Industry News

Andy™ Aluminum Handled Offset Left Snips and Adjustable Siding Gauge earn top honors 

Malco Products, one of the nation’s leading solution developers and manufacturers of a variety of high-quality tools for the HVAC and building construction trades, today announced that is has earned 2023 Pro Tool Innovation Awards for its Andy™ Aluminum Handled Offset Left Snips in the Hand Tools-Cutting category and its Adjustable Siding Gauge in the Spacers category.

Now in its eleventh year, the Pro Tool Innovation Awards evaluate hundreds of cutting-edge tools from across a wide variety of industries and manufacturers. This year, 99 different manufacturers and brands submitted over 465 products in dozens of categories for a chance to take home a 2023 Pro Tool Innovation Award.

The awarded products stood out for their innovative features, superior power delivery, revolutionary ergonomics, technological advancements, improvements in jobsite safety, or exceptional value.

“We are pleased to receive this recognition from the Pro Tool Innovation Awards, as going the extra mile to create tools that help our end-users perform better on the jobsite is the number one priority at Malco,” said Rebecca Talbot, Malco’s vice president of marketing. “Both of these tools were designed with the end-user in mind, and include specific features designed to improve speed and efficiency on the job.”

Executive director Clint DeBoer expressed admiration for the ongoing innovation in the industry: “This marks our 11th year of hosting the PTIA Awards, and each year we witness an increasing level of innovation from both large and small companies.”

DeBoer added, “every Pro Tool Innovation Award celebrates a product developed by people who really believe that the standard we’re used to is no longer good enough.”

Malco’s two 2023 product award winners include:

Andy™ Aluminum Handled Offset Left Snips 12” (MC12L)

Malco’s Andy Aluminum Handled Offset Left Snips 12” (MC12L) is an innovative new addition to the company’s popular Andy™ snips product line. This versatile tool with offset handles ensures that HVAC and building construction trade pros can make longer, tighter, higher-quality straight and left curve cuts in many types of materials, including sheet metal, metal roofing, aluminum, stainless steel, steel siding, and vinyl.

Verified by internal testing, the MC12L Andy Snips offer the following advantages over competing products:

• Superior material flow for up to 60% faster cutting speeds
• Up to 45% longer cuts when operating one-handed
• The highest maneuverability for continuous cut radii half the size of leading competition, with better cut quality
• Lower jaw made of investment-cast tool steel allows for starter holes as small as ½”

Adjustable Siding Guage (SGA)

Malco’s new Adjustable Siding Gauge (SGA) is an innovative new all-in-one installation tool that eliminates the need to use multiple gauges for varying siding widths, while eliminating the need to use shims and/or have more than one person to complete projects. It’s specially crafted for siding and construction pros, making it the ultimate tool for rapid siding installation both in its simplicity and efficiency of use, saving contractors and installers time and money.

Built with an adjustable 5/16”–5/8” clamping range and an adjustable 4”–8” (1/4” increments) facing range, contractors and installers can quickly and easily hang different types of fiber cement siding, LP Smart Siding and other lap siding of various widths. The adjustable clamp ensures materials are held firmly held in place while the adjustable reveal ensures the siding is properly positioned. Malco’s SGA also supports full 16-foot length lap siding for fast one-person installation.

For more information about Malco Products, visit www.malcoproducts.com.

Carrier has launched its new 6,000-square-foot training center on the West Side of Indianapolis with a ribbon cutting ceremony and several local distributors and public officials present. The event was hosted at one of the largest gas furnace manufacturing plants in the world, Carrier’s Center of Excellence for gas furnace production. The launch of the technical training center marks the completion of a multi-million-dollar investment by Carrier in training the next generation of skilled HVAC technicians. The center is opening in advance of the 2025 refrigerant phasedown where Carrier technicians will be trained on products using Puron Advance™ (R-454B), Carrier’s next generation lower-GWP refrigerant, in preparation. Carrier is part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions.

Over the next 10 years, it is estimated that there will be a 400,000 HVAC technician shortage that may negatively impact homeowner experiences, increase wait times for installation and maintenance of units, and leave business owners with the challenge of finding qualified employees.* Carrier’s new technical training center aims to address this challenge by training more technicians with state-of-the-art technology and labs. The center includes six distinct labs featuring 41 fully functional systems; including three ducted system labs, operational two-pipe and the future three-pipe VRF labs, and a ductless lab, which includes Crossover systems to train on the latest ducted and ductless combinations. Carrier’s existing self-paced, online training courses average 11,000 hours of technical training consumed each year. As a result of this new, in-person technical training center, annual capacity for an additional 30,000 hours of hands-on training has been added.

Carrier focuses on making the highest quality HVAC solutions that matter for people and the planet for generations to come. The network of Carrier distributors and factory authorized dealers will have exceptional training available through the lab to help ensure home HVAC systems are installed properly, alleviating some of the training challenges facing the industry and ensuring homeowner satisfaction. Carrier’s commitment to addressing the technician shortage is further exhibited by its Tech Up program, an ongoing effort to develop and empower the next generation of HVAC technicians.

“Bringing this enhanced technical training center to our dealers has been top of mind as we consider the effects the ongoing technician shortage is having on the industry,” said Braden Cook, Senior Director of Product Management, Training and Service, Carrier. “Offering our complete suite of industry-leading products for comprehensive, hands-on training is just another way we are ensuring our dealers have the best technicians and installers supporting homeowners everywhere.”

For more information visit https://www.carrier.com/residential/en/us/.

New propane power generation innovations can meet environmental building codes 

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is reminding construction professionals about the benefits of specifying and building with propane during National Preparedness Month. Propane is an ideal energy source for prime and secondary power generation because it’s a low-carbon energy option that is efficient and reliable.

“Weather extremes like heat waves, tornadoes, and winter storms have a direct impact on the fragile electric grid causing it to go offline. Businesses are put at risk and can be financially impacted because of those power outages,” said Jim Bunsey, director of commercial business development at PERC. “Including propane power generation systems ensures critical systems keep working even when the electric grid isn’t.”

The demand for secondary power sources is growing. More than half of states recognize combined heat and power (CHP) systems as part of their Renewable Portfolio Standards or Energy Efficiency Resource Standards. Several states, including Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Washington, have initiated specific production incentive programs for CHP technologies. And that list is expanding.

“Builders are working to meet stringent energy and environmental codes,” said Bunsey. “Because propane works in tandem with other clean energy sources like solar and wind, it is another solution to help builders meet guidelines in updated Standards.”

From micro-CHP units to innovative boiler systems and microgrids, there are several prime and secondary power generation systems available in a variety of sizes for construction professionals to utilize in designs. When those systems use propane, they are better for the environment. Propane produces 52 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than using the equivalent amount of electricity generated from the U.S. grid. That’s because a significant portion of electricity production comes from natural gas or coal generation plants which release CO2 emissions as part of the generation process.

Propane is becoming cleaner with the development of renewable propane. Renewable propane Renewable propane has the same great features as conventional propane—reliability, portability, and reduced carbon emissions—but with even lower carbon emissions when compared with other energy sources. Made from a variety of renewable sources including plant oils, bio-waste, and used cooking grease, renewable propane has one of the lowest carbon intensity scores. While the carbon intensity of renewable propane depends on the renewable resource, it scores between 20.5 and 43.5 (grams CO2 equivalent per megajoule). Comparatively, conventional propane’s carbon intensity score is 80, diesel is 100, and gasoline is 101.

Construction professionals can download PERCs free resource, The Ultimate Guide to Power Generation, for an in-depth look at propane’s capabilities as a resilient energy source for residential, commercial, and industrial use. Learn more about the benefits of propane at Propane.com.

Renowned manufacturer announces showcase of innovative water-heating solutions slated for American Society of Plumbing Engineers event in Bellevue, Washington, Sept. 28-Oct. 1

Bradford White Water Heaters, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, will showcase a wide range of its high-performing and energy efficient products at the 2023 American Society of Plumbing Engineers Tech Symposium in Bellevue, Washington, Sept. 28-Oct. 1.

“The ASPE Tech Symposium is one of the most informative and inspiring events of the year for the rapidly evolving plumbing industry,” said Neal Heyman, director of marketing for Bradford White. “Our product experts are looking forward to this opportunity, where they can help professionals in our field discover solutions that meet and exceed their customers’ high standards of quality, reliability and performance.”

Representatives from Bradford White Water Heaters will be at Booth #500 during the symposium product show to meet with attendees and discuss the following Bradford White products:

• Aerotherm® Heat Pump Water Heater with Bradford White Connect™
• eF Series® Ultra High Efficiency Commercial Gas Water Heater
• ElectriFLEX Series™ Commercial Electric Water Heaters
• Vitraglas® Tank Lining with Microban®

The 2023 ASPE Tech Symposium is the premier opportunity for plumbing engineers and designers at all career levels to engage in productive technical exchanges and networking. Attendees can choose from a variety of professional development sessions designed to teach participants how to integrate the most current design techniques into their projects. During the show, the industry’s top manufacturers will showcase their newest products and teach attendees how to apply them in their plumbing system designs. For more information, visit https://www.aspe.org/2023-tech-symposium/.

For more information about Bradford White Water Heaters, visit https://www.bradfordwhite.com.