FAIR LAWN, N.J. - CALMAC founder Calvin MacCracken was recently posthumously awarded the Frank J. Zamboni Award by the Ice Skating Institute (ISI). An avid inventor, MacCracken was recognized for the development of an array of products aiding ice arenas across the globe, including his IceMat® Ice Rink floors, which create perfectly uniform ice with dramatic reduction in pumping power. The Frank J. Zamboni Award honors individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions in engineering and/or technological advancements in the sport of ice skating or the operation of ice skating facilities.

Introducing the award at ISI’s Annual Ice Arena Conference was Peter Martell, ISI executive director. During his presentation, Martell specifically mentioned the number of patents MacCracken was granted over the years and his wide range of innovations - from the roller hot dog grill to hospital K-pads.

“Mr. MacCracken’s patented Alumazorb® Low Emissivity Ceiling dramatically reduces the energy consumption needed to maintain an ice surface and is heralded as ‘one of the most important advancements in the last 50 years,’ ” Martell said.

“My father was passionate about innovation and had over 80 U.S. patents in his 50 years at CALMAC. I was there the day he discovered the effects of ceiling radiation on indoor ice rinks, which ultimately led to the invention of the Low-E ceiling,” said Mark MacCracken, CEO of CALMAC. “The next time you are in an indoor ice rink, look above the ice surface. If you don’t see a shiny aluminum surface, the rink is wasting large amounts of energy and money.”

Recent ASHRAE research on the topic of energy usage in indoor ice arenas confirmed Calvin MacCracken’s discovery that radiation makes up over 40 percent of the refrigeration loads in ice rinks that haven’t addressed ceiling emissivity.

Publication date: 08/23/2010