AAON, Inc. was founded in 1988 by Norman H. Asbjornson, who purchased the heating and air-conditioning division of John Zink and established a new commercial HVAC company. The name “AAON” was selected partly so it would appear early in phone directories. Over subsequent decades, AAON expanded through both in-house development and acquisitions (for instance, acquiring Coils Plus in 1991) to build its capabilities and broaden its product portfolio.
Operationally, AAON designs, manufactures, and markets heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment primarily for commercial and industrial indoor environments. Its product offerings include rooftop air-conditioning units, heating units, heat recovery systems, and air-conditioning coils. The company emphasizes configurability, enabling many semi-custom and custom solutions to meet client-specific requirements. AAON operates manufacturing facilities in locations such as Longview, Texas; Parkville, Missouri; and Redmond, Oregon.
AAON aims to differentiate itself through flexibility, technical precision, and customer-driven configuration — rather than solely competing on commodity pricing. Its ability to deliver semi-custom or custom HVAC systems gives it leverage in markets requiring tailored performance, such as data centers, laboratories, high-performance commercial buildings, and other specialized facilities. The geographic spread of its manufacturing base helps it serve broad U.S. markets efficiently, while its reputation for reliability and engineering depth supports its credibility in demanding commercial projects.
AAON’s competitive advantages stem from its blend of configurability and scale. Because it offers semi-custom or custom HVAC solutions, it can win contracts that more standardized manufacturers might not suit. The difficulty and cost of engineering and manufacturing tailored systems act as a barrier to entry for many competitors. Its vertical integration, in-house coil manufacturing capabilities, and well-distributed manufacturing footprint support efficient production and supply chain responsiveness. Furthermore, consistent investments in facility expansion (e.g. in Longview, Texas) and acquisitions (such as BASX Solutions to bolster high-end niche systems) help AAON maintain technical relevance and capacity for growth.