Robert W. Fernstrum was working with Gray Marine in 1943 when the U.S. Navy encountered cooling problems with the Gray-manufactured engines that powered landing craft. World War II was in full swing and these landing craft were integral to the war effort, so the need for a solution was both critical and urgent. The responsibility to create a new closed circuit cooling system was assigned to Mr. Fernstrum, and after intense research, he engineered the first rectangular tube keel cooler, the basic keel cooler design that is still used today.

Two years later, in 1945, Robert was awarded a patent for the design, and R. W. Fernstrum & Company was launched. The family-owned and operated company now counts its fourth generation among the ranks as it continues to expand its global reputation as the world’s leading authority in marine cooling technologies.

To help ensure customers have access to the very best cooling solution for their particular application, Fernstrum has developed strategic partnerships with WEKA Marine to manufacture and sell copper-nickel boxcoolers for North and South America, and with Omega Thermo Products to provide laser plate heat exchangers to compliment their world-class keel cooler and boxcooler offerings.