American Metal Filter Company began operations from within a two-car garage in San Diego, CA on February 27, 1986. The idea then was to manufacture replacement range hood filters for the Appliance Parts Distributor. Our goal was simple: to be the quick, accurate and economical source of choice for range hood filters.
As we grew, we added commercial and industrial metal air filters for HVAC wholesalers, filter distributors and other filter manufacturers. Our offering and our reach expanded, but the goal remained the same: to be the quick, accurate and economical source of choice for residential, commercial and industrial metal air filters.
Today, our production offering has grown to include metal filters, frames and housings for a multitude of customers across many industries. Our capabilities, opportunities and challenges are much bigger than they were in the garage days, but our goal is still as simple as day one: to be the quick, accurate and economical source of choice.
Family Legacy
In which every family member gets fired from his or her own company
1940s
FARR Company is started by Val Deilgat’s Great Uncles; Richard and Spencer Farr, Co-engineers, El Segundo, CA. Val Deilgat’s Grandmother, Frances, is the sister of R&S Farr, she gets fired from Farr.
1957
Frances marries Val J. Burke and founds Burke & Company, she then gets fired from Burke.
January 11, 1971
Val’s parents, Carl & Valerie Deilgat, Start Eco-Air
12-year-old Val Deilgat gets a job at Eco-Air working on boxes for assembly and helping dad around the shop.
1973
Carl buys 14-year-old Val a filter machine, tools, and components to make range hood filters and washable metal filters and Val starts going door-to-door selling range hood filters to home owners.
1977
Val Deilgat joins the US Marine Corps and becomes a Drill Instructor & Military Policeman and trains as a jet engine mechanic, honing his skills in discipline and organization that eventually leads to AMFCO’s success.
1983
After an Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps, Val officially joins Eco-Air setting up inventory management and establishing a formal drafting department for the machine shop.
1984
Carl & Valerie purchase Metal Masters and sent Val to study the business with plans to relocate the business to San Diego.
February 1986
Val gets fired from Metal Masters.
1986
American Metal Filter Company (AMFCO) is born in the garage of Val’s house and work begins making range hood filters for appliance parts distributors. The first AMFCO eagle logo was designed by the artist from the U.S. Postal Service.
1986
The Deilgat family grows with the birth of Brandon Michael Deilgat.
1986 Milestones
AMFCO gets first design and spec order for mainframe computers from AMDAHL, keeping the business afloat.
1992 Milestone
AMFCO lands first OEM contract, they're still a client to this day.
1997
Dave Carter joins AMFCO.
1999
AMFCO attends Air Kontrol Auction in Batesville, Mississippi to buy equipment that significantly adds to the capabilities and growth of the company.
2003
AMFCO acquires Air Cleaning Environmentalists (ACE) Company from Carl Deilgat and parks away the company.
2006
In the span of 6 weeks, AMFCO loses 42% gross sales to Chinese manufacturers and the company nears bankruptcy.
2007
Brandon & Val Deilgat agree to refocus on AMFCO’s core competencies, and together with Dave Carter and George Hoss determine that everything AMFCO needs to produce frames is sitting in the Air Cleaning Environmentalists (ACE) workshop Val once parked away.
2008
Brandon Deilgat graduates from USD and begins working in the day-to-day operations of AMFCO, establishing the sales and marketing department.
2009
As frame production begins, industry veteran Randall Pratt leads AMFCO to another significant OEM opportunity, propelling AMFCO to develop MERV 13 filtration and equipment solutions for many HVAC systems. Michelle Carter joins AMFCO and takes ownership of client fulfillment.
2014
AMFCO's Brandon Deilgat expands operations to Nashville Tennessee, offering dual fulfillment to customers.
2020 (COVID-19)
On the brink of shutdown, AMFCO is deemed essential for maintaining production of hospital filters and critical infrastructure.
2024
AMFCO develops full line of Filters, Frames, and ASHRAE Housings.
Val Deilgat
President/CEO
Brandon Deilgat, CAFS, NCT
VP of Sales
Michelle Carter
VP of Client Fulfillment
Dave Carter
Chief Operating Officer
Give us a call at (619) 628-1917 and let us know how we may be of service. We won’t route you through an automated voicemail system, because we don’t own one.