Navien opens Irvine innovation center, upgrades New Jersey training academy
(Photo courtesy of Navien Inc.)
Navien Inc., a maker of gas tankless water heaters and condensing wall-hung boilers, opened an Innovation Center & Training Academy in Irvine, California, on Oct. 9, combining product development, engineering, testing, quality support and hands-on training at one location. The opening followed an Oct. 6 grand opening for the company’s upgraded training academy in Moorestown, New Jersey.
The Irvine event drew Navien representatives, contractors, distributors, customers, industry partners and company leaders from North America and the company’s global headquarters in Korea.
Navien says the Innovation Center will serve as a hub for North American product development, engineering, testing and quality response, allowing the company to evaluate products under North American field conditions and work more closely with its research and development teams in Korea. Activities will include product performance evaluation, field testing, engineering analysis of customer and field quality issues, product and component improvements, certification and compliance work, and evaluation of new technologies. The company says it also plans to collaborate with industry partners, utilities, academic institutions and research organizations.
“The Innovation Center & Training Academy represents much more than an expansion of our facilities,” says TH Kim, CEO of Navien. “It is a long-term investment in North America and in the people who help us understand the market, deliver our products and serve customers every day.”
“North America is a diverse and demanding market, and understanding the needs of our customers requires us to be close to the field,” says Darren Sheehan, COO of Navien.
Navien says the Irvine Training Academy has more training space than its existing Irvine facility, with dedicated classrooms and labs where participants can combine instruction with product demonstrations, installation practice, inspection, diagnostics and troubleshooting. The company says that because training and engineering share a location, questions raised in training can inform engineering and quality work, while product improvements can be added to future courses.
In New Jersey, the upgraded academy includes two expanded classrooms and a hands-on training area featuring Navien products across plumbing, HVAC and water treatment. Training will include installation, commissioning, operation, diagnostics and troubleshooting exercises meant to reflect job-site conditions. Navien will begin holding public classes there Oct. 20.
The New Jersey academy is open to HVAC and plumbing contractors, installers and service technicians, distributor and wholesaler representatives, sales representatives and other industry professionals who carry or are interested in carrying Navien products. Navien also offers customized programs for distribution partners, contractor groups and strategic partners, and invited participants can attend dedicated sessions.
“The New Jersey Training Academy brings our training resources closer to our East Coast customers and partners while strengthening our ability to provide the hands-on knowledge and support they need in the field,” says Matt Curro, director of training at Navien. The company says it also intends the academy to become a regional hub where professionals can exchange field experience, discuss market developments and work with Navien technical teams.
More information about courses, schedules and registration is available at navieninc.com.
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