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About Us

Trust the water experts. For nearly 150 years, A. O. Smith has been committed to delivering innovative solutions that bring comfort to your home and business.

About A. O. Smith

For millions of consumers, business owners, property managers and engineers worldwide, A. O. Smith has delivered innovative hot water solutions for over 80 years.

A. O. Smith’s selection of residential and commercial water heaters, boilers, and storage tanks is unmatched for quality and diversity. Anywhere hot water is needed, A. O. Smith can provide an energy-efficient solution with maximum value during and for years after installation. And, A. O. Smith stands behind its products and its customers with world-class service, combining cutting-edge technology with committed people who take pride in being the very best.

A. O. Smith produced its first residential water heater in 1939, establishing a tradition of innovation that continues to this day. In 1953, A. O. Smith shipped its first commercial water heater equipped with a “glass-lined" tank, which remains the industry standard for protecting steel from the corrosive effects of water.

In 2004, A. O. Smith reaffirmed its mastery of glass lining technology by introducing patented Blue Diamond™ glass coating on its best Conservationist® residential water heaters. Blue Diamond™ provides the ultimate protection… over twice the corrosion resistance compared to industry-standard glass lining.

The Cyclone® Xi water heater symbolizes A. O. Smith’s clear leadership in the commercial water heating market. Introduced in 1997, The Cyclone® HE commercial gas water heaters were designed with high thermal efficiencies to deliver maximum hot water output at the lowest possible cost, which can translate into thousands of dollars saved per year for owners of restaurants and other commercial buildings.

In 2010, A. O. Smith launched a new era in high efficiency products, introducing the hybrid electric heat pump, high efficiency gas, and solar water heating solutions. 2010 also brought about a new partnership with Takagi, leading A. O. Smith to market and manufacture a comprehensive line of tankless products for both commercial and residential applications.

In 2014, A. O. Smith made significant progress in the commercial water heating business with the launch of the Cyclone® MXi. This new generation of the flagship Cyclone technology integrated modulating operation, increasing performance and efficiency. Over the next 5 years, the Cyclone family grew to include the Cyclone® LV and Cyclone® XL models for large volume and high demand applications.

Drawing from its expertise in commercial water heating technology, A. O. Smith launched the ProLine® family of commercial-grade water heaters for the home. This comprehensive line of residential water heaters uses commercial-grade components for increased durability.

An expert in both water heating and treatment, in 2022, A. O. Smith combined both of those technologies to introduce X3® Scale Prevention Technology. This first of its kind technology improves our existing suite of condensing tankless products by preventing scale buildup and eliminating the need for descaling maintenance. With this achievement, A. O. Smith introduced the industry’s first ever “Peace of Mind" 15-year limited warranty covering scale-related failures, and continuing the company’s long-standing history of industry-defining innovation.

A. O. Smith Water Products Company is headquartered in Ashland City, Tennessee, home of the world’s largest water heater factory. The A. O. Smith network includes five manufacturing facilities in North America, plus plants in Nanjing, China and Veldhoven, The Netherlands.

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A. O. Smith provides hot and clean water to people all over the world.

A History of Innovation Timeline


timeline
1874
Charles Jeremiah Smith establishes Charles J. Smith-Machinist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, beginning as a machine shop making metal parts for baby carriages and other hardware specialties. He was later joined by two of his sons and changed the name to C. J. Smith and Sons.

1889
The company enters the bicycle industry by introducing a concept of forming steel tubing from sheet metal. This innovation allows C. J. Smith and Sons to become the largest bicycle parts manufacturer in the world.

1899
Arthur O. Smith, a son of the founder, develops the world’s first pressed steel automobile frame; a lighter, more cost-effective alternative to existing frames.

1906
Henry Ford orders 10,000 steel automobile frames, leading the company to develop the world’s first mass production process for assembling frames. Within four years, A. O. Smith is North America’s largest frame manufacturer.
timeline

timeline
1918
As part of the U.S. war effort, A. O. Smith engineers develop a coated welding rod. This breakthrough influenced the development of arc welding as a mass production method.
1921
A. O. Smith unveils “the Mechanical Marvel," the world’s first fully automated automobile frame assembly plant.


timeline

timeline
1927
The company perfects a method of economically forming and welding large-diameter steel-lined pipe. This new mass production technique was instrumental in launching the natural gas industry and transcontinental oil pipeline business.
1936
A. O. Smith patents the process of glass-lining a water heater tank. This concept quickly became the standard of the industry, making hot water an affordable convenience for homeowners.

timeline

timeline
1942
As a part of the war effort, A. O. Smith begins producing bomb casings, aircraft propellers, and landing gear, frames for the B-25 bomber, water heaters, jeep frames, and components for the atomic bomb project. By 1945 A. O. Smith had built 4.5 million bombs, 16,750 sets of landing gear, and 46,700 propeller blades.
1979
State Industries introduces the first self-cleaning commercial water heater, the Sandblaster®.

timeline

timeline
1984
State Industries introduces the first self-cleaning residential water heater.

1996
Pioneering the use of a slush-coated glassing process, A. O. Smith launches Cyclone® commercial water heaters.

timeline

timeline
2007
A. O. Smith introduces the Vertex® water heater which offers superior energy efficiency in the residential category
2010
Launching a new era in high efficiency products, the company introduces an unprecedented number of new innovative products including hybrid electric heat pump, high efficiency gas, and solar water heating solutions.
A. O. Smith and Takagi enter into a joint venture to market and manufacture a comprehensive line of residential and commercial tankless products in North America

timeline

timeline
2014
A. O. Smith ushers in a new era of commercial water heating with the launch of the Cyclone® MXi. This new generation integrates modulating operation into A. O. Smith’s flagship Cyclone technology for unprecedented performance and efficiency.
2017
A. O. Smith draws from its expertise in commercial water heating technology to launch the ProLine® family of commercial-grade residential water heaters.

timeline

timeline
2018
A. O. Smith unveils its new L. R. Smith Corporate Technology Center in Milwaukee, Wisc. The 42,700 sq. ft. state-of-the-art center supports advanced research and development in the areas of potable and hydronic water heating, water treatment and air purification.
2020
The industry leading Cyclone family of commercial gas water heaters grows to include the Cyclone® LV and Cyclone® XL models for large volume and high demand applications.

timeline

timeline
2022
A. O. Smith introduces X3® Scale Prevention Technology to its existing suite of condensing tankless products, accompanied by the industry’s first ever “Peace of Mind" 15-year limited warranty covering scale-related failures.
Best companies to work for - Manufacturing 2024-2025

We are thrilled to be recognized by

U.S. News & World Report

as one of the


2024-2025 Best Companies to Work for in Manufacturing!



This is a true testament to everyone at

A. O. Smith. Thank you for making our workplace what it is today!

Why A. O. Smith?

 
market_leader
Market Leader

A. O. Smith is a leading manufacturer of both residential and commercial water heating technologies, including the #1 most specified commercial water heater.

creating_solutions
Commitment to Innovation

For more than 145 years, we’ve developed state-of-the art products that push new boundaries and improve the lives of our customers.

support
Best-In-Class Support

We combine cutting-edge technology with committed people who take pride in providing the very best support for our customers.

unmatched
Unmatched Quality

Our products are put through rigorous quality and endurance testing so now matter where hot water is needed, A. O. Smith can provide a solution you can count on.

Learn more about A. O. Smith