NORDYNE has secured the rights to manufacture and market HVAC equipment under the Maytag brand. Its Maytag-branded products will include an "ultra-premium" line, featuring a warranty on labor -- 10 years -- and a 10-year warranty on parts.

"Consumers equate the Maytag brand with dependability, reliability and worry-free performance," said David LaGrand, NORDYNE's president and chief executive officer. The addition of the Maytag brand completes the company's brand strategy, he added.

These high-efficiency units will be marketed to high-end consumers. As part of its Quality Pledge, NORDYNE will replace the entire unit should a heat exchanger or compressor fail within the first five years of purchase.