Photos courtesy of Amerex Corporation.
Amerex Corporation
Amerex Corporation has manufactured fire suppression products at its Trussville headquarters on U.S. 11 since 1971. The company makes a wide range of products — from portable ABC extinguishers to military and aviation systems — with most components manufactured in house.
Amerex Corporation has been located in the Trussville community since 1971. Many people pass by its headquarters on U.S. 11 without realizing that a globally distributed, life-saving product is manufactured inside. Vice President of Operations Jay Ghelani shared insight into the company’s impact.
Ned Paine and his wife Goldie — now known as tremendous benefactors in the community — founded the business in 1971 and led it until its sale in 1999 to McWane, Inc. The Paines donated the property where Paine Elementary now stands, establishing a legacy of giving that continues today.
That spirit has endured under McWane’s ownership. Recent community investments include the Miracle Field at the Trussville Sports Complex, the Alabama Fallen Warriors Memorial and the Amerex outdoor classroom at Hewitt-Trussville High School. The company also supports local nonprofits through volunteer efforts and initiatives like an annual river cleanup.
Ghelani, who has been with Amerex for six years, emphasized the company’s commitment to both product reliability and employee safety. Its tagline, “Quality Behind the Diamond,” reflects that focus.
“The fire extinguisher is one of those things that when you need it, it has to work,” Ghelani said. “Everything we do is to make sure it’s going to perform when it’s required by the end user.
“Every extinguisher we make has the potential to save someone’s life, and our team members take a lot of pride in that,” he added.
Amerex manufactures a wide range of fire suppression products, including portable ABC fire extinguishers, systems for vehicles and industrial settings, kitchen suppression systems, and products for military and aviation use.
“Another thing that’s really cool for Amerex is that we’re very vertically integrated,” Ghelani said. “We make a majority of the components in house — from the dry chemical powder to the cylinders and valves — then assemble and prepare each unit for shipment.”
Innovation remains a priority, both to improve efficiency and to support employees.
“We added robotics to take that ergonomic burden off our team members,” Ghelani said. “It reduced our injury rates and created a much safer environment — that’s always the goal.”
He also noted advancements in emerging industries. “Data centers require clean agents, so we’ve developed a product that can put out a fire without damaging the infrastructure — and in many cases, the equipment can keep running afterward.”
Amerex employs approximately 460 team members and produces between 13,000 and 15,000 units daily. Like many manufacturers, the company faces challenges in recruiting skilled labor.
“Our culture typically wins out,” Ghelani said. “We’ve built a place where people want to come — and stay.”
While the product itself may seem simple, its reach is anything but.
“People will travel the world and see our products in places like Buckingham Palace and Disney and feel a sense of pride knowing it was made right here in Trussville,” Ghelani said.
