As the first of several planned acquisitions, Bradford White Corp. recently announced the purchase of Niles Steel Tank Co. of Niles, MI. The newly acquired firm will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Bradford White Corp. and will extend the company's current product line offering to the water heating industry.

Niles Steel Tank Co. manufactures large-volume storage tanks and is able to build tanks up to 11 feet in diameter. Bradford White will make substantial investments in the Niles manufacturing plant to bring it in line with Bradford White's primary manufacturing operation in Middleville, MI.

"Niles is a perfect fit for us," said A. Robert Carnevale, president and CEO of Bradford White. "It is a good first move in our strategic plan to broaden and strengthen our approach to the wholesale marketplace."

Leonard F. Rzepczynski, a Bradford White vice president and 21-year veteran of the firm, has been appointed general manager of the new subsidiary.