Condair (Nortec)

Condair traces its roots to 1948, when Defensor AG was founded in Zurich, Switzerland, around a patented aerosol atomizer. The Condair name itself was created by engineer Hans Badertscher, and the company that would become Condair AG grew through mergers with Plascon and Defensor before consolidating under the Condair Group name. Nortec, a humidification manufacturer founded in 1974 in Ottawa, Canada, became part of the same corporate family through Walter Meier Holding and was fully folded into the Condair Group in 2014. Today Condair operates as a Swiss headquartered manufacturer with production sites across Europe, North America, and China.

Product Lines

SupplyHouse carries Condair and Nortec humidification equipment for commercial and light industrial buildings, including steam humidifiers, evaporative humidifiers, and atomizing humidifiers along with the control packages and accessories that support them. The combined product range covers humidity control for offices, healthcare facilities, data centers, and industrial spaces where moisture levels affect equipment performance or occupant comfort.

Why Contractors Specify Condair (Nortec)

Mechanical contractors specify Condair and Nortec equipment on jobs where precise humidity control matters, such as server rooms, museums, print shops, and hospitals, because the brand has built its business specifically around humidification, dehumidification, and evaporative cooling rather than treating it as a side category. Decades of manufacturing focus have produced a range of humidifier types suited to different water conditions and building sizes, giving contractors options to match a system to a specific facility rather than forcing one humidifier type onto every job.

How to Choose Condair (Nortec) Products

Choosing between steam, evaporative, and atomizing humidifier types starts with the building's water quality, energy costs for the chosen heat source, and the required humidity range for the space. Steam humidifiers tend to suit applications needing tight humidity control regardless of incoming air temperature, evaporative units are often selected for lower energy use, and atomizing systems can cover large open areas efficiently. Contractors should also size equipment to the actual moisture load of the space, factoring in building envelope, occupancy, and ventilation rates, rather than defaulting to a single humidifier size across different rooms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nortec a separate brand from Condair?

Nortec was founded independently in 1974 in Ottawa, Canada and became part of the same corporate family as Condair through a series of acquisitions, fully joining the Condair Group in 2014.

How long has Condair been manufacturing humidification equipment?

The company's history dates back to 1948, when its predecessor Defensor AG was founded in Switzerland.

What building types typically use Condair or Nortec humidifiers?

Offices, healthcare facilities, data centers, museums, print shops, and industrial buildings are common applications for Condair and Nortec humidification systems.

What factors affect the choice between steam and evaporative humidifiers?

Water quality, energy source and cost, and the humidity range required for the space all factor into choosing between steam, evaporative, and atomizing humidifier types.

Does Condair make dehumidification equipment as well as humidifiers?

Yes, the Condair Group's product range covers humidification, dehumidification, and evaporative cooling for commercial and industrial buildings.