A 56 Year Old Titan Of Patio Grills & Patio Heaters

5 minute read | Grills

Do you remember when barbecue grills and their accessories were built like tanks and meant to last a lifetime? AEI remembers. Whether you’re a grizzled veteran of the grilling arts or a relative newbie to the craft, you’re probably aware that things have changed over the years in the industry that supplies the tools of your trade, and not necessarily for the better. Like many other things in the modern world, it seems that the grilling experience often just isn’t quite the same as it was back in the day, and that’s largely a reflection of the quality of the grills, utensils, and other equipment necessary to create those juicy steaks, burgers, and brats.

Some Things Really Were Better

People often casually dismiss those who reminisce about ‘the good old days’, saying that every generation thinks that things were much better when they were young and in their prime, and there’s some truth to that. But it’s also true that sometimes things really were better in the past, especially in a world that has changed so drastically in such a short period of time. Sure, there are plenty of gee-whiz high-tech gadgets and gizmos available these days, and that includes barbecue grills, but it’s hard to escape that nagging feeling that something is missing, that something has been lost. A large part of that is the lack of quality and dependability in the products we buy these days, when purchasing something that actually works correctly for any length of time is a hit-or-miss proposition.

And Still Are Better

But it’s nice to know that in a market chock-full of mediocre offerings, one company still provides the high-quality products that you need to make the best of your hard-earned grilling expertise. The AEI Corporation has been manufacturing top-of-the-line outdoor commercial grills and residential grills, and outdoor patio heaters for almost six decades. We’ve become a leader in the industry by incorporating cutting-edge technology and innovation with the old-school quality, reliability, and customer service we built our reputation on. If you want to recreate the taste of the ‘good ol’ days’ with your grilling, you need to start with superior tools from the company that was there when it all began, AEI Corporation.

Modern-Day Grilling Equipment Problems

The time-honored pastime of outdoor grilling is a worthy pursuit deserving of diligent study and practice and an investment in the best equipment money can buy. Most grilling chefs are perfectly willing to make this investment in their hobby. The problem is finding outdoor grills and other accessories that justify the expense. 

There are plenty of companies out there churning out grills and equipment that have no real experience in the industry and no skin in the game. They’re just copying what has come before in the cheapest and most profitable way possible. Sure, they may be able to make an attractive unit that looks great on the showroom floor, with lots of cool colors and bells and whistles. But like a book and its cover, nice looks don’t necessarily equal quality. Many products today are designed by engineers and marketing types driven by nothing but profit margins. Their grills and accessories are built with planned obsolescence, meaning they’re designed to work for a short time and then break down, as the old joke says, usually just after the warranty expires, and often even before that. Then you learn the warranty doesn’t cover it. The idea is to base profits on making you buy more of their grills to replace the ones that fail, a classic quantity over quality business plan. To add insult to injury, the performance they provide to the conscientious griller during their brief life span is less than satisfactory. All it takes is one outdoor grilling party ruined due to malfunctioning equipment to make you wish you had purchased a grill made by an experienced and reputable manufacturer with a long track record for delivering quality equipment that is built to last. Fortunately, there is an alternative for the knowledgeable and discriminating grill chef.

AEI Is The Solution

The answer to the problem of shoddy equipment plaguing serious outdoor grill aficionados like you is to choose your outdoor cooking and heating products from a company with a reputation for and track record of building only high-quality, well-designed products made to endure the rigors and use that an avid griller will put them through and are able to provide years of dependable service. Every professional or serious amateur knows that their performance will only be as good as their equipment. 

Since 1966, the AEI Corporation has been providing state-of-the-art outdoor commercial grills, and outdoor patio heaters to commercial and residential customers in the U.S. and all over the world. We’ve become a leader in our industry through innovation, quality of design and materials, product durability and affordability, and excellent customer service. AEI has been in the outdoor cooking and heating business for a long time. We understand outdoor grilling and entertaining and the people who love to do it, and we are dedicated to providing them with the very best equipment we can provide. 

Grilling Products

  • Residential Grills - Our A-Series line of residential grills are one of the only cast-aluminum grills on the market today, while our Legacy lineup features timeless and durable stainless steel construction. Whether you choose a portable model or a built-in grill, you’ll find they’re perfect for any patio or outdoor living space.
  • Commercial Grills - Our T-Series grills have been specially designed with apartment and condominium owners in mind, and have cast aluminum and stainless steel grills. Each unit has multiple safety features built-in, including grill timers to automatically shut off the gas flow to the heater after an hour of non-use. 

Patio Heaters 

  • Natural Gas, Propane, and Electric heaters - Our outdoor heaters are the perfect solution for both residential and business needs or in any situation where a large outside space needs to be heated to accommodate a crowd. 
  • Each of our five lines of heaters has a variety of mounting options as well as several attractive finishes. They can be installed overhead or at the top of a pole installed in the ground. Propane mushroom heaters can be portable with a wheel kit, so they can be moved around your patio as needed. 
  • Infrared Patio Heaters - Our patio heaters use the latest technology in outdoor heating solutions; safe infrared heat. Infrared heaters heat objects and people rather than the surrounding air and are an excellent choice for unenclosed spaces or any area where air can’t be easily circulated. 

All our heaters and grills have natural gas and liquid propane models-PGS grills: A-Series, T-Series, and Legacy grills and 5 Brands of patio heaters: Patio Comfort, Sunglo, Sunpak, Sunstar, and Infratech(only electric-powered heaters).

Whatever your grilling or outdoor heating needs may be, residential or commercial, you can’t go wrong with top-of-the-line high-quality products from AEI Corporation. Our products are backed by almost six decades in the industry, and we guarantee our work with excellent warranties and unsurpassed customer service. Contact us today for more information.



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