Company History & Cool Shirt Evolution

The invention that launched Shafer Enterprises and Cool Shirt® was a cooling vest for surgeons to use in the operating room. Rich Shafer, the company’s founder, spent many years working beside surgeons for hours under hot operating room lights as a distributor for replacement knees, hips, etc. In a true entrepreneurial spirit, Rich saw the opportunity to help the doctors that were helping the patients and the Surgeon’s Cool Vest was born. Since 1987, Shafer Enterprises has grown exponentially to become the world leader in personal cooling systems for surgeons, racecar drivers, football players, fire/emergency services/hazmat, military and industrial workers. Using NASA study guidelines, Cool Shirt® active cooling systems help people manage body heat in extreme environments using circulating temperature-controlled cool water.

The employee / owners of Shafer Enterprises, LLC have over 70 years combined experience in the medical field, holding 24 different patents. The company operates from two facilities: a 65,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Loudon, Tennessee and a 12,000 square-foot distribution center in Stockbridge, Georgia.

Cool Shirt® Mission Statement

Since 1987, Shafer Enterprises' Cool Shirt® has been the world leader in personal cooling systems. Our mission is to create innovative products that help people manage body heat in extreme environments. Heat-related illnesses and deaths are preventable and we believe our products help in that prevention. After more than 20 years experience in the medical field and extensive research on cooling the human body, we have developed systems specifically for surgeons, racecar drivers, football players, fire/emergency services/hazmat, industrial applications and personal use.