User:ZachariasRR/Luwa

About Luwa
Luwa is a global air filtration company that provides air filtration solutions for textile, non-woven and other industries that have fibers and fibrous dust in them. Luwa Pneumafil is a manufacturer of Air Control Devices, Filtration Systems, Dust Pollution Equipment, Trim Removal Collection and Fiber Handling Equipment. Luwa and Pneumafil was founded by the brothers Hans C and Walter A Bechtler in 1935 in Zurich, Switzerland. Hans was an engineer with a masters degree in electrical engineering from MIT and Walter was a doctor in political science, they were both in their 20’s at the time.

Luwa is the oldest company that still works in the textile industry today. Luwa Pneumafil has subsidiaries in China, India, Singapore, Turkey and the United States and the company’s activities include design and engineering of single components and whole systems, as well as manufacturing, assembly, installation and after-sales services

When Hans and Walter founded Luwa in 1935, they decided on the name Luwa because they were manufacturing and installing automated heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems. The first part of the name “Lu” derived from the German word “Luft” which means air and the second part of the name “wa” derived from the German word Waerme which means heat. In 1941 Luwa patented special exhaust systems for spinning machines, for the Pneumafil systems, and launched the TAC (Total Air Control) philosophy which is still a philosophy that is used extensively to this day. The name Pneumafil derives from the French word “Pneuma” which means air and “Fil” which means thread.

Hans Bechtler had previously worked for Carrier, an American based air filtration company. When Luwa introduced the Pneumafil systems at a trade show in 1946, Carrier in England became acquainted and started selling their systems in England. Hans and Walter wanted to expand their industry to the large textile market in America and Hans reached out to his old colleague, Pete Harris. After receiving their first orders and understanding that their Pneumafil systems were sought after in the textile industry. Pneumafil was incorporated on April 24 1946 in Delaware. In about a month, Pneumafil held its first board meeting in a law office in New York City’s Rockefeller Center. Pete Harris soon after left Carrier to join Pneumafil and ran the company as executive vice president.

Luwa and Pneumafil is merged and the headquarters are in Charlotte, NC. After being a part for many years and working as separate entities, Nederman Holding AB merged the two subdivisions in 2018. Luwa Pneumafil is currently operating under the same roof on Chesapeake Drive with several other subdivisions of Nederman Holding AB including MikroPul and LCI.

Key Dates and Events
• 1935 - Luwa AG is founded

• 1941 - First license for spinning suction systems and patents for Pneumafil products and the start of today's TAC-philosophy (Total Air Control)

• 1969 - Sales and Project Engineering in Singapore

• 1974 - Luwa Engineering Pte Ltd, Singapore was incorporated

• 1993 - Founding of Luwa India Pvt. Ltd. In Bangalore

• 1993 - Fusion of Zellweger Uster AG and Luwa AG under the name Zellweger Luwa AG

• 1998 - Founding of Luwa Forward Air Engineering Ltd. China in Shanghai

• 2006 - Split-off of the international air engineering branch of Zellweger Luwa AG; Founding of today's Luwa Air Engineering AG

• 2012 - Founding of Luwa Havalandirma Teknikleri ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti. In Istanbul, Turkey

• 2014 - Founding of Luwa America Inc. In North Carolina

• 2018 - Acquired by Nederman, merging of Luwa and Nederman Pneumafil textile division.