UPDATE: Ultima 40 Ton

48 Years Of Excellence

The Birdwell Company was established in 1959 as an air conditioning installation and service contractor. In our early years, at the request of several major chemical and refining companies, we modified residential and commercial type equipment to meet their requirements for special applications, such as explosion proofing for hazardous locations and coatings to protect the coils and metal cases from corrosive salts and gases. 

Although these changes met the requirements of The National Electrical Code for use in classified areas and the coatings did extend the serviceable life of the equipment somewhat, we were still working with light duty units with thin gauge sheet metal parts that were not designed for the applications.

When the oil embargo of 1973 began, it created an increased demand for heavy duty industrial type equipment for the offshore drilling and producing platforms. The Birdwell environmental control units were primarily designed for this market, and after many years of use in these harsh conditions, the rugged corrosion resistance, safety and reliability of the systems have proven far superior to the units that were designed for residential and commercial use. 

Since that time, The Birdwell Company has provided units for use by all of the major oil, chemical, and refining companies world-wide. In addition, we have designed and manufactured systems for the U.S. Air Force for use in climatic conditions ranging from minus 40°F. To plus 130°F., the U.S. Navy and others for seagoing vessel use, the U.S. Army for field use, paper and pulp mills, switch gear buildings, steel mills, computer rooms and numerous other applications. 

The fundamental guidelines used in designing the systems were unrestricted serviceability and ease of installation. Factors of equal importance were reliability, safety and resistance to corrosion. As a result of this design criterion and the Birdwell Company's close attention to detail, our customers believe these systems to be the finest available for the intended markets.

Birdwell units are industrial grade and of all welded and bolted construction. All cabinets and other sheet metal parts are constructed of not less than 16 gauge stainless steel as standard. All access doors are double wall and the BAR models have 11 gauge steel base pans. Parts that are most subject to corrosion such as drain pans and exterior grilles are also furnished in stainless steel as standard.

Galvanized paint grip steel cabinets are optionally available. Optional coil coatings may be Themoguard or five coat phenolic material with each coat baked in our special oven to temperatures up to 425 F. 

Most Birdwell units are third party certified by an OSHA accredited Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) for several explosion proof configurations. The Birdwell Company has the first Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. Listed explosion proof air conditioning unit. For a complete list of features and options, write or call for the applicable brochures.