Taco to move into plumbing, VRF and geothermal markets

Taco, Inc. has announced a reorganization of the company and its marketing direction in order to facilitate entry into plumbing, VRF and geothermal markets. In addition, it will expand its OEM and overseas businesses, and enter the hospitality market. The company intends to leverage its 95-year experience in hydronic heating and cooling as it branches out from the HVAC industry into those vertical markets. It also intends to develop the capability to provide non-hydronic product solutions to the HVAC industry, as well as deliver product applications aimed at selected markets outside HVAC entirely.

The company is in the process of restructuring (see below) and rebranding itself and it will pursue growth and diversification through new partnerships and acquisitions. In recent years Taco acquired Hydroflo, a manufacturer of vertical and submersible turbine pumps used in such industries as irrigation, mining and agriculture. Last year it entered into a strategic collaboration with Askoll, a manufacturer of electric motor pumps.

The rebranding focus under way will emphasize that Taco, through its long experience and expertise in controlling the flow of water, delivers optimal comfort system solutions to its customers.

“To grow, Taco has to diversify,” said chairman of the board and CEO John White, Jr., the third generation of his family to operate Taco. “We have been quite diligent in studying where Taco is and what it needs to accomplish to get where it wants to go in the years ahead. We have revitalized our board, conducted an international search for an experienced COO in Wil VandeWiel, laid out an aggressive strategy for diversification, and restructured our internal operations to provide a scalable organizational structure.”

“It’s not so much of an expansion at this point as a restructuring and putting a lot more focus on sales and marketing, from a company standpoint,” said Jim Garrett, general manager for Taco Canada. “This is more to prepare us to go through the expected growth from the acquisitions and new markets that we intend to penetrate.”

Taco has manufacturing facilities in Cranston, RI and Fall River, MA, a sales and distribution facility in Canada, and sales offices in Central America, the Middle East and Asia.

Management adjustments and promotions

The following individuals will have enhanced responsibilities and report to Wil VandeWiel as COO:

• Bryan Payne, Senior Vice President, Engineered Products and Systems, responsible for engineered products and systems sales applications engineering, sales support, field sales, Taco University, Taco Canada and international sales.
• Robert Lee, Executive Vice President, Operations, responsible for operational activities for Taco’s circulator, commercial pump, controls and electronics and Fall River divisions, as well as U.S. and Canada facilities and warehouse operations
• Todd Facey, Senior Vice President, Residential Sales, responsible for all residential products and systems including wholesale distribution, field sales, OEM and national/key accounts, buying groups and training and trade programs.
• Greg Case, Executive Vice President, Research and New Product Development, responsible for new product development, product management, iWorx Engineering and Taco’s Engineering Lab.
• Chris Integlia, Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, responsible for Taco Key Holdings, Inc., leadership on key strategic and financial decisions to include mergers-acquisitions and other strategic partnership opportunities.
• Gene Fina, Vice President, Marketing, responsible for strengthening the Taco brand identity across all divisions and business units.