About tekWorx, LLC.

Control Engineering for Chiller and Boiler Plant Energy Optimization

tekWorx combines 75 years of chiller and boiler plant expertise with state-of the-art industrial automation technology to improve your plant's operation. We can work independently or with your preferred suppliers (see below) to give you the best overall plant performance.

A typical central plant improvement project usually goes through these three phases:

First, we asses the entire plant: equipment, hydronic design, controls and procedures.
Next, we develop a cost benefit analysis that includes a complete scope of changes for effective operation along with their attendant cost and expected energy savings.
Finally, we design and install an industrial PLC-based adaptive control system to take full advantage of the recommended changes and continuously optimizes plant operation.

Check out some examples where we have helped to improve operation and reduce cost.

Pittsburgh Convention Center (above)
CIBA Pharmaceutical Plant
Performance Contract: Dekalb County Jail
R&D Supercomputer Center
District Chilled Water System
US Post Office Bulk Mail Facility

How does tekWorx complement your traditional partners?

Consulting engineers provide detailed central plant mechanical designs, but their control specs involve make-it-work sequences rather than plant level energy optimization. tekWorx supports consultants with system level mechanical and hydronic direction as well as sequences to minimize total plant kW/ton.

BAS suppliers such as Siemens, Johnson, etc., offer general purpose systems to control all aspects of a facility. As such, they can't be experts at everything. and that's why tekWorx counts the major BAS suppliers among its customers. Our central plant expertise is implemented on powerful industrial PLC hardware using adaptive control techniques to continuously minimize total plant energy per unit of heating/cooling. And, our experience with the BAS companies has enabled us to develop proven seamless data exchange mechanisms for virtually any system. We can even put everything on the web for easy remote viewing !

TCCs are in business to provide local service and installation of a BAS supplier's standard equipment and software, rather than specialized control programming. That's why tekWorx partners with your local TCC for installation and wiring. We commission the system together, train the TCC for first-line support, and back them up as required.

Meet the tekWorx Team

tekWreps: Our nationwide team of professional sales engineers are ready to help you evaluate your system and configure a solution for your specific needs. Contact us for the tekWrep nearest you.

tekWorx' management team includes seasoned professionals from the industrial control and HVAC industries. Our collective experience in hundreds of industrial automation and central energy plant control applications gives us the unique ability to optimize your specific plant. Feel free to contact any of the team members below to discuss your project.

Larry Tillack is tekWorx' control technology chief. He has extensive experience in control system design and communication / networking development. He was formerly responsible for R&D at a packaged system supplier, where he developed a digital HVAC system control platform and the supporting design tools. Larry holds a BS in Electrical Engineering Technologies from the University of Cincinnati.
Burt Rishel is responsible for mechanical and hydronic analysis. An ASHRAE Life member and Fellow, Burt is the author of The HVAC Pump Handbook as well as numerous articles on hydronic system design and analysis. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nebraska.
Mike Flaherty is tekWorx' managing partner. Prior to founding tekWorx, he worked in the industrial automation field, and was most recently general manager of Parker-Hannifin's international automation business. His product experience includes computer control and software technology for production and process machinery. Mike holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University.