HVACR is more than just compressors and condensers, heat pumps and more efficient furnaces. Also present at this year’s AHR Expo are manufacturers of ancillary products for large heating and cooling components, such as insulation materials, tools, small parts and work clothing.
Here are examples of what ACHR News staff found at trade shows from several companies whose products support and supply those who design, build and install heating, cooling and refrigeration systems.
Manufacturers often use AHR Expo as a platform to launch new products. But at this year’s Johns Manville show, attendees saw an old product meeting new needs in the HVACR industry.
Johns Manville insulated duct panels reduce the energy loss that typically occurs when heated or cooled air passes through ducts, and compared to sheet metal duct systems, their ease of cutting and shaping means labor-intensive technology. People save time.
Drake Nelson, market development manager for Johns Manville’s Performance Products division, demonstrated to a small group of showgoers how to use the product to assemble a 90° section of pipe in just a few minutes.
“A guy with a set of hand tools can do anything a mechanic shop can do in the field,” Nelson said. “So, I can bring the sheets into the garage and do the ductwork on site, whereas metal has to be done in the shop and then brought to the job site and installed.”
Less Mess: A roll of new LinacouSTIC RC-IG pipe lining with a water-activated adhesive is on the production line at the Johns Manville plant and can be installed without adhesive. (Courtesy John Manville)
Johns Manville is also introducing new products at the show, including the LinacouUSTIC RC-IG pipe lining.
The new LinaciouSTIC is made with non-toxic, water-activated InsulGrip adhesive, meaning installers do not need to use a separate adhesive. Kelsey Buchanan, assistant marketing manager for Johns Manville, said this results in a cleaner installation and less mess on insulated heat exchanger lines.
“Glue is like glitter: it’s a mess. It’s everywhere,” Buchanan said. “It’s disgusting and it doesn’t work.”
LinacouUSTIC RC-IG is available in 1-, 1.5- and 2-inch thicknesses and various widths and features a coating that protects airflow and repels dust. The liner quickly adheres to the metal panel using simple tap water.
When HVACR contractors consider ways to improve their work, uniforms may not be on the mind. But people at Carhartt say providing high-quality corporate uniforms is a way to take care of employees who often work in extreme conditions and a way to promote the brand.
Outdoor Gear: Carhartt offers lightweight, colorful, waterproof workwear for those who work in inclement weather. (staff photo)
“This is what they need to do. It will showcase their company and their brand, right?,” said Kendra Lewinsky, senior marketing manager for Carhartt. Lewinsky said having branded gear in customers’ homes benefits the business, as well as the wearer’s benefit when they have a durable product that’s built to perform.
“Hot. Cold. You’re either under the house or in the attic,” Lewinsky said at the Carhartt booth at this year’s show. “So you need to make sure the gear you wear actually works for you.”
Workwear trends are leaning toward lightweight clothing that helps workers stay cool in hot conditions, Lewinsky said. Carhartt recently released a line of durable but lightweight ripstop pants, she said.
Lewinsky said women’s workwear is also a big trend. While women don’t make up the majority of the HVAC workforce, women’s workwear is a hot topic at Carhartt, Lewinsky said.
“They don’t want to wear the same clothes as men,” she said. “So making sure styles are compatible for men and women is also an important part of what we do today.”
Inaba Dko America, a manufacturer of HVACR system accessories and installation products, demonstrated the assembly of a Slimduct RD cover for multiple outdoor lines in commercial variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems. The steel cover is hot-plated with zinc, aluminum and magnesium to resist corrosion and prevent scratches.
Clean Appearance: Inaba Denco’s Slimduct RD, anti-corrosion and scratch-resistant metal line covers protect refrigerant lines in variable refrigerant flow systems. (Courtesy of Inaba Electric America, Inc.)
“Many VRF devices are installed on rooftops. If you go there, you will see a mess with many groups of lines,” says Karina Aharonyan, marketing and product manager at Inaba Dko. A lot happens with unprotected components. “This solves the problem.”
Aharonian said the Slimduct RD can withstand harsh weather conditions. “Some people in Canada told me, ‘Our lines always get damaged because of the snow,’” she said. “We now have many sites across Canada.”
Inaba Diko has also introduced a new color to its line of Slimduct SD end caps for HVAC mini-split duct kits – black. Slimduct SD line kit covers are made from high quality PVC and protect outdoor lines from the elements, animals and debris.
“It’s weather-resistant, so it won’t fade or get damaged,” Aharonian said. “Whether you live in hot California or Arizona, or deep in the snow in Canada, this product will withstand all those temperature changes.”
Designed for commercial construction and luxury residential applications, Slimduct SD is available in black, ivory or brown, and in a variety of sizes and lengths. Aharonian says the brand’s range of elbows, couplings, adapters and flexible assemblies can be tailored to suit a variety of production line configurations.
Nibco Inc. recently expanded its PressACR line to include SAE size copper torch adapters for refrigeration lines. These adapters, which range in outer diameter from 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch, were introduced at this year’s show.
Ease of Use: Nibco Inc. recently introduced a line of SAE flare copper adapters for refrigerant lines. The PressACR adapter connects to the pipe using a crimping tool and can withstand pressures up to 700 psi. (Courtesy of Nibco Corporation)
PressACR is a Nibco trademarked copper pipe joining technology that requires no flame or welding and uses a press tool to join adapters that include nitrile rubber gaskets for a tight seal in high pressure HVAC systems such as such as refrigeration and air conditioning lines.
Danny Yarbrough, director of professional sales for Nibco, says the adapter can withstand up to 700 psi of pressure when installed correctly. He said crimp connections save contractors time and hassle due to a shortage of skilled labor.
Nibco also recently introduced press tool jaws compatible with its PC-280 tools for the PressACR Series adapters. The new jaws fit the full range of PressACR accessories; Jaws are available in sizes up to 1⅛ in. and are also compatible with other brands of press tools up to 32 kN, including those made by Ridgid and Milwaukee.
“PressACR provides a safer installation because there is no risk of fire or fire when using stamping technology,” Marilyn Morgan, senior accessory product manager at Nibco, said in a press release.
RectorSeal LLC., a manufacturer of HVAC systems and duct fittings, introduces three patented UL Listed Safe-T-Switch SSP Series devices for hydrostatic applications.
The gray housing of the device allows you to quickly identify SS1P, SS2P and SS3P as fire-resistant products. All units are installed using 6 feet of 18 gauge plenum rated wire for quick connection to the thermostat wiring on the indoor HVAC unit.
RectorSeal’s Safe-T-Switch product line includes a patented, code-compliant condensate overflow switch with an easy-to-use built-in external manual ratchet float that can be adjusted without removing or removing the cap. The adjustability of the corrosion-resistant ratchet also helps prevent the lightweight rigid polypropylene foam float from contacting the bottom of the base or drain pan, where the buildup of biological growth can affect buoyancy and reliability.
Designed specifically for main drain lines, the SS1P is sensitive to floating components, allows adjustment without removing the top cover, and allows installation on slopes up to 45°. The top cap is easily removed using a tapered cam lock, allowing you to inspect the float switch and clean the drain pipe using the included cleaning tool. It is compatible with RectorSeal’s Mighty Pump, LineShot, and A/C Foot Drain Pump.
A static pressure class SS2P float switch is installed as an auxiliary outlet to the main drain pan. It detects clogged condensate drain lines and safely shuts down your HVAC system to avoid potential water damage. As an additional feature, you can adjust the sensitivity of the float mode without removing the top cover.
Matt Jackman is legislative editor for ACHR News. He has more than 30 years of experience in public service journalism and received a bachelor’s degree in English from Wayne State University in Detroit.
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Post time: Sep-18-2023