HISTORY

On 20.09.1958, the Trade Associations, involved in the activities of Aerological equipment manufacturing in the six original countries of the European Union (Belgium and Luxembourg being represented by the same Association) decided to create a European Committee called CECMA (Comité Européen des Constructeurs de Matériel Aéraulique).

About the simultaneously, they also formed CECOMAF (Comité Européen des Constructeurs de Matériel Frigorifique) to deal with questions related to refrigeration equipment.

Since the very beginning, there was a close co-operation between the two committees, mainly in the field of technical regulations and standardisation.

Each Committee however kept its own independence and involved more and more countries, as the European Union expanded. Even Associations from non EU member countries became member of CECOMAF or CECMA (CECMA changed its name in 1964 to become EUROVENT ). EUROVENT and CECOMAF grew up to a membership of 15 associations.

In the late 1980’s, EUROVENT set up a programme for the performance certification of aerological equipment. CEN (Comité Européen de normalisation expanded and called more and more for the expertise of the EUROVENT and CECOMAF experts). Environmental concerns became more and more important (Ozone depletion, climate change, energy efficiency,...). The experts of both Committees met more and more to discuss matters of common interest.

Since 1994 it was therefore decided to organise the annual General Assemblies of both Committees at the same time in the same place and to prepare a strategic alliance between EUROVENT and CECOMAF. These discussions where finalised in June 1996 in Lyon (France) where both associations decided to form one single trade association EUROVENT/CECOMAF , the European Committee of Air Handling and Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturers.

Today, EUROVENT/CECOMAF has 15 member associations from 11 countries. Together they represent more than 1 000 companies, employing 150 000 employees and having a yearly turnover of 20 000 000 000 € .

Since 1991, active contacts with similar associations in the United States, Japan and Canada contributed to the foundation of ICARMA (International Council of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration equipment Manufacturers Associations). The Chinese, Brazilian and Korean associations joined a few years later.

World-wide, ICARMA represents 75 to 80 % of the production of Aerological and Refrigeration Equipment.