K/BIS 2007 to draw 40,000+ to Las Vegas event Viega breaks ground on new manufacturing and logistics facility Weil-McLain earns Good Housekeeping Seal Grundfos offers HVAC/hydronics 201 training 32nd Annual Southern California PHCC Industry Trade Show

K/BIS 2007 to draw 40,000+ to Las Vegas event

Las Vegas -- Look no further than the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference this May for big winnings in Las Vegas. An authoritative voice in the kitchen and bath industry for more than 40 years, the National Kitchen & Bath Association brings K/BIS to the Las Vegas Convention Center, May 7-10.

As the premier showcase for the very latest products and cutting-edge design ideas in the kitchen and bath industry, K/BIS features the largest array of product displays and demonstrations, NKBA professional development courses, keynote speeches, conference sessions and an interactive roundtable event. An unparalleled forum for dealers, designers, architects, distributors, retailers and home centers, K/BIS is the world’s largest international trade event dedicated to the kitchen and bath industry. K/BIS 2007 will bring together more than 900 companies exhibiting their products and over 40,000 national and international industry professionals.

“The incredible energy, enthusiasm and dedication that surround this show are true indicators of the vitality of the industry,” noted Michael Kelly, CEO of the NKBA.

A must-see for all K/BIS attendees, the NKBA Industry Trends Marketplace will include showcases with trend-setting product lines and special new features that are driving the kitchen and bath marketplace. Located on the K/BIS Expo/Show floor in the South Hall, the specialty showcase and learning areas will focus on Green Design, Kitchen & Bath Technology and Outdoor Living. Inside the Industry Trends Marketplace, the NKBA Center Stage will host forums and discussions on the hottest trends forecasted as well as the issues that affect the kitchen and bath industry today.

The New Product Pavilion, sponsored by K+BB Magazine, will be segmented by product categories to ease on-site navigation and improve the buyer experience. Showcasing the newest innovations on the show floor, the New Product Pavilion is a one-stop shop for the best of the best in the industry.

For the second year in a row, the NKBA and Meredith Corporation are partnering to bring the latest trends and products in kitchen and bath design to K/BIS. The Design Idea Center features a unique collaboration between five of Meredith’s most popular consumer publications -- Better Homes and Gardens, Kitchen and Bath Ideas, Traditional Home, Country Home and Midwest Living. Each magazine will concentrate on the concept of “Everyday Getaways,” calming and soothing atmospheres that create the feeling of getting away without leaving home, and will present rooms such as “Gourmet Traveler At Home” and “Gardener’s Kitchen.”

The NKBA’s highly regarded industry conference sessions will focus on Business & Leadership, Design & Inspiration, and Technology & Trends. This year’s Conference Tracks feature Green Remodeling: Changing the World One Room at a Time; Navigating the Contradictions of the New Trend Landscape; and Sweet Dreams & Rude Awakenings: Lighting Designs for Kitchens and Baths. The NKBA Professional Development Courses include Kitchen & Bath Krafter, expo European Design Trends, Business Management, Experience Green, Selling with Personality, and much more.

The NKBA Board of Directors’ Gala & Cocktail Reception, the annual K/BIS kick-off ceremony, will be held at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, one of Las Vegas’ most elegant and exciting resorts. The event will feature the live announcement of the 2007 NKBA Design Competition Pinnacle Award winner and the 2007 Hall of Fame inductees. For details, visit www.kbis.com.

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Viega breaks ground on new manufacturing and logistics facility

McPherson, Kan. -- Since its North American introduction in 1999 and the acquisition of Vanguard Piping Systems in 2005, Viega has grown to become one of the largest PEX plumbing systems manufacturer in North America.  On March 14, Viega LLC continued their path of expansion by breaking ground of its new 439,000-square-foot production, logistics and office complex. 

Before a turnout of city and state officials, business leaders and Viega executive staff, Viega owner Walter Viegener, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Viega ceo Dan Schmierer, McPherson Mayor Bill Goering, and president of the McPherson Industrial Development company Brett Reber, gave praise to all those involved in making this project possible.  “This is a big day for Kansas,” the governor said.   

Walter Viegener, an owner of Viega LLC, commented, “This facility will be the best of its kind.”  Located conveniently along Interstate 135, the impressive complex, nearly three times as large as the current manufacturing and logistics facility, will occupy over 100 acres of land.  Equipped with world-class extrusion and molding technologies the new plant is scheduled to open in 2008. 

Continuing on the path of expansion Viega is investing another $10 million in Kansas for a corporate headquarters. Recently relocating their national headquarters from Bedford, Mass. to Wichita, Kan., Viega has chosen the well-established Waterfront area as the site for the new Viega national headquarters building.     

For additional information on the progress of the McPherson facility and Viega’s growing presence in North America, call 877/VIEGA-NA, visit online at www.viega-na.com or e-mail service@viega.com.

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Weil-McLain earns Good Housekeeping Seal

Michigan City, Ind. -- Good Housekeeping has granted its Good Housekeeping Seal to hydronic heating manufacturer Weil-McLain. The Good Housekeeping Seal was introduced in 1909 as one of the first tested and approved emblems in the United States to assure consumers that a manufacturer’s product has met the rigorous quality standards set forth by the Good Housekeeping Institute.

“We are proud that our products met the high specifications of the Good Housekeeping Institute and earning its Seal is the start of another fine chapter to the heritage of Weil-McLain,” commented Weil-McLain vice president of marketing Dave Dolan. For more information visit the Weil-McLain website at: www.weil-mclain.com.

From the time the company was founded in 1881, Weil-McLain has been the leader in comfort heating. Building on a proud tradition of quality and innovation, the mission remains simple:

To design and build the best comfort heating products on the market. To make them first. And to make them last for decades.

Headquartered in Michigan City, Indiana, with 700 employees worldwide, Weil-McLain combines hydronic heating expertise with the responsiveness of service and support operations. The ongoing success is a testament to the company’s commitment to providing nothing less than the best -- without compromise.

From consumers to contractors to distributors, the new weil-mclain.com offers a bevy of info. Website features include: a learning center for homeowners, contractors and distributor locators, a contractor showcase, educational information and convenient links to service information, manuals and other product literature.

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Grundfos offers HVAC/hydronics 201 training

Olathe, Kan. -- Grundfos Technical Institute will conduct several hvac product and system training sessions in 2007. These 21/2-day programs are designed specifically for hvac and hydronic distributors and dealers.

This course is tailored to equip industry professionals with product and technology knowledge about the application and sales of Grundfos’ broad line of wet rotor circulators, with new insight into the advantages of three-speed circulation.

Training takes place at Grundfos Pumps Corp.’s state-of-the-art laboratory in Olathe, Kan., or at other locations. Topics will focus on sizing and selection, real world application theory, sales strategy and key features and benefits. Training will also include:

•  Pump Basics -- open and closed systems, wet runner and dry runner units, pump and system curves, motor basics, product and technical guides;
• Open Systems -- definitions, system examples, hot water recirculation solutions for residential, commercial, and retrofit applications; and
• Closed Systems -- definitions, hydronic heating, system examples, components, single and multi loop layouts, zoning, primary/secondary, boiler/system protection.
  

Instruction will take place at one of Grundfos’ North American facilities. Training programs will be held:

• May 1-3, Olathe, Kan.
• June 19-21, Allentown, Pa.
• June 26-28, Allentown, Pa.
• August 7-9, Olathe, Kan.

All participants will gain valuable instruction and hands-on experience through interaction with live pumping systems. Tuition is $150; applicants can register on line at: www.us.grundfos.com/training. Or, call 913/227-3400, ext. 3436; and by email: training@us.grundfos.com.

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32nd Annual Southern California PHCC INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW

June 9, 2007

Presented By:

PLUMBING * HEATING * COOLING * CONTRACTORS OF THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA

PHCC-GLAA, 2869 Glenview Ave, Los Angeles, California  90039

Tel: (800) 809-7340 / (323) 913-7340    Fax: (800) 809-7343    E-mail: harryreed@phccglaa.org    www.phccglaa.org/tradeshow  

Welcome Industry Friends and Previous Exhibitors

Next Event: Saturday, June 9, 2007 at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center Exhibit Hall "A", Long Beach, CA, USA.

Thank you for your interest in exhibiting alongside the other EXHIBITORS OF OUR INDUSTRY who will be exhibiting in the 32nd annual Southern California Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Industry Trade Show. This is a trade show that draws attendees from our industry, from all across California, the western United States and beyond.

The event's exhibitors are regional, national and international. The exhibitors are Manufacturers, OEM, Distributors, Manufacturer Representatives, Wholesalers and Service companies. The exhibitors are providing a product or service that the contractors can use in the operation of their business and/or will be used in the process from the beginning to the completion of a project.

This year's event will be even more exciting than the previous year because of the new products and services made available to the contractor. In addition the trade show brings together the products and services, displayed at one event, for the new construction, retrofit, service contractors and office and field personnel who are just breaking into our industry. What an opportunity!

Please take the opportunity to visit our web site to see and read about our upcoming trade show.

It's time to sign-up for your booth. So don't hesitate to give me a call or e-mail.

Harry Reed

Trade Show Manager

Tel: 800-809-7340, 323-913-7340

Fax: 323-913-7343

E-mail: harryreed@phccglaa.org

Website: www.phccglaa.org/tradeshow