When August P. Bifani spied a book on air conditioning in a pawn shop window in 1937 and bought it with an eye to learning more, he probably didn't know what he was getting himself into. Seventy two years later, his son and grandson's owe him at least a debt of gratitude. Mid-State Heating and Cooling, Inc., which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has made quite a name for itself in the nation's mechanical contacting industry, with $4.52 million in sales last year and a place among the top 200 mechanical contracting firms, according to Domestic Engineering magazine. The company is currently located at 31 Park Road in Tinton Falls. Mid-State was located for 25+ years, at 247 Bridge Avenue in Red Bank, the heart of Red Banks westside. (see picture to the right) Robert J. Bifani started Mid-State in 1968 after his father, August retired and closed is successful business in North Bergen township. Robert started with seven employees and four vehicles, in 40 years that has grown to 30+ employee's and 20+ vehicles.

Service is one of the key ingredients to Mid-State's success in the heating-ventilation-air conditioning business. The company employs the Service Automation Systems computer software package developed specifically for the heating and air conditioning industry. The system dispatches all the service, management and foreman's vehicles in conjunction with Mid-State's own independent two-way radio network. The company also utilizes a Global Positioning System (GPS) to accurately track vehicle locations and movements in an effort to get the service truck to your home faster. An engineering design and analysis program can perform cooling and heating load estimates, duct and piping design and equipment selections. The Mid-State corporate philosophy has withstood the test of time; provide quality workmanship and dedicate everyone within the company to keeping the customers satisfied, and all the rest will fall into place.