RICHARD LAUER
building equipment mechanic, U.S. Postal Service

Richard Lauer is an unsung hero at the USPS in Orlando, Fla.  So, we’ll let maintenance manager Patrick Fox sing his praises:

“In 1991, the Postal Service decided they’d no longer support the General Monitoring System computer deployed as a national HVAC control system in the 1980s.  This system was installed on our Honeywell HVAC pneumatic controls.  A new Solidyne Controls system was recommended.

“Rich Lauer assumed a leadership role on this project.  After ordering the supplies, equipment, software and hardware, he installed an 18-conductor network around the facility to tie the air handlers together.

“Then, he placed new control boxes and direct digital controllers, modulating EP outputs and motor contactor relays.  He also installed the sensors on each air-handling unit (return air, mixed air, supply air and differential pressure switches).

“While Solidyne wrote the system’s initial program to bring it online, Rich maintained and added to it.  He incorporated graphics to depict air handler functions and expanded it to monitor the compressed air system.  As his familiarity with the system grew, he networked HVAC package air conditioning units around the facility.

“Then in 1996, the USPS decided to replace its Trane R-11 centravacs with McQuay 134a chillers.  The installers found the Solidyne system couldn’t control the new chillers and put in Kreuter Manufacturing Company controls.  Since the Solidyne system wasn’t supported or updated regularly, Rich proposed switching our air handlers to the KMC system.  To do this, he installed a LAN network to the air handlers.

“KMC installed the controls for the first air handler and wrote the programming.  Rich added the input and output controls and associated hardware to make the HVAC control system complete, uniform and operational.  Additionally, he designed and implemented graphics on the new system.  Not only did he install and program the system, he priced it, ordered the hardware and coordinated all activities with the vendor.”

This postal worker gets the MRO Today stamp of approval.

This article appeared in the December 2000/January 2001 issue of MRO Today magazine.

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