Contractor articles from October 2001

Contractor archives from October 2001

`The heart of America can never be questioned again'.
October 1, 2001... NEW YORK -- Sept. 11 was supposed to be mayoral primary day in New York City, and plumber Jimmy Hart was passing out campaign literature at the Staten Island Ferry landing at Richmond Terrace. He didn't see the first plane hit the World Trade...

Tougher Pentagon to rise.
October 1, 2001... ARLINGTON, VA. -- When the Department of Defense planned the ongoing renovation of the Pentagon, it decided to incorporate everything that it had learned from the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The planners, however,...

PHCC staffer dies in crash.(Norma Khan, Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... FALLS CHURCH, VA. -- Two memorial services were held Sept. 20 for Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association staff member Norma Khan who was a passenger on the hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 mat crashed into the Pentagon....

A.O. Smith to acquire State Industries.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... MILWAUKEE -- A.O. Smith Corp. reached a definitive agreement Sept. 17 to acquire State Industries, a privately held manufacturer of residential and commercial water heaters. The acquisition price will be $58 million for all of State's...

CONTRACTOR INFOCUS.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 1, 2001... Vehicles used by CONTRACTOR readers (by type of truck) Step vans 8% Flat beds 9% Stake beds 9% Cube vans 9% Cargo vans 30% Pickups 35% Source: CONTRACTOR publisher's data ...

PHCC meeting proceeds in abbreviated format.(Plumbing-Heatng-Cooling Contractors-National Association)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... RENO, NEV. -- With the revamping of seminars and some events as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association's 119th annual convention proceeded Sept. 12-16...

Harriet Gerber Lewis dies.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... CHICAGO -- Harriet Gerber Lewis, 81, board chairwoman and former president of Gerber Plumbing Fixtures, died on Sept. 24 of complications from heart disease. "Harriet was committed to the industry and family business and was the...

N.C. eyes troubling bid bill.(North Carolina )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... RALEIGH, N.C. -- The North Carolina legislature is debating an extensive revision to the state's laws governing public construction that could prove damaging to subcontractors. The law would allow all public entities to solicit work on a single...

Fort Dix updates heating system.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... FORT DIX, N.J. -- Well before the events of Sept. 11, the Army was updating Fort Dix in southern New Jersey to make it available for emergency use in various conflicts around the world. Adjacent to McGuire Air Force Base, Fort Dix is an ideal...

Schools gets lead out of bubblers.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... PORTLAND, ORE. -- The Portland public school system is changing out all its bubbler-style drinking fountains in nearly 100 buildings after test results indicated that many of them have unsafe levels of lead in the drinking water. The U.S....

Roto-Rooter settles overtime pay dispute.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... CINCINNATI -- Chemed Corp. announced that its Roto-Rooter subsidiary has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to pay its commissioned service technicians $1.26 million in back overtime pay. The agreement could have an impact...

TDIndustries of Dallas installed the plumbing and mechanical systems in the new American Airlines Center.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * TDIndustries of Dallas installed the plumbing and mechanical systems in the new American Airlines Center (August, pg. 5). TD's $26 million contract included the installation of 4,300 tons of cooling, more than 1,600 plumbing fixtures, five...

The Hydronics Institute Division of the Gas Appliance Manufacturers' Association.
October 1, 2001... * The Hydronics Institute Division of the Gas Appliance Manufacturers' Association will conduct two new two-day I-B-R training seminars on design installation and operation of residential hydronic heating systems. One will be held Nov. 5-6 at...

The National Association of Oil Heating Service Managers.(produce CD,"Introduction to Oilheat" to attract vocational students to industry)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * The National Association of Oil Heating Service Managers has produced an eight-minute CD presentation designed to encourage high school and junior high vocational students to work as oil-heat technicians. "Introduction to Oilheat" describes...

"Troubleshooting Steam and Hot Water Systems," sponsored by the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society and its Greater Pittsburgh Chapter.
October 1, 2001... * "Troubleshooting Steam and Hot Water Systems," sponsored by the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society and its Greater Pittsburgh Chapter, will take place Nov. 10 at the Robert Morris College in Moon Township, Pa. CONTRACTOR columnist Dan...

Mechanical Contractors Association of America, Mechanical Service Contractors of America.
October 1, 2001... * Mechanical Contractors Association of America, Mechanical Service Contractors of America, Radiant Panel Association and Air Conditioning Contractors of America are among 15 industry trade associations to renew their support of the AHR Expo...

The National Safety Council awarded its Distinguished Service.(awards Gerald J. Kennedy Distinguished Service to Safety Award)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... * The National Safety Council awarded its Distinguished Service to Safety Award to Gerald J. Kennedy, chief operating officer for the Educational Foundation of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors - National Association. Kennedy serves on...

Kohler unveils new flushing system.(Ingenium)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
October 1, 2001... KOHLER, WIS. - Kohler Co. has developed a new gravity-fed, siphon-jet flushing system that it has named Ingenium. "Our next generation of toilets, featuring the Ingenium flushing system, is again raising the bar with one of the most...

Welch has a lesson, even for small shops.(Jack Welch of General Electric)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... AS I WRITE THIS, the new book, "Jack: Straight From the Gut," an autobiography written by retiring head of General Electric Jack Welch, has not been published, but advanced excerpts have appeared in the press. He is one of my all-time favorite...

LETTERS.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2001... Installing well pumps demands extra care MOORESVILLE, IND. -- I am writing in response to Dave Yates' column in the May issue of CONTRACTOR ("In-stall well pumps once, and do the job right, "pg. 39). We do pump and well work for a...

Death of PHCC staff member carries meaning for all of us.
October 1, 2001... FALLS CHURCH, VA. -- Today is Sept. 17. I stayed home today after a week at the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors - National Association's convention in Reno, Nev. This has given me the opportunity to think about the events of the last week....

A son recalls dad's lessons about our industry and life.
October 1, 2001... OCEANSIDE, N.Y. -- A couple of weeks before my father died in August, his wife and I took him to the hospital to have an MRI done. Dad was already struggling. He was confined to a wheelchair and fighting to stay awake and alert. As we sat...

INNER SPACE.(pickup trucks and cargo vans)
October 1, 2001... PICKUP TRUCKS and cargo vans remain the most popular vehicles used by mechanical contractors. About 35% of CONTRACTOR readers use pickups and 30% utilize cargo vans, according to our publisher's data. In contrast, about 9% choose cube vans...

An American cathedral.
October 1, 2001... MIKE ALWAYS wrote his initials on the pipes with a wax crayon. Next to his initials, he wrote the date and next to the date he drew an arrow that pointed toward heaven. He didn't write on all the pipes, just the ones that he himself had welded....

Office XP Professional upgrade is worthwhile.(Evaluation)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... MICROSOFT OFFICE XP Professional (estimated retail price $579, upgrade price $329, www.microsoft.com/ office/), which encompasses Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, FrontPage, Outlook and SharePoint Team Services, looks to be a worthwhile...

NORA catalog is online.(National Oilheat Research Alliance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- The education committee of the National Oilheat Research Alliance has compiled a list of training resources for the oilheat industry. The 51-page document identifies sources that are available to oil-heat marketers for...

My nutty professor hydronic system.
October 1, 2001... AT THE END of last month's column (pg. 32), I mentioned the mental process I was going through as I designed and installed the hydronic heating system in my own home. I had decided to use a standalone 40-gal. water heater with a sea level...

Crossing state lines: Watch what you sign.(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
October 1, 2001... EVERY CONTRACTOR OR supplier uses form contracts and purchase or service orders in his business. I hope your attorney reviews those forms before they're taken to the public. A common mistake that businesspeople make is that, having made sure...

Plan your estate under new law.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 1, 2001... NEVER HAVE I received so many phone calls and e-mails concerning the same tax subject -- the new estate tax law. Confusion and uncertainty reign. Here are some of the typical questions: 1) "My estate plan is done. Must I change it...

I'm a USDA S.O.B.; you can be one too!(being an ethical contractor)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... RECENTLY A colleague and I had a heart-felt conversation that resulted in a complete re-evaluation of my self-image vs. how others see me. While not pleasant, this experience was empowering to me personally and professionally in equal measure....

Emcor Facilities Services.(John McGee, Paul D. Ring)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... John McGee has been named a vice president of Emcor Facilities Services, a subsidiary of Emcor Group. Prior to joining the company, McGee was vice president/operations, integrated facility management, at Johnson Controls. Paul D. Ring has been...

J.F. Ahern.(LeRoy Walsh)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... LeRoy Walsh has been appointed operations manager/power within the industrial process department at J.F. Ahern.

Western Michigan Contractors Association.(executive board)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The Western Michigan Contractors Association has elected officers for its executive board. Tom Vander-Hyde, president of Rite-Way Plumbing and Heating, has been elected president. Jim Cox, president of Pressures and Pipes, has been elected vice...

Excellence Alliance.(Dana Brighten )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Dana Brighten was hired by Excellence Alliance to manage its Cleveland district in the Midwest region.

Haws Corp.(Sallie Rena Haws Van Tassel new president)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Haws Corp. has named Sallie Rena Haws Van Tassel its new president. Michael Haws Traynor, the previous president and new chairman, made the announcement. Van Tassel has been with the company since 1984, first in sales and marketing positions,...

Alamo Water Refiners.(hires Dave Anderson, E. Veronica Castillo)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Alamo Water Refiners has added Dave Anderson, formerly a project manager at U.S. Filter, as an engineering manager. E. Veronica Castillo has joined the company as an application engineer.

Uponor Wirsbo.(Wes Sisco)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Uponor Wirsbo has added Wes Sisco to its training team. He has spent 13 years as an HVAC sales specialist and technical service adviser for Weinstein Supply, a Wirsbo distributor. Ken Andersen is now national sales manager, and Patrick Reed is...

Brasstech.(Larry Allen, David Willke)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Brasstech, including its Newport Brass and Plumbtrim divisions, has appointed Larry Allen marketing manager and David Willke national sales manager.

Mansfield Plumbing Products.(employee appointment)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Mansfield Plumbing Products has promoted David M. Kirkpatrick to vice president/sales and marketing. Previously, he was director of wholesales sales. He assumes the position from Michael A. Sotak, who has left the company.

Lasco Bathware.(Morris Mintz; various promotions)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Lasco Bathware has promoted Morris Mintz, former vice president/sales and marketing, to senior vice president; Vince Bienek, former national sales manager/wholesale, to vice president/wholesale sales; Martin Jones, former national sales...

Thermo Products.(employee appointments)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Thermo Products has promoted Tom Scozzari to national sales and marketing manager. Ken Buffenmyer joins the company as sales support manager, Scott Sweigart becomes technical adviser and Brooke Stophel is a marketing assistant.

Swan Hose.(employee appointment)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The Swan Hose division of Dayco Products has promoted Steve Venters to national sales manager of Dayco Swan Specialty Products. He joined the company in 1986.

Elkay Manufacturing.(employee appointments)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Elkay Manufacturing has named Elaine Nissen vice president and controller of the company's Elkay division. She will report directly to Jim Scott, president of the division. John Bodine has been named vice president and chief information...

Techni Edge.(appoints Deborah Williams)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Techni Edge, a manufacturer of industrial blades and tools, has promoted Deborah Williams to president. She fills the position held by Bert Ghavami who retains the position of chairman/CEO. She first joined the firm as a director of marketing...

Roberts-Gordon.(employee appointment)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Roberts-Gordon has promoted William D. Spencer to Southeast regional market development manager, based in Raleigh, N.C. He first joined the company in 1987.

Debris removal precedes agreement to rebuild WTC.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... NEW YORK -- Dust and steel. That's pretty much all that's left at the site of what once was the World Trade Center. There isn't even any office furniture, testimony to the awesome destructive force created when the two towers collapsed. ...

`We will rise fro the wreckage': Maddaloni.(United Association's promise)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... WASHINGTON -- The people of New York and Washington will rise and rebuild, said United Association General President Marry Maddaloni in an open letter. Maddaloni wrote: "On behalf of all the general officers, and especially General...

American Standard to aid families.(relief organizations receive donations)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- American Standard Cos. will donate $250,000 to relief organizations working to support families of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack victims. The company will divide its $250,000 outright contribution between three groups -- the...

The E-Series rack and bin system is designed for maximum storage capacity.(Ford Motors)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The E-Series rack and bin system is designed for maximum storage capacity. The system includes a bulkhead with lockable door, and fully insulated steel shelving, drawers and cabinets. A full width safety partition provides work area access from...

The FT1061 walk-in truck has a 125-in. wheel base and a 10 ft., 6 in. loadspace.
October 1, 2001... The FT1061 walk-in truck has a 125-in. wheel base and a 10 ft., 6 in. loadspace. The cargo area has a 76-in. ceiling height, more than enough for a 6-ft.-tall driver to directly access the cargo area from his seat by standing up and walking to...

This 2002 model truck is offered with a crew cab and automatic transmission.(Mitsubishi Fuso)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... This 2002 model truck is offered with a crew cab and automatic transmission. It is available with a 165.4-in. wheelbase and a 175-hp engine. It can comfortably seat seven people, handle up to 14,500-lb. gross vehicle weight rating and has a...

The Royal Summit truck body features eight lockable storage compartments hidden in a stylish factory-look body.(Royal Truck)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The Royal Summit truck body features eight lockable storage compartments hidden in a stylish factory-look body. The compartments have side-opening doors and two have drop-down doors that can serve as horizontal work tables. Adjustable,...

The 2002 Sierra Light Duty Truck features front-wheel hydraulic power steering in combination with an electrically powered rear wheel steering system.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The 2002 Sierra Light Duty Truck features front-wheel hydraulic power steering in combination with an electrically powered rear wheel steering system. Professional models include an extended cab short box configuration; custom-designed...

These weather-resistant, white steel underbed boxes are designed for flat beds, dumps and trailers.(Jo Box)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... These weather-resistant, white steel underbed boxes are designed for flat beds, dumps and trailers. A wide rain gutter surrounds the entire door opening to channel water away from the interior. Available in several styles and lengths, they...

The Classic II service body features a convenient slam-action tailgate with double panel construction.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The Classic II service body features a convenient slam-action tailgate with double panel construction. The body is constructed of two-sided A60 galvannealed steel immersion primed for rust protection. An automotive-quality bubble-type seal and...

The 2002 Express meets California low vehicle emissions standards for 8,600-lb.-and-above gross vehicle weight ratings.
October 1, 2001... The 2002 Express meets California low vehicle emissions standards for 8,600-lb.-and-above gross vehicle weight ratings. Cargo volume is 317 cubic ft., and maximum payload is 4,155 lb. Safety features include four-wheel antilock brakes, driver...

The Mini-Rooter XP is designed to clear clogged drain lines from rooftop to basement.(General Wire Spring)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The Mini-Rooter XP is designed to clear clogged drain lines from rooftop to basement. It can roll to and from a job on 8-in. wheels. The handle folds down to save space and locks for use as a lifting handle. The drum can hold up to 75 ft. of...

The Ambience modular sauna is a freestanding, self-contained unit.(ThermaSol)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The Ambience modular sauna is a freestanding, self-contained unit. It features tongue-and-groove western red cedar. Each panel ships numbered and coded for easy assembly. It is available in 4 ft. by 4 ft., 4ft. by 6 ft., 5ft. by 7 ft., or 6 ft....

The gaSteam Humidifier features 25% to 100% modulation with a combustion efficiency at 94%.(Carel)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The gaSteam Humidifier features 25% to 100% modulation with a combustion efficiency at 94%. It can automatically detect excessive buildup of mineral scale on the heat exchanger and even has a water pre-heat circuit, allowing the unit to respond...

This aluminum end wrench is 40% lighter than malleable iron wrenches of the same size.(Ridge Tool)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... This aluminum end wrench is 40% lighter than malleable iron wrenches of the same size. It is designed for easy, one-handed operation. The wrench is angled for better leverage when turning pipe in tight areas. It is available in 10 in., 14 in.,...

The Type 343 3-Way vertical ball valves feature true union design in PVC with a large diameter size range from 2 1/2-in. to 6-in.(George Fischer)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The Type 343 3-Way vertical ball valves feature true union design in PVC with a large diameter size range from 2 1/2-in. to 6-in. Ideally suited for sewage and wastewater treatment as well as a wide variety of industrial fluid mixing and...

The Journeyman line of premium pliers offers contoured, cushioned handles for a more comfortable, secure grip.(Klein Tools)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The Journeyman line of premium pliers offers contoured, cushioned handles for a more comfortable, secure grip. They are available in 13 different styles, with color-coded grips for easy identification in the pouch or tool bag. They feature...

The R811 Universal Die Head offers positive alignment, size selection and quick manual release.(Reed Tool)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The R811 Universal Die Head offers positive alignment, size selection and quick manual release. It takes most brands of universal dies. It fits on Ridgid machine models 300, 300 Compact, 535 and 1822. Reed Tool, Circle 110 on card ...

These Jobmaster and Storagemaster chests provide jobsite protection for tools and equipment.(Knaack Manufacturing)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... These Jobmaster and Storagemaster chests provide jobsite protection for tools and equipment. The locking system uses a single padlock to secure a two-point deadbolt latch. A reinforcing rib adds structural integrity to the boxes. Matching cover...

This Gooseneck faucet is offered with an optional swan head that is an attractive addition to bathrooms designed with children in mind.(Watermark Designs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... This Gooseneck faucet is offered with an optional swan head that is an attractive addition to bathrooms designed with children in mind. It is shown in PVD brass with perfume handles (eight other handle options are available). The faucet...

Hero and villain roles never have been so clear cut as now.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... A DAY AFTER the terrorist attacks in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania, I thought about a letter written by contractor Evan Adams. In his letter, which we published last month, Adams took us to task for a headline that appeared on...