Snips articles from August 2006

Snips archives from August 2006

Surgical skills: surviving the 'operation' of selling your company.
August 1, 2006... If you are considering selling your company, your situation is like a person facing major surgery. The most important decision will be the surgeon to perform the operation. That decision will likely determine if, and how quickly, the individual...

Germ warfare: using copper in heating and air-conditioning products can fight bacteria and improve air quality.
August 1, 2006... Many microbes, particularly certain species of fungi and bacteria, are known to thrive in dark, moist environments--like those in HVAC systems. Studies have found high concentrations of pathogens on various HVAC components, including...

Head of the class: as education theories evolved, so did vocational training.(Excerpt)
August 1, 2006... The following is an excerpt from sheet metal instructor Donald C. Perry's dissertation on apprenticeship training programs. Another excerpt, focusing on the history of such programs, ran in January's issue. In the years following the Great...

Manufacturers listings.(2006 Buyers Guide)(Directory)
August 1, 2006... A-J Mfg. Co. P.O. Box 270320, Kansas City, MO 64127-0320 (816) 231-5522 Fax: (816) 231-8437 sales@ajmfg.com www.ajmfg.com Bob Haake; Rob Haake; Tony Williams Stainless steel registers and grilles, ceiling diffusers,...

Trade names.(2006 Buyers Guide)(Directory)
August 1, 2006... #3 "C" Gator Grip Corner Bracket -- Century Mfg. Co. Inc. #5 "Clip All Grip Clip" -- Century Mfg. Co. Inc. #6 "F" Gator Grip Corner Bracket -- Century Mfg. Co. Inc. 02 Tight[R] (Duct Sealant) -- Garman Co. 10-12A[R] -- Vermette...

Product listings.(2006 Buyers Guide)(Directory)
August 1, 2006... Access Doors Acorn Engineering, Elmdor/Stoneman Mfg. Co. Air Handling Systems Air Louver & Damper Inc. Aire Technologies * Alan Manufacturing Inc. American Metal Products Group Arrow United Industries, A Mestek...

U.S. Supreme Court denies ARI appeal on energy regulations.(Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The U.S. Supreme Court denied a request by the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute to appeal a lower court decision on California Energy Commission regulations. At issue was whether states have the right to...

FMA announces grant recipients.(Fabricators and Manufacturers Association International)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Foundation will fund 10 manufacturing "camps" this summer, designed to expose young people to the industry. The following received grants: Camp MetalHead in Providence, R.I.; Engineering &...

NADCA releases revised duct-cleaning standard.(association news)(National Air Duct Cleaners Association)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The National Air Duct Cleaners Association has released the 2006 edition of Assessment, Cleaning & Restoration of HVAC Systems. According to NADCA, the standard replaces the 2005 version and it is the most comprehensive version published by...

ASHRAE, China sign refrigeration agreement.(association news)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- In an effort to advance refrigeration technology, ASHRAE has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese Association of Refrigeration. Under the agreement, both associations pledge to maintain timely communication and...

Grant money to be used to create construction terms.(association news)
August 1, 2006... A $180,000 grant on behalf of the Sheet Metal Workers union will be used to establish standard construction industry terms. Union President Michael Sullivan presented the grant money in April to Mike Owens, president of the Construction...

Insulation group issues report.(association news)
August 1, 2006... The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association has met its safety obligations for the year, according to its completed OSHA report. This is the seventh annual voluntary report for the association, which details a program developed...

Women in Metal reaches membership goal.(association news)
August 1, 2006... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Association of Women in the Metal Industries reached its 2006 membership goal in June. The 1,017th member to join the group was Sherl Jakobsson of the Los Angeles Chapter. The AWMI is a professional society...

Institute to research heat exchanger materials.(association news)
August 1, 2006... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Institute recently called for bids on a research project to identify materials that will improve heat exchanger efficiency. The HVACR industry has historically used designs...

Groups agree on mechanical codes.(association news)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The International Code Council and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials have reached a tentative agreement on key elements for a joint plumbing and mechanical code. "I am most impressed by the ability of both...

PHCC members receive vehicle incentive.(association news)
August 1, 2006... Members of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association will receive a $500 incentive from General Motors Corp. The incentive can be used toward the purchase or lease of most GM vehicles, and can be combined with the most...

Jackson Systems launches zone-control certification.(supplier news)
August 1, 2006... INDIANAPOLIS -- Jackson Systems LLC has developed Jackson Systems University, a program for zone control certification for individuals and companies. According to Jackson Systems, the certification is offered on the Comfort Zone product...

McQuay acquires New York service company.(supplier news)
August 1, 2006... McQuay International has purchased Scottsville, N.Y.-based John A. Trubee Co. The HVAC equipment service company will now be known as Trubee-McQuay Factory Service. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Terms of the deal were not disclosed. ...

American Standard, Trane raise prices.(supplier news)
August 1, 2006... American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning and Trane Heating & Air Conditioning will increase prices by up to 6 percent. The increase will be effective Aug. 1, and is applicable on residential American Standard brands, including...

Emerson offers toll-free support number.(supplier news)
August 1, 2006... ST. LOUIS -- Emerson Climate Technologies has developed a toll-free technical service number for Comfort Alert Diagnostics. According to Emerson, the number allows contractors to contact specialized technicians when they have questions...

Lenox sponsors NASCAR race.(supplier news)
August 1, 2006... Lenox Industrial Tools sponsored a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race July 16 at the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H. According to Bill Burke, Lenox president, the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 was a great opportunity for the...

A.O. Smith plant recognized for safety record.(supplier news)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The employees at the A.O. Smith plant in Acuna, Mexico, were honored for working more than 1 million hours without a lost-time accident. The Productos Electricos Aplicados plant began its safety record Oct. 25, 2005, and surpassed the...

Lincoln Electric introduces extended warranty.(supplier news)
August 1, 2006... CLEVELAND -- The Lincoln Electric Co. has introduced a new two-year extended warranty program. The program extends the company's factory three-year warranty to five full years for welding machines, wire feeders and plasma cutters. ...

Chicago convention center specifies CertainTeed products.(supplier news)
August 1, 2006... The new West Building of Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center will use CertainTeed's ToughGard2 Textile duct liner and standard duct wrap insulation. Scheduled to open in 2007, the West Building expansion will add 470,000 square...

Training institute announces contest winners.(contractor news)
August 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- There were 36 contestants proving their mettle in this year's International Apprentice Contest. The March 27-29 event, sponsored by the Sheet Metal Workers union-affiliated International Training Institute, took place at a...

ACCA welcomes new chairman.(contractor news)
August 1, 2006... Richard Dean was elected chairman of the board of directors for the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. The appointment was made during the ACCA's Annual Conference and Indoor Air Expo March 28-30 in San Jose, Calif. Dean is a...

MSCA distributes 5,000th missing child poster.(contractor news)(Mechanical Service Contractors Association)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Five thousand missing-children posters have been distributed to 184 service contractors under the MSCA's Project Home Again program. The Mechanical Service Contractors Association's program has assisted the National...

Contractors increase 10-SEER inventory, says Emerson.(contractor news)
August 1, 2006... Forty-one percent of contractors and 52 percent of wholesalers significantly increased inventory on 10-SEER units in anticipation of the 13-SEER transition, according to Emerson Climate Technologies. The findings are part of Emerson's...

Construction material costs on the rise.(contractor news)
August 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The Associated General Contractors of America is warning its members to get used to higher materials costs. The warning came from AGC's chief economist Ken Simonson after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics issued its report...

Spiral-duct group talks steel prices at summer gathering.(meetings & conventions)
August 1, 2006... NEWPORT, R.I. -- Steel prices were again a major topic at this year's SPIDA summer meeting. Members of the Spiral Duct Manufacturers Association gathered May 5-7 at the Newport Marriott in Rhode Island for this year's event. Although...

PHCC plans business sessions for annual event.(Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The PHCC will provide members with ways to improve their business during the association's annual convention. According to the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association, there will be numerous seminars offered at the Sept....

Scholarships awarded at convention.(meetings & conventions)
August 1, 2006... The National Association of Oil Heating Service Managers presented educational scholarships May 14-18 to students planning to enter the oil heating industry. The scholarships were awarded during the association's 53rd annual convention and...

Rheem wraps up golf tournament.(meetings & conventions)
August 1, 2006... Rheem Manufacturing Co. hosted over 20,000 visitors during the Rheem Classic May 8-14 in Fort Smith, Ark. The event, which is a stop on the PGA nationwide tour, was broad-cast live on cable TV's The Golf Channel. Every guest at the...

ARI's Cool Connections works on 'improving life'.(meetings & conventions)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... "Improving life and the environment" was the theme for ARI's third annual Cool Connection's Policy Symposium March 8-9 in Washington, D.C. The event brought together more than 60 Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute members to meet...

Attendance expected to be high for Manufacturing Excellence conference.(meetings & conventions)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... According to the Association for Manufacturing Excellence, challenges facing the industry are driving aggressive registration for its upcoming event. Half of the space for the 22nd annual conference, scheduled for Oct. 16-20, in Dallas,...

Formtek adds corporate operations director.(people in the news)
August 1, 2006... R. Glenn Ertel has joined Formtek Inc. as corporate director of operations, reporting to company President R. Bruce Dewey. Ertel will deal with manufacturing and engineering projects assisting Tom Santacroce in the company's metal-processing...

MegaFab.(appointment of Hugh D. Barron )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Hugh D. Barron has been named MegaFab's Latin American sales manager. Barron will represent all three MegaFab brands--Whitney, Piranha and Bertsch--in the Latin American region. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Hugh has extensive experience...

Trumpf Inc.(people in the news)
August 1, 2006... Trumpf Inc. has appointed Carl Freehauf as the regional manager for northern Illinois, eastern Iowa and eastern Wisconsin. Freehauf will manage the 'sales of Trumpf's line of fabricating machinery, including laser-cutting machines, punching...

Thermadyne Industries.(people in the news)
August 1, 2006... Cutting and welding products manufacturer Thermadyne Industries has named John Henderson as director of marketing for industrial distribution. Henderson comes to Thermadyne after serving as division general manager and other management...

Dectron Internationale.(people in the news)
August 1, 2006... Glenn La Rusic has been appointed as chief financial officer for Dectron Internationale. The company also announced the appointment of Mauro Parissi as chief operating officer. La Rusic has more than 12 years of experience in finance and...

Dectron.(people in the news)
August 1, 2006... According to Ness Lakdawala, president and CEO of Dectron, "Having Mauro as our COO will greatly assist us in achieving the many exciting initiatives the company is undertaking. He has a profound knowledge of both the company's operations and...

Johns Manville.(people in the news)
August 1, 2006... The performance materials division of Johns Manville announced six new additions to its sales and technology teams. Kimberly Roos has joined the division as Western regional sales manager. Roos has more than 16 years of experience in the...

Farr Air Pollution Control.(people in the news)
August 1, 2006... Lee Morgan is the new president of Farr Air Pollution Control, a manufacturer of dust-collection products. In this position, Morgan will oversee all activities of the Farr APC operating unit, which has been consolidated and expanded to include...

DMI Companies.(appointment of Raymond W. Yeager)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... DMI Companies appointed Raymond W. Yeager as president. Prior to his employment at DMI Companies, Yeager held the position of budget accountant at PPG. Yeager joined DMI in 1984 as controller. He was promoted to vice president and treasurer in...

Taking control of the situation key to success.(sales & marketing)
August 1, 2006... Many calls fail when salespeople take a passive role in front of buyers. Many don't want to risk being perceived as aggressive or pushy. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Buyers only need to frown or growl for them to take control of the...

Can you afford not to hire a warehouse staffer?(contractor cents)
August 1, 2006... No matter the size of your operation, you need someone to pay attention to your warehouse, be responsible for it, and get materials for the installation and service personnel. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I've found that even relatively...

Gustave A. Larson Co. in business 70 years.(wholesaler news)(Company overview)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... PEWAUKEE, Wis. -- The Gustave A. Larson Co. marked 70 years in business July 11. Founded in 1936 by Gus Larson, the company has been family owned and operated since the beginning. Currently, Andrew Larson is president of the company while...

York's Source 1 offers new marketing program.(wholesaler news)
August 1, 2006... NORMAN, Okla. -- Source 1 is offering its distributors a monthly specials program, which provides marketing materials and featured products. According to officials from Source 1, the aftermarket division of the York Unitary Products Group,...

Sid Harvey Industries to offer refrigerant training.(wholesaler news)
August 1, 2006... Since more manufacturers build air-conditioning equipment using R-410A, Sid Harvey Industries is offering a training course on the refrigerant. According to the wholesaler, the R-410A certification program aims to help contractors and...

School earns 'gold' LEED rating with new roof.(roofing news)(Willow School )
August 1, 2006... The Willow School in Gladstone, N.J., is the first school in the state to earn "gold" certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The private elementary and junior high school completed construction in 2003, and includes several...

Roofing Legal Center elects new officers.(roofing news)
August 1, 2006... ROSEMONT, III. -- William T. Fort, president of Fort Roofing & Sheet Metal Works in Sumter, S.C., was named president of the National Roofing Legal Resource Center. The center was formed by the National Roofing Contractors Association as a...

NRCA partners with California group.(roofing news)
August 1, 2006... The National Roofing Contractors Association and the Roofing Contractors Association of California have agreed to establish a formal partnership to increase membership for both groups. In July, NRCA was scheduled to assume responsibility...

Follansbee offers continuing education program.(roofing news)
August 1, 2006... Follansbee Steel has created a multimedia presentation that is available for continuing-education credit from the American Institute of Architects. The presentation, titled "Terne Metal Roofing--From its Origins to Today," is designed to...

Contractor wins architectural sheet metal award.(roofing news)
August 1, 2006... Weiss Sheet Metal in Gardena, Calif., was the recipient of the 2006 Tom Guilfoy Memorial Architectural Sheet Metal Award. The annual award is presented on behalf of the California chapter of the Sheet Metal and Air-Conditioning Contractors'...

Dynamic Systems Inc.(ARIZONA)
August 1, 2006... The four-man team representing mechanical contractor Dynamic Systems Inc. took first place in the third annual SMACNA-Arizona golf tournament. The event was held April 28 at Stonecreek Golf Club in Phoenix. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Midstate Mechanical Inc.(ARIZONA)
August 1, 2006... Phoenix-based Midstate Mechanical Inc. is celebrating 20 years of providing mechanical services to general contractors and owners in Arizona. The company was founded in 1986 by Dave Jones and has grown from a handful of employees to 265...

Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors.(CALIFORNIA)
August 1, 2006... Kent Cooper was named president of Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association's Los Angeles chapter. Cooper, president of Los Angeles Air Conditioning in La Verne, Calif., was installed as president at the chapter's 40th...

Emerson Motors.(CALIFORNIA)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Emerson Motors has added motor conversion capabilities to its Southern California customer service center located in Chino, Calif. According to Emerson, the new conversion center enables the company's West Coast customers to receive popular...

Johnson Controls Inc.(LOUISIANA)
August 1, 2006... Johnson Controls Inc. has acquired Shreveport, La.-based mechanical contractor Berg Inc. Berg provides HVAC and plumbing services for commercial and industrial customers throughout Louisiana, east Texas and southern Arkansas. Terms were...

Grand Rapids Community College.(MICHIGAN)
August 1, 2006... The HVACR training program at Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, Mich., has earned five-year accreditation from the Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation program. After a site evaluation,...

Nordfab.(opened a new facility)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Nordfab, a manufacturer of clamp-together ducting for the duct collection industry, has opened a 24,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility in Reno, Nev. "We've experienced dramatic growth in the western half of the country...

Diamond Oaks Career Development Center.(OHIO)
August 1, 2006... Matt Metzner, a senior at the Diamond Oaks Career Development Center in Cincinnati, was awarded a scholarship from Engineering Excellence May 12. The company presented Metzner with the John Burgoyne Scholarship, which will provide $5,000 in two...

Semco Duct & Acoustical Products Inc.(TEXAS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Semco Duct & Acoustical Products Inc. was set to open its newest manufacturing facility in June in Arlington, Texas. According to Semco, the plant will support its growing customer base in the Southwest and Gulf Coast markets. ...

GE ECM by Regal-Beloit.(VIRGINIA)
August 1, 2006... GE ECM by Regal-Beloit sponsored two HVAC instructors to attend the 2006 ARI Instructor Workshop April 5-7 in Lansdowne, Va. The workshop, sponsored by the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute, the Air Conditioning Contractors of...

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle recently honored Schofield, Wis.-based Greenheck with an Export Achievement Award.(WISCONSIN)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle recently honored Schofield, Wis.-based Greenheck with an Export Achievement Award. The award recognizes companies and institutions that have achieved large international sales that contribute to Wisconsin's ability to...

HVAC and metal-forming company Mestek Inc., has opened a new manufacturing and distribution center in Mississauga, Ontario.(CANADA)
August 1, 2006... HVAC and metal-forming company Mestek Inc., has opened a new manufacturing and distribution center in Mississauga, Ontario. The 94,000-square-foot facility is more than twice as large at its previous Canadian facility. The company employs...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
August 1, 2006... SEPTEMBER 18-20 A course on geothermal heat pump system design will be offered by the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison, Wis. Attendees will learn about design of water-loop heat pump systems, water- and ground source, and...

Wholesalers & Mfr. Reps. Directory.(Directory)
August 1, 2006... The following is a paid directory of distributors, wholesalers and manufacturers representatives, listed by state. To have your company included in this list, please call Sally Fraser at 248-244-6240. We urge our readers to contact these...

Gasoline prices may affect contractor profits this summer.(editor's page)
August 1, 2006... In many parts of the country, August is among the hottest months of the summer. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For those in the HVAC and sheet metal trade, that should translate to one of the busiest as well. When the temperature outside is...

Apprentice programs are varied.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... I was very pleased to see you addressing the need for apprentice training in your June editorial ("States must do more to attract workers to construction careers"). Here in Alaska, we have union apprenticeship programs for those choosing...