Heat Exchanger World magazine July 2025 | Page 13

Industry News
Chart ships record-breaking tanks Heat and Control acquires Fabcon Food Systems Ltd
Chart is pleased to announce a major milestone for the company and industry with the shipment of the first two jumbo cryogenic tanks built at the“ Teddy2” facility in Theodore, AL. Each with a capacity of 1,700 m 3( 450,000 gallon), they are considered to be the largest shop-built cryogenic tanks ever. Built to support next-generation space launch infrastructure, these tanks reflect the growing demand for large-scale liquid gas storage across a wide range of emerging applications in aerospace, clean energy, maritime, and carbon capture. In addition to increased
storage capacity, shop building reduces on-site construction and facilitates modularization thereby reducing overall project cost, schedule, and risk. Opened in March 2024,“ Teddy2”, so called because it is Chart’ s second manufacturing facility in Theodore, Alabama, has direct access to waterways and railways, providing customers with lower freight costs and faster transportation to their sites. The expansion has also contributed to local job creation and economic development and is consistent with the region’ s ambitions as an innovation hub for cleantech.
Heat and Control ® is pleased to announce the acquisition of Fabcon Food Systems Ltd, a provider of bespoke processing and handling equipment systems for the food industry. This strategic acquisition reinforces Heat and Control’ s commitment to providing customers with innovative, customized solutions that set the standard for yield, efficiency, and safety across a wide range of industries. Tony Caridis, President of Heat and Control Inc., says the acquisition represents another significant milestone in the company’ s growth
strategy, fostering innovation and creating new opportunities for both companies, whilst also bringing a wealth of further experience from the team at Fabcon Food Systems.“ Fabcon Food Systems manufactures a broad range of innovative, reliable, and costeffective food processing solutions for the snack food, french fry, and protein industries that complement our existing range of products, including a full range of vibratory conveyors, allowing us to deliver even more innovative solutions to our global customers,” says Caridis.
3D Systems’ DMP technology for NASA spacecraft cooling systems
3D printer OEM 3D Systems’ Application Innovation Group( AIG) is working with researchers from Penn State University( PSU), Arizona State University( ASU), and NASA Glenn Research Center to develop advanced thermal management systems for spacecraft. The NASA-sponsored projects are using 3D Systems’ Direct Metal Printing( DMP) technology and Oqton’ s 3DXpert software to produce highperformance radiators and heat pipes made from titanium and nickel-titanium alloys. By embedding heat pipes and shape-memory alloy components directly into radiators through 3D printing, the team is addressing the weight and manufacturing complexity of traditional thermal systems, making future space missions more cost-effective and capable.
One area of focus involves 3D printing titanium heat rejection radiators with embedded hightemperature passive heat pipes. Traditionally, creating these internal porous wick structures involves multiple manufacturing steps to allow fluid to circulate and transfer heat. The team used 3DXpert software to embed these porous structures directly into the titanium heat pipe walls, removing additional steps and reducing variability. These monolithic titanium radiators operated successfully at temperatures of 230 ° C and demonstrated a 50 % reduction in weight, achieving 3 kg per sq. m. compared to more than 6 kg per sq. m. in conventional systems. This approach meets NASA’ s targets for enhanced heat transfer efficiency and lower launch costs.
MBT’ s AI-powered chiller lighthouse factory
Midea Building Technologies( MBT) recently hosted the launch
event for the world’ s first fullprocess AI-empowered chiller
lighthouse factory in Chongqing. With its exceptional intelligent manufacturing capabilities and green industrial practices, MBT Chongqing chiller factory has earned the prestigious lighthouse factory designation. What sets MBT’ s chiller factory apart is its application of AI technology across the entire process, from research and development to manufacturing and after-sales service. This factory, which began operations in 2004, specializes in manufacturing large-scale central air conditioning systems. Its products are widely used in airports, highspeed rail stations, industrial plants,
commercial real estate, and data centers. In recent years, the factory has faced challenges such as increasing demand for customized orders and greater complexity in quality control. In response, it has leveraged next-generation information technologies such as machine learning and augmented reality to explore new production models, including intelligent design, agile production, and customized delivery. These innovations have resulted in an 81 % reduction in chiller selection cycles, a 45 % decrease in product design cycles, and a 31 % drop in maintenance rates.
www. heat-exchanger-world. com Heat Exchanger World July 2025
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