Nicole Krawcke

In 128 years and five generations, Canton, Massachusetts-based E.M. Duggan Inc. hasn’t lost its business principles or its family-friendly culture. The mechanical contracting company specializes in plumbing, HVAC, and fire protection and offers preconstruction, CAD, and prefabrication services to its clients in the commercial and industrial markets.

The commercial refrigeration market is diverse, spanning a number of applications, including food service; food and beverage production; retail, supermarkets, and convenience stores; and more. And demand for equipment is growing.

Air handlers, like the rest of the HVAC industry, continue to evolve thanks to new technology enhancements. By incorporating increased motor efficiency, design improvements and the utilization of energy recovery options, manufacturers are producing units that are more efficient, intelligent and connected than ever before.

In today’s modern world of technology, people look to their smartphones for nearly everything, including banking, shopping, fitness tracking, home security and of course managing indoor comfort levels.

The HVAC industry is often coined as “recession-proof” because the demand for indoor comfort is not going away. In fact, it’s growing. The global market for air conditioning systems was pegged at a value of $104.4 billion in 2015 and is projected to rise to $167 billion by the end of 2024, expanding at a 5.1 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2016 to 2024, according to a report from Transparency Market Research.

Public awareness is growing about the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) in commercial buildings and homes. That new interest is one of the driving factors behind steadily increasing sales of IAQ products. In fact, the U.S. IAQ market totaled $7.8 billion in 2015.

Many people are impressed when they discover plumbing and HVAC distributor, Thos. Somerville Co., is celebrating its 155th anniversary this year. However, the milestone is not as momentous for company employees, according to Doug Riley, president of Thos. Somerville.