Supply House Times articles from December 2008

Supply House Times archives from December 2008

Asbestos witch trials feedback.(letters: home)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2008... I just finished reading Jim Olsztynski's editorial in SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES (October 2008, page 64, "Asbestos Witch Trials") and I couldn't agree more. I am a 64-year-old retired U A service technician who had 30 years in the field and 15 more in...

Masters Supply.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)(Danny Hobbs, Jack Bell Jr. and Jim Pfaadt)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Masters Supply (Louisville, KY) promoted Danny Hobbs to sales manager and Jack Bell Jr. to operations manager. Hobbs had been branch manager at the company's Shelbyville, KY, location and Bell was the Louisville warehouse manager. In other...

Murray Supply.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
December 1, 2008... Murray Supply (Winston-Salem, NC) announced that George Yezbak was named its chief operating officer and vice president of sales in August 2008. Most recently he had been vice president at Thos. Somerville Co, a wholesaler based in Upper...

Rheem Heating & Cooling.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
December 1, 2008... Rheem Heating & Cooling appointed Mike Eberlein engineering manager for heating products. Eberlein developed the first line of 95% energy-efficient furnaces for Amana, and has been involved in the design of furnaces for Carrier/ International...

Expansion, special events continue despite economy.(Industry News)
December 1, 2008... The sad state of the housing market and recessionary environment have not discouraged some wholesalers from expanding facilities and/or hosting gala celebrations. Walker Supply Co., Alcoa/Maryville, TN, hosted 500 vendors and customers at...

Leaky pipes.(Cartoon)
December 1, 2008... BACK IN MY DAY, THERE WERE NO BUSINESS CONTRACTS... PEOPLE WOULD SETTLE A DEAL WITH JUST A HANDSHAKE... ... THOSE IDIOTS PAID FOR YOUR COLLEGE, SON. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Gamewell-FCI.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
December 1, 2008... Gamewell-FCI named Michael Zittle North Atlantic regional sales manager, serving the Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and Upstate New York area. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Emerson Climate Technologies.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
December 1, 2008... Emerson Climate Technologies named John Schneider vice president, marketing, Air Conditioning Division and promoted Deborah Monnin to vice president, engineering, Refrigeration Division. Most recently Schneider was director of residential...

Solatube International.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
December 1, 2008... Solatube International promoted Robert E. Westfall Jr. to president. He joined the company more than 12 years ago as vice president, sales and marketing. The company manufactures and markets Tubular Daylighting Devices. [ILLUSTRATION...

Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
December 1, 2008... Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association (DPHA)elected Jonathan Wood, vice president of sales & marketing for Ginger/Newport Brass Hardware, as its seventh president. He took office at the organization's annual meeting in October, held in...

Neil Kessler runs in marathon.(down the PIPE)
December 1, 2008... Kessler Sales and Distribution's owner and president, Neil Kessler (sixth from left in brown shirt), is pictured here at the 2008 New York City marathon. This marked his sixth year of participation. New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg is just...

Residential building permit activity regional & local market survey.(A SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES EXCLUSIVE)
December 1, 2008... Residential Building Permit Activity Regional & Local Market Survey SEPTEMBER 2008 Residential Permits Local Markets REGION SEPT. 08 YTD 08 vs. 07 Up Dawn WEST...

Heat Transfer Products.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
December 1, 2008... Heat Transfer Products hired Ed Nordstrom as sales manager--Western region, covering the western portions of the United States and Canada. Previously, he served as general manager and chief operating officer for Viessmann Manufacturing Co....

W. W. Grainger.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
December 1, 2008... W. W. Grainger (Chicago) promoted Michael A. Pulick, senior vice president for customer service, to senior vice president and president, Grainger Industrial Supply, effective Nov. 1. He succeeds Y. C. Chen, who will stay on in a special...

North American Technician Excellence.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
December 1, 2008... North American Technician Excellence named Raymond Isaac, president of Isaac Heating & Air Conditioning (Rochester, NY) chairman of its 2008-2009 Board of Trustees. He is also current chairman of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America.

Johnson controls trains territory managers.(down the PIPE)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Johnson Controls recently graduated 18 York territory managers from its Basic Boot Camp held Oct. 19-24 at the company's Unitary Products headquarters. Among the topics covered were consultative selling and...

Ferguson.(EXPANSION/ ACQUISITIONS ...)
December 1, 2008... Ferguson (Newport News, VA) opened a 4,300-sq.-ft. showroom in Traverse City, MI, which has more than double the space of its former location. Kip Costigan is branch manager.

ALNO.(EXPANSION/ ACQUISITIONS ...)
December 1, 2008... ALNO, a European designer and manufacturer of luxury kitchen environments, opened a 2,300-sq.-ft. showroom in San Francisco's South Beach.

Kaldewei.(EXPANSION/ ACQUISITIONS ...)
December 1, 2008... Kaldewei has opened a corporate office in Indianapolis to serve as the base for its expansion in the U.S. market.

NATE.(AWARDS ...)(Randy Tice, chairman of APR Supply Co.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... NATE: Randy Tice, chairman of APR Supply Co., Lebanon, PA, received the 2008 Ted Rees Leadership Award from the North American Technician Excellence board of trustees as special recognition for his leadership in technician excellence. Rex...

Viega.(AWARDS ...)
December 1, 2008... Viega was presented with the 2008 ASPE Industry Award for the advancement of plumbing engineering technology. Pictured, ASPE President Julius Ballanco (left) with Ban Schmierer, CEO of Viega. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

ASPE.(AWARDS ...)
December 1, 2008... ASPE inducted S. Jerry McDanal, vice president--engineering at Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co., into the College of Fellows, which recognizes ASPE members of established reputation who have made significant, sustained contributions to the plumbing...

Duravit opens in New York.(down the PIPE)(Duravit AG)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Duravit announced the launch of Duravit New York, its first stand-alone showroom in the United States. Located in the heart of Manhattan on Madison Ave., the 4,000-sq.-ft. showroom opened on Nov. 11. The color blue was chosen to help define...

Johnson Controls.(AWARDS ...)
December 1, 2008... Johnson Controls' David Negrey, director of technical services and application engineering, Johnson Controls Unitary Products (pictured, left) presented Ken Webb (right), Johnstone Supply brand manager, with the Distinguished Technical Service...

The Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association.(AWARDS ...)
December 1, 2008... The Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association presented awards at its annual conference and product showcase held in Phoenix, AZ, in October:

JACLO.(AWARDS ...)
December 1, 2008... JACLO was honored with three awards: Larry Brodey, CEO, won the award for Industry Professional of the Year and the company also received awards for Customer Service Department of the Year and Most Innovative Product of the Year for JACLO's...

Sonia.(AWARDS ...)(Tim Vander Wall of InterArchitectural Products LLC.)(Amorello Sales (Concord, MA) and Western Sales (Los Gatos, CA))(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Sonia announced that three of its reps also received awards: Tim Vander Wall of InterArchitectural Products (Denver, CO) won the Rep Agency Professional of the Year Award and both Amorello Sales (Concord, MA) and Western Sales (Los Gatos, CA)...

Haws.(AWARDS ...)
December 1, 2008... Haws announced that it received the "Innovative Product of the Year" award for its Axion MSR eye/face wash system at the Expo Protection 2008 Conference in Paris, France.

MAAX.(REP UPDATE ...)
December 1, 2008... MAAX announced that Metro Rep (Franklin Square, NY) will represent its products in the New York City and metro area; ANT Sales Co. Windsor, CO) will serve Colorado and southern Wyoming; and Locke Sales and Marketing (Langley, OK) will cover...

Activant Solutions.(TECHNOLOGY NEWS ...)
December 1, 2008... Activant Solutions announced the availability of its B2B Seller version 5.5, an integrated Web-based storefront solution designed to help distributors further increase sales, improve customer service and reduce operating costs.

BrassCraft.(TECHNOLOGY NEWS ...)
December 1, 2008... BrassCraft has renovated its Web site at www.brasscraft.com to reflect the company's new product strategies.

Matco-Norca.(INDUSTRY NEWS ...)
December 1, 2008... Matco-Norca announced its 2008 Heating Products Special, with discounts on more than 20 products effective through Dec. 31. For information, visit www.matco-norca.com.

Delta.(INDUSTRY NEWS ...)
December 1, 2008... Delta announced a new theme for its brand positioning: "A Smarter Way for People to Experience Water." The brand campaign includes television and print ads, packaging and the Web site. Its new tagline invites consumers to "see what Delta can...

HD Supply.(INDUSTRY NEWS ...)
December 1, 2008... HD Supply (Atlanta, GA) said that more than 2,000 of its U.S. associates volunteered in their local communities on Saturday, Nov. 8 in its first company-wide community action day.

U.S. Supply Co.(INDUSTRY NEWS ...)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... U.S. Supply Co. (West Conshohocken, PA) held a Well McLain training event at its Sunbury, PA, location in November that drew more than 90 people, including employees from its Lewisburg, Sunbury and Bloomsburg, PA, locations. It included a...

The Valve Manufacturers Association.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE ...)
December 1, 2008... The Valve Manufacturers Association elected Sam Bennardo, president of AUMA Actuators, as 2009 chairman. Bennardo was preceded as chairman by Steve Twellman, president and CEO of Global Flow Technologies. Twellman will continue on the VMA board...

WinWholesale.(EXPANSION/ACQUISITIONS ...)
December 1, 2008... WinWholesale (Dayton, OH) opened Seattle Windustrial in Kent, WA. Mike Baker is president of Seattle Windustrial. He joined WinWholesale in 1996 and previously was president of Portland Windustrial in Oregon and Elko Windustrial in Nevada.

Marmon/Keystone.(EXPANSION/ACQUISITIONS ...)
December 1, 2008... Marmon/Keystone was nearing completion on a new 62,000-sq.-ft. warehouse/office complex in Sioux Falls, SD. Situated on seven acres of land, the facility was scheduled to be fully operational by early December.

Baker Sales.(EXPANSION/ACQUISITIONS ...)
December 1, 2008... Baker Sales, a steel pipe distributor, announced its 30th anniversary and the grand opening of a new office and warehouse in Slidell, LA. A ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Slidell Chamber of Commerce was slated for December 5.

Victaulic.(EXPANSION/ACQUISITIONS ...)
December 1, 2008... Victaulic announced the opening of its 62,000-sq.-ft. Great Lakes branch in Aurora, IL. The Great Lakes branch brings together two previous regional Victaulic locations in Detroit and Chicago.

Wilson.(EXPANSION/ACQUISITIONS ...)
December 1, 2008... Wilson announced it has opened a new location in Washington, PA, in response to the growing needs of the energy industry in Appalachia. Steve Monteith is branch manager. Also, Wilson opened a new sales office in Elk City, OK, according to...

Perker Hannifin Corp.(EXPANSION/ACQUISITIONS ...)(Nexgen Hose Inc.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Perker Hannifin Corp, has acquired Nexgen Hose, headquartered in Fergus, Ontario, Canada. Nexgen is a leading manufacturer of industrial PVC hose and tubing for use in the medical, agriculture, mining, diving, potable water / beverage and fire...

The Valve Manufacturers Association of America.(INDUSTRY NEWS ...)
December 1, 2008... The Valve Manufacturers Association of America has unveiled the latest version of its Web site at www.VMA.org, which offers many new features including an online community to enable members to form groups and connect with others who share...

Russian purchase of Maneely falls through.(Pipe, Valves & Fittings News)
December 1, 2008... Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) announced that it has terminated its agreement and plan of merger with DBO Holdings Inc. for the acquisition of John Maneely Co. (JMC), and the related $2 billion bridge loan facility it had entered into to finance in...

PVF Roundtable meets.(Pipe, Valves & Fittings News)(Conference news)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... The PVF Roundtable held its most recent quarterly gathering on Oct. 21 in Houston. Keynote speaker was Linda Goldbert of NACE, an organization that works closely with key legislative and regulatory bodies to ensure that appropriate corrosion...

Gerber Plumbing Fixtures.(GREEN NEWS ...)
December 1, 2008... Gerber Plumbing Fixtures said its new high-efficiency decorative bathroom faucets have achieved certification by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program. The certified faucets are now available in its Logan Square series...

The Five Whys.(PVF TALK)
December 1, 2008... The Five Whys is a technique developed in manufacturing that helps people get to the root source of a quality problem. The point of the Five Whys is to drill down to the cause by continuing to ask questions instead of running around curing...

Side and rear splashes for mop sinks.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
December 1, 2008... [1] Advance Tabco introduces optional 16-inch tall side and rear splashes for floor-mounted mop sinks. These may be specified in any combination of back and left side, back and right side, and back and both side splashes depending on the...

Pressure vacuum breakers.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
December 1, 2008... [2] Apollo Valves offers the PVB 4A Series of pressure vacuum breakers featuring a unique modular check valve design, which is built around a self-contained "captured spring" check module that is easily removable for maintenance or replacement....

Upscale restroom partitions.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
December 1, 2008... [3] Bradley Corp. meets the needs of high-end applications with its exclusive line of Fusion restroom partitions that combine stainless steel with natural granite. Fusion partitions are the latest in the company's "decorative high-end...

Lavatory fixture collection.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
December 1, 2008... Danze's Aerial Collection offers a beautiful, understated presence in the bathroom, Scaled to keep the design simple, the line includes a single-handle lavatory faucet, two-handle centerset faucet, two-handle widespread faucet, Roman Tub faucet...

Commercial water heater.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
December 1, 2008... [5] Lochinvar's new SHIELD commercial water heater has inputs up to 500,000 Btu/hr, 96% thermal efficiency and storage up to 125 gallons. The SHIELD is equipped with an advanced stainless steel heat transfer system located outside of the tank,...

Natural stone bath sinks.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
December 1, 2008... [6] SYNC by Stone Forest is a unique modular concept offering multiple combinations of sinks, countertops and shelving made from natural stone and stainless steel. The components slide into wall mounted, stainless steel brackets which also...

Low Water Cutoff controls.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
December 1, 2008... [7] Taco has expanded and upgraded its Low Water Cutoff (LWCO) line of controls with the addition of two new series: the LTA-2 and the LF. The company now offers three series (LTR, LTA-2 and LF) for reliable protection of all types of boilers,...

Reverse osmosis "Value Series" faucets.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
December 1, 2008... [8] Tomlinson Industries' "Value Series" is the newest addition to its line of Reverse Osmosis (RO) faucets. They are NSF approved and available in five very distinctive styles to coordinate with any decor. Features include: plated zinc alloy...

Tankless water heater.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
December 1, 2008... [9] Stiebel Eltron's DHC-E tankless, electric water heaters are ideal for all point-of-use and booster applications. The DHC-E offers hot water instantaneously, heated as it flows through the unit. Standby heat-losses from conventional systems...

Walk-in tub.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
December 1, 2008... [10] Meditub, a division of Spa World Corp., has designed an accessible and comfortable walk-in tub available with hydrotherapy water and air jets to give the bather a spa-like experience, A low step in and contoured seat make it easy for...

A world-class supplier of energy & industrial PVF & MRO materials.(2008 WHOLESALER OF THE YEAR: WILSON)(Cover story)(Company overview)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The dark liquid that spurts out of the earth to power the modern world has long been nicknamed black gold in recognition of its value. Except after a century and a half of extraction, it seldom spurts without a lot...

An interview with Phil Weeks: Rinnai's new G.M. seeks to change America's lifestyle.(Interview)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In October, Rinnai Corp. appointed former Jacuzzi President Phil Weeks as general manager of its North American operations spanning the U.S. and Canada. "Phil was the driving force behind the Jacuzzi brand becoming...

Oh, what a beautiful year!(LETTER FROM ASA PRESIDENT)(American Society of Anesthesiologists)(Personal account)
December 1, 2008... Dear Industry Colleagues, I was told that being the president of ASA would be one of the greatest years of my life. As this year comes to an end, I must admit, it was AWESOME! During my time on the ASA executive committee, I began...

ASA announces 2009 annual meeting: Washington, D.C. will host NetworkASA 2009: power.(ASA NEWS: the voice of the industry)(American Supply Association)(Conference news)
December 1, 2008... ASA is pleased to announce its 2009 annual meeting--NetworkASA 2009: POWER. It will take place October 14--17, 2009 at the J.W. Marriott in Washington, D.C. NetworkASA 2009 will mark the first time since 2004 that ASA's annual convention...

Thriving and surviving in tough economic times.(SHOWROOM STRATEGIES)
December 1, 2008... I've done three talks in the last 45 days on this very subject: Surviving in tough economic times. So I decided if people were interested in this message I'd better share it with you folks. I thought my consulting business and requests for...

The problem with making assumptions.(THE AIR SIDE)
December 1, 2008... I don't know how many years ago it was that I learned that the first three letters in the word assume explain what we make of ourselves whenever we make an assumption. Yet, almost all of us do it on a daily basis and on the most important...

A new kid in the business.(THE INSIDE DESK: (An insider's view of the PHCP supply business.))(Metropolitan Pipe & Supply Co.)
December 1, 2008... It's five in the morning, 65 degrees, with a cool breeze pressing against my face. I'm in a huge warehouse with over 30,000 different items surrounding me. The aisles seem to go on forever. I'm 15 years old and the essence of the building is...

Dear Santa ...(IN CLOSING)
December 1, 2008... Santa, more than half a century has passed since I last asked anything of you, so you probably don't remember me. In case you do, please accept this belated apology for all the damage done with that last request you granted. It was mostly...