Taco reorganizes and reinvents itself as a global brand

CRANSTON, RI — In order to diversify and facilitate entry into new industries and market channels, Taco, Inc. has completed a major structural reorganization which starts with a change of name: Taco, Inc. is now Taco Comfort Solutions, a Taco Group Company.

The new name reflects Taco’s long experience and commitment to provide optimal indoor comfort while pursuing the highest efficiency in products that save energy and resources.

Taco Now a Global Brand

Under the privately-held company’s new organizational structure, Taco Comfort Solutions is a part of the Taco Group. Other worldwide elements of the Taco Group include Hydroflo Pumps/Fluid Solutions of Fairview, TN, Askoll/Taco Flow Solutions of Sandrigo, Italy and Taco Trading/Supply Chain Solutions Ltd. of Kowloon, Hong Kong.

The Taco Group includes operations and sales offices in the U.S, Canada, Panama, Italy, Dubai, South Korea, China and Vietnam, making Taco a truly global brand. 

The Askoll Acquisition

The Taco Group’s biggest move to date is its just completed acquisition of Italian pump manufacturer Askoll’s indoor heating pump company. Now called Taco Italia SrL and using the trade name Askoll/Taco Flow Solutions, Taco is now a new player in the European hydronics market.

Askoll’s patented ECM technology has already been employed in Taco’s newly introduced 00e Series high-efficiency circulator line. 00e pumps and circulators use up to 85% less electricity than standard models and are ideal for use in systems zoned with circulators or zone valves.

Moving Beyond HVAC

In addition to expanding its core business in heating and cooling through its acquisition of Askoll’s indoor heating business and entry into the European HVAC market, Taco Comfort Solutions intends to pursue growth and diversification through additional new partnerships and acquisitions, and to diversify by branching out into vertical markets and channels, both in HVAC and non-HVAC.

One such non-HVAC but closely related market is plumbing. Taco has developed smart plumbing products that conserve water and provide instant hot water. Drought in the western U.S. has opened up new markets for these products based on the pressing need to save water.

Totally separate from HVAC and plumbing, its Hydroflo Pumps/Fluid Solutions company manufactures pumps used in such industries as irrigation and agriculture. Hydroflo, headquartered in Tennessee, has assembly operations in Indiana, Arkansas, Texas and California, and a sales/distribution office in Panama City, Panama.    

Taco’s Product Supermarket

Taco’s 96-year history reflects continual product advancements in controlling the flow of water in hydronic-based systems. As a solutions provider, Taco has developed a broad portfolio of electronic controls, valves, tanks, pumps, heat exchangers, high-efficiency variable speed drives, ECM circulators and a wide array of ancillary product and accessories.

Taco’s full suite of products provide efficient system flow control ranging from single family residential to large-scale commercial HVAC and plumbing applications. These Taco “Product Supermarket” solutions deliver high-efficiency, lower first costs, longer operational life, sustainability and energy conservation.

Comments from Taco Owner John Hazen White, Jr.

“This is dynamic and exciting time for Taco,” says Owner and Chairman John Hazen White, Jr. “We are taking these actions from a position of strength and confidence to ensure Taco’s continuing success. As we do so, we will remain ever faithful and committed to the people and the core values that together have made Taco a great company. As Taco approaches its 100^th anniversary in business, we are no longer an American company based in RI but a global company based in the U.S.A.”

About Taco Comfort Solutions

Taco Comfort Solutions, a Taco Group Company, is a family-owned American manufacturer of HVAC heating, cooling and plumbing products. In business since 1920, the ISO 9001 company develops and manufactures a wide range of products and systems for both residential and commercial applications, to include circulators/pumps, valves and controls, air-dirt separators, heat exchangers, buffer and expansion tanks, domestic hot water and accessory products, and building management controls. Taco products are proudly made in America. Taco Comfort Solutions operates North American facilities in Cranston, RI, Fall River, MA and Marion, AR. Overseas Taco operates facilities in Milton, Canada and Binh Duong Province, Vietnam. The company serves the domestic OEM boiler market and the trade business through rep agencies and independent distributors serving plumbers and contractors across North America. www.tacocomfort.com