Industry Roundup: NEMA Motors, ABB Drives, Honeywell Health and More
• The National Electrical Manufacturers Association recently released state-level shipment data on its NEMA Premium program, which demonstrates a significant increase in each of the six reported categories. The data show that in 2001-2002 the total net units shipped went up approximately 30%. In 2002-2003 there was a 14% increase over the previous years, suggesting a growing demand for premium-efficiency motors.
• Carrier Corporation, Farmington, Conn., and New Berlin, Wis.-based ABB, Inc. have signed a corporate supply agreement. ABB is providing Carrier with its new line of variable frequency drives for HVAC, the ACH550 series, as part of the agreement. Carrier is using the drives as a critical component in its Weather Series Rooftops and Aero air-handling product lines. In other news from ABB, the company is officially opening a corporate research center near Cleveland, with a $25 million investment, to concentrate on innovations in automation and partnerships with area universities.
• Minneapolis-based Honeywell has launched a new product class: Health and Critical Environments. Products represented in these categories range from ASHRAE-rated filters to HEPA filters for sub-micron particle control and carbon, potassium permanganate and zeolite, for odor control. Another new line of products also features the combined use of high-efficiency filters and ultraviolet lights for maximum airborne particle and biological contaminant control.
• Johnson Controls, Milwaukee, has pledged $1 million to the Milwaukee School of Engineering for the development of a software engineering lab. Since its creation, the Johnson Controls Software Engineering Lab has initiated several projects for both internal and external clients ranging from the Hunger Task Force to Johnson Controls’ customers. A ceremony on Oct. 22 marked the official dedication of the lab.
• Parker Hannifin, Nurnberg, Germany, and Siemens Building Technologies, have announced a collaboration to jointly design, develop, market and service integrated solutions, combining mechanical components and electronic controls in packaged systems, for the air conditioning and refrigeration markets worldwide. Targeted applications include heat pumps, chillers, close control/telecom units, self-contained cabinets and coolers, indoor PTAC units, ductless mini- splits, rooftops, industrial refrigeration, and supermarkets.
• GE Energy, Atlanta, has secured contracts to supply more than 750 megawatts of wind turbines for new 2004-2005 projects in the United States, and has received commitments for another 750 megawatts. In total, the orders and commitments are valued at more than US$1.3 billion.
• Viisage, a provider of advanced technology identity solutions headquartered in Bochum, Germany, has acquired Bedford, N.H.-based Imaging Automation (iA). The acquisition provides Viisage with a market leadership position in identity document authentication to complement the company’s core competencies in secure identity credentials and biometrics.
• WAGO Corporation, Germantown, Wis., has released a system integrator program designed to meet the needs of both system integrators and end users. In addition to complete access to the company’s product offering, direct sales force and application engineers, it offers free training, software and upgrades, and sales leads and referrals.
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