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KMC Controls

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KMC Controls, Inc.
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryBuilding automation, HVAC
Founded1969
HeadquartersNew Paris, Indiana, USA
ProductsHVAC control system, Thermostats, Sensors, Actuators, Valves
Websitewww.kmccontrols.com
Trademarked identity for KMC Controls Inc.

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.[3]

KMC is a member of the United States Green Building Council. Building automation products, such as those manufactured by KMC controls, 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.[4][5][6][7]

The company's intellectual property includes patents for (pneumatic, electronic, and digital) controllers, thermostats, actuators, and valves.[8]

KMC maintains regional sales offices throughout the U.S. and distributes its products through system integrators (or authorized installing contractors), system distributors, wholesalers,[9][10] and OEMs[11][12][13] throughout North America as well as authorized distributors worldwide.[14][15][16]

History

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In 1969, Ken Kreuter established Kreuter Manufacturing Company to manufacture pneumatic HVAC controls.[17] 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.[18][19]

Products

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KMC Controls BAS Product Family Samples 2010
KMC Controls Product Family Samples

KMC Controls started with manufacturing pneumatic HVAC control products, including controllers,[20] 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.[21] 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.[22]

Throughout the 1980s, analog electronic control devices became increasingly popular.[23] 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.[24]

In the 1990s, the standard became microprocessor-based direct digital controls that process a variety of analog and binary inputs and outputs. KMC Controls offers controllers and software in its KMDigital line using a proprietary protocol as well as a BACnet line with an open systems protocol.[25] The BACnet communication protocol, developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), became an industry standard in the 2000s because of the desire for "open" communication systems.[26][27]

The 2010s brought IoT (Internet of Things) and cloud-based services to the building automation industry and KMC products.[28][29]

KMC Controls products and services have won a number of industry awards.[30][31][32][33][34]

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References

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  1. ^ Leighty, Justin (21 Feb 2013). "New Paris company controls the environment ... inside". The Elkhart Truth. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  2. ^ "KMC Controls: In Touch and Out Front," HVACR Distribution Business, 1 Oct. 2010: 22-26.
  3. ^ "Product Overview," KMC Controls.
  4. ^ "Green Building and Controls Glossary" (PDF). KMC Controls. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Success Stories: The Bullitt Center, Seattle, Washington, United States". BACnet International. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Success Stories: The Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, Columbus, OH, United States". BACnet International. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  7. ^ "Success Stories: Wachovia Bank Building, Tampa, Florida, United States". BACnet International. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  8. ^ "Patents Assigned to KMC Controls, Inc". JUSTIA Patents. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  9. ^ "How to Buy". KMC Controls. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  10. ^ "KMC Controls Product Search". Grainger. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  11. ^ "KMC FlexStat Controller". Emerson Climate Technologies. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  12. ^ "Lynxspring, KMC Offer 'Green' BACnet Controllers," Contracting Business.com, June 8, 2010.
  13. ^ "Our OEM Partners". KMC Controls. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  14. ^ "Success Stories: Kuwait Oil Company Headquarters, Al Ahmadi, Kuwait". BACnet International. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  15. ^ "Success Stories: Intel IDC 9, Haifa, Israel". BACnet International. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  16. ^ "Success Stories: Neutec Pharmaceuticals, Sakarya, Turkey". BACnet International. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  17. ^ Leighty, Justin (21 Feb 2013). "New Paris company controls the environment ... inside". The Elkhart Truth. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  18. ^ Arnold, Scott (1 Dec 2011). "Building Controller Provides Precise Control of Heat-Recovery System". HPAC Engineering. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  19. ^ "About KMC," KMC Controls.
  20. ^ KMC Controls. "Pneumatics for the 21st century... Kreuter Pneumatics by KMC Controls" (PDF). Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  21. ^ KMC Controls. "Pneumatic to Digital: Open System Conversions" (PDF). Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  22. ^ Leighty, Justin (21 Feb 2013). "New Paris company controls the environment ... inside". The Elkhart Truth. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  23. ^ See, for example, HVAC control system.
  24. ^ "KMC Products". KMC Controls. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  25. ^ "KMC Products". KMC Controls. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  26. ^ "The KMC Difference," KMC Controls.
  27. ^ "What is BACnet Interoperability". FacilitiesNet.com. Aug 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  28. ^ Martin, Dylan (2020-03-18). "KMC Controls Sees IoT Opportunities In Uniting IT And OT Partners". CRN. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  29. ^ "An Open, Secure, and Scalable Smart Building Solution That Is Easy to Deploy" (PDF). Intel. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  30. ^ "Building Operating Management 2010 Top Products Award". FacilitiesNet.com. Jan 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  31. ^ Lynch, Patrick (2010-09-19). "2010 Product of the Year Winners". Consulting Specifying Engineer. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  32. ^ Colley, Billie (23 April 2012). "Sustainability 2012 - And The Winners Are..." Green Thinker Network. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  33. ^ "KMC Commander Receives Best Intelligent Building Technology Innovation Award". ACHRNEWS. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  34. ^ "KMC Videos and Documents Win Publication Awards," KMC Controls.
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