Trane Bullish on Oxbox

Davenport said the goal was to offer HVAC contractors a value-centric product.

“We launched Oxbox in 2019 as an opportunity for Trane Technologies to pursue more of the value market. We have strong distribution partners for our premium Trane and American Standard brands, yet we know that much of the market is served by other types of distribution. Therefore, we launched Oxbox in an effort to create a new distribution channel, that targets a value distribution model and value contractor audience,” Davenport said.

To produce the units, Trane relies on a variety of global sourced manufacturers that it endorses along with the Oxbox name, as well as the Trane Technologies endorsement.

Oxbox is available as a gas furnace, an air handling platform, indoor coils and

packaged gas pack units and heat pumps.

Davenport said feedback has been positive for the quality and durability of Oxbox.

“Oxbox aesthetics are great, and the simplicity of our warranty has resonated with our audience. When it comes to the value space, we know there can be lot of complications in the industry related to product registrations, and we’ve eliminated that with Oxbox. Our warranty is on the home, not the homeowner, for the duration of the warranty. Contractors don’t have to take on the burden of the registration, which many do for those homeowners,” Davenport explained.

Oxbox is being offered at a lower price point, however not rock bottom, because there is, Davenport believes, a value to be found in the Trane endorsement, in the warranty and in the simplicity; and the ‘affordable quality’ message has resonated with our distribution channel,” Davenport shared.

Oxbox distribution originated in the Southeastern U.S, but is now available across North America, in brick-and-mortar locations and a variety of online platforms.

Brand enhancements beyond the occasional, mandated standard changes could

be around the bend at some point in the future, but market, contractor and customer service are the primary tasks at hand.“We first wanted to have a product portfolio that served a majority of the replacement market, which represents 80 percent of the market today. But that is not where we will be limited. We will continue to listen to the channel and to our customers and understand what the needs are and remain focused on serving that value segment of the industry. We’ll prepare for refrigerant and efficiency

changes, and continue to introduce new products as needed to serve our channel,” Davenport said.