Supply House Times articles from October 2005

Supply House Times archives from October 2005

Hurricane Katrina: the industry responds.(News: Companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)
October 1, 2005... Representatives from various PHCP industry organizations participated in a teleconference call on Sept. 2 to shape an industry-wide response to Katrina relief and recovery. Coalition participants included ASA, ASPE, ASSE, IAPMO, PHCC, PMI,...

Chicago Faucets closes Des Plaines plant.(News: Companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)
October 1, 2005... When negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers proved unsuccessful, Chicago Faucets ceased manufacturing operations at its Des Plaines, Ill., facility,...

SAN plumbing supply and Grundfos pumps.(News: Companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)
October 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: SAN Plumbing Supply And Grundfos Pumps co-sponsored a "Night out with the dogs" as part of a promotion. The Phoenix-based wholesaler invited customers to buy two or more of any Grundfos pump products during...

Dormont Manufacturing.(People On The Move ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Dormont Manufacturing hired David Schneider as marketing manager for its residential strategic business unit. His experience includes 10 years as marketing manager for Red Valve Co., and the past three years as regional sales manager for...

Joe Roberts Sales Agency.(People On The Move ...)
October 1, 2005... Joe Roberts Sales Agency hired Monica Lauze as a sales associate, according to Joe Roberts, owner. Lauze has a strong engineering background to support the industrial PVF distributors in 13 Northeastern states and District of Columbia served by...

Hughes Supply.(acquires TVESCO)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Hughes Supply (Orlando, Fla.) completed its acquisition of TVESCO, which distributes transmission and distribution and electrical commercial and industrial products to municipal utility, electric cooperative utility and contractor customers...

Eaton Corp.(Acquisitions ...)
October 1, 2005... Eaton Corp. said it completed the purchase of Hayward Industries, an industrial filtration business with sales of about $100 million and 530 employees worldwide. Terms were not disclosed. Eaton, a diversified industrial manufacturer, reported...

Lee Brass.(Acquisitions ...)
October 1, 2005... Lee Brass was purchased in June by the Special Situations Fund L.P. in a 363 asset sale and is being operated independently by management with prior experience with the company. Bruce L. Jameson, formerly vice president/industrial, plumbing and...

Polypipe Building Products Ltd.(Acquisitions ...)
October 1, 2005... Polypipe Building Products Ltd., a manufacturer of plastic pipe systems for the United Kingdom domestic and civil construction markets, has been acquired by Castle Harlan Partners IV L.P., a private equity fund managed by Castle Harlan, a New...

Ferguson Enterprises.(Expansion ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Ferguson Enterprises (Newport News, Va.) is opening a 13,000-sq.-ft. showroom in Fort Myers, Fla., in October that will feature five live kitchens, a live laundry area and live electric and gas fireplaces. Appliances will be set up as if in the...

BC Plumbing Supplies.(Expansion ...)
October 1, 2005... BC Plumbing, division of B.A. Robinson Co. Ltd., Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, will open its fourth branch. A BCP Express is scheduled to open Oct. 17 at 2070 Paramount Crescent in Abbotsford, British Columbia. A showroom, operating under...

First supply hosts events.(News: Companies ... associations ... people ... government ... trends)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Madison, Wis.-based First Supply LLC held several events for its customers this summer: the Milwaukee Tool Day and Hog Roast, "A Night at the Races," and its 15th annual Product Show. More than 600 customers attended the Milwaukee Tool Day...

Moen Inc.(People On The Move ...)
October 1, 2005... Moen Inc. named Kathy Flinn director of marketing services--retail and Tom Liebhardt Jr. director of marketing services--wholesale. Formerly, Flinn served as a Moen consultant, working with the marketing services department. She has more than...

DECOLAV.(People On The Move ...)
October 1, 2005... DECOLAV named Brett Beadleson vice president of sales. He has more than 20 years of global sales and marketing experience. Most recently he was vice president of global sales at Cargill Flour (Horizon Milling). DECOLAV manufactures bathroom...

Kohler to open first store in Chicago this month.(News: Bath & Kitchen)
October 1, 2005... Kohler Co. is entering the retail arena with the opening of a 7,000-sq.-ft. flagship store in the LuxeHome area of the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, scheduled for mid-October. The store will feature functioning kitchen and bath products from its...

KWC America.(News: Bath & Kitchen)
October 1, 2005... KWC America hosted several distributors at its Norcross, Ga., headquarters for product training in late July. The company said it is committed to educating its teams and serving as a resource for the industry. KWC America manufactures kitchen,...

Elkay implements VMI with Central Supply.(News: Bath & Kitchen)
October 1, 2005... Elkay has successfully implemented its first Vendor Managed Inventory program for water cooler and fountain products in a pilot program initiated with Indianapolis-based wholesaler Central Supply. The program incorporates an EDI-based...

Danze.(News: Bath & Kitchen)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Danze now offers a custom shower system that enables homeowners to design their own shower experience. A range of components including body sprays, showerheads and handheld shower sprays, thermostatic valves and a four-port shower system...

Gerber opens Western distribution center.(News: Bath & Kitchen)
October 1, 2005... Gerber Plumbing Fixtures LLC opened its Western distribution center in La Mirada, Calif., in a 200,000-sq.-ft. facility near Long Beach. It will serve the west, northwest and southwest areas of the United States. The company now has four...

Polished chrome is favored faucet finish.(News: Bath & Kitchen)
October 1, 2005... The most frequently requested finish for Dornbracht s faucets is polished chrome, followed closely by platinum matte, polished platinum and brushed chrome, according to Jon Spector, president of U.S. operations for the German-based...

TOTO adds Aquia toilet to its green products line.(News: Bath & Kitchen)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... The stylish, high-efficiency dual flush Aquia toilet from TOTO enables users to select the level of water used each time the toilet is flushed--1.6 gallons for heavy or bulk waste or 0.9 gallons for light or liquid waste. "The Aquia will...

Bootz Industries.(News: Bath & Kitchen)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Bootz Industries introduced the Bootzcast five-foot bathtub at the 2005 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas last spring. The tub has a "comfort back" with a 40-degree lumbar support. Bootzcast is an engineered composite chemically bonded to...

SFA Saniflo.(Products ...)
October 1, 2005... SFA Saniflo offers the Sanigrind macerating toilet system that can be installed on the floor, in front of or behind the wall, while the toilet, shower and hand basin are positioned on a raised platform a few inches above it. This technology...

Harrington Brass Works.(Products ...)
October 1, 2005... Harrington Brass Works introduced the Dyno Crystal widespread lavatory faucet with crystal handles available in hues of white, pink, green or aqua-blue. It is offered in polished nickel, satin nickel or polnickel chrome finish. Circle 201...

Katrina disrupts Gulf Coast industry.(News: Pipe-Valves-Fittings)
October 1, 2005... The effects of Hurricane Katrina suspended many industrial plant operations in at least eight different counties in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. According to Houston's Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources), there are over...

Atlas Tube buys Copperweld.(News: Pipe-Valves-Fittings)
October 1, 2005... On Aug. 16, Copperweld entered into an agreement to sell 100% of the company's stock to Atlas Tube, of Harrow, Ontario, Canada. Concurrently, Dofasco Inc., headquartered in Hamilton, Ontario, will acquire the assets of Copperweld's Mechanical...

IPSCO.
October 1, 2005... IPSCO plans to increase its OCTG heat treat capacity at its Calgary, Alberta plant by more then 70%, and to increase its casing product range through modifications to tubular operations at both its Calgary and Regina, Saskatchewan operations.

Victaulic.
October 1, 2005... Victaulic released its new Vic 3D Piping Software designed for AutoCAD drawings that include Victaulic carbon steel, copper, ductile iron, HDPE, and stainless steel piping materials. The free software and upgrade are available on CD-ROM or for...

LASCO Fittings.
October 1, 2005... LASCO Fittings has revamped its CD Product Catalog. The cdCatalog has a new look and features that include interactive calculators to determine water hammer, friction head loss, pipe sizing, and pipe design properties. Visit...

Cost of nonferrous pipe, tube and fittings.
October 1, 2005... Cost of nonferrous pipe tube and fittings rose 14.5% in the Producer Price Index between July 2005 and July 2004, compared with a -0.4% decline in the previous year-to-year comparison.

Maverick Tube Corp.(PVF Personnel Transitions)
October 1, 2005... Maverick Tube Corp. announced it has accepted the resignation of James Cowan, 47, its president and chief operating officer. C. Robert Bunch, the company's CEO, will assume the title of president. The company has no current plans to fill the...

Arrowhead Brass Products.(PVF Personnel Transitions)
October 1, 2005... Arrowhead Brass Products has named George Long as director of sales. Long is a 35-year industry veteran, and spent the last 20 years as owner and president of George Long Sales, including the last 15 representing Red and White Valve Co. and...

SPX Process Equipment.(PVF Personnel Transitions)
October 1, 2005... SPX Process Equipment has appointed Bruce Smith eastern regional manager for its North American Sanitary sales team. He brings 30 years of experience in the sales, marketing and application of sanitary process equipment. Previously, he has held...

Show me the money: take these 11 steps to improve cash flow and your bottom line.(Adamson PVFSupply)
October 1, 2005... Money is the ultima measure. When you keep track of the money, your PVF company will be successful. Here are 11 simple steps to making and keeping the money in your business. Some steps may seem simple and downright obvious--but are you...

ECR shows community spirit.(News: Hydronics/HVACR)
October 1, 2005... About 50 ECR International employees and their families volunteered their time in July for the Boilermaker Road Race, and 10 ECR employees ran the race. The Boilermaker was created in 1976 to thank the community for its support of Utica Boilers...

A/C shipments up from last July.(News: Hydronics/HVACR)(Air-Conditioning )
October 1, 2005... Combined shipments of 892,640 central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for July were up 21% compared to the same month last year, according to the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI). Heat pump shipments of 203,542 were...

J.C. Whitlam Manufacturing Co.(News: Hydronics/HVACR)
October 1, 2005... J.C. Whitlam Manufacturing Co. recently honored A. Louis Supply Co. of Ashtabula, Ohio with a Milestone Achievement Award. The wholesaler has distributed the company's products for more than 100 years. Pictured are Rick Coblitz, president of A....

Companies rebuild New York fire station.(News: Hydronics/HVACR)
October 1, 2005... After the Sept. 11 attacks in New York, Dierks Heating Co. helped repair Engine Company 10/Ladder Company 10. John Dierks, vice president and HVAC contractor, arranged for the donation of equipment and labor from a variety of industry sources...

R.E. Michel Co.(Acquisition ...)
October 1, 2005... R.E. Michel Co., Glen Burnie, Md., recently acquired Dealers LP Equipment, Memphis, Tenn., a wholesale supplier of propane-moving equipment. Dealers has branches in Jackson, Miss.; Dothan, Ala.; Hickory, N.C.; Louisville, Ky.; and Davenport,...

Lochinvar[R] Corp.(Product News ...)
October 1, 2005... Lochinvar[R] Corp. introduced SMART SYSTEM[TM] advanced operating controls on its new KNIGHT[TM] high efficiency, condensing heating boiler. A two-line, 16-character backlit LCD display allows communication with an installer or technician in...

United CoolAir Corp.(Partnership ...)
October 1, 2005... United CoolAir Corp., a manufacturer of flexible commercial and portable cooling/heating equipment, awarded Air Conditioning Equipment Sales of Richmond, Va., the Virginia territory with exclusive rights to distribute its products within the...

Filtration Group Canada.(merged with Dafco Filtration Products )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Filtration Group Canada, a subsidiary of Illinois-based Filtration Group, has merged with Dafco Filtration Products to form Dafco Filtration Group Corp. With complementary HVAC air filtration products, the new company will focus its attention...

Unilux Advanced Manufacturing LLC.(appoints Justin Brown )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Unilux Advanced Manufacturing LLLC named Justin Brown regional sales manager, a new position. His 15-plus years of professional experience include more than five years involved with design, sales and manufacturing of multi-pass bent water tube...

ICOR International.(E-Newsletter ...)
October 1, 2005... ICOR International offers "ICORUMBA," an electronic newsletter that includes technical support tips, major EPA legislation information, answers to safety concerns and refrigeration success stories. It can be accessed through the company's Web...

Uponor Wirsbo.(Uponor Wirsbo facilities)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Uponor Wirsbo broke ground in September for a 43,500-sq.-ft. addition to its Apple Valley, Minn. headquarters that will expand its office and manufacturing space. Pictured, left to right: Tom Lawell, Apple Valley City Administrator; Jan Lang,...

York honors Virginia Air.(News: Hydronics/HVACR)
October 1, 2005... Virginia Air, Richmond, Va., was the first place winner in York's National Distributor Contest. A York distributor since 1987, Virginia Air operates 13 locations in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The company...

RBI.(Products)
October 1, 2005... RBI offers new vertical glass lined jacketed and insulated or bare ASME storage tanks, designed to provide a large volume supply of hot water at a constant outlet temperature. They range in size from 200 to 3,000-gallon capacities. The tanks...

Watts Radiant.(Products)
October 1, 2005... Watts Radiant introduced a zone valve/actuator control designed to operate zone valves or circuit thermal actuators. Master controls are equipped with valve and thermostat terminals, incoming 24 volt power connection and two 8 amp, dry contact...

Keystone HELP provides energy efficient home improvements.(News: Hydronics/HVACR)
October 1, 2005... AFC First Financial Corp., in partnership with West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund, has formed Keystone HELP (Home Energy Loan Program) to serve residential customers of Allegheny Power in western and central Pennsylvania. The program...

Coleman[R] heating and air conditioning honors Webb Distributors.(News: Hydronics/HVACR)
October 1, 2005... Coleman awarded a $10,000 grand prize package to Phoenix-based Webb Distributors, as first place winner of its National Distributor Contest. The prize package included a Dell desktop computer, thermal electronic white board, the services of a...

Provia Software.(Software News ...)
October 1, 2005... Provia Software has developed a Warehouse Management System Request For Proposal scoring template to help companies evaluate vendors with WMS solutions. Built with an open, editable architecture, it can be tailored to address three specific...

Johnson Controls.(Software News ...)
October 1, 2005... Johnson Controls has made hardware and software enhancements to its Metasys[R] building management system. It now features a broader family of network automation engines that will reduce the cost of integration to BAC-net, LonWorks, current and...

Prophet 21.(Partnership ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Prophet 21 was named the exclusive technology provider for NetPlus Alliance, a distribution buying group. As part of a special agreement, all NetPlus Alliance members can now access Trading Partner Connect an Internet trading network for...

Parts to your door.(News: Technology)
October 1, 2005... Parts to Your Door (Reading, Pa.), an HVAC distributor, is using iCode's Everest to automate its business and increase its online presence. Everest is a fully integrated business application suite that enables small to medium sized businesses...

Katrina and the PHCP industry: the nation's worst natural disaster ever brought out the best in PHCP industry citizens.(Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Piping Industry)
October 1, 2005... The worst part was the long days and even weeks being out of touch with loved ones and business associates. Ferguson, Hughes Supply, Coburn Supply, McJunkin and Red Man Pipe & Supply were some of the PHCP distributors that suffered a week or...

What should distributors do after Katrina? Above all else, resist the impulse to hoard.
October 1, 2005... If the City of New Orleans and the states that were most hit by Hurricane Katrina are wise, they will follow the model of Los Angeles after the Northridge Earthquake of 1994. Then Governor Pete Wilson exercised his full emergency powers to...

The green building revolution: it's not for tree huggers only.(Special Report)
October 1, 2005... David Gottfried gave a speech earlier this year at the convention of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) that put me on the verge of upchucking. Gottfried is a developer and construction manager by backround, and main...

A "white paper" review of green building: mandate by government will become increasingly common.(Special Report)(Reprint)
October 1, 2005... Today we are beginning to see the emergence of a new trend that eventually will change how all buildings are built and maintained. The name of this new concept is the Green Building. A green building is exactly what you would think it would...

Network '05: experience. The difference.(ASA NEWS: AMERICAN SUPPLY ASSOCIATION)
October 1, 2005... The smiles here are on (l to r) Frank Finkel of Davis & Warshow, John Vogt of National Supply Co., and John M. McDonald III of Brock McVey Company. McDonald was the recipient of the Fred V. Keenan Lifetime Achievement Award on September 8,...

The foundation corner.(ASA NEWS: AMERICAN SUPPLY ASSOCIATION NEWS)
October 1, 2005... A heartfelt thank you to our many customers and contributors to the Karl E. Neupert Endowment Fund who visited with us in the ASA booth at the Network '05 "Channel Marketplace" in Orlando. We always learn a lot from our customers and thoroughly...

Do you have any idea where your showroom is headed? A long-term, well-thought-out showroom business plan will benefit your company.(Darlington on Showrooms)
October 1, 2005... As I travel the United States and Canada working with wholesalers on the showroom side of their business, I am amazed how few have any formal plans on where they want to take this important side of their business. In fact, I've yet to work with...

Four-knob refrigerant manifolds (gages) and a vacuum: here is how to perform proper evacuation.(Wheeler on HVACR)
October 1, 2005... With all the renewed concern about keeping moisture and air out of air conditioning and refrigeration systems, there is very little printed information to show how proper evacuation should be performed. So, here is a brief description that you...

E-mail: how did we survive without it? Protect this valuable business tool.(Shane on Information Technology For The SmallBusiness)
October 1, 2005... The first e-mail was reportedly sent in 1971. Since then, billions of messages have gone screaming across town and around the world! Today, there are an estimated 684 million e-mail users worldwide, so I guess inventing e-mail was a good idea!...

J.O. Galloup.(Relocation ...)
October 1, 2005... J.O. Galloup Co., Battle Creek, Mich., said it is moving its Smith Instrument business based in Warren, Mich., to a new facility at 1987 Concept Drive in Warren. Smith Instrument, owned by J. O. Galloup Co., is an industrial distributor of...

Aquatherm.(Certification ...)
October 1, 2005... Aquatherm said its polypropylene pipe and fittings were awarded ESR 1613 listing by ICC, which certifies that they meet all of the relevant plumbing codes. The pipe and fittings also are certified by NSF to their standards 14, 51, 61, and ASTM...

American Supply Association.(Training Aid ...)
October 1, 2005... American Supply Association now offers the Employee Performance Tool Kit, including a 100-page book and CD-ROM with templates, checklists and samples in Microsoft Word format. It provides 21 sample job descriptions for jobs in industrial...

Canplas LLC.(Product News ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Canplas LLC, a manufacturer of plastic plumbing products, has added more than 200 products including shower drains, bell trap drains, grease interceptors, hanger straps, access panels, water pans, clean-out plugs, surface drainage products,...

In celebration of self-reliance: Katrina's hellacious legacy obscures the glory of individual initiative.(Editorial)(real heroes of Katrina are thousands of individuals)(Editorial)
October 1, 2005... For a few days, it seemed every TV camera in the country was beamed on the New Orleans Superdome. Correspondents endlessly described the hellish conditions inside, so we all bore witness to anarchy, although who knows how much of what we heard...