ActivePure
| File:ActivePure company logo.jpg | |
| Industry | Air and surface purification, floor care, healthcare infection prevention, water filtration and treatment |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1924 as Electrolux Corp. USA |
| Headquarters | Dallas, TX |
| Owner | Joseph P. Urso |
| Website | activepure |
ActivePure Technologies, LLC is a privately held technology manufacturer based in Dallas, Texas, with principal operations located in Bristol, Virginia. The company specializes in air purification systems utilizing photohydrolysis-based purification cells marketed under the ActivePure Technology brand. Its products reach customers across 72 nations worldwide. In 2021, the organization formerly known as Aerus Holdings rebranded itself as ActivePure Technologies.
History
Established in 1924 by Gustaf Sahlin under the name Electrolux USA, the enterprise initially concentrated on producing robust canister vacuum cleaners distributed through retail outlets and direct sales channels.
In 1998, Joseph P. Urso led an investment consortium that acquired the firm, subsequently renaming it Aerus Holdings LLC to highlight its focus on air purification solutions, later broadening its portfolio to include water purification systems.
During the 2015 Aliso Canyon gas leak emergency, the Southern California Gas Company procured 10,000 purifiers based on Radiant Catalytic Ionization (RCI) technology from Aerus to address air quality concerns.
By 2017, Aerus launched an enhanced RCI innovation under the ActivePure brand, which earned recognition by induction into the Space Foundation’s Space Technology Hall of Fame for translating space-derived technology into impactful Earth applications.
In response to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, ActivePure Medical was created to develop specialized purification devices for medical environments. The Aerus Medical Guardian—later renamed ActivePure Medical Guardian—received FDA Class II Medical Device approval.
The company adopted the ActivePure Technologies LLC name in 2021 to better reflect its core technology focus. That year also saw the addition of Dr. Deborah Birx, former White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, to its executive leadership as Chief Medical and Science Advisor.
Peer-reviewed research published in 2023 and 2024 confirmed substantial decreases in airborne SARS-CoV-2 particles and complete eradication of hospital-acquired MRSA infections within intensive care units utilizing ActivePure purifiers, highlighting the company’s role in advancing infection control in healthcare settings.
Technology
ActivePure’s proprietary technology traces its origins to a photocatalysis device created by the Wisconsin Center for Space Automation and Robotics, initially employed aboard the space shuttle Columbia. The system incorporates a UV light source combined with a patented catalyst and honeycomb matrix structure, collectively known as photohydrolysis. Earlier iterations were identified as Radiant Catalytic Ionization. The company references two peer-reviewed publications that validate its technology’s effectiveness alongside internal laboratory findings.
Related companies
ActivePure operates within a network that includes multiple distribution entities:
- Air Scrubber: The HVAC-focused distribution division of ActivePure offering both in-duct and portable purification systems.
- ActivePure Medical: A specialized branch serving healthcare and associated sectors.
- Aerus: A franchise distributor providing ActivePure products along with air purifiers, portable heating devices, water treatment solutions, and vacuum cleaners.