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.

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.

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.

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.

Restaurants rely on higher pressure water. It’s critical for food preparation as well as cleaning and sanitizing restaurant equipment, utensils, and tableware.

Therefore, domestic booster pump systems play an extremely important role in the day-to-day operations of a restaurant, especially a large restaurant, serving large numbers of people.

To help a new restaurant in Oak Brook, IL, Piccolo Buco, we were contacted by BTR Engineering looking for help specifying a booster pump system. This project was a challenge because the basement area and floor space were extremely limited. However, we love challenges!

We put our heads together and came up with the perfect solution – an inline domestic booster pump system that could be mounted in the ceiling.

To meet their tight space requirements, BTR Engineering specified the Taco Vertical Inline KV Pump as the ideal solution.

We recommended the KV Series Vertical Inline Pumps because they require no isolation pads and their simple, in-line design can save the customer money / energy. The controls are self-contained in the variable frequency drive which is wall mounted at eye level.

Once the specifications were approved, we supplied the equipment for the Plumbing Contractor to install the pump system near the ceiling.

BTR Engineering was pleased to have a unique workable solution for their client. Management at Piccolo Buco was also happy with the solution, and allowed us to come in and take photos of the successful, ceiling installation.

If you are an engineer or engineering firm looking for solutions and specifications for unique client plumbing or HVAC challenges, give us a call. We have an enviable amount of experience in the industry and are happy to share our expertise.

Taco is stocking 1.5 hp – 15 hp, 200-240V and 380-460V versions of their self-sensing pumps, bringing lead times down to 10-12 weeks. Our customers will be happy! 

All are NEMA Type 12 and they are all with Fused Disconnect w/o bypass.

These drives are in stock and only available for the self-sensing pumps! This applies only to those shown in the schedule below. Anything other than those shown in the schedule below, may require longer lead-times. 

Please note that published or verbal lead-times are estimated, and not guaranteed, but currently, we feel confident in a 10-12 week lead-time.

If you have a need for any of these pump models, please give us a call at 800-355-7061. We are happy to answer any of your questions or start an order.

Sterlco offers a wide variety of motor options to assure maximum efficiency and an economical operation. The tank receivers are available in steel, cast iron and stainless steel to fit whatever your specific application is, and Sterlco Condensate Units are available with different capacity configurations and optional features. Decades of reliable system performance draws customers to Sterlco steam control equipment for commercial and industrial HVAC, food, beverage, pharmaceuticals, hospitals, schools, power utilities, refineries and petrochemical applications.

How does a steam system work?

Steam is generated inside the boiler by heating treated condensate, above 212°F. The steam is then transported through pipes to the point of use, and as the steam cools down and converts back into condensate, it flows back into the condensate receiver / unit. When the boiler feed unit determines that the boiler needs more make-up water, it sends it from the condensate receiver / tank, into the boiler to be re-heated and sent back through the system all over again!

There are 5 key components to a steam system:

Centrifugal Pumps are a key component of any boiler feed or condensate unit and are essential to keep your steam system running efficiently. The pump delivers condensate at proper flow rates for maximum steam control and system performance. Our pumps are made from high quality parts, engineered to ensure long life and peak efficiency. Maintenance is made easy with a removable motor and impeller, easy to replace seals and can be done without disturbing piping connections. If you need to replace a pump on an older boiler feed or condensate unit, Sterlco offers adapter kits to easily mount to the bolt patterns of other manufacturer’s units in the field.

Our Boiler Feed & Condensate Tanks are extremely reliable and known for their long operating life in the field. Each heavy-duty tank is offered in steel, cast iron, and stainless steel. If required, we also custom manufacture the tank thickness to meet any specification, including military specifications. Sterlco Units come with a wide range of standard and optional features. We have systems for vertical multi-stage applications utilizing an elevated tank system design, or if space is limited, we have low profile tanks available to fit within your design footprint.

NOTE: While Sterlco offers a full lineup of standard boiler feed and condensate units, the ability to customize is something that they specialize in. If your system needs unique tanks, pumps, or control panels, their experienced engineers can design the perfect boiler feed or condensate package to fit your application’s unique requirements.

Control panels are available for boiler feed and condensate units with multiple standard and optional features. Indoor units protect against foreign objects, settling dust and drips. Upgrades are available for outdoor use, increased water resistance and corrosion protection. If your control panel requires more features, a solution can be designed that meets your needs, budget, & timeline.

Sterlco’s Self-Modulating Temperature Control Valves are heavy-duty and designed to help maintain temperature, flow and pressure. The 56-T series lineup is designed for cooling applications while the 150 series lineup is designed for heating (D-150-G series) or cooling (R-150-G series) applications. All valves are self-modulating for continuous & accurate control. Installation is made easy with the ability to mount in any position and minimal maintenance is necessary.

Traps, strainers, and radiator valves. Sterlco offers an extensive lineup of steam traps designed for the most demanding applications. These rugged and long-lasting traps & strainers are engineered to operate at the highest efficiency levels.

Give us a call with any questions about Sterlco steam system components or to place an order – 800-355-7061. You can also grab a brochure here.

We want to let you know about something that you should take advantage of, while we’re all working from home. It’s called TACO TUESDAY!

What is Taco Tuesday? Every Tuesday, Taco Comfort Solutions hosts a fun, free, fact-filled one-hour training webinar that will keep you up-to-date on the latest HVAC systems, tools, and technologies. Every week they switch up between a Commercial and Residential focused topic.

These are great educational sessions, and we guarantee that you’ll learn something new each time, even if you feel like you know everything you need to know already. What’s better is that you will receive Professional Development Hour (PDH) credits for each class you attend. That’s right, each class offers 1 PDH for either a Residential or Commercial class! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get your education credits.

These classes are free of charge, but you must register.

Here’s a list of Upcoming Topics and Dates
(C = Commercial Focus – R = Residential Focus)

May 26 – C -TACO HSS Software – Hydronic Heat Pump Focus!

June 2 – R – Combustion Analysis

June 9 – C – Manual Pressure Drop Calculation for Hydronic Systems

June 16 – R – Piping/Pumping Mod-Con Boilers

June 23 – C – Chiller Plant Concept Focus

Get more details on each of these classes and the link to register here.

Taco Comfort Solutions also offers a library of previously recorded trainings. You can check those out here.