Page 12 - Climate Control News May 2022

World News
Research centre to expand sustainable heating portfolio
Artist impression of the new centre of excellence in Italy.
CARRIER IS BUILDING A $16 MILLION RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING AND DOMESTIC WATER SYSTEMS IN VILLASANTA, ITALY.
EU buildings are responsible for 40 per cent of energy consumption and 36 per cent of green- house gas emissions in Europe.
Increasing the supply of energy-efficient and sustainable heating solutions such as air-to-wa- ter heat pumps or hybrid systems contribute to the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, outlined in the EU’s “Fit for 55” plan.
Alongside the expansion of the heat pump of- fering, Carrier will continue to invest in the devel- opment of hydrogen-ready boilers, sustainable so- lutions that are using a blend of natural gas with up to 20 per cent hydrogen, with the goal of reach- ing 100 per cent hydrogen by the end of 2024.
The new centre will also focus on the develop- ment of IoT-enabled and Artificial Intelligence technologies that will allow the remote manage- ment of heating and cooling systems for in- creased energy efficiency.
THE NEW FACILITY will focus on the develop- ment of new innovations to expand Carrier’s sus- tainable and intelligent solutions, primarily heat pumps, hydrogen boilers and IoT-enabled sys- tems for the residential and light commercial segments in Europe.
The investment leverages Carrier’s expertise in heat pumps and will uniquely position the company to respond to the sustainable transfor- mation outlined in the European Union Green Deal, according to Francois Audo, vice president and managing director for Carrier Europe .
"This investment allows us to offer an even
broader value proposition to our customers in the residential and light commercial sectors in Europe,” he said.
“This investment is also a symbol of our com- mitment to the region and will allow us to make even stronger collaborations with the region's leading university hubs.”
The project includes the construction of a new facility in Villasanta to house a laboratory and offices and the relocation of the R&D centre staff in Lecco and Pescara by the end of 2023. The cen- tre will bring together engineers with skills fo- cused on heat pump design and digital systems.
New CEO at Lennox
LENNOX INTERNATIONAL HAS appointed Alok Maskara as chief executive officer effec- tive 9 May, 2022.
Maskara succeeds Todd Bluedorn, who an- nounced in July 2021 his plans to step down by mid-2022 as chair and CEO after 15 years in the role.
Todd J. Teske, current lead Independent di- rector since 2015 and board member since 2011, has been appointed board chair and will also serve as interim CEO until Alok assumes the role as CEO.
“On behalf of Lennox, we thank Todd Blue-
dorn for instilling a high performance and in- novative culture with a strong team that creat- ed tremendous value for our customers and shareholders,” Teske said.
“When it came to recruiting a new leader for the next chapter at Lennox, we wanted to find a candidate who will continue to drive shareholder value through our customer- centric approach, support and empower em- ployees, and remain focused on technology and innovation with responsible ESG leader- ship. Alok has successfully demonstrated each of these characteristics in his prior lead-
RIGHT: Lennox CEO, Alok Maskara
ership roles, making him an ideal choice.” Alok brings 25 years of global leadership ex- perience in manufacturing and technology. He has served for five years as CEO of Luxfer Hold- ings PLC, an international industrial company
focused on advanced materials.
He spearheaded the company’s transforma-
tion, led value-enhancing acquisitions and partnerships, and drove growth in profitability.
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