Automation & Controls - News

Panasonic, a foremost provider of ventilation and indoor air solutions to the building industry, introduced the new WhisperWarmDC™ bathroom ventilation fan. To deliver healthy and warm air to chilly bathrooms while improving indoor air quality, the WhisperWarm DC fan has a powerful and intelligent ECM motor combined with SmartFlow™ and Pick-A-Flow™ technology. The 1600-watt heating element enables builders and remodelers to enjoy easy, code-compliant installations, while deli...

DENSO, a globally renowned mobility supplier, announced it has taken a stake in Envoy Technologies, an electric vehicle (EV) startup based in Culver City, California, that offers mobility services to the commercial real estate (CRE) industry. Through the investment, DENSO aims to create new revenue streams by offering the benefits of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) to businesses, helping them move employees, customers and things more efficiently and safely. Onsite mobility services Envoy's Mobil...

The 14th edition of Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator study surveyed 150 commercials, institutional, and industrial facility executives in the U.S. in September 2020. The COVID-19 pulse survey included questions on coronavirus-related improvements, investments, and impacts. Flexibility, Health, and Safety Drive With the pandemic, facility managers have new concerns about building health, changing their motivation for building investments. Increasing building flexibility to respond...

DENSO, a pioneering mobility supplier, announced it has invested in Lambda:4, a German company that develops wireless positioning technologies for short-range applications using Bluetooth Low Energy. The investment will strengthen DENSO’s passive digital key, increasing its location accuracy and user authentication capabilities. This improves safety and security for those using the key on smart devices to enter a vehicle. Passive digital keys Passive digital keys allow approved use...

Panasonic has been active in Costa Rica for more than 50 years. Now it operates Costa Rica's first factory powered entirely by renewable energy. Thanks to a joint venture with the national government and state-run electric company, Panasonic and the country of Costa Rica are making great strides in reducing their environmental burden to reach their goals of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Multi-Sector collaboration Costa Rica plans to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, and it is already...

FREOR, a successfully growing export-oriented Baltics manufacturer of commercial refrigeration equipment, has completed the construction of a new modern 16 300 m2 production plant in Vilnius, Lithuania. Both company’s business headquarters and production is moving to a brand new FREOR building. The move was planned without stopping the manufacturing process so that the company could fulfill customers’ orders to the best of their abilities. The new manufacturing site has started oper...

Renowned water heating manufacturer, Ariston has a range of high quality, energy efficient products designed with landlords, HMOs and rental properties in mind. Ariston’s electric water heaters are reliable, robust and suitable for buy-to-let applications including apartments, family homes, bed sits and en-suite rooms as an alternative to traditional cylinders. UK landlords are legally responsible for ensuring their tenants have adequate hot water at all times. They are also responsible f...

Michinori Holdings, Inc. (Michinori HD), Aizu Bus Co., Ltd. (Aizu Bus), DENSO Corporation (DENSO), ABB Bailey Japan Ltd. (ABB Bailey), DAIHEN Corporation (DAIHEN), and Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory LLC (Deloitte Tohmatsu) were awarded a contract for the R&D and Demonstration Project Toward Realization of Logistics MaaS (Mobility as a Service) Using Commercial Vehicles financed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in FY2020. The demonstration project...

Superior Sensor Technology announces the HV160 pressure sensor for industrial heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment that offers manufacturers a single solution that can support up to eight different pressure ranges in one sensor. The sensor is based on the company's advanced Multi-Range™ technology to achieve the industry's broadest dynamic range while maintaining up to a 10x performance improvement over competing solutions. The HV160 eliminates the need to manage the...

As the UK lockdown gradually begins to ease, and offices and retail outlets begin to reopen their doors, Ariston is highlighting the flexibility and benefits of its range of electric water heaters – especially with people now more aware of the importance of washing their hands more frequently. Ariston has an extensive collection of products suitable for all sizes of commercial properties, helping businesses and employees adhere to stricter levels of hygiene, while also accounting for an i...

Sustainability is one of the key pillars of the Plymovent vision, mission and strategy. In the past years, they have taken several initiatives to comply with this principle. In 2019, Plymovent became a true energy neutral company by installing over 1600 solar panels on the roof of its Global Head Office and Logistics Center in Alkmaar, the Netherlands. The entire production location in Thailand was already equipped with solar panels earlier. Plymovent becoming an even greener company In Novem...

As the Northern hemisphere heads into winter and people spend more time indoors, the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and other diseases will increase. The World Health Organisation states that COVID-19 is primarily spread through airborne droplets expelled when people who have the virus cough, sneeze and talk. Enclosed spaces can therefore become hotbeds for transmission. Recent research from the University of Colorado reveals that effective ventilation is one of the most e...

Bosch Thermotechnology’s H2-ready boiler shows how green hydrogen can secure tomorrow’s heat supply of buildings. The demonstration boiler was presented at the Bosch Thermotechnology site in Worcester. Although hydrogen is increasingly being seen as an environmentally friendly energy carrier, also in Europe’s building sector, its implementation has so far been rather slow. By developing a hydrogen-compatible boiler, the developers at Bosch Thermotechnology are proving that boi...

ASHRAE, a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment, announced a move to its new global headquarters, located at 180 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners, Georgia. The Society began renovations in January 2020 on an existing 66,700 ft building, originally built in 1978, on 11 acres of land. Located 10 miles north of its previous headquarters building, ASHRAE joins other innovation and sustainability-focused organizations based in the pop...

A smarter way of killing and containing airborne viruses, such as COVID-19, through a UVC light ventilation system could offer hope to millions of people worldwide. UV Diffusers, designed by Canadian-based EffectiV HVAC Inc., are an innovative solution to contain the spread of COVID-19 through ventilation systems using UVC light. UVC radiation is a well-known disinfectant for air, with the radiation being used effectively for decades to reduce the spread of bacteria. High-Efficiency filtering...

As children are going back to school and employees return to the workplace, indoor air quality has become a top priority. In order to prevent economic collapse, businesses must be able to safely reopen. Unfortunately, most building HVAC systems are not equipped to circulate clean air into occupied spaces fast enough to prevent the spread of viruses like COVID-19. Additional air purification systems and environmental upgrades are necessary to create safe working spaces as most Americans spend 90...

The YORK brand of Johnson Controls, the globally renowned company for smart and sustainable building solutions, and the architect of OpenBlue connected solutions, unveiled a new complete home comfort system with state-of-the-art zoning technology, offering improved, high-efficiency comfort with simplified installation and setup. Hx3 Communicating Zoning System The Hx3 Communicating Zoning System gives consumers ultimate control of individual room temperatures, in up to eight zones that they ca...

The European HVACR industry association, Eurovent has announced extending its scope of representation with the addition of J2 Innovations to its Associate Members list. Following a formal approval of the Eurovent Board of Directors, J2 Innovations, globally renowned provider of control and management software for HVACR equipment, has joined Eurovent (Association for Indoor Climate, Process Cooling and Food Cold Chain Technologies) as its newest Associate Member. FIN Framework software platform...

A total of 14 associations from the field of technical building equipment (TGA) have presented an updated version of the position paper on Building Information Modeling (BIM). In the paper, last published in January 2018, with the title, ‘Electronic product data exchange in technical building equipment (TGA) and its integration in Building Information Modeling (BIM)’, the authors formulate two key requirements: Electronic product data are used worldwide. Therefore, the German sta...

Everyone wants a clean home. That’s why it feels so nice to have the carpet vacuumed and the floors swept! But what about the dust and dander hiding out in the ductwork? Ignoring that debris means the indoor chores are only part-way done. When managed correctly, professional duct cleaning can be a great way to ensure everything is in tip-top shape. Indoor air quality makes a big difference in how the user lives both day and night. Bad odors, humidity levels, and allergens all play a part....

Heatcraft Refrigeration Products announces a general price increase for customers effective January 1, 2021, on commercial refrigeration products. This general price increase of 3 – 5% on equipment, service parts, extended compressor warranties, and extended service agreements is driven by cost increases in commodities and components, freight, labor, and COVID-related business measures during the course of 2020.

The Federal Association of the German Heating Industry (BDH) and the Institute for Heat and Mobility (IWO) are jointly using a new variant of greenhouse gas-reduced heating oil. As part of a practical test lasting at least two years, a total of 21 residential buildings are supplied with a so-called R33 fuel combination, one-third of which consists of components with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The aim is to test their readiness for use. Oil heating systems “There are around 5.5 mi...

After more than 100 years of being in business ‘offline,’ Thermo King is introducing its first ever e-commerce functionality with the Online Parts Store. The new solution will allow customers and dealers to online order parts for the full range of Thermo King Marine products: SG3000, 4000, 5000, Magnum+ and the SuperFreezer, in addition to a few other competitive offerings. The main goal of the Online Parts Store is to create efficiencies for Thermo King’s customers and dealer...

IMI Hydronic Engineering, the provider of innovative and reliable HVAC solutions, has selected Confirmit Horizons as the platform to support its new customer experience (CX) program. IMI Hydronic Engineering is working with Confirmit to build a series of surveys that will deliver a clear picture of the customer experience across key touchpoints throughout the customer journey. Surveys will be automatically triggered through an integration with the company’s CRM system. Supporting survey...

A senior executive at LG Electronics communicated the company's intention to expand the company's presence in the Middle East and Africa HVAC industry. At a virtual conference, the head of LG's Air Solution business division explained LG's brand philosophy to become a trusted partner in the region based on the values of integration, expertise, and commitment as well as a new portfolio of air purification solution products for residential, office and commercial environments. "Most people may thi...

Cooltherm UK Limited has achieved ISO45001, the international occupational health, and safety management standard. ISO45001 improves integration of standards and systems of work and increases organizational resilience through proactive risk prevention, innovation, and ongoing continuous improvement. The system integrates with both the ISO9001 (Quality Management) and ISO14001 (Environment) systems of work, with the simplification of policy and systems linking together and becoming mutually depe...

Airxchange, a globally renowned manufacturer of innovative, segmented and washable energy recovery wheels is joining Madison Industries.  Airxchange produces energy recovery solutions that perform reliably and effectively for the life of the HVAC system, while reducing energy consumption and improving indoor air quality. Airxchange joins Madison Industries “Madison Industries’ mission aligns perfectly with that of Airxchange – specifically, to make the world safer, heal...

Andy Green, Technical Director at Baxi Heating, offers half-term tips to ensure that the schools can rely on a reliable and efficient heating and hot water system heading into winter. As schools prepare to close their gates to all but key workers’ children, the half-term holiday is the perfect time to check on the heating and hot water system. Air quality Air quality and ventilation hygiene, along with cleanliness, have been the key areas of focus for school operators in recent months t...

Geothermal heating equipment is one of the best investments that a home owner can make for their property and comfort. Of course, for those not working with trained and experienced professionals, geothermal is about as risky as it gets. The unique installation process for this type of equipment grants it many benefits. It also means that home owners really need to work with installers and professional service technicians that know what they’re doing. Geothermal heating systems For home...

Savanna, a vertically-integrated real estate investment manager, owner/operator, and developer, has, through an affiliate, awarded Carrier heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) modernization project for the One Court Square building in Long Island City, a property managed by Cushman & Wakefield. Carrier is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, a foremost global provider of healthy, safe, and sustainable building and cold chain solutions. Systems To Install   Carrier will...