GSW Snapshot
GSW's full of hot water. And good thing, otherwise you'd be taking a cold shower. The company is a leading North American manufacturer of residential and commercial water heaters -- gas, electric, and oil-fired -- sold in Canada under both the GSW and John WoodTM brands and in the US under the American PRO-Line, U.S. Craftsmaster, and Whirlpool labels. A. O. Smith, a company best known for its fan motors, acquired GSW and its American Water Heater subsidiary for about $340 million in 2006. After the acquisition, A. O. Smith sold GSW's building products division, which made vinyl gutters and railing systems, so that it could focus on beefing up its water heater sales.
