DANFOSS has agreed to buy Chatleff Controls Inc, a US residential ac distributor based in Austin, Texas.
The agreement, expected to be finalised on October 1, was signed by Danfoss to strengthen its long-term position in the US residential ac market.

Chatleff has 250 employees and its net sales totalled $42m in 2006.

'With Chatleff Controls joining Danfoss, we will become a solutions provider in this area in addition to being a component manufacturer,' said Kim Fausing, President, Danfoss refrigeration and ac division.

'This is a natural result of a market movement in the direction of supplying thermostatic expansion valves assembled together with connectors and distributors,' he said.

Fifty years ago, O. Shurtleff and George Chatham founded Chatleff Controls to manufacture and sell the first practical reversing valve for heat pump applications.

Chatleff Controls will become part of the system and assemblies business unit within Danfoss refrigeration and ac division.