Key Facts at a Glance
- Co-engineering delivers measurable value: Through close collaboration, Condair and Angst+Pfister combined application know-how, material expertise, and manufacturing capabilities to develop a steam hose precisely tailored to the application requirements.
- Higher performance with cost efficiency: The newly developed steam hose offers improved quality, longer service life, drinking water compliance, and high pressure and temperature resistance while remaining economically competitive.
- Long-term partnership drives innovation: More than 20 years of trust-based cooperation enable fast alignment, proactive consulting, and sustainable solutions that strengthen Condair’s market position and reliability promise.
When two engineering specialists join forces, innovation accelerates. For over two decades, Condair and Angst+Pfister have built a partnership rooted in trust, technical excellence, and a shared drive for progress. What started as a classic supplier relationship has grown into a co-engineering collaboration, one that brings measurable value to both companies.
Condair Group, founded in 1948 and based in Switzerland, is the global leader in humidification and a leading manufacturer of dehumidification and evaporative cooling systems. When faced with the challenge of developing a next-generation steam hose, they turned to Angst+Pfister to co-create a smarter, longer-lasting component. The result is a success story powered by two teams with deep application knowledge, material expertise, and mutual respect.
Global Leader in Humidification Technology
Condair Group AG, based in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, is a global technology leader in humidification, dehumidification, and evaporative cooling systems. The company operates across Europe, North America, and Asia, delivering climate solutions that enhance comfort, health, and performance in sectors such as healthcare, electronics, data centers, and HVAC.
Condair’s commitment to science-based innovation and sustainable indoor climate control makes them a trusted partner in mission-critical environments and a driving force in global humidification technology.
Engineering Partnership in Practice
For more than two decades, Angst+Pfister has supported Condair with a broad portfolio of products, including sealing solutions, hose assemblies, and connection components. This long-standing cooperation ensures consistency, reliability, and technical continuity across Condair’s product range. When Condair aimed to further improve a key steam hose application, the requirements were clearly defined. The solution needed to withstand high pressure and temperature, offer excellent outdoor durability, comply with drinking water regulations, and deliver a long service life while remaining cost-efficient.
Condair’s technical teams contributed in-depth application knowledge, testing expertise, and clear performance targets. Angst+Pfister added material expertise, design support, and manufacturing know-how. The result was a jointly developed steam hose solution tailored precisely to Condair’s needs. From early concept discussions through validation and industrialization, the project was shaped by close collaboration and open exchange. Condair’s understanding of steam applications and system integration worked hand in hand with Angst+Pfister’s development and production capabilities. This cooperative approach ensured a solution that performs reliably in the field and strengthens Condair’s competitive position in the market.
Meet the Experts Behind the Collaboration
To tell the full story behind our successful partnership, we sat down with two key voices from Condair. Fabio De Conto, Strategic Procurement, shared his perspective on the commercial and strategic foundations of the cooperation, while Christoph Germann, Technical Product Manager for Resistive Steam, provided technical insights into the development process.
Their combined input gives a deeper look into the development of a steam hose solution that meets the highest standards and how this project reflects the wider relationship between Condair and Angst+Pfister.
Innovation in Motion
See the collaboration in action: At Condair’s headquarters in Pfäffikon, we captured this success story on video. In the customer story video, Fabio De Conto and Christoph Germann share insights into the development process, the technical challenges, and the value of working closely with a development partner.
The video highlights how joint engineering, clear communication, and mutual trust lead to better solutions.
Interview with Fabio De Conto
As Strategic Purchaser at Condair, Fabio De Conto plays a key role in supplier selection and long-term partnerships, including the close collaboration with Angst+Pfister. With over nine years at Condair, he brings deep insight into how strategic sourcing and technical coordination go hand in hand.
In this interview, Fabio reflects on the commercial and collaborative dimensions of the steam hose project and explains why Angst+Pfister continues to stand out as a development partner. "What convinced us was the combination of deep technical expertise, a broad product range, and the ability to implement even complex requirements in close coordination," he says.
Click here to read the interview with Fabio De Conto
Could you briefly introduce yourself and the company?
My name is Fabio De Conto, and I have been working in strategic procurement at Condair Group AG for more than nine years. We have production sites in Europe, North America, and China. Condair is a global leader in humidification, dehumidification and evaporative cooling.
What are your key responsibilities at Condair Group related to Angst+Pfister?
I am responsible for supplier selection, especially in the areas of sealing technology, hoses, and connection elements. In this context, I serve as the direct contact person for our collaboration with Angst+Pfister, from the initial inquiry to technical coordination and series approval.
Amongst other products, Angst+Pfister supplies Condair with steam hose solutions. What triggered the search for a new steam hose solution initially?
We were faced with the challenge of revising our existing steam hose due to significant price increases from Angst+Pfister’s subcontractors. However, the requirements regarding service life, quality, and temperature resistance had to remain the same. Since we have known Angst+Pfister for years as a reliable partner who can provide us not only with standard components but also with customized solutions, we jointly developed a new solution for our products.
What made you choose Angst+Pfister over others?
What convinced us was the combination of deep technical expertise, a broad product range, and the ability to implement even complex requirements in close coordination. Particularly valuable were the proactive consulting and the quick response time to our inquiries.
Were there any challenges in the development of the new steam hose solution?
The new steam hose needed to meet the same requirements as the current one. Because we are represented worldwide, the price aspect was a major challenge. Together with Angst+Pfister’s development team, we were able to create a special solution based on high-performance materials.
How would you describe the collaboration?
We have been working with Angst+Pfister for over 20 years. They are a reliable partner, and we have already carried out solution-oriented projects together in the past. The long-standing partnership has always been collaborative and effective. Our contacts consistently responded quickly and expertly.
How did the implementation of the new steam hose solution go?
The implementation was intensive and solution oriented. From the early development phase, we received comprehensive advice. Angst+Pfister supported us with samples and technical simulations, allowing us to conduct tests at an early stage.
What improvements have you seen since using the new steam hose solution?
By implementing the new components, we covered the entire value chain and distinguished ourselves from competitors.
Interview with Christoph Germann
As Technical Product Manager for Resistive Steam applications at Condair, Christoph Germann is responsible for translating real-world customer requirements into robust, future-ready products. Acting as a key interface between customers and R&D, he ensures that performance, reliability, and lifecycle efficiency are continuously improved across Condair’s steam solutions.
In this interview, Christoph shares the technical challenges behind the steam hose development and explains why close collaboration was essential to achieving lasting results. "What makes our relationship with Angst+Pfister particularly special is our nearly two decades of collaboration in developing sealings and hoses for our products," he notes.
Click here to read the interview with Christoph Germann
Could you introduce yourself and explain your role at Condair Group?
My name is Christoph Germann, and I serve as the technical product manager for resistive steam applications at Condair. In this role, I act as a crucial link between our customers and our R&D department, ensuring we continuously improve our products based on real-world needs and feedback.
My position aligns closely with Condair's core values, as we're committed to supporting our customers throughout the entire product lifecycle, from initial consulting and planning phases all the way through to ongoing maintenance. We pride ourselves on delivering tailored, science-based solutions that our customers can truly rely on.
How would you describe the partnership with Angst+Pfister?
What makes our relationship with Angst+Pfister particularly special is our nearly two decades of collaboration in developing sealings and hoses for our products. This long-standing partnership exemplifies how much we value reliable, long-term relationships with suppliers who share our commitment to developing sustainable solutions together. Working with partners like Angst+Pfister allows us to leverage combined expertise and continuously push the boundaries of what's possible in steam application technology.
What challenge were you facing when you reached out to Angst+Pfister?
The specific challenge we were facing involved the degradation of our steam hoses after prolonged use. We discovered that the inner lining of the hoses was decomposing over time, which led to unwanted deposits accumulating in the tanks and technical components of our devices. This was not only affecting product performance, but also potentially impacting the reliability our customers depend on. Given our company mission to design for energy and resource efficiency throughout the entire product lifecycle, simply replacing hoses as soon as decomposition set in wasn't an acceptable long-term solution. Our objective was to find a new hose formula that would offer significantly better quality and longevity, while remaining economically competitive. This challenge required a partner who could work with us to develop an innovative solution that would align with both our performance standards and our environmental commitments.
Were there special requirements that needed to be fulfilled?
Condair's ambition is to set itself apart from the competition by covering the entire value chain from pre-sales engineering to offering the widest product and tool portfolio in the market. This comprehensive approach means our products must meet exceptionally high standards across multiple dimensions. Our steam hoses needed to be certified for use with drinking water, capable of operating reliably in both indoor and outdoor applications and engineered for extended service lifetimes. In Angst+Pfister, we found a reliable partner who understands these high expectations and the stringent requirements our products demand. Their approach to quality and their willingness to work closely with us on developing the right solution aligned well with what we needed for this project.
How did the implementation process go?
The implementation process itself was characterized by close, iterative collaboration. Together, we developed and rigorously tested multiple promising alternatives, with both teams contributing their expertise to refine the solution. This wasn't a typical supplier-customer relationship where specifications are simply handed over. It was a true partnership where both sides were invested in achieving the best possible outcome.
Are there measurable results you can share?
The collaboration with Angst+Pfister has delivered exactly what we were hoping to achieve. Together, we successfully developed a new steam hose that offers improved quality compared to our previous product, while also being economically more competitive. Last year, we were able to release the latest version of our steam hoses on the market, helping our customers to enjoy even more worry-free operation of our steam generating devices. The elimination of the decomposition issues we were experiencing means fewer maintenance concerns and more reliable performance over the product's lifetime.
How has this changed your work overall?
From our perspective, this solution has strengthened our ability to deliver on our promise of supporting customers throughout the entire product lifecycle. We can now offer a more robust, longer-lasting component that aligns with our commitment to energy and resource efficiency, while maintaining the competitive positioning that's essential for our business success.
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