Our Story

In 1969, change was in the air

• The Vietnam war was raging
• The New York Jets played in and won their first and only appearance in the Superbowl
• Kermit and Big Bird began babysitting our kids courtesy of Sesame Street
• Man set foot on the moon
• Thousands attended Woodstock in upstate New York

Yeah, 1969 was packed with exciting and life-changing events. But the biggest one around here was Merlin T. Kirby’s grand opening of A-VAC Industries. (OK, maybe the moon landing was bigger, but try having an astronaut rebuild your vacuum pump!)

After years of working in the Aerospace and Electronics fields, Merlin struck out on his own, founding  A-VAC with the motto “Providing High Quality in High Vacuum”.

While that philosophy hasn’t changed, a lot of other things have.  Since then, we’ve greatly expanded our selection of products, brands, and services - featuring only those known worldwide for excellence. For over a half a century, customers have come to count on us for our expertise, selection, and exceptional service – And you can, too.

Sadly, our beloved Merlin passed away in 2018. His protégé and son, Don McGregor, who has been running Vacuum Pump Repair USA for many years, is moving A-VAC Industries, Inc. forward with Merlin’s mission. Don is the father of three cats, one regular dog, and one basset hound named Hank.

The entire A-VAC Industries, Inc. family continues to promote integrity, honesty, and customer service. These are Values that have been the foundation of  A-VAC Industries, Inc. since day one.