AHR Expo turns to big ‘green’ apple Lochinvar kicks off heating season with improved VIP contractor program PMI becomes EPA WaterSense Partner American Standard Americas closes plant Grundfos Pumps acquires Peerless Pump Co.

AHR Expo turns to big ‘green’ apple

The latest in “green” products, trends, technologies and solutions will be featured at the 2008 AHR Expo at New York’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Tuesday, January 22 – Thursday, January 24, 2008. And, with thousands of new products from over 1,800 exhibitors, hundreds of demonstrations and technology presentations and over 30 free educational sessions, you’ll find everything you need to stay abreast of the HVAC&R industry and your business.

A vast array of new, energy-efficient, “green” products will be on display from more than 1,800 companies around the world. Close to 200 of these exhibitors will also be showcasing indoor air quality (IAQ) products and will feature IAQ signs in their booths. The most innovative “green” HVAC&R product has been selected as the winner of the prestigious 2008 AHR Expo Innovation Award in the “Green Building” category.

Several of AHR Expo’s 28 endorsing associations will be offering free educational sessions dealing with “green” issues. Some of these sessions include:

• GreenSpeak: Understanding the Language and Concepts;
• Going Green: Reducing Emissions and Operating Costs in Commercial, Industrial or Process Heating Applications; and
• Going Green and the Plan and Spec Representative.

In addition, several “green” educational sessions will be part of the ASHRAE Conference program. Sessions such as Successful Solar Applications and Introduction to Green Buildings and Sustainable Construction will offer attendees valuable insights into a variety of “green” issues. Other “green” features of the show include:

• A Zero Energy Buildings exhibit, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, will provide attendees with research into systems integration of residential and commercial buildings with renewable and other on-site power systems. It will include evaluation of cost tradeoffs between investments in energy efficiency and on-site power systems, along with evaluation of net daily, monthly and annual energy contributions from such systems. In addition, the Department of Energy/Building Energy Codes Programs will have an exhibit where Energy Code Compliance software will be provided free of charge.
• The United States EPA and Energy Star will host an exhibit and seminar for attendees on how they can help customers into green, sustainable buildings. Attendees will learn how building owners use Energy Star’s energy management tools and strategies to manage risk, stay competitive and control energy costs.
• The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority  will be presenting an exhibit as well as a seminar on their energy savings program and incentives.
• Rounding out the “green” offerings at the show will be information booths sponsored by the Green Mechanical Council and U.S. Green Building Council.

“Going ‘green’ is one of the hottest topics in the HVAC&R industry, so we want to be sure that attendees can find the information they need to make informed decisions,” said Clay Stevens, president of IEC, show producers and managers.

For more information on the ahr Expo, www.ahrexpo.com.

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Lochinvar kicks off heating season with improved VIP contractor program

To kick off the 2007-2008 heating season, Lochinvar Corp. has added new incentives and resources to its VIP Contractor Program.  Now in its third year, the VIP Contractor Program rewards enrolled contractors for purchases of the knight heating boiler, the industry’s most advanced fully modulating, condensing boiler. 

Upon joining the recently enhanced program, contractors now receive a Lochinvar hat simply for registering a recently installed knight residential heating boiler; current members also receive a Lochinvar “Mossy Oak” camouflage hat once they update their contact and company information. 

In addition, to help connect vip Contractors with potential customers, Lochinvar invites members to submit an enhanced profile with company information and job features for a free listing on www.knightheatingboiler.com. This allows prospective customers to easily locate a vip Contractor in their area and helps contractors grow their business. Lochinvar also distributes advertising, direct mail and other support materials to help members increase their sales of the knight heating boiler.

Through April 2008, contractors also have the opportunity to compete on a monthly basis to showcase their recent installations on the knight website by submitting them on the VIP Connection at www.lochinvar.com/vip. After the projects are reviewed by a panel of Lochinvar judges, one contractor each month is awarded a $250 gift card to Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shop.  The most impressive project of the heating season will allow one winning contractor to choose from these grand prize options:

• A floor-standing knight kbn080 or wall mount knight wbn080 boiler; and
• A Dell Laptop Computer complete with knight Boiler PC Software.

As in previous years, VIP contractors are also entered to win Lochinvar’s Nashville Experience with each registered purchase of a knight heating boiler. This year, six winners and their guests will enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to Nashville, Tenn. for a NASCAR Busch Series Race or an Indy Car Race.

Finally, to keep VIP Contractors in the loop throughout the year, members are the first to know about new products, new VIP program incentives, exciting featured jobs, service updates, training opportunities and more through the new monthly Knightly Newsletter and other correspondence from Lochinvar.

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PMI becomes EPA WaterSense Partner

The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (PMI) has entered into a Partnership agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense Program.  As a partner, PMI will support the goals of the EPA WaterSense program, and promote the value of using water resources more efficiently and the value of using WaterSense labeled products and programs.  Promoting the efficient use of water efficiency is a large part of the mission of PMI.

Through this agreement, PMI will be recognized for its involvement in the program and its role in protecting the environment.

Barbara C. Higgens, executive director of PMI, will serve as the authorized partner representative and Shawn Martin, technical director of PMI will serve as the primary contact.  

According to Higgens, “The WaterSense program parallels pmi’s mission to promote the efficient use of water.  Earlier this year, PMI sponsored the Laird Bill, CA AB715 to mandate the use of high efficiency toilets and high efficiency urinals.  The bill was signed into law by governor Schwarzenegger in September 2007.”

Look for more information on PMI’s water efficiency efforts on the PMI website at www.pmihome.org and on the new pmi consumer-focused website, www.safeplumbing.org that is scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2008 and will highlight the efficient use of water by PMI member organizations.

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American Standard Americas closes plant

Pursuant to the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, officials of American Standard Americas issued a formal notice to the GMP Local 7-A, its employees and local government officials that it anticipates that its plant in Tiffin, Ohio, will close, eliminating 165 hourly production jobs and 35 salary jobs. According to the warn Act, this constitutes a warn notice.

The company is committed to assisting in easing the transition for employees and will fully comply with its obligations. Should job eliminations occur before 60 days, affected employees will receive the wages and benefits they would have earned during that period, to the extent required by warn. Management will meet with union officials to discuss whether other types of assistance may be provided.

The company appreciates the responsiveness of GMP Local 7-A and the constructive discussions it has had with the Union.  “It is regrettable that there are not less painful solutions to the serious economic problems facing the Company,” said Juan Cruz, vice president, Business Productivity, American Standard Americas.

Officials of American Standard Americas cited external factors, including the collapse of the new home construction market, excess housing inventory, the decline in consumer spending for home remodeling, negative sales trends at major customers and problems in the financial markets.

“These factors have led to increasing amounts of inventory oversupply and mounting storage costs that have already led the company to make major cutbacks in five other facilities in 2007 affecting plants in Brazil, Canada and Mexico,” said Cruz. “We see little hope for economic recovery in 2008.”

For more information, visit www.americanstandard-us.com.

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Grundfos Pumps acquires Peerless Pump Co.

Effective December  2007, the Grundfos Group, with headquarters in Denmark, has acquired Peerless Pump Company. Peerless is a U.S.-based (Indianapolis, and five other North American facilities) manufacturer of pumps and fire protection systems. With more than 400 employees and annual sales of $110 million, Peerless is Grundfos’ largest acquisition to date. Grundfos continues its aggressive growth strategy in North America.

“Recently we have focused on growing our business globally, especially in Eastern Europe, Asia and North America. The U.S. market has a significant growth potential and seen in that perspective the acquisition of Peerless is of great strategic importance to Grundfos. Combined with the continued expansion of our R&D facilities and production capacity in North America, this acquisition is crucial to strengthening our U.S. market position,” said Carsten Bjerg, group president and CEO of Grundfos Group.

“Grundfos has had a presence in the U.S. market since 1973 and over the last three years we have made a series of major investments in North America to accelerate our growth. With the acquisition of Peerless we extend our product range, as well as our U.S. sales organization significantly. We expect a lot from this deal and see great potential for globalization especially of the Peerless fire protection systems,” said Soren O. Sorensen, group executive vice president and chairman of the board of Grundfos in North America.

“We see Grundfos’ acquisition of Peerless as an extremely positive move for our customers, as well as for the future security and continued development of our employees, of Peerless Pump itself and our world wide sales network. The synergies between our organizations are significant and will allow Peerless to accelerate the rapid growth we have enjoyed over the past few years,” said Dean E. Douglas, president and ceo of Peerless.

Douglas will continue in his present position as president and ceo of Peerless with reference to the Grundfos Group’s new regional managing director, Jes Munk Hansen.

For more information, visit www.grundfos.com.

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