How OmniDuct became one of California’s most enduring HVAC manufacturers
OmniDuct is a leading HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) ductwork manufacturer. Founded in 1982 by Ed Brumleu, it remains a family-owned and operated company, under the stewardship of his grandson, third generation CEO, Kyle Brumleu. We spoke with Kyle and President and COO Jon Collins to uncover what drives OmniDuct’s longevity and continued success.
“My grandfather was a salesman for a company manufacturing round ductwork and insulation,” Kyle ex-plains. “The company went bankrupt, and with a desire to keep servicing his customers, he found a way to buy the business out of bankruptcy. From there, we focused on manufacturing and began incorporating rectangular ductwork. Over the years we continued to expand, opening locations across California, and eventually in Phoenix and Seattle. We recently moved our headquarters to Buena Park, California, as well.”
OmniDuct employees
“We continue Kyle’s grandfather’s mission of making our clients more successful by making our customers’ job sites easier, efficient and more profitable” Jon adds. “We get our wins through the success of our customers.”
This client centered approach extends to its employees. OmniDuct believes prioritizing the wellbeing of its workforce helps to ensure the success of relationships with external clients. It focuses on taking good care of its people by providing full healthcare for its employees and their families. The business has also continued to invest in leadership development training to build a stronger, more well-rounded team across different levels – laying the groundwork for a strong internal pipeline.
This enables the company to more easily hire from within. “Which is something we have always prioritized; we try to build people up,” Jon adds. “We’ve had people that have started in the warehouse move up to running facilities, which is incredibly rewarding. We also have a very long average employee tenure, over ten years, in a company of over 200 people. We have a great culture, and a lot of opportunities for people who want to pursue them.”
This people-first foundation supports a broader growth strategy the business employs to ensure its continued success. A further element is the expansion of its offering to include a comprehensive range of products that take customers from start to finish on any project. From curb adapters and linesets, to louvers and specialist racking or frames, OmniDuct provides its clients with a turnkey solution.
“This strategy is panning out very well,” Jon reflects. “For example, recently, we were required to build a large copper facade that covered a valet area. Thanks to our capabilities, we were able to identify and build all the metal products our customer needed. Offering a wraparound service saves customers the complex-ity of sourcing and coordinating across various manufacturers.”
The logistical challenges of fulfilling this ambitious approach are considerable. Kyle believes OmniDuct’s commitment to continual improvement has been a crucial element of the company’s success in managing this complexity. “Over time,” he says, “the efficiency of the operation has dramatically increased. Since moving headquarters, we actually downsized in space, both the internal working area and the yard are significantly smaller in Buena Park, but due to the constant improvements in efficiency, we’re producing out almost double the output. We are constantly streamlining our processes, which has really helped us grow and continue to serve our customers.”
OmniDuct standardizes procedures across its facilities and departments, and leverages technology through an enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform. In the continuous search for improvement, the company is also implementing AI platforms that further streamline backend processes but also a system that will help translate customer specifications into manufacturing requirements. Making improvements in a consistent and incremental way has enabled OmniDuct to meet the challenges of growth, including increased demand.
Some of the company’s latest investments towards this goal include the acquisition of automated laser cutting systems replacing the legacy plasma cutting system. This drive for innovation also led OmniDuct to establish a cross-industry body to further research and development into improved manufacturing systems and technologies, culminating in the founding of the HVAC Duct Manufacturers Alliance.
“This group has been revolutionary for us,” Jon explains. “Collaborating with different manufacturers from across the country to produce best practices and improved manufacturing methods has been invaluable. It also empowers our employees to develop and share their ideas.”
With spring now in full swing, Jon reflects on the company’s priorities for the remainder of the year, and beyond: “We have a number of core initiatives driving us forward right now, and we’re tracking very well against our targets. It’s genuinely rewarding to see the fruits of everyone’s hard work come together. If we keep delivering on these goals, we’ll build something truly great for the future.”
Looking further ahead, the ambitions are equally bold. “We want to become the dominant force in our existing markets, becoming the number one choice for all available customers,” Kyle says. “We are not afraid to look for expansion opportunities. Whether growing organically or through acquisition, we want to be in the strongest possible position to act on those opportunities.”
With four decades of family stewardship, a culture built on loyalty and continuous improvement, and ambitions that will see it live on for generations to come, OmniDuct appears well positioned to carry its founding mission confidently into its next chapter.
