Legacy of Industrial Compression Innovation

The 150-year history of the Vilter™ brand tells a rich story of perseverance and drive to cultivate continuous innovation within the industrial refrigeration and gas compression industries.

1867

Vilter Manufacturing started as a general purpose job shop that Peter Weisel opened in 1867 in Milwaukee.

1880

Ernest Vilter became a partner in the business and soon after introduced the Corliss Engine.

1882

Vilter introduced the first refrigeration compressor in 1882.

1892

After a devastating fire, Vilter rebuilt a larger site and quickly rose as an industrial refrigeration leader, providing cooling equipment to ice plants, breweries and packing houses.

1914-1945

The company played a crucial role in supporting the U.S. in World War I and World War II.

1945

The Vilter 440 reciprocating compressor was developed in 1945. It remains an industry standard today.

The Future

We continue to develop robust and efficient industrial refrigeration and oil & gas solutions that are mindful of total cost of ownership, environmental awareness and improving operational safety. Moving forward, Vilter will continue to address the needs of our customers with innovations that adapt to changing industry requirements.