"Where people live, work and carry out research; where they relax and recuperate, the air has to be good! What nature offers in rich abundance should also be available indoors."

This quotation from the very first ROX catalogue still applies today.

1949

"ROX" founded in Breitestrasse, Cologne

By 1949, following World War II, the Federal Republic of Germany was in a state of reconstruction. Coal mines, steelworks, factories, department stores, administrative buildings and hospitals were being built and required modern technology.

The design engineer, inventor and founder of "ROX Lufttechnische Gerätebau GmbH" integrated all of the components required for air handling, such as fans, heat exchangers, dampers and filters, within a single casing. This new idea resulted in the development of the first ROX unit, and therefore the first air handling unit in Germany. It was a panel based unit, built in a small workshop in Cologne and installed at the modern offices of Zanders in Bergisch Gladbach. The low level of noise emissions, good accessibility to all integral components for servicing purposes, and the quality of design turned this unit into an asset with a long service life.

1950

ROX production site "Auf der Bindweide" in Steinebach

More and more orders were received, requiring the number of staff to be increased accordingly.  The fast growth and resulting rapid expansion of production made it necessary to relocate in 1950 to the site of a former colliery, "Auf der Bindweide", in the Westerwald region.

1953

Extension of the Gladbacherstrasse office building in Cologne

The company also needed to move into a larger office building in 1953 which was then expanded further. ROX Lufttechnischer Gerätebau GmbH kept on climbing the ladder of success. Between its foundation and its 10th anniversary, orders increased tenfold and the number of employees rose to 42.

The product range was expanded, with ROX units appearing in many different versions – panel based units, recess units, box units, floorstanding units, domestic units and full air conditioning units, initially with flow rates of up to around 20,000 m³/h. With average velocities of 0.7 and 2.0 m/s, noise levels and energy demand were low. It is interesting to note how technology, the economy and society have changed over the decades, as today the energy demand of air handling units is limited by standards and statutes.

1963

Relocation of the production facility to Weitefeld

The ROX brand grew and developed quickly. ROX manufactured and marketed their patented units with great success. These included the first RADIAIR induction unit developed in Germany, as well as the ROX vector air discharge for draft-free distribution of cold air from the ceiling. As early as the 1950s, ROX units of all kinds were installed not only in Germany, but also in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and Turkey, with sales acquired by ROX sales offices abroad.

1963 saw the relocation of the production facility to Weitefeld where it still flourishes today.

1965

Creation of the air handling laboratory

1965 saw the foundation of the first air handling laboratory by ROX. Further research into the principles of heating technology, acoustic engineering and interior airstream technology was made possible with the help of the company's exceptional engineers.

A process for determining the noise levels and sound attenuating properties of plant elements was published, as was a calculation process for balancing the pressure of air distribution ducts in induction plants. These scientific discoveries form the basis for the design of advanced units and their application in plant construction. By this route, the standardised series N central units with an output of up to 80,000 m³/h and 3000 Pa, induction units for valve and damper control, two-channel MIXAIR mixing units and the RADIAIR unit were redesigned.

1973

The first high hygiene units from ROX

1973 saw the introduction of important new developments in air handling technology with the first ROX high hygiene units and the development of unit silencers. Intensive discussions amongst experts in the 1970s on limits and acceptance of turbulent mixed airstreams in interiors led to the discovery of layered airstreams and source ventilation with laminar or low turbulence airstreams.

One response to these new challenges were the ROX OR laminar flow ceilings with extremely low levels of contamination.

The ROX HYD series of units, with their individually tailored and optimised properties concerning unit sizing and integral elements, became increasingly popular and were installed and optimised in diverse applications.

1996

Founding of Rox Lufttechnik GmbH, an employee-owned company

In 1996, "Rox Lufttechnische Gerätebau GmbH" became the employee-owned "ROX Lufttechnik GmbH". It continues the established customer-oriented philosophy that the unit, its application and system-specific troubleshooting are treated as a complete package.

2006

Takeover by the Rosenberg Group

Since 2006, ROX has been a member of the Rosenberg Group and continues to trade under the name "Rox Klimatechnik GmbH". Under the umbrella of the Rosenberg Group, many new avenues have opened up for the company.

Today, Rox-Klimatechnik GmbH covers every aspect of air handling and stands apart because of its extremely flexible design concept and vast experience in this industry. The company offers central air handling units, panel based units, rooftop centres, compact high hygiene units for air conditioning of operating rooms, units for explosion-proof applications and dehumidification plants. Between 1000 m³/h and 100,000 m³/h — every application has a suitable solution. That solution may feature an integral or external control panel, refrigeration system, heat pump and/or heat recovery system of different kinds, including cross and countercurrent heat exchangers, thermal wheels, and simple or highly efficient run-around coil systems.