CaptiveAire Systems is a privately held manufacturer of commercial kitchen ventilation systems in the U.S. along with heaters, fans, and HVAC equipment.[1] The company, founded by Robert L. Luddy in 1976, is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.[2] Since its inception, the company has expanded from fire suppression to a variety of products including exhaust, pollution control, fire suppression and prevention, HVAC, and utility distribution.
History
In November 1976, Robert L. Luddy started Atlantic Fire Systems, which sold automatic dry chemical fire systems to restaurants and industry.
In 1978, Ben Maynard, suggested to Luddy that he open a sheet metal shop to manufacture ventilation hoods and integrate the fire system.
In 1981, a separate company was formed for the ventilation business with the name “CaptiveAire". The company has continued to expand, acquiring several ventilation companies in order to expand its product line. In 2017, CaptiveAire entered the HVAC market with the release of a dedicated outdoor air system.[3]