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During the past eighty-seven years, Airolite has become the world’s foremost manufacturer of Architectural Louvers, Grilles, Screens and Sun Controls because of its dedication to innovation and excellence. Airolite started with the simplest of ideas. In 1916, Albert C. Wendelken invented a clever three-piece window-wall unit to capitalize on an early twentieth-century fad—the year-round sleeping porch. By simply bringing fresh air into a stagnant room, Wendelken struck upon an idea, and a business metaphor, that would define Airolite for the next eight decades.
Simple beginning
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Albert C. Wendelken, inventor of the window-wall. |
Wendelken was like other early twentieth-century inventors—focused on products that made life easier and more productive. The window-wall he created consisted of a glass sash, screen and adjustable louver ventilating sash. Wendelken obtained two patents for his window-wall, enabling him to market and utilize the metal louver separately. It was a fortuitous move as future visionaries would focus on the metal louver as the keystone of the company.
By the spring of 1919, several Marietta, Ohio, businessmen purchased Wendelken’s window-wall for $10,000 and formed The Window-Wall Company. Management offered a $10 prize to any Window-Wall employee or sales rep who could do what they had failed to do—come up with a marketable name for the new metal louver door panel. L.D. Matchett, a Milwaukee sales agent, suggested “Airolite” and walked away with the prize.
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Airolite's adjustable door louvers shut out the glare of corridor lights. |
In late 1919, F.R. Hall and J.H. Warburton, who organized the company’s charter, visited Marietta’s newly-constructed Hotel Lafayette and found no transoms or means of ventilation in the multi-room building. Guests would swelter. The Window-Wall company installed customized door louvers throughout the hotel. Despite the success of the door louver, the company continued to flounder because it focused on the window-wall units as its primary product, and it lacked capital and customers.
Visionary shifts
Then along came A.L. Murray and S.C. Gilman. Having purchased the company in 1926, these visionaries struck out on a path that was to become a familiar one for Airolite: bring about innovation and couple it with excellence. As multi-room structures became more prevalent, so would the need for proper fresh-air ventilation. Thus, Murray and Gilman shifted the company’s focus from window-wall units, to customized door panels that they believed would revolutionize the design of multi-room buildings. These panels were marketed under the trade name “Airolite”. Not only did Murray and Gilman envision a revolutionary means of using the Airolite—it excluded corridor lights, ensured privacy, protected against intruders and allowed circulation of fresh air without drafts—but they manufactured a product that was tested, inexpensive, easy to install, and did not require upkeep expenses. By 1927, the company name was changed to The Airolite Company and offices in Chicago and New York, which would keep the company afloat during difficult years, were opened.
While the rest of the nation suffered during the Depression, Airolite boldly bought others’ assets and prospered. On the day before the market crash, Airolite purchased its largest competitor, The Ventilourvre Company. Over the next decade it aggressively bought its competitors, each of which produced a different door louver, and thus was able to produce a variety of louvers in one plant. Because of this, the company was able to purchase larger facilities and begin paying out cash dividends as early as 1931.
Evolution
By the early 1940s, Airolite evolved again and concentrated on producing exterior wall louvers that could be used in any structure that required fresh air ventilation and protection from the natural elements. Even during the production shortages of World War II, Airolite created revolutionary products that served the armed forces. Special Airolite louvers were fitted into naval ships’ portholes that allowed fresh air in, but did not allow light to escape and alert enemy submarines to a ship’s presence.
By war’s end air conditioning had made door louvers nearly obsolete, and Airolite—already primarily producing exterior ventilating wall louvers—had a strong position in the architectural products market. What set Airolite apart from the other wall louver manufacturers was its all-welded construction. Said construction produces a durable louver that can withstand the elements and virtually eliminates vibration noise associated with rivet and screws in mechanical component construction.
Upon A.L. Murray’s death in 1950, his son Norm became president and general manager. Like his father, Norm Murray was quick to capitalize on what he and his associates felt would be the next wave of the future. Extruded aluminum—was versatile, lightweight, rust resistant and could be molded into intricate shapes—came to represent the majority of Airolite’s business. In 1956, Airolite also built the first U.S. wind-driven test facility, setting itself apart from its competitors with its commitment to laboratory testing and performance data.
In 1985, Norm Murray’s son Leight took over as president and general manager. Under his tenure, Airolite created a strategic planning program that targeted data information systems, improved customer service and employee training, aggressive global marketing, and new product development. In addition, advanced computer technologies and the Qwik Ship program were introduced.
Global beauty and integrity
Purchased by Greenheck Fan—the world’s leading manufacturer of air movement and control products—in 2004, Airolite
remains the leading manufacturer of innovative, quality architectural products. Airolite fulfills the unique visions of its clients by providing high-performance products that meld form with function, delivering “The look that works”.
Architecture concerns itself not only with the look of the building exterior, but the performance issues of architectural products that make the structure beautiful, durable and stable. Airolite can deliver any innovative look a client envisions through high-end design, color options and custom shapes—no visual design is too complex. Increasingly, buildings are designed from the ground up with one major concept in mind—reducing energy costs. Airolite acknowledges this growing market of Green, or Smart, buildings and offers numerous energy-saving products as well.
Further, clients may rest assured that their custom-designed and custom-produced pieces will function as they are intended to because of Airolite’s proven engineering expertise and use of high-quality materials. To make the look work, all designs are tested in state-of-the-art facilities; electronic gauging devices monitor safety, accuracy, quality and output; and state-of-the-art welders produce one-of-a-kind all-welded assemblies. To ensure integrity in severe environments, windload, dynamic vibration and stress corrosion are critical factors in all aspects of manufacturing. Paint and anodized coatings are applied after each product is weld-assembled, ensuring that all exposed edges and surfaces have the maximum protection and are less likely to corrode or have adhesive failure.
Airolite also recognizes that the look will not work if the materials do not arrive on time. Thus, Airolite coordinates with project managers to ensure schedules are met and offers knowledgeable reps, faster shipping, easy installation and manufacturing expertise. Premium pricing strategies ensure that clients receive the world’s premium architectural products at a price that works.
Today Airolite products grace some of the world’s most beautiful structures, from the Al Wahda Tower in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and the Crystal Palace Hotel and Casino in Nassau, Bahamas, to Chicago’s McCormick Place and New York’s Time Warner Center. Airolite is positioned as the world’s most reliable brand that best delivers long-term value to a global population interested in living smart and living beautiful.
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