Lochinvar History

Lochinvar Ltd, UK

Knight and Charger Water Heaters were amongst the first direct gas-fired water heaters to be supplied in the UK in 1976. Since then our range has expanded to include a wide range of highly efficient gas-fired Water Heaters and Boilers for use in Commercial and Industrial applications.

Manufacturer Lochinvar Corporation acquired its UK agent Lochinvar Ltd in 1998 enabling the company to develop its established business in the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe and a much closer working relationship in terms of new product development.

In recent years Lochinvar Ltd has employed the use of Condensing technology in its product development, giving further improvements to product efficiency. Most current products also offer ultra low Nox emissions.

Lochinvar Ltd re-located to our MXL Centre office and distribution facility in Banbury, Oxon in April 2000.

Lochinvar Corporation, USA

Lochinvar’s history dates back to 1919 with its founder Walter Vallett, Snr’s entry into the Water Heater business. Mr Vallett was a true history pioneer having been instrumental in the development of the first automatic Gas Fired Water Heaters early in his career.

Walter Vallett Snr founded the Walter Vallett Company on the 16th May 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 Sir 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 Jnr, President, Jeff Vallett, Executive Vice President and Tom Vallett Executive Vice President all active in the daily operations of the business. 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 moved to a new plant location in Nashville.

A new distribution centre in Detroit, Michigan was completed in 1989 and the Dallas warehouse was doubled in 1992. A new engineering tech centre was opened in 1995, housing new engineering offices, an engineering research and 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, Tennessee.

In May 2000, Lochinvar broke ground for a new 360,000 square-foot headquarters and manufacturing facility in Lebanon, Tennessee. Construction was completed in June 2001 and operations were consolidated from 6 separate facilities throughout Tennessee to the new World Headquarters building in Lebanon. The new facility which was built adjacent to the tank plant encompasses a world class manufacturing operation, engineering/research and development labs, a 104 amphitheater style training centre a hands on service and application training lab, a distribution centre and administrative offices.

From modest beginnings, Lochinvar has evolved into a major manufacturer and innovator of new products and technologies for heating water – both water heating and space heating purposes. Lochinvar takes pride in its “engineered products concept” in pursuing the commercial/industrial and specialty water heating and boiler markets. This concept encourages a close working relationship with consulting engineers and project designers in the interest of developing hot water or heating systems perfectly suited to specific project requirements.

As well as distributing our products throughout United Kingdom, Lochinvar Corporation also has export markets in Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Australia, Europe and the Middle East.