Rheem Manufacturing Company
TypePrivate
IndustryPlumbing, heating, and cooling
FoundedRheem - Richmond, California, (1925 (1925))
Ruud - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1897 (1897))
FounderRichard Rheem, Donald Rheem
Edwin Ruud
HeadquartersAtlanta, Georgia, United States
Area served
North and South America, Australasia, Middle East
Key people
  • Chris Peel (CEO)
ProductsWater heaters, air conditioners, Household furnaces
Revenue
  • Increase US$6 Billion (2022)
OwnerPaloma Industries
Number of employees
13,000[1]
DivisionsRheem, Rheem Water, Rheem Air, Ruud, Raypak, Prostock, Eemax, Intergas, HTPG, Friedrich, De Jong, Richmond
Websitewww.rheem.com

Rheem Manufacturing Company is an American privately held manufacturer that produces residential and commercial water heaters and boilers, as well as heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. The company also produces and sells products under the Ruud brand name. It is an independent subsidiary of Paloma Industries[2].What became Rheem started in 1925 as a supplier of packaging to the petroleum industry, and is currently headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States. The company is one of the largest manufacturers of both water heating and HVAC equipment in the United States, and also produces and markets products in Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bahrain, China, Chile,[3] Brazil, Canada, Iraq, Kuwait, Mexico,[4] New Zealand, Perú,[5] Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE, and Ukraine.[6]

History

Rheem Bennett Displacement Meter at Deer Hollow Farm at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve in California

The company is named for its founders, brothers Richard "R. S." Rheem and Donald "D. L." Rheem. They were the sons of William S. Rheem (1862–1919), former Standard Oil Company of California president who led the construction of a major oil refinery for the company in Richmond, California.[7][8][9][10] The brothers initially began manufacturing galvanized steel drums in 1925 as a co-partnership with Pacific Galvanizing Company in Emeryville, California.[7][11][12][8] A third brother, William "W.K." Rheem, helped finance the company at its start.[11][8] The Rheem Manufacturing Company was subsequently organized on January 22, 1930, buying out Pacific Galvanizing. Rheem also acquired the Republic Steel package company, which also had a plant in Richmond.[11] Republic Steel made boilers and tanks, which allowed Rheem to enter the business of water heating. The company acquired the John Wood Manufacturing Company of California, which produced automatic gas storage water heaters, in 1931.[11] The company expanded overseas to Australia in 1936, building a plant in Sydney.[11][13] The Australian operation began making steel shipping containers, including drums, in 1937 and water heaters in 1939.[11]

In 1941, the company became the largest manufacturer of automatic water heaters in the United States.[11] During World War II, much of the company's efforts went towards wartime production, including building ships and aircraft parts.[7][11] In 1954, Rheem brought the introduction of "glass-lining", which coated the interior of a water heater tank with porcelain to extend the life of the tank.[11] One of the most significant events came in 1956 with the introduction of "Rheemaire" central air conditioning and heater systems for homes. This eventually became one of the company's primary business areas.[11] In 1959, Rheem purchased the Ruud Manufacturing Company.[11][14]

In 1968[15] a plant was opened in Bergum (Burgum in Frisian) in the Netherlands by (among others) Mr. P. Toonstra. The plant was successful but had to close its doors by the end of 1983.

Beginning in August 1970, Rheem began producing Heat pumps and HVAC units for residential applications, based in Fort Smith, Arkansas.[11][12] In 1983, Rheem introduced the Richmond Water Heaters brand, aimed at hardware stores and home-improvement centers.[11] In 1984, Rheem was acquired by Pace Industries, Inc.[11] The company discontinued containers in 1985, ending 60 years making steel drums and other containers.[11] In the same year, the company acquired Raypak, Inc., which expanded the business into swimming pool heaters as well as commercial boilers.[11] In 1988 Rheem was acquired by Paloma Industries, Ltd., a privately held Japanese company with headquarters in Nagoya, Japan, which wished to expand globally.[11][12][16]

Rheem was the first residential HVAC company to begin using scroll compressors throughout their lineup in 1994, and all air conditioners and heat pumps continue to use Copeland Scroll Compressors.[11][17] The company was also first to introduce a 14 SEER remote condensing unit in 1997. In 1998, the company began supplying the Home Depot with a line of GE branded water heaters.[18] In 2009, Rheem and Ruud were the first to sell a Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater, which was more than twice as efficient as similar electric water heaters.[19] Also in the same year, Rheem and Ruud central air conditioners were reported to have the fewest percentage of units requiring repair among all major HVAC brands according to Consumer Reports.[20]

Rheem's market share of the central air conditioner market had been as high as 16% in the 1980s and dropped to about 11% by 2000.[21] By 2008, a report by the United States Department of Energy ranked the firm as fifth in the US in the central air conditioner and heat pump market with a 12% market share (behind UTC/Carrier with 27%, both Goodman/Amana and American Standard/Trane with 14% and Lennox with 12%), while in the residential gas furnace market as of 2008, the company was also ranked fifth with a 12% market share (behind Carrier with 32%, Goodman with 15%, and both Lennox and Trane with 13%).[22]

History of Ruud

Ruud was founded by Edwin Ruud (1854–1932), a Norwegian immigrant who lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He developed the first automatic storage tank gas-fired water heater, which went into production in 1889.[23] Ruud worked for George Westinghouse (1846–1914), but eventually bought the rights to produce the product he invented and formed his own company in 1897. In 1913, Ruud merged and absorbed the Humphrey Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan which also manufactured water heaters.[24] The Humphrey Company had a large manufacturing operation in Kalamazoo, which Ruud continued to operate and expand. In 1954, Ruud moved all operations from Pittsburgh to Kalamazoo where they were headquartered until the purchase by Rheem in 1960.[25]

Current products

In North America, Rheem and Ruud both manufacture and sell a full line of heating and cooling products for residential and commercial applications, including up to 98.7% annual fuel use efficiency gas furnaces, oil-fired furnaces, up to 20 SEER air conditioners, heat pumps, thermostats, air handlers, package units, and indoor air quality products such as media filters, UV lamps, and humidifiers. In many additional countries around the world, the companies sell numerous types of water heating equipment, including gas fired tank storage and tankless water heaters, high-efficiency condensing water heaters, hybrid heat pump water heaters, and solar water heaters under the Rheem, Ruud, Richmond, Paloma, Solahart, Splendid, and GE brands. Swimming pool-related products include gas-fired and heat pump heaters sold under the Rheem and Raypak brands. Protech replacement parts for HVAC systems are sold through the PROSTOCK retail program.[26][12]

In December 2013, Rheem acquired Scottsboro, Alabama-based Heat Transfer Products Group (HTPG).[26] HTPG, a standalone company, produces the Russell, Witt, ColdZone and Kramer commercial refrigeration brands.[12]

In 2015, Rheem won the top spot in the Water Heaters category for its brand familiarity by the Builder magazine.[27]

Former divisions

Rheem Califone manufactured audiovisual equipment under the Rheem, Califone, and Roberts brands. These were used in schools and institutions, and included public address systems, reel-to-reel audio tape recorders, phonographs, as well as Combo organs.[28][29][30] Rheem and Ruud also sold re-branded Briggs & Stratton residential Emergency power systems beginning in 2007.[31] As of March 2, 2013, the companies no longer listed backup generators on their Web sites.[32]

Plant and office locations

All currently operating facilities are ISO 9001 certified.[33]

Country Location Date Opened Current Products Serial Number Plant Code[34]
United StatesAtlanta, Georgia
33°56′03″N 84°21′08″W / 33.93426°N 84.35228°W / 33.93426; -84.35228		2006Headquarters[35]
Fishers, Indiana
39°55′58″N 86°01′38″W / 39.93275°N 86.02709°W / 39.93275; -86.02709		2008Advanced Technology Integration Laboratory[36]
Fort Smith, Arkansas
35°19′30″N 94°23′20″W / 35.32513°N 94.38899°W / 35.32513; -94.38899		1970Gas Furnaces, Air ConditioningF
Lewisville, Texas
33°01′06″N 96°58′07″W / 33.01842°N 96.96862°W / 33.01842; -96.96862		Distribution Center
Montgomery, Alabama
32°24′50″N 86°13′47″W / 32.41376°N 86.22967°W / 32.41376; -86.22967		1971Water HeatersA
Oxnard, California
34°12′00″N 119°09′01″W / 34.20011°N 119.15019°W / 34.20011; -119.15019		2000Raypak Swimming Pool Heaters
Randleman, North Carolina
35°49′29″N 79°50′04″W / 35.82483°N 79.83447°W / 35.82483; -79.83447		2004Distribution Center[37]
CanadaBrampton, Ontario
43°37′10″N 79°46′25″W / 43.61935°N 79.77361°W / 43.61935; -79.77361		2009Headquarters of Rheem & Ruud Canada, Distribution Center[38]
MexicoNuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
27°27′41″N 99°31′55″W / 27.4614°N 99.532°W / 27.4614; -99.532		1990Air Conditioning, Heat Pumps, Evaporator Coils, and Water Heaters[39]N, Q
Mexicali, Baja California
32°34′27″N 115°24′37″W / 32.57417°N 115.41027°W / 32.57417; -115.41027		2001Water HeatersM
Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
27°28′48″N 99°37′20″W / 27.480120°N 99.622359°W / 27.480120; -99.622359		2007Manufacture of air conditioning and heating equipment
AustraliaRydalmere, New South Wales
33°48′55″S 151°01′44″E / 33.8154°S 151.02898°E / -33.8154; 151.02898		Water Heaters
ChinaSichuan
30°48′31″N 104°09′45″E / 30.808636°N 104.162366°E / 30.808636; 104.162366		2010Water Heaters

Former facilities

Country Location Date Closed Products Serial Number Plant Code
United StatesChicago, Illinois
41°45′19″N 87°42′13″W / 41.7553°N 87.7037°W / 41.7553; -87.7037		1990Gas Water Heaters
Eagan, Minnesota
44°50′38″N 93°11′11″W / 44.8438°N 93.1864°W / 44.8438; -93.1864		2013Electric Water Heaters[40]W
Greenville, Alabama
31°50′39″N 86°37′30″W / 31.84418°N 86.62501°W / 31.84418; -86.62501		1999Air Conditioning[41]G
Kalamazoo, Michigan1971Gas FurnacesK
Milledgeville, Georgia
33°06′15″N 83°15′24″W / 33.1042°N 83.2568°W / 33.1042; -83.2568		2008Air Conditioning[42]M
New York, New York
(Chrysler Building)		2006Headquarters[43]
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
40°26′19″N 80°00′05″W / 40.4385°N 80.0014°W / 40.4385; -80.0014		1954Ruud Headquarters, Gas Water Heaters
Westlake Village, California
34°08′46″N 118°47′53″W / 34.1461°N 118.7980°W / 34.1461; -118.7980		2000Raypak Headquarters, Pool Heaters[44]
CanadaHamilton, Ontario
43°15′59″N 79°52′18″W / 43.26625°N 79.87159°W / 43.26625; -79.87159		2006Water Heaters[45]C
AustraliaPerth, Western Australia
31°59′12″S 115°56′43″E / 31.98653°S 115.94516°E / -31.98653; 115.94516		2015Water Heaters[46]

NASCAR

The Rheem-sponsored car of Kevin Harvick in 2013

Since 2007,[47] Rheem has sponsored Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Xfinity Series through their Rheem, RUUD, and Richmond Water Heaters brands.[47][48] They previously sponsored Kevin Harvick and Harvick's racing team Kevin Harvick Incorporated (KHI), along with Ron Hornaday Jr., Cale Gale and other former RCR & KHI drivers in the Cup, Xfinity, and Camping World Truck Series.[48][49][50][51] They formerly sponsored James Buescher in the Xfinity Series and Truck Series.[48][52] Brandon Jones, the son of former Rheem CEO J.R. Jones, currently competes in the Xfinity Series.[48]

In 2018 Rheem moved to Joe Gibbs Racing with Ryan Preece & Christopher Bell driving the Machine for 36 races. Rheem also was put on the rear quarter panel of the No. 18 Cup car driven by Kyle Busch as an assosicate sponsor to the No. 18. It was announced In September 2019 that Rheem would sponsor Christopher Bell for an unknown number of races in the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota Camry in the Cup Series in 2020.[53]

References

  1. ↑ "Rheem to move 250 jobs to Mexico (Updated) | Business, Political, and Cultural News in Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas". Thecitywire.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  2. ↑ "Paloma Tankless Water Heaters > Paloma USA > About Paloma". Palomatankless.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  3. ↑ "Rheem". Rheem Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  4. ↑ "Oradel | Rheem Latin America". oradel.com. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  5. ↑ "Sobre Rheem – Rheem Perú" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  6. ↑ "Distributors | Rheem Middle East/ Africa". Rheem-mea.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  7. 1 2 3 Rego, Nilda (May 9, 2010). "Days Gone By: Donald Rheem's grasp equaled his reach throughout Moraga and Orinda". East Bay Times, Digital First Media. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 "Rheem Manufacturing Names Vice President" (PDF). The New York Times. June 28, 1955. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  9. ↑ Don Pitcher (12 June 2012). Moon San Juan Islands. Avalon Travel Publishing. pp. 273–. ISBN 978-1-61238-057-5. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  10. ↑ Rego, Nilda (January 18, 2009). "Chevron Beginnings: W.S. Rheem". Contra Costa Times. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY HISTORICAL TIME LINE" (PDF). ASHRAE.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Lovett, John (September 11, 2015). "Rheem Celebrates 45 Years In Fort Smith, Carries Out Changes". Southwest Times Record. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  13. ↑ "Company Profile". Rheem. 1936-11-26. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  14. ↑ "About Rheem Manufacturing Company". Rheem.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  15. ↑ "Nieuwe fabriek Rheem". January 11, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Paloma Corporate Brochure" (PDF). palomaglobal.com. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
  17. ↑ "Rheem, Scroll Compressors, Copeland, Heat pumps, Air Conditioners". Hannabery.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  18. ↑ "Rheem to make G.E. water heaters". Supply House Times, BNP Media. June 18, 1999. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  19. ↑ "Rheem News Release: Heat Pump Water Heater – First to Market". Archived from the original on 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2013-04-26.
  20. ↑ "Cooling your home", Consumer Reports Magazine, p. 42, July 2009
  21. ↑ Biesen, Erin. "Rheem Air Conditioning; Turning a New Leaf", Appliance magazine, November 2005. Accessed March 16, 2013. "Rheem was not as strong or competitive as it had once been. In the mid-1980s, Rheem held a 16-percent market share and a complete product line. Its market share declined to 11 percent, with numerous product line gaps, by 2000."
  22. ↑ Chapter 3. Market and Technology Assessment, United States Department of Energy. Accessed March 16, 2013.
  23. ↑ "About Ruud Products". Ruud.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  24. ↑ The Heating and Ventilating Magazine - Google Boeken. 1914. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  25. ↑ "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  26. 1 2 "Dec. 5, 2013: Rheem Acquires Heat Transfer Products Group: One of Rheem's Immediate Goals Is to Reinvigorate the Brand". Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration NEWS. Atlanta. December 5, 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  27. ↑ "2015 BUILDER BRAND USE STUDY RESULTS". Builder. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  28. ↑ "Combo Organ Heaven: Rheem". Combo-organ.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  29. ↑ "Rheem-Califone "New Yorker" classroom record player • PhonoLand". Phonoland.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  30. ↑ "Califone AV series solid state 70-TF R-Player Rheem Manufact" (in German). Radiomuseum.org. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  31. ↑ "StackPath". 2 March 2007.
  32. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20130302230137/http://www.rheem.com/ & https://web.archive.org/web/20130202143717/http://www.rheem.com/
  33. ↑ "About Rheem Manufacturing Company". Rheem.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  34. ↑ Building Intelligence Center. "Rheem® – How to determine the age or manufacture date | Building Intelligence Center". Buildingcenter.org. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  35. ↑ "Rheem moving HQ from N.Y. to Atlanta - Atlanta Business Chronicle". Bizjournals.com. 2006-08-14. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  36. ↑ "Rheem News - Rheem Opens Advanced Technology Integration Lab". Rheem.com. 2011-09-20. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  37. ↑ http://www2.nccommerce.com/eclipsfiles/12064.pdf%5B%5D
  38. ↑ Kelly, Kate (2009-06-30). "Rheem Canada Consolidates Business Units Under One Roof | Archive content from". Contracting Business. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  39. ↑ "Rheem continues with production shift to Mexico | Business, Political, and Cultural News in Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas". Thecitywire.com. 2011-06-23. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  40. ↑ Welbesjwelbes, John (31 October 2012). "Eagan water heater plant to shut down next year". TwinCities.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  41. ↑ Brown, Andy (2013-04-30). "City transfers facility to IDB". The Greenville Advocate. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  42. ↑ Manley, Rodney (2009-02-20). "Rheem shifts plans, will shut down Milledgeville plant | Business". Macon.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  43. ↑ "Rheem Pledges Support to the American Red Cross for Superstorm Sandy Relief Efforts". Prweb.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  44. ↑ http://docs.newsbank.com.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LANB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EF80F48051ABD68&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB5DC08821100
  45. ↑ "Hamilton's Rheem factory comes down". Thespec.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  46. ↑ "Rheem to move West Australian manufacturing to upgraded Sydney plant, 100 jobs to be made redundant". applianceretailer.com.au. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  47. 1 2 Pennell, Jay (November 24, 2014). "Austin Dillon to run majority of Xfinity Series races with Rheem". Fox Sports. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  48. 1 2 3 4 Wolkin, Joseph (May 19, 2016). "Brandon Jones Focused on RCR with High School in the Rear-view". Frontstretch. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  49. ↑ "Driver Season Stats". Racing-Reference.
  50. ↑ "Rheem Motorsports | Kevin Harvick". Rheem-racing.com. Archived from the original on 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  51. ↑ "Rheem Motorsports | Cale Gale". Rheem-racing.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-15. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  52. ↑ "Rheem Manufacturing Company Announces Primary Sponsorship of James Buescher for 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series Season". RAB Racing. January 9, 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  53. ↑ "Christopher Bell joins Leavine Family Racing for 2020". Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site. 2019-09-24. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
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