What sterilAir does

sterilAir AG is a privately held Swiss manufacturer of UVC (Ultraviolet-C) disinfection systems for air, water, and surface applications, founded in 1939 and headquartered in Weinfelden, Switzerland, with an EU warehouse in Konstanz, Germany. The company designs and builds a modular product portfolio organized around three disinfection modalities: UVC air recirculation units (UVR-4K at 700 m³/h and compact UVR-XS at 270 m³/h, plus D-series ceiling/wall units), UVC process water systems (AQD-ST, AQT, EQ), and UVC surface disinfection modules (T2018 conveyor belt system, E-series modules ET/EC/EX). All systems share a proprietary CORE I intelligent control ballast for UVC emitter efficiency, and key products carry IP69K hygienic ratings and HACCP-compliant glass shatter protection validated to inactivate 90% of Aspergillus niger spores per single pass.

The company serves primarily the European food industry, with named customers across meat processing (Keller GmbH, Maurer Speck/Micarna SA, Kurt Heinrich Kemink GmbH, Sutter GmbH), dairy and cheese (Emmi Suisse AG, Fresh Food & Beverage Group AG, Landkäserei Reißler GmbH, Odermatt Fromagerie AG), convenience food, and bakery sectors, as well as OEM machine builders such as Handtmann (integration of EX modules into VF vacuum filler series) and KRONEN (co-developed UVC-Lock for packaging zone transitions). Revenue is generated through hardware sales of UVC systems, recurring replacement tube sales (every 12,000 operating hours), and technical consulting / hygiene concept services. The go-to-market is consultative and sales-led: specialist advisors provide site assessments, dose calculations, and tailored hygiene concepts, supplemented by OEM embedded channels, industry trade fairs (notably IFFA 2025), and a multi-language web presence. Chairman and Managing Director Martin Graupner leads the company, which is independently owned with no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment.

Name

sterilAir

Legal name

sterilAir AG

Website

https://sterilair.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

sterilAir AG is a privately held Swiss manufacturer, founded in 1939, of UVC disinfection systems for air, water, and surfaces, primarily serving the European food industry (meat, dairy, cheese, convenience) and OEM machine builders through consultative sales and modular hardware products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

UVC Disinfection Equipment

NAICS

Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413), Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing (334517)

SIC

Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564)

akta.pro primary industry

UV Germicidal Light (UV-C) & HVAC Disinfection Systems (HSAOAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sterilization Equipment & Systems (Autoclaves, Low-Temp, ETO, H2O2, UV) (HLAHANAA), Disinfection & Remedial Works (Chlorination, Thermal, Shock Treatments) (BPABAJAF)

Keywords

• UVC disinfection systems
• Air sterilization equipment
• Water disinfection systems
• Surface sterilization modules
• Food industry hygiene

Headquarters

HQ city

Weinfelden

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. UVC hardware systems: Sale of UVC disinfection equipment including air disinfection units (UVR-4K, UVR-XS, D-series, EXB), water disinfection systems (AQD-ST, AQT), and surface disinfection products (T2018, E-series modules). Equipment sales form the primary revenue stream.
2. Consulting and hygiene concept services: Technical consulting services including site assessments, hygiene concept development, calculations, and technical advice. Specialist advisors provide solution-oriented hygiene concepts individually tailored to customer requirements.
3. Original replacement parts: Supply of original replacement UVC tubes and components for ongoing maintenance. Tube replacement intervals typically every 12,000 operating hours.
4. OEM component supply: Supply of UVC modules and components to OEM partners for integration into their equipment, such as Handtmann vacuum fillers and KRONEN packaging systems.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

sterilAir AG manufactures UVC disinfection systems for air, water, and surface sterilization targeting the food industry (meat, dairy, cheese, bakery, convenience, beverages) and OEM equipment manufacturers. The product portfolio includes industrial air recirculation units, UVC process water disinfection systems, surface disinfection modules, and OEM-integrated UVC components, complemented by tailored hygiene consulting and technical support.

Product overview

sterilAir AG is a Swiss manufacturer specializing in UVC disinfection technology for air, water, and surface applications in the food industry. The product portfolio consists of three main categories: UVC water disinfection products (AQD-ST, AQT, EQ), UVC surface disinfection products and modules (T2018, ET, EC, UVC-Lock), and UVC air disinfection products (D series, ESD, EX, EXB, LSK, UVR-4K, UVR-XS). The E-series serves as a modular platform providing multiple UVC module variants (ET, EC, EX) that can be configured for different applications including evaporator disinfection, hygiene sluices, and air duct integration. The company operates an OEM business model, with Handtmann integrating EX modules into their VF vacuum filler series, and KRONEN co-developing the UVC-Lock disinfection lock. Products target food processing facilities including meat, dairy, cheese, bakery, and convenience sectors, addressing biofilm prevention, mold control, pathogen reduction, and extends product shelf life through chemical-free UVC sterilization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AQD-ST UVC process water disinfection system for treating recirculated water in food production environments, preventing microbiological contamination and Legionella growth without chemical side effects.
• AQT UVC immersion emitters designed for humidifiers, providing microbiological control in water systems used in food production.
• EQ UVC immersion system for cooling pools and cisterns, ensuring clean surfaces without biofilm formation.
• ET UVC surface emitters for lamella disinfection on evaporators and cooling coils, featuring stainless steel protective tubes that focus radiation on target surfaces.
• EC UVC module designed for disinfection in hygiene sluices, providing surface sterilization at zone transitions for food processing operations.
• T2018 UVC surface disinfection system for conveyor belts in meat and fresh produce processing. High-pressure-waterproof (IP69K), HACCP-compliant glass shatter protection, with UVC lamp replacement in under two minutes.
• D series UVC ceiling and wall devices for air disinfection in meat aging facilities, dry-aging rooms, and ripening chambers.
• ESD UVC installation kit for ventilation systems, enabling retrofit installation of UVC air disinfection in existing HVAC infrastructure.
• EX UVC module as a plug-in solution in air ducts, integrated by OEM partners like Handtmann into vacuum filler intake systems for reliable air disinfection during production.
• EXB UVC ceiling unit with protective cover for mold prevention and air disinfection. Plug-and-play installation, moisture-resistant stainless steel construction, suitable for rooms with existing air circulation.
• LSK UVC air disinfection unit designed for office environments and spaces requiring air sterilization.
• UVR-4K Industrial UVC air recirculation disinfection unit for rooms with low air exchange. Achieves 700 m³/h airflow with four UVC tubes, inactivating mold spores and bacteria. Validated at 90% single-pass disinfection efficiency against Aspergillus niger spores.
• UVR-XS Compact UVC air disinfection unit, 40% more compact than UVR-4K, designed for rooms with low ceilings, multiple levels, or complex layouts. Features CORE I intelligent control electronics, 270 m³/h airflow, and full UVC tube shielding per DIN 67506.
• UVC-Lock UVC disinfection lock developed jointly with KRONEN for reducing surface contamination at zone transitions. Enables 360-degree disinfection with extremely short contact times, without additives or residues, suitable for crates, tools, packaging materials, and secondary food packaging.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% Aspergillus niger spores inactivated per single pass through UVR units
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KRONENcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development partnership for UVC-Lock disinfection lock. KRONEN manufactures the UVC-Lock according to specific customer requirements. The UVC-Lock provides safe and sustainable surface disinfection at zone transitions using sterilAir UVC modules, with extremely short contact times and no additives or residues.
• HandtmanncoreTechnology or IntegrationHandtmann integrates sterilAir EX module series into the intake section of their proven VF vacuum filler series. sterilAir UVC technology ensures reliable air disinfection to eliminate airborne microorganisms during the production process, with the high airflow also improving ambient air quality in the production environment.
• Grütt-Air AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for WEGER ventilation products combined with sterilAir UVC solutions. Grütt-Air AG provides competent technical advice, precise calculations, and flexible response to customer requirements.
• TEQ360minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTEQ360 offers preventive methods for infection protection in workplaces across industrial, business, catering, and medical sectors. They partner with sterilAir to provide scientifically sound and technically high-quality UVC solutions to reduce sick days in companies.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Atlantic Ultraviolet Corporation: Manufactures UV-C water and air purification equipment, with established product lines for industrial and commercial applications. Comparable as a long-standing UVC equipment specialist competing in the same industrial air/water disinfection category.
• UltraViolet Devices (UVDI): Designs and manufactures UV-C disinfection products for air, water, and surface applications in healthcare, food processing, and commercial settings. Comparable for its air and surface UVC product portfolio targeting similar commercial and industrial hygiene use cases.
• Lumalier (formerly ClorDis): Manufactures UV-C upper-room and in-duct air disinfection systems for healthcare, commercial, and institutional environments. Comparable as a UVC air disinfection specialist, particularly relevant to sterilAir's D-series, UVR, and EX duct-mounted products.
• AquiSense Technologies: Specializes in UV-C LED disinfection systems for water, air, and surface applications across industrial, consumer, and life sciences markets. Directly comparable as a focused UV-C disinfection equipment manufacturer serving industrial and OEM customers.

Broad incumbents

• Signify (Philips UV-C lighting): Global lighting major with a dedicated UV-C disinfection business for air, surface, and water applications across commercial and consumer markets. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose upper-room air and chamber UV-C systems overlap with sterilAir's air disinfection portfolio.
• De Nora (UV Pure / WaterTech): Global water and process technology group with UV disinfection offerings including point-of-use and industrial systems. Comparable as a broader water-treatment incumbent with UV disinfection products that overlap sterilAir's water disinfection use cases.
• Xylem (Wedeco UV brand): Global water technology major offering UV disinfection systems under the Wedeco brand for municipal and industrial water treatment. Comparable as a larger incumbent in UV water disinfection, with overlapping process-water use cases like sterilAir's AQD-ST.
• Halma plc (UV disinfection segment): Diversified group of safety and environmental technology companies including UV-C disinfection specialists. Comparable as a broad-incumbent parent of UV-C product companies competing across water, air, and surface disinfection end markets.
• Trojan Technologies: Global provider of UV water treatment solutions for municipal, industrial, and commercial markets. Comparable as an established broad UV incumbent whose process-water systems compete with sterilAir's water disinfection products at the upper end of the scale.

Emerging players

• Xenon Corporation (pulsed UV sterilization): Provides pulsed-light sterilization systems for surface and packaging disinfection in food, beverage, and medical device industries. Adjacent competitor addressing the same food-industry hygiene budgets with an alternative non-chemical technology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sterilAir_AG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sterilair-ag
• Xx.com/sterilairag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about sterilAir