HVAC Pioneer Reuben Trane Joins 2026 Inventors Hall of Fame
Key Highlights
- Reuben Trane co-founded The Trane Company in 1913, transforming it into a global leader in heat transfer technology. He will be inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame in May.
- He developed the modern tube-and-fin convector-radiator coil in 1926, a key innovation in HVAC systems.
- Trane held over 30 U.S. patents related to heating and air conditioning technology.
NORTH CANTON, Ohio — Trane Technologies announced that Reuben Trane will be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class, recognizing his contributions to heating, air conditioning, and climate control technology.
Reuben Trane was an American engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur who earned more than 30 U.S. patents in heating and air conditioning. Born in 1886 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, he co-founded The Trane Company with his father and sister in 1913, and helped transform it from a small plumbing and heating business into a global leader in heat transfer technology. Trane is best known for developing the modern “tube-and-fin” Convector-Radiator coil in 1926, a breakthrough that became central to modern HVAC equipment.
Under his leadership, the company expanded through continued research and development, introduced major products such as early cooling coils and centrifugal chillers, and supplied more than one million heat exchange components in support of the Allied war effort during World War II, according to Trane Technologies. Trane served as company president until 1951 and chairman until 1953, guiding decades of innovation before his death in 1954.
“Reuben Trane was ahead of his time—a visionary whose innovations have improved the comfort, health, and productivity of millions,” said Mauro Atalla, senior vice president and chief technology and sustainability officer, Trane Technologies. “His induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame honors his pioneering contributions, which continue to influence who we are as a company. We proudly build on his legacy every day as we create bold solutions for a sustainable future.”
Reuben Trane will be formally inducted on May 7. His great-great-grandson, Reuben Trane IV, a current HVAC Systems Development Engineer at Trane Technologies, will accept the honor on his behalf.
The recognition places Trane among inventors whose work has influenced industries and infrastructure worldwide. The Hall of Fame also includes Frederick McKinley Jones, inducted in 2007, who invented the first portable air-cooling unit for trucks in 1938 and later co-founded Thermo King, now part of Trane Technologies.