Friedrich - Experts & Thought Leaders

Friedrich Air Conditioning, a major U.S. manufacturer of premium HVAC solutions, welcomes Greater Northwest Reps as the company’s newest manufacturers’ representation group. The strategic alliance between these two industry leaders will significantly increase Friedrich’s distribution network, encompassing five new states including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.  Greater Northwest Reps Greater Northwest Reps will leverage its extensive network to call upon Friedrich's wholesale distribution partners Greater Northwest Reps will leverage its extensive network to call upon Friedrich's wholesale distribution partners, ushering in a new era of accessibility for Friedrich's top-tier air conditioning solutions. Commercial customers in the Northwest region can access an array of Friedrich products and experience the best in design, efficiency, quality, and innovation. Facilitating opportunities “Working with Greater Northwest Reps is exciting for us as we make our way into a previously untapped area of the country,” said TJ Wheeler, Senior Director of Friedrich. TJ Wheeler adds, “Friedrich is dedicated to evolving with the market, and we're confident this partnership will facilitate further opportunities. With Greater Northwest’s expertise, technical aptitude, and established relationships, we anticipate a mutually beneficial collaboration that propels Friedrich to new heights in the northwest region.” Unique solutions and technical training Boasting more than 35 years of experience in the sales industry, Greater Northwest Reps is committed to professionalism and ethics within its markets. The firm prioritizes fostering meaningful relationships and implementing unique solutions and technical training within the HVAC industry. Introducing products to locals “The Friedrich brand embodies a legacy of excellence and our team is eager to introduce these products to local distributors,” said Pat Burke, Principal/Vice President of Greater Northwest Reps. Pat Burke adds, “These are the solid, plentiful relationships we strive to develop that keep the industry moving forward in a positive direction.”

Friedrich Air Conditioning, a major U.S. manufacturer of premium HVAC solutions, welcomes Greater Northwest Reps as the company’s newest manufacturers’ representation group. The strategic alliance between these two industry leaders will significantly increase Friedrich’s distribution network, encompassing five new states, including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.  efficiency, quality, and innovation Commercial customers in the Northwest region can access an array of Friedrich products Greater Northwest Reps will leverage its extensive network to call upon Friedrich's wholesale distribution partners, ushering in a new era of accessibility for Friedrich's top-tier air conditioning solutions. Commercial customers in the Northwest region can access an array of Friedrich products and experience the best in design, efficiency, quality, and innovation. Solutions In Northwest US “Working with Greater Northwest Reps is exciting for us as we make our way into a previously untapped area of the country,” said TJ Wheeler, Senior Director of Friedrich. TJ Wheeler adds, “Friedrich is dedicated to evolving with the market, and we're confident this partnership will facilitate further opportunities. With Greater Northwest’s expertise, technical aptitude, and established relationships, we anticipate a mutually beneficial collaboration that propels Friedrich to new heights in the northwest region.” HVAC solutions and technical training Boasting more than 35 years of experience in the sales industry, Greater Northwest Reps is committed to professionalism and ethics within its markets. The firm prioritizes fostering meaningful relationships and implementing unique solutions and technical training within the HVAC industry. “The Friedrich brand embodies a legacy of excellence and our team is eager to introduce these products to local distributors,” said Pat Burke, Principal/Vice President of Greater Northwest Reps, adding “These are the solid, plentiful relationships we strive to develop that keep the industry moving forward in a positive direction.”

Friedrich Air Conditioning, a major U.S. manufacturer of premium HVAC solutions, has named Southwestern HVAC Sales as the company’s newest manufacturers’ representation group. A distinguished pioneer in the industry, Southwestern HVAC Sales will extend Friedrich’s distribution network across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and southern New Mexico. strategic partnership The partnership with Southwestern HVAC Sales marks a strategic move by Friedrich to fortify its position in key markets, following the recent expansion of its commercial product line. Notable product additions include the Friedrich Breeze™ Ducted Mini Split Heat Pump, Vert-I-Pak®, and Floating Air® Ductless Mini Split with FastPro®. excellence and customer satisfaction “Southwestern HVAC Sales’ demonstrated expertise and shared values align closely with Friedrich's dedication to excellence and customer satisfaction,” said TJ Wheeler, Senior Director of Friedrich, adding "We believe this partnership will not only expand our brand presence but also enhance the overall experience for our valued clients and customers in the Southwest region.” high-quality, innovative products Southwestern HVAC Sales will bring its wealth of knowledge, technical aptitude, and established industry relationships to drive new sales opportunities and uphold the current clientele within Friedrich’s wholesale distribution network. “Our team is ready to begin placing Friedrich’s extensive range of products throughout our network,” said Steve Wood, Principal Member and President of Southwestern HVAC Sales, adding “It’s an honor to be named the manufacturers’ representation group of such a reputable household brand committed to high-quality, innovative products.”

AHR Expo 2024 was abuzz with activity, befitting a dynamic industry in the throes of change.  Industry developments such as electrification and the refrigerant transition render business opportunities on the AHR Expo show floor, where exhibitors display a determination to meet the challenges and thrive in the process. Walking from booth to booth during the three-day show in Chicago, I saw the best the HVAC industry has to offer, up close and personal. Innovation and adaptability are the watchwords as the industry journeys into 2024 and beyond. Refrigerant Transition Top of Mind  Patented R-454B refrigerant enables a simpler transition without redesigning equipment The technology transition is well underway for OEMs seeking to meet a pending AIM Act deadline at the end of the year. OEMs are choosing to embrace either R-32 or R454-B refrigerant to replace legacy R-410A, which is being phased out. Patented R-454B refrigerant enables a simpler transition without redesigning equipment, while R-32 offers advantages such as higher capacity, higher efficiency, and easier cradle-to-cradle management. Arkema Arkema is the only producer of R-32 refrigerant in the United States. The newer refrigerant is being embraced as HVAC OEMs seek to meet the deadline of Jan. 1, 2025, to use lower-GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants in their products. The technology transition is just part of the AIM Act implementation that will also limit allocation and require refrigerant management. Chemours Chemours is a manufacturer of R-454A, R-454B, and R-454C refrigerants. At AHR, they presented hourly education sessions on a variety of subjects. The refrigerant transition will impact everyone in the industry, including refrigerant producers, equipment manufacturers, contractors, and end users. R-454B refrigerant provides identical performance in HVAC systems compared to the previous refrigerant (R-410A). There is less need to redesign equipment; just adding sensors for leak mitigation can address the mild flammability of A2L refrigerants. Because of the 2025 deadline, 2024 will be the “year of new products” in the HVAC market. OEMs pioneering Innovation  Carrier and others are offering smaller footprints, seeking to meet environmental targets Innovation in the HVAC market is led by companies such as Carrier, which has introduced 100 new products each year for the past eight years. Carrier and others are offering smaller footprints, seeking to meet environmental targets, and providing flexibility for customers. New products include the AquaSnap 30RC air-cooled chiller and the AquaEdge 19MV chiller with low GWP refrigerant to meet pending regulatory requirements.  Copeland Copeland, recently divested from Emerson, also emphasizes innovation, including 12 research and development (R&D) facilities, 1,700 engineers, and more than 3,000 patents. At a press conference at AHR Expo, the 100-year-old company announced it is a “new” company owned by Blackstone Private Equity.  Products featured Among the featured products at AHR are Copeland’s oil-free centrifugal compressor with Aero-lift bearing technology; and Copeland’s CC200 case controller, specifically designed to handle the unique challenges of the current retail grocery refrigeration environments. Copeland also pledges to play a role in educating the market about new trends and the transition to new refrigerants.  Emphasizing a Smaller Footprint  Trailblazer AGZ-F is an R-32 air-cooled scroll chiller that delivers 10% greater capacity and efficiency Daikin Daikin highlights the Atmosphera, a single-zone ductless split system (using R-32) that can reduce carbon emissions by 80% (compared to R-410A). Also, Trailblazer AGZ-F is an R-32 air-cooled scroll chiller that delivers 10% greater capacity and efficiency. Products emphasize a smaller footprint and less weight than their predecessors. Rebel Applied is a packaged rooftop unit that continually adjusts operation to address the building load, consuming less energy. Trailblazer HP is an air-to-water heat pump chiller with a reversing function that allows the product to switch between cooling and heating based on temperature requirements.  Friedrich Air Conditioning Friedrich Air Conditioning features the Breeze universally flexible inverter heat pump, a ducted mini-split for upgrading traditional equipment. It works with any furnace or air handler, has side discharge, is 40% smaller, and is cold weather capable to minus 13. Friedrich's new Vert-I-Pak is a line of M1-compliant single package Vertical Heat Pumps (available in 9K, 12K, 18K, and 24K Btu), supporting decarbonization efforts with heat pump operation down to 10°F. High Efficiency for Commercial and Residential Johnson Controls Johnson Controls exhibits their highly efficient residential and commercial HVAC solutions designed for Department of Energy (DOE) 2023 compliance and helping customers achieve Net Zero goals through decarbonization. On display was the York High-Efficiency 18 SEER2 Side-Discharge Heat Pump with up to 30% smaller footprint than vertical-discharge equipment. Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning's Aircore 700 single split system is aimed at light commercial and residential. Midea Their 3-ton model achieved 118% of rated capacity heating output at minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit Midea, known for selling consumer products, has kept a low profile in the professional sector, selling products that are either OEMed for Carrier or private-labeled by a contractor company. Seeking to promote the Midea brand, the Chinese company is staking its claim on the trade market with an emphasis on performance: The company exceeded performance in the Department of Energy’s “ColdClimate Heat Pump Challenge:” Their 3-ton model achieved 118% of rated capacity heating output at minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat pump awareness Results of a survey conducted by Midea show that more than half of homeowners are not fully aware of heat pumps and their function. Awareness lags among contractors, too: 70% of contractors indicate they do not know that the current’s advanced heat pumps can generate 100% heat output to a minimum temperature of minus 4 F. Wide Selection of New Products Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US emphasizes all-electric heat pump solutions. The Deluxe Wall-mounted H2i sumo System connects with an outdoor unit, and the intelli-HEAT dual fuel system can determine the best source of heat – electric or gas – on cold days. Among commercial products, Heat2OHeat Pump Water Heaters are designed to produce high-volume domestic hot water for commercial facilities in any climate. LG Electronics LG Electronics’ booth includes a wide product range, including advanced heating, ventilating, air conditioning LG Electronics’ booth includes a wide product range, including advanced heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and building management solutions for residential and commercial applications. Home electrification products include the LG R32 Air-to-Water Heat Pump Monobloc system; the LG Inverter Heat Pump Water Heater the LG Electronics Home 8 Energy Storage System, and ThinQ, LG’s mobile app. LG Art Cool Gallery multi-zone wall-mount indoor unit The LG Art Cool Gallery multi-zone wall-mount indoor unit features a customizable picture frame that doubles as a cooling and heating vent. Also, LG’s Medium and High-Temperature Hydro Kit Systems use a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger to produce chilled or heated water. LG’s Split Compact M3 DOAS with Multi V S is suited to light commercial use where single-phase power is available and as an HVAC solution for outdoor air treatment. Easier Access for Technicians  Rheem Manufacturing New equipment at the Rheem Manufacturing booth at AHR Expo includes true multi-zone operation, smaller footprints, lighter weights, and components that are positioned for easy access by technicians. An LED in the control cabinet displays a fault code that identifies the problem to service technicians. The Resolute and Renaissance lines are commercially packaged heat pump units. The company is emphasizing the transition from R-410A to R-454B refrigerant by the end of 2024. Aeroseal Whether a new install or a retrofit, the product saves energy, saves money, and keeps customers compliant Aeroseal seals ducts by spraying a vinyl acetate polymer substance to increase HVAC efficiency. Whether a new install or a retrofit, the product saves energy, saves money, and keeps customers compliant, and a 30% tax deduction is available through the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).  Airzone Airzone is a Spanish company that controls inverters and VRFs (variable refrigerant flow units). Their communication gateway controller incorporates protocols from various manufacturers, and the Easyzone is an easy-to-install zoning system.  Infinitum Infinitum manufactures a motor system that leverages a printed circuit board as a stator, making the motor system lighter weight and also smaller, quieter, and more efficient. The Aircore EC uses a standard printed circuit board manufacturing process to eliminate bearings. The component is used in blowers by OEMs Lau, Acme, Canarm, and Peerless, whose products are displayed at the booth.  Bell & Gossett Bell & Gossett debuts its line of smart, connected products designed to improve sustainability Bell & Gossett, a Xylem brand, debuts its line of smart, connected products designed to improve the sustainability of commercial buildings and reduce complexity in the design process. Combining pumps and smart motors are the e-1510 end-suction pump, e-80 vertical in-line pump, and TECHNOFORCE e-HV packaged booster system.  NIBCO Simplifying the job of an HVAC installer is the PressACR copper press connection system from NIBCO, which connects copper pipes without brazing, which involves soldering and high temperatures, thus a fire hazard. The patent-pending groove design and crimp pattern support the higher-pressure requirement of an HVACR system. Pipes are pressed together using PressACR jaws and adapter jaws in a variety of sizes. NIBCO also displayed its Webstone brand of residential and commercial valves.  Control Products Provide Data  Resideo Resideo displayed home system products, including the Honeywell Home T10+ thermostat with RedLINK 3.0; sensors enable temperature balancing for hot and cold spots. Pro-IQ Services provides software tools designed for the connected home, including insights on heating, cooling, water, and indoor air quality devices to help contractors track customers. Professional-grade water damage prevention, the First Alert L2 WiFi Water Sensor and Switch provide alarms if there is a water leak.  Schneider Electric The EcoStruxure Building Operation system is open system software for building and facility management Schneider Electric seeks to be “digital partners for our customers,” working with Fortune 500 companies seeking to achieve ESG (environment, social and corporate governance) goals. They help customers establish where they are currently vis-à-vis their goals and then deploy science-based key performance indicators (KPIs) to direct them to where they want to be. The EcoStruxure Building Operation system is open system software for building and facility management, including two products for the small and medium building (SMB) market. Energy measurement Schneider measures energy usage through power meters, indoor air quality, and energy spent to achieve efficiency, compiling data according to what the customer wants to achieve. They sell through a national sales team, direct branch business (20 branches), and 200 system integrators (EcoXperts). Their customers include QSR (quick-service restaurant chains) that control climate centrally with data compiled in the cloud.  Siemens Siemens displays solutions for smart, adaptable buildings for a sustainable tomorrow, including the Building X system and the Sustainability Manager application, providing an understanding of a building’s performance and tracking it against sustainability and compliance targets. The Building X Lifecycle Twin tracks operational building performance via a “digital twin,” providing an augmented reality (AR) headset through which one can view equipment with information superimposed on the screen. Uponor  Uponor seeks to leverage the capital cost of heating systems to deliver heating and hot water. They make pipes and connectors and other technologies, including the AuqaPort, which improves water quality and energy savings in domestic hot water (DHW) applications. They seek to future-proof buildings by combining energy efficiency and comfort. Water recirculates and provides hot water on demand using 40% less piping. A “radiant roll-out mat” is preconfigured piping that can be rolled out to simplify installation. 

Technologies such as machine learning and the internet of things (IoT) are taking their place alongside more traditional products at AHR Expo in Orlando this week. Performance of the industry’s historic product mix continues to improve from the standpoint of efficiency and sustainability, and elements of the industry’s “digitization” are making it even better. The “smart building” has finally arrived in earnest. “Our world is changing,” said Jenny Stentz, Area Vice President, Building Solutions, North America, for Johnson Controls. “Our customers are talking about it everywhere we go. They are demanding more control over the environment they occupy, and that is driving change.” Collaborating With Customers For Efficient Solutions  In the case of Johnson Controls, the changes are being implemented in the context of a collaborative relationship with customers; in effect, they are working Changes are being implemented in the context of a collaborative relationship with customerstogether with customers in the co-development of solutions that deploy the latest technologies. The massive amount of data available from today’s systems, when analyzed using new artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools, yields opportunities for more efficient systems for customers. Johnson Controls offered a panel discussion on “Changing Customer Demands” to kick off the AHR Expo. The deployment of “digital assets” alongside JCI’s product mix can have a practical impact on energy usage, saving in the range of 20 to 40% of the costs of operating a system, says the company. “Together, they drive the outcomes our customers are looking for,” said George Oliver, Johnson Controls’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Oliver added: “We try to put the customer at the center of all that we do. We try to understand the questions and be ahead of the curve.” Pushing The Digital Message JCI is continuing to invest to improve its product mix — in the range of $650 to $700 million in the last year. Investments include development of a state-of-the-art facility in Norman, Okla. There is also a training center, and the company continues to invest in the Navigator platform. “We have truly focused on being a products company, which really focuses our investment,” said Mike Ellis, Executive Vice President, Chief Customer and Digital Officer, Johnson Controls. “It all depends on our ability to leverage what is right in front of us.” JCI positions itself as a “pure-play” buildings company that is IoT-aware. There were other companies pushing a digital message on the first day of AHR Expo, too. For example, Delta showcased a comprehensive suite of building automation technologies built around the theme “Smarter Buildings, Smarter Cities.” Their booth showcased the ability to improve operating efficiency and reduce energy usage by combining various Delta products, including building automation solutions from Delta Controls Inc. and LOYTEC. Panasonic highlighted new technologies, including a system that suppresses pollutants and odors using nano-sized electrostatic atomized water particles. Delta’s O3 Sensor Hub combines multiple temperature and occupancy inputs with audio and detection accuracy enhanced by machine learning to provide more precise temperature reading and better control of other systems. Digital-era Machine Learning  Armstrong Fluid Technology highlighted Active Performance Management based on digital-era machine learning. The system optimizes the operation of equipment and makes recommendations about how operators can make the equipment work even better. The system operates on three levels. First, the Design Envelope intelligent devices (such as pumps and booster systems) send alerts and warnings about operation. Second, a systems optimization level considers data from a number of devices together; third, all the data is brought up into the cloud. The suite of solutions ensures that equipment runs at optimal condition. It prevents performance drift; furthermore, from population learning, the system improves the performance of a building over time. The system continues to learn by analyzing data from the population of assets connected to the cloud, including the large installed base of Design Envelope products. Exciting New Product Innovations Panasonic is highlighting the ClimaPure XE wall-mounted heat pump for cold climates. The ductless system features “nanoeX,” a built-in air and surface purification There were many companies pushing a digital message on the first day of AHR Expotechnology that reduces pollutants and odors. Nano-sized electrostatic atomized water particles are rich in hydroxyl (OH) radicals, which are effective at suppressing pollutants and odors. Friedrich highlighted the VRP Variable Refrigerant Packaged Heat Pumps, which provide VRF performance with single package simplicity. The “VRF in a box” solves more design problems than complex systems like VRF and 4-pipe systems. The product offers best-in-class cooling performance, super-efficient heating, true humidity control, and conditioned fresh air to help building owners achieve ASHRAE 62.1 compliance for commercial buildings and 62.2 compliance for residential buildings. Bradford White is showing the AeroTherm Series Heat Pump Water Heater that provides hot water more efficiently using technology to transfer heat from the air into the tank. The yearly energy savings is around $304 versus an electric tank. The pump can quickly pay for itself. Read our review of Day Two of the show here.