FRIEDRICH
Since 1883, Friedrich has been in the business of making people more comfortable.
Comfort, function and style since 1883
Today the company is known for manufacturing commercial-quality room cooling/heating solutions. But back in 1883, Friedrich’s founders were craftsmen, designing furniture from the horns of longhorn cattle. The horns’ curves formed comfortable chairs and settees that gained wide popularity as Texas home décor. The San Antonio Museum of Art and the historic Buckhorn Saloon and Museum house extensive collections of Friedrich longhorn furniture. The saloon, run by Ed Friedrich’s brother, Albert, was frequented in its heyday by such notables as Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders.
Forerunner of the refrigerator
Ed Friedrich produced other handcrafted products such as store fixtures, wood billiard tables and fine, carved cabinetry. But Ed was more than a mere craftsman—he was an innovator, inventor and visionary. His fascination with the idea of preserving food in the Texas heat led to his invention of the first, rather primitive, refrigerator—a true stroke of genius, considering the obstacles and limitations he faced.
In this early, non-electric refrigerator, Ed used ice to keep food cool—a great idea until the temperatures in Texas spiked to over 100 degrees. His next version was a bunker-type refrigerator that concealed the ice blocks, followed by salt brine freezer cases that provided lower cooling temperatures.
Despite these advances, it was clear that some type of mechanical refrigeration was needed. Ed got to work and soon built the forerunner of the modern electrical refrigerator. Ed’s invention sparked decades of steady growth and development for the company.
Friedrich keeps growing
By 1950 Friedrich had become one of the world’s largest manufacturers of commercial refrigeration equipment. To capitalize on its well-deserved reputation as an industry leader, the company expanded into room air conditioners. The first 500 floating air window units came off the assembly line in 1952 and sales began to climb.
Friedrich’s most recognized products are room air conditioners (for window or thru-the-wall installations), known for their quality and dependability. Quite a few of these original units are still in operation, some decades later!
In 2006, Friedrich began production at a new, state-of-the art manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico, making it the sole remaining North American manufacturer of room air conditioners. In late 2010, after almost 40 years at 4200 Pan Am Expressway in San Antonio, Texas, Friedrich Air Conditioning moved its headquarters into 22,000 square feet of light-filled space at the Union Square II Building at 10001 Reunion Place.
New products showcase innovation, energy conservation
That year, Friedrich introduced Kühl, a new line of technologically advanced, commercial-grade room air conditioners. Kühl established a new category standard, with innovations in control, customization, quality, efficiency and design, considered to be one of the best commercial hvac systems. Both commercial and residential customers have applauded everything about Kühl, from its ground-breaking engineering to its interchangeable colored front panels.
In 2011, Friedrich introduced the re-engineered and redesigned PTAC (packaged terminal air conditioner). PTAC delivers quieter performance with improved air distribution. It is ideal for lodging (hotels and motels), dorms, senior care, military housing, residential conversions, additions and out-buildings like garages, workshops and potting sheds.
Many Friedrich lines have energy-saving features like programmable thermostats and timers, and energy-efficient settings that can reduce costs. In addition to its own efforts at energy conservation, Friedrich is a proud partner of ENERGY STAR®, one of the world’s leading programs for promoting energy-efficiency and sustainability.
See the full line of Friedrich products
Friedrich is committed to helping customers find the right cooling solution for virtually any need. Our expansive product line includes a range of options for the residential and commercial markets, including room air conditioners, thru-the-wall units, ductless split systems, packaged terminal air conditioners, portables, and dehumidifiers. And for commercial applications we offer specialty models for hazardous locations and single package vertical units for multi-room properties. We invite you to explore the pages of Friedrich.com to see what solutions might work best for YOU.