KMC Controls

KMC Controls, Inc.
Privately held company
Industry Building automation, HVAC
Founded 1969
Headquarters New Paris, Indiana
Products HVAC control system, Thermostats, Sensors, Actuators, Valves
Website www.kmccontrols.com

KMC Controls (formerly Kreuter Manufacturing Company) has designed and manufactured HVAC control system products and building automation systems since 1969.[1] KMC was one of the early privately held controls manufacturer with a full line of digital, electronic, and pneumatic products in the United States.[2] The latest products include BACnet digital controllers and thermostats.

KMC is a member of the United States Green Building Council. KMC products provide tools for achieving prerequisites and credits for LEED certification in the categories of Indoor Environmental Quality, Energy and Atmosphere, Sustainable Sites, and Water Efficiency for green buildings.[3][4][5][6]

The company’s intellectual property includes dozens of patents for (pneumatic, electronic, and digital) controllers, thermostats, actuators, and valves.[7]

KMC maintains regional sales offices throughout the U.S. and distributes its products through authorized installing contractors, wholesalers,[8][9] and OEMs[10][11][12] throughout North America as well as authorized distributors worldwide.[13][14][15]

History

In 1969, Ken Kreuter established Kreuter Manufacturing Company to manufacture pneumatic HVAC controls.[16] In 1970, the company moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba because of business incentives. In 1974, the company moved to Minnesota, and, in 1978, the company moved manufacturing operations to its present location in New Paris, Indiana. In 1989, the research and development side of the business (then known as Kreuter Engineering) made the transition from Minnesota to Indiana as well in order to consolidate all company operations. In 1995, Kreuter Manufacturing Company, Inc. began doing business as KMC Controls, Inc., a name change that better reflected its business. Over the decades, analog electronic and then DDC (Direct Digital Control) products were added to the original pneumatic line.[17][18]

Products

KMC Controls Product Family Samples

KMC Controls started with manufacturing pneumatic HVAC control products, including controllers,[19] actuators, valves, and other related devices. A pneumatic HVAC control circuit operates on air pressure (typically between 3 and 13 psi) and uses mechanical means (actuators) to perform control functions.[20] Pneumatic control systems are still used in many buildings, especially in metropolitan areas, because of their large base of installation throughout the 1960s and 1970s.[21]

Throughout the 1980s, analog electronic control devices became increasingly popular.[22] They provided faster response and higher precision than pneumatics. KMC manufactures electronic sensors, variable air volume controllers, thermostats, actuators, valves, and other devices that operate from low voltage DC analog signals.

In the 1990s, the standard became microprocessor-based direct digital controls that process a variety of analog and binary inputs and outputs. KMC offers controllers and software in its KMDigital line using a proprietary protocol as well as a BACnet line with an open systems protocol.. In the 2000s, desire grew for "open" communication systems, and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) developed the BACnet communication protocol that eventually became the industry open standard.[23][24] In 2010, KMC BACnet controllers won awards for their MAC "autoaddressing" feature designed to make network installation easier and faster[25] as well as its flexible BACnet programmable thermostat that combined a controller with temperature, humidity, motion, and CO2 sensors.[26] The thermostat also won a "sustainability" award in 2012.[27] KMC's building automation software won an award in 2011.[28][29]

References

  1. ↑ Leighty, Justin (21 Feb 2013). "New Paris company controls the environment ... inside". The Elkhart Truth. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "KMC Controls: In Touch and Out Front," HVACR Distribution Business, 1 Oct. 2010: 22-26.
  3. ↑ "Green Building and Controls Glossary" (PDF). KMC Controls. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "Success Stories: The Bullitt Center, Seattle, Washington, United States". BACnet International. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  5. ↑ "Success Stories: The Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, Columbus, OH, United States". BACnet International. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  6. ↑ "Success Stories: Wachovia Bank Building, Tampa, Florida, United States". BACnet International. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "KMC Controls Selects Intellon Chipset for First HomePlug-based Programmable Communicating Thermostat (PCT)," Archived December 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. HomePlug Powerline Alliance, 25 Aug. 2009.
  8. ↑ "How to Buy". KMC Controls. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "KMC Controls Product Search". Grainger. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  10. ↑ "KMC FlexStat Controller". Emerson Climate Technologies. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  11. ↑ "Lynxspring, KMC Offer 'Green' BACnet Controllers," Contracting Business.com, June 8, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Our OEM Partners". KMC Controls. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  13. ↑ "Success Stories: Kuwait Oil Company Headquarters, Al Ahmadi, Kuwait". BACnet International. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  14. ↑ "Success Stories: Intel IDC 9, Haifa, Israel". BACnet International. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  15. ↑ "Success Stories: Neutec Pharmaceuticals, Sakarya, Turkey". BACnet International. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  16. ↑ Leighty, Justin (21 Feb 2013). "New Paris company controls the environment ... inside". The Elkhart Truth. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  17. ↑ Arnold, Scott (1 Dec 2011). "Building Controller Provides Precise Control of Heat-Recovery System". HPAC Engineering. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  18. ↑ "About KMC," KMC Controls.
  19. ↑ Weaver-Stoesz, Marlys (11 Dec 2011). "Goshen EACC student builds piece to help at local manufacturer". The Elkhart Truth. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  20. ↑ KMC Controls. "Pneumatic to Digital: Open System Conversions" (PDF). Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  21. ↑ Leighty, Justin (21 Feb 2013). "New Paris company controls the environment ... inside". The Elkhart Truth. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  22. ↑ See, for example, HVAC control system.
  23. ↑ "The KMC Difference," KMC Controls.
  24. ↑ "What is BACnet Interoperability". FacilitiesNet.com. Aug 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  25. ↑ "Building Operating Management 2010 Top Products Award". FacilitiesNet.com. Jan 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  26. ↑ Lynch, Patrick (2010-09-19). "2010 Product of the Year Winners". Consulting Specifying Engineer. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  27. ↑ Colley, Billie (23 April 2012). "Sustainability 2012 - And The Winners Are...". Green Thinker Network. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  28. ↑ "Building Operating Management 2011 Top Products Award". FacilitiesNet.com. January 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  29. ↑ "QA Graphics Provides Residential BAS Graphics". QA Graphics. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
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