Carrier Global
An American multinational manufacturer of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, refrigeration, and related building technologies.
Last updated August 21, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Carrier Global is an American multinational whose principal brand and operating businesses grew out of the company established by mechanical engineer Willis Carrier and six colleagues in 1915. The business traces its technological origin to Carrier's 1902 development of a system for controlling temperature and humidity, an invention widely associated with the emergence of modern air conditioning. From its early focus on engineered air-treatment equipment, Carrier expanded into residential and commercial heating and cooling, building controls, commercial refrigeration, transport refrigeration, cold-chain monitoring, and selected fire and security technologies. The company spent much of the twentieth century developing as a major HVAC manufacturer and enlarging its portfolio through acquisitions and brand additions. Its historical brand family included Carrier as well as regional and specialist names such as Bryant, Payne, Day & Night, Comfortmaker, Heil, Tempstar, International Comfort Products, Carrier Transicold, and Sensitech. Carrier products serve homes, offices, retail properties, schools, factories, data centers, food retailers, logistics operators, and pharmaceutical and healthcare supply chains. Its activities therefore span both durable equipment and the installation, maintenance, controls, and monitoring services required to operate complex buildings and temperature-sensitive distribution networks. Carrier became part of United Technologies Corporation in 1979. During the UTC period, Carrier was grouped with other building-technology operations, including Otis and fire and security businesses, in successive organizational structures. UTC announced in 2018 that its climate, controls, and security operations would be separated, and Carrier became an independent publicly traded company in 2020 when the UTC separation was completed. The post-spin company adopted the Carrier Global Corporation name and is headquartered in Florida. In the 1990s and 2000s, acquisitions strengthened Carrier's international and product capabilities. International Comfort Products expanded residential HVAC coverage, while the former Linde refrigeration business and Sensitech added commercial refrigeration and supply-chain monitoring capabilities. The company also invested in environmental consulting, energy efficiency, green-building practices, and building automation. Carrier's manufacturing and engineering footprint has changed substantially over time, with production consolidated or relocated in response to labor, supplier, cost, and market considerations. Carrier's recent strategy has emphasized climate technologies, energy efficiency, electrification, connected equipment, and digitally managed buildings. In 2023, Carrier announced an agreement to acquire Viessmann Climate Solutions, substantially increasing its European residential and commercial heat-pump and heating presence. The transaction was accompanied by a plan to divest much of the company's commercial refrigeration and fire and security portfolio, reflecting a sharper focus on intelligent climate and energy solutions. Carrier subsequently sold the LenelS2, Supra, and Onity security businesses to Honeywell in 2023. The company has also announced the planned sale of its Industrial Fire division, subject to the terms and completion conditions reported for that transaction. Carrier remains a global HVAC and building-technology brand. Its value proposition combines equipment performance, indoor comfort, temperature and humidity control, energy management, reliability, and lifecycle service. The business serves both replacement and new-construction markets and increasingly positions efficient heat pumps, connected controls, low-emission technologies, and cold-chain visibility as responses to energy costs, regulation, decarbonization, and food and pharmaceutical logistics requirements.
History
Willis Carrier developed an early modern air-conditioning system in 1902 while working for Buffalo Forge. A Carrier air-conditioning subsidiary was formed in 1908, but the independent Carrier Engineering Corporation was established in 1915 after Buffalo Forge redirected its business toward manufacturing during the First World War. The new company was capitalized by Carrier and six engineers and acquired its first factory in Newark, New Jersey, in 1920. One early engineering challenge involved controlling humidity and fog at a London film studio. Carrier's equipment treated and dehumidified the air sufficiently to support filming, illustrating the commercial value of humidity control beyond simple cooling. During the following decades, the company developed equipment for industrial processes, theaters, commercial buildings, and eventually homes. Its operations later moved from New Jersey to Syracuse, New York, where Carrier established an important engineering and manufacturing presence. Carrier broadened its heating and cooling portfolio through corporate combinations and brand development. In 1955 it merged with Affiliated Gas Equipment, bringing brands including Bryant, Day & Night, and Payne into its orbit. The company was acquired by United Technologies in 1979. Under UTC ownership, Carrier expanded through international growth and acquisitions, including International Comfort Products in 1999, the refrigeration subsidiary of Linde in 2004, Sensitech in 2006, and Environmental Market Solutions in 2008. These additions increased its exposure to residential HVAC, refrigeration, logistics monitoring, environmental consulting, and green-building services. Carrier's facilities and workforce changed considerably in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Manufacturing in the Syracuse area was reduced as production moved to other domestic and international locations, although the DeWitt site continued to support engineering and customer-service activities for a period. The company also faced difficult decisions concerning its DeWitt and Indianapolis operations. In 2016 it announced plans to close the Indianapolis furnace plant and move production to Monterrey, Mexico. Following public negotiations involving President-elect Donald Trump and Indiana officials, Carrier agreed to retain some production and more than 1,000 positions initially, although later announcements reduced the number of jobs retained and layoffs proceeded in 2017. UTC reorganized Carrier, Otis, and related fire and security activities several times. In 2013 they were combined in UTC Building & Industrial Systems; after Otis was separated in 2016, the remaining operations became UTC Climate, Controls & Security. In 2018 UTC announced that this business would be spun off as Carrier Global Corporation. The separation was completed in April 2020, making Carrier an independent listed company. The company also moved its corporate center to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, around the time of the spin-off. As an independent company, Carrier has increasingly emphasized efficient climate systems, electrification, heat pumps, connected building controls, and cold-chain technologies. Its 2023 agreement to acquire Viessmann Climate Solutions expanded its European climate and heating platform. Carrier also pursued divestitures of commercial refrigeration and fire and security operations, including the sale of several security brands to Honeywell. These moves narrowed the portfolio around climate, HVAC, building efficiency, and related services while retaining a global presence across residential, commercial, industrial, and transport applications.
- 2023
Viessmann Climate Solutions acquisition is announced
[1]Carrier announced an agreement to acquire Viessmann Climate Solutions and refocus its portfolio on climate technologies.
- 2020
Carrier becomes an independent public company
[1]The spin-off from United Technologies was completed, establishing Carrier Global as an independent listed company.
- 2016
UTC Climate, Controls & Security is created
[1]Following the Otis separation, Carrier became part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security.
- 2006
Sensitech is acquired
[1]The acquisition added logistics tracking and temperature-monitoring technology for cold-chain applications.
- 2004
Linde refrigeration business is acquired
[1]Carrier acquired Linde's refrigeration subsidiary, broadening its commercial refrigeration activities.
- 1999
International Comfort Products is acquired
[1]The acquisition strengthened Carrier's residential HVAC brand and manufacturing portfolio.
- 1979
United Technologies acquires Carrier
[1]Carrier became part of United Technologies Corporation.
- 1955
Merger expands heating portfolio
[1]Carrier merged with Affiliated Gas Equipment, adding the Bryant, Day & Night, and Payne businesses.
- 1920
First Carrier factory opens in Newark
[1]The company purchased its first manufacturing facility in Newark, New Jersey.
- 1915
Carrier Engineering Corporation is founded
[1]Willis Carrier and six engineers formed the independent Carrier Engineering Corporation.
Products and positioning
A global climate, HVAC, refrigeration, and building-technology provider focused on comfort, energy efficiency, connected controls, and temperature-controlled supply chains.
Residential HVAC
Carrier Residential
The residential portfolio includes air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, indoor-air-quality equipment, and connected thermostatic controls. These products are sold and serviced through dealer networks for single-family and multifamily housing, with an emphasis on comfort, reliability, efficiency, and managing household energy consumption.
Commercial HVAC and building systems
Carrier Commercial
Carrier's commercial range covers rooftop units, chillers, air-handling equipment, heat pumps, controls, building automation, and energy-management solutions. It is designed for offices, schools, retail facilities, industrial sites, healthcare properties, and other buildings requiring integrated environmental control.
Transport refrigeration
Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold provides refrigeration systems for trucks, trailers, containers, and other transport applications. The equipment helps maintain controlled temperatures during the movement of food, pharmaceuticals, and other perishable products across road, rail, sea, and intermodal networks.
Cold-chain monitoring · 2006
Sensitech
Sensitech supplies monitoring, tracking, and data technologies for temperature-sensitive logistics. Its systems are used to observe shipment conditions and support quality, compliance, and waste-reduction goals in food, healthcare, pharmaceutical, and broader supply-chain operations.
Climate and heating technology
Viessmann Climate Solutions
The Viessmann Climate Solutions portfolio expanded Carrier's European presence in heating, heat pumps, and climate systems. It represents the company's move toward higher-efficiency heating and electrified climate solutions, subject to the scope and completion of the reported transaction.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Carrier Dome naming transition
United States
Carrier's long-standing naming association with Syracuse University's stadium ended as the university moved to a new naming-rights arrangement. Air conditioning was also installed during major stadium renovations completed in 2022.
Outcome. The stadium adopted a new naming-rights partner.
- 2016Indianapolis manufacturing retention campaign
United States
After Carrier announced that Indianapolis furnace production would move to Mexico, the proposed closure became a prominent U.S. manufacturing and political issue. Carrier negotiated an arrangement to retain some furnace production and engineering and headquarters positions in Indiana, supported by state incentives.
Outcome. Some production and jobs were retained, but the number of retained positions was later reduced and layoffs followed in 2017.
Brand decisions
2023
Acquire Viessmann Climate SolutionsM&ABackground
Carrier identified climate technology, efficient heating, and heat pumps as strategic growth areas, particularly in Europe.
Action taken
Carrier announced an agreement to acquire Viessmann Climate Solutions from the Viessmann Group.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Carrier's heating and climate portfolio and was paired with plans to divest selected refrigeration and fire and security activities.
2023
Divest selected security businessesM&ABackground
Carrier's portfolio review favored climate and HVAC activities over several fire and security businesses.
Action taken
Carrier sold LenelS2, Supra, and Onity to Honeywell.
Aftermath
The sale reduced Carrier's exposure to security technology and supported its portfolio concentration around climate solutions.
2018
Plan separation from United TechnologiesM&ABackground
UTC sought to separate its climate, controls, and security operations from the parent company alongside the planned separation of Otis.
Action taken
UTC announced the creation of an independent Carrier Global company through a spin-off.
Aftermath
The separation was completed in April 2020, and Carrier became an independent public company.
2016
Move Indianapolis furnace production to MexicoStrategyBackground
Carrier cited cost and pricing pressure, together with an established supplier base and infrastructure in Mexico, when it announced plans to relocate production from Indianapolis to Monterrey.
Action taken
The company announced a phased closure and relocation plan, initially indicating that the move would occur over several years.
Aftermath
Following political negotiations, some Indianapolis manufacturing and staff positions were retained, but hundreds of jobs were later eliminated and the plant continued to face uncertainty.
Recent events
- 2023
Carrier announces plan to acquire Viessmann Climate Solutions[1]
M&A
Carrier announced an agreement to acquire the Viessmann Group's Climate Solutions business, expanding its European heating, heat-pump, and climate-technology portfolio.
- 2023
Carrier sells security businesses to Honeywell[1]
M&A
Carrier completed the sale of LenelS2, Supra, and Onity security businesses to Honeywell as part of its portfolio refocusing.
- 2020
Carrier announces separation from United Technologies[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Carrier became an independent public company after the separation of UTC's climate, controls, and security operations.
- 2016
Carrier and Indiana announce Indianapolis manufacturing agreement[1]
Other
Carrier agreed to retain furnace production and certain engineering and headquarters positions in Indianapolis after previously announcing a planned production move to Mexico.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/carrier-corporation · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled