Category : SCR News & Updates

Grants Allow for Specialized Industry Training

SCR News & Updates - Aug 05,2022
Grants-Allow-for-Specialized-Industry-Training

With new and advancing technology, it’s important for companies to keep employees up to date with information and processes. And recent funding has provided a helping hand. As grants allow for specialized industry training, local businesses like SCR develop competitive strategies.

THE SPECIFICS

St. Cloud State University recently earned $550,000 in training grants from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. These grants were awarded in partnership with Grede Casting and SCR to subsidize specialized workforce training and equipment specific to each company’s needs.

Grede and SCR will work with local vocational colleges to develop and implement customized programs for current and incoming employees. Such practical training opportunities will help these companies remain competitive and improve workforce skills to adapt as industry requirements evolve.

With funding in place, the partnering businesses may expect novice employees to develop practical skills and experience to help further their careers and benefit the company. What’s more, these companies can anticipate a more robust workforce supported by industry-specific proficiencies.

In turn, the training schools — SCSU, St. Cloud Technical & Community College, Ridgewater College, and Hennepin Technical College — will establish programming and instruction for other businesses as well.

THE MJSP PROGRAM

Grant funding is provided under the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) Program, which offers training for present and future personnel. The program pairs participating businesses with accredited schools to build a foundation for enhanced instruction particular to the needs of the business or its customers.

Projects last from one to three years, with grants awarded up to $400,000. Each project requires at least one academic institution coupled with one business. Allocated funds may be used for training or to improve instructional resources of businesses currently in Minnesota or looking to relocate there.

SCR CONTINUES TO ADVANCE

SCR continues to advance and evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of its clients. As these grants allow for specialized industry training, SCR will use this opportunity to further its comprehensive approach to customer service and satisfaction. Embracing growth and new technology training will help this family-owned and operated business maintain its standing as the Midwest leader in commercial refrigeration, HVAC/R, building automation, and food service design, installation, and maintenance. To learn more about SCR, its capabilities, or its grant-funded training agenda, contact us or visit our website.

CONTINUE READING

SCR Recognized for Efficiency

SCR News & Updates - Aug 30,2021
SCR-Recognized-for-Efficiency

SCR is always on the cutting edge of technology that provides energy savings and performance for its customers. With some of its latest projects, the company was recognized for efficiency with an award from Xcel Energy®. Mechanical Designer Joe Lyon recently offered insight into a few of those projects and how SCR pulls out the stops to offer the best equipment, systems, and savings to its clients.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY PARTNER AWARD

Each year, Xcel Energy presents its Energy Efficiency Partner Award to trade partners who took advantage of Minnesota’s energy savings programs and passed the knowledge and savings onto their customers.

SCR was one of five winners of the Business Energy Efficiency Programs award for 2021, for promoting higher-efficiency equipment. But this isn’t the company’s first go round with such an honor.

“I believe this is the second time we’ve gotten this award,” Lyon said. “Xcel bases the winners on who did the most rebates in the state.” All the winners combined initiated more than $8.8 million in rebates, saving more than 68,695 dekatherms of natural gas and 70,315,946 kilowatt-hours of electricity.

HOW IT WORKS

Though SCR works on many different projects, the company was recognized by Xcel for efficiency efforts in a specific area. “Most of the award primarily comes from the HVAC side, from the air conditioners we installed,” Lyon explained.

And while SCR remains confident in the equipment it provides, its sales team leaves the final decision up to the customer.

“Our biggest philosophy is to give our customers all the information and let them make the best decision for their circumstances,” Lyon said. “That’s how I want to be treated, so we extend that same courtesy to our clients.”

With that, Lyon said, there is a lot of competition to get or keep bid numbers low and be awarded a project.

“When we do a quote, we list a standard-efficiency unit as the base. But we always list high efficiency as an option, and then we put that Xcel rebate down so the customer can see it,” he added. “Then they realize they can get more efficient equipment for a little more money and the rebate will offset the difference in price or come close to it. That makes it a no-brainer for most people.”

PROJECTS

SCR’s most recent accolades from Xcel are the result of a slew of projects the company did over the course of 2020. Lyon recalled a few of them while briefly touching on SCR’s HVAC capabilities:

  • Replaced older units and added high-efficiency air conditioners for the Toppan Merrill building expansion in Sartell.
  • Added high-efficiency units to the Cathedral High School expansion in St. Cloud, keeping the customer on budget with the help of Xcel’s rebates.
  • High-efficiency rooftop replacements for Wiman Corporation in Sauk Rapids.
  • Installed high-efficiency air conditioners in the shop area at Peter’s Body Shop in St. Cloud.
  • Completed a remodel to Pangea World Market, which turned a former shoe store into a grocery mart and included high-efficiency units designed into the plans.

This is only a handful of the projects during which SCR extended rebate savings – and energy savings – to its customers. “Again, we showed them the standard and offered a rebate for the high efficiency, and it just made things really simple,” Lyon added.

And for the customer, saving money is key. “A lot of customers are looking at the payback and shoot for that three-to five-year range,” Lyon said. “The rebate helps to counterbalance that time period for their payback, and it really makes a difference.”

SCR

The rebate offer from Xcel helps SCR’s overall sales volume, but the company’s main concern is looking out for its clients.

“We have a lot of repeat customers,” Lyon said, “and we want to show them that we’re taking the extra step. So many people say, ‘This is what you need, and here’s your price.’ But we make recommendations and give our customers every option, so they have the knowledge to make the best choice for them.”

Being recognized for efficiency is just one of the many feathers in SCR’s proverbial cap. With its customer focus and commitment to quality, SCR is the Midwest’s leader for commercial refrigeration, HVAC, food service design, and more. Contact SCR today to learn how to increase efficiency and innovation in your next project.

CONTINUE READING

Deliver Safer Air with New Technology

HVAC Specialties SCR News & Updates Technology - Nov 02,2020
Deliver-Safer-Air-with-New-Technology

The current state of the world has everyone thinking about safeguards, especially regarding indoor air quality. For companies, organizations, and institutions both large and small, safety is the top priority. While the task of purifying indoor air during a global pandemic may seem daunting, Global Plasma Solutions (GPS) and SCR have the answer. Thanks to NeedlePoint Bipolar Ionization (NPBI), SCR can deliver safer air with new technology.

THE SYSTEM

GPS’s patented NPBI system uses a facility’s existing heating and cooling system to provide cleaner indoor air. Throughout the process, ions steadily attach to airborne particles. Opposite polarities combine to become larger particles, which allows the system to more quickly recognize, capture, and eliminate them.

In June 2020, GPS conducted a laboratory study in collaboration with Aviation Clear Air. Initial testing revealed a 99.4 percent reduction on a COVID-19 surface strain after 30 minutes. This neutralization is the earliest example by an air purification enterprise.

This technology is ozone-free and subsequently environmentally friendly. What’s more, it can be installed in any system inside any building, from airports and arenas to hospitals, office buildings, places of worship, universities, and everything in between.

THE PROCESS

NPBI targets airborne particles, pathogens, and odors to deliver clean, healthy indoor air while also saving energy. This scientific and cost-effective approach functions by:

  • Targeting particles. Ions attach to air particles, making them larger and more easily captured by filtration systems.
  • Eliminating odors. The technology reduces indoor odors to basic compounds. What remains is fresh air, free from volatile organic compounds.
  • Reducing pathogens. The process destroys viruses, spores, and bacteria, rendering them inactive and unable to replicate.
  • Saving energy. By requiring less fresh, outdoor air, this system saves about 30 percent on energy consumption costs.

Clean indoor air is an incomparable resource, especially right now. With more than 250,000 satisfied installations, GPS’s NPBI system is a proven way to deliver effectively safer air through existing components. Contact SCR today to learn how this technology can work for you.

CONTINUE READING

SCR Scholarship Programs Focus on Success

SCR News & Updates - May 26,2020
SCR-Scholarship-Programs-Focus-on-Success

Each year SCR provides great opportunities for students looking to explore career options in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R). Through its Scholarships and Internships Programs, students gain valuable experience to use post-graduation. Keep reading to learn about these programs and how they are set up to help participants focus on success.

HOW & WHERE

The scholarships and internships available through SCR are virtually intertwined. This means that students in the scholarship program can complete their internship at the same time.

“Most of the programs have some kind of internship built into the curriculum,” said Kelsey Combs, Human Resource Generalist at SCR. “So, they would do that internship with us.”

These programs are offered regionally to accommodate SCR’s branches and service areas:

  • Central: St. Cloud, Duluth/Superior
  • Metro: Twin Cities area
  • Northern: Brainerd/Baxter
  • Southern: Mankato, Rochester

The number of available scholarships varies, Combs said. “We base it upon our projected needs, and that changes from year to year,” she added.

THE NUTS & BOLTS

Applicants must complete a mechanical aptitude test to determine if the HVAC/R program is a good fit. The test analyzes things like mechanical inclination, knowledge of tools, and spatial reasoning to assess proficiency and ability to learn the intricacies of the trade.

The program allows students to intern in different departments, gaining hands-on experience in service, refrigeration installation, and controls.

“We try to get them to rotate through all of them, but it depends on their area of study,” Combs said. Broader degrees such as HVAC require knowledge in more areas, whereas other programs are targeted toward specific departments.

ELIGIBILITY & EXPECTATIONS

To qualify for the Scholarship and Internship Program, students are required to:

SCR-Scholarship-Programs
  • Enroll in one of the HVAC, HVAC/R, Electrical Construction, Instrumentation, or Residential Plumbing programs
  • Successfully complete a Mechanical Aptitude Test
  • Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better
  • Commit to working for SCR following graduation

For the Central and Northern branches, the post-graduate employment requirement is two years. For the Southern location, students receive a full-ride scholarship and then need to commit to working for SCR for three years after graduation.

“But most employees end up staying long-term,” Combs said, “so this program has been really successful.”

WHAT TO KNOW

Because these programs are so popular, many of them have wait lists for enrollment. To avoid eligibility issues, Combs suggests students plan ahead.

“If somebody is thinking about pursuing a degree in HVAC, you have to be ahead of everyone else,” she said.

Students interested in the Scholarship and Internship Program can apply on the SCR website or on Indeed.com. Combs also said a lot of applicants are referred by current employees or encouraged by instructors at the local colleges to apply.

To learn more about this program and its focus on success, email jobs@scr-mn.com.

CONTINUE READING

Making a Line Change at Lund Ice Arena

Refrigeration Specialties SCR News & Updates - Apr 28,2020
Making-Line-Change-Lund-Ice-Arena

As with most things, the day often comes when once-modern technology falls by the side of that which is newer and more-improved. Such is the case on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. The crew at SCR recently replaced and upgraded the chiller system at Lund Ice Arena. Keep reading to find out how this new system works and why the enhancement was necessary.

HOW ICE RINKS WORK

In the indirect type of ice rink refrigeration system, a refrigerant cools a brine, a salt water- or glycol-based anti-freeze solution. This cooled brine water runs underneath the ice through steel piping. These lines are usually contained within a slab of concrete that is kept at about 22 degrees. Any water above this concrete slab then freezes, creating the rink.

TIME FOR AN UPGRADE

Lund Ice Arena’s 30-year-old system is being upgraded to a more advanced operation from Hillphoenix Inc., the leader in commercial and industrial refrigeration systems and one of the first to introduce technologies for the reduction of global warming emissions.

With continual repairs and replacement parts becoming scarce due to the age of the equipment, a complete system replacement just made sense. Furthermore, the old ice rink chiller system was using more than 3,000 pounds of chlorodifluoromethane, or R-22. This colorless gas often used as a refrigerant is hazardous to the environment if it leaks out of the system.

WHAT THE NEW SYSTEM OFFERS

This new system uses an environmentally friendly refrigerant called Opteon XP40™ to cool a secondary glycol solution. The solution is then pumped through the floor to freeze water and make the ice. Advanced technology electronically controls how the ice is created and maintained, including:

  • Electronic expansive valves that control refrigerant flow to the direct expansion evaporator
  • An electronically commutated motor to determine or fluctuate speed for the condenser fans

Additionally, the automated system allows for more control over scheduling temperature adjustments when the ice is not in use. All the major components are in sight, ensuring easy observation and the potential for greater efficiency all around.

WHY OPTEON?

The Montreal Protocol took effect in January 1989. The treaty outlined a plan to phase out the production of substances responsible for reducing the ozone layer. As of January 1, 2020, production of HCFC refrigerants, including R-22, has been phased out in North America.

For safety and sustainability purposes, Hydrofluro-Olefins (HFO) refrigerants were designed as an alternative. The Chemours Company introduced Opteon™, the official refrigerant solution of the NHL®, as an HFO refrigerant.

The Opteon™ XP40 (R-449A) cools like R-22 (or HCFCs) but offers a host of environmental and energy benefits:

  • Non-ozone depleting
  • Low Global Warming Potential
  • Regulatory compliant
  • Low toxicity and non-flammable
  • Excellent energy efficiency performance
  • Cost-effective when compared to other technology

SCR’s technical expertise and team approach have made us the Midwest’s leader in refrigeration, HVAC, building automation, food service, and service & maintenance. To learn more about our comprehensive approach and full-service capabilities, contact us.

CONTINUE READING
1 2
SUBSCRIBE

NEWSLETTER
Stay Connected
ABOUT SCR
SCR is the Midwest’s leader in commercial refrigeration, HVAC, building automation, and food service design, installation, and maintenance. Family-owned and operated since 1957, our customer focus and commitment to quality are second to none.