For your information news briefs from a wide variety of categories within the HVAC industry. Price increases, mergers and acquisitions, award winners, and more are highlighted here each week.

MANUFACTURERS

Bluon Inc. (Irvine, California) named Danica Bunnett as chief operating officer.

Stephen O’Brien

A.O. Smith Corporation (Milwaukee) named Stephen O’Brien as chief operating officer for Lochinvar.

Majestic Steel USA Inc. (Cleveland) acquired the business assets of Merit Steel USA (Pittsburg, California).

Rehau (Leesburg, Virginia) is celebrating the 25-year anniversary of establishing its production plant in Cullman, Alabama.

Chuck Gates, cofounder and CEO of RenewAire (Waunakee, Wisconsin), is retiring.

MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE

The Whalen Company named Sass, Moore & Associates (Woodbury, New Jersey) as its representative for Philadelphia and eastern Pennsylvania, as well as the southern half of New Jersey.

RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTORS

Wrench Group LLC (Marietta, Georgia) announced that Boothe’s Heating, Air & Plumbing (Hollywood, Maryland) has joined the company’s family of regional brands.

ORGANIZATION

Mark S. Ingrao

The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) named Mark S. Ingrao as its new CEO.

PRICE INCREASES

Nortek Air Solutions (St. Louis) announced an 8-12% price increase on all of its products, effective Aug. 16, 2021.

Heatcraft Refrigeration Products (Stone Mountain, Georgia) is announcing a general price increase of 8% for customers, effective Sept. 15, 2021, on commercial refrigeration products.