What are the current trends and what has been the behavior of industrial ventilation in these times of crisis, are two of the questions that will be answered throughout this text thanks to the accurate opinion of a couple of experts.By: Héctor Gómez Pérez
International analysts say that the worst of the global economic crisis is over, and although in Latin American countries the impact was not as devastating as in other regions of the world, it is worth looking back to analyze the behavior of industrial ventilation in the last year.
To this end, ACR LATINOAMÉRICA consulted two experts in the field: Rafael Casanova, sales manager for Latin America of EBM Papst, and Alfredo Sotolongo, president of Protec Inc. Although many aspects were addressed, both agreed that the issue of energy saving and improving the performance of equipment are currently fundamental in industrial ventilation.
Let's take a look
The first thing the guests were asked about was the balance of sales in the last year and the characteristics of the projects in which their companies have recently participated. Rafael Casanova said that EBM Papst had a 20% growth in Latin America in 2008, driven especially by markets such as Brazil, Chile and Argentina, "in which customers are looking for more efficient fans in terms of quality, durability and performance," Casanova added.
Alfredo Sotolongo pointed out that most of Protec Inc's sales of industrial ventilation systems were aimed at solutions in the pharmaceutical segment in which, in addition, air filtration is required. They also provided ventilation solutions for the mining industry in order to offer better comfort to workers.
The equipment sold by EBM Papst in the region was intended for beef and fruit refrigeration projects, wind energy and supermarket chains, represented by electronically switched axial fans with 100% controllable speed.
On the characteristics of the solutions offered, Sotolongo said that "in the pharmaceutical industry it is required that the ventilation system filters the air to prevent the particles of the chemical components with which the different medicines are manufactured, and that are suspended in the air, are inhaled by the personnel working in the company and are expelled to the outside with extraction air.
What does the region demand?
According to these experts, in terms of industrial ventilation, the demands of Latin America do not vary substantially with respect to other regions of the world and are basically based on solutions in which indoor air quality is maintained while minimizing energy consumption, especially in countries that have signed international ecological treaties or are in the interest of doing so. But fundamentally, the main demand is to have efficient equipment with low energy consumption with which industrial processes that require ventilation, cooling and controlled atmosphere are improved.
It is for this reason that at present, for example in the case of EBM Papst, research topics are being directed towards increasing the performance of equipment in terms of aerodynamics, aeroacoustics and the creation of more eco-friendly fans.
Sotolongo, for his part, brought up the initiatives that two companies have been carrying out in this regard: Farr APC (Air Pollution Control) and Loren Cook. According to the guest "they remain at the forefront in the research of ventilation systems in which three main objectives are achieved: indoor air quality, energy conservation and prevent explosions of certain types of products to avoid unnecessary accidents".
The environment and the challenges
One of the constant questions today is whether the CVAC/R industry is doing its part to contribute to energy saving and environmental conservation. In that sense, Casanova said that "in the leading industries in ventilation technology, such as EBM Papst, the issue of energy saving and the environment are a permanent objective of the research and development of our departments."
Sotolongo's opinion was aligned with Casanova's, but had an additional ingredient: "All industries, mainly responsible manufacturers, are aligned with both issues, but it is important to understand that there must be a balance between these initiatives and capital investment."
Today there are many challenges that the industrial ventilation industry must face. Rafael Casanova said that "it is necessary to implement a technical culture for the use of more efficient and, consequently, more ecological fans in OEM companies in the HVAC sector and end users."
Alfredo Sotolongo said that these days the economic factor plays a fundamental role when it comes to maintaining indoor air quality and minimizing environmental pollution, either for reasons of standards or for complying with international treaties. "If achieving these objectives increases the value of the investment in such a way that it is not profitable, the incentive for the investor disappears," he explained.
The crisis and the future
Already many countries have begun to emerge ahead of the financial crisis and several markets are beginning to glimpse the future with optimism. This is the case of Brazil, as published by the América Economía portal on August 24. The information takes the words of the Minister of Finance of that country, Guido Mantega, who said that the Brazilian economy is leaving behind the crisis, and is in a new cycle of development. The same situation has been evident in other countries in the region such as Colombia and Chile.
Making an analysis of the behavior of industrial ventilation during the recession period, Rafael Casanova pointed out that as a result of the recent economic crisis many new and expansion projects were paralyzed, but this phenomenon of recession led users to look for solutions that had lower operating costs, an aspect in which intelligent ventilation plays a leading role.
"With the current economic crisis, the problem of the balance between indoor air quality, environmental conservation and the justification of investment has increased, since the sales volumes of the different industries have decreased and therefore, their profits and capital available for investments or improvements to existing systems, "- Alfredo Sotolongo pointed out.
Referring to the prospects of the industry in the region, Casanova pointed out that gradually the consumption and production of equipment will be improved. He also said that mergers between different companies can occur as a way to counteract the losses generated by the months of crisis.
Market characteristics
Finally, the two guests were asked about the demands and characteristics of the market in our region compared to the North American and European markets. Alfredo Sotolongo said that the rules to conserve the environment are stricter in North America and Europe than in Latin America, in addition to the fact that in our region this regulation is less supervised.
Finally, Rafael Casanova said that "there are no substantial differences between what Latin America and other markets demand because the technical distance between the leading markets and ours is getting shorter."
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Kristin Forsthoefel, international sales for Big Ass Fans, also offered her business vision on the subject. According to him, his company's sales in Latin America represent 50% of the international total.
This company offers mostly industrial solutions for warehouses or commercial for gyms, restaurants and hotels. Forsthoefel said Big Ass Fans' teams have been so well received in the region because "most companies are looking for the most efficient and cost-effective and operational way to move air in their facilities and we offer just that."
