Snips articles from October 2007

Snips archives from October 2007

It's back: Metalcon heads again to Nevada for 2007 construction show.
October 1, 2007... Metalcon International is returning to one of its favorite cities, Las Vegas, for its convention this month. In addition to gambling, the city boasts plenty of metal roofing on its casinos and many private homes, making it an ideal place for...

Room to grow: more architects choosing alternative duct materials for resorts.
October 1, 2007... The average hotel guest probably doesn't notice it, but fabric ductwork for heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems is one of the quickest emerging trends in the hospitality construction industry. Fabric duct, which already commands...

Education and incarceration: prison program offers inmates chance for better future.(Cover story)
October 1, 2007... DILLWYN, Va. -- The sheet metal classroom here doesn't look much different than those at many trade schools and community colleges across the country. It has a plasma table alongside smaller machinery such as press brakes and shears, and plenty...

HARDI in 'the Mouse': wholesalers head to Orlando, Fla., for 2007 event.
October 1, 2007... The Heating, Airconditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International has picked Orlando, Fla., one of America's top tourist and convention destinations, for its annual convention. Held not far from Walt Disney World, Universal Studios' two...

A better way: motivating employees to work safer.
October 1, 2007... One of the great debates in workplace safety today is the role of incentives. Two philosophies seem to exist. One says that workers will not work safe unless employers give them incentives to do so. The other says that incentives should not be...

Copper and robbers: metal's rising value makes contractors' businesses targets for theft.
October 1, 2007... Rick Anderson's story isn't unique, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating. In late 2005, thieves broke into the storage yard of his company, RLA Sheet Metal Inc. Behind the chain-link fence and barbed wire, the Healdsburg, Calif.,...

A better bargain: ways to improve your position when selling your company.
October 1, 2007... Acquisition negotiations are confrontational by nature. They are a test of wills and a battle for control between two parties with completely opposing interests. If you are an owner or a CEO of a middle-market sheet metal company, defined as...

Monsters Inc.: techniques for handling high-maintenance customers.
October 1, 2007... It's been more than 20 years since Madonna first sang about being a "material girl in a material world," and since that time, women and men throughout the nation have become more demanding of businesses and what they expect in terms of service....

The road to Mandalay Bay: SMACNA returns to Las Vegas for 64th convention.(Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association)
October 1, 2007... Is Las Vegas the Sheet Metal and Air-Conditioning Contractors' National Association's favorite convention city? It certainly is a place the group heads to regularly. Every two years, its Partners in Progress event with the Sheet Metal Workers...

Philly education facility hits renovation cost goals.(applications in the field)
October 1, 2007... The new education center for the Philadelphia School District is located in a former printing facility built in 1948. The five-story, 848,000-square-foot building is ideal because it allows the district to house all of its administrative...

ASHRAE chooses systems for headquarters renovation.(applications in the field)
October 1, 2007... Once completed, ASHRAE's renovated building headquarters in Atlanta will feature two separate HVAC systems as part of its role as a "living lab." The board of directors for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and...

Johnson Controls provides chillers to Qatar Pearl Island.(applications in the field)
October 1, 2007... Johnson Controls will provide 46 water-cooled chiller units to Qatar Cool, the district cooling authority for Qatar's Pearl Island in the Persian Gulf. Johnson Controls officials said this is the largest single order for chiller units in...

ASHRAE strategy geared to global membership.(association news)
October 1, 2007... The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers has devised a plan that the association hopes will strengthen its presence across the globe. ASHRAE has approximately 50,000 members in more than 130 countries,...

Oil Heat Cares names new board member.(association news)(appointment of Colleen Holohan at Oil Heat Cares Charitable Foundation)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... The Oil Heat Cares Charitable Foundation named Colleen Holohan as a new board member. Colleen Holohan takes the place of her father, Dan Holohan. The foundation named Holohan as its new board member at a June 12 meeting in Boston. She...

FMA awards 29 college, trade scholarships.(association news)
October 1, 2007... Twenty-nine high school graduates earned scholarships toward their college or trade school education from the FMA and its foundation. The Fabricators and Manufacturers Association Foundation scholarships are awarded annually to college- or...

Green Mechanical Council elects board.(association news)(appointments of Jerry Weiss, Steven H. Allen and Tom Crandell)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Jerry Weiss was named chairman of the Green Mechanical Council, an association that tries to educate the public about the benefit of earth-friendly mechanical systems. Weiss is the executive director of HVAC Excellence and chairman of the...

RIMA offers program at Metalcon.(association news)
October 1, 2007... The Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association will present a program workshop Oct. 4 at the 2007 Metalcon show in Las Vegas. The workshop will be held at noon in the Las Vegas Convention Center. The seminar is titled "Reflective...

Council to raise awareness of building codes.(association news)
October 1, 2007... A new national coalition is trying to educate the public on the role code officials play in improving building safety. The "Raise the Profile" coalition will be made up of building safety professionals, trade associations, manufacturers,...

American Standard conducts 'dust bunny' survey.(supplier news)(Survey)
October 1, 2007... What U.S. city has the most dust bunnies? According to a survey from American Standard, 82 percent of Pittsburgh and Seattle residents battle the little furry menaces in their homes. The company's "Dust Bunny Barometer" also found that...

Distributors to carry Knaack replacement parts.(supplier news)
October 1, 2007... Knaack LLC has made its Knaack and Weather Guard replacement parts available at distribution centers. The company says that its most requested replacement parts for Knaack products include Watchman III and IV lock systems and Knaack tan...

Hardcast products meet LEED requirements, company says.(supplier news)
October 1, 2007... Hardcast announced that it now has a full line of products that meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design requirements. LEED, administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design,...

Danfoss purchases Chatleff Controls.(supplier news)
October 1, 2007... HVAC controls manufacturer Danfoss has acquire Chatleff Controls Inc. The agreement was expected to be final Oct. 1. Terms were not disclosed. Chatleff Controls is based in Austin, Texas, and markets connectors and distributors for the...

Rheem expands in Mexico.(supplier news)
October 1, 2007... The Heating and Cooling Division of Rheem Manufacturing Co. has purchased a 37-acre commercial development site in Mexico. The site is in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, where the company currently has manufacturing operations. Rheem said...

Intellidyne enters China market.(supplier news)
October 1, 2007... Intellidyne LLC has entered into an agreement with an Asian firm to import and distribute its Intellicon energy-saving controls. The China HuaYang Technology and Trade Group Corp. will distribute the products throughout China. ...

MSCA teams up with HVAC Excellence.(contractor news)
October 1, 2007... The Mechanical Service Contractors of America named HVAC Excellence as its technical school partner for its 5 Star Careers technician recruitment initiative. As part of the arrangement, MSCA has included a link to HVAC...

Dealers win 'experience' from boilermaker.(contractor news)
October 1, 2007... Seven dealers of Lochinvar products were awarded with all-expenses-paid trips to Nashville, Tenn. The prize, which the company calls the "Nashville Experience," was part of Lochinvar's VIP Contractor Program, From June 7-9, winners...

Coleman names winter sales winners.(contractor news)(Dave Richter and Matt Guymon awarded at Coleman Company Inc.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Dave Richter and Matt Guymon were the grand-prize winners in Coleman's 2007 winter sales contest. Richter of Richter Heating and Cooling in Dell Rapids, S.D., was the winner in the Coleman Liberties Plus category. Richter works through...

Contractor featured on TV news program.(contractor news)
October 1, 2007... The "NBC Nightly News" recently aired a profile of the Mechanical Service Contractors of America's Project Home Again program. The July 27 broadcast was featured on the "Making a Difference" segment and highlighted MSCA Star contractor HMC...

Contractor group offers health care program.(contractor news)
October 1, 2007... The Service Roundtable, an independent contractor group, has partnered with health care providers to make health care more affordable. The Service Roundtable's program, administered by one of the nation's largest insurance brokerage firms,...

Adding color to copper; an Iowa company's anniversary; golf outings; and a new football stadium.(Turning back the pages)
October 1, 2007... As part of our continuing celebration of SNIPS' 75th anniversary, we have a "new" department, Turning Back the Pages. Longtime readers may remember an occasional department with the same name when Edward Carter published the magazine. A look at...

Honeywell offers product info and guides.(internet news)
October 1, 2007... Honeywell Power Products introduced a new Web site at www.honeywellpower.com that provides a library of data sheets, installation manuals and CAD files, among other features. A product finder allows users to sort and search the complete...

NRCA offers roofing energy calculator.(internet news)
October 1, 2007... The National Roofing Contractors Association has made its Energy Wise Roof Calculator available online. Users can access the calculator for free at www.specright.net. The calculator is still available for purchase on CD-ROM through...

ACCA announces webinar schedule.(internet news)(Air Conditioning Contractors of America)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... The Air Conditioning Contractors of America has announced an expanded schedule of live online training for the HVACR industry. Contractors and other experts on topics chosen by ACCA's members teach these 90-minute Web-based seminars....

Met-Tile introduces 'cool roof' Web site.(internet news)(Website overview)
October 1, 2007... Met-Tile Inc. has launched a redesigned Web site featuring its metal tile panel "cool roofing" system. The Met-Tile roof system, which combines the look of tile with all-weather performance and energy savings, can be viewed at...

Dickson Web site offers product-selection guide.(internet news)(Website overview)
October 1, 2007... Dickson Co. has revamped an online instrument selection system at its new Web site, www.dicksondata.com. The company says the new site offers a wide variety of temperature and humidity monitoring instrumentation available to HVAC...

Victaulic releases safety podcasts.(internet news)
October 1, 2007... CompressedSchedule.com, an industry Web site sponsored by Victaulic Co., has released its podcast series focusing on the topic of jobsite safety and implementing health and safety programs. The new Internet broadcasts feature experts in...

IAQA meeting features 'science guy' Bill Nye.(meetings & conventions)
October 1, 2007... The Indoor Air Quality Association will welcome Bill Nye, known as "the science guy," as the keynote speaker for its 10th annual meeting. This year's exposition is scheduled for Oct. 14-17 at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las...

NEBB schedules educational conference.(meetings & conventions)(Conference news)
October 1, 2007... The National Environmental Balancing Bureau's 2007 annual meeting will be Nov. 9-10 at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This year's meeting, held at Walt Disney World, will feature Michael Dillon of Dillon...

GE ECM, Arzel partner for training.(meetings & conventions)
October 1, 2007... GE ECM will partner with Arzel Zoning Technology to offer two days of ECM blower motor and Arzel zoning-system training classes. The classes will be held Nov. 15-16 in Pasadena, Calif. The event will feature a half-day ThinkTank ECM...

Greenbuild to focus on 'green communities'.(meetings & conventions)
October 1, 2007... "Accelerating green communities" is the theme for this year's Greenbuild Conference, Nov. 7-9 in Chicago. The annual conference from the U.S. Green Building Council aims to educate attendees on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental...

Workshop highlights natural ventilation.(meetings & conventions)
October 1, 2007... A workshop discussing the design and performance of natural systems will be featured at ASHRAE's IAQ 2007: Healthy and Sustainable Buildings conference. The conference will be Oct. 14-17 in Baltimore. In the workshop, "What's So Great...

Lennox announces new vice president of operations.(people in the news)
October 1, 2007... Michael J. Blatz was named vice president of operations for Lennox International Inc. Blatz was previously vice president and general manager for Tyler Refrigeration, a division of Carrier Corp. "It is our goal to further improve our...

Christopher J. Pfaus was appointed vice president of marketing for Hart & Cooley Inc.(people in the news)
October 1, 2007... Christopher J. Pfaus was appointed vice president of marketing for Hart & Cooley Inc. Pfaus will report directly to President Bernard Roy. In his new role, Pfaus will be responsible for the marketing and new-product development of all brands...

Streamlight.(people in the news)(appointment of Danny E. Williams)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Streamlight announced that Danny E. Williams has joined the company as a territory sales manager for the industrial and fire divisions. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In his new position, Williams will be responsible for targeted sales to...

Steril-Aire Inc.(people in the news)
October 1, 2007... Steril-Aire Inc. has appointed Christopher M. Dudek as Northeast regional manager. Dudek brings a wide range of HVAC and energy product sales experience to his post at Steril-Aire. He served most recently as a regional account executive...

Commercial roofing products distributor N.B. Handy appointed Chris Payne to the position of manager of technical services for roofing products.(people in the news)
October 1, 2007... Commercial roofing products distributor N.B. Handy appointed Chris Payne to the position of manager of technical services for roofing products. In this position, Payne will offer analysis and support regarding the specification, design,...

Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Advanced Products Division has added five new staff members to various departments in the company.(people in the news)
October 1, 2007... Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Advanced Products Division has added five new staff members to various departments in the company. Joe Bush, who has almost 25 years of application support experience in the HVAC industry, was selected to fill the new...

Revere Copper Products Inc.(people in the news)
October 1, 2007... Revere Copper Products Inc. announced that Anne L. Schade has completed the required studies and been certified as an instructor for the Construction Specifications Institute continuing-education program.

Jack Tester has been promoted to head Nexstar Inc.'s business-coaching department.(people in the news)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Jack Tester has been promoted to head Nexstar Inc.'s business-coaching department. Nexstar provides business training and support to HVAC, plumbing and electrical contractors. Nexstar said its business coaches are a group of experienced...

The National Association of Home Builders Research Center.(people in the news)
October 1, 2007... The National Association of Home Builders Research Center named John B. Peavey as its new director of applied technology. The center said that Peavey's experience would help advance its mission to promote innovation in housing technology....

The secrets that separate successful contractors from others.(business management)
October 1, 2007... There are only two traits common to successful contractors. By implementing them, your chances of making serious money are increased substantially. Over the years I have done 31 benchmark programs for contractors' associations, including...

Keeping touch with technicians through meetings.(contractor cents)
October 1, 2007... Almost every company holds regular meetings with technicians. However, you should remember that such meetings are not the same as training sessions. Technical training sessions should be held separately. If you combine a "business meeting"...

'Getting the order' sometimes is no prize.(mind your business)
October 1, 2007... During my first stint with Supply House Times in the late 1970s and early 1980s, every management guru in the industry preached price integrity. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The damn price cutters" was the phrase used to describe every...

Grainger expands in Chicago and San Francisco.(wholesaler news)(W.W. Grainger Inc.)
October 1, 2007... Facilities maintenance supplier Grainger is adding branches and expanding existing ones in Chicago and San Francisco. The plan is part of Grainger's market expansion program, which was launched in 2003. The company has already upgraded...

HARDI endorses installation specification.(wholesaler news)
October 1, 2007... The Heating, Airconditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International has formally endorsed two industry initiatives on the proper installation of heating and cooling equipment. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America recently...

N.B. Handy to distribute Engel products.(wholesaler news)
October 1, 2007... Lynchburg, Va.-based N.B. Handy Co. will become the sales representative and distributor for Engel Industries in seven states. The company will distribute Engel's sheet metal-forming equipment in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina,...

June AC shipments jump 3 percent.(wholesaler news)
October 1, 2007... Combined U.S. factory shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for June totaled 947,268, up 3 percent for the same month last year, according to the ARI. The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute also reports...

Manufacturing technology consumption up 7.5 percent.(wholesaler news)
October 1, 2007... May U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $313.74 million, the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association and the Association for Manufacturing Technology announced. This total was up 6.5 percent from April, but down 6.5...

Follansbee panels pass salt-spray testing.(roofing news)
October 1, 2007... Follansbee's TCS II and TCS Satin roofing panels have endured more than 12,500 hours of salt-spray testing with no red-colored rust. "The superior corrosion resistance of a Follansbee roof, even in harsh salt-spray conditions, creates what...

Program to assist U.S. service members.(roofing news)
October 1, 2007... The National Roofing Contractors Association will provide roof repairs for U.S. military members, veterans and families. The NRCA will be working with its national charity partner Rebuilding Together and 235 local and state affiliates, as...

Firestone donates $5,000 to scholarship.(roofing news)
October 1, 2007... Firestone Building Products Co. presented a $5,000 scholarship check during the Western States Roofing Contractors Association's 33rd annual convention, June 3-6 in Las Vegas. Firestone has contributed more than $45,000 to the...

MCA members repair New Orleans church.(roofing news)(Metal Construction Association)
October 1, 2007... More than 40 volunteers from the Metal Construction Association recently donated their time and talent to repairing the roof at St. Maurice Church in New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward. The church suffered significant damage after Hurricane...

Massachusetts homeowner installs curved metal roof.(roofing news)
October 1, 2007... The Cramer residence in Woods Hole, Mass., has a curved metal roof and ebb-and-flow design made to mimic the topography of land and sea. The home, just one block from the Atlantic Ocean and a short boat ride from Martha's Vineyard,...

Arizona chapter of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association again sent the employees to the movies for Labor Day.(ARIZONA)
October 1, 2007... The Arizona chapter of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association again sent the employees of its member companies to the movies for Labor Day. This marks the eighth consecutive year that all members of the...

Denver-based Hercules Industries.(COLORADO)(purchased assets of Metalwest)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Denver-based Hercules Industries has agreed to purchase the assets of the specialty products division of Metalwest, known as MSP. Terms were not disclosed. The purchase will include all the manufacturing machinery used for production of...

The Traviss Career Center was granted accreditation for its HVACR program from HVAC Excellence.(FLORIDA)
October 1, 2007... The Traviss Career Center in Lakeland, Fla., was granted accreditation for its HVACR program from HVAC Excellence. In seeking accreditation of their HVACR program, Joel Magee, the HVACR instructor, prepared a self-study of his program....

Johnstone Supply Inc.(NEVADA)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Johnstone Supply Inc. announced plans for a new Southwest parts-distribution center to be located in Las Vegas. A lease has been approved and construction on the new facility is under way. The new facility is anticipated to begin receiving...

New York City now joins other cities in adopting new international codes.(NEW YORK)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... New York City now joins other cities such as Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Phoenix and Washington, D.C., in adopting new international codes. The updated New York City Construction Codes, unanimously approved by the City Council and signed...

Lorain County Community College in Miami, Ohio, will establish a National Center for Welding Education and Training on its campus.(OHIO)
October 1, 2007... Lorain County Community College in Miami, Ohio, will establish a National Center for Welding Education and Training on its campus. The school was named project leader for the $4.9 million National Science Foundation program. The Center...

Andy Armstrong presented the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oklahoma with a $21,056 check June 9 during halftime at an Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz' Arena Football League game.(OKLAHOMA)
October 1, 2007... Andy Armstrong, director of marketing for Johnson Controls' unitary products, presented the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oklahoma with a $21,056 check June 9 during halftime at an Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz' Arena Football League game. The...

The Western Center for Technical Studies was granted accreditation of its HVACR program by HVAC Excellence.(PENNSYLVANIA)
October 1, 2007... The Western Center for Technical Studies in Limerick, Pa., was granted accreditation of its HVACR program by HVAC Excellence. The program provides training on air conditioning, steam and hydraulic heating, temperature and humidity control,...

Dexter & Chaney.(WASHINGTON)
October 1, 2007... Construction software company Dexter & Chaney has broke ground on a second office building in Seattle. The new three-story, 12,000-square-foot office will be adjacent to Dexter & Chaney's existing offices that the company purchased in...

Fabricators & Manufacturers Association.(CANADA)(coil-processing workshop)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association was scheduled to offer a two-day coil-processing workshop Sept. 18-19 at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel in Hamilton, Ontario. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The program content was geared toward shop...

Profits publication.(books, software & lit)
October 1, 2007... FMI has completed production on the second edition of its book, The Integrity Chain: The Link to Profitability in Construction. The book shares with readers how integrity, trust, repeat business and profitability are completely intertwined. It...

Design Manual.(books, software & lit)
October 1, 2007... An updated Air-Conditioning Systems Design Manual, which bridges the gap between engineering theory and practical application, is available from ASHRAE. The manual was first published in 1993 to assist entry-level engineers in the design of...

Welding info.(books, software & lit)
October 1, 2007... This new catalog from Esab Welding & Cutting Products features the company's All-State line of welding, brazing and soldering products. The catalog includes a product selection guide and descriptions of these solutions for maintenance, repair...

CAD software.(books, software & lit)
October 1, 2007... EastCoast CAD/CAM is now shipping EC Fabrication for AutoCAD MEP 2008 and the updated version of its flagship CAD design tool, EC CAD 2008. It includes improvements and extended integration with AutoCAD MEP, according to the company. Included...

Vent catalog.(books, software & lit)
October 1, 2007... This vent catalog from Metal-Fab details the new Corr/Guard vent designs in 3-, 4- and 5-inch diameters, both single wall and double wall. The catalog also describes the features of the new vent, such as the special snap-lock tabs that click...

Spanish refrigeration.(books, software & lit)
October 1, 2007... Refrigeration Spanish contains over 1,000 refrigeration terms translated from English to Spanish and from Spanish to English. This on-the-job reference aims to help employers and their Hispanic workers increase employee morale and productivity,...

Customer service DVD.(books, software & lit)
October 1, 2007... This new DVD set aims to help contractors achieve better customer service. The set includes two DVD titles: "World Class Service" and "Customer Service Stress Relief." Both DVDs are created by Steve Coscia, a noted customer service expert and...

ERV brochure.(books, software & lit)
October 1, 2007... A new 20-page brochure from Mitsubishi Electric emphasizes the features, performance and installation techniques of the Lossnay energy-recovery ventilators. Complete with product photography and application illustrations, the brochure describes...

Retrofit bulletin.(books, software & lit)
October 1, 2007... Emerson Climate Technologies has published an application-engineering bulletin for refrigerant retrofits. This bulletin, "Refrigerant Changeover Guidelines--HCFC R-22 to HFC R-422A/D," is for Copeland Discus compressors. The company says it...

Software upgrade.(books, software & lit)
October 1, 2007... The new HS-862 upgrade kit has been introduced for older ProMotion Controls shape-cutting devices. The kit increases controller clock speed of the CPU and RAM, providing smoother and more reliable Windows operation, the company says. It also...

Safety posters.(books, software & lit)
October 1, 2007... The National Roofing Contractors Association has released its line of "Safety in Sight" posters, which are 12 health-and-safety posters intended to be displayed in an office or shop. The posters address a variety of safety procedures and...