Pioneering climate control
An innovative engineer, Munters applied for over 1,000 patents, using dehumidification and evaporative cooling to control temperature, humidity and airborne contaminants. His creativity and dedication inspire us to this day. As a global leader in climate control solutions, Munters operates in more than 30 countries with a workforce of close to 5,000 people.
From 1922 to present
Together with Baltzar von Platen and John Tandberg, Munters invented the gas absorption refrigerator for domestic use. His intention was to create an easy-to-use refrigerator without any moving parts. The technique removed thermal energy, which was driven by a heat source such as propane, electricity, or kerosene.
The team rented a room and worked into the night. They slept in the mornings and missed classes at the Royal Institute of Technology where they were students. It took them about a year to create the first prototype that worked with self-circulation. The prototype still had one moving part, a ball valve, and was supposedly big and clumsy.
Eventually, the design was improved and their cooling solution was a world sensation. Albert Einstein once mentioned how astonished he was by their ingenious solution.
The 1950s - How it started
Munters is founded in 1955 by inventor and entrepreneur Carl Munters, along with Marcus Wallenberg and others. The company develops modern air conditioning systems based on evaporative cooling, dehumidification, and heat recovery.
1955 – Carl Munters & Co. is formed.
1958 – A breakthrough for dehumidifiers takes place when the Swedish Armed Forces decide to decentralize their mobilization warehouses and order 200 dehumidifiers. Construction of warehouses continues over the years, and defense organizations worldwide start to use dehumidifiers on a large scale.
The 1960s-Establishment in the US
Expansion both in Sweden and internationally. Munters starts doing business in Fort Myers, USA, with products for evaporative cooling and closes license agreements for the production of dehumidifiers in Amesbury, USA.
1964 – The M100 is launched, the best-selling dehumidifier of all time.
The 1970s - Oil crisis spawns new opportunities
Munters continues to expand into new markets through subsidiaries and licensees. The company changes its strategy at the end of the 1970s as some of the patents begin to expire. The range of products and applications is gradually extended and the distribution is expanded to most parts of Europe, North America, and Japan, largely through licensing arrangements with third parties.
The international agent network is established. The focus is on energy-saving applications.
1973 – The oil crisis brings sudden and severe demands for energy savings.
The company is facing a completely new market potential.
1976 – A breakthrough order is shipped to Agfa for dehumidifiers for film production. The technology becomes critical to the manufacturing of photographic film.
The 1980s - New plant in Tobo
Broad international expansion. The modern Munters takes shape through the acquisition of agents. Most of the licenses are acquired. The MCS business is expanded in several of the countries where Munters operates.
1987 – Munters begins doing business in Japan.
1988 – Munters acquires a unique Swedish air purification technology. The ZEOL products are further developed with Munters rotor technology and help to improve the environment by reducing emissions of solvents from industrial processes.
1989 – A new plant opens in Tobo, Sweden, which enables the cost-effective production of new rotors with unique characteristics for various applications.
The 1990s - An international group
In the 1990s, Munters expands and becomes an international Group with its organization in over 25 countries and manufacturing in over 14 countries. Environmental issues become more important, laying the foundation for HumiCool products. Munters focuses on products rather than core components.
1992 – A new plant is built in San Antonio, USA, to concentrate on dehumidification applications, e.g., for supermarkets and ice rinks.
1997 – Munters is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange.
1999 – Munters finalizes its largest acquisition ever of the Italian company Euroemme. Munters begins offering complete cooling systems for the rapidly expanding poultry industry.
The 2000s - Global acquisitions
Further investment in sales and production in Asia. Several acquisitions make Munters a world leader in climate systems for livestock farming and greenhouse cultivation.
2000 – Munters establishes sales operations in Thailand and Korea and opens a CELdek® plant in Thailand.
2001 – Munters acquires Aerotech, a leading US supplier for the Aghort industry.
2006 – Acquisition of spot heater manufacturer SIAL broadens the offering to the HVAC and AgHort customer segments within the HumiCool division. It follows the strategy of becoming a full climate system provider to agricultural customers.
2007 – The acquisition of US-based Des Champs Technologies complements the dehumidification product range for commercial buildings.
Munters acquires Danish Turbovent Agro A/S and Turbovent Environment A/S. Ventilation companies within the agriculture business.
2008 – Munters acquires a Turkish agriculture business distributor, Form, now called Munters-Form.
Munters also acquires Toussaint Nyssenne to accelerate growth in energy-efficient air treatment.
The 2010s - Focus on the core business
2010 – Munters focuses on the core business and decides to divest the MCS division. Triton, a leading private equity firm, bought the division.
The transaction is completed on October 1, 2010.
Nordic Capital Fund VII purchases Munters at the end of the year.
On December 23, 2010, Munters is de-listed from the Stock Exchange.
2011 – Munters acquires the majority share in the Israeli company Rotem, which specialized in control and management systems for agricultural and horticultural applications. Munters and the Chinese company Keruilai sign an agreement on a joint venture.
2013 – Munters completes the purchase of ProFlute AB, along with its subsidiary SAT, which operates in the Chinese domestic market. ProFlute is well established as a leading supplier of desiccant rotors to the global OEM market, with good quality products and a respected brand name.
2015 – Munters celebrates 60 years of innovations and acquires HB Group.
In November 2015, Munters also acquires Reventa, a company specializing in climate control systems for livestock buildings.
2019 - New President and CEO
2016 – Munters completes its acquisition of Rotem, specializes in computerized control and management systems for agricultural applications and is based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Munters receives its biggest order in history ,more than three times the size of its previous largest order.
Munters Oasis DCiE Data Center Cooler is awarded "Advanced Energy-conservation Product 2016” with its innovativeness and energy-saving performance by China Electronic Energy-saving Technology Association (CEESTA).
2017 – Carl Munters is named ASHRAE Pioneer of Industry. He is honored for making milestone contributions to the growth of air conditioning, heating, refrigeration, and ventilation.
2018 – Several new products are launched with a focus on optimizing the climate while reducing energy consumption, such as DryCool® Focus and SonarEcho.
2019 – To capture Munters full potential, a three-phase plan on stability, profitability, and growth is launched in February 2019.
Klas Forsström enters the position as President and CEO.
The 2020s - Increased demand for climate control solutions
A new organization is launched in 2020 with two business areas: AirTech and FoodTech, and an updated strategy. In 2022, a third business area, Data Center Technologies, is formed.
2022 – To meet the growth in the lithium battery market, Munters opens a new production facility in Hodonin in the Czech Republic.
Munters acquires EDPAC, an Ireland-based manufacturer of data center cooling equipment and air handling systems.
Munters expands its digital solutions within FoodTech by acquiring a majority share of InoBram, a Brazilian manufacturer of climate controllers for farms and food producers.
2023 - Munters strengthens its position in humidification with the acquisition of Tobo Component, a Swedish manufacturer and supplier of humidification components for Munters since 2005.
Munters acquires ZECO, an Indian manufacturer of air treatment solutions.
2024 - Munters signs an agreement to acquire Airprotech srl, a prominent Italian manufacturer of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) abatement systems.
Munters expands its data center cooling offering by acquiring Geoclima, bringing onboard innovative high-efficiency chillers and making it possible to deliver end-to-end heat rejection for chilled water infrastructure.
Munters enters a strategic collaboration with ZutaCore, combining Munters expertise in air and liquid cooling with ZutaCore's direct-on-chip liquid cooling technology to advance high-performance, energy-efficient solutions for data centers.