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An Air Vent Designed in the '70s Is Suddenly a Goldmine
Newser • • business
Key Points:
- Armstrong International, a 126-year-old Michigan-based heating and cooling company, has seen a sudden surge in bulk orders for a stainless-steel air vent originally designed in the 1970s.
- The air vent, typically ordered in small quantities by oil refineries, is now being purchased in large volumes—over 1,000 units at a time—by undisclosed customers under nondisclosure agreements.
- After investigation, the company identified data centers as the source of demand, using the vent in their liquid cooling systems to manage ventilation needs.
- Demand for the vent has increased by approximately 80% year over year, prompting Armstrong to add a second shift at its main Michigan facility to meet production needs.
- Charlie Reynolds, the original designer of the part, described its newfound popularity as a "late bloomer," highlighting the unexpected resurgence of this Nixon-era technology.
