Rheem Manufacturing Company is a privately held manufacturer who produces residential and commercial water heaters, boilers, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. The company also produces and sells products under the Ruud brand name. Rheem is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and is an independent subsidiary of Paloma Industries.[2][3]
The brothers began manufacturing galvanized steel drums in 1925 as a co-partnership with Pacific Galvanizing Company in Emeryville, California.[8][12][13][9] A third brother, William "W.K." Rheem, helped finance the company at its start.[12][9] The Rheem Manufacturing Company was organized on January 22, 1930, buying out Pacific Galvanizing. Rheem also acquired the Republic Steel package company, which also had a plant in Richmond.[12] Republic Steel made boilers and tanks, which allowed Rheem to enter the water heating business. The company expanded overseas to Australia in 1936, building a plant in Sydney to make water heaters.[14] In 1941, the company became the largest manufacturer of automatic water heaters in the United States.[12]
During World War II, much of the company's efforts went towards wartime production, the manufacturing of shell casings, a liberty ship and aircraft parts.[8] In 1942, Rheem Manufacturing took over a mill from Bethlehem Steel in Danville, Pennsylvania, to begin manufacturing munitions for World War II. The plant was sold to the American Steel Corporation of New York in 1946.[15]
In 1954, Rheem introduced of "glass-lining," which coated the interior of a water heater tank with porcelain to extend the life of the tank.[12] One of the most significant events came in 1956 with the introduction of "Rheemaire" central air conditioning and heating systems for homes. This eventually became one of the company's primary business areas.[12][16]
In 1968[17] a plant was opened in Bergum (Burgum in Frisian) in the Netherlands. The plant was successful but had to close its doors by the end of 1983.[citation needed]
In 1984, Rheem was acquired by Pace Industries, Inc.[12] The company discontinued containers in 1985, ending 60 years making steel drums and other containers.[12]
In 1987, it was reported that MLX Corporation would acquire Rheem for a reported $825 million.[18] That deal crashed, however, with the collapse of the stock market, and in 1988, Pace Industries, the parent company of Rheem, was purchased by Paloma Ltd., a privately held Japanese company with headquarters in Nagoya, Japan, which wished to expand globally.[13][19]
Rheem was the first residential HVAC company to begin using scroll compressors throughout their lineup in 1994, and air conditioners and heat pumps continue to use Copeland Scroll Compressors.[20] 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.[21]
Recent History
J.R. Jones succeeded I.S. Farwell as company president and CEO in March 2008.[22]
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.[23] 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%).[24]
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.[25] 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.[26]
Chris Peel was promoted to president and CEO in June 2018.[27]
In July 2024, Rheem's Fort Smith facility highlighted its sustainability initiatives, which include reducing energy consumption and minimizing waste. These efforts are part of the company's commitment to environmental responsibility and efficiency in manufacturing practices.[28]
In October of 2024, the company established a regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia.[29]
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.[30] 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.[31] 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.[32]
Products
In December 2013, Rheem acquired Scottsboro, Alabama-based Heat Transfer Products Group (HTPG). At that time, Rheem had a business presence in 13 countries, and was distributing its products to 75 countries.[33] HTPG, a standalone company, produces the Russell, Witt, ColdZone and Kramer commercial refrigeration brands.[13]
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.[citation needed]
In Australia, Solarhart, which trades in solar hot water, solar power, and battery storage systems, is owned by Rheem Australia.[34] In many other countries around the world, the companies sell numerous types of water heating equipment, under the Rheem, Ruud, Richmond, Paloma, Splendid, and GE brands.[citation needed]
Swimming pool-related products include gas-fired and heat pump heaters sold under the Rheem and Raypak brands.[citation needed] Protech replacement parts for HVAC systems are sold through the PROSTOCK retail program.[citation needed]
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 RacingToyota Camry in the Cup Series in 2020.[59]
^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."
