World Dryer
World Dryer is an American manufacturer and brand of hand dryers, hair dryers, and related restroom equipment.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
World Dryer is an American commercial restroom-equipment brand best known for electric hand dryers. The company was established in 1950 by inventor George Clemens, who sought to develop an electrically powered alternative to paper towels. Its first major product was the Model A, a wall-mounted hand dryer introduced after Clemens patented the design in 1953. The original unit combined a cast-iron housing, push-button activation, and a swiveling air nozzle, features that helped define the brand's early product identity and supported its use in public and commercial washrooms. The company expanded beyond the United States during the 1950s. Beginning in 1955, it manufactured and exported equipment internationally through a relationship with Warner Howard Limited in the United Kingdom, a business later associated with Personnel Hygiene Services. World Dryer's international activity established the company as more than a domestic equipment supplier and helped distribute its products across overseas commercial markets. Ownership and corporate identity changed during the 1970s and 1980s. Beatrice Foods acquired World Dryer in 1974, after which the company adopted the dark red globe logo associated with the brand. During the same period, World Dryer broadened its range with the Model B hair dryer, later renamed Airstyle. In 1985, Beatrice Foods spun the business off as an independent company. World Dryer subsequently continued to develop variants of the Model A, including recessed, automatic, accessibility-oriented, and application-specific configurations. Product development became more active from the 1980s onward. In 1986 the company introduced NoTouch, described as its first automatic hand dryer, together with the lower-cost Airspeed model. The automatic XA version of the Model A followed in 1987. World Dryer merged with Electric-Aire Company in 1992 and acquired Quebec-based Nova Hand Dryers in 2000, integrating Nova products into its portfolio. These transactions expanded the company's product and technology base within the commercial hand-dryer sector. The company faced increasing competition from faster, high-speed hand dryers that entered the market in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In response, it introduced a sequence of newer products: AirMax in 2005, Airforce in 2008, SMARTdri in 2010, SLIMdri in 2011, VMax in 2013, and VERDEdri in 2015. These products addressed different market priorities, including shorter drying times, adjustable operating speed, accessibility compliance, hands-in operation, and lower electricity consumption. In 2017, World Dryer joined the Zurn Industries brand of Rexnord Corporation. In 2022, Zurn Industries merged with Elkay Manufacturing Company, creating Zurn Elkay Water Solutions and placing World Dryer within that broader water-management and commercial plumbing portfolio. World Dryer remains associated with commercial restroom hand-drying systems and related equipment, with its products sold in the United States and international markets.
History
World Dryer was founded in 1950 by inventor George Clemens in the United States. Clemens wanted to create a practical electric hand dryer that could compete with paper towels in public and commercial washrooms. In 1953 he patented the Model A, the product that established the company's early reputation. The first Model A used a wall-mounted assembly, a cast-iron cover, a push-button control, and a swiveling nozzle. Its design emphasized mechanical durability and straightforward operation. From 1955, World Dryer expanded internationally through a manufacturing and export relationship with Warner Howard Limited in the United Kingdom. Warner Howard was later taken over by Personnel Hygiene Services. This relationship helped World Dryer distribute its equipment beyond the American market and gave the company an early international channel in the commercial hygiene-equipment sector. The company diversified its Model A platform over time. In 1968 it introduced the Model RA, a recessed version intended for installations where the dryer was mounted into a wall rather than placed on the surface. The Model RA was later modified in 1990 to support compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. In 2005, the model received a further nozzle modification known as the Q Nozzle. Other Model A variants included the DA, with a steel cover, and the A5, with a fixed rather than swiveling nozzle. Beatrice Foods acquired World Dryer in 1974. The ownership transition was accompanied by a rebranding that introduced the dark red globe logo associated with the company. That year World Dryer also introduced the Model B hair dryer, later renamed Airstyle. The Model B used the Model A's motor and basic assembly in an inverted configuration, directing air upward, and used a longer 80-second timer. In 1985, Beatrice Foods spun World Dryer off as an independent company. Products made during the Beatrice period carried a reference to the company's status as a Beatrice Foods division. During this period World Dryer also supplied Model A units to Bradley Corporation in a modified cast-iron-cover configuration. World Dryer introduced the NoTouch and Airspeed models in 1986. NoTouch was the company's first automatic hand dryer, while Airspeed was positioned as a lower-cost product. In 1987, the company added the XA, an automatic version of the Model A. World Dryer merged with Electric-Aire Company in 1992, then acquired Quebec-based Nova Hand Dryers in 2000 and incorporated the Nova range into its offerings. Competitive conditions changed significantly during the late 1990s and early 2000s as high-speed hand dryers such as the Dyson Airblade and Excel Dryer Xlerator gained attention. World Dryer's long-established Model A was challenged by these newer products, particularly on drying speed. The company responded with a series of updated models. AirMax arrived in 2005 with a larger, more powerful motor and a claimed hand-drying time of approximately 15 seconds while retaining an exterior similar to the Model A series. Airforce followed in 2008, SMARTdri in 2010 with adjustable operating speed, SLIMdri in 2011 with an ADA-compliant slim format, VMax in 2013 as a hands-in dryer, and VERDEdri in 2015 as a lower-electricity model. In 2017, World Dryer became part of Zurn Industries, a Rexnord Corporation brand. In 2022, Zurn Industries merged with Elkay Manufacturing Company. World Dryer consequently became part of the Zurn Elkay organization, whose broader portfolio covers commercial plumbing, water-management, and related building products. The brand continues to be associated with electric hand dryers and commercial restroom equipment.
- 2022
Zurn Industries and Elkay merge
[1]The merger of Zurn Industries and Elkay Manufacturing Company created the organization now associated with the World Dryer brand.
- 2017
World Dryer joins Zurn Industries
[1]World Dryer became part of Zurn Industries, then within Rexnord Corporation.
- 2005
AirMax launch
[1]World Dryer introduced AirMax with a larger motor and faster drying performance than the established Model A configuration.
- 2000
Nova Hand Dryers acquisition
[1]World Dryer acquired Quebec-based Nova Hand Dryers and integrated its product line.
- 1992
Merger with Electric-Aire Company
[1]World Dryer merged with Electric-Aire Company.
- 1987
XA automatic Model A introduced
[1]The company added the XA, an automatic version of the Model A platform.
- 1986
NoTouch and Airspeed launch
[1]World Dryer introduced the automatic NoTouch dryer and the lower-cost Airspeed model.
- 1985
Spin-off from Beatrice Foods
[1]Beatrice Foods spun World Dryer off as an independent company.
- 1974
Beatrice Foods acquisition and brand redesign
[1]Beatrice Foods acquired World Dryer, and the company introduced the dark red globe logo. World Dryer also launched the Model B hair dryer, later renamed Airstyle.
- 1968
Model RA introduced
[1]The company introduced a recessed version of the Model A for built-in wall installations.
Products and positioning
A commercial restroom-equipment brand focused on durable electric hand dryers, touch-free operation, accessibility, drying speed, and energy efficiency.
Commercial hand dryer · 1953
Model A
World Dryer's foundational hand dryer platform, patented in 1953. The original design used a wall-mounted assembly, cast-iron cover, push-button operation, and swivel nozzle. Later variants adapted the platform for different covers, nozzle configurations, recessed installation, and accessibility requirements.
Recessed commercial hand dryer · 1968
Model RA
A recessed version of the Model A introduced for installations in which the dryer assembly is built into the wall. The model was modified in 1990 to address ADA-related requirements and received a further nozzle update in 2005.
Commercial hair dryer · 1974
Airstyle
Originally introduced as the Model B, Airstyle adapted the Model A's motor and assembly for hair drying. The unit was inverted to direct air upward and used a longer 80-second timer than the hand-dryer configuration.
Automatic hand dryer · 1986
NoTouch
Introduced in 1986, NoTouch was World Dryer's first automatic hand dryer. Its touch-free operating concept addressed hygiene and convenience requirements in public and commercial restrooms.
Commercial hand dryer · 1986
Airspeed
A lower-cost hand-dryer model introduced alongside NoTouch in 1986. Airspeed broadened the company's range for buyers seeking a more economical alternative to higher-specification products.
Automatic commercial hand dryer · 1987
XA
The XA was introduced in 1987 as an automatic version of the Model A. It combined the established Model A design family with touch-free activation.
High-speed hand dryer · 2005
AirMax
Introduced in 2005, AirMax used a larger and more powerful motor than the Model A while retaining a similar external form. The product was designed to reduce drying time to approximately 15 seconds and respond to competition from newer high-speed dryers.
High-speed hand dryer · 2008
Airforce
Airforce was introduced in 2008 as part of World Dryer's effort to compete in the faster-drying commercial hand-dryer segment that had expanded during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Adjustable-speed hand dryer · 2010
SMARTdri
Launched in 2010, SMARTdri added adjustable operating speed to the brand's commercial hand-dryer range, allowing installations to balance drying performance, sound, and operating preferences.
ADA-compliant commercial hand dryer · 2011
SLIMdri
Introduced in 2011, SLIMdri was designed around a slimmer form factor and ADA-compliant installation considerations. It addressed facilities seeking a reduced-profile dryer for commercial restroom environments.
Hands-in hand dryer · 2013
VMax
VMax, introduced in 2013, represented World Dryer's move into hands-in drying formats. This configuration directs air around the user's hands inside the dryer body rather than from an external wall-mounted nozzle.
Energy-efficient hand dryer · 2015
VERDEdri
Introduced in 2015, VERDEdri was positioned around reduced electricity consumption. It extended World Dryer's product-development response to facilities prioritizing operating efficiency and sustainability considerations.
Brand decisions
2017
Move into the Zurn Industries portfolioM&ABackground
World Dryer had operated as a specialist commercial hand-dryer company and was subsequently incorporated into a broader plumbing and building-products portfolio.
Action taken
World Dryer joined Zurn Industries, then a brand of Rexnord Corporation.
Aftermath
The brand continued under Zurn Industries and later became part of the organization formed through Zurn Industries' merger with Elkay Manufacturing Company.
2005
Launch of AirMaxProduct launchBackground
The commercial hand-dryer market had become more competitive as faster products such as the Dyson Airblade and Excel Dryer Xlerator gained visibility.
Action taken
World Dryer introduced AirMax with a larger, more powerful motor and a claimed drying time of approximately 15 seconds.
Aftermath
AirMax began a sequence of newer World Dryer models intended to modernize the company's portfolio and compete on drying performance.
Sources1 sources
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