ThermaSol Celebrates 65 Years of Shower, Steam, Sauna Innovation.
ThermaSol®celebrates its 65th anniversary this year. Founded by David Altman, the origin of their first steam generator began when Altman designed, built and installed the first electric steam shower for a Park Avenue luxury apartment, based on the request of a French diplomat who wanted a steam shower similar to those he had experienced at his upscale men’s club. The company received the first of its many patents for this combination steam and shower product and so began many decades of innovation.
In 1970, Altman’s son, Murray, received a patent for the first aroma steamhead—a steam outlet head with dispenser for fragrances and/or medicants. With this industry-advancing patent, Murray took over operations in 1971 and began expanding the ThermaSol brand from residential to the hospitality industry where thousands of ThermaSol Steam suites were installed in luxurious spa and hotel spaces across the country.
The company’s growth continued exponentially, and in 1983 Murray’s son, Mitch, joined ThermaSol full-time. Mitch Altman continues as the company’s CEO to this day and his engineering expertise, brand vision and guiding hand can be seen in every corner of this family-owned company.
"David Altman’s vision continues today as ThermaSol leads the industry with breakthrough innovations and customer satisfaction,” states Mitch Altman, CEO of ThermaSol. “We are focused on building upon his dream; however, dreams only come true with the daily hard work of our team members and our valued dealers and distributors. I am so proud of our 65-year history, our three generations of a family-run business and our team members who have become family. Thank you for all your efforts these past 65 years. We will continue to make ThermaSol a rewarding place to work as well as a valued partner for another 65!”
The following provides a timeline of just some of the remarkable designs and advances that ThermaSol is proud to celebrate this and every year:
July 7, 1958
David Altman receives Patent #3007178, for a combination steam bath and shower.
1968
The design industry understood the value of steam therapy immediately and no one was a bigger ThermaSol proponent than renowned designer Dorothy Draper.
June 29, 1970
Murray Altman elevates the steam shower experience with his patented design for a steam outlet head with dispenser for fragrances and/or medicants.
1977
ThermaSol moves to Sylmar, California in order to accommodate their ever-expanding line of products, which now includes wall surrounds and whirlpool bathtubs.
1983
Murray Altman’s son, Mitch, joins ThermaSol full-time. He remains the CEO to this day.
1991
ThermaSol’s adds two new digital time and temperature controls to their steam shower systems.
1993
ThermaSol moves into a 25,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Simi Valley, California.
August 8, 1994
ThermaSol systems become even more user-friendly with Mitch Altman’s Patent #5805765 for a wall-mounted steam generating apparatus and steamhead.
1995
ThermaSol introduces the first generation SmartSteamTM technology. SmartSteamTM produces the precise volume of steam required to maintain the desired room temperature while conserving energy.
February 22, 2001
Safety and efficiency are top priorities with Mitch Altman’s Patent #6505781 for a self-contained, automatic, mechanical opening and closing steamhead with built-in thermostat.
2004
ThermaSol wins a GOOD DESIGN award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design for its Thermostatically Controlled Retractable Steamhead with Integral Aroma Oil Well.
2005
ThermaSol introduces their ProSeriesTM generators with SmartSteamTM and FastStartTM, designed to make installation easy for plumbers. This product remains the top-selling generator to this day.
2006
ThermaSol becomes the first steam manufacturer to offer a complete steam shower experience by launching the Serenity Light & Music System.
2011 – 2012
ThermaSol embraces additional technology by becoming the first steam shower manufacturer to integrate Bluetooth technology into their Serenity Light & Music System package. ThermaSol also launched Solitude, the first mobile controlled application for Apple and Android devices, giving users the ability to control steam flow, duration, personal music playlists and TV from their mobile devices – all while in the steam shower.
2014
ThermaSol introduces the MicroTouch control, which features innovative capacitive touch buttons and an LED display.
2016
ThermaSol introduces the ThermaTouch 7” LCD touchscreen control with Tranquility mode, which combines imagery and sound themes from nature. Also introduced this year, the all-in-one Serenity Light, Sound Rain Head, equipped with a full spectrum LED light system, sound and rain head.
2018
ThermaSol’s Digital Shower Valve delivers the most complete and personalized shower experience when coupled with the ThermaTouch control. ThermaSol’s small but mighty SteamVection Steamheads are another in a long line of industry firsts. SteamVection delivers floor-to-ceiling temperature and steam…uniformly.
2021 - 2022
The revolutionary HydroVive Rainhead - HydroVive 18 (launched in 2021), and the new smaller HydroVive 14 (launched in 2022), are designed to bring the multi-sensory powers of light, sound and water under the user’s complete control.
2023
ThermaSol redefines the Sauna for indoors and outdoors with exclusive wood finishes, Nordic designs and advanced heating systems with WiFi enabled digital controls.