Supply House Times articles from March 2008

Supply House Times archives from March 2008

Fluidmaster.(People On The Move)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fluidmaster named Mark Rhoades to the new position of chief marketing officer. Most recently he was president of SitOnIt Inc., a manufacturer of commercial seating products.

Grundfos.(People On The Move)
March 1, 2008... Grundfos promoted Chris Zelenka to regional segment manager for Commercial Building Services in North America. Zelenka has been working with PACO Pumps, a Grundfos company, since May 1995. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Uponor North America.(People On The Move)
March 1, 2008... Uponor North America hired William Gray as general manager for Canada. Most recently, he spent seven years with ITT Corp. --Residential & Commercial Water Canada. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Lennox International Inc.(People On The Move)
March 1, 2008... Lennox International Inc.'s representative for Canadian Government and Industry Affairs, Bill Vale, announced his retirement effective Mar. 31, 2008. Vale has served in his current position since 2005 and began his career at Lennox in 1974.

RHOL.(People On The Move)
March 1, 2008... ROHL hired John (Jay) Dauksas as Western division vice president of sales. He most recently worked as the director of business development for Top Notch Distributors, a national wholesaler of architectural door hardware.

Emerson Climate Technologies.(People On The Move)
March 1, 2008... Emerson Climate Technologies appointed Alan Abramson president of Clive Samuels & Associates. Prior to joining Emerson, Abramson led and worked for various facility engineering firms. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In addition, John R. Ward...

LAARS Heating Systems Co.(Rep Update ...)
March 1, 2008... LAARS Heating Systems Co. selected Signature Sales (Corona, CA) as its manufacturers representative for both commercial and residential product lines in Southern California.

American Standard America, Crane and Eljer to merge.(NEWS & information: Companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)
March 1, 2008... Bath and kitchen product manufacturer AS America Inc. (American Standard America) plans to merge with Crane Plumbing LLC and Eljer Inc. in the second quarter of 2008, integrating the companies' operations within a 12- to 24-month period. ...

NAW execs ponder best practices, bleak economics.(NEWS & information: Companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)
March 1, 2008... Nine successful distributors from diverse product sectors shared some of their companies' key business strategies in a series of "best practices" panel discussions at this year's Executive Summit of the National Association of...

Obituaries.(NEWS & information: Companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)(Obituary)
March 1, 2008... John A. Chernak, who served as president of Tomlinson Industries from 1966 through 1994, died Jan. 22. He had joined the company in 1957. He became chairman of Tomlinson in 1995, and from 1996 until his retirement in December 2003 he was a...

Prier Products.(Rep Update ...)
March 1, 2008... Prier Products appointed Ashworth-Train & Associates (Indianapolis, IN) as its exclusive representative for the state of Indiana.

Watts Regular Co.(Rep Update ...)
March 1, 2008... Watts Regulator Co. named Disney-McLane and Associates (Cincinnati, OH) as its 2007 "Golden Regulator" Representative of the Year.

Cliplight Mfg. Co.(Rep Update ...)
March 1, 2008... Cliplight Mfg. Co. named manufacturers representative Central States Marketing (St. Louis, MO) as its Diamond Sales Agency 2007-Sales Per Capita (HVAC/R) at the 2008 AHR Expo.

Dectron Internationale.(Rep Update ...)
March 1, 2008... Dectron Internationale named manufacturers representative SRS Enterprises (Brooklyn, NY) as its Rep of the Year--2007 at the 2008 AHR Expo for sales of the company's IAQ products.

A supply house times exclusives.(Statistical table)(Survey)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... A SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES Exclusive Residential Building Permit Activity Regional & Local Market Survey DECEMBER 2007 Residential Permits Local Markets Region Dec. 07 YTD...

Viega announced that stars from the TLC television show "American Chopper," (pictured, L to R) Paul Teutul Jr., Mikey Teutul and Paul Teutul Sr., of Orange County Choppers, presented a custom-made motorcycle to Viega CEO Dan Schmierer (with microphone).(NEWS & information: Companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)
March 1, 2008... Viega announced that stars from the TLC television show "American Chopper," (pictured, L to R) Paul Teutul Jr., Mikey Teutul and Paul Teutul Sr., of Orange County Choppers, presented a custom-made motorcycle to Viega CEO Dan Schmierer (with...

EZ Trap and SlimDuct have merged with Airtec Products Corp.(Mergers, Acquisitions ...)
March 1, 2008... EZ Trap and SlimDuct. have merged with Airtec Products Corp. and will operate under the Airtec name. The former EZ Trap facility in Edison, NJ, has been closed and consolidated into the Airtec facility in Fall River, MA.

Eclipse Enviro.(Mergers, Acquisitions ...)
March 1, 2008... Eclipse Enviro (Cambridge, Ontario), the North American distributor of fan manufacturer AB CA Ostberg of Sweden, has been acquired by the company and will form a new division, Ostberg Americas Inc.

Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Advanced Products Division.(Green News ...)
March 1, 2008... Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Advanced Products Division announced it has become a manufacturer member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The 2008 AHR Expo.(Trade Shows, Conferences ...)
March 1, 2008... The 2008 AHR Expo, held Jan. 22-24 in New York City, set records for registered visitors (excluding exhibitors) and registered international attendees.

The Heating, Airconditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI).(Trade Shows, Conferences ...)
March 1, 2008... The Heating, Airconditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) Southeastern Regional Meeting will be held April 13-15, 2008, at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village, St. Augustine, FL. For details, visit...

George T. Sanders Co.(Trade Shows, Conferences ...)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Wholesaler George T. Sanders Co., Wheat Ridge, CO, hosted its second annual Affiliated Distributors Field Marketing Summit Jan. 17. Among the attendees were Tom Tooley, president; Scott Horner, chief operations officer; Dave Smith, purchasing...

Ferguson.(Expansion ...)
March 1, 2008... Ferguson (Newport News, VA) opened a 9,600-sq.-ft. facility in Winchester, VA, that includes a gallery showroom for plumbing and building products.

WinWholesale.(Expansion ...)
March 1, 2008... WinWholesale (Dayton, OH) opened Gulf Coast Winnelson Co. in Port Charlotte, FL, to serve the counties of Charlotte, Collier, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota.

First Supply.(Expansion ...)
March 1, 2008... >> First Supply (Madison, WI) opened a location in New Brighton, MN. Mark Stern is branch manager.

PHAC Products.(Expansion ...)
March 1, 2008... PHAC Products, a master distributor of plumbing products, has relocated to a 23,000-sq.-ft. warehouse in Albany, NY.

Atlas Sales & Rentals.(Expansion ...)
March 1, 2008... Atlas Sales & Rentals (Torrance, CA), a distributor of portable air-conditioning equipment for the non-residential market, added two new offices in Atlanta and Denver.

Nordyne.(Awards ...)
March 1, 2008... Nordyne received the 2008 AHR Expo Product of the Year Award for its 23-SEER air conditioner with iQ Drive.

Emerson Climate Technologies.(Awards ...)
March 1, 2008... >> Emerson Climate Technologies won a 2008 AHR Expo Innovation Award in the refrigeration category for its Copeland SystemPro condensing unit. Also, an Innovation Award Honorable Mention was awarded to its White-Rodgers Thermostat Kit with...

Uponor's.(Training, Certification ...)
March 1, 2008... Dates for Uponor's 2008 Factory Training Program are now available at www.uponor-usa.com.

Heating, Airconditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI).(Training, Certification ...)
March 1, 2008... The Heating, Airconditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) announced the Hydronic Distributor Workshop, May 19, 2008, in Hartford, CT. Hydronics experts Dan Holohan of Dan Holohan Associates and John Barba of TACO Inc....

HVAC Excellence.(Training, Certification ...)
March 1, 2008... HVAC Excellence and Ferris State University are offering the Green Awareness program for corporate trainers of manufacturers, distributors, contractors, etc., as well as training organizations and traditional technical educators.

AirAdvice Inc.(Training, Certification ...)
March 1, 2008... AirAdvice Inc. has launched the HomeAdvice Certification Program for HVAC professionals interested in indoor air quality (IAQ) training and growth strategy development.

Johnson Controls.(Training, Certification ...)
March 1, 2008... Johnson Controls offers the Future Hires Program (FHP), a workforce development strategy that guarantees jobs for select students enrolled in their first year of the HVACR associate degree programs at CareerConnect partner schools.

The Lubrizol Corp.(Web Sites ...)
March 1, 2008... The Lubrizol Corp. enhanced its Web site, www.systemcompatible.com, for customers and end users of FlowGuard Gold, BlazeMaster and Corzan pipe and fittings.

Engenuity Systems.(Web Sites ...)
March 1, 2008... Engenuity Systems announced its restructured Web site, www.engenuity.com, at the 2008 AHR Expo.

ProTech Systems.(Web Sites ...)
March 1, 2008... ProTech Systems launched its new Web site, www.protechinfo.com, featuring improved navigation and a contemporary look. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Activant Solutions.(Technology News ...)
March 1, 2008... Activant Solutions introduced the Automated Backup Solution for Activant Prophet 21.

OMNI Corporate Services Ltd.(Technology News ...)
March 1, 2008... OMNI Corporate Services Ltd. selected Activant Solutions as a preferred technology provider.

DeWALT.(Technology News ...)
March 1, 2008... DeWALT, a manufacturer of industrial power tools, collaborated with Ford Motor Co. to launch Tool Link, a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) asset tracking system.

Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute.(Industry News ...)
March 1, 2008... The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute announced that combined U.S. factory shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for December totaled 330,698, a 16% drop compared with December 2006 totals. Combined...

Danfoss Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, North America.(Industry News ...)
March 1, 2008... Danfoss Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, North America published EnVisioneering Insights magazine that addresses the global engineering, energy and environmental challenges facing the HVAC&R and related industries.

IPS Corp.(Industry News ...)
March 1, 2008... IPS Corp. contributed product and technical expertise to a Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association humanitarian project in Colinas de Suiza, Villanueva, Honduras, in conjunction with the Colorado School of Mines and the Food for Poor Foundation.

RJS undergoes management transition.(NEWS & information: Pipe ... valves ... fittings)
March 1, 2008... Robert-James Sales (Buffalo, NY), a distributor of stainless steel piping products, appointed James Bokor Jr. as president. He succeeds his father James Bokor Sr., who along with uncle Robert Glidden founded the company in 1972. Bokor Sr. and...

China charged with dumping stainless pipe.(News & information: Pipe ... valves ... fittings)
March 1, 2008... Recently, four U.S. producers--Bristol Metals, Felker Brothers Corp., Outokumpu Stainless Pipe and Marcegaglia USA--and the United Steelworkers union filed antidumping and countervailing duty petitions before the U.S. Department of Commerce...

Parker Hannifin Names Popoff head of filtration group.(News & information: Pipe ... valves ... fittings)
March 1, 2008... Parker Hannifin Corp. named Peter Popoff president of the company's Filtration Group. Popoff replaces John Oelslager, who will retire Mar. 31, 2008, after more than 41 years of service. Popoff had been group vice president of operations for...

Victaulic promotes Thau, Renner.(News & information: Pipe ... valves ... fittings)
March 1, 2008... Victaulic promoted Larry Thau to executive vice president and chief technical officer. A 35-year company veteran, he most recently was vice president-engineering. Also, Jim Renner was promoted from director of marketing and communication to...

Piping Systems training starts in March.(News & information: Pipe ... valves ... fittings)
March 1, 2008... Engineered Software, producers of hydraulic analysis software, established a new division, Fluid Fundamentals Training. Its new Piping System Fundamentals is a two-day course that awards continuing education credits or professional development...

News on the Web.(News & information: Pipe ... valves ... fittings)
March 1, 2008... Visit www.supplyht.com to learn more about the following: * Voluntary recall of certain models of Rinnai's direct-vent wall furnaces. * Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Advanced Products Division and its City Multi VRFZ (variable refrigerant...

Anvil to co-market seismic products with ISAT.(News & information: Pipe ... valves ... fittings)
March 1, 2008... Anvil International and International Seismic Application Technology (ISAT) announced a marketing initiative to jointly sell products for seismic applications in commercial and industrial buildings in the U.S. ISAT provides seismic bracing...

U.S. gained 140 new plants last year.(News & information: Pipe ... valves ... fittings)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... In 2007, 408 industrial plants employing almost 29,000 people began operations in the U.S., according to Industrial Information Resources (www.industrialinfo.com). At the same time, 268 plants employing almost 57,000 people closed and ceased...

U.S. fuel production sets new record.(News & information: Pipe ... valves ... fittings)(Brief article)(Statistical data)
March 1, 2008... U.S. fuel production reached a record high in 2007 as refinery capacity expanded for the 11th straight year, API data shows. U.S. crude oil production also rose in 2007, the first annual increase since 1991, according to API's year-end Monthly...

Shake up sales: shake up the system--not just the personnel.(ADAMS on PVF Supply)
March 1, 2008... Simple business math tells us that it all comes down to sales: No sales = No business Lots of sales (with healthy margins) = Successful business Growing sales (with decent margins) = Growing business It doesn't matter...

A-line stainless steel products.(Product Preview)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITED] 1 Professional restaurant-style stainless steel products can enhance your showroom and excite your customers with design possibilities for their home. Island dine counters, a beverage center, and laundry sinks are...

Decorative shower drain.(Product Preview)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2 Available in 30 finishes, StyleDrain boasts California Faucets' patent-pending decorative design with no visible screws and flush grill plate for smooth styling and ultimate foot comfort. It complements the...

Earth friendly bathroom cleaner.(Product Preview)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 3 KRC-7 RESTORE is an earth-friendly, water-based bathroom cleaner that combines safety, effectiveness and ease of use. Chemique says that RESTORE easily removes hard water stains, soap scum, calcium, lime, mold and...

Concealed tank and carrier system.(Product Preview)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 4 Geberit's concealed tank and carrier system, which allows for the toilet to be mounted on the wall vs. the floor, has been introduced to the U.S. market. Its carrier system incorporates dual-flush capability for...

The Gleco Trap.(Product Preview)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 5 Liquid Assets says its patented, UPC-approved Gleco Trap is an easy-to-install and easy-to-maintain sink trap designed to replace the P-trap under standard sinks. It traps sediment in a translucent plastic bottle....

DWV testing system.(Product Preview)
March 1, 2008... 6 The IAPMO-approved Tru Top Test tee with a pre-installed, removable testing device is designed to withstand over 40 psi and can be installed in a vertical or horizontal position. When the test top is removed, the fitting should be left with a...

Sinks for Life catalog.(Product Preview)
March 1, 2008... 7 The 82-page Houzer Sinks for Life catalog contains information about the company's stainless steel sinks, such as the Medallion pictured here, as well as custom accessories, specifications, a model index and an accessory selector. ...

Dual-Articulating faucet.(Product Preview)
March 1, 2008... 8 Xylem's Dual Art faucet is a patented design that features a dual-articulating feature at the end of the spout, where it connects to the body. The design allows the water to seamlessly flow without spillage when used with any type of vessel...

Versatile swivel attachment.(Product Preview)
March 1, 2008... 9 TOLCO's Figure 75 has 360[degrees]/90[degrees] swivel properties that make it easier for the installer to hang rods on a pitched roof, and to use it as an upper attachment for fire protection branch line restraint or as a seismic attachment...

Pre-assembled sewage package system.(Product Preview)
March 1, 2008... 10 The Simplex 912 24-inch by 24-inch pre-assembled package system contains a 41-gallon capacity, exceeding that of a traditional 18-inch by 30-inch package system. The 360[degrees] molded handle acts as a secondary anti-flotation device. Flat...

The sky is falling ... or is it? The U.S. wholesale bathroom product market declined by 11.4% last year. Recovery may come sooner than many expect.(Economic Outlook)(United States economic conditions)(Statistical table)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Recently we received an e-mail from an anxious acquaintance. He recommended short selling all investments and sitting on the sidelines as the U.S. and global economies were slated to go through one of the worst...

Best practices for operating great showrooms: consistency in how you run your showroom is paramount for maximum success.(Best Practices)(Personal account)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I am so very pleased and proud to write a 50th anniversary article for Supply House Times. This terrific magazine has been serving this great industry for 50 years! I'm not sure what the "life" of trade magazines is,...

Bath planning: here are factors to consider when designing bathrooms for an aging population.(NKBA)
March 1, 2008... In partnership with the National Kitchen & Bath Association, SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES continues its year-long kitchen and bath educational series with a look at planning baths and selecting the appropriate products for an aging population. This...

An in-depth look at WaterSense: an interview with Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.(WaterSense)(Interview)
March 1, 2008... SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES: The EPA has stated that if every home in the United States installed WaterSense-labeled faucets or faucet aerators in the bathrooms, we would save 60 billion gallons of water annually--saving households more than $350...

Letter from the ASA president.(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2008... Dear Industry Colleagues, ASA's Government Affairs Committee and the Board of Directors have set an ambitious agenda for this year that also lays the groundwork for 2009--when we have a new President and Congress. To implement the agenda,...

AHR Expo 2008 part 1: the growing use of micro-channel coils in HVAC equipment results in smaller, lighter products that hold their efficiency better and use less refrigerant.
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This year, the 2008 AHR Expo (the HVACR industry's largest trade show) was held in New York City on January 22-25, at the city's Jacob Javits Center on the southwest side of Manhattan. This was the largest and most...

Branding for showrooms: branding your business, not the products you sell, is the first step to connecting with buyers.(SHOWROOM BRANDING)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A disturbing new trend was first identified in a respected industry forecast more than a dozen years ago. The report found that up to 25% of homeowners planning a kitchen or bath remodel did not complete the project....

ASA goes to Washington, D.C.! Jeff New and Mike Adelizzi address member issues with government partners.(NEWS AMERICAN SUPPLY ASSOCIATION: Companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)
March 1, 2008... ASA's President Jeff New and Executive Vice President Mike Adelizzi were recently in Washington, D.C. and spent a full day meeting with members of Congress and governmental agencies to promote ASA's position on issues impacting the PHCP/PVF...

ASA showroom managers council a huge success: over 80 participants at inaugural meeting.(NEWS AMERICAN SUPPLY ASSOCIATION: Companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)(American Subcontractors' Association)(ASA Showroom Managers Council)
March 1, 2008... Over 80 representatives from ASA member wholesalers and manufacturers came together at the inaugural meeting of the ASA Showroom Managers Council, December 4-5, 2007 in Chicago. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The two-day event featured...

ASA board of directors sets 2008 legislative agenda: actions set on legislative and regulatory initiatives.(NEWS: Companies ... associations ... people ... government ...)
March 1, 2008... ASA's Government Affairs Committee presented its recommended 2008 Legislative Agenda to the ASA Board of Directors at the recent Winter Meeting. "We put together an aggressive agenda," shares Don Robertson, Chairman of the Government Affairs...

Is your showroom staff up to snuff? Targeted training answers building demand.(NEWS: Companies ... associations ... people ... government ...)
March 1, 2008... Last month at the Omni buying group meeting, showroom expert Ellen Cheever addressed new trends in showroom design and new techniques for managing successful showrooms. Yet, when asked about where attendees could find quality sales training for...

Kinetic Water Ram[TM] clears drains with shock action.(Supply House Times: Information Showcase)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The compact Kinetic Water Ram[TM] from General Pipe Cleaners quickly clears clogged sinks, tubs and toilets with a burst of compressed air that drives a shock wave through the water to break up the stoppage. Just...

The JRS products 811 series polypropylene grease interceptor.(Supply House Times: Information Showcase)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 811 polypropylene grease interceptor removes, then retains fat, oil and grease from wastewater. The 811 series is injection molded in engineered thermoplastics, so it won't corrode. The tank is injection molded...

The finest tankless electric water heaters available.(Supply House Times: Information Showcase)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Stiebel Eltron offers the finest tankless electric water heaters available. Its Tempra DHC-E outperforms bulky hot water tanks and reduces hot water pipe runs. It offers the best warranty in the industry. For more...

General's new metro-rooter offers root-cutting power at a bargain price.(Supply House Times: Information Showcase)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] General Pipe Cleaners' new economical Metro-Rooter[TM] is the Mini-Rooter[TM] of root cutting machines. With a capacity of 75 feet of 5/8-inch Flexicore[R] wire rope center cable, it handles roots and other tough...

WWW.METROPAC.COM--buy online and save.(Supply House Times: Information Showcase)
March 1, 2008... Metropac offers 3% 30-day payment terms on all orders placed online at www.metropac.com. Metropac's intuitive Web order entry system is a fast, convenient way for you to save even more on a wide range of commercial and residential HVAC/R...

Supply stops.(Information Showcase)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ACCOR[R] Technology has announced a new product that enables plumbers to PUSHON[R] the new Flowtite[R] R-SERIES[TM] supply stop valve/ connector directly over the old brass compression ferrule. No ferrule pullers or...

JRS products catalog.(Supply House Times: Information Showcase)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.[R] has developed a products catalog specifically for JRS Products--products for light commercial and design-build projects. This catalog is laid out by product category and figure number, so...

General's Autocut[TM] copper tubing cutter now available in 1-inch size.(Supply House Times: Information Showcase)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 1-inch AutoCut[TM] copper tubing cutter from General Pipe Cleaners slices tubing in tight spots--even with less than 1 inch of clearance from a wall when doing stub-out work. The 1-inch AutoCut fits in the palm...

General's new Gen-Eye GL[TM] video inspection/location system.(Supply House Times: Information Showcase)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new Gen-Eye GL[TM] video inspection system from General Pipe Cleaners now offers a self-leveling color camera and DVD recorder. The self-leveling camera automatically keeps your picture right-side up as the...

Pro-Connect valves.(Supply House Times: Information Showcase)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Webstone has introduced a full line of heavy-duty brass valves for use with all types of crimp and quick-connect fittings. The Pro-Connect[R] line of valves features copper tube-sized male ends that are machine...