Tools of the Trade

Each month, Contracting Business picks a leading contractor and takes a look at the products, tools, and services that he or she has chosen to help make their company successful.

Advantage Refrigeration,New Berlin,WI

Advantage Refrigeration, New Berlin, WI, specializes in commercial and industrial refrigeration design, engineering, construction, and service. It provides its services throughout the Midwest, and employs about 45 technicians out of three offices, in New Berlin, Fond du Lac, and Marshfield, WI. Each branch provides engineering, technical, and dispatching support. Advantage services and installs standard refrigeration systems, but has also developed high-level designs since its founding. Its own design and production facilities, and inventory of pre-owned equipment bring added value. Advantage Refrigeration is a licensed Hill PHOENIX dealer in the state of Wisconsin.

Company CEO, Russ Dudan (pictured above) has been leading Advantage Refrigeration since March, 2011. In September, 2011, Russ Dudan served as a panelist in the Contracting Business.com Second Annual Refrigeration Roundtable (see http://bit.ly/cbrefroundtable).

IN THE TRUCKS

• Type of trucks/vans: GMC Savanna; Chevy Express one-ton vans.
• Tools provided: Cordless drill, Sawzall, corded hammer drill, cordless impact driver.
• Preferred tools and test instruments technicians carry: Fluke meters, HD-10 leak detector, Sling psychrometer.
• Inventory on trucks/vans: $10,000 to $15,000 in refrigeration/HVAC parts.
• Preferred field communications method: Cell phones.
• Preferred ladders: Werner.

IN THE OFFICE

• Preferred business management software: Computer Ease.
• Preferred sales management software: Sales Achiever.
• Preferred load calculation software: Vendor provided; varies depending on application.
• Preferred computer/printer equipment: HP.
• Preferred photocopier equipment: Toshiba business centers, with scanning/email capability.
• Fax machines: Toshiba, integrated into business center.
• Business connection to the Internet via: One Communications (Earthlink Business).
• Preferred uniform supplier: Cintas.
• Credit Cards Accepted: Visa, MasterCard, American Express.

IN THE SHOP

• Preferred heating equipment brands: Trane.
• Preferred cooling equipment brands: Trane.
• Preferred accessory brands: Aprilaire.
• Preferred Indoor Air Quality equipment: Aprilaire.
• Preferred distributors: GA Larson, Temperature Systems, Design Air, Auer Steel.