FabricAir
FabricAir A/S is a Danish manufacturer and inventor of fabric air ducting systems in the HVAC/R sector.
The company designs and produces tailormade air dispersion and air distribution systems that are used in a wide range of applications across the globe.
FabricAir employees 140 people across 11 locations. The company is headquartered in Køge, Denmark. It has its manufacturing facility in Alytus, Lithuania and sales companies in United States, United Kingdom, Turkey, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and China. The company also has a substantial distributor network worldwide..[1]
History[edit]
Establishment[edit]
FabricAir emerged from a division inside the Electrolux Group, called IPS Dansk Presenning A/S, that manufactured tarpaulins. IPS Ventilation, the predecessor of FabricAir, grew out of IPS Dansk Presenning into a separate company that through the years became FabricAir as it is known today.
Invention of Fabric Air Ducting Technology[edit]
Modern fabric ducting was first invented and commercialized in Denmark in the early 1970’s as a collaboration between the Danish Meat Research Institute (DMRI) and IPS Dansk Presenning A/S – the tarpaulin manufacturer that later grew to be IPS Ventilation and eventually changed into FabricAir.
Earlier attempts at creating air dispersion solutions in fabric is seen across the globe, where entrepreneurial employees would use items such as duvet covers, pillowcases or coffee bean bags to cover the air inlets in order to dampen the drafts in cold workspaces. Those initiatives were never formalized, and the materials used were a breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria.
In 1973, IPS Dansk Presenning A/S (the predecessor of IPS Ventilation, which grew to become FabricAir) installed the first modern fabric duct in a slaughterhouse in Denmark. The solution was the result of a joint innovation project with the DMRI. The DMRI was a research and development foundation created by the Danish slaughterhouse community to further innovation within the local meat processing industry.
At the time, in 1973, one of the big issues in the Danish meat processing industry was a high number of employee sick days. This was caused by the high velocity drafts and freezing airflow inside the work area that were necessary to ensure product quality. The unhealthy work environment was causing colds and other deceases among the personnel group.
To address this issue, DMRI approached IPS Dansk Presenning A/S and tasked them with designing an air dispersion sock that could lessen the draft issues without becoming a breeding ground for bacteria. The fabric duct was born.
Fabric ducting, or duck socks as they are also known, does not cause condensation, which is a primary factor in microbial growth. The slaughterhouses couldn’t use conventional ducting, because of the shortcomings the technology represented in these cold meat processing environments, such as condensation, corrosion and general hygienic challenges such as; washabilty. The new fabric ducts were fully washable and would not corrode.
The new air dispersion technology turned out to be an extraordinary success. By using varying in the fabric surface, engineers could now control the airflow, and create even air dispersion with much better air distribution across the room. The air velocity was lowered, by distributing the cooled air along the entire length of the room. This minimized draft issues, without compromising product safety. The targeted airflows created in a more homogenous temperature across the meat processing facility despite the lower air velocity. The new technological solution resulted in improved product hygiene and a significantly higher employee comfort despite the freezing temperatures of the working areas in the cold rooms.
The project was a success and the number of sick days were significantly reduced due to the new fabric-based air dispersion technology of FabricAir (then known as IPS Dansk Presenning A/S).
Globalization[edit]
IPS Ventilation became a department on its own within the tarpaulin division of the Electrolux Group and began its international expansion. The technology was introduced on several new markets and by the mid 1980’s, fabric-based air dispersion solutions were also introduced in the United States. Until then the air sock technology had mainly been used for refrigeration purposes, but in the U.S. the market was primarily interested in using the new technology for HVAC purposes.
In 1997, IPS Ventilation established its first official subsidiary in the United States. In that same year, Electrolux Group sold the tarpaulin division, IPS Dansk Presenning A/S, incl. the fabric air dispersion department, IPS Ventilation (precursor of FabricAir), and the rest of Jonsereds to a capital foundation. It became the beginning of a new period in the company’s life, which ultimately led to FabricAir becoming its own company.
In 1998 Jonsereds, including the IPS Ventilation division, merged with Stavdal ASA from Norway. That company was introduced to the Norwegian stock exchange, but only a year later it was withdrawn, as the company was acquired by Veidekke (the largest Norwegian construction and civil engineering company).
26 years after the first fabric duct had been introduced, the department became an independent company under Veidekke, known as IPS ventilation A/S. The newly independent company continued its international expansion and in 2002 a subsidiary opened in the U.K.
The global demand for air socks increased steadily. By 2002 the company had outgrown their original Danish production facilities and a search for a future-proof solution was initiated. For this reason, FabricAir established manufacturing facility in Lithuania, Alytus, and in 2003 part of the production moved to a new local subsidiary, UAB FabricAir.
Brian Refsgaard, the current owner and CEO, acquired the company in 2005, when Veidekke decided to sell off. He changed the name of the company to FabricAir A/S.
The onset of the global financial crisis in 2008 turned out to be an advantage. In 2008, FabricAir GmbH in Germany and FabricAir Turkey A.Ş. were established. These were followed by the establishment of FabricAir AS in Norway in 2012. And in 2016, FabricAir (Qingdao) Co. Ltd. was established as a response to a vastly growing Chinese market. A year later FabricAir España S.L. joined the FabricAir group followed by FabricAir BV and FabricAir Sweden in 2018.
Innovation and Technology[edit]
The first fabric air duct prototype, which had been developed as a joint project between IPS Dansk Presenning A/S and the Danish Meat Research Institute (DMRI) in 1973, was a success. The new technology showed a high potential, so the innovative concept was thoroughly explored in the years following its introduction.
The technology advanced trough R&D efforts. In 1989, a new flow model was launched. It was called the NozzFlow™ and it was a cutting-edge new air dispersion solution, because it enabled a great degree of precision and accuracy in the airflow design. Conical plastic nozzles enabled precise directional throws, which allowed the engineers to direct heated air into the occupied zone in a controlled manner that resulted in better mixing with no unpleasant drafts.[2]
More new flow models and fabric types were introduced throughout the 1980's and 1990's. In 1993, the Trevira fabric series was introduced. A year later, PerfoFlow™ was added to the selection of surface flow models. SonicFlow™ and OriFlow™, which are both directional flow models, were added to the program in 1995. These new flow models all build on the principles of draft-free air distribution and high occupant comfort[3][4][5]
The introduction of MicroFlow™ made it possible to create a high air change without causing drafts, which provides a very high level of occupant comfort. The newcomer practically made fabric ducts maintenance-free, as long as the system is supplied with an appropriate pre-filter. Any particles, such as dust or mold, that can flow through the filter, will also flow through the laser cut micro-perforations. This prevented the particles from settling inside the duct.[6]
In 2006, the new fabrics, FabricAir® Combi and FabricAir® Glass 220, were introduced. FabricAir® Combi is a versatile fabric type that comes in permeable as well as non-permeable versions. Anti-microbial coating is an option with FabricAir® Combi, which makes it ideal for Cleanroom Class 3 applications. FabricAir® Glass 220 was a groundbreaking improvement; it is a non-combustible fabric made from fiberglass. It has a working temperature range from -60°C to +200°C. These two fabric lines are also Oeko-Tex 100 certified, which attests to the absence of harmful substances in the materials.[7]
In 2011, JetFlow™ was added to the collection. It offered the longest air throws of any flow model on the market, as the conical jets can accelerate the air that streams through the duct. This made it ideal in heavy industrial applications, where a high air change is required or in production halls with high ceiling where heated or isothermal air must be pushed downward to reach the occupied zone.
A new line of economical fabrics was introduced in 2013, called the FabricAir® Lite. It is a series of strong, non-permeable fabrics that offer anti-microbial and anti-static options.
Timeline[edit]
| FabricAir Historical Timeline | |
|---|---|
| 1973 | FabricAir (then IPS Dansk Presenning A/S, which was a part of Electrolux) launches the world’s first Fabric Air Dispersion System |
| 1989 | NozzFlow™ was introduced |
| 1993 | FabricAir® Trevira - permanent flame-retardant fabric line was introduced |
| 1994 | PerfoFlow™ - laser perforated surface flow model was introduced |
| 1995 | FabricAir was certified as ISO 9001 |
| 1995 | OriFlow™ - Directional flow model was introduced |
| 1995 | SonicFlow™ - flow model that offers directional throws without causing drafts was introduced |
| 1997 | First official FabricAir subsidiary was established in the United States of America |
| 1999 | IPS Ventilation A/S (a division of IPS Dansk Presenning A/S) became an independent company |
| 2000 | FabricAir® Poly - Non-permeable fabric line was introduced |
| 2002 | FabricAir Ltd. The first FabricAir subsidiary in United Kingdom was established |
| 2003 | UAB FabricAir was established, production moved to Lithuania |
| 2005 | IPS Ventilation A/S was acquired by Brian Refsgaard and changed its name to FabricAir A/S |
| 2006 | FabricAir® Combi – Most versatile fabric line was introduced |
| 2006 | FabricAir® Glass 220 – Non-combustible fabric line was introduced |
| 2007 | FabricAir GmbH - FabricAir subsidiary in Germany was established |
| 2008 | FabricAir Turkey A.Ş. - FabricAir subsidiary in Turkey was established |
| 2009 | All-in-One suspension system that allows the dispersion system to stay open when the air is turned off was introduced |
| 2010 | MicroFlow™ flow model that makes high air change possible without drafts was introduced |
| 2011 | JetFlow™ flow model that offers the longest throws of any flow model on the market was introduced |
| 2012 | FabricAir AS - FabricAir subsidiary in Norway was established |
| 2013 | FabricAir Lite® non-permeable economic fabric line was introduced |
| 2016 | FabricAir (Qingdao) Co. Ltd. - FabricAir subsidiary in China was established |
| 2017 | FabricAir España S.L. - FabricAir subsidiary in Spain was established |
| 2018 | FabricAir BV - FabricAir subsidiary in the Netherlands was established |
| 2018 | FabricAir Sweden - FabricAir subsidiary in Sweden was established |
References[edit]
- ↑ "About FabricAir". FabricAir. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- ↑ "NozzFlow™". FabricAir. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- ↑ "SonicFlow™". FabricAir. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- ↑ "OriFlow™". FabricAir. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- ↑ "PerfoFlow™". FabricAir. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- ↑ "MicroFlow™". FabricAir. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- ↑ "Glass 220". FabricAir. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
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