The Fontanesi And Kann Company

What The Fontanesi And Kann Company does

Fontanesi & Kann Company, founded in 1957 and headquartered in Ferndale, Michigan, is a privately held multi-trade mechanical and electrical contractor that distributes HVAC equipment and delivers building automation, electrical contracting, and integrated security solutions to commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher-education, and municipal customers across Michigan. The company is an authorized representative for more than 45 nationally known HVAC equipment manufacturers and runs a multi-branch footprint with offices in Ferndale (headquarters and warehouse), Davison, and Grand Rapids, supported by an online ordering portal, a warehouse operation offering same-day, scheduled, and just-in-time deliveries, and specialty equipment procurement for phased jobsite delivery.

Its core offering bundles four lines: HVAC equipment distribution (including proprietary/featured lines such as PACE semi-custom air-handling units, UNILUX vertical stack heat pumps, and the Quantech QTH1 air-to-water modular heat pump), building automation systems built around web-enabled and compatible controllers and software, full-service electrical contracting from engineering through construction management, and an integrated security platform combining access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, multi-factor authentication, and mobile applications. The company also markets Bio-Grid, a proprietary anti-microbial ceiling system for operating rooms, clean rooms, surgical centers, and laboratories, as a sub-brand.

Fontanesi & Kann Company makes money through a combination of one-time equipment sales (HVAC distribution), professional services (engineering, installation, construction management for electrical, building automation, and security), and managed services (warehousing, phased jobsite delivery, and online ordering). Pricing is quote-based and project-driven rather than published, with multi-year contracting typical on healthcare and higher-education work. Since October 2024, the company has operated under Central States HVAC Solutions alongside sister entities Architectural Building Components and Bio-Grid, which entered a strategic partnership with Impact Climate Technologies that expanded the parent platform to 22 locations across eight HVAC sales and service organizations; Joe Fontanesi continues as president of the three Central States HVAC Solutions companies.

Name

The Fontanesi And Kann Company

Legal name

Fontanesi & Kann Company

Website

https://www.ezhvac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Fontanesi & Kann Company is a Michigan-based, multi-trade HVAC equipment distributor and mechanical/electrical contractor founded in 1957, serving commercial, healthcare, industrial, higher-education, and municipal customers with HVAC distribution, building automation, electrical contracting, security integration, and warehousing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HVAC Equipment Distribution and Contracting Services

NAICS

Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564)

akta.pro primary industry

HVAC & Refrigeration Contracting (IMAFALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

HVAC, Water Heaters & Indoor Air Quality Distribution (CRAOAFAJ), HVAC Installation, Service & Repair (IMAIABAA)

Keywords

• HVAC equipment distribution
• Building automation systems
• Electrical contracting services
• Security technology integration
• Clean room ceiling systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Ferndale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Security Technology Solutions: Integrated security solutions including design services, installation, and support for access control, video surveillance, and intrusion detection systems.
2. HVAC Equipment Sales: Sales of HVAC equipment representing over 45 nationally known and respected manufacturers. Includes custom products, standard equipment, and specialty items with procurement and sourcing capabilities.
3. Electrical Contracting Services: Full-service electrical contracting including engineering, installation, and construction management. Services include branch circuit devices, fire alarms, voice data, fiber optic cabling, power distribution, generators, and substations.
4. Building Automation Services: Design, installation, and configuration of building automation systems including web-enabled controllers and compatible peripherals.
5. Warehousing and Logistics: Product storage, inventory management, phased delivery, and just-in-time delivery services for construction projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Fontanesi & Kann Company distributes HVAC equipment from over 45 nationally known manufacturers and delivers full-service HVAC, electrical contracting, building automation, and security technology solutions for the construction industry. They provide custom air systems design, engineering, installation, construction management, and integrated security platforms for commercial, industrial, healthcare, and higher education facilities, supplemented by warehousing and just-in-time delivery services.

Product overview

Fontanesi & Kann Company provides comprehensive HVAC and electrical contracting services tailored for the construction industry since 1957. The company operates as a product distributor and service provider with a portfolio of core offerings including HVAC Equipment (representing over 45 manufacturers), Building Automation Systems (web-enabled controllers and software), Electrical Contracting (engineering, installation, construction management), Security Technologies (integrated access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection), and the Bio-Grid Clean Room Ceiling System. The company also distributes specific product brands including the Quantech QTH1 Air-to-Water Heat Pump, PACE Semi-Custom Air-Handling Units, and UNILUX Vertical Stack Heat Pumps. Additional services include warehouse/just-in-time delivery and online ordering. The company recently partnered with Impact Climate Technologies, expanding their organizational structure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bio-Grid: Anti-microbial ceiling system for operating rooms, patient rooms, procedure rooms, clean rooms, surgical centers, and laboratories. Listed as a separate company at bio-grid.net.

Products and services

• HVAC Equipment

Quantifiable outcome

• HEPA filtration up to 99.99% efficiency for clean room and hospital applications
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Impact Climate TechnologiesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 October 2024Strategic partnership where Fontanesi & Kann Company joins the ICT family along with Central States HVAC, Architectural Building Components, and Bio-Grid. Joe Fontanesi continues as president of the three Central States HVAC Solutions companies. Partnership expands ICT portfolio to 22 locations through eight well-established HVAC organizations. Goal is to enhance HVAC innovations and sustainable building solutions while maintaining company cultures.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Limbach Holdings: Public mechanical contractor delivering HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services for commercial, institutional, and healthcare customers. Closely comparable business model to Fontanesi's mechanical/electrical contracting side, with similar exposure to healthcare and institutional construction.
• Comfort Systems USA: Largest publicly traded mechanical contractor in the US, providing HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services to commercial and industrial customers. Directly comparable integrated service offering and similar end markets, though at significantly larger scale.
• EMCOR Group: Public electrical and mechanical contractor offering HVAC, electrical, building automation, and security services for commercial, industrial, and utility customers. Highly comparable to Fontanesi's bundled HVAC + electrical + automation + security single-source model.
• Johnstone Supply: HVACR distributor cooperative serving contractors with equipment, parts, and supplies from a network of independently owned branches. Closely analogous to Fontanesi's HVAC equipment distribution and contractor-customer focus.
• R.E. Michel Company: Privately held HVAC distributor serving contractors with equipment and supplies across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. Comparable mid-sized regional HVAC distribution model and contractor customer base.
• Peirce-Phelps: Privately held regional HVAC distributor and systems integrator serving commercial, institutional, and industrial customers in the Mid-Atlantic. Closely comparable regional distribution-plus-services model to Fontanesi, with similar specialty trade expertise.

Broad incumbents

• Watsco: Largest US distributor of HVAC equipment, parts, and supplies, operating Carrier Enterprise and other distribution joint ventures. Competes head-to-head with Fontanesi on equipment distribution but at vastly larger scale and broader geography.
• Ferguson Enterprises: Large publicly traded distributor of plumbing, HVAC, and related products serving contractors and industrial customers. Comparable distribution business but with broader category scope (plumbing-heavy) and national scale.
• Carrier Enterprise: HVAC distribution joint venture between Carrier Global and Watsco distributing Carrier, Bryant, Payne, and other HVAC brands to contractors across the US. Direct HVAC distribution competitor with national reach and OEM-affiliated scale.
• WinWholesale: Privately held US distributor of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and industrial supplies through a network of local companies. Comparable business model of distributed local companies serving contractors, though with broader category mix.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 The Fontanesi And Kann Company