Reeves Journal articles from September 2002

Reeves Journal archives from September 2002

God's Country. (Pipeline).(taking a vacation)(Editorial)
September 1, 2002... Each month, this magazine does its best to give plumbing and HVAC contractors information that will help them generate more sales and--hopefully--enable them to increase their profits year to year. What we don't talk about much is the need for...

Using a preliminary notice to collect on payment bonds. (Legal Corner).
September 1, 2002... We strongly urge people sending out preliminary notices to serve a notice, whether it be called a preliminary bond notice on public works or a preliminary notice on private works on the bonding company--as well as others that are required to be...

Sears, ServiceMaster team up. (Contractor News).(ServiceMaster Home Service Center; Sears, Roebuck and Co., home repair partnership)
September 1, 2002... Two of the nation's biggest home and product repair services companies -- The SERVICEMASTER Home Service Center, a subsidiary of The ServiceMaster Company, and Sears, Roebuck and Co.--have partnered to provide ServiceMaster customers more...

California construction volume falls. (Contractor News).(statewide construction activity, statistics)
September 1, 2002... California's statewide construction activity for the first six months of 2002 is down 8 percent from the corresponding period last year, totaling $31 billion. According to statistical data compiled by the Construction Industry Research...

University Mechanical Contractors, Inc. (People).(new general manager)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Rich Happel has joined Seattle-based University Mechanical Contractors, Inc. as general manager. He will be responsible for operations and sales of UMC's growing service group. Happel has over 20 years experience in the HVAC service industry...

Murphy Co. Mechanical Contractors Inc. (People).(new project manager)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Keith Motz, P.E., has joined Murphy Co. Mechanical Contractors Inc. as a project manager. Motz earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Washington Univ. He is a registered professional engineer in Missouri and a certified welding...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
September 1, 2002... Due to an editing error, Rick White, owner of California Plumbing and Solar Inc., Simi Valley, Calif., was incorrectly named in July's TechTopic "Modular Homes Include Energy Saving Systems." RJ regrets the error.

Calendar.
September 1, 2002... Sept. 22-27 IAPMO 73rd Annual Education and Business Conference The Westin, Westminster Denver, Colo. www.iapmo.org 909/595-8449 Sept. 29-30 Codes Expo 2002 Joint Annual Conference ICBO, BOCA and SBCCI...

Protect, grow and enjoy. (Business Strategies).
September 1, 2002... You're the owner of a plumbing company, in charge of your employees and your clients' comfort. You're also in charge of the company's success. So what duties must you perform everyday to ensure continued growth and profitability as well as your...

Plan ahead, buy direct and save big bucks. (Vehicle Maintenance).(fleet management)
September 1, 2002... Most people have learned that if you want to get the best price on an item, you should wait until the item is no longer "brand new." This strategy works with all kinds of purchases, from clothing to furniture. However, sometimes it's best to...

Leak detection pioneer: veteran equipment designer talks about the advancements in residential leak detection and what contractors should know before they purchase equipment. (Q & A).(Vision Technology's Jack Felix)(Interview)
September 1, 2002... Jack Felix, president of Modesto, Calif-based Vision Technology, recently spoke to Reeves Journal about leak detection systems. Felix, a former leak detection contractor, has been designing and manufacturing leak detection equipment for...

Cal OSHA certification extension expires in October. (Q & A).(Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules on electrical safety of all electrical sewer equipment in California)
September 1, 2002... The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued on June 21, 2002, a decision in favor of a Complaint About State Program Administration (CASPA) regarding electrical safety of all electrical sewer equipment used in...

Sun money: the lure of solar power to drive HVAC systems is being aided by incentives from the federal government and local utilities. (Solar Power).
September 1, 2002... Solar electricity is not reliable and it's too expensive. That's what Subhendu Guh, president of Michigan-based United Solar Systems Corporation says are among the common misconceptions about solar power and its incorporation into a building or...

Energy-wise snow melt system: the Village at Mammoth includes a Class 2 system. (Radiant Heat).
September 1, 2002... When the Village at Mammoth, Mammoth Lakes, Calif., is completed (Phase 1 in early 2003) it will feature a Class 2 snow melt system covering 41,000 square feet. Once all phases of the project are finished, 854 residential units will be...

ISH show is rich in educational opportunities. (ISH North America).(plumbing industry trade show)
September 1, 2002... With three days of seminars, exhibitions and special events, ISH North America promises to be the largest and most significant trade show of its kind in North America. Messe Frankfurt and its partners and sponsors have organized ISH NA with the...

Plumbing for more dollars: incentive pay plan has motivated employees to earn more in less time. (Management).
September 1, 2002... Every employer would like to find a way to make employees more accountable, but most have given up hope of doing so effectively. But that's not the case with the management at Pioneer Plumbing in Tucson, Ariz., where a unique incentive pay...

Attracting employees who are committed to success. (Executive Briefcase).(tips on finding and keeping good employees)
September 1, 2002... Productivity. Profitability. Retention. Customer satisfaction. Each of these words represents a business outcome that every smart plumbing contractor wants to improve on. Each of these outcomes has a legion of consultants who specialize in...

Controlling root intrusion. (TechTopic).(clearing clogged pipes)
September 1, 2002... The intrusion of roots into discharge waste pipes is a major maintenance challenge for the homeowner as well as for contractors and the owners of industrial and municipal sites. The growth of root mass inside sewer lines will block the...

Bradford White acquires Steel Tank manufacturer. (Manufacturer/Wholesaler News).(Bradford-White Corp. acquires Nile Steel Tank Co.)
September 1, 2002... Bradford White Corporation has purchased the Niles Steel Tank Company of Niles, Mich.-the first of several planned acquisitions designed to extend Bradford White's product line offering to the water heating industry. Niles Steel Tank...

Tomlinson acquires assets of Hiller Eng. & Mfg. Co. (Manufacturer/Wholesaler News).(Tomlinson Industries)
September 1, 2002... Santa Barbara, Calif.-based HILLER ENG. & MFG. CO., makers of the Quad Flo bypass valve, has been acquired by Tomlinson Industries. Made of solid brass and Teflon-seated, the four-way, two-position bypass valve uses the Quad Seal to ensure...

Alsons Corp. (Briefly).(Alson Corp. contract with Build.com for online showrooms)
September 1, 2002... Build.com has signed a three-year e-commerce agreement with Alsons Corp. Build.com will sell the Alsons line of products at all of its National Online Showrooms and create exclusive stores for Alsons' products.

Kohler Co. (Briefly).(Kohler offers distributors use showroom for selling products)
September 1, 2002... The Premier Kohler Showroom program is designed to offer Kohler Co. distributors a turnkey showroom operation. The full-service package includes custom design services for a 1,500-square-foot showroom floor plan that conforms to a distributor's...

Professional Sales, LLC. (Briefly).(representing UTILITY in the Pacific Northeast)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Professional Sales, LLC of Federal Way, Wash., will be representing UTILITY in the Pacific Northeast. UTILITY, based in Westbury, N.Y., manufactures Paste Soldering Flux, No-Freez nontoxic, anti-freeze, boiler- and heating-system cleaners;...

Watts Industries Inc. (People).(Patrick S. O'Keefe named CEO)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Watts Industries Inc. has named Patrick S. O'Keefe as its new CEO, effective immediately. O'Keefe replaces Timothy P. Horne who announced his retirement. Home is also stepping down as chairman but will remain a director. O'Keefe has also been...

Todd Talbot was named president of Brass Craft in July. (People).(Brass-Craft Manufacturing Co.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Todd Talbot was named president of Brass Craft in July. He succeeds Don Milroy, who assumed the title of Masco group vice president. Talbot, who was elected president of the Plumbing Manufacturers' Institute earlier this year, had served as...

Delta Faucet Co. (People).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Delta Faucet Co. announced the promotion of several of its executives: Rick Burkman to vice president, finance-controller, following the departure of Steve McFarland, who was promoted to president of Alsons; Ray A. Kennedy to senior vice...

Newbold Warden has been promoted to director of marketing from marketing communications manager of TOTO USA. (People).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Newbold Warden has been promoted to director of marketing from marketing communications manager of TOTO USA. Warden will report to Koji Nakano, the company's newly appointed senior vice president of sales.

A.O. Smith has hired two individuals to key positions as it establishes manufacturing operations in State Industries former Ashland City, Tenn., facility. (People).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... A.O. Smith has hired two individuals to key positions as it establishes manufacturing operations in State Industries former Ashland City, Tenn., facility. Keith Auville has been named plant manager and Terry W. "Sonny" Terrill Jr. has been...

Victory Metal Co. (People).(Ai Darby joins Noveon Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Ai Darby has been named inside sales consultant of the FlowGuard Gold CPVC pipe and fittings national sales team. Prior to joining Noveon, Darby worked for the Victory Metal Co. as a salesperson.

Lennox International has named Robert A. Lauterbach vice president, corporate sourcing. (People).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2002... Lennox International has named Robert A. Lauterbach vice president, corporate sourcing. Lauterbach joins Lennox armed with experience in e-auctions, globalization, digitization, and negotiations and business consolidation.

'Remove the gun with six bullets' opportunity. (Service Sense).(service invoices; customer care)
September 1, 2002... We're all familiar with the Golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Guess what--it's true. Seeing yourself through the customer's eyes is very important. We need to see as they see and present things in the same way we...

Lavatory Systems. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... The manufacturer now offers solid-surface sinks in combination with its electronic faucets to provide practical and aesthetically pleasing lavatories. The SloanStone Lavatory Systems are designed to withstand heat, stains and chemical damage...

Valve conversion. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... Suitable for residential, commercial or institutional applications, the RC Remodel Cover Plate facilitates conversion from any single-, two- or three-handle valve installation to any Temptrol-series, pressure-balancing valve, including...

Voyager CD-ROM. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... A new CD-ROM featuring Voyager "A Water Cooler Designed for the 21st Century" is available. The CD highlights the features and benefits, plus shows the easy installation of the new Voyager(tm) water cooler line. It contains a section detailing...

Copper Tube Handbook. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... A revised edition of the Copper Tube Handbook reflecting the latest in industry standards and technical data, including increased pressure ratings for copper tube and soldered copper joints, is now available from the association. Like previous...

Shower/tub valves. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... The redesigned Posi-Temp valve offers a 34 percent improvement in its flow rate-6.3 gpm at 60 psi, The valve grommets allows more water flow into the cartridge, and its sleeve now features smoother comers and deeper charnels, letting more water...

Electric water heater. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... Designed for the engineered specification market, the PowerPack small-volume commercial electric water heaters are ideal for new construction projects as well as commercial-replacement applications involving kilowatt inputs above 12 kW. The...

Pipe wrench. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... The wrench's spring-loaded hook jaw design quickly adjusts to any size work surface and its aggressive, patented tool design ensures a secure grip. A unique thumb trigger allows users easy application and removal from the workpiece. The...

Stainless steel sink. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... The Module integrated sink features an bowl with or without a backsplash in the Wave Plus and Supreme 1 3/4 bowl configurations. The Platinum Series sinks are manufactured from surgical-grade, 304-series stainless steel, featuring 18-guage...

Pipe repair system. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... The pipes are wrapped with a knitted fiberglass tape, pre-coated with a water-activated urethane system that can be applied by one person with no mixing, measuring or hot work. It sets in 5 minutes, cures fully in 30 minutes and conforms around...

Audio CDs. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... The complete set of three volumes in the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributor's set of Profiles in Wholesale Distribution Leadership" audio CDs is now available at a discount. The series features Stephen P. Kaufman, retired CEO of...

Heating systems. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... Basic Radiant heating system kits feature pre-engineered panels and pre-fabricated manifold assemblies to minimize project design time and simplify the installation. The compact, single-zone, modular-system kits include a pump, thermostat,...

Surface colors. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... The Prairie Series is a new line of granite-textured solid-surface colors. The new shades, which reflect those of native flowers and grasses, bring the spirit of the American heartland to homes and businesses across the country. The Prairie...

Industrial cartridge system. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... The manufacturer's cartridge-sealed pumps feature a unique one-piece cartridge system that contains all mechanical seal faces, springs, O-rings and a stainless-steel shaft sleeve contained in a factory-sealed unit. The design allows...

Real-time reporting. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... The MobileScape system is a single-source payment processing and real-time reporting solution to increase field productivity, process payments faster, and generate fewer back-office and administrative costs. It's a single, wireless terminal...

Tool tracking. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... Tracker Lite, a new addition to the company's family of tool and equipment tracking software, gives smaller businesses an easy, inexpensive way to get started with automated tool tracking. It includes the Starter's most common features and...

Stainless flange adapter. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... A stainless steel flange adapter directly incorporates stainless flange components with ANSI Class 150 bolt-hole patterns into grooved stainless steel piping systems. The Style 441 flange adapter features integral end tabs to speed assembly and...

Butterfly valve brochure. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... The new brochure features the complete line of butterfly valves and accessories, including new Series BF-03 large-diameter (30 to 48 inches) butterfly valves. Information on its actuation accessories is also included. Watts Regulator ...

Single-bowl sink. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... The Cotswold single-bowl sinks are deeper and are an efficient choice for cleaning and rinsing large bowls, cookie sheets, and pots and pans. The relatively flat sink bottom increases usable bowl space and allows dishes and glasses to be safely...

Utility pumps. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... An expanded line of portable utility pumps include 1/6-, 1/4and 1/2-hp sizes in capacities ranging from 1.0 gpm to 62 gpm with lifts up to 30 feet. The pumps remove and transfer water anywhere quietly and quickly. They are equipped with...

Flange tool. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... A new sink flange tool design enables the installer to remove and install the snap ring effortlessly. Motion of the upper arms is preset to allow precise snap ring placement on the tool, and it expands exactly to the right diameter for easy...

Lifts. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... The new Series 2100 contractor lifts are capable of lifting loads of 650 lbs. (300 kg) up to heights of 12, 18 or 24 feet. One-piece design allows for quick fold up of legs and compact storage, without loose pins or the need of tools. Load...

Tub/shower valve. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... The Dimension is a full-featured tub/shower valve, especially designed to meet the specific needs of plumbing contractors and property owners. The valve body with cycling cartridge has a flow rate of more than 7 gpm with low water noise....

DC drives. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... The MS, EG, HG and 380 brushless DC drives in multiple standard designs or custom configurations meet the specific performance requirements of OEM applications. These compact units feature built-in speed control and tachometer output that allow...

Blue-flame heater. (New Products).
September 1, 2002... The new BF30T blue-flame, convection-type heater features a non-electric thermostatic control with a two-stage gas valve. This allows automatic adjustment to the heating needs of a room from a low fire of 15k Btu/Hr., a high fire of 30k Btu/Hr....

The art of managing people. (Marketing Mechanics).(Column)
September 1, 2002... Everyone knows that you have to take care of your customers. However, many business owners forget that they have two kinds of customers: internal and external. Internal customers are the employees who work with you (and realize that I said...