Bruno Nicolas, vice president and general manager building efficiency of Johnson Controls, welcomed guests to a customer event with the theme ‘Maximise profits through operational improvement’ which officially launched Johnson Controls Customer & Learning Centre in Aarhus, Denmark, recently.

Besides sharing a few highlights on the multi-industrial activities of Johnson Controls, Nicolas explained the latest strategy developments for Building Efficiency such as the global air conditioning joint venture with Hitachi that will sustain the growth of Building Efficiency activities within Johnson Controls in the coming years.

Nicolas took the opportunity to share a vision: making facilities smarter and more efficient today takes innovation and leadership. This means talking and interacting constantly with customers about their changing needs and requirements.

'Our added value is the contribution to lower the pressure on costs, to increase reliability, productivity, efficiency and safety, while providing a sustainable solution.
The product is the means, not the end. We complete our know-how with know-why from our customers to provide added value all along the lifecycle', stated
Nicolas.

One of the ways to achieve this is through customer and learning centres that showcase the latest innovations in building energy and operational efficiency
technology and service. They provide customers with a chance to learn and interact with the newest innovations and they give Johnson Controls an opportunity to get valuable feedback. A winning combination that leads to knowledge sharing and ultimately even more technology advancement.

Customers were invited to attend several workshops on different topics:
Maurizio Giuliani and Jean-Jacques Lebatard, both segment directors, delivered a break-out session on Johnson Controls' new and innovative solutions for industry processes to build sustainable plant performance.
Johnson Controls Director for Government & Trade Relations Europe, Iliana Axiotiades, shared her knowledge about economic incentives for energy efficiency investments.
Cillian O'Donoghue, Consultant for Fleishman-Hilliard and specialist in F-gas regulations, addressed the latest EU legislation changes.
Ivo Eiermann, product manager for Absorption Chillers at Johnson Controls discussed Waste Heat Recovery Solutions

Guests were treated to a guided tour of the Sabroe factory, lead by Klaus Damgaard Kristensen, operations director.

‘Natural refrigerants’ was one of the main topics of the event. In a case study format presented by The Lego Group's senior manager environmental sustainability, Rasmus Nedergaard, guests were given a glimpse of the benefits of water as a refrigerant.

Johnson Controls developed a prototype of a water vapour cooling plant for The Lego Group in Denmark. This technology can be applied in all processes above 0°C, for instance in air conditioning or for the cooling of industrial processes in breweries, diaries and others, where it offers important environmental benefits. It is not polluting and has no global warming effects.

'It is tremendously important that suppliers such as Johnson Controls continue to push innovation so they can meet our agenda for energy efficiency, and this is a challenge that Johnson Controls is taking on,' Nicolas concluded.