At Marlo, we believe that the best manufacturing requires ongoing investment – in both people and technology. That’s why we’re excited to announce major investments in new equipment as we continue to improve our production facility.
The new state-of-the-art machinery will help to shorten lead times, improve product quality and keep costs down. These benefits apply to our complete line of commercial and industrial heating and cooling coils, as well as our MarloAIR air handling units (AHUs).
As demand continues to rise for high-performance HVAC coils and air handling units, we’ve made strategic upgrades to our manufacturing capabilities, including the following.
A new hairpin bender with added tube length
Hairpins are long, usually copper, tubes which are bent before being laced through the coil fins. By using hairpins, rather than all straight tubes joined by brazed return bends, the number of brazed joints in a coil is reduced by up to 50%. This not only speeds production, but also limits the risk of failed joints that need to be reworked. In addition, the bending process work hardens the copper, which results in a more durable coil with longer expected life.
Our new precision, automated hairpin bender dramatically increases the efficiency of producing these critical components that go into every coil we make – creating the 180˚ bends in a matter of seconds. The new bender can produce hairpins up to 12 feet long (starting with a 24-foot length of tube). This allows us to produce large coils without the need to braze in multiple locations. In addition to the longer length, the bender also provides improved precision and speed, meaning we can produce more units per shift while maintaining the tight tolerances our quality standards demand.
A new high-speed return bend tube bender
Even with our extensive use of hairpins, we still utilize massive quantities of return bends – the semicircular or U-shaped fittings that are used to connect two tubes at the end of a coil by brazing. As a custom coil manufacturer, building different types and sizes of coils every single day, we need to keep a high volume of return bends in stock at all times, in various bend radii. Until recently, we had always outsourced our return bends to a third-party manufacturer.
Now, we have acquired our own high-speed, highly accurate tube bender that allows us to produce return bends on site and on demand. One of the fastest benders in the industry, this machine forms return bends in a matter of seconds, and lets us change from one bend radius to another quickly. This machine not only boosts output, but also ensures uniformity across every return bend – a key to long-term performance and durability in the field. Plus, we no longer have the risk of delivery delays from an outside company.
These two machines are the latest in a series of investments we’ve made to modernize and scale our operations. They build on previous upgrades, including the major expansion of our sheet metal department with a new automated laser cutter/punch and four new automated press brakes, which were highlighted in this earlier blog post. Together, these upgrades are helping to transform our manufacturing floor into one of the most efficient, sophisticated and capable in the industry.
An upgraded workplace, too
Alongside our production investments, we’ve also completed a full renovation of our office space. The upgrade includes all-new private and collaborative offices, modern conference rooms, and even a welcoming new break room for our team members. This investment reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a work environment that supports innovation, teamwork, and employee well-being.
What it all means for our customers
These new investments are more than just machines and offices. They are part of Marlo’s larger commitment to quality, service, reliability, and customer satisfaction. Here’s how they’ll benefit our customers directly:
• Shorter lead times – faster component production speeds mean quicker turnaround times. So whether it’s a hot water coil, chilled water coil, steam coil, or any other item in our extensive coil line, we’re better equipped than ever to deliver on your schedule.
• Enhanced product quality – precision, automated forming capabilities reduce component variability, which improves the overall structural integrity and reliability of each coil. That translates into longer service life, as well as better heat transfer.
• Scalable production capacity – as our business continues to grow – for our commercial and industrial coils, as well as our U.S. Navy work – these machines ensure we can scale efficiently, without sacrificing quality or delivery speed.
This is just the latest step in our ongoing mission to provide the best HVAC coil and air handling solutions in the industry. By continuing to invest in advanced technology, upgraded facilities, and streamlined production methods, Marlo is well prepared to continue to meet our customers’ needs now and into the future.
For more information about our capabilities or to request a quote for a coil or air handling unit, contact your local Marlo representative.
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