Gaylord Industries
Gaylord Industries, a division of ITW Food Equipment Group, designs and manufactures commercial kitchen ventilation equipment — including ELX thermal-plume ventilators, DCV systems, and grease/odor control — for US foodservice operators across restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and schools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1948
- HeadquartersTualatin, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Gaylord Industries does
Gaylord Industries (operating commercially as Gaylord Ventilation) is a US-based designer and manufacturer of commercial kitchen ventilation equipment, organized as a division of ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, a subsidiary of the diversified industrial conglomerate Illinois Tool Works. Founded in the mid-20th century and headquartered in Tualatin, Oregon, the company has manufactured pollution control equipment for commercial kitchen exhaust systems since the early 1970s — a heritage it cites as longer than any other manufacturer in the segment. Its core technology centers on thermal plume physics and fluid dynamics: the patented ELX Series ventilator uses hood geometry to harness the natural rise of cooking-generated thermal plumes, achieving industry-lowest CFM airflow ratings as tested to ASTM 1704 by Fisher Nickel, Inc. The product platform spans the EL Series light-duty ventilator, the ELX Series ultra-low-CFM ventilator, the ELXC Series clean-in-place wet ventilator, the XGS High-Efficiency Grease Extractor (up to 96% particulate efficiency to VDI 2052), the AirVantage Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) system, the Eliminator Pollution Control Ventilator, ClearAir electrostatic precipitator and three-phase filtration smoke/odor units, and utility distribution and specialty chemical adjuncts.
The company sells quote-based, project-driven commercial kitchen ventilation equipment into a single vertical — foodservice operators including restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and schools — through direct sales representatives, an authorized service-agent network, and foodservice equipment dealers that also distribute sibling ITW brands such as Hobart, Baxter, Berkel, Vulcan, Traulsen, and Wolf. Pricing is custom per specification and is not publicly disclosed; multi-year contract cadence is typical. Marketing reach combines a website resource center, LinkedIn and YouTube content (including the "Look Under The Hood" co-marketed series with Vulcan), interactive Blue Book digital catalogs, and industry trade shows. Strategic positioning emphasizes energy savings (25-70% fan energy savings, 10-50% overall airflow reduction), labor optimization (automated clean-in-place filtration), and regulatory compliance (UL 710, IMC, NFPA-96, Reese's Law), with recent product updates addressing AFFF and PFAS-related fire-suppression chemistry shifts in 2024. The firm holds no independent funding — it is capitalized and supported inside the ITW corporate structure.
Gaylord Industries firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gaylord Industries
- Legal name
- Gaylord Industries
- Website
- https://gaylordventilation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1948
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Gaylord Industries, a division of ITW Food Equipment Group, designs and manufactures commercial kitchen ventilation equipment — including ELX thermal-plume ventilators, DCV systems, and grease/odor control — for US foodservice operators across restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and schools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gaylord Industries industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Kitchen Ventilation
- NAICS
- Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (3334)
- SIC
- Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564), Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Commercial Kitchen Ventilation (Hoods/Make-Up Air/Grease Duct) (IMADANAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Air Filtration & Indoor Air Quality Components (Filters/UV/ERVs-HRVs) (IMADANAE), Fans, Blowers & Ventilation Units (Supply/Exhaust/Inline) (IMADANAB), Dampers, Louvers & Ventilation Controls (IMADANAD)
Keywords
Where Gaylord Industries is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tualatin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Gaylord Industries business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Quote-based pricing for commercial kitchen ventilation equipment |
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Gaylord Industries product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gaylord Industries designs and manufactures commercial kitchen ventilation equipment, including exhaust hood ventilators (EL, ELX, ELXC Series), demand control ventilation technology (AirVantage), and pollution/smoke/odor control units (Eliminator PCV, ClearAir PCU). The ELX platform uses patented thermal plume physics and fluid dynamics to achieve the industry's lowest airflow rates, while the ELXC adds automated clean-in-place wet cleaning. The products are sold to foodservice operators including restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and schools.
Product overview
Gaylord Industries designs and manufactures commercial kitchen ventilation equipment under ITW Food Equipment Group. The product portfolio centers on a platform of exhaust hood ventilators (EL Series light-duty, ELX Series ultra-low CFM, and ELXC clean-in-place), complemented by Demand Control Ventilation technology (AirVantage), smoke and odor control solutions (Eliminator PCV, ClearAir PCU-ESP and PCU-TPF), a Utility Distribution System (UDS), and additional formula/specialty products. The ELX platform uses passive physics-based thermal plume capture to achieve industry-leading low airflow rates, while ELXC adds automated wet cleaning. The XGS grease extractor is an optional add-on across the ventilation line. The company has manufactured pollution control equipment for commercial kitchen exhaust systems since the early 1970s.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gaylord Ventilation: Primary commercial brand for kitchen ventilation systems and related products.
Products and services
- EL Series Ventilator
Quantifiable outcome
- CFM volumes up to 37% lower than other systems
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Gaylord Industries
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Gaylord Industries technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Gaylord Industries partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Gaylord Industries competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Halton Group: Global manufacturer of commercial kitchen ventilation, exhaust, and indoor air solutions for professional kitchens. Competes directly with Gaylord's ELX/ELXC and pollution control lines across EMEA and North America.
- Accurex (within Greenheck): Accurex is the foodservice ventilation brand within Greenheck Fan Corporation, offering kitchen hoods and exhaust systems that overlap with Gaylord's EL/ELX/ELXC platforms in restaurants, schools, and healthcare.
- Loren Cook Company: Manufacturer of commercial and industrial fans, blowers, and air-handling equipment used in kitchen ventilation and HVAC applications. Direct overlap with Gaylord's core ventilation/fan supply chain.
- CaptiveAire Systems: One of the largest direct manufacturers of commercial kitchen ventilation hoods and exhaust systems in the US. Closest head-to-head competitor across light/heavy-duty hoods, DCV controls, and pollution control, serving the same restaurant, hospitality, and institutional foodservice customers.
Broad incumbents
- Greenheck Fan Corporation: One of North America's largest manufacturers of commercial and industrial fans, blowers, and air movement equipment. Competes with Gaylord on fans, blowers, and integrated kitchen ventilation, though serving a far broader HVAC portfolio.
- Middleby Corporation: Diversified foodservice equipment conglomerate owning cooking, refrigeration, and ventilation brands (including recently acquired Welbilt). Overlaps with Gaylord on kitchen ventilation/hoods and competes for large multi-equipment foodservice bids within ITW Food Equipment Group.
- Broan-NuTone (Nortek): Major indoor air quality and residential/commercial ventilation player. Overlaps with Gaylord on commercial kitchen exhaust and IAQ components, though predominantly residential.
- Manitowoc Foodservice (now part of Middleby): Wide-line foodservice equipment brand; competes in integrated kitchen packages that include ventilation. Comparable as a sibling-product foodservice manufacturer.
Others
- Illinois Tool Works (ITW): Ultimate parent corporation; a Fortune 200 diversified industrial manufacturer. Relevant as the corporate sponsor providing capital, distribution, and ITW Food Equipment Group synergies that materially shape Gaylord's competitive positioning.
Emerging players
- CookTek: Manufacturer of induction cooking and ventless cooking systems for commercial kitchens. Represents a potentially disruptive alternative to traditional hooded ventilation that could constrain Gaylord's future TAM.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gaylord Industries social profiles
Digital presenceGaylord Industries compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Gaylord Industries financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gaylord Industries leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Gaylord Industries funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gaylord Industries 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 Gaylord Industries
What does Gaylord Industries do?
Gaylord Industries designs and manufactures commercial kitchen ventilation equipment, including exhaust hood ventilators (EL, ELX, ELXC Series), demand control ventilation technology (AirVantage), and pollution/smoke/odor control units (Eliminator PCV, ClearAir PCU). The ELX platform uses patented thermal plume physics and fluid dynamics to achieve the industry's lowest airflow rates, while the ELXC adds automated clean-in-place wet cleaning. The products are sold to foodservice operators including restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and schools.
Is Gaylord Industries a public or private company?
Gaylord Industries is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Gaylord Industries founded?
Gaylord Industries was founded in 1948. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Gaylord Industries based?
Gaylord Industries is headquartered in Tualatin, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Gaylord Industries's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Halton Group, Accurex (within Greenheck), Loren Cook Company and CaptiveAire Systems. Broad incumbents are Greenheck Fan Corporation, Middleby Corporation, Broan-NuTone (Nortek) and Manitowoc Foodservice (now part of Middleby). Illinois Tool Works (ITW) is listed as an others. CookTek is listed as an emerging player.
Does Gaylord Industries have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gaylord Industries.
What industry is Gaylord Industries in?
Gaylord Industries's product category is Commercial Kitchen Ventilation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADANAJ, Commercial Kitchen Ventilation (Hoods/Make-Up Air/Grease Duct), with a secondary code of IMADANAE, Air Filtration & Indoor Air Quality Components (Filters/UV/ERVs-HRVs). Its NAICS code is 333413 and its SIC code is 3564.