WARE, one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive industrial and commercial boiler rental and service companies, recently announced a planned move from Louisville’s Buechel area to New Albany, Indiana. Once the move is complete, the company will occupy the former Hitachi property on Grant Line Road, a move that nearly triples the space of WARE’s operations.
“We are very excited about the move,” says Daniel Ware, VP of Operations. “This is a significant time for current and future operations of the company. We’ve grown so much in the past few years that our current space was becoming restrictive. Having the new infrastructure will allow us to increase production of our rental mobile boiler rooms and service additional customers, while giving us plenty of room to accommodate future growth.”
This growth is a positive move for businesses across the area and the country as well, because of the crucial role that steam and hot water play in our daily lives. Steam and hot water are critical to the production of 80% of the products the world consumes every day. WARE is proud to be a part of that equation. Our rental fleet, service crews and parts support customers that use steam to heat office buildings, sterilize medical equipment, run manufacturing lines for automobiles and consumer goods, and so much more.
The company’s growth has only accelerated in recent years; WARE was acquired by an affiliate of Armstrong International in 2023, which further spurred the company’s commitment to expansion. The continued growth is expected to benefit not only WARE, but the community around it in terms of the economy and employment opportunities.
Local leaders have already expressed their support behind the move. “The City of New Albany congratulates WARE and its employees on their continued company growth and welcome them to our beautiful thriving community,” said Mayor Jeff Gahan. “The investment WARE is making in the city will be leveraged by quality parks, housing, schools, infrastructure, and most importantly the people. We are excited to partner with a shared vision of a strong and vibrant community.” Lance Allison, President of One Southern Indiana, echoed that sentiment: “One Southern Indiana is thrilled to retain WARE’s growing operation in the region and proud they will call New Albany home. They have chosen a prime central location offering them immediate advantages and growth opportunities to meet future demand and customer needs.”
“We are very grateful to the people of New Albany for our new home. We will continue to invest in our local community and talent pool,” says Daniel Ware, “because WARE is all about the people who work and thrive here. We have a high employee retention rate for a reason: We believe in our people, we invest in them, and it pays off in the superior service we offer every customer.”
In addition to moving the corporate office and rental maintenance facilities, the move will also mean a new home for WARE’s Boiler University. As the only hands-on boiler training school of its kind, Boiler University teaches everything from boiler basics to advanced diagnostic and maintenance procedures, helping to create the next generation of highly trained boiler technicians. WARE expects the move to be a multi-year process.
Founded in 1952 by Ivan Ware, Ivan Ware & Sons began as a residential heating and cooling company. The company expanded in 1971 under second generation leaders and owners Richard Ware and his sister Norma “Kit” Moore to include rental boiler services. The company then saw incredible growth from the 2000’s to present, under the third generation of family leadership with co-owners Ritchie Ware, Daniel Ware, and Brent Falcone. WARE currently serves customers with service, sales and parts in Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, and Alabama. Through its network of boiler rental partners, WARE can also provide steam and hot water rental solutions across the entire United States.
WARE also operates the nation’s largest online boiler supply site, boilerwarehouse.com The e-commerce site stocks over 40,000 different boiler parts in addition to a substantial number of supplies that boiler operators require on a regular basis. Plus, seasoned boiler technicians are standing by to help customers whether in an emergency or planned maintenance.
Though the move suggests great things in the company’s future, company President and CEO Ritchie Ware assures customers that the company’s values will never change.
“For nearly 75 years, WARE has existed to care for our customers through boiler rentals, service, sales, parts and training. As we navigate into the future with first-class facilities, property, and equipment, we will never forget where we came from, or the relationships we’ve built with every customer along the way. WARE currently has over 180 employees whose commitment to service, responsiveness, and safety is unmatched. All of them work hard to proudly maintain our culture of service, generosity, and growth.”
For more information, please contact marketing@wareinc.com
CORRECTION: WARE announced intentions to invest $7.5 million in the former Hitachi facility in New Albany. A previous statement shared by City of New Albany Government's Facebook page incorrectly stated WARE would be making a $67.5 million investment in the new property.