Burkholder’s Heating and Air Conditioning of Emmaus has acquired the Bethlehem-based Lande Heating and Air Conditioning and will immediately begin providing sale, installation and maintenance service to all of Lande’s customers, Burkholder’s President and CEO Bob Burkholder announced today.
“We are thrilled to join these two-great family-owned companies to continue providing the great local service that customers from both businesses have come to expect,” Burkholder said. “This acquisition gives our company a chance to continue the growth we have enjoyed for more than a decade now while retaining the local leadership that keeps us closest to our customers.”
In a letter to Lande customers, Burkholder said that Lande owner Carl Stanke will join the Burkholder’s team in the residential sales department, and Burkholder’s is working to retain all of the Lande employees. The acquisition of the business does not involve any real estate.
Lande customers can continue to call the Lande phone number for service and other inquiries or they may contact Burkholder’s Heating and Air Conditioning directly at 610-965-9736.
Lande was founded in 1955 by Harry Lande, who operated the company until selling it to Carl and Gail Stanke. Burkholder’s, which has been known for its reliable, customer-focused operation since 1960, will continue to provide the high-level of customer service that Lande customers have come to expect. Burkholder’s Heating and Air Conditioning is a consistent winner of many local customer service awards, including the 2017 Morning Call Reader’s Choice award.
Burkholder’s was also a finalist in the Lehigh Valley Business journal’s 2015 annual “Business of the Year” awards in the 36-100 Employee category and Lehigh Valley Business has also ranked the company 68 out the top 100 fastest-growing companies in its coverage area.
The last 17 years have brought several key turning points for Burkholder’s HVAC, beginning in the year 2000 when Bob Burkholder succeeded his father at the helm of the company. Under Bob’s leadership, the company has grown and thrived despite the challenges of a questionable economy.
In 2006 Burkholder’s purchased the neighboring Onufer Roofing Company building to accommodate its growing business and staff and in 2007 the company used the additional space to build the administrative offices for the company. In 2010 Burkholder’s partnered with Reichenbach Oil Company to assume the maintenance responsibilities for their customers, bringing an immediate increase of five jobs and four that were added later.
After recovering from the economic downtown that began in 2008, Bob Burkholder and his team reinvented the company and mission to some degree and as a result, it emerged stronger than ever, with new partnerships, more jobs, and a brighter future.
“We now employ over 80 people and we are looking to add more positions as we continue to grow,” Burkholder said.