BRISTOL, Va.—Bristol Compressors International, Inc. (BCI) is developing some of the latest energy-efficient compressor technologies for the air conditioning, heat pump and refrigeration industries; and recent grants and funding in excess of $300,000 will support and accelerate this important work.
GENEDGE ALLIANCE, in cooperation with the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, has awarded BCI a $225,000 grant for an Innovation Commercialization Project that will accelerate high-technology economic growth. New technology being developed at BCI focuses on increasing energy efficiency levels while also raising compressor reliability performance to meet new customer demands in hot climates.
In addition, BCI has received $113,000 from the VDBA (Virginia Department of Business Assistance) through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. This grant will help offset the costs associated with training employees in lean methodology and process improvements.
“We developed our Benchmark X14™ 14 SEER compressor to meet new federal energy efficiency regulations well ahead of a 2015 mandate, and we have a new single-cylinder compressor that is raising the bar on reliability in very hot tropical conditions,” says Ed Gniewek, CEO of Bristol Compressors. “These are new technologies that we believe will help us gain more market share while at the same time making more environmentally friendly solutions available to our customers.”
“We are retraining employees throughout our organization,” adds Rick Nunley, director of human resources at BCI. “These funds assist and help to offset training expenses in our lean manufacturing transformation.
“We very much appreciate GENEDGE ALLIANCE, the Virginia Tobacco Commission and VDBA for supporting our new technologies and training initiatives.”
About GENEDGE ALLIANCE
GENEDGE helps Virginia industries generate new market innovations, increase their performance and improve their competitive position. As the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership affiliate for the Commonwealth of Virginia, GENEDGE provides a structured, innovation-based commercialization program for companies interested in the innovation grant.
About the Virginia Tobacco Commission
The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission is a 31-member body created by the 1999 General Assembly. Its mission is the promotion of economic growth and development in tobacco-dependent communities, using proceeds of the national tobacco settlement.
About VDBA’s Virginia Jobs Investment Program
The Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP), offered by the Virginia Department of Business Assistance (VDBA), encourages the expansion of existing businesses and the start-up of new business operations in the Commonwealth. It specifically addresses the top concerns of existing businesses and economic development prospects – finding and developing a skilled workforce. VJIP exists to support private sector job creation and helps offset recruiting and training costs incurred by companies that are either creating new jobs or implementing technological upgrades.
About Bristol Compressors
Headquartered in Bristol, Va., Bristol Compressors International, Inc. designs and manufactures hermetic compressors for residential and light commercial air-conditioning, heat pump and refrigeration applications. The company supplies compressors to original equipment manufacturers and wholesale distributors on six continents and in more than 60 countries around the world.
Spanning 750,000 square feet, the company’s Bristol operations are fully integrated, with world-class machining capabilities that complement reconfigured high-volume assembly lines. Operations are designed around lean manufacturing process techniques.
With a focus on safety, quality and operational effectiveness, Bristol Compressors has transformed its operations to support global customers’ continuous improvement expectations in quality assurance and supply. Bristol Compressors maintains market-leading positions in North America and the Middle East.
In keeping with a commitment to deliver environmentally conscious, energy-efficient products, Bristol Compressors offers a variety of ozone-friendly refrigerant compressors with fixed- and variable-frequency drive configurations, high-output heat pump compressors, geothermal targeted products, and the highest performing refrigeration compressors in the industry.
Company Mission: Bristol Compressors is committed to delivering product excellence in quality and reliability; our people are dedicated to providing world-class customer service, value, delivery and technical support to our global HVACR customers.