Supply House Times articles from February 2009

Supply House Times archives from February 2009

The five whys.(letters home)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... I really enjoy people who can commit to paper what I have been preaching to my employees for years. I found Joan Adams' article in Supply House Times ("The Five Whys," December 2008, page 16) articulated my mantra for years. "Why" and "why Not"...

Counter days.(letters home)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... I am a rep in New Mexico, mostly for boilers and radiant floors. I read Josh Brown's column on "Counter Days" in Supply House Times (November 2008, page 70). Having spent many a counter day at branches, I wanted to thank him for taking the time...

NSF develops standard for low lead plumbing products.(Industry News)
February 1, 2009... NSF International has developed a compositional standard for products that come in contact with drinking water, including faucets, in support of the new requirements in California that take effect Jan. 1, 2010. The new requirements are...

WinWholesale announces promotion winner.(Industry News)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... WinWholesale, Dayton, OH, presented Denver-area plumber Philip Pollock with a 2009 Ford Mustang as the winner of its Golden Dollar Days of Summer national promotion. Bob Rodgers, president of Denver Winnelson, presented the car to Pollock last...

Elkay Manufacturing Co.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Elkay Manufacturing Co. elected Timothy Jahnke, Elkay's president and CEO, to serve on its board, He has been president/CEO since joining Elkay in December 2007.

Danfoss Turbocor Compressors.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
February 1, 2009... Danfoss Turbocor Compressors named Ricardo Jahnke Schneider president and chief executive officer. He succeeds Henrik Jorgensen, who will rejoin Sauer-Danfoss as director of PVG Global Operations, Valves Business Unit, in Nordborg, Denmark....

Bradford White.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bradford White promoted Robert G. McKenney to region sales manager, overseeing the Mid-Atlantic region. Most recently he was district sales manager.

California Faucets.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] California Faucets promoted Noah Taft to senior vice president of marketing and sales and named Frederick Desborough vice president commercial business. Taft most recently was vice president of marketing and sales,...

Leaky pipes.(down the PIPE)(Cartoon)
February 1, 2009... future site of the OPTIMISTS CLUB GRAND OPENING TOMORROW!!

Premier distributors survey.(down the PIPE)
February 1, 2009... Supply House Times' annual survey, which ranks the top plumbing-heating-cooling-piping wholesaler firms in the United States and Canada by their actual or estimated sales for the year just ended, is now underway. This report has been a staple...

Buying group WIT relocates.(down the PIPE)
February 1, 2009... WIT & Co. Ltd. relocated its headquarters from Decatur, IL, to Dallas, TX. The new address is 8600 Freeport Parkway, Suite 240, Irving, TX 75063, just minutes from the DFW airport. The main phone number is 972-957-2022. Distributors and...

Mega Western Sales.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
February 1, 2009... Mega Western Sales announced that Todd Talbot has joined the company as a principal partner. His 26-year career in the building products industry includes 19 years with Masco Corp., where he last served as president of BrassCraft, Alsons and...

Wolseley Canada.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wolseley Canada named Ferguson veteran Steve David, director of corporate procurement and shared purchasing center services, to head its shared purchasing center in Oakville, Ontario.

Blue Angel Pumps.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
February 1, 2009... Blue Angel Pumps named Drew Dempsey its West Coast regional sales manager. Previously, he was a sales associate.

Fire-Lite Alarms.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)(Fire Lite Alarms Inc. appoints Dan Lajoie and Leon Parks )(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Fire-Lite Alarms hired Dan Lajoie as sales manager for the northern mid-Atlantic region, and Leon Parks as northwest regional sales manager. Lajoie will serve Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Parks' territory includes Alaska,...

RuB.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
February 1, 2009... RuB named Shelly Tarica as west regional sales manager and Bruce Sandier as north regional sales manager. Tarica will serve the mountain states and west. Sandier will serve the mid-Atlantic, northeast and Canadian territories.

Armstrong Limited.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE)
February 1, 2009... Armstrong Limited appointed Steve Cuthbertson as director--North American sales. He also will continue to lead the Hydronics Customer Solutions Group.

Mr. Steam.(AWARDS ...)
February 1, 2009... Mr. Steam announced that two showroom sales associates, Joyce Garcia with Dahl Plumbing in New Mexico and Nicole Hull with Action Supply in Florida, were winners in its 2008 Passport Program for November. Each month the incentive program...

Speakman Co.(AWARDS ...)
February 1, 2009... Speakman Co, received the 2008 Delaware Quality W.L. (Bill) Gore Award of Excellence, which recognizes Delaware-based companies that demonstrate a high level of performance excellence.

The Unified Group.(AWARDS ...)
February 1, 2009... The Unified Group presented its Member of the Year award to Control Services Inc. at the 10th annual Unified Group Owners' Forum held Nov. 12-15, 2008 in Puerto Rico. The Unified Group is an association of more than 50 HVAC commercial...

LA-CO celebrates 75 years.(down the PIPE)
February 1, 2009... Founded in 1934 as the Lake Chemical Co. by Dr. Lester Aronberg, LA-CO Industries has grown and developed three brands of specialty chemical products: Markal (permanent and temporary marking products for the industrial professional); LA-CO...

HD Supply Utilities.(AWARDS ...)
February 1, 2009... HD Supply Utilities said its Learning and Organizational Effectiveness team was awarded the Gold Learning Team Award by Chief Learning Officer magazine for its training and development program.

Fergusson.(EXPANSION & ACQUISITIONS ...)
February 1, 2009... Fergusson (Newport News, VA) opened a 10,500-sq.-ft. showroom in Fresno, CA. The Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery is at 704 N. Laverne Ave. Jamie Mello is showroom manager.

Taco.(EXPANSION & ACQUISITIONS ...)
February 1, 2009... Taco acquired the assets of Innovex Technologies, a Lewiston, ME-based manufacturer of Intelligent Building Systems products (IBS), that include stand-alone control devices and accessories that offer a complete control solution for both...

NIBCO.(EXPANSION & ACQUISITIONS ...)
February 1, 2009... NIBCO said it is combining its PEX extrusion operation and post-processing/distribution operations into a new 130,O00-sq.-ft. facility in Lebanon, OH. All NIBCO DURAPEX tubing is now shipped from the new location.

Davis & Warshow.(GREEN/SOLAR NEWS ...)
February 1, 2009... Davis & Warshow New York, NY, has begun distributing reusable water bottles to customers in an effort to underscore the benefits of tap water vs. bottled water. The wholesaler is partnering with 3M Aqua-Pure, which offers home water filtration...

Wales-Darby Inc.(GREEN/SOLAR NEWS ...)
February 1, 2009... Wales-Darby Inc., one of A. O. Smith's leading representatives in the Metro New York/Long Island/New Jersey area, opened an energy-efficiency showroom at their Islandia, NY, location.

The Greenspiration Home.(GREEN/SOLAR NEWS ...)
February 1, 2009... The Greenspiration Home hosted a Builder Lunch & Learn on Dec. 12, 2008, in Greensboro, NC. The house features a WaterFurnace geothermal heating and cooling system, a Broan-NuTone SmartSense whole house ventilation system, Kohler dual-flush...

Rinnai Corp.(GREEN/SOLAR NEWS ...)
February 1, 2009... Rinnai Corp. announced that six models from its line of tankless water heaters have earned the U.S. Department of Energy's and Environmental Protection Agency's exclusive ENERGY STAR rating for energy efficiency.

The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute.(GREEN/SOLAR NEWS ...)
February 1, 2009... The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute participated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in a ceremony held in Washington, D.C., Jan. 6, at the offices of Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson. PMI will partner...

The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating.(GREEN/SOLAR NEWS ...)
February 1, 2009... The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating and the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association have joined forces to promote water demand reduction programs among Canadian municipalities. The boards of both groups have supported a joint...

Sonia.(REP UPDATE ...)
February 1, 2009... Sonia appointed Signature Specialties as its representative in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. Kay Kocis is the owner, Therese Smith handles outside sales and Sharon Perkins does inside sales. Sonia manufactures bath vanities, storage solutions...

Roth Industries.(REP UPDATE ...)
February 1, 2009... Roth Industries assigned RST Inc. as its manufacturers rep for Rhode island, Maine, New Hampshire and eastern Massachusetts. Roth offers oil storage tanks, radiant heating systems, PEX-c plumbing systems and solar systems.

Activant Solutions.(TECHNOLOGY NEWS ...)
February 1, 2009... Activant Solutions will host its Summit 2009 March 1-4, in Nashville, TN, at the Gaylord Opryland. For more information, visit http://distribution.activant.com/summlt.

Johnson Controls recognizes top graduate of Boot Camp.(down the PIPE)
February 1, 2009... Following the graduation of nine York territory managers from its Special Ops Boot Camp, Johnson Controls recognized Bill Thornton, territory manager with the York central branch in Pearl, MS, for achieving the highest overall score during boot...

Green Art Plumbing supply donates Turkeys.(down the PIPE)
February 1, 2009... During the 2008 holiday season Green Art Plumbing Supply, Freeport, NY, helped distribute 100 turkeys to those in need in its community. The wholesaler gave turkeys to 50 families at its showroom and donated another 50 turkeys to be distributed...

InSinkErator commits to PHCC fundraiser.(down the PIPE)
February 1, 2009... InSinkErator said it has renewed its commitment to the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Educational Foundation's "Invest in Your Future" annual giving campaign. InSinkErator's annual donation contributed to record-breaking 2008 fundraising...

American Piping Products.(ACQUISITIONS/EXITS ...)
February 1, 2009... American Piping Products (APP) said it has received a growth equity investment from Chicago-based The Edgewater Funds in partnership with APP's senior management team. APP is a distributor of specialty steel pipe, fittings and valves to global...

Emerson.(ACQUISITIONS/EXITS ...)(Emerson Electric Co. mergers with Bay-Tec Engineering )(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Emerson announced that it has acquired Bay-Tec Engineering of Napa, CA. Bay-Tec becomes part of Emerson Process Management. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Bay-Tec's expertise covers a wide range of process automation technologies...

SPX Corp.(ACQUISITIONS/EXITS ...)
February 1, 2009... SPX Corp. announced the sale of its GSE Scales product line, in the test and measurement segment, to Illinois Tool Works. SPX reported this business unit as a discontinued operation at the end of the third quarter 2008.

Eastway Supplies.(PEOPLE ON THE MOVE ...)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Eastway Supplies (Columbus, OH) named Scott Plinke director of its PVF division, He joined the company in 1996, working in residential sales, and then moved to commercial/industrial sales in 1998. Eastway serves the...

Global stainless steel production.(ECONOMIC NEWS ...)
February 1, 2009... Global stainless steel production will decline by almost 1 million tons in 2009, or about 3%, predicts British metals tracking firm MEPS. Stainless steel making in 2008 is expected to be down in all regions of the world.

Northwest Pipe Co.(ECONOMIC NEWS ...)
February 1, 2009... Northwest Pipe Co. said that it has received a Letter of Intent from Mexico's Cableados Industriales SA de CV for a project in Baja, CA, calling for about 15,000 feet of 54-inch steel pipe valued at about $7 million. Delivery is scheduled to...

Obituary.(BITS AND PIECES PVF)(Jay Instrument and Specialty Co.'s manager Earl W. Monnig)(Obituary)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Earl W. Monnig, 91, an active member of the PVF industry for 30 years, died at his home in Pittsburgh Dec. 23. He served as a manager for Jay Instrument & Specialty Co. (now known as Industrial Controls Distribution) at various locations...

Steel imports end 2008 down 5%; China imports still troubling.(Pipe, Valves & Fitting News)
February 1, 2009... The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that total steel imports were down 3% in 2008 and finished steel imports fell 3%, based on preliminary figures. Nonetheless, despite contraction in China's steel industry, Chinese...

Crane Co. acquires German valve maker.(Pipe, Valves & Fitting News)
February 1, 2009... Crane Co. announced that it has purchased all of the capital stock of Friedrich Krombach GmbH & Co. KG Armaturenwerke and Krombach International GmbH, both of Kreuztal, Germany. Krombach is a leading manufacturer of specialty valve flow...

USS tubular to exit DOM business.(Pipe, Valves & Fitting News)
February 1, 2009... U.S. Steel Tubular Products announced that it will exit the drawn-over-mandrel (DOM) tubular products business and close the DOM lines at its Texas Operations Division in Lone Star, TX. In 2008, USS Tubular Products shipped about 50,000...

Oil detective systems.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [1] Blue Angel Pumps' three "Oil Detective" Sump Systems are job-ready and designed to detect/alert the presence of oil in various applications. Systems include: durable cast iron or cast iron/stainless steel pump,...

Excess flow valve.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [2] BrassCraft's patented Safety+PLUS Excess Flow Valve promises to usher in a new standard of safety for natural gas. In the event of a gas line rupture or disconnect, the Safety+PLUS Valve immediately goes into...

High efficiency toilet.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [3] Gerber Plumbing Fixtures introduces its latest high efficiency toilet (HET), the new Avalanche 1.28. The company's most sophisticated and powerful single-flush gravity-fed toilet, the Avalanche 1.28 uses only...

Media air cleaner.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [4] Field Controls has added high efficiency whole house filtration with its Media Air Cleaner product line. Available in two sizes, both use MERV 11 rated filter media to trap particles as small as 1.0 micron in...

Multi-zone compact cassette units.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
February 1, 2009... [5] Fujitsu General America has developed compact ceiling cassette indoor units to broaden the scope of its multi-zone, R-410a, inverter Halcyon line with heat pump systems offering up to 16.5 SEER efficiencies, depending On combination of...

Low VOC solvent cements, primers and cleaners.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
February 1, 2009... DIPS Corp.'s WELD-ON products are available in environmentally responsible, low VOC (volatile organic compound) formulations. By the end of March 2009, all WELD-ON solvent cements, primers and cleaners will meet the most stringent VOC emission...

Thermostatic water mixing valve brochure.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
February 1, 2009... [7] Leonard Valve's new four-page color brochure describing the company's extensive line of Thermostatic Water Mixing Valves is now available. The Showermaster 7600 thermostatic mixing valves are designed for shower and bath applications in...

Digital inspection camera.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
February 1, 2009... [8] RIDGID's microEXPLORER Digital Inspection Camera is a powerful, handheld, video inspection system that allows do-it-yourself users to take digital quality images and record video onto a removable secure digital (SD) card. An integrated mini...

Slip fit tub spout.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
February 1, 2009... [9] Sioux Chief's Tug Spout is said to be the only slip fit tub spout that tightens flush to the wall and requires no caulk to finish around the spout. It provides a convenient, secure method for installing slip fit spouts, installs directly...

Solar thermal collectors.(PRODUCT PREVIEW)
February 1, 2009... [10] Viessmann has added an economy option to its line of flat plate and vacuum tube solar collectors with the new Vitosol 100-F flat plate solar collector. It features rugged, high-quality aluminum frame construction, impact-resistant solar...

The distribution point: proudly independent: a distinctly un-corporate culture characterizes this relative upstart.(Cover story)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Master distribution has come into its own as a distinct step in the plumbing distribution channel. Distributors now have more choices than ever when it comes to filling their product voids, putting the onus on master...

Staying on the cutting edge: five trends in hydronic heating for 2009.
February 1, 2009... Late last year I was asked to write columns on hydronic heating for Supply House Times. I hesitated at first. Not because of lack of experience with hydronics--I've been designing, writing and teaching about hydronic heating systems for 30...

Find your voice.(LETTER FROM ASA PRESIDENT)
February 1, 2009... Dear Industry Colleagues, A lot of hard work needs to be done; as a country, as an industry, as an association and as individual companies. Certainly the country is going through a very interesting passage of time; times some feel have...

ASA introduces benchmarking program ASA industry intelligence report: a market analysis for the industry executive.(AMERICAN SUPPLY ASSOCIATION NEWS: the voice of the industry)
February 1, 2009... The ASA Executive Committee recently approved funding for a monthly data collection and analysis program that will provide ASA members with sales and market condition information as a member service. "An association exists to support its...

ASA Training Council provides insight into real world experiences recent meeting focused on training from ceo perspective.(ASA NEWS)(Conference news)
February 1, 2009... The ASA Training Council recently held its third successful two-day meeting. Participants from around the nation gained insight into real world experiences at the hands of CEOs from some of the industry's most progressive and accomplished...

A conversation with the ASA education foundation ... you know what they say about assumptions.(ASA NEWS)(American Supply Association)
February 1, 2009... Often when we're very close to a particular subject, we take for granted that others feel the same way, and know what we know about that subject. We're making assumptions, right? Well, we don't have to tell you what they say about people who...

2008 Showroom of The Year honorable mentions.(SHOWROOM STRATEGIES)(Banner Plumbing Supply Co.)(Crescent Bath and Kitchens)(Modern Kitchen and Bath Supply)
February 1, 2009... As I've mentioned before, judging the first annual Showroom of the Year contest was a very tough assignment. All of the entries had a number of highlights. The difference between the three top winners and many of the rest of the nominations was...

"Hey, wait a minute" technology.(THE AIR SIDE)
February 1, 2009... I noticed a recent program on television that highlighted some new government-funded technology research to find new ways to save energy (lower our carbon "footprint"). And they did show some great new ideas, but I thought, "Hey, wait a minute,...

Up tempo your down time: the recession will eventually end, and now's the time to get ready.(IN CLOSING)
February 1, 2009... Slumping sales means many of your people have too much time on their hands these days. A lot of wholesalers already have gone through wrenching cutbacks or are planning them, but you can lay off only so many people and stay in business....