Air

NQ Industries Company Info

Since 1993, NQ Industries has been manufacturing air filtration and air sterilization devices, utilizing UVGI (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation), HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filtration, UVPCO (ultraviolet photo catalytic oxidation) and activated carbon filtration technologies.

The company began as a supplier of tuberculosis isolation units to hospitals and homeless shelters. NQ’s primary product lines are still targeted to medical care facilities, but the company has branched out into military and food industry applications as well, and the company also makes air treatment systems for commercial and residential use.

In isolation rooms, operating theaters, and other hospital setting, air purity is of critical importance. Today NQ’s air treatment systems are used in over 370 healthcare facilities in 37 states, as well as by U.S. armed forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) and numerous school facilities throughout the nation. NQ products have a strong international following as well, and in 2003 the company donated several air purifiers to help combat the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in Hong Kong.

Air Purifier and Sterilizer Price Range

NQ’s filtration and sterilization devices are standalone products designed to be utilized around the clock, 365 days a year. NQ sells its products through a comprehensive network of dealers. List price for the basic Clarifier-Standard NQ Industries Air Purifier, designed to be used in the home.

While the majority of air purifiers manufactured today are made overseas, all components used in NQ products – with the exception of the blower – are manufactured in the United States from American produced steel. NQ Industries eschews the use of plastics in its products in order to guarantee that its customers receive the cleanest air possible.

NQ Air Purifier Technology

Each NQ product is designed to accommodate a slightly different process, but generally all of them work by trapping particles larger than 10 microns in size with pre-filters. Then air is circulated through some combination of specialized filters like activated charcoal or HEPA filters to remove odors, volatile organic compounds and other chemicals, and particulates as small as 0.3 microns. Finally air is circulated into a specialized chamber where UVGI is used to destroy biological contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and mold. Purified air is then discharged back into the room.

Most air purifiers that deploy UVGI technology use it only on the surface. NQ Industries pioneered the use of the single pass UVGI kill chamber.

NeoAir Company Info

NeoAir manufactures high grade air purifiers that range from typical HEPA and carbon activated filtration systems to high tech ultraviolet filtration for hospital grade sterilization. New NeoAir filter units are only available through online sources and can not be found in retail outlets. The brand has been in the marketplace long enough to have developed a healthy positive reputation among consumers who have posted glowing reviews of the filters on several different retail websites.

NeoAir Air Purifier Technology

NeoAir air purifiers are manufactured in China and exported to a United States base of operations in Miami, Florida. These filters have been available to United States customers for approximately two years. The company strives to remain environmentally safe and claims that that their air filters emit very little ozone. NeoAir states that their pre-filter and HEPA/Carbon filters enjoy long life spans and do not need to be replaced very often when the units are used on a daily basis.

Since the air purifiers utilize a multi-filter system, owners will need to replace the pre-filter as well as the HEPA or Carbon filter at different times. The pre-filter tends to need replacement more often than the internal HEPA filtration system due to the fact that it collects more particulates than the HEPA/Carbon filter.

All of the units offered by NeoAir were created with portability in mind. Even the more powerful units are designed to be moved comfortably from room to room. NeoAir’s innovative multi-filter design includes a pre-filter that catches particulates from the air before the air passes through a more delicate HEPA or Carbon filter.

Some units include a third layer of filtering that involves the use of UV light filters or sterilization filters for medical uses. Some NeoAir purifiers are designed specifically to remove mold and mildew from basements, boats, and other areas that acquire moisture on a regular basis. NeoAir is committed to finding affordable ways for consumers to improve the air that they breathe through researching and developing new technology in air purifiers of all types.

Air Filter Price Ranges

Prices may vary depending on the website where you shop. Shipping and handling charges will also impact your final cost. Customers who need more than one air purifier can take advantage of discounts that NeoAir offers for purchases of two or more air filters at once.

Oransi Company info

Oransi is a company based in Austin, Texas that has primarily been manufacturing and distributing air purifiers for 15 years. The company was started by Peter Mann, whose child suffered from asthma. Because of this, Oransi strives to make air purifiers that can especially help people suffering from asthma and allergies. Peter Mann also started Alen Corporation, another air purifier company. Oransi prides itself on a business model of giving back to the community by employing stay at home moms, encouraging employees to work from home to cut down on motor emissions, and donating 5% of their income to promoting student interest in the sciences.

Oransi Air Purifier Technology

The v-hepa air purifiers are energy star qualified and operate at a low cost. The company states that they are the quietest HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) air purifiers on the market, and are RoHS lead free directive certified. Oransi’s HEPA filters utilize two filters to clean the air. Air will go through a pre-filter which traps large particles. By filtering out the biggest particles, the pre-filter helps extend the life of the next filter – the HEPA filter. The HEPA filter removes 99.97% of dust, pollen, bacteria, viruses, dust mites, smoke and other particles that are between 0.5 and 2.0 micrometers in size. The filter also utilizes low air flow resistance so it can function more powerfully and effectively.

The v-hepa filtration system also includes negative ionization, which uses chemical injection technology. Negative ions are molecules that have an additional electron. This electron makes the ion negatively charged. Because the ion is charged, when it touches another element like a particle of dust, it sticks to it. The air purifier sucks in dust laden air, and the negatively charged ions stick to the dust and trap it inside the machine.

To entice new users, Oransi is offering three additional HEPA filters when you buy a new v-hepa air purifier. These three filters should keep your purifier running for the next two years. The purifiers are small and less than six inches deep so they can fit easily and unnoticeably into corners and against walls. The company claims that compared to other air purifiers, these are very quiet machines, and that they are easy to use and incredibly effective at removing particles from the air. The air purifiers do not weigh more than 10 pounds, and thus are easy to move around.

These v-hepa air purifiers have a v-lock magnet that creates a strong seal around the air filter. This seal locks the filter cover in place and makes sure that all the air inside gets filtered properly. While other air purifiers cost anywhere from $3-$8 in electricity per month, it only costs $2 a month in electricity to run a v-hepa air purifier. This filter has safety certifications from ETL, GS and CE as well as the RoHS lead free directive, and is made of fire-resistant ABS materials. As a safety feature, if someone opens up the cover of the air purifier, it will stop working. Oransi stands by its v-hepa purifiers, going so far as to offer a 10 year warranty and a 30 day money back guarantee.

The two ionic air purifiers use negative ionization to remove odors and particles from your room or fridge. They work silently, do not require you to replace the filters and come with a one year warranty.

Haier Company Info

Haier is an international supplier of household appliances headquartered in the people’s Republic of China and is currently considered the world’s largest white goods manufacturer. Founded in 1920 as a refrigerator factory, it was turned into a state-owned enterprise in the 1950s, which was foundering until the 1980s when a German company, the Liebherr Group, stepped in and diversified the Haier brand. Haier has since become the most recognized Chinese name brand and has extended their market from household appliances to mobile phones and computers and established worldwide distribution.

Air Purification Products and Warranty Info

Haier makes three models of air purifiers, all of which are Association of Home Manufacturers (AHAM) certified and the two larger models are ETL/CELT certified. All three models contain TrueHEPA filters that can remove 99.97% of the particles down to 0.3 microns. Each model has the same basic filtration setup that combines the pre-filter with the carbon filter to help remove odors and trap large particles, lint and hair as well as the main HEPA filter.

Each size Haier air purification unit has a 3-speed fan, all with quiet operation motors, and plastic grills that feature a 45° angle for the air outlet. The fan should be lowered to a Level 1 before turning off./p>

Haier offers a replacement filter pack that contains 2 carbon pre-filters and 1 TrueHEPA filter that can service the unit for 1 year and cost about $20 per pack. The two larger units come with a 1 year warranty for parts and labor and all three have a 5 year warranty for the sealed system.

Panasonic Company info

The Panasonic brand is known the world over, as is the company’s short but significant brand slogan: “ideas for life”.  The Panasonic Corporation’s headquarters are in Osaka, Japan, and this multinational corporation started up in 1918 as the Matsushita Electric Housewares Manufacturing Works. At the time of writing, the corporation has 680 subsidiaries, which are divided up into 14 different business domains. Panasonic is one of the largest corporations in the world and boasts market share in almost every country on earth.

Panasonic specializes in the manufacture and sale of all types of electronics products, which products are broadly classified into three groups: consumer products, business products and industrial products. The Panasonic air purifiers fall into the consumer products’ group, and, although these purifiers may have been manufactured under a different brand name in the past, in 2008 the corporation consolidated all separate brand names into one umbrella brand: “Panasonic”.

Air Purifiers Sold Under a Few Different Names

Panasonic continued to sell air purifiers under only the Panasonic brand name until December 21st, 2009, when it purchased Sanyo, another large Japanese electronics company and one that already had its own brand of air purifiers. At present, Panasonic-manufactured air purifiers are marketed under both the Panasonic and the Sanyo brand names.

Apart from Sanyo – which markets Panasonic air purifiers under the Sanyo brand name – a further two of the Panasonic Corporation’s 680 subsidiaries manufacture and sell air purifiers: Panasonic Corporation of North America and Panasonic Ecology Systems Co Ltd. Although both the multi-award winning Panasonic and Sanyo brands have been known for their product excellence for many years, it is unclear exactly when the companies began to develop and manufacture their air purifier lines.

Price Range

Consumers looking to buy an air purifier from the Panasonic Corporation of North America, which markets three distinct models. Those looking to buy from Panasonic Ecology Systems Co Ltd, which does business out of Hong Kong and supplies mainly the Middle Eastern and Asian markets, will have to contact the company directly in order to ascertain unit prices as the company’s website is silent in this regard. Panasonic Ecology Systems Co Ltd has eight distinct models of air purifiers for sale.

Panasonic Air Purifier Technology

The Panasonic Corporation of North America claims that their air purifiers both “reduce noise” and “save energy”. It also claims that their units’ High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters only have to be replaced every three years and remove over 99.5% of all noxious air particles larger than 0.3 microns. The purifiers marketed by Panasonic Ecology Systems, on the other hand, claim to sport sophisticated “nano” technology that “senses, attacks and inhibits” as many as 28 separate strains of allergens and viruses. This nano technology is apparently aided by such features as the units’ front and upward 3D Circulation Airflow systems and their anti-allergen substance, Super Alleru-Buster.

Hamilton Beach Company Info

Hamilton Beach is a Virginia-based corporation that manufactures a wide variety of home appliances, such as blenders, drink mixers, toasters, and irons, as well seven different models of air purifiers, most of which include the term “True Air” in their names. Hamilton Beach also produces devices intended to reduce allergens or odors, though these are different from air purifiers and are not covered here. The company is a major player in its field and has been in business since 1910.

Hamilton Beach Air Purifier Technology

All of the different models offered by Hamilton Beach make use of high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which target particles that pollute the air, but do not address polluting gasses or contribute to odor reduction. Certain other Hamilton Beach models, however, also use other methods in addition to HEPA, including: carbon pre-filters, which reduce odors; ultraviolet lights, which are damaging to airborne bacteria that can cause diseases; ionizers, which negatively charge air particles to attract and entrap positively charged pollutants; and zeolite, which Hamilton Beach markets as specifically intended to reduce pet odors. Zeolite is a mineral commonly found in laundry detergents, water purifiers, and cat litter. For details about which models use which methods, see below.

Price Range of Available Air Purifiers

Hamilton Beach’s air cleaners are mostly quite affordable when compared to the average prices of other cleaners.

Some of Hamilton Beach’s air cleaners are notable for their auto-adjusting fans which change speed on their own in response to how polluted the environment is. Some customers, however, have complained about the noise made by the fans.

Hamilton Beach Air Purifier Models

• Air Décor Air Purifier: HEPA filter. Coverage area of 240 square feet.
• True Air Ecoclean Air Purifier (04492): HEPA filter, ionizer. Coverage area of 190 square feet.
• True Air Ecoclean Air Purifier (04493): HEPA filter, ionizer. Coverage area of 190 square feet. (Much lower price than the similarly named 04492 model above, but Hamilton Beach’s description of its effectiveness is notably more vague for this model as well.)
• TrueAir Compact Pet Air Purifier: HEPA filter. Zeolite technology targets pet odor. Coverage area of 140 square feet.
• True Air High Efficiency Air Purifier: HEPA Filter. Coverage area of 180 square feet.
• Air Purifier with HEPA Technology: HEPA filter. Coverage area of 230 square feet.
• TrueAir Ultra UV Air Purifier: HEPA filter. Ultraviolet light to kill bacteria. Carbon pre-filter. Coverage area of 200 square feet. Also includes a display panel with information about the room’s current air quality.

Pure Air Systems Company Info

Pure Air Systems is celebrating 25 years of service in the production of commercial-grade air purifiers. The company states on their webpage that they offer the best filtration systems on Earth, with a focus on using the latest technology that does not compromise the environment. Pure Air Systems has been in business since 1985 and is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. They offer a complete line of air cleaners that use HEPA and carbon base filtration systems and have experienced a 20% growth rate on an international level each year.

Allegedly, Pure Air Systems has a reputation for manufacturing high quality, high performance HEPA air filtration systems that are dependable and reliable for residential homeowners. Yet what makes this company unique to its competition is that it has been the one to offer many “firsts”. The company was the first to offer commercial-grade air cleaners for residences and the first to use GE ECM digitally controlled speed motors, an appeal to the international market. Furthermore, Pure Air Systems claims to be a green company, reducing waste and using less energy.

Pure Air Systems Air Purifier Technology

The steel frames of the air cleaners account for less waste and disposing of the parts. The motors on the air cleaners are energy efficient and have Energy Star ratings. In fact, the GE ECM speed motors have accounted for using 50% less electricity than other motors on the market. Besides having a general concern for the environment, Pure Air Systems also uses commercial-grade parts throughout their air cleaners, including HEPA filters that are certified at 99.99% in trapping airborne particles. With a focus on the residential market, new advances have been made, such as the ability to use a by-pass arrangement to install a whole-house filtration system instead of having individual units in each room.

In fact, many of Pure Air System’s air cleaners can be used as either portable units or attached to a HVAC system. While all of the products use high-performance HEPA filters, the air cleaners can also be purchased with carbon filters instead. Although the company focuses on the residential market, their knowledge in using commercial-grade products has also led them to offer a complete line of commercial air cleaners as well.

Rexair Company Info

Rexair LLC was founded in 1932 in Troy, Michigan, where it maintains headquarters to this day. Rexair has consistently sold just one product line through the years, the Rainbow Cleaning system. This series of home cleaning appliances uses the power of water sometimes combined with a HEPA filtration system for deep cleaning interior surfaces and improvement of indoor air quality. In 1959, the company developed a direct marketing strategy using independently distributors whose sales methods were focused on door-to-door tactics and home demonstrations.

Sales and Testing For the Rainbow System

Known as “The Rainbow Opportunity,” the Rexair company continues to use the direct-sale method of advertising and distribution for their Rainbow vacuum cleaners and recently introduced a line of Rainbow RainMate room air fresheners. Rexair is a member of the Direct Selling Association (DSA) and adheres to their policies of conduct and advertising.

Rexair’s Rainbow Cleaning System appliances have been tested by independent laboratories and received the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) seal of approval and the Carpet Industry Standard (CRI) certification for removing three elements that affect carpets – soil removal, containment of dust particles and overall carpet appearance.

Trademarks and Brands

Rexair has registered trademarks for Rainbow, eSeries, e2, AquaMate, Hurricane and Rainbow Mate. They also sell cleaning products, fragrances and deodorizers that are designed to work specifically with their machines.

The Rainbow eSeries Vacuum combines a water bath filtration and HEPA Neutralizer filtration using a brushless process to trap dirt, dust, pollen and allergens, both from surfaces and from the air. The unit contains a water reservoir that can be emptied out, eliminating the need for vacuum cleaner bags.

Where To Find the Rainbow Products

Rexair products are not offered in any retail stores, only through direct marketing demonstrations and online independent dealerships. Some independent distributors have established their own local showrooms and repair shops to service the units they sell and have online marketplaces for supplies and replacement parts. The retail price of a Rainbow RainMate air purification system varies since they are priced according to whether or not they come with extra scent packages. Since there are no filters to replace, the only ongoing expense is the fragrance additions.

You have to contact the company directly for information about prices and distributors in your area either through their website at http://www.rainbowsystem.com/rainbowsystem/locator or you can call (248) 643-7222 during regular business hours (EST).

Overview

Riccar makes just a handful of air purifiers sold through authorized dealers.  Two of its units were submitted for testing under the Clean Air Delivery Rate program but scored low.

Riccar Models

Riccar EcoPure Ratings Technical Specifications

Est. Price – NA

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?

• Smoke – NA / 450
• Pollen – NA / 450
• Dust – NA / 450

Consumer Reports ?

• Score – NA / 100
• Dust/Pollen/Smoke(High Setting) – NA / 5
• Est. Yearly Cost – NA

Room Size ? : 324 Sq. Ft

Circulation ? : 28-85 CFM

Filter Type ? : HEPA Filter

Filter Life Est. ? : 12 Months

Size: 15″H x 13″W x 8″D

Weight: 8.9 lbs

Noise Level: NA

Energy Star? ? : No

Riccar RAPL Ratings Technical Specifications

Est. Price – NA

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?

• Smoke – 183 / 450
• Pollen – 194 / 450
• Dust – 182 / 450

Consumer Reports ?

• Score – NA / 100
• Dust/Pollen/Smoke(High Setting) – NA / 5
• Est. Yearly Cost – NA

Room Size ? : 284 Sq. Ft

Circulation ? : NA

Filter Type ? : Pre-Filter, HEPA Filter, Carbon Filter & PlasmaWave

Filter Life Est. ? : 12 Months

Size: 21.9″H x 16.5″W x 9.9″D

Weight: 18.8 lbs

Noise Level: NA

Energy Star? ? : Yes

Riccar RAPM Ratings Technical Specifications

Est. Price – NA

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?

• Smoke – 117 / 450
• Pollen – 138 / 450
• Dust – 126 / 450

Consumer Reports ?

• Score – NA / 100
• Dust/Pollen/Smoke(High Setting) – NA / 5
• Est. Yearly Cost – NA

Room Size ? : 180 Sq. Ft

Circulation ? : NA

Filter Type ? : Pre-Filter, HEPA Filter, Carbon Filter & PlasmaWave

Filter Life Est. ? : 12 Months

Size: 18.5″H x 13.8″W x 9.1″D

Weight: 13.7 lbs

Noise Level: NA

Energy Star? ? : Yes

Air Purifier Noise Chart – Decibel Ratings of Common Sounds

Source

Decibel Rating (dB)

Falling leaves

Soft music

Mosquito buzz

Normal voices

Traffic sounds

Vacuum cleaner

Rock concert

Pain threshold (jet take off)

Perforation of ear drum (gun shot)

160 and higher

Riccar Company info

Riccar is a division of the Tacony corporation, the family-owned business primarily known as a wholesale distributor of high-quality vacuum cleaners, ceiling fans, sewing machines and floor care equipment with their headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. The Riccar label is under the home floor care division which also includes the Fuller Brush Company. In 2007 the company launched the Riccar FreshBreeze and EcoPure air purifying systems and marketed them alongside their line of vacuum cleaners.

Products Offered, Warranty Info, and Pricing

Riccar vacuum cleaners and air purifiers are only sold through authorized dealers, usually professional vacuum cleaning shops and repair businesses. These dealerships have received factory training regarding the line of Riccar products they carry and their technicians can provide customer support services and repairs in-house. These products are also available online through auction services as new, used or refurbished models, but are not covered by warranty when purchased from such dealers.

Riccar FreshBreeze products come with a 2 year warranty and the EcoPure air purifiers only have a 1 year warranty. The larger FreshBreeze model sells for between $500 and $600 while the smaller model cost $350 to $490. The compact EcoPure ranges from $40 to $75. Filter cassettes for FreshBreeze models cost $60 to $70, and only $20-$25 for the EcoPure.

Riccar Air Purifier Models

• Riccar FreshBreeze RAPL – The large Riccar FreshBreeze RAPL air purifier features a 5-stage room air cleaning system designed for a regular sized bedroom or office, about 280 square feet. Standing 21.9″ tall, 16.5″ wide and 9.9″ deep, this unit weighs 18.8 pounds and comes with a metallic silver plastic case. The filtration system includes a washable anti-bacterial cotton filter for trapping big particles, a washable nano-silver mesh/carbon filter to neutralize bacteria on contact, a HEPA filter that can capture 99.99% of the particles down to .3 microns, a charcoal filter to eliminate odors and a PlasmaWave electrostatic filter to neutralize odors, bacteria, viruses and chemical vapors.
• The fan comes in 4 speeds — low, medium, high and turbo — and can be controlled on the unit or via remote control. The LED digital display has a timer that can be set for 1, 4 or 8 hours and includes a “sleep mode” for quiet nightime operation. The display panel includes a dust and odor sensor that allows you to automatically monitor the room’s indoor air quality and adjust the fan if needed. You can set this feature to run in automatic mode to instantly adjust to the level of impurities in the air. The control panel also has a light sensor that, when activated, automatically switches the unit to the lowest, quietest fan setting (and dims the display panel) when the room is dark.
• There is a CHANGE FILTER indicator on the control panel that will light up when it is time to replace the 3 non-washable filters, which come in a single cassette for easy changing. The filters have to be replaced around once a year, depending on usage. The washable filters should be cleaned every three months.
• Riccar FreshBreeze RAPM – The smaller Riccar FreshBreeze RAPM air purifier has the same 5-stage air cleaning system as the big model, as well as all the control features and a LED screen with remote. The metallic blue plastic model stands 18.5″ high, is 13.8″ wide and 9.1″ deep and weighs 13.7 lbs.
• Riccar EcoPure – Riccar’s EcoPure is a compact tabletop air filtration unit that uses a 3-stage process which includes a HEPA filter, an antimicrobial pre-filter and a carbon-deodorizing filter to freshen the air and to block particles down to .3 microns and capture 99.97% of the dust, mold and other contaminates from a small room. The system also has an electrostatic filter to capture airborne particles and neutralize bacteria. The filter lasts for 12-15 months, depending on frequency of useage. The EcoPure air purifier is extremely quiet to operate — only 46 decibels on high speed — and has two fans to circulate the air at three different speeds. Weighing only 9 lbs., this small unit easily fits on a desktop or nightstand.

For more information and service, you can call toll-free to 1-888-6-RICCAR (in Canada call 403-248-4344) or to find the nearest authorized service representative, use their internet form at http://www.riccar.com/where-to-buy/.

 

Overview

Crane makes 2 air purifiers, both targeted to families with kids.  Both units were tested under the Clean Air Delivery Rate program and scored poorly.  Both units are rated for extremely small spaces, probably due to weak fans that are not capable of drawing in much air.

Crane Models

Crane EE-5064 Ratings Technical Specifications

Est. Price – $79.17

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?

• Smoke – 23 / 450
• Pollen – 31 / 450
• Dust – 25 / 450

Consumer Reports ?

• Score – NA / 100
• Dust/Pollen/Smoke(High Setting) – NA / 5
• Est. Yearly Cost – NA

Room Size ? : 36 Sq. Ft

Circulation ? : NA

Filter Type ? : 5 Level Filtration: HEPA Filter, Acrtive Caron Filter, Photocatalyst Filter, Particle Filter Foam & Germicidal UV Light

Filter Life Est. ? : 3-6 Months

Size: 16.6″H x 10.1″W x 10.1″D

Weight: 5 lbs

Noise Level: NA

Energy Star? ? : No

Crane EE-5065 Ratings Technical Specifications

Est. Price – $80.8

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?

• Smoke – 23 / 450
• Pollen – 31 / 450
• Dust – 25 / 450

Consumer Reports ?

• Score – NA / 100
• Dust/Pollen/Smoke(High Setting) – NA / 5
• Est. Yearly Cost – NA

Room Size ? : 36 Sq. Ft

Circulation ? : NA

Filter Type ? : 5 Level Filtration: HEPA Filter, Acrtive Caron Filter, Photocatalyst Filter, Particle Filter Foam & Germicidal UV Light

Filter Life Est. ? : 3-6 Months

Size: 16.6″H x 10.1″W x 10.1″D

Weight: 5 lbs

Noise Level: NA

Energy Star? ? : No

Air Purifier Noise Chart – Decibel Ratings of Common Sounds

Source

Decibel Rating (dB)

Falling leaves

Soft music

Mosquito buzz

Normal voices

Traffic sounds

Vacuum cleaner

Rock concert

Pain threshold (jet take off)

Perforation of ear drum (gun shot)

160 and higher

Crane Company Info

After their success with “fun” yet functional cool mist humidifiers in 2005, Crane USA, Inc. of Bensenville, IL expanded into the air purifier market, releasing 2 novelty shaped plastic units — one shaped and painted to resemble a happy penguin, the other a friendly shark — both of which meet the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) clean air delivery rates.

Crane is a subsidiary of Wachsmuth & Krogmann, a German company established in Hamburg in 1797 with offices also in Hong Kong, France and the US that is a major designer, importer and manufacturer of small appliances, outdoor products and tools. Wachsmuth & Krogmann is a member of the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) and established Wachsmuth & Krogmann, Inc. in 2000.

Air Purification Products, Pricing, and Where to Find

Crane USA, Inc’s entire line of products seek to improve the interior home environment with fancifully shaped units that reflect their motto that “the home is a personal expression of an individual lifestyle.” Crane air filters only cover small rooms so their targeted market is home nurseries, children’s bedrooms and sick rooms. The units are modestly priced between $50 and $70 and are available online or at retail outlets like Target, Wal-Mart and Sears. Filters in sets of 4 are available for under $20 at retailers like Babies “R” Us, Toys “R” Us and Kmart, which also carry the air purifiers. Crane USA also makes 11 ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers in kid’s favorite animal shapes as well as popular cartoon characters like Sponge Bob Square Pants and Hello Kitty.

Crane USA has a toll free customer service number (1-888-599-0992) and sells replacement parts through their website at http://www.crane-usa.com. They offer a one year limited warranty with a full refund within 90 days of purchase.

Crane Air Purifier Models

Crane air purifiers come in two functionally identical models — except for the molded plastic body — that both have a five-step process to remove allergens and bacteria from small rooms of 50 to 80 square feet:

• Penguin EE-5065
• Shark EE-5064

Both units combine true HEPA filtration with a UV germicidal light claiming to remove 99.97% of airborne contaminants and particles as small as 0.3 microns. Both units feature a tap-over switch that contains an auto-shut off function so the unit will stop operating if not in an upright position. Weighing less than 7 pounds, it has an adjustable-speed fan with a knob on the “belly” of the figure. There is a blue UV indicator light and a red air purifier power indicator light.

The five filters in the Crane air purifier units are:

• Particle filter
• HEPA filter
• Carbon filter
• Photo catalyst filter
• Germicidal UV (ultraviolet) light

The five level filtration process uses the washable particle filter to catch the big airborne contaminants and the HEPA filter to capture dust and pollen down to 0.3 microns and also reduce smoke, mold spores and pet dander. The active carbon filter combats odors and the photocatalyst filter works in conjunction with the UV light to neutralize harmful fumes and further eliminate airborne odors.

The unit comes with all filters and is fully assembled. Replacement filters can be purchased at the same retailer wherever Crane air purifier products are sold. The particle filter can be washed and the other four filters can be purchased as a set. The HEPA filter should be replaced if used continuously every three to six months — depending on air quality — and the other filters need to be replaced annually. The UV bulb provides approximately one year of continuous operation, after which it loses effectiveness, so it needs to be replaced by a factory-authorized bulb annually and properly recycled.

AHAM listed ratings for Crane’s air particulate removal:

• Dust CAD = 23
• Tobacco Smoke CADR = 25
• Pollen CADR = 31
• Room Size SQ FT = 36
• Meets Ozone Limits = N/A

These ratings are actually quite low and point to a fairly ineffective filtering system.

Crane Air Purifier Manual – http://www.crane-usa.com/manuals/Air_Purifier_Manual.pdf 

Daikin Company Info

Daikin Industries, the self-named “company that leads in applying environmentally friendly practices”, has contributed two different types of air purifiers to the international market: the photocatalytic purifier and the “Ururu” purifier/humidifier.

Daikin Industries was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1924 and was originally known as the Osaka Kinzoku Kogyosho Limited Partnership. The company flourished for many years and concentrated on the manufacture and sale of, among other things, air conditioning units. The firm officially changed its name to Daikin Industries Ltd in 1982, and this – the Daikin parent company – currently has offices in Osaka, New York, Dusseldorf, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Today, at least 59 separate companies form part of Daikin’s international empire, and, according to the Daikin Industries’ website, the following Daikin affiliates offer air purifiers for sale:

• Daikin Industries Ltd (the parent company and headquartered in Osaka, Japan)
• Daikin (China) Investment Co Ltd (offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai)
• Daikin Air Conditioning Hong Kong Ltd (with offices in Kowloon)
• Daikin Europe NV (headquartered in Oostende, Belgium)
• Daikin Air Conditioning Central Europe (located in Brunn am Gebirge in Austria)
• Daikin Air conditioning Spain SA (with offices in Madrid)
• Daikin Air Conditioning Poland Sp.z.o.o. (the single office is located in Warsaw)
• Daikin Air Conditioning UK Ltd (headquartered in Brooklands Weybridge in Surrey)
• Daikin Air Conditioning Portugal SA (the Portuguese office is found in Paco de Arcos)
• Daikin Air Conditioning Greece SA (located in Maroussi, Greece)
• Daikin Air Conditioning Netherlands BV (the Dutch office is in Capelle aan den IJssel)
• Daikin Europe Middle East Office (headquartered in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates)
• Daikin Air Conditioning South Africa (Pty) Ltd (to be found in Cape Town, South Africa)
• Daikin Air Conditioning India Pvt Ltd (does business out of Haryana and Rajhasthan)
• Daikin Air Conditioning (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (with offices in Selangor, Johor and Burrerworth)
• Daikin Air Conditioning (Singapore) Pte Ltd (Singapore hosts both a manufacturing/sales and a service office)
• Siam Daikin Sales Co Ltd (office located in the Pravet District of Bangkok)

Daikin Air Purifier Technology

Daikin launched their range of residential and commercial air purifiers in 2007, and they claimed that their purifiers were the first on the market to incorporate both a humidifying and de-humidifying system. Today, Daikin purifiers consist of the photocatalytic model, which features the Flash Streamer system and specializes in odor, virus, bacteria and allergen removal, and the humidifying/purifying model, which incorporate the Japanese Ururu humidifying technology.

Daikin purifiers are sold all over the globe under only the “Daikin” brand name, and their photocatalytic air purifier has been given the stamp of approval by the British Allergy Foundation and has also been certified as safe by the TUV (Technischer Überwachungs-Verein / Technical Inspection Association). Daikin air purifiers usually sell for between $420 and $490.

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Daikin Air Purifier Models

At present, there are only two Daikin purifier models available worldwide:

• The MC-707 (for sale in Japan, America, China, Hong Kong, Spain, Poland, Britain, Portugal, Greece, The Netherlands, the Middle East, South Africa, India, Malaysia and Singapore): This unit is also known as the MC707BFVM, the MC707VM and the MC707VM-S and is Daikin’s photocatalytic purifier. Its features include being able to operate in a negative ion, a turbo and a pollen ion mode
• The MCK75JVM-K (for sale in China, Spain, Poland, Britain, Portugal, Greece and The Netherlands): This is Daikin’s Ururu purifier, and its features include a 6-layer filtering system and the Ururu humidifying system (a vaporization filter assembly and a slim line water tank / water wheel). A defect was, however, identified in respect of this model during April 2010, and parties interested in purchasing the MCK75JVM-K should review all relevant notices posted on their local Daikin website before making any purchases.