Ahmedabad based Amtrex Appliances & Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo Japan today jointly announced a new strategic alliance for the Indian Room Airconditioning market. The announcement of the new strategic alliance between the two long standing partners, Amtrex, the third largest air conditioning company in India and the global electrical & electronics giant Hitachi was a so accompanied by the launch of two new AC models. The two new models launched today have been especially designed for India by Hitachi at its R&D facilities in Japan and will carry the new brand name of Amtrex-Hitachi. The new brand identity named after both the alliance partners will be used for all the new products using latest technology from Hitachi. Hitachi Ltd., headquarted in Tokyo, Japan is one of the world's leading global companies, with consolidated sales of JPY 8,523 billion (US$ 68.7 billion at an exchange rate of JPY 124 to the US$) at the end of March 1997. and markets a wide range of products, including

computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial equipments. The Refrigeration & Air Conditioning (RAC) Division of Hitachi, founded in 1944 developed the first room airconditioner in Japan in 1952. Today, the RAC division is a leading player in the global air conditioner market. Its Asian manufacturing facilities located in Japan, Malaysia, China, Taiwan & Thailand, produce about two million room air conditioners annually, about six times the size of the total Indian market. Amtrex Appliances, a part of the well known Ahmedabad based Lalbhai group, was founded in 1984, and has been the fastest growing AC company in the post liberationToday, with an all India presence and a market share of 16%, Amtrex is the third largest player in the Room Air Conditioner market. concluded financial year on 31st March 1998, Amtrex is estimated to have registered a total turnover of Rs. 1, 180 million with a volume growth of more than 20% in

room air conditioner segment. The new strategic alliance between Hitachi and Amtrex will include : The new models now launched are the first in the new series of Amtrex-Hitachi. These are the latest air conditioners in their class developed by Hitachi anywhere in the world and incorporate the best in technology as well as human interface. The new Window AC, currently available in the capacity of 1.5 Ton incorporates the following: The new Split AC, currently available in the capacity of 1.5 Ton incorporates the following: The two models now launched are a result of the joint development efforts of Hitachi and Amtrex over the last one year. A host of other new models are in various stages of development, out of which another Eight new models are slated for market launch during 1998. These will include new Window, Split & Multi Split models in various capacities. It is planned to continue the thrust of technology and product upgradation at least for the

next 3-4 years with a host of new product launches to coincide with every summer season. The new Amtrex-Hitachi models are initially available in all metros through Amtrex's 400 dealer strong sales &The products are priced very competitivly in relation to compare models in India. Future of the New Alliance With these latest offerings, coupled with the continuous onslaught of new products that will stretch well into thejunior's auto repair reno nv new millennium, Amtrex & Hitachi are confident ofair conditioning units at argos significantly improving the current market share. portable air conditioning units for sale in trinidadThese new models will help the new strategic alliance face the future competition in the Indian market.

For further information, please contact: Ms. Devdatta Mulchandani/Mr.Vikram Patel/Ms.Amrit Borkakoty Horizons Public Relations (New Delhi, India) Ph. 6185893/ 6185951/6185892 Fax 6196522 A crankcase heater is an electrical component in a compressor in an air-conditioning system, heat pump system, or chiller system. The crankcase heater is normally on all the time, even when the unit is not running, though temperature sensors and set points may turn it off when not needed. A crankcase heater's sole purpose is to prevent refrigerant migration and mixing with crankcase oil when the unit is off, and to prevent condensation of refrigerant in the crankcase of a compressor. The crankcase heater keeps refrigerant at a temperature higher than the coldest part of the system. A crankcase heater generally has the same electrical symbol as a resistor because it converts electricity directly into heat via electrical resistance. The resistance in the heater coil determines the heat it produces when voltage is applied.

Some air conditioning equipment manufacturers install crankcase heaters either in the compressor (insertion type), or mount them externally around the base of the compressor (bellyband type). The two wires of the heater are wired directly to the input side of the contact from the main power supply, and power is always supplied to the heater. Caution should be used since the heater can become very hot and cause second degree burns as well as cause electrical danger due to live circuits. Most manufacturers of air conditioning require that the heater be energized for 24 hours before system start-up. The compressor must have crankcase heat before start-up or damage occurs to the compressor.[2] The crankcase pressure of the compressor always drops when the compressor starts to turn. While the system is running, there is enough heat being generated by the compressor running to prevent refrigerant migration from occurring. Refrigerant vapor always migrates to the coldest part of the system (the compressor).

The refrigerant migrates to the compressor crankcase where it is attracted to the compressor oil. This refrigerant vapor condenses and returns to a liquid in the off cycle. On the next start of the compressor, the oil is in a watery state and washes the bearings out, which leads to locked-up, frozen or totally burnt-out compressors.[4] The temperature is sensed at the compressor, indoor coil, and outdoors. The sensed temperatures are compared and if the compressor temperature is not a specified amount higher than the lower of the other two sensed temperatures, then the crankcase heater is energized. When the compressor temperature rises to or is a specified amount above the lower of the other two temperatures, the crankcase heater is de-energized. Crankcase heat is common in air conditioning (cooling) systems where R-22 has been used for many years. The home owner often shuts off the disconnect to the outdoor condensing unit for the winter, leaving the compressor without crankcase heat.