Lou Ward’s introduction to heating and refrigeration came aboard a Navy hospital ship, where he first learned the mechanics of keeping a system running. Back home in Pittsburgh after his service, he found work selling air conditioning units to bars around the city — at a time when a cool bar meant a busy bar, and a busy bar meant good business. Lou didn’t just sell the units; he made the rounds collecting the coins bar owners fed into them to keep the air running.

From there, Lou moved into estimating, learning the trade at John Harrison Company and Limbach while attending night school at the University of Pittsburgh. That experience gave him the confidence to start his own sheet metal shop, Crest Air Inc. It was there that he discovered a new way of connecting ductwork — and with his partners, built the first roll former to create a four-bolt flange system, right in the back of his own shop.

What began as one solution to one problem grew, over the years, into a full line of products covering every duct fabrication need a sheet metal contractor could have. Lou’s dedication to quality and service is still the standard we hold ourselves to today. Our commitment to Service After The Sale will continue to lead us into the future.