Global reach, single focus

The Smardt team shares more than 25 years' experience working with power electronics, magnetic bearings and oil-free centrifugal chillers.

Pioneer and world leader in high-efficiency oil-free chillers

Smardt’s founder Roger Richmond-Smith and his technical partner Ron Conry started Turbocor oil-free compressor development in 1993 in Melbourne, Australia. Their team moved to Montreal, Canada, in 2000 to complete this breakthrough technology’s development and its 2003 commercial launch. Turbocor partnered with Danfoss in 2004 when Roger retired to academia in Paris. In 2005, he partnered with the U.K.’s Direct Energy to start Smardt as the world’s first chiller company dedicated solely to high-efficiency lowest-lifetime-cost oil-free centrifugals.

Today, Smardt’s pioneering commitment since 2005 has already dramatically cut global chiller energy consumption and owner operating costs with over 10,000 Smardt chillers now operating. This decarbonization and innovation campaign continues into the long term.

Company History

RED-Rochester — 2020
Vince Canino (ex Trane and GE, Smardt COO since 2014) becomes CEO. Ashraf Abdalla (ex Johnson Controls/York) joins as COO. Roger remains as chairman. New developments continue in heat exchangers (e.g. falling film evaporators, new air-cooled condensers); oil-free compressors (e.g. Turbocor’s VTX and R1233zd low-pressure technologies); system integration (e.g. D.C. microgrids, solar, thermal storage, heat pumps, district heating and cooling) and CPECS chilled water system optimization. Please stay tuned.

Management Team

Roger founded Smardt in 2005 and quickly grew the business into the world leader in high-efficiency oil-free chillers. Roger founded Turbocor, Inc. in 1993 with technical partner Ron Conry and as CEO, moved the business from Melbourne, Australia to Montreal in 2000. After the technology’s launch in 2003 and the business’s joint venture with Danfoss in 2004, Roger retired to academia in Paris.

Roger was founding CEO of the Multistack International business from 1988 to 1997, after serving as founding CEO of the global Disctronics optical media group (1984-1988) and a long career in market research, marketing and new product development in major advertising agency groups (Ogilvy, Masius, Saatchi).

Roger’s MIT master’s thesis is on mathematical modelling. His work at Harvard Law was specialist international. His Ph.D. is incomplete.

Lucie has served as Smardt Group Chief Financial Officer since 2009.
She plays an essential role in providing leadership, direction and management to each business units’ finance and accounting teams Lucie has over 30 years of solid professional experience working for both private and public companies.

Previously Lucie was CFO of Cogan Wire & Metal Products, and Group CFO of aerospace manufacturer, Sonaca N.M.F. Lucie has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management Accounting (B.B.A.) from Quebec

Vince joined the Smardt Group in 2014 as COO and became CEO in 2020. Vince empowers the global Smardt team by upholding end-to-end management and cohesion of OEM, controls, service and operational infrastructures in all markets and countries. Vince has over 30 years of experience in energy services and management and has held multiple leadership positions at Trane and General Electric Co.

Vince graduated as cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the State University of New York and as summa cum laude with a master’s degree in Engineering Mechanics from the Pennsylvania State University.

Greg joined Smardt as Group CTO in 2013 and leads both production and research and development engineering teams ensuring the implementation and continued development of Smardt’s water-cooled, air-cooled, adiabatic, and condenserless oil-free chiller suite. Previously Greg was Director of Operations at Daikin Mcquay in Staunton, Virginia where he worked for 29 years. Greg has an M.B.A. from James Madison University and a Bachelor of Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Ashraf joined the Smardt Group in 2020 as Chief Operating Officer, COO and oversees the company’s global business operations across all functions & regions, as well as ensures the company has effective operational procedures and strategic vision.

Ash has over 30 years of experience in the HVAC & R industry in global leadership positions having worked and lived in Europe, North America, and Asia, including leadership positions in operations, commercial, product management, technology, and manufacturing at Johnson Controls, York International, Sauter Automation and Hussmann Refrigeration.

Peter was appointed Smardt Engineering Manager, Asia Pacific in 2014. In addition to his management and oversight of all aspects of Smardt’s engineering operations in the APAC region, Peter is also a key director to the Group’s global research and development programs. Previously Peter held technical engineering director roles at THERMEX Solutions and Aqua Cooler. Peter has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sydney and a master’s degree in Engineering Science from the University of New South Wales.