Interview to José María Ortiz, general director of Association of manufacturers of Equipment of Air conditioning (Afec)

Yes, the construction has fallen dramatically and, in consequence, the sales of equipment of air conditioning, also. To this has added him the fact that the administrations and the particular in general do not have of money, of financial and economic means. Like this, in the actuality, are underneath of 50% of 1997, year in which it arrived to his historical maximum.

Sure enough, the sector has experienced a very important transformation, hastened, partly, by the European legislation —centred in the energetic saving and the utilisation of renewable energies, with the consistent reduction of CO₂—  and, on the other hand, for looking for niches of market and differentiate of the competition.

The massive use of the technology inverter; the equipment multiciclo or multitarea, that is to say, those that give cold, heat and hot water; the utilisation of double compressesor in determinate types of team; the design of exchangers and batteries to do them more optimum and so that the exchange was better; the use of systems of regulation and control more precise; the utilisation of valves of electronic expansion or the development of the telematic to control the machines to distance…

Yes, this regarding equipment. Regarding installations, would stand out among others advances the recovery of heat or of cold of the installations of air conditioning.

The installations demand one some renewal of air, then, in place to expel it directly, treats to recover part of this heat by means of an exchanger of the air that goes in. It could put a lot of examples more, but anyway, the sector directs to this energetic efficiency that marks the European legislation.

Is evident that the society is it sued and, possibly, the environingingment, also. Like this, it would say that in general terms it is positive, but has claroscuros, is mejorable.

On the one hand, think that would have to take into account the financial situation of some countries. Besides, the rhythms that impose regarding the change of technologies are very adjusted, especially for the SMEs. A big multinational has resources and means, but for a small company results more trabajoso.

I no demonizaría to the Chinese equipment. Really they have a financial and technological potential enormous. The big factories are used to to be very cumplidoras of the legislation and participate in the European associations. I of course would not link to the Chinese product with incumplimiento or with fault of quality. It would be unfair. Some Chinese manufacturers produce more than six million equipment to the year, therefore, know very very what do . Some of them could resupply by himself alone the European market.

It is necessary to take into account that the ecological sells. Besides, many of the big manufacturers are situated in countries of high ecological awareness, in countries in which the respect to the environingingment forms part of his culture. Like this, his equipment are medioambientalmente sustainable and this finish it transmitting to his competitors. Another thing is until which point the financial and technological efforts that this comports, compensate economically.

As no. Now there are more costs of manufacture and fewer margins, but, anyway, the market and the society throws to the green. This is a point that the manufacturers have clear and very assumed.

I would say that the consumer is very conscious of the importance to save in air conditioning. That that occurred before going in in a cinema in summer and go out with the feeling to having been in the Pole North was an error of beginner that is changing radically. Although it also is true that a lot of trades, like catchword, keep the open doors with the very high air. In general terms, I think that the message yes has calado.

The work begins by the architect, that is the one who conceives the building, afterwards comes the engineer consultor, that designs the installations, afterwards the installer, that realises them, and, finally, the manufacturer, that delivers the team to the installer that llevar the installation.

No, of entrance, the building has to be very conceived, very oriented, with the faã§ades and material and the suitable isolation. Afterwards it goes in at stake the engineer that, in function of the needs of air conditioning according to the use of the building, will have to choose the suitable solutions. Ones will be more expensive and efficient, whereas others will be cheaper, but less efficient. In function of the budget, will choose. It is evident that what more sophisticated was the installation, what more save, more expensive goes to be. The property will have to value the period of amortización and the return of the investment.

There is very few subsidies. In a lot of cases, more than subsidies are financial helps: low credits, with periods of amortización long or with a period of lack. It keeps some help for installations of geotermia or solar and some plan renove, but this is finishing , is not the moment, given our current economic situation.

The big companies follow investigating with new refrigerantes, compressesors, exchangers and systems of control. It is like a bicycle, if you leave to give pedals, fall you. In this sector, and think that in all the industry in general, if you leave to investigate, fall you because there will be another of the competition that yes is it doing.

The tendencies are clearly marked by the energetic efficiency: today there is not team that do not design , publicite and present to the market like a machine that does not save power.

On the other hand, investigates in the utilisation of renewable energies: aerotermia, geotermia, hidrotermia and the solar and wind power. It remains a lot of for visiting. Never we will know until where can arrive .

“Small but important”

The Association of manufacturers of Equipment of Air conditioning represents to 65 companies, 40 of them Spanish manufacturers, that employ to some 6.000 people in our country. The association looks after the gestión and defence of the interests of these manufacturers, through activities like the participation in conferences and studies, and with helps to the export and to the technological development. “It is a relatively small sector in terms of personnel and of contribution to the GDP, but important”, affirms José María Ortiz, general director of the Afec.