Dometic Turbo
Dometic Turbo Marine AC Unit
MARINE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT
Since 2006 Dometic Environmental has partnered with SPARK for specialized product development, starting with revamping their existing marine air-conditioning unit. The results have been continued market share domination for Dometic and multiple International Boatbuilders’ Exhibition (IBEX) Innovation Awards for their line of marine AC units.
The Turbo Marine AC unit is just one example of Dometic’s nearly 20-year partnership with SPARK, which spans a wide range of products and projects.
“It’s one of the most successful projects in my 41-year engineering career.”
— Charlie Barefoot
(Global Product Development Director, Dometic Corp)
The CHALLENGE
As the market leader in marine HVAC, Dometic wanted to reinvent the self-contained AC unit from the inside out. Competitors were catching up, and the team needed to launch something that would leapfrog the industry and re-establish Dometic’s dominance. With just nine months before the International Boat Builders Exhibition (IBEX), Dometic engineers turned to their long-time partner SPARK to help meet aggressive goals and timelines.
THE Solution
The project was a true collaboration. Dometic’s engineers focused on the core cooling technology while SPARK applied expertise in mechanical and plastics design. Together, the teams:
Redesigned the drain pan in molded structural foam plastic, incorporating molded channels and pop-out drain holes to dramatically reduce standing water.
Developed an innovative blower mount using a captured inlet ring that allowed 360° rotation without increasing unit height.
Optimized manufacturability by integrating brackets and fasteners directly into molded components, reducing part count and assembly time.
THE IMPACT
The Turbo debuted at IBEX in 2007 and immediately won a National Marine Manufacturers Association Innovation Award. It was faster to install, quieter to run, easier to manufacture, and more reliable than anything on the market.
Key outcomes:
85% reduction in standing water
17% reduction in overall height
66% reduction in assembly space
Fewer parts, faster installation, lower cost to produce
Reduced vibration and noise thanks to structural foam construction
Nearly two decades later, the Turbo remains Dometic’s top-selling marine AC unit and represents 25% of total sales on a consistent year over year basis. Features pioneered in the Turbo, from the molded drain pan to the rotatable blower mount, continue to shape Dometic’s product line today.
“SPARK’s strengths are their versatility and ability to get the job done. If they do not have the expertise, they will find it and get the job done right. They are innovative, creative people that think outside the box.”
— Charlie Barefoot(Global Product Development Director, Dometic Corp)
