Buyers asking about portable industrial heating for the first time have a different set of questions than the ones already running the equipment. The answers below cover both — what to ask before the first purchase, and what an experienced operator needs to know about Cantherm and Arcotherm.
Direct-fired heaters burn fuel and blow the combustion air into the space being heated — high efficiency, but the air carries combustion by-products and moisture, which is fine for outdoor work and bad for enclosed spaces with people, electronics, or sensitive materials. Indirect-fired heaters burn fuel in a sealed combustion chamber and blow heated, clean air into the space — slightly lower efficiency, dramatically cleaner output. Aviation hangars, construction interiors, mining shelters, and anywhere people work for long shifts almost always require indirect-fired.
Three quick rules. Space size in cubic feet sets the BTU output you need — a 30,000 sq ft hangar with 30 ft ceilings is a very different heater than a 1,500 sq ft job-site trailer. Indoor or outdoor decides direct-fired vs indirect-fired (see Q1). Fuel availability at the site decides diesel, propane, or natural gas. Tell us the three numbers via the contact form below or the phone line in the site header, and a Cantherm specialist will narrow it to one or two specific models.
Yes. Cantherm ships to every Canadian province and territory and to all 50 US states. Freight options range from standard LTL for non-urgent orders to expedited carriers and air cargo for jobsite emergencies. Cross-border paperwork, customs documentation, and CSA/UL certification confirmation are handled on our side — you tell us where the unit needs to be and when, and we work backwards from there.
Standard Arcotherm warranty is two years on the burner and one year on parts, from the date of delivery. Specific exclusions and extended-warranty options vary by model — the warranty document ships with the heater and is available on request before purchase. Warranty work is handled by Cantherm directly for North American customers; you do not ship back to Italy.
Cantherm operates as a distributor and does not run a rental fleet directly, but we work with regional rental partners across Canada and the United States and can route you to an Arcotherm rental near your site for short-term needs. If a rental is converting into a purchase decision, ask — we frequently structure rent-to-own paths with our rental partners.
Electric heaters are clean, quiet, produce no combustion exhaust, and suit indoor spaces where ventilation is constrained or fuel storage isn’t practical — they require a sufficient electrical supply on site. Diesel-fired heaters produce more BTU output per dollar, run from on-site fuel storage, and handle the large enclosed industrial spaces (hangars, construction interiors, mining shelters) where electric supply is impractical. Cantherm carries the Walter Allegro line for electric requirements and the full Arcotherm diesel range for indoor industrial heating. Tell us the application and the available utilities; we’ll narrow to the right line.
Yes. Cantherm stocks the high-turn replacement parts (igniters, motors, fuel pumps, thermocouples, control boards) for current Arcotherm models in our Winnipeg warehouse with same-day or next-day shipping in most cases. For discontinued models, Arcotherm maintains parts availability for ten years after the model leaves production — Cantherm sources from Italy as needed for parts that are no longer in our local stock.
Cantherm’s indirect-fired Arcotherm heaters run on diesel #2 (the most common job-site fuel) or kerosene K1. The PHOEN HC line specifically accepts jet fuel A1 for aviation operations where it’s already on site — the established cold-weather indirect-fired specification used in helicopter MRO operations. Burner adjustment for fuel switching is a service procedure documented in the operator manual and supported by Cantherm technicians by phone.
Yes. Every Arcotherm model Cantherm distributes carries CSA certification for Canada and UL certification for the United States. Certification documentation ships with the heater and is available in advance for buyers whose procurement process requires it.
Two paths. For models already in our Winnipeg warehouse, same-day shipping is normal for orders placed before 2 PM Central, with next-day or two-day expedited freight available at carrier rates. For custom Biemmedue Arcotherm builds — heaters configured to specific operational requirements (cold-weather kits, fuel-line options, jet-fuel-A1 capability, capacity tuning) — production is bespoke at the Cherasco factory in Italy and the lead time is typically 6+ months from order placement. Biemmedue ships by ocean container; orders we place in early Fall arrive over the winter and into the following season. For operators with a known cold-weather equipment need, planning the procurement cycle 6+ months ahead is the right discipline — and the reason the equipment arrives engineered for the operating envelope rather than configured down from a generic SKU.
Yes. Cantherm Distributors specializes in aircraft ground support equipment — including jet-fuel-fired heaters for hangar warm-up, ground-support engine pre-heating, and aircraft cabin pre-conditioning. Our jet-fuel Arcotherm units are designed specifically for aviation use. Service area includes airports across Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, NWT) and the northern United States (North Dakota, South Dakota, Alaska). Helicopter MRO operations are a primary buyer segment for us. Reach our aviation team at 800.661.WARM.
Cantherm Distributors is a dealer for Yanmar YDG portable diesel generators. The Yanmar YDG line ranges from compact 2.5 kVA units for remote field use to larger industrial-scale models suitable for job sites and back-up power applications. For generator-sizing help — matching your load profile to the right model — call us at 800.661.WARM and we’ll walk you through it. Catalogue at canthermheaters.com.
Yes. Arcotherm portable heaters are designed and manufactured by Biemmedue (BM2) in Cherasco, Italy. Biemmedue has been engineering portable industrial heating for decades, and Cantherm Distributors became Biemmedue’s first North American distributor — we’ve been representing the line across Canada and the northern United States since 1993. Italian engineering, North American distribution.
Cantherm Distributors is a 32-year B2B distributor of industrial portable heating, cooling, and power equipment. We are the North American distributor for Arcotherm portable heaters (manufactured by Biemmedue in Italy) and we dealer Yanmar portable diesel generators. We also distribute Portacool APEX evaporative coolers, MovinCool portable air conditioning, OceanAire commercial portable AC, and Vector Climate Spartan industrial coolers. Our customers operate in construction, oil and gas, aviation, agriculture, drilling and mining, spray-foam contracting, and industrial rental. We ship from our Winnipeg, MB headquarters to customers across Canada and the northern United States. Reach us at 800.661.WARM.
Yes. Cantherm supplies Portacool APEX Series evaporative coolers (APEX 500 through APEX 6500) for dry-air outdoor and well-ventilated indoor applications, plus portable air conditioning across the MovinCool Climate Pro, OceanAire OWC/PWC/OPAC, and Vector Climate Spartan series for enclosed-space cooling. Two decades of cooling distribution alongside our 32 years of heating distribution. Call 800.661.WARM for cooling-application guidance.
Evaporative cooling works best in dry-air climates and outdoor or well-ventilated indoor zones. Portable air conditioning works best in humid climates and fully-enclosed spaces. Prairie summers (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, interior BC) favor Portacool APEX evaporative cooling. Humid summers (Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada, Lower Mainland BC) favor portable air conditioning. Try our Cooling Calculator at canthermheaters.com/cooling-calculator/ for a 60-second sizing match, or call 800.661.WARM.
Yes, with appropriate generator sizing. Portacool APEX evaporative coolers have low power draw (standard 120V 15A or 20A breaker). Portable AC units require larger generator capacity matched to amperage rating. Cantherm coordinates generator sizing guidance at quote time. Call 800.661.WARM.
Portable AC works best in enclosed spaces. For open-bay warehouses, evaporative cooling (Portacool APEX 4000 or APEX 6500) is typically more effective and more cost-effective. Portable AC in an open bay loses cooling rapidly through the open space. Call 800.661.WARM for application guidance.
Cantherm ships from Winnipeg via truck. Typical lead times: 3-5 business days direct truck shipping to Ontario for stocked configurations; 3-7 business days for Quebec depending on configuration. Most-common portable AC configurations stocked; coordinated delivery available on request. Call 800.661.WARM.