The history
of Brunata
The start of a century of technological milestones
The Danes were among the first in the world to use heat cost allocators. This is not least Brunata’s merit, as the founder, the engineer Constantin Brun, took an interest in how to allocate heating costs fairly and accurately while also making it possible to save energy at the same time.
Brunata’s history begins in 1939, when Brun founded the ‘Constantin Brun engineering company’. Through the engineering firm, Brun developed a whole new type of heat meters that allowed accurate measurement and allocation of heating costs in properties. It marked the start of a century of technological milestones in the measurement and allocation of heat, water and energy.
Brun meets ATA
Around 1950, Constantin Brun merged with the Swiss company ATA, and the name Brunata was registered. In the coming years, an intense technological development phase took place, where several new types of consumption meters were developed, such as water meters, which were widely used in the 1970s. The company also developed a patented technology for heat meters, which still to this day makes the meters among the most accurate on the market.
With the proliferation of the internet, Brunata also went online and offered remotely read meters as well as completely new and efficient ways of delivering data to provide customers with the best possible overview.
The intelligent future
At Brunata, development never stops. In 2018, Brunata was acquired by the German company Minol, a global frontrunner in energy, measurement technology and data networks. With new knowledge and technology behind us, Brunata has taken the lead in the development of Internet of Things-based metering and energy services and thus the move towards Smart Buildings and Smart Cities.
This new phase has only just begun and is successfully turning Brunata into an up-to-date IoT-based cleantech company with products and services that promote energy optimization for the benefit of the individual citizen and society. Completely in the spirit of Constantin Brun.
Brunata's history in short
1917
As far back as 1917, the first heat cost allocators in the world were assembled in Denmark. The meters were based on thermoelectric measurement principles introduced through the company Kemp & Lauritzen. These meters were serviced by Brunata until 2014.
1935
In the 1920s a German magazine published an article about a heat cost allocator, where consumption was recorded as evaporation from a liquid-filled ampoule, mounted on the radiator. The Danish engineer Constantin Brun saw the opportunity to share the costs of heating in an accurate and fair way using this meter.
1939
In 1935 Brun founded the engineering firm Constantin Brun in order to develop the new measuring method. In 1939 the company was formed as a limited company (A/S) and linked with the production of heat cost allocators and the development of heat metering systems for central heating systems.
1950
In 1950 Constantin Brun a/s began cooperation with the Swiss company ATA. The brand ‘Brunata’ was registered as a contraction of the two names: The Danish Brun and Swiss ATA became BRUNATA. Constantin Brun a/s delivered meters, and ATA established contact with customers in Europe.
1959
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s Constantin Brun a/s included collaboration with licensing partners in several European countries and especially in Germany. Constantin Brun a/s supplied meters from Denmark and licensed partners to install and service meters.
1980
The first electronic heat cost allocator from Brunata was introduced on the market – the RME80.
1989
In 1976, Constantin Brun a/s was acquired by Kosan Group and continued the business under the name Kosan Brunata a/s. In January 1990, Kosan Brunata a/s was acquired by the Danish engineer Jens Peter Fischer Hansen and renamed Brunata a/s. Jens Peter Fischer Hansen and his adult children were the majority shareholders in the company until 2018.
1995
The first radio-read Brunata meters were introduced on the market, making it possible to read meters from a distance rather than by physical presence.
2005
In 2005 Brunata starts visualising data for residents and administrators in an online portal. Among other things, the visualisation has contributed to residents reducing their consumption – and thus benefited the climate.
2012
In 2012 the European Union’s energy efficiency directive (EED) was approved. The directive contains a series of requirements on how EU countries can make better use of energy, save resources and protect the environment. One of the requirements (added to EED in 2018) is that all manually read consumption meters must be replaced by 2026, at the latest, by meters, that can be read remotely.
2018
In 2018, Brunata was acquired by the family owned German company Minol, a global frontrunner in energy, measurement technology and data networks. Thus becoming an integrated part of the Brunata-Minol-ZENNER Group.
2021
Brunata and ZENNER announce the merger of their subsidiaries in Italy, France and Hungary. This is an important step to strengthen and reorganize the multinational group Brunata-Minol-ZENNER, with the ultimate goal of becoming a valuable partner for customers by offering complete solutions.
2022 -
Since the 1990s Brunata has established subsidiaries in mainly Europe as well as partnerships and sales through a number of agents. Today Brunata has its own sales companies in the Nordics, Croatia, Italy, France, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia and Switzerland. In addition, Brunata is represented through partners in several other countries.