Supply House Times articles from January 2003

Supply House Times archives from January 2003

Darlington's training column an inspiration to wholesalers. (Letters).
January 1, 2003... Thank you for Hank Darlington's columns in SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES. I always look forward to reading them. I'm writing in regard to his article on training in the October issue (page 113, "People--Your Most Important Asset, Part 2: Training The...

A letter from Brad Sell. (Letters).
January 1, 2003... Just about two years ago, at the age of 47, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. My doctors told me that it would most likely kill me before I hit 50. I was shocked to learn that this disease is now considered to be an epidemic in men--yet...

Plumb Supply boosts water heater sales with promotions. (News: companies associations people government trends).
January 1, 2003... Des Moines, Iowa-based Plumb Supply, a 16-branch wholesaler, says it has increased sales of its water heaters by participating in Ruud's multi-faceted Plumbers Pride program. "Acceptance has been good," said Jim Foth, secretary and vice...

Robinson Supply Co. (People On The Move ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Robinson Supply Co. (Fall River, Mass.) named Fred Straight to its outside sales staff. His territory will include Rhode Island and parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts. A 17-year veteran in the plumbing and heating industry, he recently had...

Ferguson Enterprises. (People On The Move ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Ferguson Enterprises (Newport News, Va.) promoted Troy Kingsbury to president/general manager of its new HVAC branch in Hayward, Calif. He joined Ferguson in 1992 as a trainee. Most recently he was president/general manager at the Phoenix HVAC...

A.O. Smith Water Products Co. (People On The Move ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... A.O. Smith Water Products Co. promoted Roy Wood to director of customer and product support and named Matt Schultz product manager for its standard commercial water heater line. Wood, an A.O. Smith veteran of 21 years, will be responsible for...

Dellon Sales Co. (News: companies associations people government trends).
January 1, 2003... Dellon Sales Co. of Corona (Queens), N.Y., received a plaque as Manufacturers Rep Of The Year--Specification Category at a breakfast meeting hosted by Business News Publishing at the ISH North America trade show in Toronto last October....

J & K Sales Associates. (News: companies associations people government trends).
January 1, 2003... J & K Sales Associates of Manchester, N.H., was presented with a plaque as Manufacturers Rep Of The Year--Shelf Category at a breakfast meeting hosted by Business News Publishing at the ISH North America trade show in Toronto last October....

Obituaries. (News: companies associations people government trends).(Karl Neupert)
January 1, 2003... Karl Neupert, 62, died Dec. 16 at home in Portland, Ore., following a short but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He had been diagnosed just 10 days prior to that. He was president/CEO of Consolidated Supply, a wholesale firm based in...

New name chosen for merging CWA/MAD. (News: companies associations people government trends).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... If members of the Central Wholesalers Association and the Michigan Association of Distributors approve the merger of the two associations in June, the new organization will operate under the name, North Central Wholesalers Association. The...

Wholesalers must return economic census forms. (News: companies associations people government trends).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Wholesalers that receive 2002 Economic Census forms from the U.S. Census Bureau are required by law to respond. The due date is Feb. 12. Pembroke Consulting has worked closely with Census to provide an outside perspective on how supply...

George T. Sanders Co. changes management team. (News: companies associations people government trends).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Matthew D. Sanders became president of wholesale firm George T Sanders Co. (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) effective Jan. 1, succeeding Gary T Sanders, who remains chairman of the board. Scott A. Horner was promoted to vice president/sales and...

Bootz Plumbingware Co. (People On The Move ...).
January 1, 2003... BOOTZ Plumbingware Co. named Paul M. Kwiat vice president/marketing and sales. Most recently he was vice president/sales and marketing for the Louisville Ladder Group.BOOTZ manu factures enameled steel bath and kitchen fixtures.

Dornbracht USA. (People On The Move ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Dornbracht USA appointed Michael Mozzicato national sales manager. Most recently he held that title at Marvel Industries, a manufacturer of luxury refrigeration products.

Kohler Co. (Kudos to ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Herbert V. Kohler Jr., chairman/president/CEO of Kohler Co., was named the 2002 National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year in the manufacturing category. The award honors outstanding entrepreneurs whose ingenuity and perseverance have...

Moen Inc. (Kudos to ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Moen Inc. won the Sales and Marketing Vendor of the Year award from Hughes Supply, Orlando, Fla. The award was based on Moen having the highest overall sales dollar increase during a promotion. Hughes also presented Moen with its Sales and...

In-Sink-Erator. (Kudos to ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... In-Sink-Erator presented Robert M. Cox awards to the Baton Rouge, La., Delaware and Maryland auxiliaries of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association. Linda Bienvenu of the Louisiana PHCC auxiliary was named Lawrence B....

Kitchen and bath trends for 2003. (Bath & Kitchen).
January 1, 2003... Oversized "rain" showerheads and showers with body sprays and steam showers are among the trends for bathrooms in 2003 identified in an annual poll of a remodeling franchise network by DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen. Other trends predicted for...

All Elkay facilities achieve ISO 9001. (Bath & Kitchen).(Elkay Manufacturing Co. Elkay Division)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Elkay Division of Elkay Manufacturing Co., has completed a two-year effort to be certified under the internationally recognized ISO 9001:2001 standards for total quality management. Certification includes the division's seven domestic...

ITT Industries' Fluid Handling Division. (Kudos to ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... ITT Industries' Fluid Handling Division in Morton Grove, Ill., promoted Mark Handzel to director of U.S. sales, HVAC and plumbing products for the Fluid Handling Division. His responsibilities will include directing of Bell & Gossett, McDonnell...

Affiliated Distributors. (Controlling Health Costs ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Affiliated Distributors has created a subsidiary, A-D Services Group Inc., to offer both affiliates and suppliers self-funded or partially self-funded insurance for health, dental, vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment, and long- and...

FlowGuard Gold[R]. (Plumbing Code News ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... FlowGuard Gold[R] CPVC pipe and fittings are compatible with any type of potable water, according to a written statement by its manufacturer Noveon Inc., submitted to the Florida Building Commission in response to Section 605.1 of the new...

Bosch Power Tools & Accessories. (Extended Warranty ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Bosch Power Tools & Accessories now offers the PROVANTAGE[TM] Cordless Service Program to ensure that professionals stay productive on the jobsite. The program includes a three-year cordless tool protection plan; an 18-month battery life...

The Backflow Prevention Manufacturers Association. (Essay Contest ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Backflow Prevention Manufacturers Association has introduced the BPMA Harrington-Arthur Scholarship Fund essay competition for high school students to advance their education in backflow prevention and cross-connection control. Entries must...

Flo-Safe Inc. (Appointments ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Flo-Safe Inc. (Kansas City, Kan.) has named Rick Siberine national sales manager. He had been Eastern area manager for the company.

Victaulic Co. (Appointments ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Victaulic Co. of Canada has named Gary Moore as president. He had been vice president/general manager. Also, the company named Baljit Virdee as vice president/foundry operations, with responsibility for all three Canadian foundries.

Wolverine Tube. (Appointments ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Wolverine Tube has named Bill McKinstry as national sales manager, Canada. He is a 27-year veteran with the company serving in a variety of sales and marketing positions. Frank Sullivan will be retiring from Wolverine as vice president/sales as...

Plastic Trends, Inc. (Appointments ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Plastic Trends. Inc. (PTI) has appointed three new vice presidents to an expanded sales division. They are: Jim Porteous, new vice president of sales--Waterworks Division; Rick Hanger, vice president of sales--Plumbing and Industrial Division;...

Industrial Piping Division of ASA. (Appointments ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Industrial Piping Division of ASA: Mike Abeling of Consumers Pipe & Supply Co. was elected IPD chairman at the ASA convention in Toronto last October. Gary Ittner of McJunkin Corp. is serving as vice chair for 2003. Other members of the IPD...

CFOs optimistic about 2003; expect capital spending rebound. (pipe-valves-fittings).(Chief financial officers )
January 1, 2003... Chief financial officers of U.S. companies are much more optimistic about the U.S. economy than they were last quarter, according to the December "CFO Outlook Survey" conducted by Financial Executives International (FEI) and Duke University's...

Industrial outlook improving for 2003. (pipe-valves-fittings).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Industrial Information Resources of Houston is forecasting 735 new plant startups to come online in 2003, a slight improvement from 705 counted in 2002. IIR defines start-ups to include new construction or previously closed plants restarting...

Georg Fischer celebrates 200th anniversary. (pipe-valves-fittings).(Company Profile)
January 1, 2003... George Fischer, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Switzerland's Georg Fisher, celebrated the parent company's 200th anniversary with an elegant ceremony attended by numerous dignitaries last October in Pasadena, Calif. Founded in 1802 as...

NS Group. (Labor Peace ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... NS Group announced in November that workers in the company's seamless tubular facility in Pennsylvania, Koppel Steel Corp., had ratified a new labor agreement in effect until May 2007. The agreement covers some 450 employees represented by the...

IPSCO Inc. (Labor Peace ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... IPSCO Inc. announced on Dec. 9 that local unions at its Regina and Galgary steel and pipe making operations ratified a collective bargaining agreement that lasts until July 31, 2006.

Three more steel companies have filed for Chapter 11. (Bummers ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Three more steel companies have filed for Chapter 11: Cold Metal Products, Valley City Steel and Geneva Steel.

PHCC. (New Officers ...).(Eddie Hollub)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... PHCC: The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association installed officers and board members on Nov. 2 at its annual convention in Toronto. The new PHCC president is Eddie Hollub, Modern Plumbing Co.; Steve Carder, Carder Plumbing...

Bradford White Corp. (Scholarships Awarded ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Bradford White Corp. and the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors --National Association Auxiliary awarded scholarships to 34 recipients at a breakfast meeting Oct. 31 in Toronto. Lindsey Bienvenu received the $3,000 Ginny Carlson Award....

York International. (Reorganization ...).
January 1, 2003... York International consolidated and reorganized its York Refrigeration Group and Engineered Systems Group into geographic units. The following leadership changes took place on Jan. 1: David Myers was named vice president and chief financial...

Burnham. (People On The Move ...).(Mike McDonnell)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Burnham promoted Mike McDonnell to manager of business development in its hydronics division. McDonnell, 16-year veteran with the company, was most recently its national sales manager. Daniel Kelbaugh takes over for McDonnell as the hydronics...

Association for Manufacturing Excellence. (People On The Move ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Association for Manufacturing Excellence selected Basem L. Hishmeh to serve a two-year term as president. Hishmeh is chairman of Aerco International Inc. and Bailey Meter Co. AME is a volunteer-run organization for manufacturing executives,...

Wetheads frolic at Wetstock. (Hydronics/HVACR).
January 1, 2003... Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison didn't show up--because they're dead. And you had to be dead not to come away from "Wetstock" invigorated in the art of hydronic heating. Some 200 hydronic heating aficionados gathered in...

Wilder grants to continue under HARDI. (Hydronics/HVACR).(James D. Wilder Foundation)(North American Airconditioning and Refrigeration Distributors)(Johnstone Supply, Indianapolis, hires Jeff Faubion)
January 1, 2003... The James D. Wilder Foundation will continue to function under the supervision of the North American Airconditioning & Refrigeration Distributors (HARDI), formed by the North American Heating Refrigeration & Airconditioning Wholesalers (NHRAW)...

Online B2B winners and losers. (Technology).(business-to-business)
January 1, 2003... A new research study titled "Shakeouts in Digital Markets: Lessons from B2B Exchanges tracked the compressed boom-to-bust cycle for Internet startups in eight business-to-business markets, including electronic components, food service and...

The U.S. industrial valve marketplace. (Special Report).
January 1, 2003... Growth in the U.S. industrial valve market is elusive, and margins continue to shrink. And despite billions of dollars at stake, even the experts can't agree where the opportunities are. Valves are often overlooked yet indispensable...

Trade name listings.(Directory)(Illustration)
January 1, 2003... 3M[TM]--3M Fire Protection Products A.O. Smith--A.O. Smith Electrical Products ABSORBOTRON[R]--Josam Co. ACCELERATOR--Western Water Products AccessAble[R] Access Panels--Sachwin Products, Inc. Access-Able--AccessAble Acclaim[TM]...

Manufacturers alphabetical listings. (A-N).(Directory)(Illustration)
January 1, 2003... A&B Stainless Valve, Inc. P.O. Box 325, Califon, NJ 07830-0325 (908) 832-7121; (800) 526-1715 Fax: (908) 832-5232 valves@abstainless.com www.abstainless.com Linda A. Berg, V.P.; Dawn Pursell, Controller Stainless and exotic alloy...

Manufacturers alphabetical listings. (N-Z).(Illustration)
January 1, 2003... Oatey 4700 W. 160th St., Cleveland, OH 44135 (216) 267-7100 Fax: (216) 267-6538 www.oatey.com Bob Bender, V.P.-Sales; Daniel King, Mktg. Roof flashings, wash machine and ice maker outlet boxes, plastic specialties, solvent cement,...

Product listings. (Access Panels-Hydronic Heating Systems).(Illustration)
January 1, 2003... Access Panels AccessAble, Div. of Sachwin Prod. Inc. * Acorn Engineering Co. Diversified Plastics Fluidmaster, Inc. William H. Harvey Company * Hercules Chemical Company, Inc. JL Industries, Inc., Activar, Inc. *...

Product listings. (Hydronic Snow Mmelting Controls-Tub Protectors).(Illustration)
January 1, 2003... Hydronic Snow Melting Controls Ammark Corp. Christy, T Enterprises, Inc. Danfoss Building & Comfort Controls Heatlink USA Inc. * Honeywell-Sparco Braukmann * RTI, Heating & Plumbing * Slant/Fin Corp. Stadler-Viega...

Product listings. (Tube Cleaning Equipment--Zone Controls).(Illustration)
January 1, 2003... Tube Cleaning Equipment Superior Tool Co., Professional Products Div. Tubing A35--Alloy A45--Aluminum B50--Brass C50--Copper C60--Corrugated Stainless Steel F30--Finned F40--Flexible G40--Glass P30--PEX...

Master distributors.(HVAC industry)(Illustration)
January 1, 2003... HVAC Conbraco Industries, Inc. P.O. Box 247, Matthews, NC 28106-0247 (704) 841-6000 Fax: (704) 841-6087 Email: conbraco@conbraco.com Web: www.conbraco.com Contact: Carole M. Lee, V.P. Mktg. STATUS: HVAC, Hydronics, Industrial...

Database now available! (ASA News).(American Supply Associaton)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... ASA's Industry DataBase (IDB) is now available to wholesale distributors who've been looking for one place to go for standardized, accurate product numbers. Through a unique partnership with Harrison Publishing House, the IDB currently makes...

Still doubting benefits of technology? (ASA News).(American Supply Associaton)
January 1, 2003... The following series of reports describes how three pairs of industry partners--yes, partners'--are Using technology to cut costs, boost efficiency and, in general, make their relationships more productive. "A skeptical reader, hardened by...

Education Foundation. (Corner).
January 1, 2003... 2002 turned out to be an exciting and challenging year for the Education Foundation. Early in the year we introduced revised versions of our PVF Courses that are offered in a CD-ROM format. We were also pleased to present a first-class...

I remember Karl.(Karl Neupert)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Those of us who knew Karl Neupert, who passed away so unexpectedly last month, will no doubt agree that he was indeed "bigger than life." He was someone whose standards were high, and who at times could be hard to please, for sure, But along...

Ridge Tool Co. (Products).
January 1, 2003... The Flat Pack SeeSnake[TM] video inspection system helps see inside 1-1/2" to 4" pipe lines. It's lightweight and compact and features a thinner, flatter drum for easy accessibility. It can be ordered with a black and white or color camera and...

General wire spring. (Products).
January 1, 2003... The portable I-95 drain cleaning machine packs the versatility to drive sectional or drum mounted cables through 1-1/4" to 4" lines--yet weighs only 39 lbs. It's three machines in one. Use 7/8" x 15' sections to clear 4" lines. By repositioning...

Sloan Valve Co. (Products).
January 1, 2003... The ACT-O-MATIC[R] 2.5-gpm flow showerheads combine self-cleaning capabilities with a "Cone-Within-A-Cone" spray. A pressure compensating flow control provides a consistent and powerful flow at low pressures. The chrome-plated all brass...

Kamco products. (Products).
January 1, 2003... Gas-Tec is a polyethylene coated copper tubing that provides added corrosion protection for natural gas and liquefied petroleum. It features continuous line-marking for clearer identification of tube contents, size and ASTM specification. ...

Honeywell. (Products).
January 1, 2003... SparcoMix anti-scald thermostatic valves meet both ASSE 1016 and 1017 and IAPM0 codes, and feature a Teflon inner coating. Utilizing rack and pinion design, PowerTrack valves respond rapidly to heating demands with 12-second opening and...

Haws Corp. (Products).
January 1, 2003... The 8800 Rapid Response portable decontamination shower is a lightweight, collapsible unit that can be rapidly deployed in less than 2 minutes at any location. This mobile, corrosion-resistant shower is automatically erected once it is...

Little Giant Pipe Co. (Products).
January 1, 2003... The CP1, CP2 and CP3 Series replace the existing 10 pumps in the company's CP Series. The new series of pumps are available in 115 and 230 volts. All are equipped with a mesh screen to prevent debris from entering the pump, low-level pickup, a...

Pacific Seismic products. (Products).
January 1, 2003... Vertical glass shut off valves are designed for residential, commercial and industrial applications. The valves come in sizes of 3/4" to 6" and "top in bottom out" or "bottom in top out" flow and are UL, California DSA and City of Los Angeles...

Slant/Fin. (Products).
January 1, 2003... The Baseline 70 is a new high-output, heavy duty, hot water baseboard. It is 9-1/4" high and features an 18-gauge cover, high strength support bracket and heat output 25% higher than a standard baseboard. It is factory assembled and packed in 2...

HeatLink USA. (Products).
January 1, 2003... The AirLink QuietCool is a pressurized duct air conditioning system and is available in sizes 1.5 to 5 tons with ETL certification. Offering three coil options--cooling, heat pump and chilled water--the AirLink comes with a 5-year parts and...

Conbraco. (Products).
January 1, 2003... The double check detector assemblies offer low heat loss and protect against cross-connection of non-hazardous water into safe drinking water systems. Sized from 2-1/2" to 10", the detector assemblies feature an FDA approved epoxy coated...

Hardcast. (Products).
January 1, 2003... The Foil-Grip 1402 181BFX, an indoor/outdoor duct sealant on a roll, offers HVAC contractors a means of sealing ducts for both the interior and exterior of any building. Foil-Grip is a pressure sensitive duct joint and general purpose rolled...

A.O. Smith Water Products Co. (Products).
January 1, 2003... The BTH 300 water heater has a 98% thermal efficiency rating and exceeds ASHRAE's federally mandated standard of 78%. The tank is insulated from top to bottom with a thick 1-1/8" foam. The sealed submerged combustion chamber reduces heat loss....

Grundfos. (Products).
January 1, 2003... The Super Brute UPS15-58FC/FRC three-speed pump with flexibility, torque and full-flow features works with hydronic heating and radiant panel installations, With 115 volt, 1/25 HP two-pole and single-phase motor, the Super Brute will be part of...

Watts Regulator Co. (Products).
January 1, 2003... The butterfly valve brochure features the company's complete line of butterfly valves and accessories. Each section includes product specification and dimensional information. Circle 189 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Peerless Heater Co. (Products).
January 1, 2003... The Series WV-DV direct vent, cast iron, oil-fired boiler for residential hot water systems are fully packaged and ready-to-install. A concentric vent termination kit is standard and includes vent termination, burner termination and flexible,...

Symmons Industries. (Products).
January 1, 2003... The S-70 Series metering faucets with numerous product upgrades and enhancements feature a large-surface-area and inline screen assembly that prevents supply line debris from fouling the cartridge unit. The company standardized its cartridges...

Remington[R]. (Products).
January 1, 2003... The Model 479 Power Trigger[TM] was added to the company's full line of Powder Actuated Fastening Tools. It is a single shot, inline trigger actuated tool that uses .22 caliber loads, and handles washered and non-washered power fasteners from...

Bradford White Corp. (CD Release).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Bradford White Corp. released its ProMark CD, which is a comprehensive advertising CD-ROM that features ways plumbing and heating companies and wholesalers need to promote their own businesses and Bradford White products. ProMark, which is...

Software Solutions. (People On The Move ...).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Software Solutions appointed Geoff Ashley as vice president, business development. In this newly created position, Ashley will be responsible for the company's Affiliate recruitment program, strategic alliances and business methodologies....

i2 Trade Service and Prelude Systems Inc. (CD Release).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... i2 Trade Service and Prelude Systems Inc. signed a partnership to merge their core strengths in content and business-to-business applications. The former will integrate its content delivery and e-commerce enabling solutions with Prelude's...

Keep things in perspective. (Editorial).(Editorial)
January 1, 2003... A radio news report mentioned that cumulative valuation of U.S. stocks has declined some $60 trillion during the market's slump the last three years. $60 TRILLION! With a T. That's an incomprehensive amount of money. It's about six times...