HVAC News, August 2020

The Water Council announces the results and winners of its third-round Tech Challenge competition, selected by corporate sponsors A. O. Smith, Badger Meter and Zurn Industries, a Rexnord company. Launched in 2017 and held twice annually, Tech Challenge is an open innovation contest designed to connect program sponsors to those with novel solutions for emerging freshwater technologies with a high potential for commercialization. The spring 2020 challenge, which ran from April 2 to May 3, sought...

Just from implementing existing technology solutions for electrification of transport, energy efficient heating and cooling of buildings and sector integration - urban areas can bridge half of the gap needed to reach the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target in urban areas. It is both technological and economically feasible for urban areas to achieve the 1.5-degree target by 2050. That is the key message of a new report from Navigant. Cities’ impact on climate and health is enormous. If policy...

GE Appliances, a Haier company, announced that Julie Burns will join the company as Executive Director, Monogram, effective this month. With 20 years of luxury marketing experience, Burns is well-poised to lead the ultra-premium Monogram brand and elevate it to new heights. “Julie will help to truly bring to life our new Monogram campaign The Mark of Luxury You Can See and Feel and ensure that the restage of our two product collections continues to gain momentum and deliver great results,...

Recently, Danfoss Editron has obtained the final Type Approval Certificate for its Synchronous Reluctance assisted Permanent Magnet Motors and frequency converters from the China Classification Society (CCS). The acquisition of this Type Approval Certificate means that Danfoss Editron products have been recognized by the industry authorities in terms of design and development, technological process, production and manufacturing and product quality - a milestone achievement by Danfoss Editron. "...

Electric noise caused by Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) and other direct-coupled electrical fast transients from valves and relays is a serious challenge in the plastics industry causing lost production hours, material waste and ultimately expensive damage and repair of machinery. In light of the problem with electric noise, Danfoss set out to invent a new pressure transmitter optimized for the specific conditions of the plastics industry. The result is the new MBS 1600 that offers electric pr...

A. O. Smith announced that it has been named a “2020 Top Workplace” by the Tennessean newspaper. The award was based solely on employee feedback gathered from a third-party study conducted recently. “All of us at A. O. Smith are very excited that our Middle Tennessee locations have been recognized as a ‘Top Workplace’ in Middle Tennessee,” said Mark Petrarca, SVP of human resources & public affairs. “This is a testament to the camaraderie and dedica...

As of 1st November 2020, Martin Rossen takes on the position as Senior Vice President, Group Communication & Reputation, reporting to Kim Fausing, CEO of Danfoss. ”I am very proud to welcome Martin Rossen to the team. I am convinced that he will strengthen Danfoss with his strategic mindset, execution power and a second-to-none insight into the dynamics of public affairs and the potential of strategic communication. Martin comes with excellent leadership experience and a strong commun...

Metro United Way (MUW) proudly announces Kevin Nolan, President and CEO of GE Appliances, a Haier company, as the 2020 Community Investment Chair. As such, Nolan will lead the organization’s efforts to create equitable, meaningful and lasting change throughout Greater Louisville. Amidst the recent events unfolding in the city and across the nation, Metro United Way remains committed to creating equitable outcomes for all. For decades, the organization has prioritized addressing the gaps t...

Greenheck, a globally renowned company in manufacturing and distributing air movement, conditioning and control equipment, has announced that its line of high-volume low-speed (HVLS) fans continues to grow with the addition of model DC-5, a five-blade HVLS fan incorporating a sleek, lightweight design. DC-5 fans DC-5 fans weigh less than 100 pounds and feature a plug-and-play wiring design for quick and easy installation DC-5 fans weigh less than 100 pounds and feature a plug-and-play wiring...

Built in the USA and China to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 standards, Danfoss Turbocor® oil-free centrifugal compressors are already bringing new levels of efficiency with more than 80,000 installations around the world. But while the compressor’s unique magnetic bearing technology delivers high efficiency with zero performance degradation, it also requires specific service and maintenance skills to ensure long-lasting performance and service life. Danfoss has therefore developed...

GE Appliances (GEA) will negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement in 2020 with approximately 3,800 production and boiler house workers at Appliance Park in Louisville, Kentucky. Negotiations will take place in Louisville. The union representing Appliance Park production employees is the IUE-CWA, and the union representing boiler house employees is SEIU-32BJ. The year 2020’s contract negotiations have been delayed due to the COVID-19 situation and subsequent travel and meeting...

At Baxi Heating, they are doing whatever they can to continue to provide the very highest level of customer care and support that they can during this difficult period. The company’s highest priority is the safety of all their valued customers and colleagues. They recognize the uncertainty that coronavirus has caused, and they also know that the heating industry has an important role to play - people still need heating and hot water. The company’s thoughts are with everyone who has...

Over the past months, Danfoss has made several exciting updates to the popular Refrigerant Slider app. Danfoss improved the interface, integrated several of the other apps, and added quality of life improvements that made it much easier to use. Danfoss announced that Refrigerant Slider is now RefTools, an essential, all-in-one mobile app for air conditioning and refrigeration technicians. The Cooling industry is becoming smarter and increasingly complex, and HVACR professionals need tools, gui...

Schneider Electric, the globally renowned company in digital transformation, energy management, and automation solutions, has announced a series of informational webinars that explore the strategies, tools and technologies to face the challenges in the energy industry. Interactive, digital webinars The webinar series includes 9 interactive, digital webinars, led by industry experts advising utilities industry professionals on how to incorporate the latest technologies to create more efficient...

Filtration Group announced the acquisition of OXYPHEN, an innovator in track-etched membranes. As part of the Filtration Group family, Oxyphen has strengthened its ability to partner with customers in life science, consumer and industrial markets with its customized membrane solutions. “We are excited to have a great entrepreneur like Annette Heusser and the team at Oxyphen joining us on our common mission to make the world safer, healthier and more productive,” said Tim McCarty, CE...

Berner announced the Berner Air Curtain App. The Berner App, an air curtain app to control architectural air curtains from a smartphone, is available now at the Google Play Store and Apple App Store The company also standardized its patented digital controller, the Intelliswitch™, across its product suite of air curtains in the Berner Architectural category. Both the app and the roll-out of the Intelliswitch™ will serve to simplify and enhance ease-of-use of...

The MBS 1600 pressure transmitters are built tough to withstand the harsh environments that wind power applications face. The dedicated range of pressure transmitters comes with all the needed electrical and pressure connections for easy integration into the nacelle. Its robust design ensures relentless monitoring of the pressure in pitch cylinders, brake systems, power packs, gearboxes, and cooling systems – to allow for higher performance, quicker corrections, and predictive maintenance...

Filtration Group’s mission to make the world safer, healthier and more productive has never been more important than it is currently. At Filtration Group, they are committed to continuing their operations as an essential business, keeping the team members safe, and to working with their customers to bolster the economy and fight the coronavirus. The health and wellbeing of the team members and the communities in which they live and work is their top priority. Safe working environment Fi...

Model ABD-Z1 is the latest addition to Greenheck’s line of automatic balancing dampers that provide on-demand control to ventilation systems. Model ABD-Z1 combines a shut-off damper with an electric actuator, automatic balancing damper (ABD) and a plenum box into one assembly. Ventilating targeted spaces The addition of a low leakage volume control damper to an automatic balancing damper allows the ABD-Z1 to shut-off unoccupied zones. By only ventilating targeted spaces, the central fan&...

Model ECV-40 is an addition to Greenheck’s energy core ventilator (ECV) line. The ECV-40’s new design features a dual-fan arrangement consisting of direct drive mixed-flow plenum fans with variable frequency drives (VFDs) replacing the forward-curved fan typically found in energy core ventilators. The mixed flow fan, a hybrid between an axial propeller and a centrifugal fan, reduces brake horsepower requirements by up to 50%. The VFDs facilitate ease of balancing at start-up. Sound...

During these challenging times, GE Appliances, a Haier company, is increasing its support to the local communities where it operates. In Selmer, Tennessee, GE Appliances has partnered with several first responders and community-focused organizations to provide them with donations of new appliances and additional critical supplies. “People everywhere, including those on the frontlines of supporting our communities, are relying on their appliances to keep groceries and medicine safe, clothe...

It is unrealistic to place on building owners and operators the burden and risk for providing pathogen-free water throughout buildings when the water delivered to their buildings contains Legionella bacteria. Legionella is commonly found in source waters and in the soil, and thus, if untreated at the municipal water treatment plant and in the distribution systems, the Legionella bacteria will necessarily find its way into buildings. More needs to be done by the municipal water suppliers to min...

Like many first responder organizations, the COVID-19 pandemic has led the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) to implement several new policies and procedures to help keep officers safe so that they can continue their essential job of protecting the community. As a result, officers at the department's Firearms Training Center have been limiting trips to the grocery store as well as limiting access to the facility by non-essential personnel to curb any unnecessary exposure. Through GEA4He...

During these challenging times, GE Appliances, a Haier company, is increasing its support to the local communities where it operates. In Decatur, Alabama, GE Appliances has partnered with several community-based nonprofit organizations to provide them with donations of new appliances and additional critical supplies. Supporting essential businesses “Now more than ever, people across the country, including those on the frontlines of supporting our communities, are relying on their applia...

From supporting the healthcare workers and first responders with new appliances to supplying personal protective equipment to hospitals and medical facilities, GE Appliances is banding together with communities during the COVID-19 crisis. Local community-Based agencies Over the last month, they have launched GEA4Heroes through which—in partnership with United Way Worldwide—a significant portion of the products that were made during the first two weeks of April will be donated to he...

Greenheck, a globally renowned company in manufacturing and distributing air movement, conditioning and control equipment, has announced the new model GJI, as the latest addition to its GreenJet series of fans, which have been specifically designed to ventilate enclosed parking structures. GJI ductless jet fan Featuring a low profile of less than 12 inches, the GJI ductless jet fan maximizes vehicle clearance space to allow for shorter floor-to-floor heights in the garage. The GJI’s aero...

Pallets of supplies from GE Appliances, a Haier company, have arrived at the Roper Corporation plant in LaFayette, Georgia, to help support employees there dealing with the impacts of weekend tornadoes and dangerous storms. A severe weather outbreak on Sunday caused significant power outages and damaged homes across southeast Tennessee and north Georgia, including the homes of several Roper employees. Additional relief efforts “Our hearts go out to all of the families during this time w...

A.O. Smith Corporation announced that executive chairman Ajita Rajendra will be retiring effective May 1, 2020. The Company’s Board of Directors has elected Kevin J. Wheeler as chairman of the Milwaukee-based water technology company effective upon Rajendra’s retirement. Wheeler will continue to serve as president and chief executive officer of the company. Rajendra will remain a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Water technology success “Ajita has been an in...

Heat Transfer Products Group, LLC (HTPG), globally renowned manufacturer of commercial refrigeration and HVAC equipment, has announced the temporary closure of its manufacturing plant in Scottsboro, Alabama, in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Ensuring workers’ safety HTPG stated that are shutting the plant down to disinfect and the plan is to remain down for the remainder of the week, so as to ensure a safe working environment and ample staff to support customer needs. The...

It is well publicized that the NHS is crying out for personal protective equipment (PPE) for its frontline workers who are dealing with victims of the coronavirus pandemic. On hearing this news, design engineers at the Preston-based site of boiler manufacturer Baxi Heating have taken up the baton, swapping the use of their 3D printers from making prototype boiler components to frames for protective face masks. Having seen an article about 3D print hobbyist Sid Lovatt, normally working in the re...