Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from September 2004

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from September 2004

Fluidics.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Fluidics (Philadelphia) has promoted Robert Fray to manager of finance.

Russell's Heating and Cooling.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Russell's Heating and Cooling (Chesapeake, Va.) was named the No. 1 place to work by Inside Business, in its second annual top 25 places to work in Hampton Roads. The company was previously recognized as Small Business of the Year for...

Milwaukee Valve Co. (Milwaukee) has acquired the high-performance butterfly valve line from Shaw Valve.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Milwaukee Valve Co. (Milwaukee) has acquired the high-performance butterfly valve line from Shaw Valve of Little Rock, Ark.

Compressor Engineering Corp.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Compressor Engineering Corp. (CECO) (Houston) promoted Joe Miniot to vice president of sales and Gene Thompson to vice president engineering and manufacturing.

Watts Water Technologies Inc.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Watts Water Technologies Inc. (North Andover, Mass.) promoted Scott Bardreau to the position of national sales manager for Watts Wholesale Plumbing and Heating Products.

Burnham Hydronics.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Burnham Hydronics (Lancaster, Pa.) announced that Mike Stafanik, driver of the company's sponsored NASCAR Chevrolet Monte Carlo, helped kick off the "Not Even for a Minute" safety campaign in Boston. The campaign is designed to protect children...

Maxitrol Co.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Maxitrol Co. (Southfield, Mich.) launched a new Web site, www.2psi.com, to help HVAC installers, plumbing installers, and utility professionals obtain information on regulator sizing and selection, and instructions on following the line...

DOE turns attention to heating: federal agency to hold public hearing Sept. 29.(Department of Energy)
September 6, 2004... Now that new efficiency standards for air conditioning are in place, the Department of Energy (DOE) is zeroing in on the heating side of the HVACR industry. The DOE recently issued its first official document in the current round of review...

PHCC member pleads for tort reform.
September 6, 2004... Tort reform legislation is needed to put an end to a"travesty of justice" that is threatening the livelihood of plumbing, beating, and cooling contractors, a member of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association (PHCC)...

All in the same basket.(reader Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
September 6, 2004... Don't be surprised when you read my story here. It's a real shame on those trade schools and certification organizations. I've said to myself, I will write about this issue, but due to the workload, I never got a chance to write on this topic....

Ohio School District earns DOE recognition.(industry News)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... MORRISTOWN, N.J. -- The Southwest Licking School District in central Ohio qualified for a Rebuild America EnergySmart Schools partnership award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The award comes as a result of the district's work with...

NAESCO conference examines energy efficiency.(industry News)
September 6, 2004... WASHINGTON -- "Energy Efficiency: Emerging from the Shadows to Take Center Stage" is the theme for the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) conference, which is scheduled for Nov. 17-19 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport...

Echelon, LonMark announce 2004 expo sponsors.(industry News)
September 6, 2004... SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Echelon Corp. and LonMark[R] International announced the initial sponsors and speakers for the 2004 LonWorld[R] Exhibition and Conference, Oct. 20-21 at the Shanghai Marriott Hotel Hongqiao in Shanghai, China. The...

SMACNA, OSHA form safety partnership.(industry News)(Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association)(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... CHANTILLY, Va. -- In an effort to create safer and healthier work environments, the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) has signed an agreement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration...

Ferguson Enterprises Inc.(Distributors)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Ferguson Enterprises Inc. (Newport News, Va.) has selected the eCredit nFusion suite to automate its credit and collections process. The change is expected to help the company decrease the amount of time required to process customer credit...

Filtera.(Distributors)
September 6, 2004... Filtera (Stafford, Texas) expanded its retail Internet site to include a full range of commercial air filter products and sizes. The Web site offers 24-hour-a-day access and secure online order processing. For further details, visit...

Air Cold Supply.(Distributors)
September 6, 2004... Air Cold Supply (Azusa, Calif.) is sponsoring one-year memberships for all of its York Liberties[TM] dealers in the Institute of Heating and Air Conditioning Industries Inc. (IHACI). For membership information, visit www.ihaci.org.

Colonial Commercial Corp.(Financial Results)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Colonial Commercial Corp. (Hicksville, N.Y.) announced its second-quarter results for the period ending on June 30. Revenues were $16,148,296, a 51.1-percent increase over the same period in 2003. Net income was $663,505 and gross margins...

Nortek Holdings Inc.(Financial Results)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Nortek Holdings Inc. (Providence, R.I.) reported that its 2004 second-quarter sales from continuing operations were $448 million, up 15 percent from the same period in 2003. Operating earnings from continuing operations were $46.6 million, up...

Amtrol Inc.(Financial Results)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Amtrol Inc. (West Warwick, R.I.) announced its second quarter results, from April 1 to June 30. Net sales were $52.7 million, an 11-percent increase over the same period in 2003. Gross profit increased 12.8 percent over 2003 figures.

Ingersoll-Rand Co. Ltd.(Financial Results)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Ingersoll-Rand Co. Ltd. (Hamilton, Bermuda) declared a 31.6-percent increase in the quarterly dividend of Class A common shares of the company. The company declared a dividend of 25 cents per share, payable Sept. 1 to shareholders of record on...

Hudson Technologies Inc.(Financial Results)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Hudson Technologies Inc. (Pearl River, N.Y.) reported revenues totaling $4,431,000 for the second quarter ending June 30. Net income was $514,000, or 2 cents per common and diluted share, and operating income was $592,000.

Dna Group Inc. (Raleigh, N.C.) created a technology license agreement with X-L Synergy Inc. (El Paso, Texas).(Suppliers)(X-L Synergy Inc)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Dna Group Inc. (Raleigh, N.C.) created a technology license agreement with X-L Synergy Inc. (El Paso, Texas). The agreement will introduce a product line of leakage-current detector-interrupter devices.

NuTemp.(Services)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... NuTemp (Chicago) added a line of desiccant dehumidifiers to the rental fleet, with capacities ranging from 300 to 12,000 cfm, and either electric, propane, or natural gas reactivation.

MECHdata Inc.(Services)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... MECHdata Inc. (Des Moines, Iowa) named Mark Fechter to the position of vice president/general manager of FindMEP. The company also appointed Emilie Ries to the newly created position of associate account manager for MEPatWork.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA).(Associations)
September 6, 2004... The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) (Arlington, Va.) added new features to its Web site, including business tools, technical tools, news and publications, events and training, consumer information, and an ACCA career center. For...

The Air Movement and Control Association International Inc. (AMCA International) (Arlington Heights, Ill.) announced Nicotra India Pvt. Ltd. (Noida, India) has three centrifugal fans licensed through AMCA International's certified ratings program.(Associations)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... The Air Movement and Control Association International Inc. (AMCA International) (Arlington Heights, Ill.) announced Nicotra India Pvt. Ltd. (Noida, India) has three centrifugal fans licensed through AMCA International's certified ratings...

Duct inspection system.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... The Super Trac III (5 in 1) robotic duct inspection and cleaning system includes a manual inspection system, a robotic inspection system, an air washing system, a power brushing system, and a spraying system. Color cameras, variable-intensity...

Filter.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... The Vari+Plus VP is an extended surface filter for HVAC and turbine intake applications. The media is used in a dual layer for efficiency at MERV 15 and has a high dust-holding capacity, says the manufacturer. The company states that Dura-Tuff...

Air conditioning control.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... The APR control is designed to provide full-capacity modulation for direct-expansion air conditioning systems of all sizes. Responding quickly to changing conditions, the unit controls temperature and humidity to maximize comfort and eliminate...

VAV controller.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... A Talon[R] Predator[R] variable air volume (VAV) controller with supply air temperature (SAT) response has a thermal control sequence that automatically adjusts airflow to maintain cooling as supply air temperature changes, the company states....

Fabric duct brochure.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... A 28-page catalog lists fabric duct products and accessories for commercial buildings. The 2004 Fabric Duct Ventilation catalog provides detailed description and application photographs of Sedona, Tuftex, and Duratex fabrics. In addition, it...

Building curbs.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... A new line of laser cut, all-welded construction, insulated metal building curbs offers the tightest tolerances and allows for a superior weld due to advanced laser technology, states the company. Each curb is custom designed to accommodate any...

Refrigerant purger.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... The portable Service Purge[TM] Model PSP-HP-1 high pressure refrigerant purger can be used to get air-logged chillers back online, says the company. It has a 1/4-inch hose hookup. According to the manufacturer, it will purge down a typical...

Gas-electric package unit.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... The RKNB Model commercial gas-electric package unit is available in 7.5- and 10-ton models. They are equipped with features such as high-pressure control, low-pressure control, hail guard, low ambient control, time delay, freeze stat, unwired...

Fittings.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... The CinchClamp[TM] can fit into hard-to-reach places; with a unique "tab" design, there is no need to get a tool around the entire fitting, says the manufacturer. Press the tab closed with the new CinchTool and the connection is complete,...

Evap cooling optimizer.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... The WaterWizard[TM] evaporative cooling optimizer is designed to provide evaporative cooling control while reducing water waste. It measures the outside temperature and humidity then adjusts the water supply to provide only the water needed for...

Reference books.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... The HVAC Engineer's Handbook has a comparative summary of all air conditioning techniques. The Plant Engineer's Handbook provides comprehensive coverage of subjects of interest to plant engineers, says the company. This book provides dual units...

Gas piping.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... CounterStrike[TM] gas piping is designed to increase significantly the survivability of fuel gas piping systems from lightning-induced damage. According to the manufacturer, this product does not focus the lightning energy at any one point in...

Fans.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... WhisperWall[TM] fans offer through-the-wall ventilation with quiet operation and low energy consumption, says the manufacturer. These fans operate a 0.45 sones, with power consumption of 16 W. They can be installed in both residential and...

Temp, humidity logger.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... The ThermaViewer Model TDVD-02 accepts inputs from one or two remote sensors up to 100 feet away. The sensors have total ranges of -40[degrees] to 85[degrees]C (-40 to 185[degrees]F) and 0-percent to 100-percent relative humidity. The onboard...

Compressor brochure.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... A new brochure compares operating features, savings, and maintenance costs of single-screw versus twin-screw compressors. It includes comparisons of 11 operating parameters, including partload efficiency, thrust loads, compressor speed, bearing...

Hydronic air vents.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... The AVA and AVV automatic air vents have been added to the Hydronic Specialties product line. They are designed to remove accumulated air from hydronic systems. Both models are float-type automatic air vents. The air accumulated in the valve...

Data logger.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... The Hobo U12 thermocouple logger is a self-contained 12-bit resolution data logger for measuring and recording temperatures from a variety of thermocouple probes. The data logger can accept any J, K, S, or T thermocouple. The cold-junction...

Data management software.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... The American Contractor version 7.0 allows the tracking, reporting, and sorting of data to fit the business needs of all types of contractors, including general contractors, subcontractors, and service contractors, the company states. A new...

Gas detector.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... The Xgard gas detector features a universal junction box and replacement sensors. The unit monitors for combustible, toxic, and oxygen hazards. A two-year sensor is available for oxygen monitoring. For combustible gas monitoring at high...

Pump controller.(what's New)
September 6, 2004... The ISS-105 IS Super Cell is a five-channel multiple pump controller. The microprocessor-based controller is capable of performing multiple duties and can operate as a pump controller for eight different pumping configurations where duplex,...

Trane factory targets growing China market.(The HVACR Industry In China)
September 6, 2004... TAICANG, China -- Trane, the air conditioning business of United States-based American Standard Companies, established its factory presence in China in 1995 with three joint ventures with existing Chinese companies. Today, the business has...

ASTM signs agreement with China.
September 6, 2004... Senior officials from ASTM International and the Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China (SAC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) designed to strengthen the relationship between the two standards organizations....

Control of electronic expansion valves.(refrigeration zone)
September 6, 2004... My article in the Aug. 2 issue of The News reviewed conventional thermostatic expansion valves (TEVs or TXVs) and covered the basic operation of electronic expansion valves (EEVs). This column will focus on control schemes of EEVs. EEVs...

Chiller changeout goes interim route.(refrigeration zone)
September 6, 2004... Chillers running on CFCs pose one of the major challenges to the industry. Even if they have a good number of years left in them, the refrigerants they run on are getting harder and harder to find and costs keep rising. One solution is to...

Honeywell adds plant in China.(refrigeration zone)
September 6, 2004... Honeywell has announced plans to build a refrigerant manufacturing plant in Qingpu, near Shanghai, China. The facility is expected to he operational in November 2004. According to Honeywell officials, the plant will serve as the production...

E-coating helps improve coil performance.(refrigeration zone)
September 6, 2004... A not-so-new process called electrodeposition--e-coating for short--is starting to replace more-traditional coating methods with many coil manufacturers. The technology has been around for more than 20 years and is similar to the process...

Some information you can use.(refrigeration zone)
September 6, 2004... Honeywell recently commissioned two surveys--one of HVAC residential contractors and the other of general contractors and others involved in residential construction projects. The surveys asked about the awareness of the phaseout of virgin R-22...

Supermarket reach-in freezers.(refrigeration zone)
September 6, 2004... When refrigeration engineers design supermarkets, they tend to use reach-in glass door cabinets for low-temperature display cases. Although this makes shopping a little inconvenient for customers, these cases are less problematic than open...

Easing system stress with smart case control.(Supermarket Refrigeration)
September 6, 2004... Supermarket profit margins are among the lowest in retail. Any reduction in fixed expenses has an immediate effect on the bottom line. One of the largest costs in operating today's food stores is energy--power for lighting, heating,...

Store turns to spot cooling.(Supermarket Refrigeration)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... HVAC equipment downtime in the midst of a hot, humid summer is not what shopping center owners, merchants, or customers want. But that was the situation faced at a complex in New York City. The management of a popular shopping center...

Filtration options for compressor racks.(Supermarket Refrigeration)
September 6, 2004... Excellent filtration has always been a necessity in refrigeration. Whether the refrigerant/oil combinations are CFCs/HCFCs with mineral or alkylbenzene oil, or HFCs with polyolester (POE) lubricant, proper filtration aids in maximizing system...

Controls: the next generation.(Supermarket Refrigeration)
September 6, 2004... Supermarket controls continue to evolve with each generation able to do more than those technologies that have gone before. For example, Danfoss has introduced a new generation of supermarket control and marketing products under the...

Latest trends in supermarket technology.(Supermarket Refrigeration)
September 6, 2004... CHICAGO -- Contractors and technicians approaching the latest in supermarket refrigeration equipment will find the usual mix of components from a variety of manufacturers. But instead of encountering systems that seem to be a mish-mash of...

Squeezing it all into the controller.(Supermarket Refrigeration)
September 6, 2004... Electronic controls for reach-in refrigerators and freezers are gaining in popularity as operators see the benefits of better control and additional features come along. This article will examine common controls of the past, what the latest...

Coyne to open two new locations in Chicago.
September 6, 2004... CHICAGO -- Coyne American Institute will open two downtown Chicago locations for its vocational training programs, including HVACR. The locations, at 230 West Monroe and 330 North Green St., will enable Coyne to increase enrollment capacity and...

Creating clients is a requirement.(Money Talks)
September 6, 2004... Here is a quick profitability puzzle for you. Which of the following scenarios means more to your company? Scenario No. 1: A homeowner calls you from the Yellow Pages. You run a service call to the home, generating a large amount of...

Refrain from playing recruiting roulette.(Business Management)
September 6, 2004... Recruiting is simply a game of statistics and odds. What are the odds on any given day that the right applicant is looking for a job at the exact same place that you're advertising? That's a great question that I'm sure some brilliant...

GPS saves on tracking job costs.(Field Solutions)(Global Positioning System)(Del-Air Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Inc.)
September 6, 2004... When you have a large contracting company, keeping close control of job time and costs can provide substantial savings for the firm and help increase profitability. That was the goal when Del-Air Heating, Air Conditioning, and...

Lashing out over bad installation.(our Insights)
September 6, 2004... I don't often get a chance to speak with homeowners about the service they get from HVAC contractors, except for the times that I ride along with service techs. So when I spoke with a homeowner the other day about an equipment installation gone...

What's the best method--push or pull?(our Insights)
September 6, 2004... These two, simple four-letter words with opposite meanings "push" and "pull" are often used interchangeably. They produce different results, however, so why would they be confused? Let's make this simple: By pushing something, it goes away...

York International.(Price Increases)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... York International (York, Pa.) announced a price increase ranging from 2 percent to 9 percent for Engineered Systems equipment, effective October 1. The increase covers air-handling units, air- and water-cooled chillers, applied rooftop units,...

FES Systems Inc.(Price Increases)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... FES Systems Inc. (York, Pa.) announced a 3-percent to 5-percent increase on screw compressor products. The increase went into effect Sept. 1.

Alfa Laval.(Price Increases)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... Alfa Laval (Richmond, Va.) will increase prices on all heat exchanger products by 4 percent, effective immediately.

Air Comfort Corp.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... Air Comfort Corp. (Broadview, III.) presented its Quality Improvement Process award for the second quarter of 2004 to employee Melissa Matthis. Matthis is responsible for administrative support to senior management and the sales group.

Kramer Plumbing and Heating (Medford, Wis.) celebrated 100 years as a Lennox dealer.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... Kramer Plumbing and Heating (Medford, Wis.) celebrated 100 years as a Lennox dealer. The company was founded in 1901 as a sheet metal business, and is currently owned and operated by Dave and Mary Zimmerman.

ICOR International.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... ICOR International (Indianapolis) promoted Milton J. Cuevas II to vice president, chief financial officer, and chief operating officer. The company also promoted Gordon L. McKinney to vice president and chief operations officer, and James D....

The mystery of the oil safety trip.(The Compressor Mysteries)
September 13, 2004... [Editor's note: This is another installment of "The Compressor Mysteries," a collaborative creative endeavor between The News and Copeland, an Emerson Climate Technologies company. These articles are designed to help clear up some diagnosis...

Hurricane Frances plagues Florida.(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... Plenty of wind and water damage along with gasoline shortages plagued air conditioning and refrigeration contractors in the early days following Hurricane Frances that swept across Florida over Labor Day weekend. Ken Bodwell, president of...

Refrigerant black market results in prison time.(industry News)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A former refrigerant distributor and at least a dozen ex-employees of contracting companies are about to learn their fate after having been caught illegally selling and obtaining a variety of refrigerants. In mid-August,...

ACCA begins new technical bulletin series.(industry News)(Air Conditioning Contractors of America )(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) released the first two in a series of new technical reference bulletins on its Web site. According to the organization, bulletins will be released on a monthly basis, and will...

Emerson schedules compressor seminars.(industry News)(Compressor Operation & Service Seminars )(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... ST. LOUIS -- The Compressor Operation & Service Seminars (COSS) from Emerson Climate Technologies have been scheduled throughout 2005 and the remainder of 2004. The seminars focus on hands-on training related to compressor operation and...

A/C shipments climb 8 percent.(industry News)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... ARLINGTON, Va. -- Combined U.S. factory shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps totaled 739,871 for July, an increase of 8 percent over the same month last year, according to the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration...

Taco named Manufacturer of the Year.(industry News)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Taco Named Manufacturer Of The Year: Taco Inc. of Cranston, R.I., received Supply New England's Manufacturer of the Year award at a special employee luncheon ceremony for the administrative staff and entire...

Green building on the rise.(industry News)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... CLEVELAND -- More than 300 industry leaders attended the first annual Engineering Green Buildings (EGB) Seminar and Conference in Cleveland, July 20-23, The conference explored the gaining interest in energy efficient building design and...

BAC breaks ground on R&D lab.(industry News)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: BAC Breaks Ground On R&D Lab: Baltimore Aircoil Company held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 15 for its new research and development laboratory and global headquarters building in Jessup, Md. The...

Contractor undergoes business makeover.(Contractor Profile)(Jeff Cullins)
September 13, 2004... LEWIS CENTER, Ohio -- Jeff Cullins is no stranger to hard work. His first several years in the heating and cooling business were marked with good revenues and solid profits. The owner of One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning[R] in the Columbus,...

Hydronic unit heater.(what's New)
September 13, 2004... The BV[TM] vertical hydronic unit heater offers quiet operation with smooth and consistent airflow, states the company. According to the manufacturer, all motor horsepower and fan configurations were chosen for quiet operation and efficient air...