17 December 2015
AAF International announces the asset acquisition of Grillo Filter Sales (Grillo) in Riverside, California. With this acquisition, AAF International expands its operational footprint and enhances the level of services that it is able to offer in the southern California area.
  

AAF International began its relationship with Grillo in 1962, when Grillo began distributing AAF International’s Roll-O-Mat filters and other fibreglass products. A second-generation company, Grillo also manufactures its own line of panel and pleated style air filters. Grillo has a strong customer base in a heavily industrialised section of California, focusing on the commercial, government and healthcare markets. 

Cissy Thomas, Grillo’s President, stated, “AAF International began the way that we did, with one person starting a business and steadily growing it. Now that we have combined the expertise and experience of both companies, I’m looking forward to better servicing my customers.”

“AAF International has had a long, successful relationship with Grillo, so we’re really excited about this acquisition,” David Parker, AAF International’s Vice President of Commercial & Industrial Sales in North America, said. “Acquiring Grillo also fits in well with our strategic plan for the West Coast, since we can now expand AAF’s service capabilities in southern California.”

Philip Whitaker, AAF International’s Chief Executive Officer, added, “Given Grillo’s proximity to our Ontario manufacturing facility in California, we now have a robust presence in this vital marketplace and can better serve our local customer base. Grillo has been serving some of its customers for 30 years. That’s a terrific resource for AAF to tap into, and we’re looking forward to combining Grillo’s strong track record in the local marketplace with AAF’s wide range of products.”

AAF International, based in Louisville, Kentucky, has more than 3,000 employees, 22 manufacturing facilities and 5 R&D centres worldwide. AAF designs, develops and manufactures air filtration solutions for commercial, industrial, cleanroom, transportation and nuclear power applications. AAF also provides inlet air cooling and sound attenuation solutions for high-speed rotating machinery.