Another Milestone for MTG's MastrAir
The Industry Leader In Climate Control Systems For Limousines Is Now Keeping Buses Cool.
This month marks a year since MastrAir raised the bar on climate control systems for buses when it launched its Alpine Series. Already the dominant force in heating and air conditioning for limousines with over 95 percent market penetration, MastrAir spent more than 18 months researching and developing a product line that exceeds the bus manufacturers’ expectations.
“Limousine operators have been integrating buses into their fleets for a number of years now, but we wanted to make sure that we were absolutely ready before we came to market with a product that bears our name,” says Eric Alpert, president of Modern Technologies Group (MTG). “The requirements for buses are a lot more demanding than limousines because of the size of the cabin, so the units are significantly larger and the systems are much more complex.”
During the research and development process, MastrAir repeatedly tested and re-circuited its system at its Elkhart, Indiana-based manufacturing/engineering facility to ensure that each component worked in synch to provide optimal performance. Side-by-side comparisons were conducted with the industry’s other top units in extreme temperatures.
“Throughout our development process we strove to ensure that the components’ capacities in each system functionally matched each other resulting in superior cooling, heating, and air flow, as well as, lower head pressures,” says Dave Correll, vice president of MastrAir.
Along with the traditional skirt-mounted condensers, the development of a series of innovative roof-mounted condensers has greatly increased system performance. The Apex series of roof-mounted condensers has resulted in MastrAir being able to “blow away” the competition still using the standard skirt-mounted condensers. “Particularly in hotter climates, it’s extremely important to have the condenser as far away from the pavement as possible,” explains Correll.
MastrAir first introduced its Alpine systems in a new bus line from Corona, California’s Tiffany Coachworks. As part of Tiffany’s first order, 18 buses landed on the scorching streets of Houston just as the summer of 2007 was beginning. The severe heat and humidity would challenge any climate control system, but according to Bill Alden, president of Tiffany, “MastrAir designed a bus system that was meant for the most extreme conditions. They have truly developed the premier product available today.”
MTG opened the doors to its Indiana MastrAir plant in 2000. In 2003, Dave Correll was recruited to take the helm of the company, and in 2005 Carl Hazzard, an automotive HVAC guru, joined the team as its engineering manager to take what MastrAir had accomplished in the limousine industry into the bus industry. The two have a combined 30 years of experience in the field. The company’s locale was chosen because, “Elkhart is the aftermarket, conversion van, bus, and RV capital of the world. That meant there was a tremendous amount of talent to pull from,” says Alpert.
“When we first developed our limousine HVAC product line, we gathered input from multiple coachbuilders and focused on what they saw as the biggest problems with the units that existed at that time,” says Alpert. “The recurring theme was sufficient cooling and heating in the most extreme conditions, long-term durability, and customer support. We focused on each of these goals and developed our mission statement around those issues.”
“When tackling the reliability issue we made a calculated choice to use the highest quality components available regardless of cost, from companies like Spal, Goodyear, and Burgaflex,” says Correll. This helped revolutionize climate-control systems in limousine HVAC, allowing operators to provide their clients with maximum comfort in any climate with long-term durability. When MastrAir started the design process for buses, it adapted the exact same strategy as its limousine product line. “Our goal was to create a system designed specifically for buses whose performance and reliability far exceeded anything currently on the market—the Alpine Series Bus System accomplishes that goal,” says Hazzard.
MastrAir cemented its position in the industry by offering exceptional warranty support and customer service, while maintaining extremely competitive prices. “We strategically positioned ourselves to hit the bus market running by having a national service center network in place for buses before the first system was ever installed,” explains Correll.
MastrAir’s product line, which includes complete systems, evaporators, fans, and fittings, as well as any component necessary to install a new system or retrofit an existing one, is manufactured and distributed through MastrAir’s Elkhart, Indiana, facility. For product inquiries, call the toll-free MastrAir hotline at (866) 684-7100. LD
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