ASI Controls

ASI Controls is a privately held United States building-automation and controls company founded in 1986 in San Ramon, California. Its name reflects the company's original mission of delivering application-specific intelligent controls for the emerging distributed digital-control market. The company was established by a small team led by William F. "Bill" Chapman and Don Evans, with Chapman bringing experience in HVAC controls, distributed control concepts, and the development of early digital variable-air-volume controllers. The company's origins are closely associated with Chapman's work in the building-controls field. While serving as chair of an ASHRAE technical committee in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Chapman articulated a vision for distributed microprocessor-based control systems in which local controllers would exchange information with a central computer. His July 1980 ASHRAE Journal article described a future in which building engineers could remotely monitor and control building systems while improving occupant comfort and energy management. At Staefa Control Systems, Chapman later led development of the Smart One digital controller for variable-air-volume applications, an early digital VAV product. He left Staefa in late 1986 to establish ASI Controls. ASI Controls made its public product debut at the 1987 AHR Expo in New York with the ASIC/1-8010 VAV controller. The launch generated orders associated with projects including Gateway Plaza in Sydney, the Northwest Building in Minneapolis, and the Grand Hotel Esplanade in Berlin. During the late 1980s and 1990s, ASI Controls products were used in HVAC control and energy-management projects at prominent buildings and institutions, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Sanwa Bank Plaza building in Los Angeles, 191 Peachtree in Atlanta, the Dorchester Hotel in London, and portions of the Canary Wharf complex. The company expanded its platform in 1995 with the ASIC/2 family of configurable network and system controllers. In 1998 it released ASI Expert, a graphical configuration package for direct-digital-control systems and one of the earlier tools of its type. These developments helped the company serve increasingly networked building-control installations rather than isolated application controllers. ASI Controls operated in a market that eventually became more competitive as large automation suppliers such as Johnson Controls, Honeywell, and Siemens, together with other specialized vendors, expanded their digital building-controls offerings. Although its earlier market position was challenged by those competitors, ASI Controls continued to focus on Ethernet-connected and web-connected digital-control systems. Its business model has emphasized sales and project delivery through value-added resellers and system integrators, with activity in North America and overseas markets including Asia, Mexico, and South America. Publicly available reference material does not provide current ownership, financial figures, executive listings, or a confirmed present headquarters address.

ASI Controls emerged from the transition of commercial building HVAC systems from pneumatic and electromechanical technologies toward microprocessor-based distributed digital control. Its founding is linked to William F. "Bill" Chapman, an HVAC-controls engineer and former chair of an ASHRAE technical committee, whose work anticipated the architecture of modern building-automation systems. In a July 1980 ASHRAE Journal article, Chapman described a distributed system in which microprocessor-based controllers would operate locally while communicating with a central computer. The model was intended to improve both thermal comfort and energy management and to allow building engineers to supervise equipment remotely. Before founding ASI Controls, Chapman worked at Staefa Control Systems, where he led development of the Smart One digital controller for variable-air-volume applications. The product was among the early digital VAV controllers, a significant development because VAV systems require coordinated regulation of airflow, temperature, and fan operation across multiple building zones. Chapman left Staefa in late 1986 and founded ASI Controls in San Ramon, California, with Don Evans and a small team. The company's name expressed its emphasis on application-specific intelligent controls for distributed digital-control installations. ASI Controls introduced its first major product, the ASIC/1-8010 VAV controller, at the 1987 AHR Expo in New York. The company secured orders connected with projects in Australia, the United States, and Germany during the exhibition, giving the young supplier an early international profile. Through the remainder of the 1980s and the 1990s, its controls were applied to commercial, institutional, hospitality, and large-building projects. Reported installations included the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sanwa Bank Plaza in Los Angeles, 191 Peachtree in Atlanta, the Dorchester Hotel in London, and parts of the Canary Wharf complex. The company broadened its product architecture in 1995 by introducing the ASIC/2 family of configurable network and system controllers. Compared with more narrowly targeted controllers, the ASIC/2 range was designed to support wider system and network-control requirements. In 1998 ASI Controls released ASI Expert, a graphical configuration package for direct-digital-control systems. The software reflected the industry's movement toward graphical engineering tools that could simplify configuration and commissioning of distributed controllers. ASI Controls operated during a period when building automation became increasingly standardized, networked, and competitive. Larger suppliers, including Johnson Controls, Honeywell, and Siemens, expanded their presence in digital HVAC and building-management systems, while other specialist vendors also entered or grew in the market. ASI Controls' earlier market share was subsequently challenged by these established and newer competitors. The company nevertheless continued to concentrate on digital control systems connected through Ethernet and the web. Its distribution and implementation model relied substantially on value-added resellers and system integrators, with markets in North America and overseas regions including Asia, Mexico, and South America. The available reference material does not establish a current ownership structure, detailed executive roster, financial performance, or confirmed current headquarters. The company is described as private and as continuing to conduct business in building controls.

• 1998

  ASI Expert software released

  [1]ASI Controlsen.wikipedia.org

  ASI Controls released ASI Expert, an early graphical configuration package for direct-digital-control systems.

• 1995

  ASIC/2 controller family introduced

  [1]ASI Controlsen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced the ASIC/2 line of configurable network and system controllers, expanding beyond its earlier application-specific controller focus.

• 1987

  ASIC/1-8010 introduced

  [1]ASI Controlsen.wikipedia.org

  ASI Controls launched the ASIC/1-8010 VAV controller at the AHR Expo in New York and signed orders for projects in Sydney, Minneapolis, and Berlin.

• 1986

  ASI Controls founded

  [1]ASI Controlsen.wikipedia.org

  Bill Chapman left Staefa Control Systems and founded ASI Controls in San Ramon, California, with Don Evans and a small team.

• 1980

  Distributed digital-control vision published

  [1]ASI Controlsen.wikipedia.org

  William F. Chapman described a microprocessor-based distributed control architecture for building HVAC systems in a July 1980 ASHRAE Journal article, emphasizing remote supervision, comfort, and energy management.

A specialist building-automation supplier focused on application-specific, distributed digital controls for HVAC, variable-air-volume, and energy-management applications, delivered through resellers and system integrators.

• VAV controller · 1987

  ASIC/1-8010

  The ASIC/1-8010 was ASI Controls' early flagship variable-air-volume controller. Introduced at the 1987 AHR Expo, it was designed for distributed digital control of VAV applications, allowing local control functions to participate in a broader building HVAC network. Its launch established the company's product identity around application-specific intelligent controllers and attracted orders for commercial and hospitality projects in several countries.

• Configurable network and system controllers · 1995

  ASIC/2

  Introduced in 1995, the ASIC/2 family represented a more powerful and configurable class of ASI Controls hardware. The range was intended for network and system-control duties within distributed direct-digital-control installations, broadening the company's offering beyond individual VAV applications and supporting more complex building automation projects.

• DDC configuration software · 1998

  ASI Expert

  ASI Expert was a graphical configuration software package for direct-digital-control systems, released in 1998. It reflected the industry's shift toward graphical engineering and commissioning tools for distributed controllers. The software was positioned as an early graphical environment for configuring ASI Controls systems rather than as a general-purpose consumer or enterprise software product.

• 1998

  Release of ASI ExpertProduct launch

  Background

  Direct-digital-control systems increasingly required software tools to support graphical configuration and engineering workflows.

  Action taken

  ASI Controls released ASI Expert as a graphical configuration package for DDC systems.

  Aftermath

  The release complemented the company's controller hardware and aligned its offering with more software-oriented building-automation practices.

  Source

• 1995

  Expansion to ASIC/2 network and system controllersGeneration change

  Background

  Building-control projects were becoming more networked and required controllers capable of handling broader system functions.

  Action taken

  ASI Controls introduced the ASIC/2 family as a more powerful configurable platform for network and system control.

  Aftermath

  The product family expanded the company's scope from focused application controllers toward larger distributed control systems.

  Source

• 1987

  Launch of the ASIC/1-8010 VAV controllerProduct launch

  Background

  ASI Controls entered the commercial market as digital microprocessor-based HVAC control began replacing earlier control approaches in some building applications.

  Action taken

  The company presented the ASIC/1-8010 at the AHR Expo in New York and accepted orders tied to projects in Australia, the United States, and Germany.

  Aftermath

  The launch gave the new company early international project references and established VAV control as a central product focus.

  Source

• Focus on Ethernet- and web-connected control systemsStrategy

  Background

  As building automation shifted toward networked and remotely accessible systems, ASI Controls faced stronger competition from large multinational automation suppliers and other specialist vendors.

  Action taken

  The company concentrated its later business on Ethernet-connected and web-connected digital-control systems, selling through value-added resellers and system integrators.

  Aftermath

  ASI Controls retained a specialist position in building controls while operating in a market increasingly dominated by larger established competitors.

  Source

1. 1ASI Controlsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2ASI Controls company websiteasicontrols.com