What HOWATHERM does

HOWATHERM Klimatechnik GmbH is a German manufacturer of custom-built air-handling units (RLT central units) and energy-efficient ventilation components, founded in 1969 in Brücken, Rhineland-Palatinate, and operating as a subsidiary of the Sweden-based Swegon Group since January 2025. The company designs, develops, and manufactures made-to-order HVAC systems with high in-house production depth across approximately 15,000 m² of manufacturing space, employing roughly 170 staff and delivering 670 units worldwide in 2023. Its headquarters in Brücken houses R&D, MSR (measurement, control, regulation) development, software engineering, and full system manufacturing; a Luxembourg sales subsidiary (HOWATHERM Climatisation S.à.r.l., founded 2009) covers Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France.

HOWATHERM's product portfolio centers on high-performance heat recovery and proprietary HVAC subsystems, including the patented HPWRG Kreislaufverbund system (up to 80% transmission efficiency with >99% thermodynamic counterflow share), the patented System ETA free-running-impeller fan system (in use since 1989), System EcoFin+ (structured fin heat exchanger with 27% higher specific output and 45% lower pressure losses), System HYDROplus (indirect evaporative cooling with up to 160% humidity efficiency), System CrossXflow (data-center free cooling without mechanical refrigeration, achieving 20°C supply air at 32°C ambient), System TwinXchange (switching regenerator with up to 90% heat recovery), and the modular System 40/40TX housing platform (5,000+ installations). Supporting modules cover hygiene (System HYGIENE), optimized drives (System ETA), acoustic silencing (Akustik-Unit with Active Noise Control), smoke extraction, ATEX-certified explosion protection (first German manufacturer certified under ATEX Directive 94/9/EG), and the HOWAmonitor monitoring/diagnostic platform with BACnet and Modbus-RTU integration. Customers span healthcare and pharmaceutical facilities, data centers, swimming pools and spas, industrial plants (including hazardous atmospheres), educational institutions, hotels, museums, and rail infrastructure.

The business model is project-based custom engineering with no public price list or e-commerce channel. Revenue is generated exclusively from hardware sales of bespoke equipment, with pricing determined per project based on specifications and configuration. Distribution is direct: regional field representatives cover named German territories (Baden-Württemberg, NRW, Bavaria/Switzerland, BeNeLux/France/Saarland, North, Berlin, East, Luxembourg), supported by an inside sales/engineering team (Innendienst) that prepares technical proposals and coordinates projects from inquiry to commissioning, plus the Luxembourg subsidiary for BeNeLux and France. The company invests heavily in thought leadership through the HOWATALK knowledge podcast, the Technikwissen webinar series (annual 2021–2023), 51 downloadable technical publications, three public-awareness campaigns (Lebensmittel Luft, Mindestfeuchte 40%, Ventilatortausch), and leadership positions across FGK (Chairman), EVIA, VDI, and DIN committees.

Name

HOWATHERM

Legal name

HOWATHERM Klimatechnik GmbH

Website

https://howatherm.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

HOWATHERM Klimatechnik GmbH manufactures custom-built, energy-efficient air-handling units and proprietary high-performance heat recovery systems in Germany, serving healthcare, data center, pharmaceutical, industrial, and commercial building customers through direct project-based sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial HVAC Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (3334), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564)

akta.pro primary industry

Fans, Blowers & Ventilation Units (Supply/Exhaust/Inline) (IMADANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

HVAC Controls & Optimization (Smart Thermostats, VAV, Chillers/Boilers Controls) (BPABAGAB), HVAC & Industrial Ventilation (Chillers, AHUs, Exhaust, Filtration) (EUAEAFAE), Humidifier & Dehumidifier Installation & Service (HSAOAIAJ)

Keywords

• Industrial HVAC systems
• Heat recovery ventilation
• Air handling units
• Custom RLT equipment
• Energy efficient climate technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Brücken

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. HVAC Equipment and Components Sales: HOWATHERM designs, develops, and manufactures custom-built room air conditioning (RLT) central units and components exclusively made-to-order ('maßgeschneiderte Systeme') according to customer specifications. The company operates with high production depth on approximately 15,000 m² of manufacturing space, producing systems including heat recovery units, ventilation units, control systems, acoustic units, and specialized equipment for hygiene, swimming pools, data centers, and industrial applications. Revenue is generated through direct project sales to engineering firms, plant builders, and end customers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

HOWATHERM designs, develops, and manufactures custom-built room air conditioning (RLT) central units and components made-to-order according to customer specifications. The portfolio spans energy-efficient ventilation systems, high-performance heat recovery units, hygienic AHUs for healthcare, ATEX-certified explosion-proof units, swimming pool dehumidification systems, data center free-cooling solutions, and supporting monitoring software (HOWAmonitor). Production occurs at the Brücken headquarters on approximately 15,000 m² with high in-house manufacturing depth.

Product overview

HOWATHERM offers a comprehensive portfolio of custom-engineered air-handling units (AHUs) and components for energy-efficient ventilation and air-conditioning. The core product lines include: (1) RLT-Geräte-Gehäusekonstruktion (AHU Housing Construction) featuring System 40/40TX as the foundational modular housing platform; (2) Hochleistungs-Wärmerückgewinnung (High-Performance Heat Recovery) encompassing System HPWRG, System CrossXflow, System TwinPlate, System TwinXPlate, System TwinXchange, System EasyPlate, and System EcoFin+; (3) Raumlüftung (Room Ventilation) with System CrossXchange; (4) Specialty products including System HYGIENE, System ETA (optimized drives), Akustik-Unit, System TwinBox, smoke extraction support, and explosion protection; (5) Mess-, Steuer-, Regelungstechnik (MSR) featuring HOWAmonitor monitoring software; and (6) Engineering tools including HCAD sizing program, configurator, siphon calculator, and heat exchanger calculator. The products are designed for applications in comfort, hygiene, industry, swimming pools, data centers, and educational facilities. HOWATHERM emphasizes their own development and production, high manufacturing depth, and integration of renewable energies and waste heat recovery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HOWAmonitor: Monitoring unit with data acquisition, visualization software and diagnostic tool for HOWATHERM products
• EcoFin+
• EasyPlate
• HYDROplus
• TwinBox

Products and services

• System 40 / 40TX
• System HPWRG
• System CrossXflow
• System TwinPlate
• System TwinXPlate
• System TwinXchange
• System EasyPlate
• System HYGIENE
• System CrossXchange
• System EcoFin+
• System HYDROplus
• HOWAmonitor
• System ETA
• Akustik-Unit
• System TwinBox
• Entrauchungsunterstützung (Smoke Extraction Support)
• Explosionsschutz (Explosion Protection) with System 40 / 40TX

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80% heat transmission efficiency in HPWRG systems with thermodynamic counterflow share >99%
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers32 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship (parent company), core and minor.

• Swegon Groupflagship (parent company)Others · 1 January 2025HOWATHERM became a subsidiary of the Sweden-based Swegon Group in January 2025. This marked the transition from a family-owned company (founded 1969) to a subsidiary of an international HVAC group. The acquisition provides HOWATHERM with the resources and international network of a larger group while maintaining its engineering-driven identity.
• Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld (Hochschule Trier)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld, a campus of Hochschule Trier with over 2,500 students in environmental technology. CEO Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christoph Kaup has been teaching 'Energy Efficiency and Heat Recovery' since 2014. HOWATHERM engineers B.Eng. Boris Wollscheid and Prof. Kaup teach energy-efficient room air conditioning in bachelor's and master's programs. HOWATHERM co-develops innovative heat recovery systems with direct injection of renewable energies in research projects. HOWATHERM also supports dual bachelor's programs in production technology.
• HOWATHERM Climatisation S.à.r.l.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales subsidiary founded in 2009, headquartered in Luxembourg, serving Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France markets. HOWATHERM's distribution arm for the BeNeLux and French-speaking markets, providing engineering consultation and sales of innovative, energy-efficient air conditioning products.
• Herstellerverband Raumlufttechnische Geräte e.V. (and indirectly European Ventilation Industry Association – EVIA)coreOthersHOWATHERM is a member of the German HVAC Manufacturers Association, which is a member of the European Ventilation Industry Association (EVIA). This membership provides access to European regulatory developments, standardization participation, and industry representation.
• Fachverband Gebäude-Klima e.V. (FGK)coreOthersHOWATHERM CEO Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christoph Kaup serves as Vorstandsvorsitzender (Chairman of the Board) of the FGK (Building Climate Association), the leading industry association for German HVAC technology with a 50+ year history. FGK represents member interests toward policymakers, standardization bodies, and the scientific community, and is an important player for the energy transition.
• TÜV SÜDcoreTechnology or IntegrationTÜV SÜD conducts extensive product testing and certification for HOWATHERM, including CE conformity testing, ATEX explosion protection certification, housing construction testing per DIN EN 1886, energy efficiency certification per RLT-Richtlinie 01, and fan performance testing. HOWATHERM was the first German manufacturer to receive ATEX EC conformity under EU Directive 94/9/EG through TÜV SÜD.
• DEKRAcoreTechnology or IntegrationDEKRA conducts hygiene verification (Hygienenachweis) and conformity testing for HOWATHERM according to VDI 3803 Part 1 and 5, DIN 1946 Part 4, VDI 6022, DIN EN 13053, and DIN EN 1886. DEKRA also validated the performance of System HYDROplus and conducted smoke extraction support testing for the System 40/40TX housing construction.
• Bureau VeritascoreTechnology or IntegrationBureau Veritas certifies HOWATHERM's conformity under ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU for use of equipment in explosive atmospheres (certificate number EPS 16 ATEX 2 061 X). HOWATHERM was the first manufacturer in Germany to receive this certification, renewed by Bureau Veritas Nürnberg in October 2016 and Türkheim in February 2026.
• Lebensmittel Luft Kampagne (Healthy Indoor Air Campaign)minorOthersHOWATHERM supports the 'Lebensmittel Luft' (Healthy Indoor Air) campaign, which focuses on healthy indoor air, infection risk reduction, dry air and respiratory diseases, and ways to reduce infection risk in buildings. The campaign includes supporters from science, politics, associations, and companies.
• Mindestfeuchte 40% KampagneminorOthersHOWATHERM supports the 'Minimum Humidity 40%' campaign which advocates for maintaining minimum indoor humidity levels as a key factor for health and well-being in indoor environments. HOWATHERM contributes technical solutions for improving indoor climate in non-residential buildings.
• Ventilatortausch KampagneminorOthersHOWATHERM supports the 'Fan Replacement' campaign which aims at energy savings, improving building climate, and shortening amortization periods. The campaign promotes technical consultation services and funding programs for optimizing existing HVAC systems.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Menerga: German custom-engineered AHU specialist focused on energy-efficient ventilation and heat recovery for commercial, healthcare, and industrial projects. Closest direct comparable by size, geography, and bespoke made-to-order model.
• Stulz: Hamburg-based specialist in precision air conditioning and data-center cooling with energy-efficient free-cooling solutions. Direct overlap with HOWATHERM's CrossXflow data-center proposition.
• Kampmann: German mid-sized HVAC manufacturer of custom air-handling units, heat-recovery systems, and radiant heating/cooling for commercial and healthcare buildings. Comparable in custom-engineering approach and DACH customer base.
• LTG (Lufttechnische Geräte): German manufacturer of air-handling units, fans, and heat-recovery systems for industrial and commercial applications. Highly comparable product portfolio and German mid-market positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Swegon Group: Sweden-based parent company of HOWATHERM since January 2025. Directly comparable as a European HVAC group with overlapping indoor climate, ventilation, and heat-recovery product lines — and now HOWATHERM's strategic owner.
• Systemair: Nordic-listed ventilation and indoor climate group with broad AHU, fan, and heat-recovery portfolio. Comparable in heat-recovery expertise and European footprint, though more standardized and larger-scale than HOWATHERM.
• Viessmann Climate Solutions: German-headquartered HVAC, heat-pump, and ventilation portfolio. Overlaps with HOWATHERM in commercial ventilation and integrated building climate, but at much larger scale and broader technology base.
• FläktGroup: Major European HVAC manufacturer of AHUs, fans, and air-quality solutions. Comparable in heat-recovery technology and project-based sales but at substantially larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Trox: Germany-based global leader in ventilation and air-handling components and systems. Overlaps with HOWATHERM in high-performance heat recovery, fan systems, and AHUs, but at significantly larger scale and broader product breadth.
• Wolf (Bosch Heating): German HVAC brand now part of Bosch, offering heating, ventilation, and air-handling systems for commercial buildings. Comparable customer base in DACH but a much larger and more standardized portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries1 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 HOWATHERM