Formula Fabrication receives prestigious business award
Canda Harbaugh/The Western News Refrigerator technician Macen Barmore, from left, Formula Fabrication business owner Frank Sweedman and his wife and administrative assistant Karee Sweedman pose with an award the business won as the state’s top installer of ductless heat pumps. Kyle Sweedman, son of Frank and Karee Sweedman, is not pictured but also contributes to the family business.
Formula Fabrication, a Libby heating and cooling business, recently received an award for installing more ductless heat pumps than any other business in Montana.
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, a nonprofit that promotes energy-efficient products and practices in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana, presented business owners Frank and Karee Sweedman the award at a recent conference in Portland, Ore.
“Out of all distributors and dealers in Montana we were No. 1, which is phenomenal,” Karee Sweedman said.
“We knew we were doing good work, but we didn’t know at what level,” said Macen Barmore, refrigerator technician for Formula Fabrication.
A ductless heat pump can heat and cool a room using 3.5 to 5 times less energy than standard heaters or air conditioners, Frank Sweedman said. With rebates from Flathead Electric and the federal government covering much of the purchase and installation cost, it became a popular product in Libby.
“I think the market was right,” Frank Sweedman said. “It took us off guard how many we were installing.”
Formula Fabrication has been in business for two years and began installing ductless heat pumps in June. The Sweedmans attribute their success to customer service.
“I believe the reason we got it is that our customers are No. 1,” Karee Sweedman said. “They told others and it helped promote the program.”