A Legacy of Innovation | F.E. Moran’s History of Mechanical & Fire Protection Excellence

Over 65 Years of Innovation, Growth, and Industry Leadership

For nearly a century, F.E. Moran has been solving complex challenges, protecting property, and saving lives with expertise, ingenuity, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

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Founded in 1931 by Frank Edward Moran, the company began as a boiler and radiator installation service, quickly earning a reputation for quality and craftsmanship. When World War II called, Frank paused the business to serve a greater cause—an early testament to the resilience and integrity that define F.E. Moran to this day.

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In 1957, with the country entering a new era of industry and progress, Frank and his son, Owen, reopened F.E. Moran as a piping contractor. Together, they expanded into sheet metal, fire protection, plumbing, and special hazard systems, transforming the company into a full-service mechanical powerhouse.

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By 1982, Owen’s son, Brian, ushered in a new generation of leadership, propelling F.E. Moran to national prominence. Under his vision, the company has grown into a leader in mechanical, industrial, and fire protection solutions, tackling high-risk, mission-critical projects across industries.

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From power plants and hospitals to high-rise buildings and industrial facilities, F.E. Moran has expanded our expertise while remaining family-owned and led. Our relentless drive for innovation keeps us ahead of industry trends, continuously evolving into new technologies, markets, and specialized services.

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The approach is simple: if there’s a better, safer, and more efficient way to do something, we’ll find it. Today, F.E. Moran stands at the forefront of mechanical contracting, fire protection, refrigeration, and industrial piping—delivering trusted solutions that not only meet industry standards but redefine them.

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A Legacy of Growth.
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A Journey of Innovation and Excellence.

From our founding in 1957 to an industry leader, F.E. Moran’s journey has been defined by relentless innovation, unwavering commitment, and a deep responsibility to protect what matters most.

With every milestone, we have built upon our legacy, expanding our expertise and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible—always with the same dedication to excellence, integrity, and the people we serve.

1957

A New Era Begins: The birth of F.E. Moran

In 1957, F.E. Moran was established with a bold vision—to build a company that would stand the test of time through integrity, innovation, and a relentless commitment to excellence.

Emerging from its early roots in heating and mechanical services, the company quickly expanded, setting the foundation for what would become a full-service mechanical powerhouse. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of F.E. Moran’s transformation into an industry leader, pioneering HVAC, plumbing, and sheet metal fabrication services that continue to shape the built environment today.

1970

Expanding Protection: Fire Safety Becomes a Core Service

In 1970, F.E. Moran took a bold step forward, recognizing the critical need for advanced fire protection. By launching into Fire Protection, the company reinforced its core mission—safeguarding lives and property with unmatched precision and reliability.

Expanding into fire suppression, alarms, inspections, and service, this milestone was more than an expansion—it was a declaration that F.E. Moran would lead the charge in life safety, setting new benchmarks for excellence across Northern Illinois and beyond.

1977

Strengthening the Foundation

By 1977, F.E. Moran was growing rapidly, and with expansion came the need for a rock-solid operational backbone. To fuel this momentum, the company established a dedicated support group, ensuring that payroll, HR, recruiting, safety, IT, accounting, and marketing functioned as the driving force behind every project.

These shared services unified the company’s operations, creating a structure that allowed each business unit to thrive while upholding the highest standards of execution and efficiency.

This milestone cemented F.E. Moran’s commitment to people, process, and progress, ensuring sustainable growth for decades to come.

1979

Raising the Bar in High-Risk Fire Protection

In 1979, F.E. Moran redefined fire protection with the launch of Special Hazard Systems—a specialized unit engineered to tackle the most complex, high-risk environments.

Nationwide, from power plants and industrial facilities to mission-critical infrastructure, these projects demanded solutions that standard fire protection simply couldn’t deliver.

With an unwavering commitment to safety, compliance, and innovation, Special Hazard Systems established a new gold standard, ensuring that the most dangerous environments were equipped with the most advanced fire suppression technology available.

1982

A Legacy Continues: Brian Moran Joins the Family Business

In 1982, Brian Moran entered the family business to further develop the established foundation. As the third-generation leader, he brought vision, innovation, and a relentless drive to push F.E. Moran to new heights.

Under Brian's leadership, the company expanded across multiple disciplines, reinforcing its position as a leader in mechanical, fire protection, and life safety solutions. While the company grew, Brian ensured that its core values—integrity, excellence, and perseverance—remained unshakable.

1988

Expanding Mechanical Services for Long-Term Performance

In 1988, F.E. Moran raised the bar again, expanding beyond installation to become a full-service provider of HVAC service, maintenance, and automation.

This wasn’t just about fixing systems—it was about maximizing performance, reliability, and energy efficiency for the long haul. By integrating cutting-edge technology, direct-to-owner service, and a relentless pursuit of operational excellence, F.E. Moran became the go-to partner for keeping mission-critical mechanical systems running at peak performance

2001

Nationwide Expansion: Fire Protection

By 2001, F.E. Moran’s reputation for fire protection excellence had outgrown regional boundaries. The company expanded its fire protection capabilities nationwide, bringing cutting-edge suppression systems, alarms, service, and inspections to a broader client base.

This milestone wasn’t just about scaling up—it was about delivering life-saving solutions on a national level, reinforcing F.E. Moran’s position as a national leader in fire protection for industries that demand nothing less than the best.

2019

Revolutionizing Refrigeration Solutions

In 2019, F.E. Moran once again led the charge in mechanical innovation with the launch of Refrigeration Services.

Focused on cold storage, food processing, and temperature-sensitive environments, this specialized highly experienced team brought state-of-the-art design-build solutions, installation, and service to industries where precision is non-negotiable.

By integrating advanced refrigeration technology with F.E.Moran’s long-standing expertise in mechanical systems, this milestone further solidified the company’s status as an essential force in critical infrastructure.

2020

Powering the Nation's Industry with Precision and Performance

In 2020, F.E. Moran made its boldest industrial move yet, launching into industrial piping.

From large-scale manufacturing to energy and heavy industrial facilities, this expansion brought expertise in industrial pipe prefabrication, process piping installation, and precision welding to mission-critical operations.

With an unrelenting focus on safety, efficiency, and engineering excellence, this milestone reinforced F.E.Moran’s role as a trusted partner in driving the industries that power the world forward.

The future awaits

Where Do We Go From Here? Buckle Up.

For eight decades, F.E. Moran has built, protected, and powered industries with relentless innovation, unwavering commitment, and a bold vision for the future.

But we’re just getting started. The road ahead isn’t about standing still—it’s about pushing boundaries, tackling the toughest challenges, and redefining what’s possible.

The next chapter of our story will be written in breakthrough solutions, fearless leadership, and an unstoppable drive to serve our clients, our employees, and our communities like never before.
Buckle up.

The best is yet to come.

A legacy forged in innovation, built to endure.

Over 65 Years of Innovation, Growth, and Industry Leadership