Working alongside Sunflag Iron and Steel Company Ltd. in Bhandara, India, global technology company ABB has achieved successful integration of its ABB Ability™ Data Analytics Platform for metals, tying together all manufacturing and operational data of steel melt shop and rolling mills to improve production planning and plant performance optimization. The plant, which has a capacity to produce 500,000 metric tons of high-quality special steel per annum, now has the platform to integrate data sources across 17 operational areas, including non-ABB systems. A key example is that information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) has converged to positively impact Sunflag’s steel melt shop (SMS) and rolling mills. ABB Ability™ Data Analytics Platform ABB integrated with the existing automation systems for process and quality monitoring in real time, aligning with user-friendly operator dashboards available via a web page on mobile. The platform enables identification and diagnosis of issues or use of extra resources. “Together we’re looking forward to realizing the full benefits of enhanced operations and quality,” said Ragunath Satyan, Industry Lead for Metals, ABB India. “ABB Ability™ Data Analytics Platform for metals will provide clear advantages in terms of monitoring and troubleshooting daily process and quality issues.” It is one of the first global implementations of ABB’s integrated plant monitoring system in the metals industry “We have ensured that Sunflag Steel’s people have visualization of real time plant operations on the most modern dashboards. This will allow for better decision making and will ultimately show returns in productivity, quality and resource efficiency.” digital transformation engagement It is one of the first global implementations of ABB’s integrated plant monitoring system in the metals industry, and is part of a long-term vision across process industries for a future where the physical and digital worlds are connected, scalable and harness machine learning potential. The project has been part of a wider digital transformation engagement with the customer, with ABB providing domain expertise for systems that improve overall process visibility to enable data driven business decision making. resource efficiency “We’re proud to have had the opportunity with Sunflag Steel to showcase and implement ABB Ability™ Data Analytics Platform for metals for all manufacturing and operational data of steel melt shop and rolling mills on site,” added Ragunath Satyan. ABB Ability™ solutions combine ABB’s deep domain expertise with connectivity and software innovation to empower real time, data-driven decisions for safer, smarter operations that maximize resource efficiency and contribute to a low-carbon future. A large portfolio of digital solutions helps organizations automate, optimize and future proof their business to achieve new heights of performance and drive sustainable progress.

The Edmund Hatch Bennett Elementary School, a K-4 public school in Taunton, Mass., was constructed in the 1960's with various upgrades and renovations performed over the past 40 years. However, an aging heating system, including wall unit heaters and cabinet heaters that were original to the building, required updating. The installation of modern, energy efficient heating systems from Marley Engineered Products helped the school make the grade. "Staff at Edmund Hatch sought assistance in optimizing their supplemental heating system," said Matt Goodrich, Sales Representative with Goodyear Electric Sales. "Understanding that clean air quality and filtration is crucial during these times, a building's HVAC system must be examined and updated periodically for the safety and comfort of students, teachers and employees." "We knew the upgraded heating equipment was essential not only to improve air quality but also to provide more efficient heating for the school," said Brenda Moynihan, MCPPO, Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations of Taunton Public Schools. "We were very excited to move forward with this project along with the support of the City of Taunton." CU900 Series Custom Cabinet Unit Heater Upon review of the current equipment, Goodrich recommended two of the latest energy efficient technology from Marley Engineered Products: the CU900 Series Custom Cabinet Unit Heater (CUH), which delivers supplemental comfort heat and is easy to install and maintain, and the Architectural Heavy-Duty Wall Heater (AWH) Series that features a contemporary design and powerful output to heat any room or open area. The installing team who oversaw the project, Equipment Direct Sales, Inc. (EDSI), of Randolph, Mass., faced challenges along the way. The size of the wall openings for the wall heaters was one concern as there wasn't an available budget to demo the concrete openings to fit in a similar size unit with the original output. By utilizing the latest AHW Series, the contractors could drop a unit size and still maintain the original heating performance However, by utilizing the latest AHW Series, the contractors could drop a unit size and still maintain the original heating performance, making the installation much easier. modern energy efficient heaters For the CUH replacement, the installation team matched the dimensions of the original units almost exactly, which resulted in a reduced installation cost. "By incorporating the latest technology from Marley Engineered Products, we were able to replace the existing wall and cabinet heaters with modern energy efficient products that are sure to benefit the school," said Steve Clark, project manager with EDSI.   By replacing the original wall and cabinet heaters with modern energy efficient heaters, the school is running less units while still maintaining a comfortable environment, and as a result is realizing utility savings. They are also experiencing the air effects of new units and filters, which aid in filtering and eliminating bacteria and other airborne contaminants.

The mining industry uses a variety of corrosive chemicals in the extraction process of minerals such as gold, silver, platinum and other valuable raw materials. In the extraction of gold, for example, chemicals that are used in the process (ie., sodium hydroxide and sodium cyanide),  require to be constantly heated at certain temperatures in large containers (up to 50,000 gallons). Replaceable heating elements These temperatures also require precise controls in order to maintain their consistency and effectiveness. The mining industry has used Wattco immersion heaters to help them solve this problem. With the help of highly resistant alloys used with our tubular elements, seamless tubing as well as a well calculated watt density, Wattco was able to provide replaceable heating elements that would heat up the chemical solutions to efficient levels using digital SCR controllers to help maintain the required temperatures. Skid mounted systems were also used in sister facilities that assisted in transport A redundancy system was also engineered to allow for emergency situations and help protect the valuable product and avoid any downtime in the process. Skid mounted systems were also used in sister facilities that assisted in transport and modularized the heating system in anticipation of additional heating and power requirements. Benefits of Wattco immersion heaters are as follows: Even dangerous and corrosive liquids can use electric heating to assist in the extraction of valuable commodities without the use of flammable heating source such as gas. Safety and virtually maintenance free electric heating can be used in large tanks without the need of access holes from the side of the tank. Precise controls can be used to maintain sensitive temperatures in dangerous areas.

The YMCA Association of Greater Rochester, New York, is one of the oldest associations in the United States. They currently have fifteen thriving locations built over the last century that range in size from 50,000 to more than 70,000 square feet. While the size and age of the facilities vary, high standards for energy efficiency and indoor air quality (IAQ) are key objectives in the design, construction, and operation of these buildings. "Good indoor air quality is very important" notes Eastside Family YMCA Executive Director Kevin Fitzpatrick. "Our members are quick to note if there is a problem." Indoor air pollution Indoor air quality is a constant challenge at a fitness center. Pollutants are present everywhere. In some respects, the effects of indoor air pollution are heightened in fitness centers because occupants are breathing heavily during workouts and inhaling more air through their mouths; this air forgoes the filters in the nose and travels deeper into the lungs. There is also a risk of mold growth and odor from sweaty garments and towels in the locker room There is also a risk of mold growth and odor from sweaty garments and towels in the locker room, or from moist air emanating from a swimming area. The work to mitigate the odors and air quality hazards associated with any fitness center requires diligence and careful planning. For example, the Eastside Family YMCA, the newest and largest branch in the Rochester Association, opens as early as 5:00 am and closes at 10:30 pm on weekdays. Healthy indoor environment After hours, cleaning crews work to refresh the space while ventilation operates 24/7 to keep the facility fresh and odor free. Even before the day-to-day upkeep of a facility, the managers of these modern fitness centers proactively specified HVAC solutions at the construction or renovation phases to ensure a clean and healthy environment. Exhausting contaminated air and continually replacing it with fresh outside air is an effective method of maintaining a healthy indoor environment. The drawback to high ventilation rates is increased heating and cooling costs to replace the exhausted air. Facilities can marginalize these increased costs, however, by utilizing an energy recovery ventilation (ERV) solution that can reduce outdoor air energy costs up to 80%. Outdoor energy challenges Airxchange wheels have proven reliable in multiple buildings over a number of years" All branches of the Rochester YMCA Association use ERV systems to overcome the outdoor energy challenges presented by Rochester's cold winters and hot, humid summers. According to Christopher Marks, Vice President of Properties, the association leadership team prefers Airxchange for all new installations because of their excellent reliability. "Airxchange wheels have proven reliable in multiple buildings over a number of years. We will specify Airxchange wheels in all buildings that utilize an ERV." Including ERVs in their buildings during construction or renovation allows the HVAC system designers to specify smaller and more efficient heating and cooling units, reducing the upfront cost and enabling the high ventilation rates that provide clean, healthy air. Unitary rooftop system The Eastside facility is an award winning building, recognized by the national YMCA as a ‘Top Ten’ building in the USA. At that facility, the Child Watch, gym, locker rooms and community spaces are all ventilated using energy recovery wheels as part of the commercial unitary rooftop system. "In the eight years since this HVAC system was installed, there have been no maintenance issues, and system reliability has been excellent," adds Fitzpatrick. The robust energy recovery performance of the Airxchange wheels also resulted in them being specified for an upcoming addition to the facility. When the addition is completed, the facility will be a total of 105,000 sq. ft., making it the largest branch in the region. Gas heat exchangers LaBella Associates chose to pretreat incoming outside air with energy recovery According to the principal engineers who designed the addition to the Eastside YMCA, Kathleen VanderZwaag and Casey Bernhard of LaBella Associates, because of the many energy savings measures used on the project, including energy recovery, the facility was awarded rebates from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) that assisted in reducing the up-front costs of the new space. They also note that Labella uses ERVs in any building where repurposing the energy in exhaust air allows them to reduce the size of the heating and cooling units. At the Eastside YMCA, LaBella Associates chose to pretreat incoming outside air with energy recovery in order to raise the temperature of the air on a winter design day, reducing the load of the gas heat exchangers. Enhancing patron experience LaBella has had great success with Airxchange over the last decade and continues to specify their products on new projects in the region. The fresh, clean air that enhances the patron experience is the result of the attention to air quality by the entire Rochester YMCA Association. These buildings are bright, airy, and inviting family destination. The proactive approach to building design and maintenance offers a fine example for any fitness center.

Maintaining safe levels of air quality in multi-story car parks is crucial for the safety of those using them. Carbon Dioxide caused by vehicle exhausts and other emissions can lead to poor and potentially dangerous levels of toxicity without good ventilation. Additionally, should a fire break out, the smoke and fumes need to be drawn from each floor quickly. Energy-efficient ventilation system The owner of a multi-story car park in the center of Belgrade, Serbia, turned to Electro Pneumatic Solutions (EPS), a sales partner of Invertek Drives, to design and install a new and energy-efficient ventilation system. Four fans were being used in the three-story building. These were two 11kW rated and two 18.5kW. EPS selected the Optidrive E3 IP20 variable frequency drive (VFD) to control them for the application. The E3 was ideal with specific built-in parameters for fan control. Two 15kW (20HP), 30A, 380V – 480V, 3PH drives were selected for the 11kW rated fans, while two 18.5kW (25HP), 39A, 380V – 480V, 3PH drives were used for the 17.2kW fans. Reduce energy consumption “One of the client’s requirements was to reduce energy consumption while ensuring high levels of ventilation. The Optidrive VFDs are ideal for this as they provide accurate speed control, either through the built-in parameters or manually through the digital button control,” said Marko Nikolic, Head of Sales at EPS.  “The fan rotation speed in ventilation mode is relatively low and is activated according to the set time intervals. To achieve the most energy-efficient operation the drives were set to fan mode and optimized for the application.” Built-in fire mode Optidrive E3’s built-in fire mode is capable of quickly increasing the fans to maximum rotation The Optidrive E3’s built-in fire mode is capable of quickly increasing the fans to maximum rotation. It ignores internal protections to keep the fans at maximum speed for a long as possible. “The fire mode makes it a perfect drive for fan control, particularly in facilities such as multi-story car parks. Should a fire break out the mode overrides all other safety protections to maximize fan rotation and draw smoke from the building as fast as possible,” added Marko. Bluetooth set-up The set-up, commissioning, and changing of parameters on the Optidrive E3 can also be easily undertaken through its Bluetooth and NFC connectivity. Connected to Invertek’s Optitools mobile app via the Optistick Smart means replication of parameters to other drives is effortless where multiple drives are being set up.  The Optidrive E3 is available in IP20 and IP66 enclosures and four frame sizes, making it ideal for a wide range of applications and environments.

Panasonic is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the Efficiency North - Building for Future Generations, a FREE virtual event to attend this year taking place on Tuesday 22nd June - Thursday 24th June 2021. About Efficiency North Efficiency North is bringing together its landlord membership, key stakeholders in the construction sector, industry leaders, and national policy makers to address how we make the right choices in housing and construction now that will have the most positive impact on tomorrow. Building good quality homes that are affordable for everyone has never been more important.  A year of the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the link between inadequate housing and health and wellbeing. We also need to act fast to slow and reverse the effects of climate change on our planet.  Decisions we make now will have a lasting impact for generations to come. Authority Comment Richard Bishop, Head of Marketing for Panasonic UK and Ireland commented: “We are delighted to offer our support and involvement in this important event to highlight the use of low carbon alternatives such as air source heat pumps to the sector and how this could be the answer to help us reach our net zero targets.” Investing in R&D development Panasonic is a frontrunner within the heating and cooling industry, with over 60 years of experience in producing innovative products. The company invests heavily in R&D to develop new solutions to advance the market, with a huge emphasis on environmental impact, hence the investment in emerging low carbon technologies such as air source heat pumps.

Carrier China hosted a ceremony with government representatives from the Baoshan District Commerce Committee and Industrial Park, industry associations and media to mark the opening of the first Carrier Air Conditioning museum located in the North Asia region. Carrier China is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, the pioneering global provider of healthy, safe and sustainable building and cold chain solutions. The Carrier Air Conditioning Museum explores the history and development of HVAC solutions as well as Carrier’s importance throughout the industry’s transformation. Visitors can also experience the company’s comprehensive solutions in residential, light commercial and commercial applied equipment, service and building automation systems at the over 4,000 square-meter center featuring interactive displays at the Shanghai facility. Carrier Air Conditioning Museum The space also includes a new training and maintenance center for customers to learn about healthier, digitally smarter and more efficient indoor environments in the design, retrofit and operation of building strategies. "Congratulations on the successful opening of the Carrier Air Conditioning Museum,” said Wenyuan Hu, Director of the Management Committee of Baoshan Industrial Park, “As a world leader in heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions, Carrier continues to reinvent the industry by endowing a new industrial, cultural and learning landmark in Shanghai.” “The legacy of Willis Carrier, the inventor of the first modern air conditioning system, lives on today as the company he founded leads the industry with energy-efficient and sustainable products and manufacturing practices in China,” said Titus Yu, Managing Director, North Asia HVAC, Carrier. “Now we can share the stories and history behind the technology and the continual changes in the HVAC industry with the addition of the museum on our expanding campus.”

After two events outside Europe (2017 USA, 2019 China), the 11th International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting (EEDAL) conference returns to Europe in 2021. The pandemic has obliged EEDAL to move its conference from November 2021 to June 2022. It would offer an opportunity to address Indoor Environmental Quality for the public that involves policymakers. Background EEDAL provides for international dialogue between the key players in the residential building sector, including appliances, HVAC and lighting manufacturers, residential energy efficiency experts and academia, service providers, consumer organizations, retailers, and policymakers. In the past, it has proven for several industries, also in the non-domestic sector, a good networking occasion. It is useful for informal contacts to some of the European Commission staff and international authorities and authors of studies preparing various legislations, especially in the field of Ecodesign. In view of the rapid developments (Ecodesign, labeling, public procurement, energy performance of buildings, etc.) not only in Europe but also globally members could use this platform to voice their opinions and proposals on specific issues by submitting papers for this event. Timing Authors interested in submitting papers are requested to send an abstract not exceeding 400 words in length and not less than 200 words. The call for papers will soon be re-opened until 14 November 2021. As soon as the call is re-opened, new information will follow. Recommended Actions Members (e.g. air conditioning, fan, heat pump manufacturers) with an interest in the global market can make use of this opportunity to highlight their views. It could be appropriate for those Product Groups that are subject to international competition and where information on Ecodesign requirements and related standards are available. For this edition, the topics ‘Indoor Environmental Quality’ and ‘Motors’ have been added and may present opportunities for presentations. In view of the pandemic, it may prove useful for members and Eurovent to submit papers to address IEQ.

Eurovent, in cooperation with Eurovent Middle East and Eurovent Certita Certification, will host a dedicated webinar tailor-made for Africa, Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. The webinar will outline the importance of adherence to the latest standards in air conditioning and ventilation. Special focus will be placed on the application of the newest air filtration standard ISO 16890, which has replaced EN 779 and other international standards in recent years. Topics to address The webinar, organized by Eurovent, Eurovent Middle East, and Eurovent Certita Certification, will be held on 09 June 2021. In order to introduce ISO 16890 and explain its value and application, it will address the following topics: ISO 16890: The global air filtration standard Eurovent 4/23: Guidance for the selection of ISO 16890 rated air filter classes for general ventilation applications Energy efficiency and filter certification Presentations will be followed by a panel discussion and a dedicated Q&A session, where participants are invited to discuss any issues related to the topics. Importance of the transition Increasing the awareness on IAQ to particulate matter suspended in the air Marc Schmidt, Chairman of the Eurovent Product Group ‘Air Filters’ (PG-FIL) and one of the key speakers of the webinar, underlines the importance of the transition to ISO 16890: “This standard has been developed to increase the awareness on Indoor Air Quality related to particulate matter suspended in the air and supports the World Health Organization’s fight in reducing illnesses related to smallest particle sizes. It is essential for the HVAC engineering community around the world to be aware of this standard and to understand its application.” Timings The webinar will be aired internationally on 09 June 2021 with the following timing: Europe and North Africa: 08:00-09:30h (Brussels, Cairo) Middle East: 10:00-11:30h (Abu Dhabi) India: 11:30-13:00h (New Delhi) Southeast Asia: 14:00-15:30h (Singapore)

Trane Technologies plc, a global climate innovator, has announced that the company leadership will participate in a virtual fireside chat at the Wolfe Industrials Virtual Conference 2021. They will speak at 2:00 PM ET on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. The live webcast will be accessible on the Trane Technologies official website, under the investor relations section. An archive of the webcast will be available for 30 days, following the virtual event.