Dammam-based Zamil Air Conditioners (ZAC) reports that it has received excellent response to its new central air-conditioners (CAC), which it launched late last year to boost its existing product range.

The company describes the move as a progressive step forward to create an environment of superior efficiency and high technology while giving maximum cost benefits back to the consumer.

These new products included the PX series of packaged rooftop units offering capacities ranging from 25-30 tonnes; the PY series of economical packaged units; the air-cooled condensing units (from the CX and CMX Series); and the air handling units ( from the BX Series).

"The units have captured a large market share for applications such as shopping malls, hotels, car showrooms and commercial complexes, both in the Kingdom and beyond," says a spokesman for ZAC.

Citing some of the recent orders placed with the company for the new equipment, the says: "About 450 units of the PX240-300 series have been ordered so far. Some 72 units of the PMX 720 offering 60 tonnes of refrigeration has been supplied to Watani Stores, a large supermarket in the Kingdom. The PMX series of commercial modular packaged units are particularly suited for heavy-duty commercial applications and are available in 30-70 tonnes capacity."

ZAC has also supplied the new series to Riyadh's Al Faisaliah Center. "More than 350 units of the BX units have been recently ordered, delivered and installed along with the corresponding CX condensing units. Of these, 100 units have been installed at the Al Faisaliah shopping mall (chilled water). Some 70 units have been supplied for an Aramco project and 43 units have been installed at a Teachers Training College," he says. "These units are light commercial packaged air-handlers and condensing units."

Commenting on the objectives behind the launch of the products, Abdulla Al Zamil, senior vice president, Zamil Air Conditioners, says: "Our marketing objectives include a strong focus on the end-user's needs and hence we have specifically designed units to lower overall costs, at both the purchase point and later by offering maximum efficiency ratios.

"The upgrade of the units was necessary for several reasons, including the fact that in the past, units were all made by manual design and hence not compatible with today's computer-aided production (CAP). With the advent of CAP technology and the steady rise in demand for the company's products, ZAC has recently doubled production rates for many of their units, a sizeable measure in its factory's output."

Other products which were introduced last year was the PY Series, the economical packaged units of three to five tonnes, which has a high-cooling capacity, standard safety devices, a standard crankcase heater, and a horizontal/downward airflow arrangement.

"The units, designed for residential and light commercial applications, are more efficient, smaller, faster to produce and consequently less expensive to the consumer," the spokesman says. "The units are also equipped with microprocessor-based controls and can be provided with electric heaters for year-round-operation. These units were designed and tested to operate at ambient temperatures as high as 55 deg C.

"The CX Series, the air-cooled condensing units are designed for various applications and offer consumers excellent serviceability with high-efficiency, maximum safety controls and compact footprint dimensions. Using scroll compressors as standard, the units offer reciprocating compressors as an option. The units added to the existing series include 12, 15, 18, 20, 25 and 30 tonnes capacities, and offer a complete range of 2.5 to 30 tonnes packaged units in the unitary line, a proof of ZAC's commitment to providing consumers with a wide range of options.

"An additional line of large commercial condensing units, ZAC's CMX series, extending between 20 to 140 tonnes, was also introduced as well as the double-skin modular air-handling units which range from 700 to 90,000 cu ft per minute (CFM), offering state-of-the-art technology and design flexibility.

"The BX Series packaged air-handler line was launched to provide more options. The 2.5 to 3- tonne models offer an EER (Energy Efficiency Rating) of 9.8, with low ceiling requirements and a low noise level. Compact dimensions and a convertible horizontal/vertical discharge are also added benefits.

"We are, indeed, proud that all our products meet not only the international air-conditioning equipment standards, but also the tougher local standards for safety, cooling and heating capacity ratings and materials," says Al Zamil. "The fact that our laboratories and air-conditioning units are ETL-verified confirms ZAC's adherence to designing, testing and producing products to meet and exceed the most demanding requirements of international and local standards."

In early days, ZAC was the first company to be awarded the Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation (SASO) certificate for air-conditioning units. Today, ZAC is recognised internationally for its standards of achievement with awards such as the ISO9002, the European CE Certificate, and the American UL certification under its belt, says the spokesman.

Zamil Air Conditioners claims it is the only company in the Middle East to manufacture a full range of air-conditioning systems: the Classic range.

ZAC exports to 23 countries in Europe, America, Africa and the Far East. The company produces up to 440,000 room air conditioners, 55,000 mini split systems and 36,500 central air conditioning systems per year.

In other developments at the company, ZAC has also launched its own web site (www.zamilac.com).

According to the spokesman, ZAC has posted its interactive website to provide quicker and easier access to its extensive portfolio of brands, products and services. The website also offers the ability to conduct business through the Internet - a facility specifically provided for ZAC's customers and partners world-wide.

Al Zamil says: "ZAC's E-Business website was created to fully cater to our customers' queries on every aspect relating to ZAC: from business information to product specification and advice on what product best suits our customers' needs. The website is also a big plus for our clients around the globe."