Supply House Times articles from August 2002

Supply House Times archives from August 2002

"A 25-year industry memoir" editorial stirs readers.(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2002... I had to drop you a line about how much I enjoyed Jim Olsztynski's editorial in the May 2002 issue of SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES. I joined this industry with Hughes Supply in July 1976 and my experiences and recollections mirror his closely. ...

Omission from K/BIS coverage.(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2002... Please receive this in a positive way. However, regarding the June issue of SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES, page 44 ("Out With The New") where you show a sampling of the products on display at the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show, is it accurate to judge that...

A plug for technology.(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2002... Enjoyed your June editorial ("Technology Is Great, But... " page 68) and thanks for the plug! I'll relate one major success story and that's what one of our major suppliers has done with technology--We made a statement two to three years ago to...

Geberit acquires Chicago Faucet. (News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Nearly 101 years to the date of its founding, family-owned Chicago Faucet Co. of Des Plaines, Ill., has been acquired by The Geberit Group, headquartered in Jona, Switzerland. The acquisition was effective July 9, 2002. Albert C. Brown, founder...

Hirsch Pipe & Supply. (People On The Move ...).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Hirsch Pipe & Supply (Van Nuys, Calif.) appointed Harry Kinnen Santa Monica branch manager. Kinnen has more than 10 years of experience in local wholesale plumbing supply houses. He started his career in his father's company, Kinnen Pipe &...

Robert Manufacturing Co. (People On The Move ...).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Robert Manufacturing Co. named Bob Drach its president effective July 1. He will work closely with Robert Hartwell, formerly president and now chairman. Brach joined the company in 2001 as general manager. Prior to that he was a vice president...

Wolseley plc. (People On The Move ...).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Wolseley plc (Reading, UK): After 20 years as company secretary, David Branson retired July 1. He was succeeded by Mark White, who previously was with Enterprise Oil (now part of the Royal Dutch Shell Group), which he joined in 1999, before...

PMI. (People On The Move ...).(Plumbing Manufacturers Institute)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... PMI: David W. Viola, technical director of the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute, will serve as chair and member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers A112 Plumbing Materials and Equipment Committee. His term began July 1 and ends June...

Ferguson transfers Tavenner, promotes Andrews, Bechtold. (News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Ferguson Enterprises, based in Newport News, Va., transferred Bill Tavenner to Richmond, Va., from Garden Grove, Calif., to serve as president and general manager. He joined Ferguson in 1986 as a trainee in Fayetteville, N.C. He became...

Obituary.(Richard Hunter Campbell Sr., of R.I.M. Plumbing & Heating Supply)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
August 1, 2002... Richard Hunter Campbell Sr., 60, president and co-owner of R.I.M. Plumbing & Heating Supply (Ossining, N.Y.) died June 18 after a courageous battle with lung cancer. The company was named after the three founders of the business: R for Richard;...

How ISH NA will differ from other shows. (News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends).(plumbing/heating/ventilation trade show)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... ISH North America debuts on Oct. 31, 2002 in Toronto, produced by Messe Frankfurt, Inc. and its co-sponsors, the American Supply Association (ASA), the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH), and the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling...

James Merritt, chairman of Nu-Way Supply Kitchen & Bath, Shelby Township, Mich., and his wife, Annabelle, recently welcomed more than 400 contractors and guests at Nu-Way's 17th annual Vegas trade show. (News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... James Merritt, chairman of Nu-Way Supply Kitchen & Bath, Shelby Township, Mich., and his wife, Annabelle, recently welcomed more than 400 contractors and guests at Nu-Way's 17th annual Vegas trade show. The event was held in Rochester, Mich.,...

Home Depot expands tool rental centers. (News: companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The Home Depot, based in Atlanta, had installed a tool rental center in 500 stores as of July 9, with more openings planned. There are now tool rental centers in nearly 40% of Home Depot's 1,400 stores. The tool rental center's inventory is...

Brasstech Inc. (Appointment ...).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Brasstech Inc. named Chuck Molina product development manager. He previously was with Moen Inc., where he managed the company's Rapid Response product development team. He is also a licensed Professional Engineer. Brasstech is a decorative...

The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show and Conference. (Show Date Change ...).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show and Conference has changed the date of its 2003 event to April 1113 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. For more information, contact K/BIS at 800-933-8735 or visit www.kbis.com.

U.S. Industries'. (New Address ...).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... U.S. Industries' new headquarters address is: 777 S. Flagler Drive, Suite 1108, West Palm Beach, Fla. 33401-6102. Phone: 561-414-3838; fax: 561-414-3839. The company's principal brands include Jacuzzi, Zurn, Sundance Spas, Eljer and Rainbow...

MAAX Inc. (Acquisition ...).(Aker Plastics)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... MAAX Inc. signed an agreement in principle to acquire all the outstanding shares of Aker Plastics, a large U.S. manufacturer of fiberglass bathroom equipment. Aker Plastics, which has three plants, one in Martinsburg, W. Va., and two in...

Masco's Alsons and Brass Craft name new presidents. (Bath & Kitchen).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... By the end of July, two Masco companies will have new presidents. Todd Talbot, formerly president of Alsons, has been named president of Brass Craft, another Masco company, effective July 29. Steve McFarland, previously vice president/finance...

Delta Faucet Co. promotes key executives. (Bath & Kitchen).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Ray A. Kennedy has been named senior vice president/sales and marketing at Delta Faucet Co. He will continue to oversee product development and also will take over customer service and credit functions for the company. Kennedy has been with...

Final judgment rendered in Coburn Vs. Kohler. (Bath & Kitchen).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... A U.S. District judge issued a final ruling on July 3 in favor of Beaumont, Texas-based wholesaler Coburn Supply in its lawsuit against Kohler Co., the Wisconsin-based manufacturer of plumbing fixtures and supplies. In addition to ordering...

Survey reveals customers' dislikes about jetted tubs. (Bath & Kitchen).(report from Whirlpool Corp.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The four most common complaints from jetted bath owners address the issues of approachability, cleanability, jets and temperature. This was discovered when Whirlpool Corp. asked current owners of jetted baths what they liked and disliked about...

Geberit Manufacturing displayed a wall-mounted pressure assist toilet system at the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Chicago in April. (Bath & Kitchen).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Geberit Manufacturing displayed a wall-mounted pressure assist toilet system at the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Chicago in April. The new design uses a PF2[R] engineered pressure vessel and Geberit's in-wall carrier system. The pressure...

Modern art--no kidding! (Bath & Kitchen).(Marcel Duchamp sculpture sells for $1.85 million)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... MODERN ART--NO KIDDING! French artist Marcel Duchamp's rendition of a urinal sold for $1.85 million last May during a sale of contemporary art held at Phillips dePury & Luxembourg's New York City auction house. The work, called "Fountain," is a...

Crane Co. (Personnel changes ...).(hires Tony Favilla)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Crane Co. announced that Tony Favilla has joined the company as director of sales for Stockham Valves. Favilla comes to Crane from NIBCO, where he had been sales manager for the West and Midwest regions.

NS Group. (Personnel changes ...).(promotes Robert Okrzesik)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... NS Group has announced the opening of a Houston sales office and promotion of Rober Okrzesik to corporate vice president/sales and marketing, overseeing the company's seamless and welded products, He had been serving as vp of sales and...

NS Group's Northwest Pipe. (Personnel changes ...).(hires Robert Moore)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... NS Group's Northwest Pipe subsidiary also announced the hiring of Robert Moore as group senior vice president-sales & marketing, for its Tubular Products Group.

IPSCO. (Personnel changes ...).(promotes Mike Stefko)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... IPSCO has named Mike Stefko sales manager of industrial products, responsible for coordinating sales of structural tubing and standard pipe products produced at the Geneva, Camanche and Blytheville plants. He has been with IPSCO since 1999.

Invensys' Energy Management Division. (Personnel changes ...).(hired Dan Leff)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Invensys' Energy Management Division has hired Dan Leff, former chairman and CEO of the Energy Services Div, of Enron Corp. The Invensys division focuses on markets connected with power and energy infrastructure for buildings. Enron's Energy...

Frost & Sullivan. (Market Trends ...).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Frost & Sullivan released a study that projects a boom in desalination plants in Asia, saying it will grow at a compound annual rate of 11% between 2001 and 2005. Sales will grow from $509 million at present to $1.03 billion by 2010. Contact...

ITC rejects pipe duty against China. (Pipe-Valves-Fittings).(International Trade Commission)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The U.S. International Trade Commission determined on June 20 that no U.S. industry has been injured by imports of circular welded non-alloy steel pipe from China that the Department of Commerce has determined are sold in the U.S. at less than...

Sumitomo, V&M to buy North Star Tubular. (Pipe-Valves-Fittings).(Sumitomo Corp. of America)(Vallourec & Mennesmann Tubes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Sumitomo Corp. of America (SCOA), along with Vallourec & Mennesmann Tubes (V&M) and Sumitomo Corp., Japan (SC), announced an agreement to acquire North Star Steel's Tubular Products Division from its parent company, Cargill, Inc. The...

Northwest Pipe announces new spiral weld line. (Pipe-Valves-Fittings).(Wilson Byard Ltd. product)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Northwest Pipe Co. announced an agreement to purchase a new state-of-the-art spiral weld pipe mill from Wilson Byard Ltd. of Scotland. This will complement coating, lining and material handling equipment previously acquired and will form a new...

U.S. stainless steel piping imports: annual and year-to-date from Januray-April 2002. (Pipe-Valves-Fittings).(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2002... U.S. Stainless Steel Piping Imports Annual and Year-To-Date From January - April 2002 Stainless Seamless Tubular Products YTD 2001 YTD 2002 % Change % Change (In $1,000) (In $1,000) YID...

Steel imports going down. (Pipe-Valves-Fittings).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2002... Preliminary government figures covering steel imports for the month of May 2002 showed that steel imports decreased 10.9% from April 2002 levels, due mainly to reductions in wire and plate products. May 2002 imports of standard pipe...

U.S. carbon steel pipe & tube imports: annual and year-to-date from January-April 2002. (Pipe-Valves-Fittings).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2002... U.S. Carbon Steel Pipe & Tube Imports Annual and Year-To-Date from January - April 2002 Total Carbon and Alloy Pipe & Tube YTD 2001 YTD 2002 % Change % Change (In $1,000) (In $1,000) ...

Industrial Information Resources. (Market Trends ...).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Industrial Information Resources tracked 85 industrial plant closings in the 3rd quarter of last year, compared with merely 36 openings. Hardest hit sector was manufacturing, which lost a net 42 facilities. Chemical companies closed 12...

Thomas Register. (Market Trends ...).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Thomas Register's survey found that industrial buyer satisfaction with online purchasing has more than doubled over the last three years and that nearly 60% of industrial buyers plan to increase online purchasing this year.

Institute for Supply Management. (The Economy ...).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Institute for Supply Management: Manufacturing activity grew for the fifth consecutive month in June and the overall economy for the eighth month in a row, said the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing Report On Business by...

Business inventories rise. (The Economy ...).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... This is being written as the Dow Jones melts down below the 8000 mark in July. Nobody knows where the bottom may lay. Yet, a wisp of good news came in about the same time, showing that business inventories rose in May for the first time in 16...

Dellon Sales Co.: 2002 Rep of the Year: specification category: an atmosphere of creative chaos makes for stunning results. (Cover Story).(Cover Story)
August 1, 2002... Visiting Dellon Sales Co.'s outgrown facility in Corona (Queens) NY is like watching a movie on fast-forward as about half of the firm's 39 employees scurry about at double-time while others talk on the phone, occasionally barking out snippets...

J & K Sales Associates: 2002 Rep of the Year: shelf category: dedicated to improving its business and helping its customers, this firm sells with passion and intensity. (Cover Story).(Cover Story)
August 1, 2002... What does it take for a manufacturers rep firm to double the size of its business in three and a half years? Passion and intensity. A clear idea of the company's purpose and direction. The right people. A willingness to make changes. All of...

Hot topics at CWA conference: OSHA tackles ergonomics with a four-part plan, while ASA and CWA members fight for a permanent repeal of the death tax. (Trade Event).(Central Wholesalers Association, Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... At the Central Wholesalers Association meeting in Columbus, Ohio, Pat O'Connor of Kent and O'Connor, a Washington lobbying firm retained by American Supply Association, gave the attendees an update of the ongoing work in Washington. O'Connor...

Supply pipe fittings--Part I: this is an updated version of the product training course introduced by Supply House Times in 1979. (College of Product Knowledge).
August 1, 2002... The category we call pipe fittings is probably the most complex of all plumbing categories. When you consider all the variables, including the piping material involved and the system of connection--all multiplied by the many configurations...

"Supply Chain Summit" a big draw. (ASA News).(American Supply Association's 2002 annual convention)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... At press time, the 2002 ASA Annual Convention, featuring the "Supply Chain Summit" was seeing a healthy pre-registration turnout. Hundreds of distributors, manufacturers and manufacturers reps are expected to be in attendance for the 2 1/2 day...

Big box plays both sides of fence. (ASA News).(Home Depot and the Department of Labor)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Within the same week last month, we received two news items relating to the same company: #1: The Department of Labor (DOL) announced a National Hiring Partnership between DOL and Home Depot (HD) to use the "One-Stop Career Centers" to...

Another incredible story. (ASA News).(patent law cases)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Several years ago, a number of lawsuits were filed in the courts alleging violations of patent infringement on behalf of a plaintiff who claimed rights to the technology involved in bar code scanners (Lemelson et al). Ultimately, the U.S....

Do employees understand profit? (Education Foundation Corner).
August 1, 2002... The ASA Education Foundation's newest project, "Essentials in Profitable Distribution," is a book/ workbook designed to help your employees understand what the distribution business is and isn't. It will explain to them the principles of...

Manufacturers Rep Directory 2002. (Alabama-Idaho).
August 1, 2002... Ayers & Associates P.O. Box 373 Northport, AL 35476 (205) 333-8874 Fax: (205) 333-8745 mike@ayers-associates.com www.ayers-associates.com Mike Ayers TERRITORY/STATES SERVED: AL, TN, FL Panhandle. Banks & Associates 1400...

Manufacturers Rep Directory 2002. (Illinois-Minnesota).(Directory)
August 1, 2002... Added Sales Co. 1875 Greenleaf Ave. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 (847) 640-0123 Fax: (847) 640-0294 mikewarren@addedsales.com www.addedsales.com Mike Warren, Pres. TERRITORY/STATES SERVED: IL, IN, WI, Northern MI. LINES...

Manufacturers Rep Directory 2002. (Mississippi-Ohio).(Directory)
August 1, 2002... MISSISSIPPI Don Bass Co. P.O. Box 4478 Jackson, MS 39216 (601) 982-3754 Fax: (601) 982-3759 smitcarr@aol.com Bill Smith, Owner TERRITORY/STATES SERVED: MS, AL, LA. Jim Davis & Associates 107 Oakvale Florence, MS 39073...

Manufacturers Rep Directory 2002. (Oklahoma-Quebec).(Directory)
August 1, 2002... Austin Sales Co. P.O. Box 57056 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 (405) 858-0380; (800) 544-4895 Fax: (405) 858-0397 austinsales@swbell.net Jeff Austin, Pres. TERRITORY/STATES SERVED: OK. LINES REPRESENTED: Tyler, Anaco, Toto, Wade,...

Understanding ozone depletion: the phaseout of CFCs could have been avoided in our industry if recovery became mandatory. (Wheeler on HVACR).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Depletion of earth's protective ozone layer is the reason given for the phaseout of our industry's most important refrigerants, R-11, R-12, and R-22. This has resulted in a major shakeup of our industry throughout America and Europe as we have...

Eclipse sold to Intuit. (Technology).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2002... Intuit Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Eclipse Inc. The acquisition of Eclipse enables Intuit to enter the wholesale distribution software segment, which has annual sales of about $300 million, Intuit said. Intuit will...

NxTrend acquires CorpDNA. (Technology).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... NxTrend Technology announced its acquisition of CorpDNA, a provider of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions, on June 28. The acquisition broadens NxTrend's product line to include items such as CRM, Sales Force Automation and...

Who's the boss? It's time the wholesaler started calling the shots. (Darlington on Showrooms).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... In July I had the pleasure of doing some work for one of the country's largest faucet manufacturers. My assignment was to develop some ideas on how they could sell more of their higher end products through plumbing wholesaler showrooms. I...

Grundfos Pumps Corp. (Products).
August 1, 2002... Only a single pump and valve is required to deliver instant hot water in existing homes with the Comfort Series Instant Hot Water System, a retrofitted hot water recirculation system. No return line is needed because the hot water is circulated...

Kenwood Communications. (Products).
August 1, 2002... The new ProTalk XLS. a palm-sized radio with four-mile range, transmits ultra high frequency radio signals for job-site communications in small warehouses, office complexes or other locations. It is user-programmable to provide two channels of...

Alsons. (Products).
August 1, 2002... The 698 series showerhead in Alsons' Shower Spa line is 10 inches in diameter, has 86 spray holes and is 29 inches long, It connects into the water supply and is held secure with a 4-inch long decorative arm. Also the company introduced a...

ARCON welding LLC. (Products).
August 1, 2002... The Studhorse 1200 is a full size, lightweight, portable drawn arc stud welder that uses a power supply based on inverter technology. It weighs 80 lbs., is 19.5 inches long by 17.9 inches high by 10.5 inches wide, and generates an output of...

Wolseley plc. (Acquisition ...).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Reading, UK) has entered Holland with the acquisition of Wasco Group of Holland for $59.8 million (U.S.) including debt. Family-owned Wasco, headquartered in Twello, sells boilers and radiators, valves and fittings, and heating spares from nine...

NAW. (Alliance ...).(National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... NAW: The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and Zurich North America have formed a strategic alliance targeting wholesalers and distributors throughout the country. Under this agreement, NAW will endorse Zurich as its premier...

Hughes Supply. (Breaking News ...).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... (Orlando, Fla.) entered into a definitive stock purchase agreement with the shareholders of Utiliserve Holdings, Inc., including Utiliserve, Inc., distributor of electrical transmission and distribution products and services to the U.S....

Emco Ltd. (Breaking News ...).(of bcgSERVICES Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... (London, Ontario, Canada) said on July 23 it was terminating the purchase and sale agreement to acquire the wholesale waterworks supply business of bcgSERVICES Inc., subsidiary of BC Gas.

The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating. (Breaking News ...).(names Ralph Suppa president)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating announced the appointment of Ralph Suppa as president, succeeding Ed Hardison, at its general meeting June 24. Hardison retired after 16 years.

AIM/R's passion for learning. (Editorial).(Editorial)
August 1, 2002... The education programming at the last two annual meetings of the Association of Industry Manufacturers' Representatives was the best I've ever witnessed for a group with a modest budget. An explanation is in order for the equivocations in that...

North America: International Trade Fair for kitchen & bath, plumbing, piping, heating and air-conditioning: National Trade Centre (at Exhibition Place) Toronto, Ontario Canada October 31 - November 2, 2002.
August 1, 2002... FORGING A NEW ERA OF PRODUCTS, PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITS You are invited to be a part of an important event in our industry's history--the debut of a brand new trade show, representing a new era of opportunity for us all! The show's...