When a large state university began experiencing major problems with its airflow monitoring systems, it turned to Coward Environmental Systems, Inc. (CESI) for a solution. The university, which operates hundreds of air handling units across campus, had previously standardized its airflow monitoring on a single manufacturer. At the time, this decision was meant to streamline maintenance, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.
Unfortunately, the results fell far short of expectations.
“Over time, the maintenance and engineering team started noticing complete misreads in the airflow monitoring,” says Bryan McManus, Sales Engineer at CESI. “They were frustrated. They had invested significant time and money into standardizing on this one system, but the accuracy simply wasn’t there. And in their critical spaces, like labs and cleanrooms, that kind of inaccuracy just isn’t acceptable.”
Finding a Better Solution
When the university approached CESI for help, McManus knew the right fit: NJK Precision. Known for its accuracy, streamlined design, and reduced maintenance requirements, NJK offered an upgrade from the university’s existing systems.
“We worked closely with the facilities engineers and provided them with one NJK Precision airflow monitoring unit as a trial,” McManus explains. “That system was installed in June, and from the start it performed extremely well.”
The results were immediate. Testing confirmed that NJK’s equipment delivered accurate readings, even under demanding conditions. CESI and NJK provided full support during installation and calibration.
“I was on-site no less than four times during setup,” McManus notes. “And NJK’s team was fantastic. They were remoting in from the factory, helping us calibrate everything, and making sure the system worked seamlessly with the university’s existing controls. The performance has been outstanding.”
Simplifying Installation and Maintenance
Beyond accuracy, the university’s facilities team was impressed by how easy the NJK Precision system was to install and maintain compared to the older units.
“One of the big takeaways for the university was that NJK’s design uses far fewer components,” says McManus. “That translates to fewer parts to stock, less that can go wrong, and a much quicker installation. Their team told us they had the system installed in just two hours with only two people. That’s a huge savings in manpower compared to traditional airflow monitoring systems.”
The simplicity of the design also means lower long-term maintenance demands, something the university’s engineers greatly value, given the sheer number of air handling units on campus.
Looking Ahead
While the university hasn’t yet committed to a full standardization on NJK Precision, the success of the trial unit has made an impression. CESI has already been asked to provide more NJK systems for problem units across campus.
“The feedback has been very positive,” McManus adds. “Accuracy, ease of installation, fewer components, and excellent support: that’s exactly what the university was looking for. It’s clear that NJK Precision is going to play a bigger role in their facilities moving forward.”
For CESI, the project reflects the company’s ongoing mission: providing clients with innovative solutions that solve real-world challenges in airflow management.
“At the end of the day,” McManus concludes, “our job is to make sure facilities teams have systems they can rely on. NJK Precision is proving to be that system for this university.”
For more information about NJK Precision air flow monitoring systems, contact CESI today.
