Our Story

1st Generation - Circa 1901
Together, brothers Malcolm E. Gray, William H, and Donald D. form the "Atlantic Stamping Company", a manufacturer of specialty household products. Some of the goods that they manufactured and sold included gas cans, dishpans, dairy pails and milk strainers. Operations were in Rochester, NY on 109 Hague Street. The business would prove very successful, with all three brothers selling their stock in 1908.

1st Generation
After selling his interest in Atlantic Stamping Co., Malcolm would go on to found Rochester Can Company. During his tenure there, the business would grow to several hundred employees, manufacturing over 500 products under the trade name “Iron Horse,” including army trench helmets during World War I. Malcolm ran operations until stepping down from the presidency in 1930, at which time, control of day to day operations was handed over to sons-in-law, Rodney Sage Hatch and William Easton. Malcolm would stay active as Chairman of the Board until his untimely death in 1932.

1st Generation
During his lifetime, Malcolm E. Gray was a prolific inventor and held patents on several products; however his most significant contribution was the implementation and national recognition of the five day work week. Malcolm announced to his family on Christmas day, 1921 that he would soon begin the 5 day week for his employees. He made it formal on January 2, 1922. Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone would visit Malcom's plant and study the effects of a 5-day work week on productivity and then implement at their own facilities.

1st Generation
During the years 1908 thru 1932, Malcolm's brother,
William H. Gray (pictured left)would work as a self-employed contractor, learning the sheet metal trade. During this time, his sons William J. and Donald E. Gray would join their father in learning the local sheet metal business. They would operate under the name "William H. Gray & Sons". The knowledge and expertise gained during these years would eventually become what the family business is today.

Circa 1930's
William H. Gray relaxing at family home on Hurstbourne Road in Rochester, NY.

1st and 2nd Generations
William H. Gray, incorporates Gray Metal Products, Inc. with operations at 30 Carlton Street, Rochester, N.Y. (photo shown includes two additions to the original building)
At that time, Gray Metal's customer base was limited to sheet metal contractors located in the state of New York. William H. Gray is awarded several patents related to the gutter industry. Sons William J. Gray and Donald Gray would continue to work with their father, with control eventually passing to them in 1955.

William H. Gray with employees, standing outside of Carlton St.

1941
William J. Gray and Marguerite S. Gray with sons Richard E. Gray Sr. as an infant and older brother William J. Gray Jr.

1942
Richard E. Gray Sr. with older brother, William J. Gray Jr.

Circa 1946
Richard E. Gray Sr. (pictured in the middle) with childhood friends in front of family home on Hurstbourne Rd, Rochester, NY.

Circa 1948
William J. Gray and wife Marguerite S. Gray
(parents of Richard E. Gray Sr.)

2nd Generation
Control of Gray Metal Products passes from William H. Gray to sons, William J. Gray (pictured here) and Donald. During this time, William J. (Bill) would recognize the value of shipping to HVAC wholesale distributors and discontinue contractor direct sales. This would widen distribution channels and open up greater volume opportunities throughout New York. Eventually, William would buy out his brother Donald, gaining exclusive control over the business. Richard E. Gray Sr. (Bill's youngest son) would mentor under his father’s guidance in the business during this time.

Circa 1950's
William J Gray (Bill) standing outside Carlton St.

3rd Generation
Richard E, Gray Sr. convinces his father, William J. Gray to purchase a Slear and add on a Coil room to Carlton Street for steel processing, thereby changing the factory from a Sheet-fed plant to a Coil-fed plant. This strategy would set the stage for full scale manufacturing and expansion efforts throughout the Northeast.

Circa 1969
The original Shear purchased by Richard E. Gray Sr.
Still in operation today, at Gray Metal Products Industrial complex, located in Avon, New York.

3rd Generation
William J. Gray passes on and control of Gray Metal Products, Inc. goes to (son) Richard E. Gray Sr. & (daughter-in-law)
Carole L. Gray. Shortly thereafter, expansion into the hardware market would necessitate the need for another addition to Carlton Street for warehouse space.
Richard and Carole would have 5 children between 1961 and 1970, raising them in the family business, all of whom remain active today.

Circa 1974
Carole L. Gray (left), with long-term employee outside of Carlton Street building.

Circa 1976
Richard E. Gray Sr. leaning outside Carlton St. building.

Carlton Street location is sold to the Rochester Museum of Natural Science and operations are relocated to an industrial complex located at 166 Norman Street in Rochester. Sales are able to flourish in this new facility.

4th Generation
Gray Flex Systems, a full line flex manufacturer, is founded by William R. Gray, son of Richard E. and Carole L Gray. Initial operations are out of Rochester, NY, and temporarily relocated to Woodland, NC. In 1992, Gray Flex Systems would relocate to Coats, NC, where they remain today, with satellite manufacturing location set up in Lake Park, GA.

William R, Gray is awarded his first of many patents related to the HVAC Industry.

The Gray family acquires a small competitor by the name of Nova Industries out of West Point, Virginia, reestablishing the company as Gray Metal South, Inc. Current Operations are under 4th generation owners.
Joseph E. Gray & Marguerite Gray

3rd Generation Operations
In January of 1997,
Gray Metal Products acquires an Industrial Park Complex in Avon, NY, located approximately 30 minutes south of Rochester. Sales growth necessitates several additions over the following years.
Current NY Operations are under 3rd & 4th generation management.

The same year,
Gray Metal South's growth necessitates a larger facility.
In April of 1997, Gray Metal South relocates operations from Virginia into a new industrial location in Dunn, NC. During the following years, 3 additions would be necessary in order to accommodate significant market share gain. Today, the Dunn, NC operations enjoy over 250,000 square feet.

4th Generation
Snap-Rite is founded by
William R. Gray, with initial operations out of Coats, North Carolina. In January of 2000, Snap-Rite is relocated to Lake Park, Georgia in January 2000.

Snap-Rite acquires a competitor by the name of Automated Ductwork Manufacturing (ADM) out of Cleveland, Ohio on February 15th, 2000.

Majority interest in Gray Metal Products is passed on to Carole L. Gray after the passing of Richard E. Gray Sr. Carole maintains oversight of operations with Richard E. Gray Jr. and Martin E. Gray running day to day operations and acting as managing principals.

Joseph E. Gray founds
Gray Metal South second location in Humboldt, TN. Grand Opening ceremony is held in 2008, and dedicated to Richard E. Gray Sr.
See full dedication below.

Opportunity is defined as “A favorable or advantageous combination of circumstances”. The Gray family has had the good fortune to recognize, create and seize upon opportunities for over a century now. These opportunities have not come to them without the dedicated support of family, friends, employees and community. We stand here today because several people believed in themselves, their future and each other.
The Gray corporate family history dates back to the early 1900’s. Malcolm E. Gray, founder of Rochester Can Company, would begin what would become a century long commitment to the sheet metal industry. Malcolm was a prolific inventor, most notably recognized for his invention of the five day work week in 1922. His dedication to manufacturing was an inspiration to his brother, William H. Gray, who started a copper gutter hanger company, of which he held a patent on, under the company name of William Gray & Sons. William H. Gray would then later begin his transition into manufacturing of furnace pipe and fittings, incorporating in 1932 under the name, Gray Metal Products. Gray Metal’s modest beginnings would take place at what has become affectionately referred to as “Carlton Street” by our family. His son, William J. Gray, would continue on in his father’s footsteps, learning the business so that one day he, too, could pass it on to his son; our father, Richard E. Gray Sr. This would begin what can be defined today as our family’s legacy.

When our father inherited Gray Metal Products in 1974, he would immediately recognize the priceless value of our mother’s own inherent talent which would prove to parallel his own love and dedication to the business. Together, they would grow the business, dedicating long hours, with immeasurable sacrifice, working alongside employees; no task beneath them. Our parents would turn Carlton Street into a learning institution, imparting on each of us a sense of self, direction and confidence; creating what would one day be the foundations necessary for our own success and contributions to the family legacy.

With the growth and expansion efforts of Gray Metal Products, came opportunity for all of us to flourish in our own way. Our mother and father have been instrumental in all of our opportunities, encouraging us and believing in us at times more than we probably believed in ourselves. Our father was, in particular, the biggest enthusiast we had. He embraced and encouraged every dream, every goal and every step forward. He unified us in a single direction and gave us a feeling of independent accomplishment. He knew when to let go and when to step in. His love of what he did was contagious and inspirational. Today, from its’ modest beginnings at Carlton Street, the Gray Family collectively owns six manufacturing locations with substantial distribution in 30 states. It is for this reason, on this day, February 15 2008, that we give honorable mention to our mother, Carole L. Gray and dedicate this business endeavor, to our truest enthusiast, Richard E. Gray Sr., who believed in his family enough to create opportunity.

Currently, the Gray Family owns and operates 5 separate manufacturing facilities, with distribution in 32 states. The Gray Family is recognized as a premier manufacturer in the HVAC industry, with a reputation built on quality and exceptional customer service.