Supply House Times articles from February 2002

Supply House Times archives from February 2002

Readers respond to Holohan's column: "Living in modern times" December, page 50. (Letters).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... What a pleasure it was to read Dan Holohan's December column. I laughed out loud reading his experiences after going through similar ones with my son Michael. He is going to Tulane University and the opposite is the problem there. When I...

Wholesaler of the year 2001 says thanks.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Wow! What a marvelous way to end 2001! Your article about us (December, page 33) was incredibly complimentary. I was overwhelmed by Jim Olsztynski's ability to grasp the subject of our company so honestly and accurately. It is hard to...

Watsco to sell Whirlpool HVAC equipment. (News companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Watsco is bringing Whirlpool back into the HVAC industry in 2003. After more than a 10-year absence, Whirlpool has signed a multi-year license agreement with Watsco, in which Watsco will be the exclusive national distributor for its new line of...

Attention: manufacturers and master distributors.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... If your firm was not listed in our 2002 Buyer's Guide (January 2002) and you are a recent advertiser in SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES (since 2001) please send us your company name, phone and fax numbers and Web site address. If your listing contained...

Hughes Supply.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Hughes Supply (Orlando, Fla.) named Jeff Clyne regional vice president, responsible for the plumbing branches in Georgia and Alabama, in addition to the branches he supervises in Florida and Louisiana. Jim Plyler, eastern regional vice...

Financial Management Services Inc.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Financial Management Services Inc. has named Carol DelGado its president/CEO. She succeeds Robert Taubenheim, who left the company Dec. 31. F.M.S.I. offers credit services to customers of wholesalers in the residential and commercial...

JMF Co.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... JMF Co. (Bettendorf, Iowa), a master distributor and direct importer, named Bob Wilson vice president/sales and marketing.

Falcon Stainless.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Falcon Stainless has donated more than 5,000 stainless steel corrugated flexible water connectors to the Americus George Habitat for Humanity since October.

Halsey Taylor.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Halsey Taylor appointed REPCO Associates, Des Plaines, Ill., to represent its product line of water coolers and drinking fountains in northern Illinois and northwest Indiana.

Rheem Manufacturing Co.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Rheem Manufacturing Co. and its parent company, Nagoya, Japan-based Paloma Industries, reached a definitive agreement to acquire the Australasian water heater businesses of Southcorp Holdings Ltd., effective Dec. 31. The acquisition includes...

Ferguson, Familian NW, Westburne merging. (News companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... London-based Wolseley plc is in the process of merging Ferguson Enterprises (Newport News, Va.), Familian Northwest (Portland, Ore.) and Westburne USA (formerly owned by Rexel Canada, St. Laurent, Quebec, and acquired by Wolseley last year)....

U.S. Industries may not survive. (News companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... An independent auditor questioned U.S. Industries' ability to survive after the company reported a net loss for FY 2001 of $524.6 million on sales of $1.1 billion. The loss included about $233 million in write-offs associated with disposal of...

A.O. Smith acquisition of State Industries closes.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... A.O. Smith Corp. closed its expected acquisition of State Industries, a manufacturer of residential and commercial water heaters, on Dec. 28, after receiving notice that the U.S. Department of Justice did not intend to challenge or modify the...

Obituary.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
February 1, 2002... Lavoy Moore, 78, died Dec. 20. He started his industry career in 1943 with Hunt Supply Co., the same east Texas plumbing distributor where his father worked. He was promoted to manager of the Conroe branch within a year, and stayed there until...

Swan Corp.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Swan Corp. named Peter Warren president. He succeeds his father-in-law, the late Jack Moore, founder of the company. Warren joined Swan Corp. as director of corporate planning and research in 1998. He was named executive vice president in 2000....

Brasstech.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Brasstech named Frank Busam executive vice president. In other news, the company has moved into a 106,000-sq.-ft. facility in Santa Ana, Calif., which will house its assembly, warehouse and corporate office operations. An existing enclosed,...

Elkay Manufacturing.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Elkay Manufacturing has a new 20-page catalog that includes more than 240 water coolers, drinking fountains, sinks and faucets that comply with accessibility guidelines of The Americans With Disabilities Act.

Alsons' Talbot elected to head PMI. (News: bath & kitchen).(Plumbing Manufacturers Institute )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute elected Todd Talbot, president of Alsons Corp., as its 2002 president at its November meeting in Chicago. Talbot began his career at Hoyt Heater Co. in 1982 in various sales and marketing positions before...

Delta exits PHCC Professional Product Line. (News: bath & kitchen).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Delta Faucet discontinued its participation in the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors - National Association's PHCC Professional Product Line effective Jan. 1, in order to more closely align its strategic product development and branding...

Sloan Valve.(sponsors fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Foundation)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Sloan Valve was among the plumbing and piping industry participants that sponsored a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northern Illinois. Pictured (left to right) are Tom Backofen, Make-A-Wish...

Watts Industries.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Watts Industries has promoted Bruce Parrott to national sales manager/fire protection and water works markets, and has hired Alan Squires as national sales manager/backflow products, plumbing and irrigation markets. Squires had been a regional...

Northwest Pipe Co.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Northwest Pipe Co. has promoted Martin Dana as group vice president of sales -- Western region -- Water Transmission Group, and Dean Estoll to group vice president of sales, Eastern region -- Water Transmission Group. Both report to Gary...

Institute for Supply Management.(economic activity declines in manufacturing sector)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Institute for Supply Management: Economic activity in the manufacturing sector declined for the 17th consecutive month in December, but at a slower rate, according to the ISM, formerly the National Association of Purchasing Management. Norbert...

Thomas Register.(industrial purchasing still strong)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Thomas Register: Another sign of optimism came from an industrial purchasing barometer survey conducted by Thomas Register, which revealed only 3% of respondents are holding back on purchasing in the post-Sept. 11 period. Based on responses...

ITT buys Precision Stainless. (News: pipe-valves-fittings).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... ITT Industries announced on January 4 that it has signed an agreement to purchase Precision Stainless Inc., of Springfield, Mo. Precision's main product offerings include custom-designed shop-fabricated vessels, field-fabricated tanks and...

AT Plastics sells Flexet. (News: pipe-valves-fittings).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... AT Plastics Inc. announced it has completed the sale of the remainder of its Performance Compound business (Flexet) to a large North American company with strategic initiatives in the pipe and tubing materials market segments, but declined as...

Bright future seen for Synfuels Construction. (News: pipe-valves-fittings).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... An advisory by Houston's Industrial Information Resources predicts that renewable fuels could boost the U.S. economy by $300 billion and create as many as 300,000 new jobs in the synthetic fuel sectors of the economy by 2016. The build-out...

2001 pipe & tube shipments.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)(Illustration)
February 1, 2002... 2001 Pipe & Tube Shipments (Net tons in thousands, through September 2001) STANDARD Domestic Mkt. Import Mkt. PIPE Welded % Welded % YTD 2001 996.6 50.9 704.8 36.0 YTD 2000 ...

Todd Pipe & Supply.(lands several jobs; promotes Jim Benudiz)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Todd Pipe & Supply, based in Southern California, has gotten off to a fast start, landing a variety of prestigious projects with its new Commercial/Industrial Division, including the new Hollywood-Highland Entertainment Center, future home of...

National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors.(seminar)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors is offering Repair of Pressure Relief Valves as one of the seminars held throughout the year at its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Detailed information can be obtained from the Web site:...

USX.(earmarks $86 million for Lorain Tubular Co. improvements)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... USX approved an $86 million improvement project at its Lorain Tubular Co. facility in Lorain, Ohio. The facility will produce tubular goods with enhanced properties to service energy producers and specialized standard pipe products for high...

Steel Service Center Institute.(names M. Robert Weidner III president)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Steel Service Center Institute named M. Robert Weidner III, president. He had spent the last 17 years at Inland Steel.

Mestek's SpacePak and Koldwave.(names Darryl W. DeAngelis national sales manager)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Mestek's SpacePak and Koldwave named Darryl W. DeAngelis as their national sales manager. DeAngelis has been a Mestek employee since 1999, most recently as a design project engineer. In this new position, he will develop and manage the sales...

Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute.(re-elects Daniel W. Holmes chairman of the board)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute re-elected Daniel W. Holmes chairman of ARI's Board of Directors. Holmes, the chairman and chief executive officer of Morrison Products, was initially elected chairman in May 2001. Other officers...

Nortek.(appointments for Robert E. G. Ractliffe and David J. LaGrand)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Nortek appointed Robert E. G. Ractliffe to the newly created position of executive vice president and chief operating officer. Ractliffe will report to Richard L. Bready, chairman and chief executive officer. Also, Nortek appointed David J....

Tomkins Air Systems Components Division.(buys American Metal Products from Masco Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Tomkins Air Systems Components Division acquired American Metal Products from Masco Corp. The AMP brand will be retained and the operations will be integrated into the group's existing residential business, Hart and Cooley.

Plastec Ventilation.(moves to Sarasota, FL)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Plastec Ventilation relocated its operation from Lansdale, Pa. to Sarasota, Fla. at the beginning of this year. In other news, Frederic Sirot was named its North American sales manager.

Radiant Panel Association refutes Canadian study. (News: hydronics/HVACR).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... A Canadian radiant heat study claims that homeowners with radiant floors do not set their thermostats any lower than homeowners with other types of heat, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. But not so fast, says Lawrence...

Master Ventilation Products.(Product Information)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Master Ventilation Products is a newly formed company that started operations at the beginning of 2002. Initial products being released by the company include inline tube fans, compact single inlet blowers, axial wall exhausters and air...

York International.(expects 5 to 15% decline in market levels and revenue decline of about 5%)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... York International's key operating expectations for 2002 include a 5%-15% decline in equipment market levels vs. 2001, and an overall revenue decline of about 5%. The company also expects gross margin pressure on most equipment segments,...

Build.com.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Build.com has entered into an agreement with Chicago Faucet to create exclusive stores for its product line, including Chicago Faucet's full line of residential and commercial products. The products will be featured at Build.com online national...

Slant/Fin.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Slant/Fin released its new Hydronic Explorer heat loss calculator and boiler-baseboard specifier. The CD is being offered free to heating contractors as a business tool to help them accurately size heating jobs and specify boilers and...

Prophet 21.
February 1, 2002... Prophet 21 introduced Trading Partner Connect 6.0, the company's latest version of its Internet trading network designed to help distributors, manufacturers and suppliers streamline the commerce process. In other news, Trading Partner Connect...

General Business Consultants.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... General Business Consultants created a workbook and operations manual to handle business when its computer systems are down. While GBC is not a software company, they do specialize in helping wholesaler distributors with system selection and...

ISH NA organizer to run home automation trade show. (News: technology).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Messe Frankfurt, organizer of the 2002 ISH North America show in Toronto, announced it has agreed to key terms with Echelon Corp., creator of the LonWorks home automation platform, for extending stewardship of the LonWorld Trade Show and...

Prophet 21 slates Summit April 3-6. (News: technology).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Last year more than 700 customers attended Prophet 21's Summit in Phoenix, and this year, with a move across the country, the turnout is expected to be even greater. Prophet 21's Summit 2002 is landing in Orlando, Fla., and will be held...

MISG announces free training seminars. (News: technology).
February 1, 2002... The Management Information Systems Group is offering free EDI (electronic data interchange) training courses for anyone attending the user technology conference. The conference, EC Directions 2002, will be held May 5-7 in San Antonio. The...

Web sites to watch.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Dearborn Brass launched a New Web site: www.dearbornbrass.com. The site includes its entire product catalog and is designed specifically for plumbers and plumbing wholesalers. Kohler Co. recently unveiled its renovated Web site,...

Recovering from disaster: here is how one wholesaler responded when a branch office-warehouse burned to the ground. (Cover Story).
February 1, 2002... On Friday afternoon, Nov. 17, 2000, I walked into the headquarters office of the St. Louis wholesaler where I have served as president for the past 12 years. With products including specialty fasteners, thermal insulation, heating and air...

Residential faucets -- part II. (College of Product Knowledge).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... This is an updated version of the product training course introduced by Supply House Times in 1979. Since bathrooms use more plumbing devices than kitchens, it stands to reason that this is where we have seen the most changes during the...

Expect 5,732 more wholesalers in 2002. (ASA News).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Yes, it's true! When the Census develops revised classification criteria later this year, it's anticipated that most of the 5,732 plumbing & heating wholesale locations that are now classified as retail locations will be "recovered." The...

Education foundation corner. (ASA News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Last month we provided a few examples of the costs of not training. We pointed out that it takes as much as 30-40 times the cost of an error in new sales to make up for the error. Some may respond that the cost of training also requires...

More regional events. (ASA News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... In last month's issue, we told you about some great regional events coming up. Here's one more to add to your calendar: Central Wholesalers Association May 6-7 Columbus Marriott North Ohio The CWA Convention is still the...

Who's who at ASA. (ASA News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... This is the first in a regular series of "snippets" about volunteers who give their time to ASA. It's designed to help you learn a little about the kind of people involved in the association's Board of Directors and working committees. ...

We've lost a friend. (ASA News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Our industry lost a great leader when Lavoy Moore passed away on December 18, 2001. And ASA and I lost a great friend. Lavoy Moore had a long history of service within our organization, culminating in his election as President in 1976. But his...

Help is here for getting UPC numbers. (ASA News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... ASA's distributors have urged all of their vendors to obtain UPC numbers for the products they carry, and the Center for Advancing Technology is now offering a turn-key kit that will help get this done. Along with ASA's ongoing efforts to...

Getting the most out of your reps: wholesalers can benefit from the new, expanded role played by reps in the marketplace. (Darlington on Showrooms).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... When I owned my business, I resolve to work as hard at developing good relationships with the reps that called on us as I did at developing the relationships with clients. I knew the tremendous benefits that a good rep could bring to the party....

Environmentally-friendly substitute? Among the products introduced at AHR Expo is R-417a. (Wheeler on HVCR).(ICOR International launches new refrigerant)(Brief Article)(Column)
February 1, 2002... Well, it was the first time in over 25 years that I've missed the AHR Expo. No, not because I'm afraid of flying, or of terrorists, or because it was held in Atlantic City, but simply because the requirements of my job kept my nose to the old...

Warren Alloy. (Products).
February 1, 2002... The "ultimate" in safety for high-pressure ball valves, Warren Alloy's new Seal Welded tailpiece ball valves are available from stock in 1000, 2000 and 5000 lb. WOG. ASME B16.34 and API 608 compliant valves are available in 2160 WOG (class...

General pipe cleaner. (Products).(advertisement)
February 1, 2002... The durable design of the new Speedrooter 91 features a braced frame at key stress points, a drum-supported front and rear for longer bearing wear, and Flexicore cable for toughness. The adjustable height, swept-back handle provides maneuvering...

Bradford White. (Products).(advertisement)
February 1, 2002... New Residential Power Direct Vent and Commercial Light Duty Power Direct Vent water heaters can be installed in areas where make-up air is limited, such as a bedroom or bathroom. The blower assembly accepts two separate and individual sections...

REHAU. (Products).(advertisement)
February 1, 2002... The new RAUPEX UV Shield pipe is co-extruded with a PE shield that provides additional protection against ultraviolet light. It is available in red or blue, to simplify identification for installation or repair. Circle 4 [ILLUSTRATION...

ECR. (Products).(advertisement)
February 1, 2002... The WatterSaver, a fully integrated heat pump water heater, is a drop-in replacement for a typical 50-gallon water heater. The heat pump portion is integral to the tank and shipped fully charged. It needs only single-trade installation. ...

Whirlpool Corp. (Products).(advertisement)
February 1, 2002... Cielo jetted and soaking baths by Whirlpool Corp., include tamper-resistant suction guards and rigid PVC piping; removable, dishwasher-safe jets and Lucite acrylic finish; and a pre-leveled base and protection construction liner for easy...

Workhorse custom chassis. (Products).(advertisement)
February 1, 2002... The Workhorse walk-in truck is ergonomically engineered for efficiency and safety, featuring easy curbside entrance and exit, interior access to cargo, lower step and floor height, and a stand-up work area. Circle 7 [ILLUSTRATION...

Skil-aire. (Products).(advertisement)
February 1, 2002... Compact, convertible and customizable horizontal air conditioning systems can be installed as a one-piece packaged system or separated up to 150 feet without losing the refrigerant charge. Circle 8 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Remington. (Products).(advertisement)
February 1, 2002... The 493 Semi-Automatic PowerPro is a rugged, low-velocity, powder-actuated fastening tool that allows up to eight fastenings per minute into wood, concrete, steel or masonry. It can be used to mount conduit, drywall tack, duct work, window...

Why we're bullish on ISH NA: it's not just a trade show. It represents an industry ready to burst out of its provincial shell. (Editorial).(plumbing-heating industry trade shows ISH North America and Messe Frankfurt)(Column)
February 1, 2002... "Looks to me like ISH North America will be nothing more than NEX under new management," more than one potential exhibitor has told me. These comments stem from the fact that ISH NA has so far failed to fulfill its central promise of trade show...