PORT-A-COOL, a US-based company that offers evaporating cooling systems, has expanded its product range with the introduction of the Hurricane 3600.

The new range offers a digital control panel and the largest airflow of any 36-inch evaporative cooler in the industry, according to Robert Mangiaforte, director of international sales at Port-A-Cool. Featuring a unique housing design that allows more concentrated air flow, the range has low water shutoff, timer and temperature sensor.

The new product has been developed in response to customer demand for bigger and better products, he says. “Hurricane 3600 is the latest product that will be launched in the Middle East shortly. We have recently introduced a product for the hospitality sector in the US and will be bringing it to this region soon,” Mangiaforte adds.

In areas where air-conditioning is not possible, Port-A-Cool portable evaporative cooling units can help those working in excessive heat to be more comfortable and productive by utilising natural cooling that is extremely effective for desert climates.

“Our evaporative cooling is a hi-tech evaporative cooling with a cooling pad which we manufacture to provide a high degree of cooling efficiency. The products can be used just anywhere, where air-conditioning is required but at a lower cost,” he says.

Port-A-Cool this year marks its 10th anniversary in the Middle East. The company started off 23 year ago in the US.

“We started off with a few models, but today we have a whole range of products tailored for different industries like building, construction, aviation and sporting events. Initially, we started out with military projects but as we moved on we found an increasing number of applications,” says Mangiaforte.

The Middle East is a very important region for the company, according to Mangiaforte. “Recent studies reveal significant (climatic) changes are taking place here in comparison with other regions. More frequent and intense heat waves are expected in the area, with an even stronger frequency in urban areas where populations are more concentrated,” he adds.

The company says it has witnessed an increase in demand for its products, particularly from the oil and gas sector. In addition, with Dubai hosting the World Expo 2020, the company expects higher demand for its products from the hospitality sector.

“There are a number of mega projects under development in Dubai and more will be launched in the run up to Expo 2020. It will be crucial for contractors to deliver the projects on time.

“Any construction site is suitable for our products. There are three things that Port-A-Cool can bring to any environment and specially the large projects: workers’ comfort, productivity and safety,” he says.

Commenting on the company’s plans for the region, he says: “We are currently looking at strengthening our sales team and also setting up a warehouse in Dubai. By early next month (May), we should have the warehouse in place in Jebel Ali to offer more inventory to our customers.

“We are committed to the region and we have seen growth ever since we started operations. We have put in a lot of effort to develop in the region and we are seeing double-digit growth every year, which is indicative of the resources we have put in place and also the products we are bringing in.”