Celebrating Dedication: Rohde Brothers, Inc. Hosts First Annual 20+ Years of Service Recognition Dinner

Celebrating Dedication: Rohde Brothers, Inc. Hosts First Annual 20+ Years of Service Recognition Dinner

At Rohde Brothers, Inc., we believe in honoring the dedication and hard work of our long-standing employees. On June 25th, we hosted our first annual 20+ Years of Service Recognition Dinner to celebrate the exceptional contributions of ten remarkable team members. This special event was held at Avenue 795, a beautiful venue in Fond du Lac, WI, where we gathered to express our gratitude for their unwavering commitment and service.

Honoring Our Loyal Team Members

The evening was filled with heartfelt speeches, delicious food, and a sense of camaraderie. We were proud to recognize the following employees for their 20+ years of dedication to Rohde Brothers, Inc.:

 

  • Scott Mulder
  • Brian Bowe
  • Jason Kicherer
  • Todd Puchalla
  • Chad Wood
  • Chad Schumacher
  • Tim Lamb
  • Ed Dickrell
  • Heath Meyer
  • Craig Lefeber
  • Mike Rohde

Each of these individuals has played a vital role in our company’s growth and success. Their expertise and commitment have helped us provide top-notch services throughout the last 20 plus years.

A Night to Remember

The event kicked off with a warm welcome from our President, Mike Rohde, who spoke light heartedly about the achievements of our honorees. The atmosphere at Avenue 795 was perfect for this momentous occasion, offering a sophisticated yet relaxed setting for the evening’s festivities.

Attendees enjoyed a gourmet dinner featuring a variety of delectable dishes, allowing everyone to indulge and celebrate the victories the team achieved.

Looking Ahead

As we reflect on the past and celebrate these incredible milestones, we also look forward to the future. At Rohde Brothers, Inc., we are committed to fostering an environment where dedication is recognized, and hard work is rewarded. We understand that our success is built on the foundation laid by our employees, and we are excited to continue this tradition of recognition for years to come.

Let’s Build Something Together

This event underscored our company’s core values of collaboration and appreciation. As we move forward, we invite all our clients and partners to join us in building a brighter, more successful future together.

Rohde Brothers, Inc. Celebrates Successful Youth Apprentice Hiring Day

Rohde Brothers, Inc. Celebrates Successful Youth Apprentice Hiring Day

Plymouth, WI, June 24, 2024 – Rohde Brothers, Inc. is thrilled to announce the successful hiring of several Youth Apprentices from our recent “Hiring Day” event. This initiative, in partnership with organizations like CESA 6 and CESA 7, underscores the commitment that Rohde Brothers, Inc. shares to provide excellent job opportunities for young individuals, allowing them to earn while they learn. This also fuels a philosophy that embeds growing from within into the culture at Rohde Brothers, Inc.

Youth Apprentices at Rohde Brothers, Inc. are high school juniors and seniors who gain hands-on experience while earning school credit and a paycheck. They are required to work a minimum of 450 hours between June and May, balancing their educational and professional responsibilities effectively.

At Rohde Brothers, Inc., we believe in investing in the future of our workforce,” said Mike Rohde, President of Rohde Brothers, Inc. “Our partnerships with local educational organizations like CESA 6 and CESA 7 enable us to provide young people with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed in the trades. We are proud to be a starting point for so many skilled tradesmen.

 

We are pleased to introduce our current Youth Apprentices:

  • Gunnar Larson, Howards Grove High School: Welding in the Shop
  • Grayson Schamberger, Plymouth High School: Controls
  • Max Trepanier, Plymouth High School: Welding GWSM
  • Gage Bimmel, Oostburg High School: Construction and Welding in the Shop
  • Zander Lulloff, Elkhart Lake High School: HVAC, Plumbing, and Welding

 

“Kaise(CESA 6) and Dana(CESA 7) have done an exceptional job mentoring these young talents,” added Claudia Krepsky, HR Manager at Rohde Brothers, Inc. “Their dedication to guiding and supporting our apprentices is a testament to our company’s commitment to nurturing future tradesmen.”

Rohde Brothers, Inc. is extremely valued among local educators as a premier place for aspiring tradesmen to begin their careers. Our dedication to hiring and training employees fosters a culture of growth and development, leading to an impressive 95% promotion-from-within rate. This approach not only benefits our employees but also strengthens our company by retaining experienced and knowledgeable professionals.

“We’re excited to welcome our new Youth Apprentices and watch them grow within our company,” added Claudia Krepsky.  “Our commitment to promoting from within creates a supportive environment where employees can advance their careers and contribute to the success of our projects.”

Rohde Brothers, Inc. specializes in Process Piping, HVAC, Metal Fabrication, Industrial Controls, and Geothermal Systems for energy savings. Our extensive engineering expertise and comprehensive project capabilities ensure that we deliver cost-effective and efficient solutions to our commercial and industrial clients.

About Rohde Brothers, Inc. Rohde Brothers, Inc. is a leading provider of process piping, HVAC, metal fabrication, industrial controls, and geothermal systems. With a strong focus on technical expertise and collaboration, we are dedicated to building lasting relationships with our clients and partners. Our extensive engineering expertise and comprehensive project capabilities ensure that we deliver cost-effective and efficient solutions to our industrial and commercial clients.

For more information, please contact: Claudia Krepsky
Title: Human Resources Manager

Email: Krepskyc@rohdebros.com

Manufacturers: Lower your Cost of Goods Sold by Generating Your Own Nitrogen!

Manufacturers: Lower your Cost of Goods Sold by Generating Your Own Nitrogen!

Nitrogen is Used for Many Purposes

Nitrogen is an inert gas that is used in many industries in many ways.  As a gas, it is often used to displace the oxygen, and other gases, present in the atmosphere.  This can prevent food from spoiling during storage or can prevent unwanted chemical reactions in reactors and ovens.  It can prevent fires and explosions in grinding operations by eliminating the oxygen necessary for combustion.  As a cryogenic liquid (-272°F), nitrogen is used to quickly freeze delicate materials such as shellfish, berries, and microbes.

Liquid Nitrogen is Expensive!Tank for holding nitrogen

Cryogenic air separation plants are large volume, energy intensive facilities that produce liquid nitrogen, oxygen, and argon.  The liquified air products are very pure (99.999%) and are stored at approximately -300°F.  These plants are generally located near large electrical infrastructure and large gas consumers such as steel foundries, chemical plants, or petroleum refineries.  The nearby large gas customers can be serviced via direct pipelines.  The remaining customers will be served by cryogenic tank truck deliveries.  All the equipment used to produce, store, and use cryogenic gases is expensive.  When you combine the capital expense with the energy and transportation costs associated with consuming liquified gases, you can see why it is not only expensive, but it leaves a large carbon footprint.

Know What Your Process Requires

With nitrogen applications ranging from inflating tires to quick freezing seafood, each one has its unique demands.  Determining the exact nitrogen requirements for your manufacturing process is the starting point.  Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Does my process require liquid or gaseous nitrogen?
  • What nitrogen purity does my process require?
  • At what pressure?
  • How much nitrogen is consumed, average and peak demand?
  • How critical is the nitrogen supply to my process, do you need system redundancy?

If you do not need cryogenic liquid for your process (e.g. freezing), there are less expensive alternatives to satisfy your nitrogen demands.

If you do not know the answers to the above questions, Rohde Brothers would be pleased to assist you.

Your Tailored Solutionon-site nitrogen generation

Just like clothing is tailored to fit you, Rohde Brothers uses the answers to the above questions to customize your nitrogen generation solution.  The Rohde engineers will determine the appropriate technology and size the equipment so that it seamlessly meets your process requirements. Most onsite nitrogen generation systems run unattended for years without issues.  With nearly no moving parts, the preventive maintenance becomes mostly filter changes. For system owners with staffing challenges, Rohde Brothers service department offers preventive maintenance programs to keep your equipment performing at its optimum.

Show Me the Money!

The air we breath is 79% nitrogen.  To generate concentrated nitrogen at your plant site, air is compressed, dried, and the oxygen is removed.  This all can be completed using 20-30% of the energy that a liquid nitrogen process consumes.   When one considers the storage, trucking, and handling of a liquid nitrogen-based supply chain, onsite nitrogen generation will result in a 90% reduction in carbon footprint for this commodity.  Bottom line, your company can generate its own gaseous nitrogen for approximately 20% of the cost of delivered liquid nitrogen.  This results in a project payback of normally less than 1.5 years.

Imagine, No More

  • Nitrogen truck traffic on site
  • Unload tickets, invoices, checks to process
  • Hazardous materials and delivery charges
  • Contracts to negotiate
  • Venting losses when not being used
  • Cryogenic freeze hazards on site
  • Tank and Equipment rentals
  • Safety risk when unloading trucks
  • Unplanned downtime from missed deliveries

Ready to talk more? Contact Craig Bahr and start a conversation around saving your company money today!

Craig Bahr

bahrc@rohdebros.com

920-449-5733

 

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Rohde Brothers, Inc. Announces Expansion with New 11,000 Square Foot Expansion, Includes 40-Ton Crane Capabilities

Rohde Brothers, Inc. Announces Expansion with New 11,000 Square Foot Expansion, Includes 40-Ton Crane Capabilities

PLYMOUTH, WI, UNITED STATES, May 6, 2024   — ** Highlights **

Expanded Fabrication Shop: New 11,000 sq foot facility to enhance production capabilities. Increasing the total shop space to 37,000 Sq ft.

Advanced Lifting Power: Introduction of 40-ton lift capacity with four (4) hooks for increased fabrication and loading capabilities.

Industry-Leading Innovation: Rohde Brothers continues to set benchmarks in the metal fabrication industry.

Rohde Brothers, Inc., a leader in mechanical contracting, is excited to unveil a comprehensive expansion of their fabrication shop, now boasting a state-of-the-art 11,000 square foot addition. This strategic enhancement not only augments the company’s production capacity with advanced 40-ton cranes but also pioneers’ sustainability with the integration of a cutting-edge geothermal heating and cooling system. This horizontal system field type is poised to revolutionize energy efficiency at the site, potentially reducing heating and cooling costs by up to 40%. The new facility also boasts an equipment test cell, a dedicated stainless steel fabrication area complete with laser welding capability which is known to produce superior welds that improve corrosion resistance in harsh environments, and full LED high bay lighting for superior visibility.

Innovative Energy Solutions for Sustainable Operations

At the heart of this expansion is Rohde Brothers’ commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency. The newly installed geothermal system leverages the stable temperatures beneath the Earth’s surface, providing an eco-friendly solution for heating and cooling the expanded facility. This initiative underscores the company’s dedication to innovative energy use and operational efficiency, setting a new standard for industrial facilities.

Furthermore, the expansion includes an advanced snow melt system, seamlessly integrated with the geothermal heating to ensure safety and operational continuity during winter months. This system significantly mitigates the impact of snow and ice on the parking area adjacent to the new shop, reducing the use of salt and snow plowing which reduces CO2 emissions. An ice bank system was installed to enhance energy efficiency for cooling the new shop expansion as well.

A Transformative Phase for Industrial Fabrication with Enhanced Sustainability

With this expansion, Rohde Brothers’ facility now encompasses 37,000 square feet of space, marking a significant leap in industrial fabrication capabilities. The addition is designed not only to accommodate larger and more complex projects but also to do so in an environmentally responsible manner.

Key Enhancements of the Expansion:

• Expanded Capacity with Sustainable Design: The 11,000 square foot addition offers increased space for large-scale projects, incorporating a geothermal system for sustainable heating and cooling.

• Enhanced Lifting Power and Energy Efficiency: The facility’s new cranes improve load handling.

• The geothermal system and snow melt system introduce groundbreaking energy efficiency and safety features.

• State-of-the-Art Infrastructure for Superior Production and Environmental Stewardship: The modernized setup ensures top-tier production quality, rapid turnaround times, and reduced environmental impact.

“Our latest expansion is a testament to Rohde Brothers’ innovation, not just in scaling our operations but in leading the way towards a more sustainable and efficient future by utilizing geothermal as a heat storage device.” said Mike Rohde, President of Rohde Brothers, Inc. “By integrating a geothermal system, ice bank, and a snow melt system, we’re setting new benchmarks for environmental responsibility in the industrial sector.”

Redefining Industrial Capabilities with a Commitment to Sustainability

This holistic expansion reflects Rohde Brothers’ dedication to excellence, innovation, and sustainability. The new facility, crane capabilities, and energy-efficient systems collectively redefine what is possible in the realm of industrial fabrication, offering clients unparalleled service while minimizing environmental impact.

Special Thanks

Rohde Brothers, Inc. would also like to thank its partners in this construction project, A.C.E. Building Services, KW Electric, and Excel Engineering for their help in planning and construction of the new space.

Discover how Rohde Brothers’ forward-thinking expansion can benefit your projects. For more information, visit Rohdebros.com or contact Craig Bahr at (920)893-5905.

Optimizing HVAC System Performance: Advanced Strategies for 2024

Optimizing HVAC System Performance: Advanced Strategies for 2024

As we step into 2024, the HVAC industry continues to evolve with technological advancements and a growing focus on efficiency and sustainability. Updates to state and municipal codes require increasingly efficient systems to protect the environment and the health of occupants. For engineers and facility managers, staying ahead means adapting to these changes and implementing state-of-the-art strategies to optimize HVAC system performance. This article dives into the latest techniques and technologies that are shaping the future of HVAC systems in commercial and industrial settings.

Advanced Control Systems:Industrial Controls

The heart of modern HVAC efficiency lies in advanced control systems. These systems employ real-time data analytics and machine learning algorithms to continuously monitor and adjust settings for optimal performance. For example, smart thermostats and Building Automation Systems (BAS) can now predict occupancy patterns, adjust temperatures based on real-time weather data, and identify areas to optimize. Occupancy sensors and carbon dioxide sensors enable the BAS to optimize for comfort and efficiency.

Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs):Variable Frequency Drives

VFDs have become the standard in energy conservation. By controlling thespeed of motor-driven equipment based on demand, VFDs significantly reduce energy consumption. In 2024, the integration of VFDs with BAS for real-time adjustments based on occupancy and usage patterns is a game changer, offering potential energy savings of up to 30-40% in systems like air handlers, chillers, and water pumps.

High-Efficiency HVAC Equipment:

The shift towards high-efficiency HVAC equipment is more pronounced than ever. The international mechanical code and international energy code require energy efficiency improvements. The latest models of chillers, condensers, and heat pumps come with higher Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratios (SEER), Energy Efficiency Ratios (EER), and Coefficient of Performance (COP) values. For instance, modern chillers incorporate magnetic bearing technology, permanent magnet motors, and variable speed compressors, reducing energy consumption and maintenance needs.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management:

IAQ has taken center stage, especially in the wake of global health concerns. Advanced HVAC systems now integrate IAQ sensors that monitor and control air quality parameters like CO2 levels, humidity, and airborne pollutants. Regular maintenance of air filters, ducts, and employing, ionization and UV-C light technology for air purification are key strategies in maintaining optimal IAQ.

Geothermal Heat Pump Systems:Geothermal Heat Pumps

The use of geothermal heat pump systems is on the rise, leveraging the stable temperatures of the earth to provide heating and cooling. These systems offer significant energy savings and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional HVAC systems. The high upfront costs are typically more than offset by rebates, tax credits available through state and federal programs, and other incentives. This makes using these energy efficient systems much more attractive. Other green refrigerants are also considered regularly due to their unique advantages and cost savings.

Retrofitting and Upgrading:

For many facilities, completely overhauling the HVAC system is not feasible. Thus, retrofitting becomes a vital strategy. In 2024, consider retrofitting options such as adding Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and upgrading to smart thermostats or full building automation systems when it is time for replacements or upgrades. Replacing outdated components with high-efficiency alternatives provide a cost-effective way to enhance efficiency and air quality.

Conclusion:

The year 2024 presents exciting opportunities for optimizing HVAC systems in commercial and industrial environments. By embracing advanced control systems, VFDs, high-efficiency equipment, robust IAQ management, innovative geothermal solutions, and strategic retrofitting, engineers and maintenance directors can significantly improve system performance, reduce energy costs, and contribute to a more sustainable future. At Rohde Brothers, Inc., we are committed to providing innovative solutions and expertise to help you achieve these goals.

Choose Rohde Brothers, Inc. for HVAC Excellence

With Rohde Brothers, Inc., you’re choosing a partner committed to innovative, efficient, and sustainable HVAC solutions.

Contact us today to discuss how we can elevate your HVAC systems, reduce your energy footprint, and ensure optimal performance for years to come.