A Quick Introduction
Carrier is one of the best-known names in heating, cooling, and refrigeration. Its story starts with a simple industrial problem and ends with a modern, global public company.
What makes this history fun is how practical it is. A need in a printing plant helped spark an idea that changed how buildings feel, how factories run, and how food and medicine travel.
This article walks through how it began, how it grew, and how it changed over time. It also explains what the company does today and why it still matters.
The World Before Modern Air Conditioning
It is hard to picture now, but many early buildings and factories could not control air well. Heat, humidity, and stale air shaped what people could make and where they could work.
In places like printing, small changes in humidity could ruin results. Paper could swell, ink could act strange, and machines could fall out of sync.
Comfort was not the first goal. At the start, the real prize was control.
The Founder’s Story: Willis Haviland Carrier
The key name in this story is Willis Haviland Carrier. He was a mechanical engineer who is widely credited with creating the first modern air-conditioning system.
Carrier’s own company history points to a specific moment: July 17, 1902. That date marks the design of the first modern air-conditioning system.
He did not set out to change daily life in malls, offices, and homes. He set out to solve a real, measurable problem for an industrial customer.
The Problem They Wanted to Solve
The early problem was humidity control. A customer needed air that stayed steady enough to protect quality and keep work consistent.
Carrier’s history highlights an early installation at the Sackett & Wilhelms printing plant in Brooklyn, New York, in the summer of 1902. The aim was to manage moisture in the air so printing could stay stable.
This is a useful detail because it shows what “air conditioning” meant at the start. It was not about luxury. It was about precision.
The Spark of the Idea
Carrier’s official history describes an early insight about drying air. He connected moisture control to a process that could be managed and repeated.
That kind of thinking was a big deal at the time. It treated indoor air as something you could engineer, not just endure.
It also set a tone that stayed with the company for decades. The goal was to turn a messy problem into a clear system.
How It All Started: The Early Work Setting
Carrier’s own biography notes that he began work at Buffalo Forge Company in 1901. That placed him in an environment where industrial equipment and practical design mattered.
From there, the early air-conditioning solution took shape. The 1902 design and installation became the first big proof that the concept could work in the real world.
Once the result was clear, the next step was obvious. A new line of work was forming, and it needed a company behind it.
From Engineer to Company Founder
Carrier’s history states that he founded Carrier Engineering Corporation in 1915. This marked the shift from a breakthrough project to a lasting business.
That founding year matters for two reasons. It created a formal base for building products and serving customers, and it gave the idea a name that could travel.
From that point on, the story is not only about invention. It is also about scaling.
A Key Technical Milestone: Psychrometrics
Carrier’s history points to an important scientific contribution in 1911. It references “Rational Psychrometric Formulae,” which helped standardize how engineers think about air and moisture.
Even if you do not love equations, the impact is easy to get. When a field has shared rules, it can grow faster and more reliably.
This helped push air conditioning from a one-off solution to a repeatable craft. It also supported a growing industry of design and installation.
Early Growth and Public-Place Visibility
Carrier’s official timeline highlights high-profile building and venue moments in the 1920s and 1930s. These moments helped make air conditioning feel less mysterious and more normal.
One example in the company’s history is Madison Square Garden. The timeline notes its opening in 1925 using Carrier centrifugal chillers.
In stories like this, public places matter. When people feel a new technology in a shared space, it stops being a rumor and becomes a lived experience.
From Industrial Control to Broader Use
At first, the focus was stability for work and production. Over time, the idea expanded into comfort and larger building systems.
Carrier’s history also includes a 1930 note on the first sale of window-sill-height Weathermaster units. That points to continued product evolution and new ways to fit systems into real buildings.
These details show a pattern. The company did not stay frozen in its first use case. It kept adapting the form and fit of its technology.
The Long Ownership Chapter: United Technologies
In 1979, Carrier’s official history notes that United Technologies acquired Carrier. This begins a long era where the brand operated under a larger corporate parent.
For many companies, that kind of ownership can shape how they invest, how they expand, and how they organize. It can also change what the public sees, even if the products stay familiar.
This chapter lasted for decades. Then a major shift arrived in 2020.
The 2020 Spin-Off: Becoming a Standalone Public Company
Carrier Global Corporation became an independent public company in 2020 through a spin-off. Public records also show the company was incorporated in Delaware in March 2019 in connection with the separation.
The distribution date listed in public materials is April 3, 2020. That date is a modern turning point because it marks a new corporate identity and a new level of direct accountability to public shareholders.
After the spin, the story becomes less about heritage alone and more about strategy choices in a fast-changing market.
Carrier Today: What the Company Focuses On
In its public reporting, the company describes itself as centered on climate and energy solutions. It also highlights lifecycle services and connected tools that support equipment after the initial sale.
As of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the business is described through three main operating segments: HVAC, Refrigeration, and Fire & Security. (Note: While the company is in the process of exiting Fire & Security, it remained a reportable segment throughout the 2024 fiscal year).
This is helpful because it keeps the overview simple. You can think of it as indoor comfort systems on one side and cold chain and transport refrigeration on the other.
Products and Services: HVAC
The HVAC segment covers equipment that heats and cools buildings. It also includes systems that help manage and automate building performance.
Public descriptions of this segment include air conditioners, heating systems, heat pumps, and building automation systems. The segment also includes aftermarket components and service work.
A big theme here is that the relationship with the customer often continues long after installation.
- Equipment sold into residential and commercial settings
- Building automation systems that help manage performance
- Aftermarket parts, repairs, and maintenance services
- Modernization and upgrades over the life of the system
- Other support options mentioned in public materials, including rentals in some cases
Products and Services: Refrigeration
The Refrigeration segment is tied to moving temperature-sensitive goods. This area is often described through transport refrigeration and cold chain monitoring.
Public descriptions include equipment used for trucks, trailers, shipping containers, and intermodal transport. This segment also includes service work like maintenance, repairs, and monitoring.
The simplest way to picture it is this: it helps keep goods cold, stable, and trackable while they travel.
- Transport refrigeration systems used in ground and ocean shipping contexts
- Monitoring and service offerings tied to cold chain needs
- Support work that keeps equipment running across long routes and tight schedules
How the Company Makes Money
The business model is not only about selling equipment. It also includes the services and support that keep systems working across years.
Public reporting describes revenue coming from equipment sales across both major segments. It also describes ongoing service, repairs, and aftermarket parts.
In some areas, the company also points to monitoring offerings that can be subscription-based.
- Sale of HVAC systems and related building solutions
- Sale of refrigeration and transport cooling equipment
- Aftermarket parts and replacement components
- Service work, including maintenance, repair, and upgrades
- Monitoring tools in refrigeration-related offerings, including subscription-style models in some cases
Who the Company Serves
The customer base spans both everyday life and heavy infrastructure. Public materials describe HVAC markets that range from residential homes to large commercial buildings.
Those HVAC customers include sectors such as education, healthcare, technology, retail, hospitality, and data centers. The exact mix can shift by region and by year.
On the refrigeration side, customers are tied to the movement of perishable goods and other temperature-sensitive cargo.
- Residential HVAC buyers through direct and indirect channels
- Commercial and institutional building owners and operators
- Sectors that rely on stable indoor environments, like healthcare and data centers
- Transportation and logistics operations tied to cold chain movement
Innovation in the Modern Era: Connected Platforms
Carrier’s public filings describe digital platforms meant to help customers manage buildings and cold chain operations. This matters because it shows a push beyond hardware alone.
One named platform is Abound, described as a cloud-based building platform. Another is Lynx, described as a platform for cold chain visibility and efficiency.
Public descriptions also note a collaboration with Amazon Web Services tied to the Lynx platform.
- Abound: a building-focused platform described as cloud-based
- Lynx: a cold chain platform described as improving visibility and efficiency
- Collaboration with Amazon Web Services tied to the Lynx platform
Joint Ventures and Global Reach
Public reporting describes extensive use of joint ventures. It also notes that the company operates across many countries.
These arrangements can help with local manufacturing, distribution, and market access. They can also speed up entry into regions where partnerships matter.
In public filings, the company reports having around 55 joint ventures, with most tied to the HVAC segment.
Competition: The Market Is Crowded
Carrier’s public filings describe significant competition worldwide. That competition includes regional specialists and large public and private firms.
Public materials also describe what often wins deals. The factors include technology differences, product performance, service, delivery timing, and price.
This is a helpful reminder that history alone does not keep a company strong. Execution still matters every year.
- Competes across HVAC and refrigeration markets worldwide
- Competitive factors include performance, differentiation, service, timing, and price
A Major Modern Shift: Portfolio Changes in 2023–2024
In 2023 and 2024, the company completed major moves that reshaped what it owns and what it focuses on. This is often described as a portfolio transformation.
One major move was the acquisition of Viessmann Climate Solutions, completed on January 2, 2024. Public reporting places this acquisition within the HVAC segment.
Another set of moves involved selling several businesses in 2024.
- Viessmann Climate Solutions acquisition completed January 2, 2024
- Access Solutions sold to Honeywell, completed June 2, 2024
- Industrial Fire business sold, completed July 1, 2024
- Commercial Refrigeration business sold, completed October 1, 2024
- Commercial & Residential Fire business sold, completed December, 2024
Leadership in the Modern Company
Like many large public firms, leadership matters because it sets priorities and explains strategy to the market. Carrier’s leadership page lists David Gitlin as Chairman and CEO.
This is not a biography section, but it is a clear marker of who leads the company today. For curious readers, it helps anchor the present-day chapter.
It also shows how the story has moved from a single founder to a large corporate structure with many leaders and teams.
Work, People, and Culture
Public reporting describes culture programs and operating frameworks used inside the business. It names themes such as “The Carrier Way,” “Leading People The Carrier Way,” and “Carrier Excellence.”
These kinds of programs often exist to create shared habits across a large workforce. They aim to keep quality and continuous improvement consistent across regions.
Impact on Industry and Everyday Life
Carrier’s official history frames the 1902 invention as a key moment that helped launch a modern industry. It also points to wide effects in how people live and work.
Air conditioning changed where buildings could be built and how they could be used. It also helped certain industries grow by making indoor conditions stable.
The refrigeration side of the story matters too. Cold chain tools support modern food systems and the movement of temperature-sensitive goods.
Reputation and Public Perception
Public filings stress that brand reputation and quality are important competitive factors. This is a practical point, not a slogan.
In HVAC and refrigeration, many buyers want long life, stable service, and trustworthy support. A strong brand can help win deals, but it also raises expectations.
That is why service networks and aftermarket support show up so often in modern descriptions of the business.
How the Story Changed Over Time
The earliest chapter was about controlling humidity for industrial work. That is a very different picture than today’s mix of home comfort, commercial systems, and cold chain tools.
Over time, the company’s story expanded from “a solution” into “a platform of solutions.” It added services, digital tools, and broader building systems.
It also changed shape as a corporation, including a long ownership era and a more recent return to life as an independent public company.
Detailed Timeline
The timeline below follows verified milestones from early invention and early growth through today’s public-company chapter. It highlights invention moments, ownership changes, and major modern deals.
Dates in this section are kept to items that are clearly stated in verified sources. That helps keep the history clean and easy to trust.
You can read the timeline like a movie plot. The early scenes are about solving a technical problem, and the later scenes are about strategy and scale.
1901
Willis Haviland Carrier begins work at Buffalo Forge Company.
July 17, 1902
Carrier designs what the company describes as the first modern air-conditioning system.
Summer 1902
A key early system is installed at the Sackett & Wilhelms printing plant in Brooklyn, New York, to help manage humidity.
1911
Carrier develops “Rational Psychrometric Formulae,” helping make air and moisture control more repeatable for engineers.
1915
Carrier founds Carrier Engineering Corporation.
1925
Carrier’s history notes Madison Square Garden opening using Carrier centrifugal chillers.
March 1930
Carrier’s history notes the first sale of window-sill-height Weathermaster units.
1979
United Technologies acquires Carrier.
March 15, 2019
Carrier is incorporated in Delaware in connection with the separation into an independent company.
April 3, 2020
The spin-off is completed, and Carrier becomes an independent publicly traded company.
April 25, 2023
The company announces an agreement to acquire the Viessmann climate solutions business.
January 2, 2024
The acquisition of Viessmann Climate Solutions is completed.
June 2, 2024
The sale of the Access Solutions business to Honeywell is completed.
July 1, 2024
The sale of the Industrial Fire business is completed.
October 1, 2024
The sale of the Commercial Refrigeration business is completed.
December 2, 2024
The sale of the Commercial & Residential Fire business is completed.
December 31, 2024
The company reports about 48,000 employees worldwide and describes a business centered on HVAC and Refrigeration.
Interesting Facts
This company’s history has plenty of “wow” moments. Some are old, like the 1902 breakthrough, and some are modern, like digital platforms and large-scale portfolio change.
The facts below are limited to points stated in verified sources. They are great for readers who like fast, clean details.
Think of these as the trivia that still says something real about how the business works.
- The first modern air-conditioning system is dated July 17, 1902 in the company’s official history.
- The early 1902 installation at a Brooklyn printing plant focused on humidity control, not comfort.
- The company traces its founding to 1915 as Carrier Engineering Corporation.
- Public reporting for the year ended December 31, 2024 states the company has about 12,000 active patents and pending applications worldwide.
- Public reporting describes two main operating segments: HVAC and Refrigeration.
- Public reporting describes digital platforms such as Abound for buildings and Lynx for cold chain visibility and efficiency.
- Public reporting notes a collaboration with Amazon Web Services connected to the Lynx platform.
- The acquisition of Viessmann Climate Solutions was completed on January 2, 2024.
- The Access Solutions business sale to Honeywell was completed on June 2, 2024.
What the Company Looks Like Right Now
Today, Carrier Global Corporation is a public company with the ticker CARR. Its principal executive offices are listed in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Public reporting for the year ended December 31, 2024 describes the company through HVAC and Refrigeration segments. It also describes a focus on intelligent climate and energy solutions with lifecycle services.
That modern framing connects well with the original story. It still comes back to controlling air and temperature, just at much larger scale.
Future Challenges and Opportunities
Public filings point to themes that will shape the next chapter. Some are opportunities, like electrification and energy-efficient systems.
Some are risks, like changing rules in different countries, supply chain pressure, and the need to manage cybersecurity threats. These points show up in the way the company describes its business risks and strategy.
The good news is that this company has lived through many eras already. It has moved from a single engineering solution to a wide portfolio that serves homes, buildings, and cold chains.
- Opportunity: demand for energy-efficient and electrified solutions
- Challenge: regulatory complexity across regions, including refrigerant-related rules
- Challenge: reliance on key materials and electronic components
- Challenge: cybersecurity risks that can affect operations and trust
- Ongoing need: execution in competitive markets where service and quality matter
Closing Thoughts
Carrier’s story is a good reminder that big change can start with a small, practical need. A printing plant problem in 1902 helped set off a chain of events that shaped an industry.
The company’s history also shows how businesses evolve. It moved through invention, growth, corporate ownership, and a modern return to independence as a public company.
And the core theme stayed steady. Control the environment, make it reliable, and keep improving how it is delivered.
Sources: Carrier, Carrier Corporate, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Honeywell, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Reuters