As technology continues to advance, more and more industry mobile applications are becoming available for smartphones and tablets. These mobile apps can be valuable tools for HVACR customers, contractors, distributors, and manufacturers.

Here at The NEWS, we will be spotlighting several of these mobile apps each month. If you have an app you would like included in the App Zone, please complete our online submission form. If you have any questions, please email jenanesi@achrnews.com.

Dwyer Air Velocity and Flow Calculator

Company: Dwyer Instruments Inc.

Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices

Released: March 2012

Cost: Free

Available for download: iTunes, Google Play, and http://bit.ly/DwyerInstrumentsApp

Description: The Dwyer Air Velocity Calculator makes spot checking with Dwyer Pitot Tubes quick and easy. The app calculates air velocity and flow from a variety of inputs and supports both U.S. and metric units.

Quote: “Works on my phone. Replaces sliding chart. Seems like a decent app.” — Google Play Review

WAGO WebVisu App 

Company: WAGO Corp.

Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices

Released: January 2014

Cost: Free

Available for download: iTunes, Google Play, and http://bit.ly/WAGOWebVisu

Description: A new, convenient mobile application from WAGO Corp. enables quick and easy access to equipment status, process data, and production levels at the swipe of a finger. Whether for your plant floor, shipboard, or machine automation, WAGO’s Web visualization application, the WAGO WebVisu app, enables you to monitor and control your operations directly from your smartphone or tablet. The WAGO WebVisu App operates exclusively with WAGO programmable controllers (e.g., PFC200, ETHERNET 2.0 or BACnet/IP Controller). Up to 100 controllers can be defined for direct and quick access via URL. Connecting WAGO controllers to a local wireless access point enables plant floor operators and maintenance personnel to easily acquire system information from their mobile devices. Visualization screens are built within WAGO-I/O-PRO, the same software used for programming, to provide an all-in-one solution — no extra software needed. WAGO-I/O-PRO provides straightforward graphic tools for speedy generation of screens with multiple security levels, enabling task-based login strategies.

Quote: “Excellent.” — Asif Khan, Google Play review

Maxwell Systems Mobile Connect

Company: Maxwell Systems Inc.

Platform(s): Apple iPad

Released: November 2013

Cost: Free to download

Available for download: iTunes, http://bit.ly/MaxwellSystemsApp

Description: Mobile Connect allows the user to harness the power of Maxwell Systems’ software while away from the office. Mobile Connect empowers the user to create daily field reports by entering timecards, managing equipment usage, capturing progress (WIP entry), and noting weather and job site conditions; access the files and attachments, including project documents, drawings, subcontracts, change orders, purchase orders, and more; annotate drawings, mark up documents, and even embed pictures in existing documents; and manage projects offline in areas with little or no Internet connection and then wirelessly sync to an iPad when convenient.

Quote: “With the timely details to make confident decisions when on the go, project managers can more proactively execute projects, and so optimize profit and control costs. The iPad is an extremely intuitive mobile device, and combined with our award-winning, all-in-one construction management solution, ProContractorMX, it has the potential of revolutionizing the way construction projects are managed.” — Jim Flynn, president and CEO, Maxwell Systems

The NEWS App

Company: BNP Media

Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices

Released: March 2014

Cost: Free

Available for download: iTunes, Google Play, and http://bit.ly/TheNEWSApp

Description: The ACHR NEWS has completely redesigned its mobile app, which is now available for Apple and Android mobile devices. The app has everything the HVACR professional needs to stay up to date on the latest industry news. It includes all articles from the print edition, informative podcasts, compelling videos, a great photo gallery, and much, much more. It provides you easy access to The NEWS at home, in the office, or out in the field. If you already have the app, simply update it for the new version.

Quote: “The NEWS’ new app features a more functional, user-friendly interface and incorporates multimedia content to help the user keep up on the latest HVACR news, information, events, training, and more.” — Kyle Gargaro, editor-in-chief, The NEWS

Modine HVAC

Company: Modine Mfg. Co.

Platform(s): Apple iPad

Released: March 2014

Cost: Free

Available for download: iTunes, http://bit.ly/ModineHVACApp

Description: Modine has introduced an iPad app for specifiers, reps, engineers, and contractors with interest in school, commercial, and residential applications. It’s an intuitive guide to all of Modine’s HVAC applications with easy navigation and access to product information. The app also allows easy configuring of classroom ventilation options and gives instant, interactive knowledge of airflow into, within, and from mechanical systems.

Quote: “This new app is designed for all parts of the sales channel — from distributors to engineers to contractors to end users. It gives people an easy-to-use way to show customers that Modine is not just a unit heater company anymore, but instead a full HVAC solutions provider for residential, commercial, and school markets.” — Ray Schaffart, marketing and sales support manager, Modine Mfg. Co.

SOLKANE App

Company: Solvay Special Chemicals

Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices

Released: October 2012

Cost: Free

Available for download: iTunes, Google Play, and http://bit.ly/SOLKANEapp

Description: Under the brand name SOLKANE^®, Solvay Special Chemicals offers high-performance refrigerants for a wide variety of applications and temperature levels in refrigeration and air conditioning. The app includes a pressure/temperature (P/T) calculator for temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit and pressure for liquid and vapor in bar and psi. With the refrigerant data slider, you can compare four different refrigerants. With your fingertip, you can choose which different SOLKANE types you want to compare. A table with all SOLKANE refrigerants’ physical properties completes the app. It is helpful for all producers, installers, engineers, and distributors of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. The app is for users who handle refrigerants or coolants, work in the HVACR or air conditioning industry, and/or have to calculate pressure and temperature of refrigerants.

Quote: “A very good app that works very well. The only downer: The slider under ‘refrigerant calculator’ is relatively inaccurate, so despite several attempts, you have to resort to manual input. Should [the user mistakenly press] the ‘open’ button instead of ‘done,’ there will be a longer delay. When one considers this, one can expect (at least in my current experience with the app) no further problems.” — BlackMatrixXx, Google Play review

Publication date: 4/28/2014

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