Scott Brown, technical editor for PTEN, returned from the annual MACS (Mobile Air Conditioning Society) conference where they celebrated their 40th anniversary with the event running from February 19-22.

Brown reports: 

The Friday morning opening General Session provided great insight from three presenters, Cherise Farquharson from the EPA, Jose Miguel Diaz from Sanden International, and Michael Ingvardsen from Nissens. The speakers updated those in attendance on the latest U.S. regulations, how electrification is placing higher demands on climate controls, and how some European countries are handling certification. Brown's primary takeaways from that session are as follows:

1. As more electrified platforms enter the market, the technical competence needed to service these systems will continue to rise. The technical and regulatory-related training demand will increase for years to come.
2. The professional service industry in the U.S. continues to be challenged through the allowance of non-licensed consumers to purchase refrigerant and charge their A/C systems. Many of these refrigerants contain stop leak compounds that can end up damaging service equipment. There were many vendors at the trade show with solutions to help deal with these issues.
3. Michael Ingvardsen from Nissens shared with the group an interesting fact -- refrigerants imported into the U.S. (and elsewhere) are not actually tested for purity so beware of where your refrigerant comes from. This is really important, and shops should develop a policy/procedure to ensure that the refrigerant you buy for your shop is actually what the label says it is.

Lots of great training was offered by both OEMs and aftermarket suppliers, and the event was well attended. If you’re servicing HVAC systems and haven’t attended a MACS conference, visit MACS website for information on next year's conference to be held February 3-6 in Orlando.