Valparaiso Magazine - Spring 2023

MADE IN VALPARAISO | HEAT WAGON >>
Turning
UP
We wanted to stay
a small, local,
family-owned business
and have decided
to use that strategy
to grow.
— John Walsh, Heat Wagon
the Heat
Valparaiso’s Heat Wagon
uses its small size to its
advantage by doubling
down on its strengths
By Haleigh Vander Vinne
It’s said that there are two
seasons in Northwest
Indiana: winter and
construction. But thanks
to the wide range of
temporary heaters built and sold
by Valparaiso’s Heat Wagon,
construction season can easily
extend into winter as well, much
to the chagrin of region drivers.
Assembled from parts
shipped from right here in
Valparaiso, Niles, Michigan,
and other locations, Heat
Wagon’s temporary heaters
are sold to equipment dealers
and specialty heat suppliers
around the country. The small,
local manufacturer offers a
range of portable heaters,
ranging in size from 65,000
BTU to 7 million BTU, offering
both direct and indirect
fired. Fuel options include
gas, propane, and kerosene/
diesel, with power requirements
ranging from 110 volts to 480
volts. “We want to make sure
that we can fill a void with the
right product,” said John Walsh,
President of Heat Wagon.
Standing Strong
as a Small, Local,
Family-Owned Business
Many other heating equipment
manufacturers have been sold to a venture
capital company or consolidated into a
larger company, but Heat Wagon continues
to be locally owned. “We wanted to stay a
small, local, family-owned business and have
decided to use that strategy to grow,” said
Walsh, who bought the company with his
business partner in 1996. This strategy gives
Heat Wagon a leg up on its competitors. With
a tight team of 23 employees, Heat Wagon
can help a customer in less time than it takes
a larger company to just get an approval.
“We pride ourselves in being quicker and
more nimble than bigger companies in the
way we can satisfy our customers and what
they want,” said Walsh.
The people who live and work in the area
also contribute to Heat Wagon’s success.
Walsh noted that Valparaiso has a generous
labor pool to draw hard-working, honest
people from, and looks forward to investing
in the development of his employees and
their skills.
Innovating and Looking
to the Future
Technology has helped the team improve
customer service. Heat Wagon has added
diagnostic lights, how-to videos, and
instructional QR codes for transparency,
effectiveness, and accessibility. “We will
continue to come up with more ideas for
new bells and whistles on the products,”
said Walsh.
Because heaters are seasonal, Heat Wagon
is also looking to enter new markets,
exploring the development of products such
as fans, dehumidification equipment, and
humidifiers. “A goal for us is to create offseason
products to be able to manufacture or
distribute through our current dealer network
and grow sales,” said Walsh.
All Fired Up
While larger companies have vast resources
that can make the thought of being a smaller
competitor chilling, Heat Wagon has leaned
into the advantages of its smaller size – speed
to service, innovation and a family-oriented
culture – to build a business that has stood
the test of time for 42 years.
| ValpoChamber.org 7