1970: In this issue, we wrote that industrial air conditioning was becoming a potential $4 billion market. Manufacturers were looking at air conditioning as less of a fringe benefit and more of a way to meet the competition for hiring and keeping skilled workers.
“The great thing about this market is that it's barely been scratched,” said Bob Rhodes, vice president, sales and marketing, Mammoth Industries, Inc.
“Only 7% of all existing plants are air conditioned, and only 15% of new plants go in with air conditioning.”
Senior editor Sam Milnark wrote that productivity gains attributed to air conditioning in a factory at a 110-employee plant totaled 6,930 hours saved during air conditioning season.