired water
heaters early in his career. Walter Vallett, Sr. founded the Walter Vallett Company
May 16, 1946. He remained committed to the industry, and active in the corporation,
serving as Chairman of the Board until his death in 1982. Bill Vallett Sr. was the
second-generation owner of the business and is credited with the vision for the need
of higher efficiency gas appliances in the late seventies. He developed the engineering
system that has designed today's line of high efficiency water heaters and boilers.
The company continues to be a closely-held family owned corporation, with Bill Vallett, Jr.,
President, Jeff Vallett, Executive Vice President, and Tom Vallett, Executive Vice President,
all active in the daily operations of the business. Other officers include Joel Usery,
VP Finance, Neil Rolph, VP Engineering, Jerry Pfister, VP Manufacturing, Al Gatlin,
VP LTC Products, Mike Lahti, VP Sales, Bob Lancaster, VP Human Resources, John Wyatt,
VP Information Technologies, and Bret Thompson, VP Quality Assurance.
The company has grown steadily through the years, maintaining corporate headquarters
in Detroit until 1970, at which time the Wagoner Water heater Company of Nashville,
Tennessee was acquired and the corporate headquarters was moved to the new plant location in
Nashville. A new distribution center in Detroit, Michigan was completed in 1989
and our Dallas warehouse was doubled in 1992. A new Engineering Tech Center was opened
in 1995, housing new engineering offices, an engineering/research & development
testing lab and a 50-seat amphitheater-style training facility. In 1996, a warehouse
facility was added in Tampa, Florida and in January 1998 a new tank manufacturing facility
was built on 73 acres in Lebanon, TN. Lochinvar Corporation acquired its United Kingdom
agent, Lochinvar Ltd., in February 1998, allowing Lochinvar to have a European base from
which to better develop the United Kingdom and Western European markets.
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