The history of the cooling tower is the history of industrial heat dissipation technology. From the early evaporative cooling devices of the late 19th century to mechanical draft and film fill, and on to today's liquid cooling and smart cooling — every leap in cooling technology has answered industry's ever-higher demands for heat dissipation.
This article traces, chronologically, more than a century of cooling tower technology, and the technology path of Lanxun Technology since its founding in 1999 — from independently developing its first cooling tower to becoming a national-level specialized and innovative "Key Little Giant" enterprise and Asia's first UL-certified cooling tower manufacturer.
Part One: The Evolution of Global Cooling Tower Technology
Late 19th – Early 20th Century: Industrialization Creates Demand for Circulating Cooling
As steam power and condensation technology advanced, circulating cooling water and early evaporative cooling devices gradually entered industrial use.
1910s–1930s: Cooling Towers Move Toward Larger Scale and Mechanization
Large natural draft cooling towers entered engineering practice and mechanical draft technology came into use, as the cooling tower gradually became an independent category of industrial equipment.
1930s–1960s: Mechanical Draft Cooling Technology Keeps Advancing
Key technologies such as fans, spray systems, and fill were continuously improved, moving cooling towers toward greater stability, compactness, and controllability.
1960s–1990s: High-Efficiency Heat Exchange and Diversified Tower Types
Film fill, crossflow structures, and hybrid dry-wet technologies continued to develop, evolving cooling towers toward high efficiency, energy savings, and broader application.
Part Two: The Technology Path of Lanxun Technology
1999: As Chinese Industry Accelerates, Lanxun Begins Its Path in Cooling Technology
With the rapid growth of manufacturing and urban construction, demand for industrial circulating water and air-conditioning cooling kept rising. Lanxun Technology was founded in Guangzhou in response, and its first independently developed cooling tower was successfully launched.
2001–2003: Product R&D and a Professional System Take Shape
Lanxun was recognized as a "Customer-Satisfaction Unit" and joined the Chinese Association of Refrigeration. It successively launched SMC fiberglass water tanks and the MT and HMT cooling tower series, further refining its product lineup and professional capabilities.
2004–2006: Quality and Environmental Systems Keep Improving
Lanxun was recognized as an enterprise "valuing quality and honoring credibility" and joined the Guangzhou Environmental Protection Industry Association. Its products passed thermal performance, tower FRP, and fill flame-retardant performance tests, further strengthening the foundation for quality and large-scale application.
2007: Construction Begins on an In-House Performance Testing Platform
Lanxun invested in building a multi-functional cooling tower performance testing facility, gradually developing its own testing capabilities around thermal performance, aerodynamics, material properties, and operational reliability — laying the foundation for product R&D, performance verification, and standardization.
2008: Entering Full-Scale Standardization
Lanxun became a member of the U.S. Cooling Technology Institute (CTI) and took part in work on the GB/T 7190.1 and GB/T 7190.2 national cooling tower standards. The company extended its focus from manufacturing to technical verification, standards research, and industry collaboration.
2009–2011: The Product Range Extends to Industrial and Specialized Applications
Lanxun continued to expand into closed circuit, water-saving plume abatement, large temperature-difference low-flow, and large industrial cooling tower products, gradually building a cooling product system covering civil buildings, industrial production, and special operating conditions. It established a leading position and topped sales in the South China market.
2012: A Comprehensive Transition Toward Green Development
Lanxun became a national standard drafting unit and launched "CSR Strategy at Lanxun," opening the curtain on a comprehensive green strategy and making it the first company in China's cooling tower industry to fully transition to green development.
2013–2016: Product and Certification Systems Mature
The HMK, LMB, PL, and LC cooling tower series successively obtained U.S. CTI certification, bringing product performance in line with internationally authoritative evaluation systems. The company continued to refine its certification system, earning multiple certifications including CTI, CCTI, and energy- and water-saving certifications.
2017–2018: R&D and Testing Capabilities Fully Upgraded
Lanxun was accredited as the Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for High-Efficiency Energy-Saving, Water-Saving, and Noise-Reducing Cooling Systems, and was recognized as a Guangdong Innovative Enterprise, with coordinated advances in both its R&D platform and engineering verification capabilities.
2019–2020: From Digital Design to System Energy Efficiency Innovation
Lanxun developed several software tools for cooling tower selection, calculation, verification, and online configuration. It continued to innovate around dedicated cooling towers for high-efficiency plants, and related projects won the "Blue Sky Cup" Excellence in Energy-Saving Products Award and Excellence in Promotion Value Award.
2021–2023: A Leap in Specialization and Entry into Emerging Tracks
Lanxun was successively recognized as a Guangdong specialized and innovative SME and a national-level specialized and innovative "Little Giant" enterprise. Responding to the cooling needs of data centers and the new energy industry, it launched a high-efficiency dedicated open circuit cooling tower for liquid cooling.
2024–2025: Honors and Industry Standing Reach New Heights
Lanxun was named a national specialized and innovative "Key Little Giant," a Guangdong Manufacturing Single Champion, and a Guangdong Top 500 Manufacturing Enterprise. Three production bases now operate in coordination, and the company made a counter-cyclical investment of RMB 1 billion to build the "High-End Energy Storage Cooling Technology and Ice Storage Industry Headquarters Base," covering a total area of 107 mu.
2026 and Beyond: From Made in China to the Global Cooling Market
In 2026, the core products of the PL crossflow cooling tower series obtained UL certification, making Lanxun the world's third and Asia's first cooling tower manufacturer to earn this certification. Looking ahead, it will continue to build out four production bases and advance digital twin, liquid cooling, hybrid dry-wet, and smart water-saving technologies.
Conclusion: In Harmony and Balance, Revere Heaven and Love People
Lanxun Technology — pioneer of new liquid cooling technology, definer of new cooling technology. From its first independently developed cooling tower to becoming Asia's first UL-certified manufacturer, Lanxun has always resonated with every step in the evolution of industrial cooling technology. In the next hundred years, we will keep writing the story of cooling technology.
