What Amarillo Wind Machine does

Amarillo Wind Machine, LLC, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Exeter, California, is a manufacturer of self-contained frost-protection wind machines for agricultural operations worldwide. The company traces its engineering lineage to Amarillo Gear Company (est. 1934), which began applying its gearbox expertise to wind machines in 1974 and became the de facto industry standard. Amarillo Wind Machine's core products are stationary and portable wind machines powered by Ford or Cummins Diesel engines (propane or diesel, EPA-certified for USA), featuring proprietary upper and lower gearboxes with AGMA mechanical ratings of 226hp and 193hp respectively, spiral bevel gears precision-machined from nickel alloy steel, Timken tapered roller bearings, and standard aluminum fan blades with consistent-pitch retention. Advanced automation includes temperature-triggered auto-start, runtime management, and shutdown controls. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marmon Group, itself a Berkshire Hathaway portfolio company.

The business operates a dealer-led distribution model, with authorized dealers across the USA (Napa/Sonoma, Central Valley, Washington), France, Chile, Mexico, Turkey/Eastern Europe, New Zealand, and Canada, supplemented by direct sales via phone and email at the Exeter headquarters. PJ Method serves as the core international/export dealer sales contact. Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) hardware sales of new wind machines with configurable tower, gearbox, engine, and rotation options; (2) service and repair, including emergency response during frost events, performed by factory-trained technicians on Amarillo and competitor brands; and (3) engineering and consulting for strategic machine placement based on crop type, elevation, and climate. Customers are agricultural operators—vineyard owners (notably Napa/Sonoma), fruit growers, and crop producers—who deploy these machines to protect valuable crops during hard freezes. The company is privately held, employs 11-50 people, and reports no public revenue or funding events.

Name

Amarillo Wind Machine

Legal name

Amarillo Wind Machine, LLC

Website

https://amarillowind.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Amarillo Wind Machine, LLC manufactures frost-protection wind machines for agricultural operators worldwide, leveraging proprietary gearbox technology from parent-affiliated Amarillo Gear Company. The Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary sells through a global dealer network and offers service, repair, and placement consulting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Exeter

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wind Machine Sales: Self-contained frost protection wind machines sold as stationary or portable configurations. Multiple horsepower outputs available in propane or diesel options using Ford and Cummins Diesel engines.
2. Service and Repair: Factory-trained technicians perform repairs and maintenance on Amarillo and other wind machine brands. Maintains large inventory of OEM and compatible parts.
3. Engineering and Consulting: Expert technical advice on machine repairs, strategic machine placement based on crop type, elevation, and climate. Expert placement and layout of wind machine configurations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Amarillo Wind Machine, LLC manufactures self-contained frost protection wind machines used by agricultural operations to protect crops from frost damage. The systems are available in stationary and portable configurations, powered by EPA-certified Ford or Cummins diesel/propane engines, and built around proprietary upper (226hp) and lower (193hp) AGMA-rated gearboxes with spiral bevel gears, Timken bearings, and standard aluminum fan blades. The company also provides on-site service and repair for its own and other manufacturers' wind machines, plus strategic placement consulting.

Product overview

Amarillo Wind Machine manufactures, markets, installs, and services high-quality wind machines for frost protection globally. The product portfolio centers on the Amarillo Wind Machine — a self-contained frost protection system available in stationary and portable configurations, powered by Ford or Cummins Diesel engines and equipped with proprietary upper and lower gearboxes (rated 226hp and 193hp respectively). Standard aluminum fan blades and advanced automation features like temperature-triggered auto-start round out the core product. The company, a subsidiary of Marmon/Berkshire Hathaway, complements its hardware with service offerings including on-site repair (for Amarillo and other brands), strategic placement consultation, and emergency response worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Amarillo Wind Machine

Quantifiable outcome

• AGMA mechanical rating of 226hp (upper gearbox) and 193hp (lower gearbox)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered regional and core.

• Grapevine Equipment LLCregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer covering Napa/Sonoma, California region. Contact: Denis Evans, Phone: 707-981-6898, Address: 245 Ely Rd., N Petaluma, CA.
• Wenatchee Wind Machine ServiceregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer covering Washington state. Contact: Steve Ott, Phone: 509-661-9463, Cell: 509-885-4563, Wenatchee, WA, www.wenatcheewind.com.
• Sas FrejadiseregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer for France. Contact: Tony Petit, Phone: 05-63-022-929, Fax: 05-63-022-828, Address: 82370 La Bastide St. Pierre, France.
• AGROIMECregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer for Chile. Contact: Rafael Barahona Arndt, Phone: 56-2 2650-1211, [email protected], www.agroimec.com, Santiago, Chile.
• Waterline S AregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer for Mexico. Contact: Armando Bustillos, New Phone: (915) 240-7297, Phone: 52-659-587-8177, Nam., Chih. CP 31964.
• AYTEKregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer for Eastern Europe and Turkey. Contact: Atilla Yazicioglu, Phone: 0-532-286-54-27, Fax: 0-323-428-13-40, Adana, Turkey.
• New Zealand Frost Fans LTDregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer for New Zealand. Contact: Steve Haslett, Phone: +64 6-879-8312, Fax: +64 6-879-7312, Hastings, New Zealand, www.nzfrostfans.com.
• Vintage IronregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer for Canada. Contact: David Miller, Phone: 250-485-8066, Oliver, BC Canada, [email protected].
• PJ Method (International/Export)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary international and export dealer sales contact for regions without dedicated dealers. Fax: 559-592-4194, E-mail: [email protected].

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Marmon Group: Parent company of Amarillo Wind Machine and a Berkshire Hathaway-owned diversified industrial conglomerate. Broad incumbent across food processing equipment, water technologies, and industrial products; Amarillo sits within Marmon's portfolio of specialty industrial manufacturers.

Direct peers

• Orchard-Rite: A major U.S. competitor manufacturing wind machines for agricultural frost protection. Closest direct competitor to Amarillo in the same product category, targeting the same vineyard and orchard customer base with similar self-contained wind machine units.
• New Zealand Frost Fans (FrostBoss): NZ-based manufacturer of FrostBoss brand wind machines for frost protection, and also an authorized Amarillo dealer. Direct product competitor with overlapping distribution in NZ, Australia, and other frost-prone regions, serving vineyards and orchard operators.
• Frost Protection Corporation: U.S.-based manufacturer and distributor of frost protection wind machines serving orchards and vineyards. Direct competitor in the North American market with comparable product specifications and customer base.

Emerging players

• Agrofrost: Brazilian manufacturer of wind machines and frost protection equipment for tropical and subtropical agriculture. Competes in similar product category with particular strength in South American markets where Amarillo also has dealer presence.
• Tow and Blow: NZ-based manufacturer of portable wind machines for frost protection, focused on smaller and more mobile units than Amarillo's flagship stationary systems. Competes for the same customer segments but emphasizes portability and lower-cost deployment.

Regional players

• Alia Agricultural Group: Israel-based manufacturer of wind machines for frost protection, serving primarily Mediterranean and Middle Eastern markets. Comparable product offering with similar self-contained frost fan design, but geographically distinct from Amarillo's core North American footprint.

Others

• Amarillo Gear Company: Parent and sister entity that manufactures the proprietary upper and lower gearboxes used in Amarillo Wind Machine products. Not a market competitor but a closely related enabling supplier and the source of Amarillo Wind Machine's core technical differentiation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Amarillo Wind Machine