Pictured is ECR International in Dunkirk. The manufacturer of HVAC equipment has been purchased by a Canadian company. P-J file photo

DUNKIRK — A Dunkirk manufacturer of HVAC equipment has been purchased by a Canadian company.

Granby Industries LP, a division of TerraVest Industries Inc., has announced that it has acquired all the issued and outstanding shares of ECR International Corp. ECR, headquartered in Utica is a privately-owned manufacturing company that produces heating and cooling products under a family of brand names in North America, including the Dunkirk, Utica and Olsen brands, among others.

Pierre Fournier, president of Granby Industries, welcomes the employees of ECR and looks forward to their continuing commitment to the business and its customers. “ECR International is a strong business with a portfolio of successful brands, and we’re delighted to welcome its employees to the Granby family. ECR fits within our portfolio of businesses perfectly and we look forward to nurturing its growth and further strengthening our position in the North American heating market,” he said in a statement.

Fournier noted that in addition to increasing manufacturing capacity, the two long-standing companies share similar values and strengths that will enhance both companies’ ability to offer the most comprehensive heating solutions in the industry. With continuity in mind, Granby Industries’ goal is to make this transition as seamless as possible, by delivering products, services and sales support to customers through the existing ECR teams they have assembled.

Dustin Haw, chief executive officer of TerraVest, also issued a statement about the purchase. “ECR International is a strong business with a portfolio of successful brands, and we’re delighted to welcome its employees to the TerraVest family. ECR fits within our portfolio of businesses perfectly and we look forward to nurturing its growth and further strengthening our position in the North American heating market.” he said.

TerraVest will acquire ECR using existing cash and credit facilities.

Mark Geise, chief executive officer of the Chautauqua County IDA and deputy county executive and economic development, said he believes this will be a benefit to the Dunkirk facility. “Rich Dixon (chief financial officer of the county IDA) talked to the management and they felt that this was really good for the local Dunkirk ECR. This was a good partnership. ECR had things that TerraVest needs and wants. and they feel that TerraVest is going to invest in the companies,” he said.

He was not certain how many employees ECR International has in its Dunkirk facility.

According to ECR’s website, the company has been in Dunkirk for 93 years. “Since 1928, Dunkirk has delivered innovative, efficient and dependable home heating products to professionals, building owners and homeowners. We take pride in our products. We listen to the people in the field who do the tough work, and we design around their feedback and suggestions. We believe in the strength of American Ingenuity when it comes to residential- and commercial, hot-water boilers, steam boilers, indirect water heaters, and all HVAC products,” the company states. Locally, the plant sits at 85-87 Middle Road, Dunkirk.

TerraVest is a diversified industrial company that sells goods and services to a variety of end markets. It is a market-leading manufacturer of home heating products, propane, anhydrous ammonia and natural gas liquids transport vehicles and storage vessels, energy processing equipment and fiberglass storage tanks. Its headquarters is in Vegreville, Canada.

Along with Grandby Industries, other TerraVest brands include Grandby Composites, Grandby Storage Tanks, Grandby Furnaces, Grandby Heating Products, Pro-Par, Fischer Tanks, Diamond Energy Services, Agro, MaXfield, NWP Industries LP, Countryside Tank Company, RJV Gas Field Services, SegreTECH, Signature Truck Systems and EnviroVault LP.