For Berner International, the door is open to smarter technology and more sustainable operations
Based in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Berner International is a leader in innovative air movement solutions. Using leading-edge, energy-saving technology, the company creates healthy, comfortable environments that integrate seamlessly into any space.
Since its founding in 1956, Berner has combined engineering excellence with state-of-the-art equipment, and highly skilled, people-centered teamwork. The result is more efficient, reliable, and aesthetically refined air curtains that fill a long-overlooked gap in the market. 
The company is bolstered by its founding vision, which has endured seven decades of growth. As Chief Financial Officer, Denise Grady, explains: “Our mission is simple yet powerful — to cultivate healthy, comfortable, and energy-efficient environments. Our vision is equally ambitious — an air curtain on every door.”
As a designer and manufacturer of high-performance air curtains, Berner offers doorway protection solutions that reduce energy costs and elevate the overall user experience. Serving a wide range of industries, including foodservice, healthcare, hospitality, retail, and supply chain logistics, each Berner product is tailored to meet specific operational and design needs.
Denise elaborates on Berner’s advanced product range: “We design and manufacture a full portfolio of air curtains that create an invisible barrier of air across open doorways.
“Our products span from compact models for storefronts and restaurants to heavy-duty industrial units for warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities. We also offer highly specialized models for cold storage, sanitation, and architectural applications, all engineered to balance performance, energy savings, comfort, and aesthetics.”
Continually raising the standard of air curtain technology is central to Berner’s broader mission. To measure their success, the company’s innovation team partnered with the Air Movement Control Association (AMCA) to create a certified performance rating system.
As Denise details: “We were instrumental in partnering with AMCA to establish the industry’s first certified method for rating air curtain performance. We were inspired by the belief that customers deserve transparent, third-party verified data when making energy and comfort decisions. We believe that certified performance builds trust and advances the industry.”
These developments have positioned Berner as a market forerunner. With growing recognition and rising demand, the company has invested in its New Castle manufacturing facility, using additional funding to double its footprint.
Enhancing Berner’s operational capacity was a strategic move, designed to prepare the company for further growth in the coming years. As Denise discusses: “The new facility allows us to meet surging demand both domestically and internationally.
“It allows us to streamline production flow, increase capacity, and invest in automation and sustainability. Beyond efficiency, it creates new opportunities for workforce development and brings approximately 70 new jobs to the region, strengthening our connection to the community.”
Prioritizing people has always been key to Berner’s achievements, as Denise affirms: “We are as committed to our employees as we are to our customers. We cultivate a culture of trust, respect, accountability, and continuous learning that fuels innovation and long-term success.
“From our front door to our shipping dock, every part of our operations stays connected to our mission, reinforcing why customers around the world continue to choose Berner.”
With an expansive manufacturing network and dedicated staff, Berner is able to take on new international opportunities. While continuing to deliver best-in-class services to the domestic market, Denise and her team look forward to global expansion.
“The North American markets remain our foundation, and we take pride in serving them with the highest quality, American-made products. At the same time, global growth is central to our long-term vision.
“We balance these needs by maintaining a robust domestic manufacturing base while building international partnerships. Our goal is to align product offerings with local standards and customer expectations,” she affirms.
As the company takes on new challenges and reaches global horizons, it remains committed to sustainable practice. Denise shared that earlier this year, the company formally switched on its new array of solar panels. This addition proved to be the largest commercial rooftop solar array in its region, making Berner the first manufacturer in Lawrence County to integrate solar power into operations.
“The system produces nearly one gigawatt of clean energy annually. It is designed not only to offset our current energy needs, but also to support our planned facility expansion. This investment is a major milestone in our net-zero journey.
“By reducing our reliance on grid electricity, we are lowering our carbon footprint, stabilizing energy costs, and ensuring resilience against market fluctuations. For us, it’s both a smart financial decision and a demonstration of our commitment to saving energy and creating healthy, comfortable environments.”
Having remained true to its planet-and-people first approach since day one, Berner now reaps the rewards. With decades of sector-leading success and a truly dedicated workforce, the company continues to evolve — redefining industry standards and air curtain technology in the process.
Denise considers what this exciting moment means for the business and looks to the future: “Berner is in a dynamic phase of growth and innovation, expanding our facility footprint, entering new markets, and rolling out smarter, architecturally elegant products.
“At the core of everything we do is our unwavering commitment to certified performance, backed by AMCA-certified engineering and rigorous third-party validation that delivers reliability and peace of mind.
“In five years, we see Berner recognized globally as the leader in air curtain innovation, with expanded international reach, deeper penetration in key domestic markets, and a proven record of sustainable operations. Most importantly, we see a thriving workforce in New Castle, growing alongside our business,” she concludes.