We wanted to let everyone know that Taco is migrating their product tags from NFC technology to QR codes to make your life a little easier. This enhancement is going to be a great assist and time saver for everyone allowing you to access information you need, on the job site.

The new tag technology will allow you to easily access important product information by simply scanning the QR code with your mobile device. The transition will be a seamless experience for you.

How Does It Work?

The new tags are designed to provide you and your customers with vital product information. A quick scan will now bring all relevant details directly to your fingertips—no setup required!

When you scan the QR code, you’ll be linked to eLink®, Taco’s cloud-based service. This platform provides comprehensive, product-specific information, including:

• Order Information
• Product Specs
• Instruction Sheets
• Replacement Parts
• CAD/REVIT Files
• Technical Support
• Catalogs

• Sales Representative Information

The new QR Code accessibility with Taco products will begin in October 2024. Rest assured, existing Taco Tags utilizing NFC technology will continue to be supported, so you can still access information as before.

Taco Comfort Solutions is one of our top-selling brands and we are excited that they continue to make changes that make life easier for all of us – distributors, mechanical contractors, engineers, and end user customers.

If you have any questions or need further clarification about this product tag technology change, please reach out to your Mechanical Equipment Representative. We are happy to help.

The Challenge:

CGH Medical Center’s existing hot water system consisted of a leaking 2,000-gallon hot water tank, which was tasked with providing domestic hot water to the hospital’s laundry facility. Part of the hospital’s capital plan was to replace and expand their laundry machines, but they needed a dependable hot water solution to satisfy the newly added capacity, that more machines would offer them. Mechanical Equipment gave them the solution they needed!

The Solution:

We worked closely with our Patterson-Kelley engineers to provide a model “PK Compact” instantaneous, double-walled, steam-to-hot water generator.  Our P-K Compact eliminated the need for wasting money in a “Band-Aid approach”, trying to fix the old and leaking equipment. The additional benefit was the new P-K Compact hot water heater saved the hospital considerable space in the boiler room, allowing them to easily increase the needed capacity with additional washing machines. 

This small, Compact heater produces high hot water output at a closely controlled temperature, making it the ideal water heater for new or existing installations.

The Advantages:

The advantages of the P-K Compact system include:

• Saves valuable floor space
• No overhead room required for service
• Meets hot water requirements in most buildings without the need for additional hot water storage
• Performs equally well with steam, boiler water or high temperature hot water
• Improved valve performance and capacities, configurable to suit customer requirements

These Patterson Kelley instantaneous hot water heaters have a long history of successful use throughout Illinois and the rest of the country and are ideal for hospital applications that have existing steam heating systems. 

As with all Patterson Kelley products this compact heater is constructed to have a long life. The shell is constructed of solid 90-10 copper nickel, the premium corrosion-resistant material for potable water service, eliminating potable water contamination.

If you have an application where this product could improve service AND save money, contact Mechanical Equipment for more information regarding these steam-to-hot water instantaneous heaters, or any of our other Patterson Kelley boilers and equipment. See how we can help you successfully solve your hot water challenges. 

We are happy to showcase our line of Unfired Clean Steam Generators from Ace Heaters. They offer the best performance using high pressure steam and high temperature water to generate clean steam. They’ve been expertly designed for medical product sterilization, humidification, pharmaceutical manufacturing and research applications.

The ACE Unfired Clean Steam Generators are perfect for any large space or facilities needing fast and precise control of clean steam. They are engineered for efficiency and are ideal for use in industrial plants, commercial buildings, universities, and correctional facilities.

We recently visited the Ace Heaters factory to see the steam generators and other products, being fabricated. We were happy to see that they also use one of our top products, Taco, for their pumps.

What impressed us? The extremely high quality of hand-built product and the unit’s ability to generate high purity steam, with a very quiet operation. Also, the units are easy to install and program.

Ace Unfired Clean Steam Generators come in Vertical (HSGV), Combination (HSGC), and Horizontal (HSGH) configurations. All are available as high temperature water to steam, steam to steam, and thermal fluid to steam units. Check out these features and options.

Features:

• Fully controlled and insulated, ready to operate with level, pressure, and double safety controls
• All 316/L wetted surfaces on the clean steam side
• Integral steam separator produces dry steam
• Single point connections minimizing field installation costs
• Horizontal, combination and vertical configurations available
• Steam output pressures up to 150 PSI
• Fully modulating energy input
• Fully modulating feedwater input
• Steam, boiler water, thermal fluids, and high temperature water as the heat source
• Building management system capable via ModBus IP or built-in BacNet IP
• ASME B&PV Code Sec. VIII, Div. 1, U/UB stamped

Options:

• Timed bottom blowdown
• Blowdown cooler
• Skid mounting
• PLC panel
• Tube Material – Titanium, Duplex Alloys
• 18”-150# ASME B16.5 flanged and hinged manway
• Touchsafe/IP rated control panels

Want more information, download a brochure here.

Availability:

We are proud to represent the ACE line of products. So, contact us for more specification, solution design, and pricing on the new ACE Unfired Cold-Steam Generators.

We love saving our customers money in addition to keeping their facilities operating! We recently helped Rivian Automotive, Inc., the electric vehicle manufacturer, with two new pumps that were critical to their manufacturing line.

Mechanical Equipment’s involvement started when an engineer from IMEG Corp. contacted us for help with sizing and pricing of an inline pump. After discussing the parameters of the system, we suggested another option.

An inline pump would have worked for the application however it would have required a 600 horse power motor. By offering an alternative solution, our Taco TA series, horizontal split case pump with a 400 horse power motor, we could save Rivian money with the initial cost as well as by operating a pump needing less horse power. The TA Model offers a double-suction design and the impeller assures minimum NPSH requirement.

You don’t often see 400 horsepower pumps because they’re only needed with high water-flow requirements, and that’s exactly what Rivian needed. The application was to provide cooling for the machines that perform spot welding on body parts. It’s essential to keeping the manufacturing line up and running.  

We worked with the engineer at IMEG as well as the Rivian project manager to draw up the plans and design the system from the ground up. The pump needed to deliver 3180 gallons of water per minute, at 305-feet of head.

We visited the Rivian manufacturing plant once the pumps were installed, to do the formal start-up of the system since it was such a unique design. Rivian manufactures and assembles everything needed for their electric vehicles – the battery, motor, and body. They even handle painting in house. It was fascinating to see the hundreds of American manufactured trucks being made and even more waiting to be shipped.

The vehicle manufacturing line that the new pump system supported was impressive.

Special thanks to IMEG Corp. and Taco for a great project design, and creating a successful pump system unique for Rivian. Thanks to Rivian for their support of Taco products. If you have a unique application for a pump or other HVAC system, or even an “everyday” project, give Mechanical Equipment a call. We understand that every client has different needs and we have the expertise to help you select the right options for a successful project.

Sterlco is pleased to announce that they are back to having simplex units and valves in stock and ready for quick ship deliveries. Also, lead times on their custom units have been cut substantially.

Sterlco is currently leading the industry in being able to get products in your hands quickly!  

If you have any questions on Sterlco’s products or delivery times for both stock and custom, please give us a call at 800-355-7061.

The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $10 million to support the installation of energy efficiency extended product systems (e.g., combined electric motor, variable speed drive, and pump). The funding has been made available as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal which included more than $62 billion for the DOE to deliver a more equitable clean energy future for the American people.

What this means for you and your customers is that any Taco commercial pump covered by the DOE rulemaking, which carries a qualifying Variable Load (PEIVL) or HI Energy Rating, such as the Self-Sensing SFI, SCI, SKS, SKV pumps, is eligible to receive a rebate of $25 per horsepower (HP) up to $25,000 directly from the DOE. All pumps installed on or after October 1, 2021 are eligible and the incentive is paid directly to the owner of the mechanical system in which the pumps are installed.

Helping your customers apply for this incentive shows them how you are looking out for their best interests. And, if they don’t have an energy efficiency extended product system, now is the time to invest in one.

Pump Qualifying Criteria:

The $10 million will be available until the money has been distributed, so now’s the time to talk with your past and current customers and let them know of the incentive opportunity. It’s a great way to promote Self-Sensing pump sales, including the Oe package and the new Modulating Pump Controller (MPC), and the energy savings and system benefits they provide.

*Click here to learn more about the Hydraulic Institute’s Energy Rating program, including the pump savings calculator that allows a user to calculate life cycle energy and cost savings.

Here are some other helpful links you may need to take advantage of this opportunity:

DOE Rebate Application Portal

DOE Implementation Guidance

Taco SelfSensing Catalog

If you need help with system design, information on lead times, or placing an order, please give on our sales team a call at 800-355-7061.

A local Chicago Public High School found themselves in a bind. They had an upcoming swim meet scheduled but their “steam to pool water” heat exchanger failed a month before the meet. They didn’t want to have to cancel the meet or find another location, so they reached out to JR Industries to find a fast solution. JR Industries reached out to Mechanical Equipment, to get the equipment.

As you can see, the old heat exchanger had corroded over time after being exposed to years of chemicals in the pool water.

We immediately contacted Taco Comfort Solutions for their recommendation for this application, and while other factories are having supply chain issues, we were able to get the correct replacement heat-exchanger quickly to save the day!

We supplied the school with a Taco Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger designed to better withstand the aggressive chemicals commonly found in pool water.

Taco Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers are available in a wide range of materials to meet your application needs. All fabrication is done in-house with only the best of quality and built to ASME Standards. This heat-exchanger features a bronze head, brass interior shell and CuproNickel tubes, to easily withstand the aggressive pool chemicals.

Features of Taco Heat-Exchangers:

• Designed, constructed and tested to ASME Section VIII, Div. 1 requirements
• NSF/ANSI 372 Certified and Listed
• High degree of flexibility in materials to meet varying application requirements
• Available in 2 or 4 pass construction
• All fabrication done in-house
• Computerized selections to ensure fast and easy design
• National Board Registration
• Computerized selections to ensure fast and easy design
• CRN registration (optional)

Working with Taco we were able to get the shell and tube heat exchanger delivered on time and installed for the swim meet. It wasn’t the photo finish timing you see in some swim meets, but it sure was a big win for everyone!

With the large Taco inventory that Mechanical Equipment carries and our suppliers’ track records on fast delivery, give us a call first, the next time you have a critical project and need equipment or parts in your hands fast.

Multi-Stack Capability

The 1,000 MBH modules are the MULTI-STACK of boilers. These modular condensing boilers can be “daisy-chained” together using the existing supply and return flanges that are shipped with caps on them, for a total capacity of up to 4,000 MBH. Easily connect up to four SSB1000TL together without any additional purchased venting parts or accessories.

Complete Redundancy

Each Bosch boiler section has complete redundancy meaning there’s two of everything inside, including heat-exchangers, pumps, etc. so that if one side becomes inoperable, you still have heat!

Everything is separate, yet tied together so that you can operate the unit as designed or isolate one side for maintenance, while the other side still operates. Piping, valving, heat-exchangers and every other component has redundancy!

Features:

A stainless steel boiler is built for heavy duty commercial applications:

• Dual 316L stainless steel heat exchangers for increased capacity

• Flexible installation options with a small footprint
• Equipped with a multi-speed circulator pump on each module
• Superior, non-prorated 10-year limited warranty for Heat Exchanger
• Up to 96.8% thermal efficiency
• 40:1 turndown capability in cascade applications

Call your Mechanical Equipment representative for more information and pricing!

In addition, water pumps commonly come with Electrically Commutated Motors that contain magnets that attract any iron, or black iron oxide and magnetite, circulating in the water pipes. Over time though, iron accumulates on the pumps which in turn, causes failure. Obviously, this can be costly to the customer to clean, fix, or replace the pump motor. The 4900 Series with our new magnet option, totally eliminates that problem.

A UNIQUE DESIGN

Through the use of Taco’s patented Pall Ring design and technology, the 4900 Series uses coalescence to collect and merge micro-bubbles and allow them to vent through the integral vent mechanism at the top of the vessel. An optional switchable on/ off magnet clears the system of micro-bubbles as small as 18 x 10 -6 meters, magnetite, sand, dirt and rust. You can’t get a cleaner system than when using the Magnetic 4900-series separator!

Adding the new on/off magnet to the already great 4900-series separator, has taken it to the next level, differentiating their separator from all the others.

The magnet collects all of those afore mentioned metal shavings that are continually circulating through the system. To flush them from the system, just turn the magnet off and open the flush valve. The metal and dirt flushes out easily. Turn it back on and the system is up and running again quickly. No need to take out the magnet for cleaning and clearing debris, which results in easy maintenance for a reduction in labor and down-time.

This is a unique feature to Taco and is a game changer for you.

SPECIFICATIONS

• GPM: 0 – 30,000
• CONNECTION SIZES: 3/4” — 36”
• Micro Air bubble removal to 18 Microns
• Dirt particle removal below 30 Microns
• Size ranges from 2” to 36” / W.P. at 125, 150 or 250 PSI.

For more detailed product information and benefits, watch this training video from Taco.

If you are a mechanical engineer, building facility manager, or contractor looking for better solutions for your commercial or institutional building heating and cooling system, give us a call at 800-355-7061. We are happy to share our experience to assist you in designing and maintaining the best solution for your customers.

These fabricated metal enclosures are important for both concealing and protecting exposed piping or electrical conduit.

Conceal

Not all pipes in a building can be enclosed within walls, ceilings, or floors. Maintenance may need access to the pipes periodically or the pipes may be necessary to emit the desired heat or water into the room. But many times, these pipes aren’t aesthetically pleasing. So, concealing them in an attractive way becomes a value to the building owner, facility managers, and most importantly occupants.

Protect

Metal enclosures are also important to protect the pipes or wiring from damage and extending their peak working condition. But it also protects people from accidental contact. Safety in schools, hospitals, industrial complexes, commercial buildings, and public housing is critical.

Types of Pipes to Enclose

The types of pipes that the building maintenance supervisors want to conceal and protect could include:

• Hot and cold water pipes
• Steam pipes for heating
• Refrigerant pipes
• Sprinkler pipes
• Electrical conduit

Types of Custom Metal Enclosures

Our custom enclosures are fabricated by a local Union sheet metal shop, instead of being manufacturing in another state, which allows us to offer our customers a quick turnaround. It also saves you money on shipping from out of state.

We offer galvannealed painted and unpainted enclosures, as well as stainless and aluminum, so you have options for the building aesthetics. Galvannealed sheet is carbon steel dipped and coated with zinc on both sides. The metal is then heated turning the coating into a zinc iron alloy, giving the sheet an improved or smoother surface finish, so it can be painted to match the room.

If you want to paint the enclosure, we offer colors from a standard RAL color chart or can even provide custom colors if required.

Our Process

When possible, to ensure quality and make it easier for our customers, a Mechanical Equipment sales engineer will meet with the installing contractor on the project and field measure together. This helps the project go more smoothly and avoid any costly measurement mistakes.

If you are a mechanical engineer, building facility manager, or contractor looking for custom metal HVAC pipe enclosure options or solutions for commercial or institutional building, give us a call at 800-355-7061. We have an enviable amount of experience in the industry and are happy to share our expertise on what is possible.