AUSTRALIA: Ron Conry, the inventor of the oil-less Turbocor compressor, has been awarded the Member of the Order of Australia medal for his contributions to HVAC.

World recognised, awarded, and acclaimed inventor and innovator and a serial entrepreneur, Conry  has been in the industry for 56 years, starting out with as an apprentice refrigeration engineer.

He is responsible for inventing and delivering several game changing technologies into the global HVAC market, but probably his greatest achievement has been the oil-free, magnetic bearing, centrifugal Turbocor compressor. 

The world’s first such compressor for the HVAC industry, the Turbocor delivers high efficiency, low sound levels and zero performance degradation over the life of the compressor – all in a compact footprint. Permanent magnet motors and variable speed drives provide unmatched full and part load efficiency.

Its suitability for air cooled, water cooled or evaporative cooled chillers operating in wide range of applications, such as comfort cooling, low temperature process, ice storage and heat recovery, has resulted in over 70,000 compressors installed around the world.

Established in 1975, the Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It is the latest in a slew of global honours bestowed on Ron Conry. These have included the 2009 James Harrison Award from the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air conditioning and Heating; the UK Institute of Refrigeration’s J&E Hall Gold Medal in 2007; the Frost & Sullivan Technology Leadership Award 2006; Energy Innovation Award from Natural Resource Canada in 2005; US EPA Climate Protection Award 2004; Energy Innovation Award 2003 from ASHRAE AHR.