Factory training, without the travel As heating technology evolves, the best manufacturers’ representatives are evolving as well. While our engineers and field personnel at U.S. Boiler Company were busy testing the new K2 Firetube and X-C condensing boilers, one of our sales partners in the Midwest was in the process of building a new, live-fire, state-of-the-art training facility. Lyall, Thresher & Associates (Lyall Thresher) opened the facility to contractors and distributors in Illinois and Indiana. “Our new lab and classroom has been a long time in the making,” said Paul Stelter of Lyall Thresher. “Installers in our area were in need of a place to get real, hands-on hydronic training without travelling great distances. From the feedback we’ve received since opening the training center last summer, we’re now meeting that need.” The 1,200 square foot space includes room for four boilers. Each one hangs on a mobile rack, with flexible water, gas and venting connections, allowing the units to be moved around and exchanged. At the moment, two 80 MBH K2 water-tube boilers take center stage, and X-C and K2 fire-tube models will soon be added to the room. On the opposite wall, a variety of Grundfos pumps and piping is used to show the best piping practices within an operating system. Manifolds, Caleffi hydroseparators, air and dirt eliminators and zone valves are installed along with a variety of circulators. Even a glycol fill station is included. Hot water from the boilers is sent to a 120-gallon storage tank and a hydronic air handler so that a variety of return water temperatures can be provided, simulating numerous in-field situations. If it happens in a boiler room, Lyall Thresher trainers can provide a demonstration, from combustion analysis to circulator lock-out. “Installers can come in to learn how to set-up or trouble-shoot boiler controls,” explained Stelter. “Or they can watch how opening and closing zone valves affect the operation of new variable-speed pumps. They can even practice balancing a set of radiant manifolds. We’re really providing ‘factory training’, locally, across products from all of our hydronic product lines.” The new facility, which is inside their warehouse, can comfortably provide training for groups of 25 to 30 installers, or one-on-one sessions. Two big HD televisions are used to project presentation slides. However, every now and again, when the Chicago Bears or Blackhawks play, Lyall Thresher plans to hold social gatherings on game day. “Our goal for this facility was two-fold,” explained Stelter. “We want installers and distributors to be as well-equipped to install and service hydronic equipment as possible, and we hope that by providing industry-leading training opportunities, we create loyal customers. It’s what’s best for the industry, and we all succeed together.” ICM With the boiler covers off, visitors to the training room can see the Sage control system, the brains behind each K2 boiler. The live-fire training room currently features two 80 MBH US Boiler Company K2 water-tube boilers. The new live-fire training facility can replicate almost any hydronic system scenario. Dan Vastyan Delta C, LLC ICM/March/April 2017 23
ICM March-Apri 2017
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