A Dynamic, Accessible and Intuitive Educational Facility
The Price Technical Centers (PTC) have been the foundation of Price’s technical training programs for decades. These centers in Winnipeg, MB, Atlanta, GA and Phoenix, AZ are regularly expanding, evolving and improving in an effort to more effectively demonstrate product capabilities and compare and contrast different technologies.
Dennis Sikkema facilitates a discussion about Critical Environments products and applications
Since opening in 1996, the Atlanta PTC has had continuous improvements. Major renovations occurred in 2011, including new classroom, patient room and operating room spaces. A fair amount of real estate was also assigned to static product displays for showcasing construction features of many Price products.
Over 10,000 engineers, contractors, architects and owners visited the Atlanta PTC between 2011 and 2017. Starting in late 2016, input from past visitors was used to develop plans for the latest overhaul of the Atlanta PTC, which was completed in March 2018.
David Enns leads a discussion on laboratory valve performance characteristics
The open ceiling concept of the new Atlanta PTC gives the space a modern look while also making it feel significantly larger than it did before. Wide open ceilings facilitate convenient viewing of products from all angles, allowing contractors to delve more deeply into installation nuisances than ever before. A clear sightline to more than just the “exposed” face of the various products used in dynamic performance demonstrations/comparisons eliminates the need for the majority of the static displays that had dominated floor space in the past. Product and ceiling accessibility also greatly simplifies the task of replacing obsolete designs with new technology from the relentless Price product development engine.
The Price Technical Center features our Ultrasuite® system, an operating room diffuser system with integrated LED lighting
The new training center fully capitalizes on the opportunity to train visitors on HVAC fundamentals and product performance features. Price Training Programs offered at PTC provide consulting and design engineers with the training needed to specify and select air distribution equipment to best meet their design criteria. These extensive hands-on training programs are accredited for Professional Development Hour (PDH) credits.
Virtually every station in the new Atlanta PTC now features a dynamic component to help customers more easily grasp the HVAC principles or better communicate the salient product benefits. Product displays include:
- Airflow pattern visualization using “smoke,” sound, pressure drop and energy consumption comparisons
- UFAD plenum pressurization control
- HEPA filter loading simulation and detection
- Laboratory control system networks
- Noise Control demonstration with a variety of silencers
- Terminal Units and Fan Coils
- Active DOAS unit serving the entire space, with full view of duct system
- UltraSuite laminar airflow with integrated lighting
These represent just a sampling of the key topics now addressed through dynamic demonstrations in the new facility.
Visitors take in a displacement ventilation demonstration in the Jerry Sipes Flow Visualization Room
Each station within the new training center operates as simply as possible. Basic and intuitive touchscreen interfaces at each display make the option of a self-guided tour a reality. Previous training centers relied on complex control interfaces designed strictly for use by well-trained and experienced tour guides. While an abundance of Price product experts are still available to lead tour groups, the straightforward control interfaces at each station are inviting and make it possible for visitors to explore the center at their leisure or return to a particular station at any time during their visit to activate additional simulations.
The modern open ceiling concept of the new Atlanta PTC facilitates convenient viewing of products from all angles, eliminating the need for many of the static displays that had dominated floor space in the past
The new Atlanta PTC is the most advanced and interactive product/system demonstration center Price has ever showcased, and visitors have been delighted with the massive list of updates and improvements. We invite all industry professionals to arrange a PTC visit with their Price representative to take full advantage of this investment in education and training.
Upcoming Training:
Price Engineering Training (PET): Feb 12-14, 2020
The Price Engineering Training (PET) is accredited for 14 Professional Development Hours.
Class sessions will focus on air distribution fundamentals and applications of the Price product offering. Attendees will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of focused sessions on the key technologies that they would like to learn more about. Elective sessions cover more specific topics such as healthcare design or acoustic analysis, which are not always critical for all engineers to attend depending on their background, focus, and experience. Engineers that complete this program will leave with a superior understanding of foundational air distribution theory and the application of new technologies.
