Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from April 2006

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from April 2006

DuPont.(Manufacturers)
April 3, 2006... DuPont (Bedfordshire, United Kingdom) appointed Mark Hughes (right) as senior accounts manager and Simon Ferris as market development manager for DuPont Fluorochemical Refrigerants.

Space Pak.(Manufacturers)
April 3, 2006... Space Pak (Westfield, Mass.), a Mestek company, named Jeff Woods as its national sales manager. The company also named Ragan & Associates (Dothan, Ala.) its representative for Mississippi, Alabama, Western Tennessee, and the Florida Panhandle.

Johnson Controls Inc.(Manufacturers)
April 3, 2006... Johnson Controls Inc. (Milwaukee) received a Technology Achievement Award from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Club of Wisconsin.

Eclipse Inc.(Manufacturers)
April 3, 2006... Eclipse Inc. (Rockford, Ill.) hired Paul Carpenter as vice president of operations.

American Standard.(Manufacturers)
April 3, 2006... American Standard (Piscataway, N.J.) promoted Mark Korte to sales leader for the American Standard brand.

Behler-Young Co. (Grand Rapids, Mich.), C.C. Dickson Co. (Rock Hill, S.C.), and Temperature Equipment Corp. (Lansing, Ill.) partnered with Air Advice Inc.(Distributor)
April 3, 2006... Behler-Young Co. (Grand Rapids, Mich.), C.C. Dickson Co. (Rock Hill, S.C.), and Temperature Equipment Corp. (Lansing, Ill.) partnered with Air Advice Inc. (Portland, Ore.) by adapting the HVAC-IAQ[TM] program.

Gems Sensors (Plainville, Conn.) acquired Precision Dynamics Inc. (New Britain, Conn.).(Supplier)
April 3, 2006... Gems Sensors (Plainville, Conn.) acquired Precision Dynamics Inc. (New Britain, Conn.) and has changed its name to Gems Sensors & Controls.

Quality Service Contractors (QSC).(Associations)
April 3, 2006... Quality Service Contractors (QSC) named A.O. Smith Water Products Co. "Industry Partner of the Year for 2005" and QSC member Tom Maniuszko as "Contractor of the Year for 2005."

The New York State Association of the National Association of Power Engineers (NAPE).(Associations)
April 3, 2006... The New York State Association of the National Association of Power Engineers (NAPE) announced it will offer its new "Low Pressure Boiler Operation and Maintenance" course at Yeshiva University, New York.

Confidence encourages efficiency: builders take natural slowing of industry in stride.(industry news)
April 3, 2006... Overall construction including housing, highways, and manufacturing reached formidable heights capping off its seasonally adjusted rate at $1.16 trillion. Up 1 percent from November and 8.1 percent from December 2004, spending in 2005 as a...

Insurance costs have contractors seeing red.(checkup on insurance)
April 3, 2006... Would HVAC contractors be comforted to know that their insurance premiums slowed down to a respectable 9.2 percent increase in 2005? Or would they feel better knowing that fewer of their competitors are offering health benefits? According to a...

Know your competitors' prices in the industry.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 3, 2006... Collusion is defined as having a secret agreement between two or more parties for a fraudulent, illegal, or deceitful purpose. Many in the HVAC community often cower at the thought of the Collusion Police coming down heavy on them if they...

Increasing the healthfulness of indoor air quality.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 3, 2006... I read with interest B. Checker-Hanks' focus piece "Researchers Validate Effectiveness" (March 20). The article mentions that EPA data shows that indoor air is "generally four to five times more polluted than outdoor air." Also, it reports that...

PHCC members represent industry.(newsline)(Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors)
April 3, 2006... WASHINGTON -- "You represent the industry" was the message members of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association heard during PHCC's 10th annual Legislative Day. Before heading to Capitol Hill appointments, the 100 PHCC...

Danfoss' new take-out special.(newsline)(Danfoss Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Div.)(Brief article)
April 3, 2006... BALTIMORE -- The Danfoss Take-Out Special, a new promotional campaign, rewards refrigeration and air conditioning contractors with a $5 fast food gift card for every purchase of a KPU pressure control or thermostat at participating wholesalers....

Ron Cameron.(OBITUARY)
April 3, 2006... The HVAC industry lost a valued member of its tight-knit community too early in his career, on March 20, 2006, when Ron Cameron, 38, of West Chester, Pa., passed away while working on the job for his employer Delcard Associates of New Castle,...

Carrier honors dealers.(newsline)
April 3, 2006... INDIANAPOLIS -- Carrier Corp. honored its 2005 Carrier Distinguished Dealer (CDD) award recipients at a formal ceremony held in San Jose, Calif., in conjunction with the 38th Indoor Air Exposition & Air Conditioning Contractors of America...

Unlikely IAQ partners unite.(newsline)(Indoor Air Quality)(Hearth & Home Technologies Inc.)(American Lung Association)(Brief article)
April 3, 2006... MINNEAPOLIS -- Hearth & Home Technologies Inc. partnered with the American Lung Association[R] Health House[R] program to promote clean indoor air. Part of an exclusive agreement with the Health House program, the educational partnership will...

DOE honors partners.(newsline)(Department of Energy )(energy efficiency)(Brief article)
April 3, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Samuel Bodman, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) secretary, and Stephen Johnson, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator, honored 67 businesses, groups, and government entities for their accomplishments and leadership in...

Electric air handlers.(what's new)
April 3, 2006... Designed for ultra-quiet operation, the new electric air handlers in the Ultra Quiet Series offer air-handling capacities from 1.5 to 5 tons. The units feature three-speed, permanently lubricated PSC motors that are resilient-mounted for...

Ice machine antimicrobial agent.(what's new)
April 3, 2006... The manufacturer's ice machines are protected by HoshiGuard antimicrobial agent. Permanently embedded in select components of the ice machine during the manufacturing process, the agent protects the inside of the ice machine as well as the...

Coil cleaner machine.(what's new)
April 3, 2006... The CC-140 CoilPro coil cleaner can be used for just about any coil cleaning application. It can operate on AC power, or on its integrated rechargeable battery. The unit can connect to a 3/4-inch water line for continuous operation, or can draw...

Hydroforming press systems.(what's new)
April 3, 2006... Hydroforming Press Systems are designed to manufacture a wide array of HVAC metal components such as heat exchanger shells, fittings, couplers, reducers, and most tubular shapes. The systems are computer-controlled hydraulic presses with data...

Dielectric isolation valve kit.(what's new)
April 3, 2006... A new dielectric isolation valve kit is now available. Easy-to-install kit components ensure pump isolation and easy removal of circulators for replacement or service work by eliminating the need to drain and refill the entire hydronic system....

Modular nugget ice machines.(Manitowoc Ice's SN-Series SoftCube ice machines)(Brief article)
April 3, 2006... The SN-Series SoftCube[TM] nugget ice machines use a patented cleaning technology that manages the cleaning process. The 450 and 650 models are modular ice machines designed to produce softer, chewable nugget ice, while still providing maximum...

Refrigeration sealant manual.(what's new)
April 3, 2006... A free 12-page publication, HVAC Refrigeration Sealant Training Manual, has been written for appliance, air conditioning, and industrial refrigeration system service technicians. It details procedures for identifying leaking systems, preparing...

Horsepower talk gives way to capacity considerations.(FOCUS: COMPRESSORS AND COILS)
April 3, 2006... For years, refrigeration contractors and technicians have described compressors by their horsepower, such as 7 1/2 or 10 hp (as in, "That supermarket rack has a couple of 7 1/2s and a 10"). Now such terminology is being phased out by at least...

Advances in compressor technology.(FOCUS: COMPRESSORS AND COILS)(variable-capacity compressor (VCC) models)
April 3, 2006... CHICAGO -- Today's commercial refrigeration market is demanding higher efficiencies, quieter compressors, and even non-HFC alternatives, according to the manufacturer Embraco, which is responding to those demands with its NT and...

Ammonia in place of R-22 means options.(FOCUS: COMPRESSORS AND COILS)
April 3, 2006... [Editor's note: As the industry continues to look at creating cooling without R-22, one refrigerant that sometimes enters the equation is R-717, better known as ammonia or N[H.sub.3]. One compressor manufacturer has weighed in with some...

HOOP approach aims to curb compressor failure.(FOCUS: COMPRESSORS AND COILS)(Hot Oil Over Protector)(Brief article)
April 3, 2006... Time to talk some 'HOOPS'. No, not basketball hoops. The NCAA Final Four is a done deal, and the NBA has another month before it heads into its playoffs. The 'HOOPS' here is Hot Oil Over Protector, a proprietary technology designed to...

Variable-capacity variation for compressors.(FOCUS: COMPRESSORS AND COILS)(Danfoss Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Div.)
April 3, 2006... New technology from Danfoss is offering compressor-drive packages that can achieve especially good energy savings in low- and medium-temperature applications, from 3,900 to 90,500 Btuh. Traditionally, compressors for commercial...

Storage, process cooling.(energy saving compressors)(Brief article)
April 3, 2006... In a multi-evaporator cold room with significant seasonal and daily load variations, and with an average system load of 68 percent, a Danfoss VTZ package produced energy savings of 26.2 percent, the company said. The VTZ compressor achieved a...

Arkema to expand plant in R-410A gear-up.(REFRIGERATION Zone)
April 3, 2006... Arkema has announced that it will expand production at its Calvert City, Ky., plant to produce the refrigerant HFC-32 with production to begin in 2007. R-32 is one of the components of the refrigerant R-410A (which Arkema markets as Forane[R]...

Pressure combinations create problems.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: the professor)
April 3, 2006... Many service technicians experience service calls where the compressor has both a low head pressure and a high suction pressure. Often, the refrigeration equipment is still running, but the product temperature is suffering about 7[degrees] to...

Removing oil from a semi-hermetic compressor.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: ice breaker)
April 3, 2006... Occasionally a technician may need to temporarily add oil to a semi-hermetic reciprocating compressor to maintain an adequate oil level, if the oil has been trapped out in the evaporator or suction line. This additional oil should not be left...

Auxiliary cooling aids conforming to laws.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: field solutions: CASE STUDIES IN ACTION)
April 3, 2006... Operating a fleet of refrigerated trucks is more than just inserting a key and stepping on the gas. Even before a vehicle sets out on its first trip, the checklist of what's needed in terms of technology can be extensive. Consider what...

Coming to the aid of OEMs.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: company consults)
April 3, 2006... It wasn't so many years ago that decision makers involved in the purchase of commercial refrigeration equipment looked at the pieces and parts available and asked OEMs to create a system to the decision makers specifications. But in recent...

Tampa discussion.(employee health benefits)
April 3, 2006... TAMPA, Fla. -- As part of its series of roundtable discussions, The NEWS went to Tampa, Fla., to get feedback on business concerns of local contractors. It didn't take long to figure out that insurance was on the mind of the three contractors...

Careerline, Thermotron partner for school.(training and education)
April 3, 2006... HOLLAND, Mich. -- Area high school students attending the Careerline Tech Center's HVACR program are preparing for future careers using cutting-edge training equipment that was specifically designed for use in their learning environment. ...

It's your turn to supply the inspiration for a worthy teacher.(opinions: VIEWS AND INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF AND GUEST COLUMNISTS)
April 3, 2006... The following is an actual posting on the Teachers Inspirations Chatboard, found at Teachers.net: I am a graduate student planning to be a high school social studies teacher. I just need a little inspiration to counteract all the negatives...

Of oils and automobiles.(opinions: VIEWS AND INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF AND GUEST COLUMNISTS)
April 3, 2006... When hydrefluorocarbons (HFCs) first came onto the radar screen a decade or so ago, we learned several things rather quickly: * Those refrigerants would not work with mineral oil that had been the oil of choice for chlorofluorocarboris...

Lennox Industries Inc.(Price Increase)
April 10, 2006... Lennox Industries Inc. (Dallas) increased prices up to 4 percent on selected residential and light commercial products, effective May 1.

MSI HVAC.(Manufacturers)
April 10, 2006... MSI HVAC (Fontana, Calif.) appointed former Allied Air Enterprises district sales manager Cabot Oglesby as the company's director of sales and marketing.

Tyco Electronics (Harrisburg, Pa.) renewed its exclusive licensing agreement.(Manufacturers)
April 10, 2006... Tyco Electronics (Harrisburg, Pa.) renewed its exclusive licensing agreement with Pressenk Instruments Inc. (Montreal).

Danfoss.(Manufacturers)
April 10, 2006... Danfoss (Baltimore) appointed Frank Pulaski as head of Commercial Refrigeration, North America.

Air Advice Inc.(Manufacturers)
April 10, 2006... Air Advice Inc. (Portland, Ore.) promoted Isaac Simpson to director of strategic partners; hired Laura Fallon Burns as channel marketing and sales manager; and hired Ben Arther as the Midwest account executive.

The Star Supply Co.(Distributors)
April 10, 2006... The Star Supply Co. (New Haven, Conn.) relocated to a new 165,000-square-foot facility.

N.B. Handy Co.(Distributors)
April 10, 2006... N.B. Handy Co.'s (Lynchburg, Va.) Chuck Dean will serve as branch manager of the company's new sales and distribution center in Nashville, Tenn.

Industrial Controls Distributors LLC (Wanamassa, N.J.) was selected as the distributor in North Carolina, South Carolina.(Distributors)
April 10, 2006... Industrial Controls Distributors LLC (Wanamassa, N.J.) was selected as the distributor in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee to represent Partlow and West, divisions of Danaher Industrial Controls (Gurnee, III.).

Titus.(Suppliers)
April 10, 2006... Titus (Richardson, Texas) appointed Michael Winn as vice president.

Facing the mismatch problem: 13 SEER transition brings coil debate to a head.(Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio )
April 10, 2006... Air conditioning systems are just that--several components designed to work together in order to provide the best possible cooling for an application. Manufacturers purposely design condenser coils and evaporator coils to work together, in...

New changes in industry will be tough for contractors.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 10, 2006... In recent issues of The NEWS, we read about a lot of new changes, which are going to bring smiles to our industry and maybe more than that. Manufacturers think that they can make huge profits through these new changes, and there is no doubt...

Recruit early, recruit often.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 10, 2006... I would like to reply to Matt Prazenka's request in the March 13 issue [in his letter titled "Encouraging Youngsters to Join This Industry"], and offer some suggestions for ways that the HVAC industry can grow its labor pool. My first...

ZigBee admits Siemens to highest member level.(ZigBee Alliance)(Brief article)
April 10, 2006... SAN RAMON, Calif. -- The ZigBee[TM] Alliance announced that Siemens has been admitted at the promoter level, the highest level of membership. Siemens joins BM Group, Ember Corp., Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Honeywell, Mitsubishi Electric,...

Mostra Convegno is succesful.(Mostra Convegno Expocomfort)(exhibition participation countries statistsics)(Brief article)
April 10, 2006... MILAN, Italy -- The 35th Mostra Convegno Expocomfort (MCE), the international exhibition dedicated to residential and industrial installations, closed with record results. In the space of five days, the show registered the participation of more...

Micro facility expands.(newsline)
April 10, 2006... HOUSTON -- Texas Furnace LLC completed its 75,000-square-foot plant expansion in Houston. This expansion houses a new, state of the art micro-channel coil manufacturing facility. The facility will produce high efficiency microchannel...

NEFI, MOC to host seminar.(newsline)
April 10, 2006... BOSTON, Mass. -- The New England Fuel Institute (NEFI) Education Foundation and the Massachusetts Oilheat Council (MOC) will host a two-day seminar April 20-21 at the Westin Hotel in Waltham, Mass., to help heating oil distributors better grasp...

Sculpture honors expansion.(newsline)
April 10, 2006... CHICAGO -- Grainger announced it is adding over 39,000 products to its new 2006 catalog launched April 3. The expansion brings the number of products offered through its catalog from 82,000 to more than 115,000. The expanded offering consists...

New Steam Technology Training Center opens.(newsline)(Brief article)
April 10, 2006... LISLE, Ill. -- Spirax Sarco Inc. recently opened its fifth Steam Technology Training Center in the United States. Located at the company's Midwest regional facility, the center hosted an invitation-only open house for customers, distributors,...

HVAC control system.(what's new)
April 10, 2006... ComfortPoint[TM] is a BACnet[R]-compliant, Web-enabled HVAC control system. The system features a family of BACnet controllers and a simplified interface, which give a flexible, cost-effective platform for monitoring and managing HVAC equipment...

Air-cooled condensers.(what's new)
April 10, 2006... The Monarch[TM] and the Ambassador[TM] Series air-cooled condensers are designed to lower sound levels, increase energy efficiency and capacity, and improve serviceability to meet the evolving needs of the supermarket and grocery industries....

Infrared unitary heater.(what's new)
April 10, 2006... The Rapid[TM] BH gas-fired, low-intensity infrared unitary heater is designed for commercial applications such as vehicle repair-service shops, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. Available in natural gas or propane gas models, this...

Self-contained air conditioner.(what's new)
April 10, 2006... The Space Cooler[TM] is a nominal 12,000-to 24,000-Btu self-contained air conditioner that can be installed anywhere there is free ceiling space. It fits into a 2- by 4-foot suspended ceiling panel. These units have no outside condensers,...

Sheet metal hole cutter.(what's new)
April 10, 2006... These sheet metal cutters cut holes in sheet metal up to five times faster and last up to five times longer than traditional hi-metal hole saws, claims the manufacturer. They are designed to provide more accuracy and rigidity in hole drilling...

Rigid cell filters.(what's new)
April 10, 2006... The OdorGuard[R] rigid cell filters offer extended-surface chemical filtration. They can be used for pharmaceutical, microelectronic, and clean room applications, as well as traditional HVAC installations. These self-supporting box filters are...

Dual-Port manometer.(what's new)
April 10, 2006... Model SDMN5 dual-port manometer is a standalone unit designed fur gas or static pressure measurement. The manometer can determine if the gas pressure coming into the house or out of the regulator is OK. It measures gas pressure up to 60 inches...

Leak detecting with hydrogen.(service & maintenance)
April 10, 2006... Hydrogen-based leak detectors are playing a key role in the production testing of refrigeration units manufactured at Kenmore International's UK operation at Crook, County Durham, England. The Kenmore UK operation is one of Europe's leading...

Danfoss lets energy savings do the talking.
April 10, 2006... Although energy-savings programs have been around for a while, the need for energy-savings data continues to grow as energy costs continue to rise. The North America Motion Controls Division of Danfoss has been working to develop a means to...

Drives play key role in preserving veggies.(FOCUS: MOTORS, DRIVES, AND VARIABLE SPEED)
April 10, 2006... When zooming into the drive-thru and picking up those perfect, crispy, hot french fries, or that tasty sandwich with delicious chopped onions on it, customers probably don't think twice about how the vegetable products maintained their quality...

A motor for all climates? Why Not? GE ECM 2.3 provides comfortable perch in Southern California climate.(FOCUS: MOTORS, DRIVES, AND VARIABLE SPEED)
April 10, 2006... LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. -- When much of the United States sees the seasonal change from warm to cold, this beautiful coastal town witnesses the arrival of that most curious form of fowl--snowbirds. And that is good news for a place like...

New shaft grounding brush extends life of AC and DC motors.
April 10, 2006... With the increasing use of variable-frequency drives (VFDs), there is increased generation of electrical currents on shaft motors, causing electrical damage to bearings. Manufacturers and end users have been looking for an effective strategy to...

California contractors find ways to avoid Title 24's regulations.(opinions: VIEWS AND INSIHTS FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF ANG GUEST COLUMNISTS)
April 10, 2006... Title 24 continues to baffle me as it twists and turns from the San Diego dunes through the Silicon Valley to the great Redwoods of Northern California. The program has many facets, most of which are intended to reduce energy usage in the...

The one with the most website tools wins.(opinions: VIEWS AND INSIHTS FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF ANG GUEST COLUMNISTS)
April 10, 2006... I don't consider myself a techie or a nerd (which may not be a bad thing). So when it comes to creating and building Websites, I am situated on the upside of the learning curve. I'll admit to dabbling in Website design, but taking time to learn...

Aaon Inc.(Price Increase)
April 17, 2006... Aaon Inc. (Tulsa, Okla.) increased prices up to 5 percent on certain models of rooftops, chillers, air handlers, condensing units, and coil products, effective immediately.

EMCOR Group Inc.(Contractors)
April 17, 2006... EMCOR Group Inc.'s (Norwalk, Conn.) Mark Pompa was elected as executive vice president and CFO. His predecessor, Leicle E. Chesser, has been appointed as vice chairman of the company and will retire at the end of 2006.

General Filters Inc. (Novi, Mich.) acquired Garber Filters Inc. (Seattle).(Manufacturers)
April 17, 2006... General Filters Inc. (Novi, Mich.) acquired Garber Filters Inc. (Seattle). Manufacturing of the Gar-Ber brand product has moved from Seattle to Novi.

HBD/Thermoid Inc.(Manufacturers)
April 17, 2006... HBD/Thermoid Inc. (Bellefontaine, Ohio) promoted David Gossett to product sales manager of its industrial and aviation ducting operations located in Chanute, Kan.

Ward Manufacturing Inc. (Blossburg, Pa.) acquired Wisconsin Nipple and Fitting Corp.(Manufacturers)
April 17, 2006... Ward Manufacturing Inc. (Blossburg, Pa.) acquired Wisconsin Nipple and Fitting Corp. (Milwaukee).

The Gastite Division of Titeflex Corp. (Springfield, Mass.) promoted Mark Harris to general manager and Carmin Lattell to vice president.(Manufacturers)
April 17, 2006... The Gastite Division of Titeflex Corp. (Springfield, Mass.) promoted Mark Harris to general manager and Carmin Lattell to vice president of sales and marketing.

Allied Air Enterprises.(Manufacturers)
April 17, 2006... Allied Air Enterprises' (Bellevue, Ohio) AirEase[TM] brand received a Silver ADDY[R] from the Advertising Federation of Louisville's Louie Awards for its creative outdoor billboard campaign.

Refrigeration Sales Corp. (Valley View, Ohio) is holding its annual RSC Trade Show.(Distributors)
April 17, 2006... Refrigeration Sales Corp. (Valley View, Ohio) is holding its annual RSC Trade Show, May 4.

Honeywell acquires energy services group.
April 17, 2006... In agreeing to acquire a San Diego, Calif.-based energy services group, Honeywell believes it has strengthened its portfolio in providing energy management solutions for government, military, and commercial customers. Honeywell recently...

Keeping this summer cool.(RESIDENTIAL SHOWCASE ISSUE)
April 17, 2006... Every year The NEWS introduces the latest air conditioning units available for the upcoming summer season. The intent is to help contractors prepare for this busy period by doing the research that will help them to distinguish between brands....

ASHRAE charts course for global initiatives.(newsline)(American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers)
April 17, 2006... ATLANTA -- Changing technologies, rising energy prices, and increased focus on sustainability have challenged the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to stay on the cutting edge of the field,...