FAST Cooling by Fresh Air Systems Technologies

What FAST Cooling by Fresh Air Systems Technologies does

FAST Cooling, operating as Fresh Air Systems Technologies, Inc., is a privately held, family-owned manufacturer of personal cooling systems founded in 1982 by Chris Raffo and headquartered in Des Plaines, Illinois with additional production in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company builds ice-water-circulating cooling garments (over 50 feet of medical-grade capillary tubing distributed across four body zones), helmet air-delivery systems with filtered intake, and portable/wearable cooling units, plus accessories such as coolers, hoses, blowers, and timers. Its core technology combines 12V-powered pumps that push chilled water through tubing sewn into shirts and vests with separately filtered air streams for helmet ventilation; it also offers iceless miniature-refrigeration systems through an exclusive partnership with RINI Technologies and a co-developed SFI 3.3-certified fire-rated shirt with XGO Tactical.

The business sells primarily through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at fastcooling.com, supplemented by phone sales and a tiered dealer and warehouse-distributor network with minimum annual purchase commitments. Pricing spans $15 maintenance additives up to a $7,980 premium RINI PCS Complete System, with cooling shirts at $200–$690 and integrated systems at $481–$1,615. Customer segments are motorsports-led (NASCAR, Formula 1, NHRA, Monster Jam, rally, drag, powerboat, karting) but extend to medical professionals (surgeons, MS and anhidrosis patients), industrial/extreme-environment workers (nuclear, foundry, aerospace clean room), and entertainment (film/TV sets). The company is led by CEO Jill Swanson, who purchased the business in 2005 and oversees a three-generation family operation; no institutional funding, M&A, or restructuring events are disclosed.

Name

FAST Cooling by Fresh Air Systems Technologies

Legal name

Fresh Air Systems Technologies, Inc.

Website

https://fastcooling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FAST Cooling is a family-owned, US-based manufacturer founded in 1982 that designs and produces personal cooling garments, helmet air systems, and portable cooling units for motorsports, medical, and industrial customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Motorsport Personal Cooling Systems

NAICS

Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

High-Visibility, Rain & Thermal Riding Gear Retail (CRAMANAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Heat Exchangers & Thermal Transfer Equipment (IMAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Personal cooling systems
• Motorsport cooling apparel
• Helmet air cooling
• Cooling shirt systems
• Medical cooling products

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Plaines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (B2C & B2B): Direct sales of cooling garments, cooling systems, and accessories to individual consumers and racing teams/dealers through e-commerce and phone orders. One-time product purchases at fixed price points. Dealer and distributor accounts available with volume pricing tiers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FAST Cooling (Fresh Air Systems Technologies) manufactures and sells personal cooling systems built around ice water circulation through medical-grade capillary tubing sewn into cooling shirts and vests, paired with helmet air-cooling blowers, vehicle-mounted or portable coolers, hoses, and accessories. Its products are sold primarily to motorsport customers (professional sanctioning bodies and amateur racers), with secondary offerings for medical professionals, industrial/extreme-environment workers, and individuals who cannot regulate body temperature naturally.

Product overview

FAST Cooling (Fresh Air Systems Technologies) is a family-owned cooling technology company founded in 1982, specializing in personal cooling systems for motorsports, medical, and industrial applications. The product portfolio is organized into interconnected categories: (1) Cooling Garments including shirts and vests with integrated water tubing, (2) Cooling Systems including portable backpack/waistpack/mini-chest units and vehicle-mounted race systems, (3) Air Blowers for helmet ventilation in various configurations for dirt and pavement racing, (4) Coolers and heat exchangers, and (5) Accessories including hoses, connectors, mounts, and filters. The core technology involves pumping ice water through capillary tubing sewn into cooling garments, with systems powered by 12V batteries or vehicle power. Notable partnerships include RINI Technologies for iceless refrigeration-based cooling and XGO for fire-rated (SFI 3.3) tactical cooling shirts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RINI: A new personal cooling system technology partnered with RINI Technologies, featuring iceless cooling solutions.

Products and services

• Motorsport Cooling Shirts (White, Black, Blue, Yellow, Camo, Tie Dye, Cool AF variants) Four-zone cooling shirts with over 50 feet of medical-grade capillary tubing per shirt, designed for drivers and crew in race cars. Priced $200-$300; Cool AF variant uses 5oz moisture-wicking fabric without Spandex or Nylon.
• Zip Up FAST Cooling Shirt Versatile cooling shirt with four-zone tubing coverage and full-front zipper for easy wearing, priced at $345.
• SFI Long Sleeve FR Cooling Shirt (FAST Cooling + XGO Tactical) Fire-rated long-sleeve base layer with integrated FAST cooling channels, certified to SFI 3.3 FR standards and compatible with FAST and COOLSHIRT systems. Priced $335-$360.
• RINI Personal Cooling Shirt Personal cooling shirt compatible with RINI PCS systems, designed to mitigate heat stress and reduce dehydration risk. Priced at $690.
• Racer System Entry-level cooling system kit with water cooler in size/color options and varying hose lengths for race-car body cooling. Priced at $481.
• Rally System (2-Person) Two-person cooling system with Y-hose configuration for simultaneous cooling of two drivers using medical-grade tubing. Priced at $527.
• Complete Water Cooling System Full cooling package including water cooler, mounting tray, foam pad, strap, adjustable timer, insulated water hose, and FAST cooling shirt. Priced at $755.
• Air & Water System Pavement-racing cooling system providing helmet air and body cooling, including cooler, mounting tray, timer, air hose, and water hose components. Priced at $1,615.
• Helmet Cooling Dirt System (13QT) Desert cooling pack with 105 CFM motor, straight-through heat exchanger, and 8ft high-output air hose for dirt-racing helmet ventilation. Priced at $885.
• Helmet Cooling Pavement System (13QT) Cooling system with NACA duct pulling outside air through a 3-inch hose into a Pro Pavement Blower for asphalt-racing helmet ventilation. Priced at $955.
• Backpack Portable System Self-contained backpack cooling system with 3-quart ice bladder, 7.4V rechargeable battery, and mesh cooling vest for mobile use. Priced at $699.
• Waistpack Portable System Lightweight waist-mounted cooling system with 1.5-quart ice bladder and three-speed flow control for high-mobility applications. Priced at $499.
• Mini-Chest Portable System Portable ice-water cooling system with 6-quart chest, cooling vest, and 12V DC flow control for on-the-go temperature regulation. Priced at $599.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 feet of cooling tubing per shirt across 4 zones — more coverage than any competitor
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RINI TechnologiescoreTechnology or IntegrationRINI Technologies developed the PCS-Auto miniature refrigeration-based iceless cooling system. FAST Cooling offers the RINI PCS Complete System ($7,980) and RINI Personal Cooling Shirt ($690) as exclusive products. RINI's patented iceless technology uses miniature refrigeration to chill water continuously — described as the smallest, lightest, and most effective personal cooling solution. The partnership enables FAST to offer premium iceless cooling alongside its traditional ice-based systems.
• Lemons of LovecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAST Cooling has partnered with Lemons of Love, a 501(c)(3) cancer nonprofit, since 2014 through monetary and product donations. FAST Cooling's CEO Jill Swanson is a cancer survivor. The partnership includes a limited edition Lemons of Love Oak & Oscar watch (50 pieces at $2,100 each) with 100% of net proceeds donated. FAST also sells Lemons of Love donation options ($20–$100) and donates care packages.
• Oak & OscarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOak & Oscar is a Chicago-based independent watchmaker founded in 2015. Partnered with FAST Cooling CEO Jill Swanson to create the limited edition Lemons of Love, Oak & Oscar Olmsted 38 watch. Features a Sellita SW300 Swiss movement, Lemons of Love branding in black/yellow/white, 10 ATM water resistance, and comes with Horween leather strap and suede pouches. Only 50 pieces produced.
• XGO TacticalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAST Cooling collaborated with XGO Tactical to develop the XGO Tactical Fire Rated SFI Cooling Shirt — a long-sleeve flame-resistant base layer integrated with FAST cooling channels. The shirt meets SFI 3.3 FR standards for fire resistance and is designed for high-heat motorsport environments. Retails at $335–$360.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Polar Products: Polar Products designs and manufactures personal cooling and warming systems for medical, occupational, and sports applications. It overlaps with FAST in the medical and MS-patient cooling segments FAST explicitly serves, and competes for surgeon and industrial-worker cooling contracts.
• Safety Solutions Inc. Safety Solutions manufactures personal cooling systems and accessories for motorsport, industrial, and military customers. It is comparable to FAST as a direct peer offering ice-water circulating garments, coolers, and helmet air systems to a similar buyer base.
• Coolshirt Systems: Coolshirt Systems is the closest direct competitor to FAST Cooling, manufacturing water-circulating cooling shirts, portable coolers, and complete cooling systems for racing drivers. It competes head-to-head with FAST in NASCAR, F1, and amateur motorsport markets with a comparable product architecture.

Emerging players

• Glacier Tek: Glacier Tek produces phase-change and evaporative personal cooling vests for medical, industrial, and military markets. It is comparable to FAST as a focused emerging player in the broader personal cooling category, particularly in medical and occupational segments where FAST also competes.
• RINI Technologies: RINI Technologies developed the patented iceless miniature refrigeration PCS-Auto system that FAST distributes. RINI operates in the same personal cooling space with a higher-tech approach, making it both a strategic partner to FAST and a competing technology supplier in adjacent medical and tactical markets.

Broad incumbents

• Alpinestars: Alpinestars is a global motorsport and automotive safety apparel brand with cooling-integrated race suits and underwear. It competes with FAST for premium motorsport customers and brings much larger scale and registered brand IP to the same racing-cooling niche.
• OMP Racing: OMP Racing is a globally established motorsport safety and apparel brand offering driver cooling suits, racewear, and harnesses. It is comparable to FAST as a broader motorsport safety incumbent that competes in the same customer environments with overlapping cooling products as part of a wider portfolio.
• K1 Race Gear: K1 Race Gear is a motorsport safety apparel and equipment retailer/manufacturer offering driver suits, helmets, and accessories. It is comparable to FAST as a broader motorsport safety incumbent that competes for amateur and professional racer spend across cooling-adjacent product categories.
• Simpson Race Products: Simpson is a long-established motorsport safety equipment brand producing helmets, restraints, suits, and driver cooling accessories. It is comparable to FAST as a broad incumbent serving the same professional and amateur racing customers with overlapping cooling product lines.
• Sparco: Sparco is a major motorsport safety and apparel manufacturer producing racing suits, helmets, seats, and driver-cooling accessories. It overlaps with FAST at the high end of the racing cooling market and competes for the same professional team accounts across NASCAR, rally, and open-wheel racing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fresh-air-systems-technologies

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 FAST Cooling by Fresh Air Systems Technologies