Novair

About Novair

In 1977, in the Paris region, Bernard Zenou, an engineer with a background in compressed air, started a company from his garage. With his wife, Maguy Zenou, managing the administration, NOVAIR was born. Initially, the company focused on supplying compressors and vacuum pumps to industrial and healthcare clients. By the early 1990s, NOVAIR shifted its focus to a more critical need: medical gases. The company began designing its first medical air and vacuum systems and then specialized in on-site medical oxygen generation. This pivot was significant, as it aimed to provide hospitals and clinics with the ability to produce their own medical oxygen, reducing dependence on traditional supply chains that deliver oxygen by truck. Bernard Zenou actively participated in committees to establish a regulatory framework for these on-site oxygen generators. The company's mission gained global prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted vulnerabilities in medical oxygen supply chains worldwide. NOVAIR became a key partner for international organizations, delivering generators to dozens of countries. In 2021, to support its growth, NOVAIR received a significant investment of approximately €26 million from Eurazeo, which acquired a minority stake alongside the founding Zenou family. This was followed by strategic acquisitions in 2022, including the American companies OGSI and America Energy, to expand its presence in North America.