From concept to commission, MRBraz delivers low‑charge ammonia refrigeration systems built for efficiency and reliability
When MRBraz & Associates (MRBraz) was founded by Marcos Braz, P.E. in 2009, his vision was clear – to help shape the future of industrial refrigeration through innovative, forward thinking solutions. Today, MRBraz specializes in environmentally responsible, energy efficient, low charge ammonia systems and has strengthened its capabilities through acquisitions including Castex Fabrication and Intercool USA.
Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, MRBraz operates across the United States, Mexico, and Brazil, delivering comprehensive refrigeration solutions such as ammonia DX chillers, air handling units, glycol-ammonia skids, air cooled condensers and ASME pressure vessels with U, R, and NB certifications. Dan and Patricia Braz, Vice President of Operations and Executive Vice President, explain: “Our approach is to make our equipment modular so that it can be seamlessly integrated into a customer’s facility and provide flexibility for ongoing maintenance, optimization of system performance, and potential future expansion of their facility. We’ve been able to vertically integrate our production over the years to self-perform manufacturing, fabrication, and assembly. We also build our own UL electrical panels, wire the equipment and utilize smart instruments that communicate directly with our controls automation system.”
MRBraz is licensed across professional engineering, general contractor, and refrigeration contractor ser-vices, allowing it to design, build, install and service its own product lines and other specified equipment. “A great example of our versatility to providing services to our customers is our compressor rebuild shop in York, Pennsylvania,” Dan and Patricia continue. “Customers can send us their compressors to be rebuilt to OEM specifications, by certified technicians, and with warranty. We service all major brands of ammonia screw compressors and can even re-install the compressors at the customer’s facility by one of our trained technicians.” Our structure enables clearer communication, tighter delivery control and cost efficiencies.
Continuous improvement
Following the integration of Intercool’s nationwide construction expertise, MRBraz took a collaborative approach. “There is often a stigma with mergers and acquisitions where folks perceive one party as the ‘winner’ and the other being the ‘loser.’ However, we were determined to maintain the prominence of the Intercool brand from the outset – the acquisition was not aimed at diluting both companies into one an-other; rather, it was to have each company play to its strengths and collaborate in new and effective ways now that they are combined. It is still a work in progress, but our people are amazing and we are making great strides in this space.”
Its Azle facility provides space to build and handle large equipment in-house, offering direct access to fabrication and assembly teams. The in-house ASME pressure vessel facility is cable of fabricating vessels up to 3/4 inches thick and 10 feet in diameter under welding procedures qualified per ASME B&PV code Section VIII Div I. “In-house factory acceptance testing is a key component of our manufacturing program because it validates that the piece of equipment is functioning as designed,” they add. “This allows us to have re-al-time monitoring of quality control with the ability to catch defects before they progress into further stages which becomes much more difficult to resolve. We are always looking to improve our quality management program so that we can deliver predictable outcomes on a consistent basis. One of the additional benefits of self-installing and servicing the equipment we design and build is that we get operational learnings from the field which allows us to fold these lessons learned back into our designs and the shop floor.”
Consistency and capacity
Delivering projects across the US, Mexico, and Brazil requires navigating regulatory, technical and logistical challenges. With much of its work aligned to IIAR and ANSI guidelines, MRBraz builds on widely accepted standards to support system design, safety and performance. “Each country applies its own regulatory framework and practices. Variations in building codes, and environmental and safety regulations can significantly influence final system design and execution, so we work closely with local authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), owners and contractors to understand and incorporate these requirements early. From a logistical standpoint, differences in project delivery models, supply chains, customs regulations, and labor practices also require careful coordination. Ultimately, our goal is to deliver technically sound, code com-pliant refrigeration systems that respect regional requirements while reflecting global best practices.”
As a multi-site organization, geographic expansion is about consistency as much as scale. “When customers operate across borders, consistency becomes just as important as capacity. Instead of each region feeling like a standalone effort, our expansion allows customers to rely on the same partner, standards and pro-cesses across regions instead of starting over in each market, alongside the obvious practical benefits in being closer to our customers.”
Steady, intentional growth
Maintaining consistency and quality across locations is driven by standardization. “Our packages are con-figured the same no matter the project, so our engineers and technicians are effectively managing the same kit.” Sustainability also remains central to the company’s approach. “As populations grow, so does demand, and our resources are strained,” they continue. “We fully believe that we can have a positive im-pact in conserving the resources we all depend on to live. Our condensers use a water misting system to periodically spray the coils to manage head pressure and no chemical treatment of the water is needed in most applications. They also use variable speed fans to reduce electrical power consumption. Additionally, we center our efforts on developing ammonia refrigeration systems, with ammonia being a natural refrigerant that causes zero ozone depletion and global warming potential.”
Looking ahead, MRBraz is focused on integrating recent investments and strengthening execution. “We’ve made intentional investments, and now it’s about fully integrating them operationally, technically and culturally, so they build lasting capability rather than short term wins,” Dan and Patricia conclude. “That means continuing to strengthen quality, fine tune our processes, and make sure our teams are supported so that any growth that follows is steady and intentional. Looking ahead, we’re focused on building a business that’s known for consistency and quality, with everything we design, build, install and service all working together seamlessly.”