Rheem

New Facility Will Offer Training Across Family of Brands for Contractors and Plumbers Throughout the Region

Rheem has opened a 6,200 square-ft Innovation Learning Center (ILC) at its facility in Lawnside, NJ. Connected to the IBC headquarters and distribution center, the new state-of-the art ILC features Rheem’s largest “HOT” (Hands On Training) Room in the U.S., a product showroom and a classroom designed to provide an interactive learning experience for more than 30 in-person participants at one time.

The ILC will offer training on all air and water, residential and commercial products across the Rheem family of brands. Customized, comprehensive training will be available for a full line-up of equipment, from tank-type, tankless and point-of-use electric water heaters as well as commercial boilers and volume water heaters.

“The HOT room will offer the largest hands-on instruction in the Rheem Water Division, enabling us to provide in-depth training for contractors and plumbers to help us excel in an evolving market,” said Tom Wujcik, VP of Sales, U.S. Water Heating, Rheem. “As our industry shifts to decarbonization, contractors and plumbers will require a new set of skills, making this investment all the more important.”

The ILC will serve as an immersive environment with the latest audio-visual technology, as well as tools and utility connections to allow for demonstration installations and diagnostic training. Contractors and plumbers will have opportunities to earn Continuing Education Credits and develop related skill sets.

Rheem will host training for more than 50,000 participants at its seven ILCs throughout the U.S. in 2024.

After undergoing extensive testing by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Rheem®, a global manufacturer of HVACR and water heating products, was honored to be acknowledged for its exemplary performance in the Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Technology Challenge.

Focused on residential, centrally ducted, electric-only heat pumps, the DOE’s Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Technology Challenge assessed heat pump performance in the Canadian and northern US climate, where temperatures can get much colder than 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Following testing, it was determined that Rheem’s residential heat pump had delivered outstanding results in the challenge.

Rheem has a legacy of developing state-of-the-art heat pump technology. With a variety of leading products already in market, Rheem improved its existing innovative design to deliver 5% higher COP during heating at 5 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature than the DOE challenge specification, making it ideal for heating homes in the targeted climate regions. The Rheem heat pump also performed at a 9% higher HSPF2 than the DOE challenge specification, highlighting the unit’s incredible efficiency.

The DOE launched the Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Technology Challenge to accelerate development and commercialization of next-generation heat pumps by supporting American innovation and manufacturing. The DOE recognized the need for an efficient heating and cooling system based on updated state and federal policies and the growing demand for decarbonization. Rheem has always been at the forefront of sustainability efforts, especially since announcing its “A Greater Degree of Good” initiative, and has made notable progress toward the 2025 sustainability goals which encompass intelligent products, responsible processes and inspired people.

“Rheem is committed to making a difference with the products we create, and our sustainability efforts know no bounds,” said Jeff Goss, Director, Product Management, at Rheem. “We were not surprised that our team of dedicated, innovative engineers at Rheem developed a residential heat pump that was able to provide 77 percent of nominal heating capacity at −15 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature and provided uninterrupted heating operation at −23 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature surpassing expectations and delivering top quality performance.”

Heating and/or cooling a home, along with water heating, account for 40% of the primary energy consumption in buildings in the United States and are a major source of carbon emissions.  As Rheem’s heat pumps run on electricity, they reduce the need for natural gas, making them an ideal solution for homeowners to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency.  Heat pumps are more efficient than electric resistance heating, and Rheem’s heat pump needs less supplementary heating due to its improved performance in cold ambient temperatures. Together, these elements, and their ability to function at a wider range of ambient temperatures, make them a more sustainable heating option.

To learn more about Rheem’s innovation pipeline, including its full line of cost-effective, eco-friendly products, visit Rheem.com.

Rheem®, a leading global manufacturer of water heating and HVACR products, today announced that Chris Haynes, vice president of Global Procurement, has been named as a Supply & Demand Chain Executive “2023 Pros to Know” award recipient. The award recognizes outstanding executives whose accomplishments offer a roadmap for other leaders looking to leverage their supply chain for competitive advantage.

As vice president of Global Procurement, Haynes oversees the global strategic sourcing across Rheem’s air and water divisions that include an array of products, such as tank-type and tankless water heaters, air conditioners, furnaces and HVAC systems for residential and commercial applications.

“I am honored to be chosen by my peers for the Pros to Know award and to be in the company of the other esteemed winners in my field,” said Haynes. “With the fast-paced world of supply chain becoming highly volatile in recent years, this is great recognition of Rheem’s unwavering commitment to deliver high-quality products for our customers. Today’s environment requires us to constantly reinvent what it means to be a supply chain professional and I’m incredibly proud to help lead Rheem’s global sustainability practices, which we have implemented rapidly on a large scale.”

Haynes has had an illustrious career with Rheem spanning more than a decade. He manages a global team with 60 direct and 125 indirect reports across 25 locations in 10 countries. Haynes also is passionate about mentoring staff and investing in talent to build strong teams across Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America.

Facing global supply chain disruptions, post- COVID-19 recovery and inflation, Haynes always ensures Rheem can deliver outstanding results for its customers by spearheading and revolutionizing Rheem’s inbound supply chain process. Serving as a company leader on Rheem’s “A Greater Degree of Good” sustainability initiative, Haynes has worked with global suppliers and manufacturing facility leaders to reduce Rheem’s carbon footprint, utilize recycled materials and work toward achieving the zero waste to landfill goal.

“Chris is not only a ‘Pro to Know,’ he is one of Rheem’s supply chain heroes and sustainability champions,” said Rheem President Global Water, Rich Bendure. “Chris is customer-focused in everything he does and, as a leader, inspires his teams to put that into practice every day. Chris knows that exceeding our customers’ expectations, particularly in times of uncertainty, gives us a competitive advantage in the marketplace, and solidifies Rheem’s long-term reputation as a manufacturer that delivers on our commitments. Congratulations, Chris, on this much-deserved award.”

Visit https://www.sdcexec.com/awards/pros-to-know to view the full list of “Supply & Demand Chain Executive 2023 - “Pros to Know” winners and visit rheem.com to learn more about Rheem’s latest news.