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IQAir: A 40-Year Pursuit of Air Cleaning Excellence

In 1963, Manfred and his brother Klaus introduced a simple filter system for residential users in Germany. Their simple system consisted of a filter pad that attached with small magnets to the air outlet of residential coal ovens. As cold air rose through the oven and heated up, it passed through the filter where the dust became trapped. It was the first air purifier to find its way into household usage. The product was initially sold on the premise that it helped to 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. Over time, numerous users reported that the filter appeared to relieve their allergy and asthma symptoms.

Klaus, a mechanical engineer by training, continued through the 60s 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 passed away in 1981. Klaus, while looking for a suitable location to grow IQAir, relocated the company to Switzerland. From Switzerland international expansion began into the rest of Europe and the United States.

Klaus' sons Frank and Jens joined the family industry, and they found a large discrepancy between consumer room air purifiers and large commercial air cleaning systems. While the commercial systems were large and expensive, they were also very effective. The smaller consumer room air purifiers, on the other hand, turned out to be ineffectual. The decision was made in 1994 to develop a new kind of air cleaning device. It would take Frank and a team of Swiss and German engineers four years of intensive research and development to build the world's most effective line of compact air purifiers.

In the spring of 1998, the first IQAir air purification system rolled of the new production line of the Swiss factory. Initially only available in Europe, the HealthPro Plus received its first major recognition in September of 1998. Europe's leading product testing organization, Stiftung Warentest, found the HealthPro Plus to outperform all its competitors in one of the most comprehensive air purifier tests ever devised.

In 2000, IQAir air purifiers finally became available to the United States. They become an instant success with allergy and asthma sufferers. In 2001, IQAir expanded into Asia.

In 2002, IQAir became the first and only room air cleaner to receive an H12/13 certification for its HyperHEPA filters, normally only available in multi-million dollar cleanroom filtration systems. In February of 2003, newspapers reported the rapid spread of a terrifying disease. It was labeled as severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS, a highly contagious condition caused by a new corona virus for which there was no specific antiviral treatment. The Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HKHA) initiated rigorous testing to evaluate the performance and suitability of room air cleaning systems for this virus. Their tests quickly verified that most systems fell short of removing the virus. After weeks of testing and the installation of several trial systems, the HKHA chose IQAir air purifiers as the best room air cleaning solution for hospital rooms with suspected SARS patients. 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 an educational partner to advance public education on issues of indoor air quality. One of the first educational campaigns addressed the problem of ozone-producing room air purifiers. Over the course of 2004, a number of important national product review organizations published tests and reviews recognizing the superior air cleaning of IQAir room air purifiers. IQAir's air cleaners received top ratings from Consumers Digest Magazine, Reviewboard Magazine, Allergy Buyers' Club, and Consumer Search. In the Summer 2004, IQAir was approached by the producers of ABC's award-winning TV show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. They wanted IQAir to help create America's healthiest home for a family with a 6-year old girl that received a heart transplant. The project made TV history, and was subsequently honored by the American Lung Association. It set the foundation for many more episodes in which IQAir provided "extreme" air purification to families with serious medical issues.

Today, IQAir's founder, Klaus Hammes, has retired, but remains an advisor to the family company that is led by his two sons, Frank and Jens. Frank splits his time between the Swiss factory where he oversees IQAir's research and development and California, where he coordinates IQAir's marketing with the IQAir North America office. Jens Hammes continues to lead IQAir's sales effort in Europe and Asia.

What Makes IQAir Air Cleaners the Best

Designed by German and Swiss engineers, the sole IQAir manufacturing plant is located in Switzerland. Each air purifier is individually tested and comes with a hand signed Certificate of Performance. In addition to portable room air purifiers, IQAir also has larger whole-home units and commercial sized purifiers available.

In terms of filtration technology, the IQAir HealthPro series features HyperHEPA filtration technology for advanced airborne particulate removal, and this technology has been tested and certified to remove fine particles down to 0.003 microns in size with a guaranteed minimum efficiency of over 99.%. This 100 times smaller than what is achieved with ordinary air filtration technology and up to 10 times smaller than a virus.

In addition to being able to remove particles such as dust, dander, and other allergens, select IQAir models such as the MultiGas GC are highly efficient at removing molecular pollutants such as VOCs, chemicals, gases, and unpleasant odors.

What's Inside an IQAir Air Purifier?

Top Ten Reasons to Choose an IQAir Air Purifier

1. Certified Performance - IQAir individually tests each of their air purifiers to ensure its performance meets their strict specifications. These test results are detailed in a Certificate of Performance that is included with each IQAir air purifier shipped.

2. Advanced Controls - Each IQAir air purifier, including the HealthPro, features a programmable system with six fan speeds, as well as an automatic setting with a day/night timer.

3. Ultra-Quiet Design - IQAir air purifiers have a "fan-in-center" design which places the fan motor in between sound attenuating filters. This doubled-walled housing ensures reduced sound transmission.

4. Safe Purification Methods - Unlike many other competitors on the market, IQAir air purifiers only use technologies which do not produce byproducts such as chemicals, ozone, or charged particles. IQAir air purifiers are 100% ozone-free.

5. Sleek Design - IQAir air cleaners follow a European design tradition, and each unit can adapt beautifully to any room in your home.

6. Rated by Top Reviewers - IQAir has received more number one product reviews than other any air purifier manufacturer, with rating submitted by publications such as Wired Magazine (Best Air Purifier Award), Consumer Guide (Best Buy), and Reviewboard Magazine (Product of the Year).

7. Trusted by Hospitals and Medical Facilities Worldwide - Hospitals and medical facilities all over the globe trust IQAir air purifiers to protect patients and staff from infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, MRSA, and SARs.

8. Swiss Quality - IQAir products are made in Switzerland and utilize the best Swiss and German components in their air purifiers.

9. Low-Maintenance - Products such as ionic air cleaners often need to be cleaned periodically to ensure proper removal of contaminants. As well, these types of air purifiers often become defective. IQAir, on the other hand, use only air cleaning technologies which are user-friendly and low-maintenance.

10. Warranty - IQAir offers a five year warranty for its products.

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