Buffalo Air Handling history

1883-89 - The Buffalo Forge product line expands With the corner blacksmith slowly disappearing, the brothers were ready to explore America’s industrial expansion including drilling machines, and the discovery of air as a usable tool for many jobs.

Buffalo Pumps, a manufacturer of centrifugal pumps since 1887, relied primarily on sales to the defense market, but the company also served the refrigeration, paper, and lube oil markets.

1900 - Buffalo Forge was incorporated With a capitalisation of $500,000 that was increased to $1,000,000 the following year.

In 1911, Carrier developed the psychometric chart, which forms the basis for air conditioning theory.

In 1914, Buffalo Forge published the First Edition of Fan Engineering, which was edited by Carrier.

Founded in 1923, Union Electric was regarded as a world leader in the forged steel roll market.

1941 - Control of Buffalo Forge changed from the Wendt family to a public stock offering In 1941, it was decided that stockholders would be best served if the stock were placed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Custom air handling units emerged as a market niche in the mid 1950’s. and grew along with the critical needs of the hospital, pharmaceutical and laboratory markets.

He acquired a majority stake in Pittsburgh Screw & Bolt Co., expanded it by adding Pilgrim Drawn Steel and Wyckoff Steel to its operations, and built a communications arm to his empire by using a 30 percent stake in Rust Craft Greeting Card Co. that he acquired in 1959.

1970 Louis Berkman creates Ampco-Pittsburgh through the merger of Screw and Bolt Corp. of America and Ampco Metal Co.

The Buffalo Air Handling facility in Amherst, Virginia, was built in 1977 specifically to manufacture air handling units.

When Louis Berkman sold Rust Craft in 1979, increasing revenues 500 percent during his 20 years in control, his son Marshall and his son-in-law Robert Paul, both of whom had begun their careers at Rust Craft, took over day-to-day control of Ampco-Pittsburgh.

In 1980 Buffalo became part of the Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation Family along with its sister companies; Aerofin Corporation and Buffalo Pump, Inc.

1981 Aerofin Corp. and Buffalo Pumps, Inc. are acquired.

In 1982, the company recorded its first annual loss in more than two decades, as Marshall Berkman's bold attempt at expansion and diversification showed its first sign of being an imprudent move.

1984 Union Electric Steel Corp. is acquired.

In 1987, he began to undo much of what he had done, embarking on a divestment program as ambitious as his ill-fated acquisition program.

In September 1994, Marshall Berkman was aboard an airplane returning to Pittsburgh from Chicago, accompanied by Ampco-Pittsburgh's tax manager.

1999 The Davy Roll Company is acquired.

2003 Ampco-Pittsburgh sells its plastics processing machinery business.

2004 Louis Berkman is named chairman emeritus.

2010 - The Howden subsidiary containing the remainder of Buffalo Forge was renamed Howden North America.

2018 - Today Buffalo Forge is handled under our Howden Americas region.