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Company Profile - A.O. Smith Corporation

11270 W. Park Place
Milwaukee, WI 53224

Phone: 414-359-4000
Fax: 414-359-4064
Website: www.aosmith.com Ticker Symbol: AOS

Key Facts

Manufactures more than 35 million electric motors a year.
Invented the glass-lined water heater in 1936.
Key Financial Facts
2002 revenue: $1,469 million
1-yr. growth rate: 28 percent

Personnel Highlights
Number of employees (2001): 14,800
1-yr. growth rate: 0 percent

Company Overview
Established in 1904 as a car frame manufacturer, A.O. Smith (AOS) now comprises two units—Electric Motors and Water Heaters—and is a leading producer of fan motors, jet pump motors, and hermetic motors used in air conditioners, blowers, furnaces, swimming pools, and hot tubs. The company grew rapidly from its start in the early 20th century and in 1921 introduced an automated assembly line for car frames, which produced a frame every eight seconds and remained the standard for decades.

A.O. Smith moved into water heater production in the 1930s and over the course of the 1940s began producing electric motors. The company expanded that side of its business again in 1986 with the purchase of Westinghouse's small motor division. AOS continued its aggressive efforts to move to the top of the electric motor market with its 1998 purchase of General Electric’s motor unit, making it the leading manufacturer of compressor motors for the air conditioner industry. It acquired Magnetek's electric motor business in 1999, doubling the size of its pump motor business. In 2000 and 2001, respectively, AOS sold its fiberglass pipe business (established in 1959) and its storage products business. In 2001, the company also acquired water heater company State Industries, nearly doubling the size of its water heater business in the process.

Major Line of Business : Heavy Manufacturing

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