Reeves Journal articles from September 2006

Reeves Journal archives from September 2006

Well-rounded.(pipeline)
September 1, 2006... This month's Reeves Journal is a particularly diverse one that's interesting on a number of fronts. First up is our cover story, a report on the 2006 Reeves Journal Water Heater Survey. Conducted by mail recently by BNPMedia's research...

Court upholds public agency's choice of license classification requirement.(legalcorner)
September 1, 2006... One Appellate Court has upheld a public agency's right to require a specific license classification for bidders. The holding is not very surprising. However, since the law is relatively new, this is the first appellate discussion interpreting...

Recruting the best.(businessstrategies)
September 1, 2006... Everyone in the plumbing industry is looking for the best people to add to their teams. After all, your success in the service business is determined by the caliber of people that you send into your clients' homes. But the problem is that...

Above and beyond a personal story with a moral.(marketingmechanics)
September 1, 2006... This story is personal. In 1985 I bought the third Mazda RX-7 delivered in Atlanta. I loved that car and named it Flash... you can imagine why. Flash got to see most of the state of Georgia--I was consulting all over the state at that time and...

The reform of the 401(k).(executivebriefcase)
September 1, 2006... Congress recently passed a pension-reform bill that will transform significant aspects of how these plans can operate. 401(k) plans let workers put away part of their paycheck tax-free until retirement. The problem is, too many people are...

Blankley, Clift set to keynote PMI Fall Meeting.(news connection)
September 1, 2006... Tony Blankley, longtime press secretary to then Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and Newsweek magazine contributing editor Eleanor Clift will present, "An Insider's View to the Political Scene" as the keynote dinner presentation during the...

Grainger partners to help local trade students.(news connection)
September 1, 2006... Grainger, a distributor of facilities maintenance supplies, Aug. 3 awarded a Tools for Tomorrow scholarship to South Seattle Community College student Stuart Nielsen during an Open House event at the company's downtown Seattle branch. Nielsen,...

IAPMO, India Plumbing Association team up for landmark code project.(news connection)
September 1, 2006... A pair of plumbing organizations from wildly different parts of the world are set to team up to create the Uniform Plumbing Code of India. The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials of Ontario, Calif., and the Indian...

Hite elected UA president, other officers posted.(news connection)
September 1, 2006... The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada's 37th General Convention Aug. 8 elected William P. Hite as general president, along with Patrick R. Perno as general...

A.O. Smith donates water heaters to scout camp.(news connection)
September 1, 2006... A. O. Smith, a supplier of water heaters based in Ashland City, Tenn., recently donated two ProStar Tankless gas water heaters to the Yucca Council Boy Scouts, serving West Texas and Southern New Mexico, for use at one of their camp sites. ...

Two PHCC NA bylaw amendments slated for annual business meeting vote.(Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... A pair of bylaw amendments will be proposed during PHCC-NA's Annual Business Meeting Sept. 27 during the Network '06 festivities in Chicago: * Proposal No. 1 -- An attempt to clarify that only those active members, whose dues have been...

ICC, NFPA reach out-of-court settlement.(International Code Council)(National Fire Protection Association)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The International Code Council has reached an out-of-court settlement in three lawsuits with the National Fire Protection Association. The cases--one brought by ICC and two brought by NFPA--involved copyright and trademark issues. The...

Phoenix contractor scores cool phone number.(newsbriefs)
September 1, 2006... Benjamin Franklin Plumbing can now look forward to lots of late-night phone calls from people trying to find someone named Jenny. The company, in an effort to make it's phone number memorable, has landed the legendary...

Bosch co-sponsors NASCAR Craftsman Truck.(newsbriefs)
September 1, 2006... Bosch Power Tools and Accessories July 31 announced its partnership with Fastenal Industrial and Construction Supplies to sponsor the Fastenal Racing Team's No. 18 Bobby Hamilton truck in the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Upcoming races...

Michel named 'legendary' figure.(Matt Michel honored for his book on sales tips)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Service Roundtable CEO and president Matt Michel has been listed among the "100 legendary figures" by Leslie Pockell and Adrienne Avila in their new book, "The 100 Greatest Sales Tips of All Time," released by Warner Business Books. The book...

IAPMO opens UAE office.(International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials said Jul. 20 it has added representation in the Middle East to its world presence. Hrair Arzuomanian has been retained as IAPMO's link to the area. Starting with the seven...

ThermaSol Golf benefit.(newsbriefs)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... ThermaSol, a supplier of steam baths and steam generators in Simi Valley, Calif., recently extended its support to the ACME BRICK and American Institute of Architects 10th Annual Golf Tournament benefiting the Dallas Architectural Foundation...

Mr. Rooter recognizes outstanding franchisers.(newsbriefs)
September 1, 2006... Mr. Rooter, a Waco, Texas-based franchising company that provides plumbing and drain cleaning services, honored its outstanding franchisees and franchise team members Jul. 26 during the company's 2006 international convention in Phoenix. The...

BNPMedia launches Site Prep.(newsbriefs)
September 1, 2006... Reeves Journal parent company BNPMedia of Troy, Mich, said Aug. 3 it is launching Site Prep magazine as a stand-alone publication after three years of offering it as a supplemental publication. The debut issue of the magazine, written for...

Mestek, Inc., opens new distribution center.(newsbriefs)
September 1, 2006... Mestek, Inc., a U.S. holding company with more than 30 HVAC and metal forming companies in its structure, has a new manufacturing and distribution center in Canada. The new 94,000 square foot Mississauga, Ontario, location is more than twice as...

Bush administration honors AERCO.(Aerco International Inc. recieves award)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Israel Hernandez, assistant secretary for trade promotion and director-general of the U.S. Commercial Service, Aug. 7 presented the Commerce Department's Export Achievement Certificate to AERCO International, Inc., a supplier of boilers and...

Water heater pioneer Lindahl dies.(newsbriefs)
September 1, 2006... John R. Lindahl, Sr., cofounder of State Industries, passed away Jul. 5 "John was a pioneer and an icon in the water heater industry. We have all lost a good friend and role model, and I know I speak for the entire A. O. Smith family when I say...

Chicago Faucets mourns Whipple.(newsbriefs)
September 1, 2006... Charlie Whipple, former vice president of sales a marketing for Chicago Faucets, died May 18 while in the care of physicians at Duke University Medical Center. Whipple was a prominent figure in the plumbing industry for several years. Prior to...

Elkay Manufacturing Company.(people)
September 1, 2006... Elkay Manufacturing Company's Plumbing Products Division in August announced a new management structure and key personnel appointments. Pat Mulvey is now the vice president of trade sales and market development for the East region, and Mark...

James R. Griffin.(people)
September 1, 2006... Grohe has named James R. Griffin president and chief executive officer of the company's U.S.-based subsidiary. Griffin most recently served as president and general manager of Specialty Construction Brands, Inc., an Arlington Heights,...

Heat Transfer Products, Inc.(people)
September 1, 2006... Heat Transfer Products, Inc., in East Freetown, Mass., has appointed David R. Martin as the company's new president, In this position, Martin will be responsible for overall operations of the company. Prior to joining HTP, Martin worked 16...

Johnstone Supply, Inc.(people)
September 1, 2006... Johnstone Supply, Inc., a distributor of HVAC/R parts and products based in Portland, Ore., has announced the hiring of Ray Kernagis as supply chain vice president. Before joining Johnstone Supply, Kernagis served as director of distribution at...

LA-CO Industries, Inc./Markal Co.(people)
September 1, 2006... LA-CO Industries, Inc./Markal Co., a supplier of plumbing chemicals and supplies based in Elk Grove Village, Ill., has named Tony Blaskoski director of sales for all business units including plumbing, industrial and agricultural. Blaskoski will...

Boiler Group at Mestek, Inc.(people)
September 1, 2006... Mark Harrington has been promoted to the position of vice president of the Boiler Group at Mestek, Inc., in Westfield, Mass. He will be responsible for the overall sales, marketing, and engineering management of the company's Boiler Products...

MJSI, Inc.(Doug Saunders appointed as director of product development and engineering)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... MJSI, Inc., makers of the HydroClean water fill valve, has hired Doug Saunders as its director of product development and engineering. In this newly created position, Saunders will be responsible for the development of new products that will...

Monitor Products, Inc.(Richard Bruno appointed as national sales manager)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Monitor Products, Inc., a Princeton, N.J.-based distributor and marketer of boilers and other heating products, has appointed Richard Bruno to the position of national sales manager. Bruno will be responsible for the marketing and sales of...

Stacey Ziegler.(people)
September 1, 2006... The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association Jul. 10 added Stacey Ziegler as the new government relations coordinator. Ziegler will assist in providing legislative representation and resources.

Rheem Manufacturing Co.(people)
September 1, 2006... Rheem Manufacturing Co., said that R. Craig Breese has joined the company as president of its Water Heating Division in Montgomery, Ala. He succeeds Simon Parfitt, who has been promoted to vice president-finance, corporate. United States. Most...

The Sloan Valve Co.(people)
September 1, 2006... The Sloan Valve Co., of Franklin Park, Ill, announced a half-dozen management appointments recently: Christina Nicosia, has been promoted to western regional sales manager and will manage the Los Angeles Distribution Center; Don Yurkovich has...

Ultraviolet Devices, Inc.(people)
September 1, 2006... Ultraviolet Devices, Inc., a Valencia, Calif.-based manufacturer of ultraviolet products for air and water treatment has hired Tony Wisniewski as its new vice president for sales and marketing. Most recently, Wisniewski was the general manager...

Calendar.(news connection)(Calendar)
September 1, 2006... Sept. 17-Oct. 1 International Code Council Annual Conference and Expo Coronado Springs Resort Orlando (888) ICC-SAFE, ext. 4229 abm.iccsafe.org Sept.. 19-21 Grandy & Associates Basic Business Boot Camp...

ISH North America: education, products, networking.
September 1, 2006... ISH North America, the only North American trade show that addresses the complete supply chain for the kitchen and bath, plumbing, PVF, HVAC and hydronics industries, will hold its fourth trade show, Sept. 28-30 at Chicago's McCormick Place....

2006 Water Heater Survey: tankless heaters and 'companion' systems growing in Western market.
September 1, 2006... Not only are tankless water heaters making their presence in the Western plumbing market as both new installation and retrofit units, but their growing popularity is leading to a growing installed base of complimentary products, according to...

Conserve: water conservation is important in commercial kitchens.
September 1, 2006... Commercial kitchens, whether large institutional places or small fast-food eateries, have the potential to use thousands of gallons of water each day. Consequently, many kitchen owners are seeking ways to mitigate their water usage and reduce...

Tex-PEX: PEX makes repiping several West Texas A & M University facilities a snap.
September 1, 2006... There are almost as many ways of re-piping a public works facility as there are to plumb it when it's in the new construction phase. But sometimes there's a definite time window that must be adhered to and that can seriously limit your options...

Plumbers' little helpers: specialty products help pros do the job quicker and better.
September 1, 2006... Specialty plumbing products fall outside the realm of everyday tools. They are the gadgets that make the job easier, faster or provide the plumbing professional with an extra pair of hands. Frequently, the genesis of a specialty product comes...

Avoiding big problems with light duty trucks.(vehiclemaintenance)
September 1, 2006... Getting the best deal on the wrong truck can be a costly mistake. Poor performance, expensive repairs, frequent down time and lower resale value are just a few of the problems that can ensue. Having the right specifications before beginning the...

Ultra-compact driver.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... Bosch Power Tools and Accessories has announced the launch of the world's smallest, most powerful, ultra-compact Litheon 10.8-volt Pocket Driver (PS20). The Pocket Driver is small enough to fit into a tool belt pouch and is lightweight and...

Water heaters.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... Bradford White has introduced the new Copper Brute and Copper Brute II water heaters. These new units are copper-finned tube water heaters designed to fit the needs of commercial applications that require high input and high volumes of hot...

Urban Collection.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... With the launch of the Urban Collection from Delta Faucet, architects and designers now have a menu of kitchen, bath and shower faucets to satisfy the unique tastes of urban loft and high-rise dwellers who have a reputation for possessing a...

Wax rings.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... Hercules Chemical's Johni-Ring Ultra has been added to its line of Johni-Rings. The Ultra wax rings are reinforced with a built-in polyethylene mesh for greater stability during installations. The Johni-Ring Ultra will not tear or break, and it...

Cross-handle collection.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... Brizo has announced the expansion of its sleek, European-styled Trevi Kitchen and Bath Collection to include a cross-handle version. The Trevi cross-handle can be incorporated throughout the home and is included as a new option on Brizo's Total...

Metering Faucet.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... Chicago Faucets has introduced the 3400 Metering Faucet. With many of the same features and durability of the original MeterMix 3300 (introduced last year) it features a single-supply non-mixing design. The heart of the new 3400 Metering Faucet...

Drain cleaning machine.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... The Speedrooter 91 from General Pipe Cleaners blends rugged reliability with optimal ease of use. Design enhancements make the Speedrooter 91 user-friendly--one person can easily load it onto a truck. The machine's redesigned frame slides...

Gas piping system.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... Building on the strength of its innovative TracPipe, the next generation of flexible gas piping for new construction, rehab and retrofit projects, OmegaFlex now offers TracPipe PS-II, an improved version of its underground gas piping system....

Bathroom accessories.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... Symmons now offers new bathroom accessories to complement its Elements line of luxury bathroom fittings. The collection of accessories includes a towel bar, a towel ring, a robe hook and a toilet paper holder available to match five exclusively...

Modulating boiler.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... Raypak has taken the design technology for modulating boilers to the next level with its new MVB. By precisely matching the latest control and combustion components, the optimal fuel/air ratio is maintained throughout the entire range of...

Multi-purpose tracer.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... RotoZip has continued the expansion of its heavy-duty and long-lasting XBITS line with the addition of the XB-MPGP2 Tracing XBIT, the industry's first full-fledged multi-purpose tracer. For applications in a variety of materials ranging from...

Sensor-operated faucet.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... Sloan Valve's new Optima Plus ERF Series sensor-operated faucet uses patented RF technology that provides a wireless link between the spout and the battery-powered control module. The wireless connectivity of the ERF-885 faucet makes...

Suction Diffuser.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... Taco has announced that its Suction Diffuser Rear Strainer Pullout incorporates many features into one device, making installations quick, easy and cost-efficient. It is a flow-straightening device that provides maximum flow efficiency at the...

Software application.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... Trane has announced the introduction of Tracer Enterprise Solutions, a Web-based software application that connects building systems on an enterprise level and provides building owners and managers with access to multiple buildings from any...

Steam products brochure.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... Watts Regulator has announced the availability of its new steam products brochure. This brochure features detailed information on Watts' line of thermostatic, float and thermostatic, inverted bucket, and thermodynamic steam traps as well as its...

Integrated 'solution'.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... Accubid has announced that version 7 of its Estimating solutions--Accubid Pro, BidWinner Plus, BidWinner, and Power-Bid--can now share estimating data with ConstructJob, Accubid's web-based project management system. Using the new Accubid...

Water System expansion.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... The PureFlow Water System just got bigger with a full product line expansion that includes 1-1/4-and 1-1/2-inch XL sizes for all bronze fittings and adapters, stainless-steel sleeves, manifolds, valves and accessories. When combined with...

Hydrostatic Test Pump.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... Wheeler-Rex has announced the addition of the model 29900 Hydrostatic Test Pump to its product line. The new pump is designed especially for use in heating, compressed air, refrigeration systems, oil installations and sprinkler systems. The...

QickClamp.(newproducts)
September 1, 2006... Zurn Industries has introduced the QickClamp, a patent-pending new tool designed to make installing PEX tubing easier. With the QickClamp, installers can make tube-to-fitting connections on multiple sizes (3/8, 1/2, 3/4, and 1 inch) of PEX with...

Focus on the service department part 6: 'SMART' Marketing and career technicians.(service sense)
September 1, 2006... [Note: Earlier installments of this multi-part series can be found in previous issues of Reeves Journal, or online at www.reevesjournal.com.] This month you are going to be introduced to a new term call SMART Marketing. "SMART" is an...