LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Daikin Applied’s annual Ideas in Motion Roadshow literally rolled its two 18-wheelers into the home of the Kentucky Derby, as Thermal Equipment Sales Inc. hosted the one-day event, which consisted of product demonstrations, food, and horse racing, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

“At each of our events, we expect between 40 and 50 people, consisting of primarily consulting engineers and design-build mechanical contracting firms,” said Dave Godsil, regional general manager, mid states region for Daikin Applied.

Because of the successful responses, the company expanded its tour schedule this fall to deliver the latest in Daikin Applied HVAC technology to contractors, specifying engineers, and building owners. The Roadshow stopped in 10 communities across the country with programming that included live demonstrations, educational sessions, a preview of newly expanded product lines, expert discussions focusing on the company’s Intelligent Equipment™, and what the Internet of Things (IoT) means to the commercial building industry.

Product experts from Daikin Applied demonstrated products on the double-wide trailer, and Thermal Equipment Sales reps answered questions regarding typical application scenarios.

Two days prior to arriving in Louisville, the Ideas in Motion roadshow had stopped at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Chris Tyler, CEO of Thermal Equipment Sales, said the turnout there was very good, as well and commented on one of the unnoticeable product features — the sound.

“The Rebel™ rooftop unit is very quiet and offers exceptional efficiency,” said Tyler. “The magnetic-bearing WME units are amazingly quiet. In fact, when we’ve had the opportunity to demo live equipment on-site, our customers are sometimes shocked to find out they are standing next to a unit that is actually running.”

Dan Sullivan, Daikin Applied’s product manager for Intelligent Equipment, said, “The ability to incorporate remote diagnostics and edge device connectivity on Daikin rooftop units and chillers has greatly expanded our attraction for the professional engineers, as well as mechanical contractors.”

The new Daikin Rebel commercial packaged rooftop system and Pathfinder™ air-cooled screw compressor chiller were two that Sullivan pointed out as being newest on the scene. In addition to the larger Rebel rooftop units that range 3-28 ton, other products displayed in the parking lot of the famed horse track included the 30- to 240-ton Trailblazer air-cooled scroll chillers, the Magnitude® magnetic-bearing centrifugal chiller, the Maverick rooftop unit, MicroTech Integrated System controls, SmartSource water-source heat pumps, ThinLine fan coils, Vision air handlers, and packaged terminal air conditioners.

For the first time in its commercial HVAC equipment line, Daikin Applied has harnessed the IoT and embedded the Intelligent Equipment platform into its HVAC technology across its new and legacy rooftop product lines, including Rebel, Maverick II and RoofPak. The new technology enables machine-to-machine communication, which improves efficiencies. Participants at select locations on the Roadshow also have an opportunity to earn continuing education unit (CEU) credits by attending these sessions.

The tour’s hands-on approach has proven to be popular with attendees; having the equipment and technology on-site creates a more experiential learning process than a classroom, webinar, or manual. One key aspect of the roadshow is that Daikin experts show participants the flexibility of applying Daikin solutions to their systems, giving building owners and managers more control in managing the environment, efficiency, and costs in their operations. Charles Haskins, sales engineer with Thermal Equipment, who was talking with visiting engineers and contractors, said, “We’re excited to work with some of the very best contractors in the region,” as he pointed to representatives from Louisville, Kentucky-based Hussung Mechanical Contractors and Walker Mechanical, who were browsing the product demonstrations. Tim Estridge, an estimator with Hussung Mechanical, said Daikin’s geothermal products most captured his attention that day. “There is not a ton of geothermal work going on in the Louisville area, but we’re quoting geothermal work everywhere else in the state.”

Tyler, also the Kentucky U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Green Schools chair, and a board member of the Kentucky School Plant Manager Association, said Kentucky has always been strong in geothermal among the school systems, and that variable refrigerant volume (VRV) products, such as those offered by Daikin, are very popular in the state. “Kentucky has a net-zero-energy school in Bowling Green. Eighty to 85 percent of K-12 school projects in Kentucky are either going geothermal or VRV. These geothermal water-source heat pumps or VRV systems in our school projects may be coupled with the Daikin Rebel makeup air unit to optimize the school’s energy performance while maintaining a quiet environment for the children.”

The roadshow consists of two semi-trailers loaded with Daikin products. Once parked, they’re opened up and connected with an expandable floor between the two, allowing customers an open-air demonstration. The cool beverages provided by Thermal Equipment in the Churchill Downs parking lot helped combat the bright sun, and the free buffet lunch passes to Millionaires Row inside the horse track added to the day’s excitement. The September fall racing season had recently opened, and Daikin/Thermal Equipment guests were treated to an afternoon of fine thoroughbred entertainment.

The Ideas in Motion Road Show is set to make one final stop Dec. 3 in Phoenix. For more information, visit www.daikinapplied.com/roadshow.php. For more information about Daikin Applied, visit www.daikinapplied.com.

Publication date: 11/2/2015

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