The Arizon Story

For more than 90 years in our history, Arizon’s Johnson division has been the leading provider of fuel and energy-efficient heating, air conditioning and ventilation equipment for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution facilities. With the addition of MarCraft Custom HVAC Systems Arizon has been able to expand and offer our customers even more HVAC solutions. With adding the brand, Arizon Building Systems, the company has grown and keeps growing, employing 200+ employees. Arizon strives to better the company and our employees with each new brand and innovation. View our timeline story below.


1900

History - Johnson Founded

Johnson Heater Corporation was founded in 1921 in Boston, MA as a mechanical contractor involved in the design and install of HVAC systems throughout the New England area.


History - MarCraft roots

MarCraft’s roots date back to 1927 when the company was formed as the Marlo Coil Company.

1950

History - Air-Rotation

Johnson Air-Rotation sets the bar by patenting a new technology now known in the industry as Air-Rotation®, creating the most effective method to heat and ventilate large, open buildings.


History

1960


History
History - Air-Supported Structure

One of the first air-supported structures was inflated for Harvard, using Johnson equipment for heating and inflation.

1970


History - Technology Advancement

Johnson engineers make technology advancements for one Johnson Air-Rotation System to heat 100,000 Sq. Ft. (Current Johnson Air-Rotation Technology can heat/ cool 150,000 Sq ft.

History - Marlo into MarCraft

In 1976, Marlo was broken into two parts, one of which was a cataloged or non-custom coils, military and related equipment. The other part was the custom HVAC equipment and non-military coils. The very first project which MARCRAFT® manufactured consisted of (10) ten, nominal eight (8) ton custom rooftops for a medical facility in Central Illinois.

1980

History - Purchasing MarCraft

In 1981, Brasch Manufacturing Company, a St. Louis based company specializing in electric heating products, purchased MarCraft. During the years of Brasch ownership, MarCraft became the custom HVAC product sold by Trane offices around the country. In fact, many of the MarCraft projects sold from the mid 1980′s to the early 1990′s are sometimes recognized as “Trane Custom Units” when in fact they are MarCraft Custom Units sold by Trane. In 1984, MarCraft moved to its plant in Maryland Heights, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. This move increased the manufacturing space allowing MarCraft to compete for larger and more complex projects.


History - Technology

Johnson engineers make technology advancements for the Johnson system, now being able to provide even cooling throughout a space.

1990


History - St. Louis

In the 1990’s Johnson Heater Corporation was purchased by Ron Scharf and moved to St. Louis.


Johnson & MarCraft Merge


Johnson Company Moves from Boston to St. Louis


History - MarCraft and Arizon

In 1996, MarCraft was purchased by Arizon Companies. Johnson merged with MarCraft Custom HVAC Solutions and became Johnson/MarCraft. MarCraft today designs, engineers and manufactures TRUCustom™ HVAC systems from unique air handling solutions to penthouse and mechanical equipment room solutions. We can work within any application requirement to provide the best possible solution whether the requirements are cost, geometric limitations, energy savings driven, corrosion resistant, FDA food grade, or other constraints.

2000


History - Make-up Air Systems

Johnson/MarCraft manufactures and sells indirect and direct-fired makeup air systems.


Johnson reaches the milestone of conditioning 1 billion square feet of space with all units manufactured.

History - Arizon Companies

Arizon Companies is created and Arizon Structures becomes the newest division selling air, frame and tension structures; later becoming Arizon Building Systems.


History - Arizon Dome Manufacturing Plant

Arizon Building Systems manufactures and installs their own air-supported structure with 80,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space, being the perfect way to show potential customers our product. We practice what we preach.

2010


Arizon inflates their 200thAir-supported structure in its history.




1900

Johnson Heater Corporation was founded in 1921 in Boston, MA as a mechanical contractor involved in the design and install of HVAC systems throughout the New England area.


MarCraft’s roots date back to 1927 when the company was formed as the Marlo Coil Company.

1950

Johnson Air-Rotation sets the bar by patenting a new technology now known in the industry as Air-Rotation®, creating the most effective method to heat and ventilate large, open buildings.


1960


One of the fisrt air-supported structures was inflated for Harvard, using Johnson equipment for heating and inflation.

1970


In 1976, Marlo was broken into two parts, one of which was a cataloged or non-custom coils, military and related equipment. The other part was the custom HVAC equipment and non-military coils. The very first project which MARCRAFT® manufactured consisted of (10) ten, nominal eight (8) ton custom rooftops for a medical facility in Central Illinois.

Johnson engineers make technology advancements for one Johnson Air-Rotation System to heat 100,000 Sq. Ft. (Current Johnson Air-Rotation Technology can heat/ cool 150,000 Sq ft.

1980

In 1981, Brasch Manufacturing Company, a St. Louis based company specializing in electric heating products, purchased MarCraft. During the years of Brasch ownership, MarCraft became the custom HVAC product sold by Trane offices around the country. In fact, many of the MarCraft projects sold from the mid 1980′s to the early 1990′s are sometimes recognized as “Trane Custom Units” when in fact they are MarCraft Custom Units sold by Trane. In 1984, MarCraft moved to its plant in Maryland Heights, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. This move increased the manufacturing space allowing MarCraft to compete for larger and more complex projects.


Johnson engineers make technology advancements for the Johnson system, now being able to provide even cooling throughout a space.

1990

Johnson Company Moves
from Boston to St. Louis

In the 1990’s Johnson Heater Corporation was purchased by Ron Scharf and moved to St. Louis.


Johnson & MarCraft Merge


In 1996, MarCraft was purchased by Arizon Companies. Johnson merged with MarCraft Custom HVAC Solutions and became Johnson/MarCraft. MarCraft today designs, engineers and manufactures TRUCustom™ HVAC systems from unique air handling solutions to penthouse and mechanical equipment room solutions. We can work within any application requirement to provide the best possible solution whether the requirements are cost, geometric limitations, energy savings driven, corrosion resistant, FDA food grade, or other constraints.

2000


Arizon Companies is created and Arizon Structures becomes the newest division selling air, frame and tension structures; later becoming Arizon Building Systems.

Johnson/MarCraft manufactures and sells indirect and direct-fired makeup air systems.


Johnson conditions 1 billion square feet of space total.


Arizon Building Systems manufactures and installs their own air-supported structure with 80,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space, being the perfect way to show potential customers our product. We practice what we preach.

2010


Arizon inflates their 200th
Air-supported structure

In 2016 Compass Construction Management Services is created, to help assist Arizon Building Systems with the construction of our buildings.