My visit to Lochinvar (Dan H.)

hot_rod

are punched and bent from pre-painted sheets, with CNC turret machines.

Amazing that the metal can go through those processes without loosing any paint.

This puts Lochinvar in an ideal position to make solar thermal panels. Remember the panels Lennox built years ago with a sheet metal box.

Lochinvar has the fin tube to build nice absorber plates like the old SunCatcher fin tube collectors. Hmmmm.

hot rod

DanHolohan

I visited our friends at Lochinvar last Friday.

Hot Rod and Ellen were there as well. I hadn't been there in years, and never to their new place in Lebannon, Tennesee. I was impressed by everything that they're doing there, and especially by their training center. It's the best I've ever seen. If you get a chance to go there, do it.

They have a laser machine on the factory floor that cuts steel into all sorts of shapes. The photo shows you what they're capable of doing with that machine. I enjoyed myself.

steve_172

picture

hey Dan, You mention lockinvar has a great training program... what kind of training is it for? 1- servicing the water heaters or just training in making them?

steve_172

spelling

sorry spelled it wrong Lochinvar

DanHolohan

Training

is for their products - sizing and servicing - and systems in general. It's very hands-on and the facility is comfortable, high-tech, and the nicest I've ever seen.

JohnNY

Glad you mentioned it.

I've been very interested in Lochinvar for those special situations when Burnham just isn't the right boiler.
It happens on occasion.
Sorry, GS.

Does anyone from that company participate here. I'd like to hear what they have to say as I only got a quick look at the Connecticut show.





To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

DanHolohan

Several of them

visit the site regularly. They don't always post but they're here.

Paul Rohrs_7

5-Star Operation

They really run a 5-star operation. You could eat off of the production floor it's so clean.

"The Staff" of sales, marketing, engineering, and service ALL make themselves available and are hugely interactive with the contracting populus.

It is NO secret that they are my favorite boiler manufacturer and I wish others could also experience the Lochinvar way. "Made in America" and "Family-Owner" are phrases that hold a great deal of meaning.

Glad you had a good trip Dan.

Paul

Ronnie_2

glad to hear you liked the factory Dan,We just did a big job here in Midcoast Maine swapped a peerless 2 pipe steam to a lochinvar 285,converted the second floor "steam arco convectors"to hotwater and added psu fan units on the first floor, homerun to each 5,000 feet of 1/2inch wirsbo,big house and big job lots of pex in hard places but the job came out sweet and heats like a dream!!!!!!

Unknown

Lochinvar Training

John, you can go on the Lochinvar website to check out availability and sign up for the training sessions. The next one scheduled is early March, I believe.

My group [DSI] doesn't cover downstate NY, we don't do Westchester county & below but Wallace Eannace Assoc would be able to help you get set up

hot_rod

A very healthy, happy company

turning out great products.

The loch at Invar will give up some more products of monstrous impact on our industry at the AHR show in NY this January. Be sure to stop by the Lochinvar booth to meet the fine folks and awe at their new products.

When you are offer the chance to attend any Training at Lochinvar... take it. Without question one of the finest and most comfortable training lab and classrooms I have seen. You'll leave their training a much smarter person.

Thanks Lochinvar for the tour.

hot rod

Ken_40

Things sure musta changed!

Years ago, maybe 5 or 6, we looked at the product as our local distributor picked up the line. Our experience for the 15 years prior was one of pure dissapointment.

Somebody had to make the cheapest boiler on earth and they were it - and it showed. We replaced more units that were only a few years old than you could shake a stick at.

Sounds like they got their act together, big time. That's always a good thing! I don't know how they got rid of the previous model-line, but they apparently realized making junk is no long-term solution to profitablity or market share expansion.

Yet I am puzzled by the statement that they have invested a fortune in the most modern training facility around, but won't have any actual training sessions until next March?

Wassupwitdat?

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

SVDW

So did they make you memorize the Lochinvar poem posted in the foyer? I was impressed at the average age of workers in the plant being 40+ years I think. Nice a company cares to retain & pay for experienced workers. Everybody I talked to in the plant was very helpful & clearly liked working there. That huge oven in the tank plant is something to see when they open the heat doors. I think it's the largest of its kind? I suggested they get the plant featured on that "Made in America" show with John Ratzenberger. I know water heaters aren't as exciting as some products but everybody has one in their house.

Unknown

Training Sessions

Ken - Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience. I've known this company for a lot of years [prior to my being their rep] and always had a lot of respect for them.
The training schedule is designed around the Heating Season. They don't expect contractors to have any time during their busy season to attend classes and they themselves put all effort during the busy season into building product. Training slows down in the Fall and resumes in the Spring.

Ken_40

I understand the logic...

of no winter classes. But suggest that notion of busy times and slow times be revisited.

Our busiest time of year is summer! We install new boilers all year, but never more so than in summer. We do 90% service in winter, and other than annual service/cleanings/maintenance, do all our installs when temps are moderate and people can afford to be without heat for a few days or more.

April is the slowest month of all and has been for the 35 years I have been in the biz. I could always sneak a guy into school in February, given the warmth of winters past, I could send a guy or two in December and January as well. Right now?

Fawgettabowdit.

I must admit, I too was impressed by the few people from Lochinvar I bumped into, but was always dissapointed the boilers never seemed to measure up to the expectations the good people we met, suggested was there.

I suspect Lochinvar has a very regional market share. Here in northern VT, I have seen none. In northern NJ, I saw a few. Very few. But as all who know me know, I prefer to buy American when equal choices are at hand.

And, since being semi-retired, I may not see anywhere as much as when I was actively running Palmer Heating in NJ.

Thanks for the update.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

DanHolohan

American

Locinvar is a family-owned (fourth-generation), American company, Ken.

Ken_40

I rarely find

WHO owns a company relevant, Dan.

Other than a momentary warm and fuzzy feeling over the distant memories of what "traditions" once conjurred up - what they make, how they make it and how it serves my customers is all that really matters.

Were "family-run-businesses" something special, I'd reconsider EK and Vie$$mann.

Don't hold your breath.

It's not about how wonderful the family, how many generations, or the corporation Dan. It's all about the product - and what's best for my client (and their wallet). Period.






To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

DanHolohan

I explained

because you implied that Lochivar is a foreign company. At least that's the way I took it, and I thought that others might take it the same way. I was correcting what I saw as an error on your part. If I misunderstood what you were trying to say I apologize.

Ken_40

No problem...

In looking back at my post, I can see how you might think it was in regard to origin, that I posted. I knew Lochinvar was Yank; just wanted to note family vs. corporate was NOT a defining point for me. Yank vs. Euro is, but since many Yanks found it cheaper to re-brand foreign stuff as their-own, the lines continue to blur more and more.

Of some note, my conversation with folks @ W/M last week suggests sales are up. The parent is investing heavily in expanding the foundry - and product lines, the trend may be reversing (of buying euro and branding as Yank).

Is it not curious that while the euros were paying double and triple what we do for fuel - and they met that challenge with better efficiencies than ours. Now that we have 3+ dollar oil, we too are designing more efficiency into our lines?

I always said the euros did not willingly invest in better technology for the reason they suggest (to build a better mousetrap) but rather to save fuel expenses because they HAD to.

Now that the same dynamic strikes our fuel costs, we too make more efficient boilers.

"Necsessity is the mother of invention," is a fact.

Lest we forget. not only do we buy euro boilers and re-brand them; we also buy foreign oil and sell it at Exxon-Mobil. If we can buy it cheaper than we can make it, is that not business 101 in action?

I hate it, but it is the reality of our time.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

JohnNY

I've been advised by a fellow contractor that my post in this thread reads like I've got some kind of problem with Burnham boilers.

I do not.

At all.

Not even a little.

I do think the Lochinvar Knight is an intriguing product, though.

Certainly there's nothing wrong with that.



To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

[Deleted User]

The interesting thing about Lochinvar...

is that they not only LISTEN to their contractors, they ACT on their suggestions IMMEDIATELY, if not sooner.

To date, every suggestion that I have made through my rep. has shown up on the next one I install.

Now, THAT means a LOT to me.

Thank you Lochinvar and thank you Shamrock Sales.

I look forward to even more advances in your product line,and also look forward to attending a class at Lochinvar U.

Oh, yeah, the Eyes On tour? The most impressive thing to me was seeing them fire that monster burner in their gas lab, turning it off and immediately putting their hand on the burner surface.

Now THAT was impressive. The whole tour was extremely impressive. If you've not been, you MUST go.

Before I went, I thought they were just another copper finned tube boiler manufacturer. After the tour, I realized that they are without a doubt, one of the most progressive appliance manufacturers in the world.

And as HR said, they're just getting started.... Stand back :-)

ME

Stirling Boston

Lochinvar Tour and Training

I thought I better chime in so you would beleive that we really are here listening.

Attached is a photo we took of Bill Vallett (President of Lochinvar) giving the plant tour to Dan and Hot Rod.

Also, here is the training schedule for '08.

By the way, we give everyone a tour of the place when they visit us for a training school.

Regards,

Stirling

Ken_40

May we assume...

The jacket is powder coated, not sprayed?

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

DanHolohan

Neither.

It's a different process.

Stirling Boston

Lochinvar Pre-Paint Sheetmetal

The metal is actually supplied to Lochinvar "pre-painted." The finish has the appearance of a powder coat process and is very durable. The finish holds up very well though the manufacturing process and on the jobsite.

Eliminating the painting process has allowed the plant to become much more environmentally friendly and is one of the many lean manufacturing initiatives that Lochinvar has incorporated and has really made a difference in both the quality and the finish of the products.