IQAir began as a family company in Germany. There, brothers Manfred and Klaus Hammes introduced the world’s first room air purifier in 1963. From these humble beginnings, they built the company into one of the leading manufacturers of air purifiers. Today, their state-of-the-art Swiss manufacturing facility produces the highest-quality air purifiers available.
First Filtration System
The Hammes brothers introduced the first, simple air filtration system in 1963. Its design was basic – a filter pad attached to the air outlet of the home’s coal oven. As the cold air rose through the oven and heated, it had to pass through the filter, trapping coal dust so it didn’t get released into the home. And thus, the first air purifier was born. The filtration system was initially advertised as a way to reduce the buildup of coal dust on the walls behind ovens. It wasn’t meant as a health product at all. That discovery came later. Manfred had long suffered from asthma and he noticed that the filter reduced the frequency of asthma attacks during the winter. As time went on, the brothers received more reports of improved symptoms of asthma and allergy sufferers who used their filters.
Compact Air Purifiers
In the 1990s, the company turned its attention to compact, fan-powered room air purifiers. That market was quite lopsided. While commercial air purification systems were very effective, the smaller versions meant for individual consumers were not. IQAir decided to develop a new kind of compact air purifier. Its team of Swiss and German engineers worked for four years to develop the HealthPro Plus, which became available in Europe in 1998. It quickly established itself as the world’s best air purifier. Europe’s premier product testing organization, Stiftung Warentest, put the unit through one of the most rigorous and comprehensive air purifier tests ever conceived. The organization determined that the IQAir HealthPro Plus outperformed every one of its competitors. The air purifiers became available in the US in 2000 and became an overnight success, especially among those with asthma and allergies.
SARS Approved
February of 2003 saw the rising warnings of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Asia. Caused by a new coronavirus, the disease was incredibly contagious and had no antiviral treatment available. The Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HKHA) needed an air purification system that would be able to remove the virus, so they began screening all the air purifiers available. Unsurprisingly, most failed to stop the spread of SARS. But HKHA selected IQAir as the manufacturer of choice for air purifiers used in rooms with suspected SARS patients. More than 150 healthcare facilities in Hong Kong ordered IQAir air purifiers to help fight the spread of the virus.
American Lung Association Approved
IQAir partnered with the American Lung Association in 2004 to help educate the public about indoor air quality. One of its first campaigns addressed the problem of air purifiers that produce ozone, a hazardous toxin that pollutes your indoor air. That same year, IQAir was asked by ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to make America’s healthiest home. The project made history and was further honored by the American Lung Association.
Whole-House Air Purifiers
Like the compact air purifiers of 1994, in 2004 IQAir discovered that whole-house air purifiers fell short when it came to addressing the needs of asthma and allergy sufferers. IQAir took on the task of developing a better system. The Perfect 16 was the result, a whole-house filtration system that was the first to get the prestigious MERV 16 rating.
Swiss Made
IQAir’s manufacturing facility is located near the Lake of Constance in Switzerland and its products are known for their Swiss precision. The skilled team of craftsmen uses the finest materials to create the world’s highest-quality air purifiers. Thus, it’s no surprise that the company continues to receive the highest honors and recognition. Its HyperHEPA filters were the only room air filters to receive the H12/13 certification. H13 HEPA certification means that the air purifiers can filter out up to 100 times more particles than other HEPA air purifiers. IQAir purifiers have also received top ratings from Reviewboard Magazine, Consumers Digest Magazine, and Consumer Search.
IQAir remains in the hands of the Hammes family. Though Manfred passed away in 1981 and Klaus has since retired, the latter remains on in the company as an advisor. IQAir is now led by Klaus’ sons who continue the family tradition of providing the highest-quality air purifiers available. If you suffer from asthma or allergies, or even if you just want to breathe clean air, consider getting an IQAir purifier for your home.
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