Our History Timeline

From the start,
to the present day, our company have
experienced a lifetime of changes.
This is our history.

Woods was founded in 1909 in Colchester, United Kingdom. We first started out as manufacturers of small electric motors and introduced a range of propeller fans in the 1920s. Over the years, Woods evolved into the design and manufacture of axial fans, developing the first aerofoil blade design. This continuous development has evolved into one of the world’s largest ranges of certified axial fans for almost any application imaginable including fire safety, ventilation industrial process, oil & gas and marine.

2022

Woods Air Movement opens a factory in Tennessee, US (April 2022).

2021

Fläkt Woods rebrands itself and changes their trading name to Woods Air Movement, a brand under FläktGroup.

2020

Woods Air Movement opens an office in Germany.

2019

Woods Air Movement Limited US, a brand under FläktGroup, is created to re-enter the US market.

2016

Following the successful purchase of the Fläkt Woods Group by private equity investment from Triton, the merger with DencoHappel is now initiated. This merge created FläktGroup.

2014

Fläkt Woods acquires majority of the shares of ClimateConsult, a Danish based Company specializing in ventilation and fire safety.

2013

Fläkt Woods has sold it Global Infrastructure and Industry business to Howden, a subsidiary of the US listed company Colfax.

2012

Fläkt Woods acquires part of the shares Iloxair, a Finnish based Company specializing in Energy Recovery Units.

2011

Fläkt Woods sells Symor with related assets and rights to Temet Oy in Finland.

2009

Fläkt Woods acquires Caryaire Air Management Systems in India and Airchal in France.

2007

Fläkt Woods acquires SEMCO Incorporated in the USA. Fläkt Woods is acquired by Sagard, Barclay's Private Equity, ICG and Management.

2002

The Fläkt Woods Group is formed. The new group brings together two of the world's leading names in the 'Air Movement and Treatment' industry, namely Fläkt and Woods Air Movement. The group also owns other important branding including, for example, Solyvent Ventec and American Fan.

2000

Marconi announces the sale of Woods Air Movement to Global Air Movement Holdings Limited a company formed by Compass Capital Partners.

1986

The American Fan Company is purchased by GEC and joins the Woods ‘family’.

1985

Name Change - Late 1985 Woods of Colchester is now known as Woods Air Movement Limited.

1964

GEC plc takes complete control of Woods by buying-out the rest of the Woods family.

1950s

500 women moved from East London to wind motors in the Colchester factory. Determined in the process of winding a motor that mens' fingers were too big and clumpy, women were much more able to do the job.

1947

Woods develops the first Axial Aerofoil bladed fan range in the world. It has a unique design; based upon aircraft wing and its shape produced pressure.

1945

GEC invests sufficient capital to gain controlling interest in Woods.

1935

Maurice’s son Geoffrey took charge of Woods, which now employs about 100 people. Being ambitious, the company is soon employing 360 people.

1920s

Making a range of certified range of flameproof motors, Maurice Woods realised that if he added an impeller he had another product to sell: Windy Fan – fan business born. A range of propeller fans introduced - Windifan

1909

Maurice Woods forms a company in Colchester producing single phase motors to suit the various different voltages in use. At this time, the Woods factory had 10 employees.