Lochinvar celebrates 30th anniversary of industry-changing Power-Fin commercial product line

“As a company, we are proud to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Power-Fin product line.  This product line transformed the industry and elevated Lochinvar into a leadership position,” said Mike Lahti, vice president of sales, marketing and business development. “Our industry has seen a lot of change over the last 30 years, and at the time of its introduction, the Power-Fin product established a new standard of performance and design.”

Developed in 1986 from Lochinvar pioneer William Vallett Sr.’s vision for a high-efficiency water heater and boiler, the Power-Fin product was the first of its kind and remains the model of efficiency today. With four original models ranging from 250,000 to 1,000,000 Btu/hr., it hit the mark in an industry hungry for high efficiency products. The Power-Fin series was the first commercial product to offer a variety of new technologies and features including: 

• Direct vent sealed combustion technology
• Self-diagnostic, removable panel
• Multiple venting options
• Copper-finned, vertical heat exchanger
•  Low-mass with a small footprint
• Only boiler in its class that was able to fit through a 36-inch door

“The Power-Fin products created consumer demand and acted as a catalyst for the company’s growth in the 80’s and 90’s which prompted the move to our state-of-the-art new headquarters in 2001,” says William Vallett, Jr., chief executive officer. “Lochinvar’s leadership position in the commercial water heater and boiler business was rooted in the success of the Power-Fin product line.”

The original Power-Fin series played a role in heating water for applications such as nursing homes, restaurants, schools and more. The unique features of the product allowed for the installation of a gas appliance in an area where traditional gas appliances may not be installed due to space constraints in the building.

“Starting with the Power-Fin product line in 1986, we were able to provide something that other companies weren’t focused on, efficiency and footprint,” says Dan Sheko, national sales manager. “Now, 30 years later, we are proud to have continued that tradition and provide some of the highest efficiency products on the market.”

The Power-Fin product was the first to commercialize fan-assisted technology and to this day, still impacts the way engineers think about venting, gas pressure and volume.  Lochinvar’s Power-Fin line revolutionized both Lochinvar as a company and the industry as a whole. At the time of its creation, Lochinvar had approximately 30 employees, four of whom are still with the company.

Thirty years since its creation, the Power-Fin product remains one of Lochinvar’s best-selling items. The product continues to evolve, with new “Built-in Advantages,” including expanded burner modulation and the advanced SMART SYSTEM™ operating control. Look for a new Power-Fin product line announcement coming soon.