Welcome to Smart Solutions
MCAA’s mission is to guide and support member success to build a stronger, more sustainable future for the mechanical contracting industry. Through member-driven resources, comprehensive education, and strategic partnerships, we empower members to shape a future of unparalleled innovation and growth.
Latest Issue
Saving Time & Increasing Safety with MILWAUKEE TOOL & 1901 Inc.
After using MILWAUKEE TOOL’s cordless M18 FUEL™RINGER™ Roll Groover from start to finish on a recent project, 1901 Inc. of Madison, WI, estimated saving 40–50 hours of labor, thanks to faster setup time and easier mobility compared with traditional electric grooving machines. Jeremy Baillies, a steamfitter foreman at 1901 Inc., said, “It’s way more efficient, much faster, much safer; it saves all kinds of time.”
Profiling Software Optimizes Efficiency featuring HGG Profiling Equipment, Inc.
Designed in-house, ProCAM software leverages HGG Profiling Equipment Inc.’s 40 years of 3D profiling knowledge and synthesizes it into a software system designed to maximize throughput and material usage, saving users time and money. ProCAM and ProCAM Lite are the only software specifically designed for HGG profiling machines.
Transforming Coordination Through Automation featuring MSUITE
Speed and accuracy are critical in the design phase of construction, and building information modeling (BIM) has improved teamwork and visibility throughout projects. However, support system layout remains a challenge. Despite significant advances in BIM workflows, contractors lose time and productivity because of inefficient manual processes in placing and coordinating hangers and supports. Software solutions like MSUITE Hangers can accelerate BIM modeling efficiency and transform MEP coordination through automation.
Streamlining Invoicing Skyrockets Revenue with ServiceTitan & L.J. Kruse Company
Until two years ago, L.J. Kruse Company, a fourth-generation plumbing and HVAC shop in Berkeley, CA, was still using paper for invoicing. With ServiceTitan, the company’s service side boosted revenue by $1 million. “I don’t know how many companies are left on paperwork orders, but if there are any, you have to make the switch, and you’ve got to make it yesterday,” said Will Kruse, vice president and service manager at L.J. Kruse Co. Switching to ServiceTitan “was night and day.”
Matching Material to Application for Better Results: Advice from NIBCO INC.
In commercial plumbing and mechanical systems, material selection is far more than a matter of preference or budget—it directly impacts system performance, longevity, and reliability. Standards offer a framework, but truly effective practice requires that you match the materials to the specific demands of the application.
2 New Management Methods Bulletins Now Available
MCAA recently released two new Management Methods Bulletins designed to support its members with free, in‑depth guidance on critical aspects of mechanical contracting.
Message from Mark Becker, M/SC Chair: Insights and Innovations
Case studies in this issue of Smart Solutions include two stadiums, two jails, and a distillery—highlighting that many projects come with unique needs that require innovation and insight. We hope you will take advantage of the insights and innovations our manufacturer/supplier partners have to offer.
Designing for Efficiency with Belimo Aircontrols & Arden Building Companies
Arden Building Companies knew that a pressure independent (PI) HVAC system would help a new Massachusetts high school meet its long-term sustainability goals, but there were concerns about the cost. Belimo Aircontrols’ PI control valve offered the perfect balance of performance and affordability, and Belimo went a step further, providing piping packages that cut up to 80 percent of labor costs.
Creating Attractive Cost Estimates in Eight Ways featuring McCormick Systems, Inc.
Creating clear, competitive, and professional plumbing estimates is key to securing projects. Whether it’s small installations or large commercial projects, the accuracy and presentation of your estimates can set you apart in the highly competitive plumbing industry, which has more than 70,000 contractors in the United States alone.
Delivering Lasting Value with Daikin Applied and Bartingale Mechanical
Speed and efficiency were top priorities for Bartingale Mechanical in renovating a Wisconsin jail, and the company successfully installed a customized Daikin Applied chiller in just one week, with inmates remaining in place throughout the project. Daikin’s ability to deliver the unit on time, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, helped the team avoid delays with using the specialized crane and contributed to a smooth and successful startup.
Transforming Insights Into Action with Artificial Intelligence featuring Copeland Mobile
Today’s HVACR technicians rely on innovative, user-friendly tools like mobile apps to increase productivity. Copeland Mobile, one of the most trusted apps in the industry, recently added a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature, Scout. Designed as the ultimate field companion, Copeland Mobile’s cutting-edge solution now leverages AI to transform insights into action, helping technicians quickly diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve issues in the field.
Tool-Integrated Software’s Business Benefits featuring Ridge Tool Company
Would you like to make the back-office side of your plumbing business more efficient? Tool technology has changed the way we work on jobsites, but it can also simplify business management. From staying ahead of needed tool maintenance to streamlining recordkeeping, integrated tool technology in drain cleaning, pressing, and diagnostic tools can make your business run more efficiently. Here are a few examples of how tool-integrated software from Ridge Tool Company and others can boost your business operations.
Jobsite Safety Spotlight with MCAA’s Safety & Health Committee & BuildOps
Falls. Tools. Mental health. The jobsite dangers haven’t changed much, but some contractors are changing how they respond—and who they involve in the process. MCAA Safety and Health Committee members Ricky Reams (Murphy Company) and Rebecca Medaris (Pan-Pacific Mechanical), joined BuildOps to discuss the challenges contractors are facing today and what’s working in the field—from simplifying fall protection to reshaping the tools that get people hurt.
Optimizing Pipe Quality to Improve Efficiency featuring Wheatland Tube
In an evolving industry where quality, labor shortages, safety, and environmental impact are top-of-mind, mechanical contractors are faced with critical decisions when specifying materials for their projects. Choosing domestically manufactured standard pipe over their imported equivalents can increase the quality, safety, and sustainability of any project.
Expanding & Improving the Community with Trane and Brandt Companies
Brandt Companies is familiar with the unique challenges and strict requirements around working on a correctional facility, so when the opportunity to renovate and expand the Rockwell County (Texas) jail arose, Brandt chose Trane. “It was very intentional that we wanted to work with Trane,” said Scott McMillan, senior mechanical engineer at Brandt. “Trane has great resources on the controls side and smoke control projects, in particular. Ultimately, Trane delivered and was instrumental in the success of this job.”
Exceeding Stringent Standards with SLOAN & Murray Company
To meet green building standards for a new basketball stadium, Murray Company Mechanical Contractors counted on SLOAN’s sustainable products but also ensured close collaboration and coordination among all the “players” in the building process to secure the win. Murray Company made sure it could accommodate others working simultaneously; meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), state, and LEED requirements; and ensure that the plumbing worked under peak demand.
Fueling Efficiency Through Automation with SIEMENS & Marble Distilling Co.
Because SIEMENS automation equipment and software worked well to optimize room temperatures efficiently in their boutique inn, Marble Distilling Co. owners were open to a novel use of the technology to improve the distilling process—and they were rewarded with a 75-percent increase in efficiency as a result. The Carbondale, CO, destination is home to a craft distillery, tasting room, private club, and inn—all designed to make every guest feel as though they are a part of Marble’s mission to become the most sustainable, zero-waste distilling operation in the world.
Avoiding Missed Connections Through Innovation with Merit Brass Company & Dynamic Systems, Inc.
Dynamic Systems, Inc. (DSI) chose Merit Brass Company copper press fittings on the chilled water system for a multi-billion-dollar facility because of the ease of installation, cost savings, and cleanliness of the installation. Moreover, Merit’s fittings are equipped with distinctive Visual Indicator Press Ring® (VIPR) technology—which provides an external visual confirmation of a pressed fitting and enabled DSI to avoid the common problem of missed pressed fittings that can derail projects.
