Our Story

Air-Tech was founded in 1973 by Jim Thompson, who set out on his own after leaving another representative firm in the Birmingham area. A few years into building the business, Jim's friend and longtime customer Barry Brubaker joined as a partner, and together they began growing what would become a lasting regional presence in the HVAC industry.

Joe Weber joined the team in 1983. At that time, Air-Tech was serving the state of Alabama, while Barry had begun developing relationships along the Florida Panhandle and the southern reaches of the state. Recognizing the need to be closer to those customers, the team made the decision to open a second office in Gulf Breeze, near Pensacola. Under Barry's leadership, that territory expanded all the way east to Tallahassee.

In time, Barry approached Jim and Joe Weber about amicably separating the two operations. The transition was smooth and friendly — Barry established his own firm, Air-Tech of Pensacola, while the Birmingham office continued as Air-Tech. To this day, the two companies remain separate businesses with a relationship built on mutual respect and shared history.

Jim Thompson and Joe Weber went on to operate as partners for many years. A pivotal moment came around the turn of the millennium when Air-Tech added Greenheck Fan Corporation to its represented line, followed shortly thereafter by Price Industries. These two manufacturers became the cornerstone of Air-Tech's product offerings, establishing the company's reputation for quality air distribution solutions throughout the region.

Eventually, Jim — then in his mid-eighties — sold the business to Joe Weber in 2015, staying on for a few years before retiring. Joe Weber continued to lead the company, and a natural successor soon emerged. Ben Rosenbaum had been a key member of the Air-Tech team for many years, and in 2021, moved into the President’s role — carrying the company's legacy forward into its next era.

Later, Air-Tech expanded its portfolio to include Applied HVAC Equipment, significantly broadening the scope of products and solutions available to the mechanical engineering and construction communities the company serves.

Then in 2025, Air-Tech took another major step forward by adding Building Automation and Controls to its offerings — completing a full solutions platform for the commercial HVAC industry, from air distribution and applied equipment to the intelligent controls that tie it all together.

Now in 2026, Air-Tech continues to grow — built on more than fifty years of trusted relationships, technical expertise, and an unwavering commitment to serving the commercial HVAC industry across the region.