Snips articles from July 2004

Snips archives from July 2004

Contractors in the crescent city: ACCA mixes business and beads at the group's 36th annual convention.(Air Conditioning Contractors of America)
July 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS--At this year's ACCA meeting, multicolored plastic beads were as common around the necks of attendees as convention ID badges. New Orleans' official Mardi Gras celebration ended the day before the Air Conditioning Contractors...

The latest & greatest: Snips' annual look at new products for the sheet metal and HVAC industry.
July 1, 2004... What is it about new products that makes them so compelling? In almost any magazine that offers such a section, from Popular Science to Cigar Aficionado, it rates among the most popular, according to reader surveys. SNIPS is no exception....

New products, new opportunities: Canadian show explores a changing industry.
July 1, 2004... TORONTO -- Do you know which systems are the most energy efficient? Have you given any thought to the opportunities and incentives available in providing renewable energy to customers? What about directing your company toward markets such as...

Nerves & steel: HVAC and sheet metal companies cope with surging prices for materials.
July 1, 2004... While some sectors of the U.S. economy are recovering from recession, the construction industry is still being hit with higher prices for raw materials, especially steel. It's affecting all sectors of the sheet metal industry. Here is a...

It's show time: windy city contractors attract a crowd at an event that blends work and fun.(Chicagoland Sheet Metal Contractors Association trade show)
July 1, 2004... OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. -- What do you get when you mix sheet metal machinery, 3,000 people and beer? No, the answer isn't an Occupational Safety and Health Administration violation; it's the 27th annual Chicagoland Sheet Metal Contractors...

Tracing the origins of the Spiral Duct Manufacturers Association.
July 1, 2004... The Spiral Duct Manufacturers Association, or SPIDA, was founded by a group of manufacturers in 1987, with the idea to standardize and promote the manufacturing and distribution of spiral duct and fittings. The state of Illinois recognized...

Eastern Sheet Metal's Bill Stout Sr. talks about ductwork, company.(Interview)
July 1, 2004... (Editor's note: We invited longtime sheet metal contractor Bill Stout Sr. of Cincinnati-based Eastern Sheet Metal to answer a few questions about himself and his company.) How did you get started in the sheet metal industry? I started...

Sheet Metal Connectors opens new plant for round-duct production.(Sheet Metal Connectors Inc.,)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- Sheet Metal Connectors Inc. recently opened a 90,000-square-foot facility in Rockford, Ill. The plant will produce rectangular, round and flat-oval duct and fittings. Terry Englund, branch manager for the new facility, said...

Hamlin celebrates 50 years in Sheet Metal industry.(Company Profile)
July 1, 2004... Hamlin Sheet Metal began in 1954 with a desire to serve the commercial construction industry with HVAC duct products and services that were reliable, well priced and delivered in a timely manner. William Fred Hamlin Sr., affectionately...

Northeastern Sheet Metal makes duct for Mass. college project.(Sprial Duct: Coming Full Circle)(Northeastern Sheet Metal Inc.,)(Massachussetts)(Brief Article)(Cover Story)
July 1, 2004... GOFFSTOWN, N.H. -- Northeastern Sheet Metal Inc. was recently awarded a contract from Massachusetts Institute of Technology to make nine stacks of spiral duct that totaled over 28,000 pounds of metal. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Self-sealing duct systems offer advantages over regular fittings.(Sprial Duct: Coming Full Circle)(Cover Story)
July 1, 2004... During the past several years, the sheet metal industry has achieved great strides in developing quality self-sealing ductwork. Self-sealing systems use smartly designed gasket connections to create tight seals. Today, more and more engineers...

Using spiral duct makes projects quicker, easier to estimate.(air ducts)
July 1, 2004... What takes less time to install, costs less and is a better product? Spiral duct. Many jobs have a combination of rectangular and spiral ductwork, but the balance of those jobs are sometimes weighted a little too heavy on the rectangular side....

Considerations for specifying round and flat-oval duct systems.(air ducts)
July 1, 2004... (The following is taken from the Spiral Duct Manufacturers Association Designer's Guide.) The following example of an average variable air volume supply duct system depicts overall system costs, duct construction, and gives a comparative...

School featured in 1986 film adds spiral duct to new aquatic center.(Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook, Illinois )
July 1, 2004... Glenbrook North High School, located in the upscale community of Northbrook, Ill., gained notoriety as the high school featured in the 1986 film "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." If Bueller, the hooky-playing high school senior, were to have...

States face deadline to meet ASHRAE standard.(Association News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- States have little time remaining to prove to the U.S. Department of Energy that their building codes meet the requirements in ASHRAE's 1999 energy-conservation standard. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and...

Contractors group endorses U.S. House health care package.(Association News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- The Associated Builders and Contractors has announced its support of three health care bills recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Boosting employees' access to health care while lowering the cost of such...

ARI elects two members to board.(Association News)(Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ARLINGTON, Va. -- At its May 1 meeting, the board of directors of the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute elected Manitowoc Ice President Tim Kraus and Daniel L. Ellis, president of ClimateMaster, to serve as directors at large. ...

ASHRAE, architects partner on energy-efficiency guide.(Association News)(American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)(American Institute of Architects)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Recognizing that residential and commercial communities are a major source for energy consumption, ASHRAE and the AIA are working together to develop energy-efficiency guidelines. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and...

RSES members awarded special status.(Association News)(Refrigeration Service Engineers Society)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... DES PLAINES, III. -- The Refrigeration Service Engineers Society announced eight members were awarded certificate member and certificate-member-specialist status in March. Larry E. Hughes and Jimmy R. Kroll, both of Grundy, Va.; John A....

Two students given Rees scholarships.(Association News)(Clifford H. "Ted" Rees Jr. Scholarship Foundation)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ARLINGTON, Va. -- Milwaukee resident David Grassl and Daniel Izer of Greencastle, Pa., have been awarded $2,000 scholarships from the Clifford H. "Ted" Rees Jr. Scholarship Foundation, which encourages students to seek careers in the HVACR...

Safety guide available.(Association News)(Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust recently released a small safety guide that deals with energy procedures and components. The guide was created for workers who perform jobs on and around...

Proposed legislation would spur replacement of CFC chillers.(Association News)(chlorfluorocarbon)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ARLINGTON Va. -- Manufacturers of chillers used for comfort cooling in buildings replaced or converted 2,585 units that use chlorfluorocarbon or CFC refrigerants during 2003, leaving an estimated 36,200 chillers still using CFCs, according to...

Emerson enters partnership with Mideast manufacturer.(Supplier News)(Emerson Climate Technologies)(Zamil Air Conditioners)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Emerson Climate Technologies has joined with Zamil Air Conditioners, a Middle East-based manufacturer of air-conditioning systems. The partnership combines products from several companies within the Emerson Climate Technologies business...

Lincoln Electric Co. facility earns ISO certification.(Supplier News)
July 1, 2004... CLEVELAND -- The Lincoln Electric Co.'s welding equipment, consumables and automation manufacturing plants in Euclid, Ohio, has been certified to ISO: 14001, an international standard for environmental management systems and procedures. ...

Dealers see first Echelon air conditioners.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Representatives of seven North American Coleman HVAC dealerships saw the first Echelon Series central air-conditioning units roll off the assembly line at the revamped York Unitary Products Group manufacturing plant in Wichita, Kan. The...

Lloyd Industries opens plant.(Supplier News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... MONTGOMERYVILLE, Pa. -- Lloyd Industries has opened a second facility in Jacksonville, Fla. The new 25,000-square-foot plant is a manufacturing and distribution center for the company's access panels, 75 Series fire dampers and 50/55...

Dallas contractor wins first QuickPen AutoBid Challenge.(Supplier News)(Eddy Rothenberger)(QuickPen International's AutoBid Implementation Challenge contest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Eddy Rothenberger of Air Performance Mechanical in Dallas is the first winner of QuickPen International's AutoBid Implementation Challenge. The contest has new users participating in QuickPen's AutoBid Training to...

Lennox increases prices.(Supplier News)(Lennox Industries Inc.,)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... DALLAS -- Prices on some Lennox Industries products are going up. The company said prices of residential products will increase up to 6 percent, and up to 3 percent on commercial products.

Intellidyne receives New York state grant.(Supplier News)
July 1, 2004... GLEN COVE, N.Y. -- Intellidyne LLC has received a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for IntelliCon, the company's line of energy-saving devices for residential and commercial heating and cooling systems....

New York state contractor wins legislative award.(Contractor News)(Distinguished Legislative Service Award)(Donald Romano)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Donald Romano of Heritage Mandell Mechanical Services in Deer Park, N.Y., was given the Distinguished Legislative Service Award at the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association's April 21 annual...

Association names 'Star' contractors.(Contractor News)(Thermodyne Mechanical Services Inc.,)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Mechanical Service Contractors of America announced that Thermodyne Mechanical Services Inc. of Northbrook, Ill., and John E. Green Co. in Lansing, Mich., are the first two companies to qualify for its Star program. ...

Study suggests future of contracting industry.(Contractor News)(Mechanical Contractors Association of America)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Mechanical Contractors Association of America's Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation recently released the results of a study on the future of the mechanical-contracting industry. Officials said...

Grundfos Pumps named Quality Service Contractors partner.(Contractor News)(Grundfos Pumps Ltd.,)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... OLATHE, Kan. -- Grundfos Pumps Corp. has become an industry partner of Quality Service Contractors. The association offers plumbing, heating and cooling contractors technical and business-management training. Grundfos representatives will...

ACCA elects officers at annual conference.(Contractor News)(Air Conditioning Contractors of America)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- The board of directors of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America elected the group's 2004-2005 officers at its February annual convention. Greg Leisgang, president of JonLe Heating and Cooling in Cincinnati, was named...

Southern Arizona apprentices rebuild homes.(Contractor News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... TUCSON, Ariz. -- Apprentices in the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association's Southern Arizona chapter were involved in rebuilding Tucson's Corbett neighborhood, where 16 homes will have major plumbing and HVAC problems fixed. The...

ACCA recognizes 2004 Safety Masters Club.(Contractor News)(Air Conditioning Contractors of America)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Air Conditioning Contractors of America has announced the winners and members of its 2004 Safety Masters Club, its recognition for contractors who are dedicated to safe workplaces. The Safety Award of Merit is awarded...

Grunau Co. adds client.(Contractor News)(Grunau Company Inc.,)(constructions at Prairie School in Wind Point, Wisconsin)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... OAK CREEK, Wis. -- The Grunau Co. has added the Prairie School in Wind Point, Wis., to its current list of clients. Grunau will install the HVAC, plumbing and fire-protection systems for the 70,000-square-foot addition to the Prairie...

ACCA officials announce 'Best Contractors on the Web'.(Internet News)(Air Conditioning Contractors of America)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Web sites of Maryland and Texas companies were the winners of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America's second annual "Best Contractors on the Web" Internet marketing competition. The winner in the residential...

Steril-Aire moves Web site.(Internet News)(Steril-Aire Inc.,)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... CERRITOS, Calif. -- In May, Steril-Aire Inc. moved its company Web site to a new address, www.steril-aire.com. The site offers information on Steril-Aire devices for commercial, residential, health care, school, industrial and...

Lochinvar redesigns online.(Internet News)(Lochinvar Corp.,)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... LEBANON, Tenn. -- Water heater maker Lochinvar Corp. has redesigned its corporate Web site, which now features more detailed product and company information. Visitors can access the site directly at www.Lochinvar.com, and explore the...

ARI encourages voting.(Internet News)(Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute)(presidential elections)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute, working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has launched a Web site and industry campaign to encourage HVACR industry members to participate in the upcoming presidential...

New 'HVAC Expertise' Web site launched.(Internet News)(Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Sheet Metal Workers union and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association have launched www.hvacexpertise.org, which presents information about the industry for commercial building owners and residential...

Metal-Fab now includes order status.(Internet News)(Metal-Fab Inc.,)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... WICHITA, Kan. -- Metal-Fab Inc. has a new Web site for commercial, industrial and kitchen ventilation applications. The new site is www.metal-fabinc.com. Visitors to the site will find product information on the new G Series grease-duct...

More information offered on ABC Web site.(Internet News)(Associated Builders and Contractors)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- The Associated Builders and Contractors announced its Web site, www.abc.org, now offers more information on its legislative and regulatory activities, business development opportunities, education and training, MeritChoice...

Construction Contractors' Alliance elects chairman.(People in the News)
July 1, 2004... Dickie McCurdy, owner of MMM Plumbing, Heating & Air, and vice president of A&R Mechanical in Amarillo, Texas, has been elected chairman of the Construction Contractors' Alliance, a service group of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling...

Are you making these common sales mistakes?(Sales & Marketing)(Column)
July 1, 2004... I often write about the things you should do in order to make a sale. This month, I'm going to write about the things that you don't want to do because they could cost you the order. After a few years of selling, many people take some...

ASHRAE surveys passengers, crews on plane air quality.(Indoor Air Quality)(American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- Passengers and crews on four flights out of Cincinnati, Salt Lake City, Chicago and Seattle are being surveyed on their experiences with cabin air quality. This information is part of research examining the link between cabin...

Machine tool consumption rises 61 percent in March.(Wholesaler News)
July 1, 2004... ROCKVILLE, Md. -- March U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $272.34 million, according to the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association and the Association For Manufacturing Technology. That total was up 61 percent from February...

Builders show features house with metal roof.(Roofing News)(International Builders Show)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- One destination visitors to January's International Builders Show saw was the Home by Design Showhouse. The home demonstrated the latest in energy-saving roofing technology: a new Ultra-Cool standing-seam metal roof from Custom...

Association releases survey.(Roofing News)(National Roofing Contractors Association)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The National Roofing Contractors Association has released its 2002 "NRCA Management Performance and Financial Survey," which provides information to help contractors quickly compare their companies' performances with others in...

NRCA elects 2004-2005 officers, hands out Piper Award.(Roofing News)(National Roofing Contractors Association)(J.A. Piper Award)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- During its 117th annual convention Feb. 22-25, the NRCA elected new officers. Terms began June 1. The National Roofing Contractors Association's President for 2004-2005 is Dane A. Bradford, the president of Bradford Roof...

Arizona.(Regional News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Members of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America's Arizona chapter helped 106 families stay cool during the 14th annual Evaporative Cooler Start Up community service program on March 27. More than 50 volunteers participated, including...

California.(Regional News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The 2004-2005 California Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association executive committee was elected at the group's annual business meeting in April. Members are: President Don Jamarck, Airco, Sacramento; President-elect...

Illinois.(Regional News)(Platelaser-II 6,000-watt laser-cutting machine)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Members of the Chicagoland Sheet Metal Contractors Association are participating in Operation Air Conditioner, a national program that sends air conditioners to American troops in Iraq. Members used money from the Metropolitan Chicagoland Sheet...

New York.(Regional News)(Greater New York Air Conditioning Contractors of America )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Greater New York Air Conditioning Contractors of America chapter held a casino night May 13 at Westbury Manor. The chapter and Abco Refrigeration Supply Corp. are sponsoring a July 23 outing at Shea Stadium for all HVAC mechanics, office...

North Carolina.(Regional News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... At a fund-raiser, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association and the North Carolina PHCC chapter raised $14,000 in contributions for U.S. Senate candidate Richard Burr. Burr, currently a Congressman from North Carolina, is a...

Ohio.(Regional News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Air Conditioning Contractors of America's Greater Dayton chapter held its annual President's Party and Monte Carlo event in March. More than 100 people attended. Presentations were made to Tom Tanner, 2003 chairman, and George Brockman Jr., the...

Pennsylvania.(Regional News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Three apprentices and instructors traveled to Farmingdale, N.J., for an apprentice contest hosted by Sheet Metal Workers union Local 27. Aaron Betts of Advanced Plumbing and Mechanical represented the second-year apprentices, Dan Haluck of...

Texas.(Regional News)(Associated Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Associated Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors of Texas Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a total of $12,000 in scholarships to the following students: Joyce Avila, Steven Berry, Jayna Campbell, Rebecca Correa, Emily Cox,...

Wisconsin.(Regional News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... More than 400 plumbers, steam fitters and sheet metal workers attended the second Safety Day May 14 at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. The college hosted the safety training sponsored by the Mechanical Contractors Association of North...

Manuals, standards.(Books, Software & Lit)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... This catalog describes the association's technical manuals and standards. It spotlights the new Architectural Sheet Metal Manual, Sixth Edition, and the new fifth edition of the Fire, Smoke and Radiation Damper Installation Guide for HVAC...

Spot-cooling info.(Books, Software & Lit)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... This brochure describes an industrial air-conditioning system that "cools the worker, the product, the equipment or the process, not the whole work space." Ducts are precisely directed and can be added, moved or changed easily, according to...

HVAC benefits video.(Books, Software & Lit)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A 10-minute video is designed to recruit workers and students to careers in the HVAC industry by describing how advances in air conditioning, heating and refrigeration help people live healthier and longer lives. The video, "Improving Life,"...

Company magazine.(Books, Software & Lit)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Danfoss' Solutions magazine is published for customers and includes product and industry information. A recent issue included articles on alternative refrigerants, including carbon dioxide, a geothermal HVAC system that keeps health care...

Humidity meter info.(Books, Software & Lit)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... This item describes how the company's relative humidity meter works with handheld computers. A relative humidity sensor and temperature sensor are included in the device, which relative humidity and temperature readings. The software allows for...

Marketing planning.(Books, Software & Lit)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... This company's 2004 calendar provides a month-by-month marketing plan. The calendar includes the 32 days each year you should never mail sales letters, the worst day for newspaper ads and a postage technique that the company says reduces costs...

Fastener guide.(Books, Software & Lit)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... This company recently released the newest version of its tool and fastener hand guide, with answers to many issues that arise in the sheet metal industry. The 116-page, full-color publication offers answers to questions pertaining to fastener...

Standard 90.1 training.(Books, Software & Lit)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A continuing education module, based on the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers' short course, deals with compliance with the HVAC and service water heating sections of its Standard 90.1-2001, "Energy...

Rental rate/spec guide.(Books, Software & Lit)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A 192-page rental rate and spec guide is available from this company, a chain of tool-rental stores that offers small- to mid-sized equipment for rent. More than 70 branches nationally serve contractors, builders, facility managers, commercial...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
July 1, 2004... JULY 28-31 The Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air-Conditioning Contractors Association will hold its 82nd annual convention at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. A trade show is planned. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Wholesalers & Mfr. Reps. Directory.(Directory)
July 1, 2004... 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...

Come on--send in those service-vehicle pictures.(media coverage of trucks)(Editorial)
July 1, 2004... Hey readers: Wouldn't you like to see your company's trucks in SNIPS? In my May column, I asked readers to send in pictures of their company's service trucks for our September issue, which will focus on trucks and similar vehicles. We're hoping...

There are too many trade shows.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... Thank you for asking our opinion on the "quality" of shows, exhibits and conferences (Editor's Page, March). Eight to 10 years ago, I attended and exhibited at about 15 to 20 shows a year in the fire, utility and HVAC industries. I now go...