The importance of airflow is well-documented as a critical component in establishing healthy indoor air quality and energy-efficient building performance. But harnessing these benefits through commercial HVAC systems requires advanced air control solutions. Over the past 65 years, Ruskin has remained the name behind the industry's cutting-edge commercial HVAC dampers, louvers, energy recovery ventilators (ERV), and air measurement devices.

Today, 65 years after opening its original headquarters located in namesake Ruskin Heights, Missouri, the global leader and authority in air control solutions celebrates the milestone with reflection and an eye to the future.   

"Over the past 65 years, technology, climate change and advancing building standards have continuously jolted the industry," reflected Jay Ramkumar, executive director, national sales, Ruskin. "Throughout this evolution, our commitment to service and product development have allowed us to consistently stay ahead of the curve and deliver unmatched air control solutions year after year."

In 1973, the company opened a state-of-the-art facility that would serve as the worldwide Ruskin headquarters. At the heart of the Grandview, Missouri, compound was a trailblazing R&D laboratory that boasted Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) and UL certifications. The innovative lab allowed Ruskin to take their product development a step further by testing against real-world simulated extreme conditions, including stringent requirements defined by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and National Quality Assurance (NQA).

In 1992, Ruskin actively responded to the effects of a natural disaster after Hurricane Andrew was deemed the largest and most expensive hurricane to hit southern Florida. Ruskin engineers used their innovative testing grounds to pioneer wind-driven rain standards for louvers. In the early 1990s, Ruskin became the first manufacturer to receive louver product approval for use in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and the first to develop a FEMA-rated grille for extreme weather conditions.

A History of Innovation Shaping the Industry

Over the past 65 years, Ruskin has maintained its U.S.-based operations in Missouri. Throughout the company's history, these key milestones have significantly shaped the industry:

• 1967: Ruskin control damper linkage system is patented
• 1971: Ruskin IBD2 (interlocking blade design) fire damper is introduced and quickly becomes industry standard
• 1983: CD60 and FSD60 dampers are released and recognized as the gold standard in damper design
• 1989: Ruskin launches dynamic curtain fire dampers and patented true-round combination fire and smoke dampers, revolutionizing the safety and ease of damper installation
• 1992: Ruskin became the first manufacturer to receive approval for louver use in Miami-Dade County, Florida, for hurricane-resistant buildings
• 2003: The Ruskin Validator is launched as the HVAC industry's first fire/life safety damper with integrated communications capabilities
• 2006: Ruskin introduces LEADS louver engineering and design software, designed to help architects, engineers and contractors select and size Ruskin louvers
• 2017: Ruskin introduces TDP05K thermal dispersion air measurement system, enabling better indoor air quality
• 2020: Ruskin introduces dampers designed for data centers and critical environments
• 2021: Ruskin releases a new line of ceiling fire dampers, along with the RUSN4X weather shield actuator enclosure
• 2022: Ruskin releases three new sunshade models and the TDFi-RT fan inlet airflow measurement station
• 2023: Today, with 29 production and office locations worldwide, Ruskin is recognized as the largest manufacturer of air control solutions for commercial and industrial HVAC applications

To learn more about the history of Ruskin, visit www.ruskin.com/News-Articles/entryid/914/65-years-of-authority-in-air-control-from-ruskin