(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
Heat Pipe Technology (HPT), a division of Berkshire Hathaway’s MiTek Industries, has opened a new laboratory at its Tampa location, expanding its ability to research, develop, and test new products, while expediting the time-to-market for such products.
With 3,800 square feet of new testing and research space, HPT now has the capability to test to the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) Standard 1060. Indeed, HPT’s facilities are comparable to those offered by Intertek (AHRI’s official test agency) for Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) testing. Although HPT’s products may still be subject to the third-party AHRI testing and approval process, HPT can now pre-test its products to AHRI standards. This not only dramatically compresses the product development cycle-time, it also opens up more time and capability for HPT personnel to create new product innovations.
Situated on-premises, the new state-of-the-art HPT lab is fully equipped to support heat pipes testing up to 16 feet in length. With a robust automation and data-acquisition system, this facility offers the capability to run tests overnight and on weekends without human oversight.
“This new lab is a quantum leap in capability for HPT,” said HPT’s Dr. Onieluan Tamunobere, a resident scientist and engineer. “Our capability to innovate has been expanded, and our time to move innovations from concept to market has been compressed to a fraction of what it was before we had the lab.”
© 2016 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.