In the 1990s, consolidation swept across the HVAC industry. Contractors were rolled up into large publicly traded companies like American Residential Services, Group Maintenance America Corp., Service Experts, and the utility-owned Blue Dot.
When Independence Day rolls around this year, many manufacturing leaders will fire up the grill with a sigh of relief. Not only will they have the day off, but they will enjoy the first day of freedom from what has been five years of preparations for the first national efficiency standards for furnace fans.
Judging by the emphasis in the AHR booth, Panasonic is working to differentiate itself by putting considerable emphasis on health and IAQ. Even though it is not scheduled to reach the U.S. market until early 2020, the offering getting the most attention this year was nanoe™X.
At the AHR Expo, Napoleon displayed a product mix that aimed to illustrate the company’s continued development and expansion into the residential HVAC channel in the U.S., ranging from an expanding line of gas furnaces, to an air conditioner and heat pump line, to a ductless product and vertical PTAC offering. Showcased was a new furnace designed and built for the residential new construction market.
A tour through METUS’ booth at AHR with Smith included multiple examples of how the company has looked for ways to make small adjustments, accommodations, and improvements through product lines to live up to that mission for contractors and their customers.
The manufacturer’s Multi V™ 5 air-source VRF system and its LGRED° technology were in the spotlight, designed to do away with the occasional perception that VRF is more suited for cooling than heating.
Using the wrong tape on a job can leave contractors in a sticky situation when the building inspector comes to pay a call. That’s one reason why Shurtape is seeing an increase in demand for tape that’s UL listed — or “red-letter tape,” as it’s often called.
At the AHR Expo in Atlanta, Samsung HVAC North America announced it will expand its residential and commercial air conditioning business in North America by building, training, and supporting a network of specifying representatives, distributors, and installers.