There has been some tough rhetoric coming out of president-elect Trump’s camp regarding tightening the screws on imported goods by implementing a hefty tariff on countries such as China, Mexico and Canada, to name a few. Is this a good attempt to bring more manufacturing stateside? How will this affect the economy? Is this even Read more
HVAC
There has been some tough rhetoric coming out of president-elect Trump’s camp regarding tightening the screws on imported goods by implementing a hefty tariff on countries such as China, Mexico and Canada, to name a few. Is this a good attempt to bring more manufacturing stateside? How will this affect the economy? Is this even a good idea? We talk to some industry leaders about tariffs and what it means for the U.S. economy moving forward.
Recently, on the Crosstalk episode of the Make Trades Great Again and Appetite for Construction podcasts, this very topic came up and Andy Mickelson, Mickelson Plumbing and Heating, Missoula, Mont., and Eric Aune, Aune Plumbing, Zimmerman, Minn., were in unison in their view on tariffs. “There will be an impact,” says Mickelson. “Every single item that we touch has some impact from an imported product or good. And to sit back and believe that it’s not going to have a day-to-day impact or a cost increase is foolish.”
“It’s a tax that’s going to kill sales; it’s definitely going to affect us moving forward, especially if we see higher tariffs,” says Aune.
Mickelson continues, “There’s going to be a ‘trickle up’ effect, and along with that we’re going to see a lack of material … we saw brief chunk of this in 2021 when we had the port issues and shipping problems, and you extrapolate that into that into that these items aren’t coming because they are too expensive, how do you get around that? You can’t just flip a switch and just say we’re just going to make it here. We’re not ready for that, and I don’t think that this country is ready to become a manufacturing country. I don’t think there enough people who are willing to work on the assembly line … we can’t get people to sign up right now to become a plumber or an electrician or a data communication person—any of those manufacturing-type jobs are very much so in line with what it means to go out and work with your hands, be in a skilled trade.”
So, the back-and-forth debate continues to brew relating to whether instituting tariffs is beneficial to the American economy and the American worker. Dain Hansen, Executive Vice President, Government Relations, The IAPMO Group, says that economists have different views on the topic of tariffs, but the plumbing industry is well-positioned to support continued domestic production of what our country needs—and increase U.S. exports to other countries.
“Any policy that strengthens our manufacturing muscle is good for the economy and increases job opportunities in the trades. Programs such as the Market Development Cooperator Program and Standards Alliance at USAID, along with the Department of Commerce’s Foreign Commercial Service, provide vital support to U.S. exporters. We hope the administration will continue backing these programs to ensure U.S. products remain competitive overseas. We continue to monitor the impact tariffs are having on our global industry as manufacturing move locations to avoid these costs,” says Hansen.
While IAPMO is cautiously optimistic and vigilant, Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) shares concern. “During his campaign, President Trump spoke about his desire to increase tariffs—as high as 60% on Chinese goods, 10% to 20% across the board on all foreign goods, including Europe, and 25% on imports from Mexico, unless they curb the number of immigrants coming across the border. If he’s successful, these tariffs will have an inflationary impact, increasing the costs of production and in turn the costs of products in the marketplace. That’s certainly one of the biggest concerns plumbing manufacturers have right now.
“Our stance on this issue all along is that tariffs are harmful to the economy because they increase costs for manufacturers and have an inflationary impact on customers wishing to purchase plumbing products. These increased costs lead manufacturers to provide fewer jobs and they have less money for compensation as well. From an economic standpoint, we see no benefits from tariffs. PMI has always been an advocate for free and fair trade among nations,” says Kerry Stackpole, CEO and Executive Director, PMI.
According to Ben Brubeck, Vice President of Regulatory Labor and State Affairs, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), tariffs are a negotiating tool to renegotiate policies with other countries. “While having a hard time getting materials from overseas, resolving the domestic supply chain is a good thing.”
AUX AIR USA will be exhibiting and engaging with industry leaders at the HARDI Annual Conference Dec. 7-10 AUX, a $10 billion global leader and innovator of residential HVAC solutions, has announced its entry into the U.S. market with AUX AIR USA—a significant milestone in the company’s nearly 40-year journey of delivering cutting-edge technology backed Read more
AUX AIR USA will be exhibiting and engaging with industry leaders at the HARDI Annual Conference Dec. 7-10
AUX, a $10 billion global leader and innovator of residential HVAC solutions, has announced its entry into the U.S. market with AUX AIR USA—a significant milestone in the company’s nearly 40-year journey of delivering cutting-edge technology backed by unmatched service.
This announcement coincides with AUX’s participation in the HARDI Annual Conference, taking place December 7-10, 2024, in Atlanta, where the company will be exhibiting (Booth #907) and engaging with industry leaders to discuss its plans for introducing innovative solutions to the U.S. HVAC market.
As a subsidiary of AUX, with a robust presence in Europe and Asia, AUX AIR USA’s entrance into the U.S. is a strategic expansion into a market ripe with opportunity.
“This expansion is a natural next step in AUX’s strategy to bring advanced HVAC solutions to markets that demand high performance and quality at a competitive price point,” said Matt Lacey, AUX’s Vice President of U.S. Sales. “Early reception has been positive, indicating a strong need in the U.S. for the next level of cooling innovation with superior technology and simple installation.”
Transforming the U.S. HVAC Landscape
With its U.S. headquarters and corporate team in South Plainfield, N.J., AUX is growing its presence across the country. The company plans to continue adding to its headcount throughout 2025 to support growth, with future plans to establish a factoy in North America.
AUX’s solutions offer distinct advantages, including:
- Ease of Installation: AUX’s mini-split systems are designed for single-person installation, reducing labor costs against the backdrop of ongoing labor shortage in the HVAC industry.
- Superior Technology: AUX brings innovative Japanese engineering to its standard features, including an interactive, locally based, voice control interface.
- Exceptional Support: With a dedicated local technical support team, AUX is committed to providing exceptional service to contractors and distributors.
- Innovative Roadmap: AUX is bringing new, cutting-edge technology to the market with new releases in 2025, including central air systems and an innovative air-to-water system.
- AUX will debut its expanded product lineup at the 2025 AHR Expo in Orlando, Florida in February, at booth 4370. The product lineup will showcase AUX as the new standard in efficiency and sustainability by combining advanced refrigerants and hydronic technology.
For more information, visit auxair.com/us.
https://vimeo.com/1036092788 We are now the cream filling in the holiday Oreo cookie, as we got through Thanksgiving and we are all positioning ourselves for Christmas, Hanukkah, and the new year. This week we’ll talk about mental health and the trades, Eric’s been busy on the road, our deliciously baked podcasts and a Brown Friday surprise Read more
We are now the cream filling in the holiday Oreo cookie, as we got through Thanksgiving and we are all positioning ourselves for Christmas, Hanukkah, and the new year. This week we’ll talk about mental health and the trades, Eric’s been busy on the road, our deliciously baked podcasts and a Brown Friday surprise. Hey now!
Nicole Harvey, a mechanical engineer at the Pacific Northwest National Lab, will be presenting an insightful Coffee with Caleffi™ webinar, focusing on ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) and their application in military and government facilities. Nicole will share her expertise on GSHPs and their energy-saving potential, detailed in U.S. Army base and General Services Administration Read more
Nicole Harvey, a mechanical engineer at the Pacific Northwest National Lab, will be presenting an insightful Coffee with Caleffi™ webinar, focusing on ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) and their application in military and government facilities. Nicole will share her expertise on GSHPs and their energy-saving potential, detailed in U.S. Army base and General Services Administration (GSA) facility case studies.
→ How do GSHPs improve energy efficiency in government buildings?
→ What is the impact of combining GSHPs with solar thermal systems?
→ How does the Army Climate Strategy influence GSHP adoption?
→ What lessons have been learned from current GSHP installations?
→ How can these findings apply to similar facilities looking to improve energy and water efficiency?
In this session, Nicole will dive into a unique project involving an open-loop GSHP system combined with solar thermal panels for space heating and domestic hot water in Bozeman, Montana. She will discuss energy consumption, water efficiency, performance metrics, and cost savings. She will also discuss a wide scope of these GSHP projects, including regulatory drivers. Join to hear about her challenges and successes along the way.
Nicole specializes in ground source heat pumps and hydronic HVAC systems. With over 5 years of experience, she focuses on energy and resiliency planning for the GSA and the Army, conducting site evaluations and recommendations to optimize energy and water use.
Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5933163098707566935?source=evite1
Ribbon Cutting Event Celebrates Donation of Best-in-Class Rheem Heating and Cooling Systems to Help Train the Next Generation of Tradespeople Design Air, Milwaukee based HVAC distributor, in partnership with Rheem®, the Atlanta-based manufacturer of HVAC and water heating products, recently donated $100,000 of state-of-the-art heating and cooling systems to Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC). On Tuesday, Dec. 3 Read more
Ribbon Cutting Event Celebrates Donation of Best-in-Class Rheem Heating and Cooling Systems to Help Train the Next Generation of Tradespeople
Design Air, Milwaukee based HVAC distributor, in partnership with Rheem®, the Atlanta-based manufacturer of HVAC and water heating products, recently donated $100,000 of state-of-the-art heating and cooling systems to Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC). On Tuesday, Dec. 3, MATC faculty and students, along with representatives from Design Air, Rheem and Capital Heating, Cooling and Electric, the installation partner, gathered to commemorate the donation and the impact the equipment will have when training Wisconsin’s skilled trade community.
“Today, we are honored to support the next gneration of Milwaukee’s skilled tradespeople to help them learn and grow,” said Jeremy Wiernasz, president of Design Air. “Design Air’s donation of Rheem’s top-tier products further reinforces our commitment to providing the trades in Wisconsin with the best educational resources available.”
Students in MATC’s HVAC/R Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating Service Technician program joined a ribbon-cutting ceremony and equipment demonstration at the college’s Oak Creek campus. Notable attendees included:
- Laura Bray, vice president, college advancement and external communications, MATC, and executive director, MATC Foundation Inc.
- Jeremy Wiernasz, president, Design Air
- Jason Fox, owner, Capital Heating, Cooling and Electric
- Dr. Phillip King, executive vice president, student success, MATC
- Dr. Doni Bartley, HVAC/R instructor and department chair, MATC
“Like MATC, Rheem is deeply committed to investing in the next generation of skilled trade technicians. It is more important now than ever to find and attract new talent to address the current shortage facing our country,” said Jose De La Portilla, senior manager of education and training at Rheem. “High-quality training is essential for developing a pipeline of skilled technicians who are not only expertly trained but also well-informed about the rewarding career opportunities available to them.”
The six donated Rheem units are heat pumps, coupled with high efficiency gas-filled furnaces, ensuring students are learning on the newest electrification technology available. Capital Heating, Cooling and Electric, a Menomonee Falls, Wisc. based contractor, provided installation, labor and additional materials to complete the transaction. Additionally, the HVAC installation was supervised by a MATC graduate.
“I take great pride that an MATC graduate supervised the installation of these units,” said Dr. Doni Bartley, HVAC/R instructor and department chair, MATC. “It’s a testament that the instruction students are receiving will result in careers where they earn family-sustaining wages. This is a proud moment.”
For additional information on Rheem, visit www.rheem.com.