Vertical Systems
Vertical Systems is a California-based commercial HVAC manufacturer's representative founded in 2003, distributing chillers, cooling towers, pumps, geothermal systems, and controls from ~25 premium manufacturers, with sister-company Factory Authorized Service providing after-sales support to commercial, healthcare, education, and mission-critical facilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Vertical Systems does
Vertical Systems, LLC is a commercial HVAC manufacturer's representative founded in 2003 by Blair Boyce, Brett Gaviglio, and Vince Gomez, headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, California with additional offices in San Diego and El Dorado Hills (Sacramento area). The firm represents approximately 25 premium commercial HVAC manufacturers across California — including Smardt (oil-free centrifugal chillers), Evapco (cooling towers and water treatment), Armstrong (pumps), WaterFurnace (geothermal/water source heat pumps), Haakon (custom air handlers), Williams (fan coils), Thermal Solutions (boilers), Danfoss (valves), Alfa Laval (heat exchangers), Franklin Control Systems (VFDs), Kiltech Controls (central plant optimization), Motivair (heat recovery), GE Haier (VRF), and others — offering a full chiller-to-terminal equipment stack plus controls, water treatment, and replacement coils. Its sister company, Factory Authorized Service (FAS), operates one of the largest OEM service centers in California, providing after-sales support including rebuilds, retrofits, start-ups, and emergency response.
The firm sells exclusively through outside Sales Engineers and Application Engineers who provide consultative specification, equipment selection optimization, and project management from quote through installation, serving commercial, institutional, healthcare, education, government, and mission-critical facilities (notably data centers) across California. Revenue derives from manufacturer commissions on project-based equipment sales, supplemented by service revenue through FAS and OEM parts supply. Pricing is quote-based with standard Net 30 terms, FOB Factory, and an 18-month/12-month operation warranty. The firm is designated as The West Coast Haier VRF Training Center and emphasizes energy efficiency, decarbonization, and emerging oil-free system technologies, positioning itself as a technical authority rather than a commodity distributor.
In August 2026, Vertical Systems was acquired by AIR Control Concepts, a Blackstone-backed national HVAC platform, as part of AIR's expansion into the California commercial HVAC market; the firm continues to operate under its established brand, leadership, and California-based office structure.
Vertical Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vertical Systems
- Legal name
- Vertical Systems, LLC
- Website
- https://vertisys.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Vertical Systems is a California-based commercial HVAC manufacturer's representative founded in 2003, distributing chillers, cooling towers, pumps, geothermal systems, and controls from ~25 premium manufacturers, with sister-company Factory Authorized Service providing after-sales support to commercial, healthcare, education, and mission-critical facilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vertical Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial HVAC Equipment Distribution
- NAICS
- Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310)
- SIC
- Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dampers, Louvers & Ventilation Controls (IMADANAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Supplier Engagement & Value-Chain Decarbonization Programs (EUABAKAE)
Keywords
Where Vertical Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Vertical Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Manufacturer's Representative (Product Sales): Vertical Systems acts as a manufacturer's representative for commercial HVAC equipment brands, generating revenue through commissions on product sales. Products include chillers, pumps, cooling towers, air handlers, boilers, valves, controls, and water treatment systems for commercial and industrial applications.
- After-Sales Support and Service: Sister company Factory Authorized Service (FAS) provides after-sales support including equipment rebuilds, retrofits, replacement, start-ups and shut-downs, maintenance, and emergency assistance. Revenue generated through service labor and parts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | No tiered pricing — quote-based sales model |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Vertical Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vertical Systems is a manufacturer's representative and technical sales-engineering firm that distributes energy-efficient commercial HVAC equipment on behalf of more than 20 manufacturer partners, providing application engineering, equipment selection, and project management to commercial, institutional, healthcare, education, and mission-critical facilities. Its sister company Factory Authorized Service (FAS) provides after-sales support including equipment rebuilds, retrofits, replacements, start-ups, shut-downs, maintenance, and emergency assistance. The company operates from three California offices serving as a consultative technical specialist rather than a commodity product reseller.
Product overview
Vertical Systems is a manufacturer's representative serving the California commercial HVAC market, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Southern California with locations in Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of commercial HVAC equipment from multiple manufacturer partners, including Smardt oil-free centrifugal chillers, Evapco cooling towers and water treatment systems, Armstrong pumps, WaterFurnace geothermal heat pumps, Thermal Solutions boilers, and specialized products like Haakon custom air handlers, Q-PAC fan arrays, Franklin VFDs, and Kiltech central plant control systems. The product portfolio spans chillers, cooling towers, pumps, air handlers, fan coils, boilers, water treatment, air separation, and control systems. Vertical Systems also provides Factory Authorized Service (FAS) as a sister company for after-sales support and distributes OEM parts for all represented manufacturers. The company emphasizes energy efficiency solutions, decarbonization, and sustainable HVAC technology for commercial, institutional, healthcare, education, and mission-critical facilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vertical Systems HVAC Products Portfolio (Manufacturer's Representative Service)
Quantifiable outcome
- Armstrong pumps reduce energy usage by as much as 70% compared to fixed speed alternatives
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use Vertical Systems
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Vertical Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature5 records
Vertical Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- AIR Control ConceptscoreAIR Control Concepts, backed by Blackstone (private equity firm), acquired Vertical Systems as part of its national platform expansion strategy. Vertical Systems continues to operate under its established brand and leadership as part of AIR's national platform, marking AIR's entry into one of the nation's largest commercial HVAC markets (California).
- SmardtmajorSmardt is a manufacturer of oil-free centrifugal chillers with the highest IPLV energy efficiencies in their capacity ranges (60-2500 TR water-cooled, 60-450 TR air-cooled, 60-300 TR evaporative-cooled). Vertical Systems distributes Smardt's oil-free Danfoss-Turbocor compressor chillers as a key product line, positioning Smardt as the #1 efficient chiller in the market.
- EvapcomajorEvapco is a manufacturer of cooling towers, closed-circuit coolers, adiabatic coolers, and water treatment solutions. Vertical Systems has been intertwined with Evapco since Evapco's founding in 1976 — the first sales representative for Evapco products in North America was a predecessor company that merged with Vertical Systems. Evapco products are a core part of the product portfolio.
- Armstrong Fluid TechnologymajorArmstrong Fluid Technology is a manufacturer of intelligent fluid-flow equipment including pumps, heat exchangers, expansion tanks, and optimized hydronic automation controls. Founded in 1934, Armstrong is an industry leader that introduced vertical inline pumps, dual arm pumps, ECM motors, and sensorless controls to the market.
- Alfa LavalmajorAlfa Laval is a world leader in heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling technologies. Vertical Systems distributes Alfa Laval heat exchangers known for the highest HX thermal performance in the smallest footprint, with AHRI 400 certified products.
- Haakon IndustriesmajorHaakon Industries is the largest custom air handler manufacturer in North America. Vertical Systems distributes Haakon's fully customized air handling units (2,000 to 160,000 CFM) with state-of-the-art design and manufacturing meeting seismic zone requirements.
- WaterFurnacemajorWaterFurnace manufactures commercial water source heat pumps and geothermal systems, offering the greenest and most efficient HVAC systems. Vertical Systems distributes WaterFurnace products as a key sustainability-focused product line, with units saving up to 70% on heating, cooling, and hot water costs.
- Williams (Comfort Products)majorWilliams manufactures chilled water fan coils and air handlers used at Columbia University, The Smithsonian Institute, and Air Force One. Vertical Systems distributes Williams products known for high project flexibility, NSF 61 certification, and integrated piping that saves up to $3 per square foot in construction costs.
- SpirothermmajorSpirotherm manufactures coalescing type air separators and dirt separators that remove 100% of air and dirt as small as 5 microns from hydronic systems. Vertical Systems distributes Spirotherm products which increase system efficiency by 8-12% with no moving parts.
- DanfossmajorDanfoss manufactures AB-QM pressure independent control valves with integrated differential pressure regulators. Vertical Systems distributes Danfoss valves which improve system efficiency by 20-50% by eliminating overflows and increasing delta-T.
- Factory Authorized Service (FAS)coreFactory Authorized Service is a sister company to Vertical Systems, specialized in after-sales support for commercial HVAC. FAS is described as one of the largest OEM service centers in California, having performed numerous service projects including equipment rebuilds, retrofits, replacements, start-ups, and shut-downs. Vertical Systems trusts FAS to provide exceptional customer service, top-tier parts, and projects on time.
- GE HaiermajorGE Haier manufactures VRF cooling equipment and ductless mini-split systems. Vertical Systems is designated as The West Coast Haier VRF Training Center, distributing GE Haier products including the MRV-5H VRF system with Multi-Link Technology. Products include ductless mini splits with efficiencies up to 23.5 SEER.
- Kiltech ControlsmajorKiltech Controls provides the CPECS (Central Plant Energy Control System) — a self-learning and calibrating real-time automated central plant optimization system. Vertical Systems integrates Kiltech CPECS into their HVAC solutions to provide 20%+ system performance improvement by eliminating over-pumping in cooling towers, chillers, and pumping loops.
- Franklin Control SystemsmajorFranklin Control Systems manufactures variable frequency drives and motor controls for commercial and industrial HVAC markets. Vertical Systems distributes Franklin Q-link VFDs which feature revolutionary smartphone operation via Bluetooth, reducing start-up time to minutes and eliminating factory commissioning costs.
- MotivairmajorMotivair creates specialty chillers and high-density computer cooling systems for critical infrastructure. Vertical Systems distributes Motivair products including heat recovery chillers that recapture more than 75% of process heat load, serving data centers, medical facilities (MRI, Linear Accelerator, CT scanners), and manufacturing.
- Thermal SolutionsmajorThermal Solutions manufactures high-efficiency condensing boilers, near condensing boilers, and hot water heaters. Vertical Systems distributes Thermal Solutions products which require 40-50% less floor space than other condensing boilers of the same capacity, with 20:1 turndown and efficiencies up to 97%.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Vertical Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AIR Control Concepts: Parent company and Blackstone-backed commercial HVAC manufacturer's representative platform that acquired Vertical Systems in August 2026. Operates the same rep-firm model across other U.S. regions, making it the closest direct peer and integration counterpart.
- HP Sales Inc. California-based commercial HVAC manufacturer's representative serving mechanical contractors, engineers, and building owners across the Western U.S. with overlapping product categories (chillers, air handlers, controls) and similar consultative field-sales motion.
- Bel-Aire Mechanical Sales: Southern California commercial HVAC representative firm specializing in energy-efficient equipment, controls, and engineered solutions for institutional and healthcare facilities — directly comparable geography, customer mix, and product portfolio focus.
- Controlled Air Sales: Commercial HVAC manufacturer's representative serving the Western U.S. with a comparable portfolio of chillers, air handlers, and energy-efficiency solutions targeting the same contractor/engineer/owner buyer.
- Riesbeck & Associates: Independent HVAC manufacturer's representative serving the Western United States with engineered equipment and controls for commercial and industrial applications — comparable rep-firm business model and customer segments.
- Wm. T. Spaeder Company: Manufacturer's representative and distributor of HVAC, plumbing, and hydronic products serving commercial and institutional customers in the Western U.S. — comparable rep-led, technical-sales business model focused on engineered commercial solutions.
Broad incumbents
- Watsco Inc. Largest U.S. HVAC/R distribution company, operating a national network of branches that competes for contractor relationships and represents many of the same product categories (chillers, air handlers, controls) at broader scale.
- Ferguson Enterprises: Major U.S. plumbing and HVAC distributor serving commercial and residential contractors nationwide, offering competing channels for commercial HVAC equipment sourcing and after-sales parts supply.
- Trane Technologies: Global HVAC manufacturer whose product portfolio (chillers, air handlers, controls) overlaps directly with what Vertical Systems represents, and whose expanding direct-sales and digital channels represent a structural disintermediation risk to rep firms.
- Carrier Global Corporation: Global HVAC equipment manufacturer with direct-sales operations and authorized dealer networks that compete with — and at times supply — independent commercial HVAC representatives like Vertical Systems.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vertical Systems social profiles
Digital presenceVertical Systems compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Vertical Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vertical Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Vertical Systems subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Vertical Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vertical Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vertical Systems
What does Vertical Systems do?
Vertical Systems is a manufacturer's representative and technical sales-engineering firm that distributes energy-efficient commercial HVAC equipment on behalf of more than 20 manufacturer partners, providing application engineering, equipment selection, and project management to commercial, institutional, healthcare, education, and mission-critical facilities. Its sister company Factory Authorized Service (FAS) provides after-sales support including equipment rebuilds, retrofits, replacements, start-ups, shut-downs, maintenance, and emergency assistance. The company operates from three California offices serving as a consultative technical specialist rather than a commodity product reseller.
Is Vertical Systems a public or private company?
Vertical Systems is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently acquired.
When was Vertical Systems founded?
Vertical Systems was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vertical Systems based?
Vertical Systems is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Vertical Systems make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Manufacturer's Representative (Product Sales) is the primary driver. The others are after-Sales Support and Service.
Who are Vertical Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AIR Control Concepts, HP Sales Inc., Bel-Aire Mechanical Sales, Controlled Air Sales, Riesbeck & Associates and Wm. T. Spaeder Company. Broad incumbents are Watsco Inc., Ferguson Enterprises, Trane Technologies and Carrier Global Corporation.
Does Vertical Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vertical Systems.
What industry is Vertical Systems in?
Vertical Systems's product category is Commercial HVAC Equipment Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADANAD, Dampers, Louvers & Ventilation Controls, with a secondary code of EUABAKAE, Supplier Engagement & Value-Chain Decarbonization Programs. Its NAICS code is 33341 and its SIC code is 3585.