1920
1921
Bill Reed founds Reed Air Filter Company and manufactures his commercial air filter in Louisville, KY, The Reed Air Filter.
1924
Akira Yamada founds Osaka Kinzoku Kogyosho Limited Partnership, the company that would later become Daikin in Osaka, Japan. The company begins production of aircraft radiator tubes and other products.
1929
Reed Air Filter Company merges with seven leading air filter manufacturers to form American Air Filter Company, Inc. (AAF).
1930
1932
AAF introduces the Type D RotoClone, a revolutionary breakthrough in dust control.
1935
Daikin succeeds in fluorocarbon synthesis, begins mass production in 1942.
1936
AAF introduces the first high-efficiency, box‐style filter.
1940
1941-1942
AAF expands production in Louisville, KY, by opening two more plants.
1950
1950s
AAF expands into Canada and Europe.
1950
AAF introduces fiberglass replacement filters to the residential market.
1950
Flanders Filters founded by A.R. Allan, Jr. supplies filters to the Atomic Energy Commission.
1951
Daikin begins production of packaged air conditioners.
1953
AAF introduces Roll‐O‐Mat®, the first automatic self‐renewable media filter.
1954
First reverse-jet dry fabric dust collector introduced.
1960
1961
AAF introduces DriPak®, the first bag‐style filter.
1963
AAF introduces VariCel®, the first modern high‐efficiency box‐style filter.
1964
AAF introduces the AstroCel® HEPA filter.
1964
Flanders becomes the first filtration company to also make their own HEPA media, leading to the first separator-less HEPA filter in 1968.
1965
AAF’s first gas turbine filtration installation.
1966-1968
AAF opens plants and begins manufacturing filters in Europe, Asian headquarters established later in 1970.
1968
Flanders creates first separator-less HEPA filter.
1969
NASA equips the Apollo 11 Lunar Module with AAF-supplied filters to prevent contamination of the moon with particles brought from earth. In present day, AAF provides HEPA filters for the International Space Station.
1969
Flanders develops the first fluid seal for HEPA filters, later developing the first silicone-based seal in 1986.
1970
1970
AmerKleen line of diesel engine intake filters and housings developed.
1978
AAF introduces first V‐Bank HEPA filter.
1978
Flanders makes the first ULPA filter.
1979
Daikin develops Japan’s first Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) system.
1980
1982
Daikin develops Japan’s first Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) system.
1986
Flanders creates BLU-JEL, the first silicone-based HEPA fluid seal.
1988
AAF pioneers HEPA technology in gas turbines.
1989
AAF introduces VariCel® II, the first high‐efficiency mini‐pleat 4-inch-deep filter.
1990
1991
Daikin establishes Daikin America, Inc. in Orangeburg, NY.
1993
Flanders supplies HEPA filters to the International Space Station.
1996
Flanders Filters expands into the retail market.
1997
First modular expandable baghouse.
1999
AAF begins development of PTFE filters with Daikin Industries.
2000
2000
AAF introduces PerfectPleat®, the first self‐supported pleated filter.
2002
AAF expands production in China.
2005
Expanded Gas-Phase product line.
2006
AAF becomes member of Daikin Group.
2009
AAF introduces MEGAcel® I, first HEPA filter with ePTFE filtration technology.
2010
2013
AAF introduces MEGApleat® filter.
2014
AAF introduces VariCel® 2+ filter with Impress® Technology.
2015
AAF acquires and opens a network of service operations and warehouses across the US.
2016
AAF merges with Flanders to form AAF Flanders in the US.
2016-2020
AAF introduces software and technology packages such as TCO Diagnostic® , Sensor360®, and VisionAir™ Clean.
2016
AAF opens Clean Air Innovation & Research Center in Jeffersonville, IN.
2016
AAF introduces REDClean Media®, the advanced filtration technology product range that optimizes dust collector’s performance.
2017
AAF introduces N-hance® the world’s first E12 high velocity filter for gas turbines offshore.
2019
AAF expands its dust collection portfolio by launching new Plug&Play filtration units to meet the needs of different key industrial markets.
2020
2020
AAF develops study at CAC that demonstrates AAF filters are effective against coronavirus surrogate virus.
