IQAir
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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
| Founder | Manfred Hammes, Klaus Hammes |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Frank Hammes
Jens Hammes Glory Dolphin |
| Products | Air purifiers |
| Website | IQAir.com |
IQAir is a family-owned manufacturer of medical grade air purifiers, based in Rorschach, Switzerland. The IQAir headquarters in North America are in Santa Fe Springs, California.
Early History
The company was founded in 1963, when brothers Manfred and Klaus Hammes introduced a simple filter system for residential coal ovens in Germany. That first system consisted of a filter pad that attached with small magnets to the air outlet of residential coal ovens. The product was initially sold on the premise that it helped reduce the black dust build-up on the walls behind ovens. Soon though, Manfred, a lifelong asthma sufferer, noticed that the filter reduced his flare-ups during the winter months.
Klaus continued through the 1960s and '70s to adapt the filter for other heating systems, such as radiators, baseboard heaters and forced air heating and cooling systems. After a heart attack, Manfred died in 1981. Meanwhile, Klaus relocated the company to Switzerland, from where the company continued to expand into the rest of Europe and the United States.
Frank Hammes, Klaus' son joined the family business to pursue his inherited passion for the air purification business. After successfully promoting a cabin air filter for Mercedes-Benz automobiles in North America, Frank turned his attention to fan-powered room air cleaners. In 1994 Frank and a team of Swiss and German engineers worked four years to develop a line of compact air purifiers that rivaled the effectiveness of commercial air purification systems.
In the spring of 1998, the first IQAir home system rolled off the new production line of the Swiss factory. IQAir air purifiers were initially only available in Europe, but became became available in the United States in 2000. In 2001, Klaus Hammes' second son Jens joined the family business and helped the expansion of IQAir into Asia.
Medical Grade Air Purification
In 2002, IQAir become the first room air cleaner to receive a H12/13 certification for its HyperHEPA™ filters, normally only available in expensive cleanroom filtration systems. When severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) became a global concern in 2003, The Hong Kong Hospital Authority chose IQAir as the room air cleaning solution to help stop the spread of the virus. As a result, IQAir was awarded contracts to supply room air cleaners to more than 150 hospitals and health care facilities in Hong Kong in the fight against the spread of the disease. In 2004, IQAir was selected by the American Lung Association as its sole educational partner.
IQAir introduced a line of whole-house air purification systems in late 2005. The "Perfect 16" system, as it was called, became the world's first whole-house filter system to receive a MERV 16 rating.
Technology
IQAir manufactures air purifiers that use the HEPA technology, no ion or ozone[1] or UV is produced by the air purifiers.
Special Projects
In the Summer 2004, IQAir was approached by the producers of ABC's TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to help create a healthy home for a family with 6-year old girl who received a heart transplant. The project was subsequently honored by the American Lung Association, and set the foundation for many more episodes of the show in which IQAir provided air purification to families with serious medical issues. As of January 2011, the company has participated in 13 episodes of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
In August 2008, IQAir provided the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) with ultra-high efficiency air cleaning for USA athletes at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. IQAir was also chosen by USA Cycling to provide all team members with ultra-high efficiency air cleaners.
IQAir air purification systems also assisted Minyak the Orangutan at the LA Zoo with his breathing problems.[2] Minyak was suffering from chronic pneumonia and consequently depression. Within weeks of the installation of air purification systems, Minyak was doing well and was taken off of his medications.
Manufacturing Location
Switzerland
See also
Air Purifiers
HEPA
Indoor Air Quality
External links
References
- ^ "Ozone: What Air Cleaner Advertisers Don't Tell You". Indoor Environment Connections.
- ^ "IQAir Assists the LA Zoo With Air Purification" (PDF). http://www.lpag.org/.
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