The Brand Story
Cooper & Hunter: A Miami Brand That Learned to Build Its Own
Walk into a supply house in South Florida on a July morning and you can feel the problem every contractor is solving: older homes with no room for ducts, additions built long after the original system, and condos where the only path for refrigerant lines is straight through an exterior wall. Ductless heat pumps are the everyday answer, and Cooper & Hunter has made its name selling them, a company with roots going back to 1996 and a U.S. headquarters today in Miami, close to the heat and humidity its equipment is built to fight.
Chapter 1 · 1996
Roots in air conditioning and ventilation
Cooper & Hunter traces its beginnings to 1996 and describes itself as a global HVAC brand. Over the following two decades it built a business around air conditioning and ventilation equipment, exporting to more than 50 countries and regions and adding new markets along the way. To sell in places as different as the United States, Canada and the European Union, its products had to pass each region's testing and certification standards, a discipline that shaped how the company designs and documents its equipment.
Chapter 2 · 2017
Owning a stake in the factory
Many mini split brands never own the plant that builds their equipment. In 2017 Cooper & Hunter took a different path, signing definitive agreements for a long-term strategic partnership with Zhuhai Vino Environmental Technology Equipment Co. that included a purchase of shares in the manufacturer. The factory in Zhuhai, in southern China, was renamed Zhuhai Vino – Cooper & Hunter Environmental Technology Equipment Co. The arrangement gave the brand a direct hand in the plant producing its units, rather than relying purely on outside suppliers.
Chapter 3 · 2019
Investing in the next generation of technicians
Cooper & Hunter has leaned on contractor education as much as on hardware. In 2019, working with the Florida distributor Tropic Supply, the company donated HVAC equipment to the HVACR program at Daytona State College, so students could learn ductless installation and service on real systems before they ever reached a customer's home. The company continues to point to contractor training and expanding distribution as core parts of its strategy.
Chapter 4 · Today
From mini splits to whole-building comfort
Today the company's range covers far more than a single wall unit. Its catalog includes single-zone and multi-zone mini splits, heat pumps, VRF systems, air handlers, packaged terminal air conditioners (PTACs) for hotels and apartments, and indoor air quality products. The company says it tests its equipment for durability, efficiency and consistent operation across a wide range of conditions before it reaches the market, and it encourages buyers to compare SEER2 and HSPF2 ratings and to rely on qualified professionals for sizing and installation.
The Lineup
What Cooper & Hunter builds today
Cooper & Hunter organizes its ductless equipment into named series, each built around a style of indoor unit. Here is what HVAC365 carries:
- Single-zone systems: the Astoria wall-mounted heat pump series, from half-ton 6,000 BTU units to 2.5-ton 30,000 BTU systems, with efficiency ratings above 25 SEER2 at the smaller sizes.
- Multi-zone systems: outdoor units that feed several indoor heads, letting each room run on its own schedule and setpoint.
- Individual indoor and outdoor units: Astoria Pro and Olivia wall mounts, including the matte black Olivia Midnight, four-way ceiling cassettes, Universal floor/ceiling consoles and Slim Duct concealed units up to 60,000 BTU, most on R-454B refrigerant.
- Ductless heat pumps: nearly every Cooper & Hunter system both heats and cools, which suits mild Florida winters as well as colder markets served by the brand's Hyper Heat outdoor units.
- PTAC heat pumps: 12,000 and 14,700 BTU through-the-wall units with 3.5 kW electric heat, Wi-Fi and R-32 refrigerant.
- Matched mini split systems: indoor and outdoor units paired as one package. You can also browse by capacity in mini splits by room size.
The Next Chapter
Two new refrigerants
Cooper & Hunter's newest ductless indoor and outdoor units in our catalog use R-454B, while its current PTACs use R-32. Both are part of the industry's move away from R-410A. Because refrigerants cannot be mixed, the indoor and outdoor units in any system need to be listed for the same refrigerant, and older R-410A equipment should be replaced as a matched set rather than piecemeal.
At a Glance
Cooper & Hunter at a glance
- Roots
- 1996
- U.S. headquarters
- Miami, Florida
- Factory partnership
- Zhuhai Vino – Cooper & Hunter, since 2017
- Export reach
- More than 50 countries and regions
- Product focus
- Mini splits, multi-zone, VRF, PTAC
- Named series
- Astoria, Olivia, Sophia, Hyper Heat
Questions
Frequently asked questions about Cooper & Hunter
Where is Cooper & Hunter based?
Cooper & Hunter's U.S. headquarters is in Miami, Florida.
Who manufactures Cooper & Hunter mini splits?
Since 2017 Cooper & Hunter has held a strategic partnership and share stake in its manufacturer in Zhuhai, China, which was renamed Zhuhai Vino – Cooper & Hunter Environmental Technology Equipment Co.
How long has Cooper & Hunter been around?
The brand traces its roots to 1996 and has more than two decades of experience in air conditioning and ventilation.
What is the difference between Astoria and Olivia?
Both are Cooper & Hunter wall-mounted ductless series sold as separate model families. Olivia also comes as Olivia Midnight, a version with a matte black finish.
What refrigerant do Cooper & Hunter systems use?
Cooper & Hunter's newest ductless units use R-454B refrigerant, and its current PTAC heat pumps use R-32.
Does Cooper & Hunter make equipment for cold climates?
Yes. Cooper & Hunter's Hyper Heat outdoor units are designed for cold-climate heating, rated by the brand to operate down to -22°F.
