From the Mechanical Underground

Getting pumped: manufacturers invest in America, infrastructure

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:41:00 +0000

Some of the major players in the pumping industry are investing in the U.S., and its deteriorating infrastructure. Stemming from my visits starting from the last year, I have seen Grundfos, Taco and Wilo USA and Xylem taking giant steps in the future of America. Each company sees an opportunity to grow by concentrating efforts here in the States and with the American contractor. A lot of great industry buzz is coming out of these camps.

From the Mechanical Underground

Solar Thermal & The Shirley MacLaine Complex

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:52:00 +0000

The news is good, for PV, it seems. What about SDHW or solar thermal? How is that looking for 2013 and beyond? Perhaps solar has one more reincarnation left. I recently caught up with Bob ‘hot rod’ Rohr, educational & training manager for Caleffi, North America. Milwaukee, and picked his brain on the topic of the health of solar thermal.

From the Mechanical Underground

The echoes of turnstile ghosts — the viability of industry trade shows

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:34:00 +0000

As we brace for the onset of 2013 trade shows, we often ask ourselves, which ones are worth attending and which ones can I skip? One of the more popular plumbing + HVACR shows is the AHR Show (www.ahrexpo.com) in Dallas, January 28-30, and it is right around the corner. This show is about as highly anticipated a show as is ISH in Frankfurt Germany later this spring. But there are some shows that need help with attendance, and some like the ISH US show that have become extinct. Hundreds of exhibitors with the latest technology will be on display.

From the Mechanical Underground

The sounds of the season: geothermal heat pumps as renewable?

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:38:00 +0000

One thing is for certain during this campaign, and in recent campaign memory, similar speeches with catchphrases try to grab our attention. Words like “green,” sustainability, dependence on foreign oil, drilling, clean coal, solar, geothermal, etc. The list goes on. I think both men favor the idea of a more sustainable planet, but the route is a little different. When Governor Romney talks of renewables, I can’t decide if he’s talking about part of his energy program or a new Oscar Mayer lunch pack. President Obama can’t talk about solar without the whole Solyndra thing in the backs of people’s minds. And do you think either of them really understands the ins and outs of geothermal?

From the Mechanical Underground

Train 'em

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:38:00 +0000

Train ’em

From the Mechanical Underground

Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012 — Is that date important enough for you?

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 16:07:00 +0000

Wait…Wait…You hear that…? Shhh, there it goes again. It’s the sound of the Dow Jones Industrial Average riding the rails of that roller coaster we call the economy. Quiet… Don’t make a sudden move or it might drop again. Should we just sit here and hold our collective breaths?