A History of Innovation
UTC Climate, Controls & Security continues to build upon the rich history of innovation at UTC – a company that has transformed the way people live and work. Early innovations from entrepreneurs like Willis Carrier, whose air conditioning allowed societies to expand and prosper in less-than hospitable climates, and Elisha Graves Otis, whose safety elevator gave height to modern cities, were only the beginning.
At UTC Climate, Controls & Security, our brands were founded by leaders in the fire safety and security industry, and we have been providing cutting-edge solutions for nearly two centuries. With more than 1,000 engineers working in 30 technical design centers around the world, 10,000 field technicians, and a network of more than 400 branches globally, today UTC Climate, Controls & Security is at the forefront of providing effective, flexible, and integrated fire safety and security solutions to its more than one million customers around the world.
Industry Innovators
UTC Climate, Controls & Security is the newest business unit of UTC, but our brands have legacies that date back to the early 19th century. Our history is rich with innovations that shaped modern fire and security solutions, and we continue to grow today with leading-edge developments and solutions.
| 1818 |
Chubb patents the world’s first detector lock |
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| 1835 |
Chubb invents world’s first burglar-resistant safe |
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| 1880 |
Edwards begins manufacturing wooden conduits and housings for burglar alarms |
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| 1881 |
Edwards patents the first electric alarm bell |
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| 1917 |
Kidde develops fire detection and extinguishing system for shipboard use |
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| 1925 |
Creation of the first portable CO2 fire extinguisher |
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| 1930s |
Fireye offers the first commercial/industrial electronic flame safeguard control, a photoelectric device designed to detect the presence of an oil flame in less than a second. |
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| 1962 |
Forney applies solid state electronics technology into a burner management system |
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| 1966 |
Supra receives first patent on lockboxes for real estate agents |
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| 1979 |
Autronica launches the first Analogue Addressable Fire Detection System |
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| 1980 |
Onity releases the world’s first electronic locking system |
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| 1989 |
Angus Fire’s Petroseal is found to be the most environmentally friendly of all foam concentrates tested |
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| 1992 |
Marioff receives the prestigious Seatrade Safety at Sea Award |
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| 2004 |
Kidde invents the world’s first wireless networked smoke detectors |
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| 2007 |
Supra launches first lockbox system for real estate agents that transmits information over cellular networks |
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| 2009 |
Marioff’s HI-FOG water mist protection system is recognized for its water-saving potential by Waterwise, a leading authority on water efficiency in the U.K. |
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| 2009 |
Kidde smoke alarm ranked #1 in France by 60 Millions De Consommateurs magazine |
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2009 |
Edwards achieves the industry’s first listing to the trendsetting UL Mass Notification standard |
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2011 |
United Technologies fire & security businesses are combined with sister unit Carrier to form UTC Climate, Controls & Security |
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The founders of UTC Climate, Controls & Security were entrepreneurs who shaped the fire safety and security industries. Here are just a few examples of these innovators:
Charles and Jeremiah Chubb were trained as blacksmiths and founded a hardware business together. In 1818, Jeremiah patented the “detector” lock, and Charles continued to improve upon it in subsequent years. In 1835, Chubb took out its first patent for a burglar-resistant and fireproof safe, and subsequently began producing a variety of safes and locks. Today, Chubb is one of the world’s leading providers of electronic and physical security.
Robert Edwards and his partner founded Edwards and Company in 1872 in order to explore electricity and manufacture, sell, and install battery-operated gas-fixture igniters. One of the company’s first customers was a New York City church, where employees had previously climbed a 100-foot ladder in order to light gas fixtures. Edwards later developed the electric doorbell and a burglar alarm, and some of the products manufactured by UTC Climate, Controls & Security today are direct descendants of those early alarms and igniters.
Walter Kidde founded the Walter Kidde Company in 1917, which produced the world's first ever integrated smoke detection and carbon dioxide extinguishing system for use on board ships. Nearly a century later, Kidde remains a household name for fire extinguishers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and other fire prevention solutions.
Today, UTC Climate, Controls & Security continues to build upon our legacy of innovation through an ongoing commitment to technology. From state-of-the-art intelligent video surveillance to environmentally friendly fire protection systems, we’re developing the products that will define the next generation of fire and security solutions.