Industry News
We would like to take this opportunity to give a special thanks to this month's sponsor -- Taco Inc. Headquartered in Cranston, R.I., Taco, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of hydronic-based HVAC equipment and accessories for use in residential, commercial and institutional buildings worldwide. The company, privately owned and in business since 1920, manufactures a wide range of pumps and circulators, valves, tanks, heat exchangers, electronic controls, accessories and systems. Manufacturing facilities are located in Cranston, R.I. and Fall River, Mass., with a Canadian distribution and sales facility in Mississauga, Ontario. Taco sells through wholesale distributors and also provides select OEMs with product. Visit www.taco-hvac.com for more information.
To find out more about special e-newsletter advertising opportunities, please contact your Phc News sales rep by visiting www.phcnews.com.
American Standard America, Crane Plumbing and Eljer announce intent to merge
AS America, Inc. (American Standard America), Crane Plumbing LLC and Eljer, Inc. announced their intent to merge. The merger closing is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2008, and integration of the companies' operations is expected to occur within a 12- to 24-month period.
Once the merger is complete, Donald C. Devine, president and CEO of American Standard America, will lead the new company and Kevin Oak, CEO of Crane Plumbing, will become COO. Jim Harris, CEO of Eljer, will be part of the integration steering committee. The new organization will have operations in the United States, Mexico and Canada, and its headquarters will be in Piscataway, N.J.
While leaders of all three companies are excited about the opportunity and have formed integration teams and plans for the merger, the three companies will continue to conduct business as usual and operate as independent companies until the closing.
2008 K/BIS set to take Windy City by storm
This April, the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference (K/BIS) is blowing through the “windy city,” bringing with it the latest and greatest in kitchen and bath products and information. Owned by the most authoritative voice in the kitchen and bath industry for more than 40 years, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), and produced by Nielsen Business Media, K/BIS returns to Chicago’s McCormick Place, April 10-13, 2008. With innovative product launches, emerging trends, cutting-edge information, and the largest gathering of kitchen and bath professionals and manufacturers worldwide, there’s something for everyone on the show floor.
“This year’s K/BIS promises to be the biggest and best show yet -- we’re bringing together more than 900 exhibitors and more than 40,000 national and international dealers, designers, architects, distributors, retailers, and home centers. The anticipation surrounding this year’s show in Chicago is tangible,” said Michael Kelly, chief executive officer of the NKBA. “In the pre-show buzz, you can already get a true sense of the vitality in the kitchen and bath industry.”
A must-see for all K/BIS attendees, the New Product Pavilion is a one-stop-shop for the best in the industry and will showcase the newest innovations on the show floor. Other new pavilions to see include the Multi-Family Pavilion, which will showcase design ideas for one of the fastest growing industry trends, and the Custom Build Pavilion, one of the most popular attendee segments. For more information, www.kbis.com.
Uponor Joins Green Mechanical Coucil
Uponor has joined the Green Mechanical Council (GreenMech) as a founding member. Uponor, formerly Wirsbo, a leading international supplier of PEX-a plumbing radiant heating and cooling and fire safety systems for residential and commercial buildings, joins several other organizations as a leading member of GreenMech, including Carrier, NIBCO, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), Ferris State University, Legend Valve, Mechanical Contractors Association of America, ABCO Refrigeration, Watts Radiant, United Association (UA), Floor Heat Company, Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF), Legend Hydronics, Bacharach, Fieldpiece, HVAC Excellence, and Mechanical Services Contractors of America (MSCA).
Viega hosts stars of ‘American Chopper’
Stars of the TLC television show “American Chopper,” (from left) Paul Teutul, Jr., Mikey Teutul and Paul Teutul, Sr., of Orange County Choppers, presented a custom-made motorcycle to Viega CEO Dan Schmierer (with microphone) after a special parade in Wichita, Kan., Viega’s U.S. headquarters. Viega -- www.viega.com -- is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of plumbing and heating technology products. The chopper includes Viega copper and stainless steel fittings as part of its design, and Viega plans to use the bike for marketing purposes and at trade shows around the United States. The episode of "American Chopper" focusing on the Viega chopper is scheduled to air March 20th on “TLC.”
New Products
 |
Low water cutoff control The LTR Series -- standing for Low Water Cut-Off (L), Testable (T), Residential Model (R) -- incorporates the advanced signal processing technology from Taco’s commercial boiler Low Water Cutoff and places it in a one-piece sealed design that also includes a test button, a plug n’ play wiring harness and instant feedback maintenance LED lights. Compatible with both gas and oil-fired residential boilers, the LTR Series’ size also makes it a nice companion to smaller sized high efficiency boilers. |
 |
Remodel and repair kits for pipe support and water heaters Introducing remodel and repair kits for sink/toilet, shower/tub and water heater restraints. With no blocks of wood or other onsite materials, pipe support for remodel and repair jobs need an engineered solution that is easy to install and requires no torch. The sink/toilet (#HR-RR-1) and shower/tub (#HR-RR-2) solutions include the industry leading telescoping HOLDRITE Stout Bracket and variable closure clamps that reduces plumbing noise disturbance. The water heater restraint (#QS-50-D6) solution includes the industry standard quick strap white power-coated restraints. Hubbard Enterprises/HOLDRITE. |
 |
Stackable mod-con boilers The 94% efficient mod-con commercial condensing boiler features a high-grade Inconel, load-matching gas burner with a five-to-one turndown ratio, to meet the variable needs for space heating and domestic hot water in a single application. The 500,000 Btu per hour model will operate as low as 100,000 Btu/h, saving energy on warmer spring and fall days when the heating load is light. Heat Transfer Products.
|
 |
Pre-assembled package system The new simplex 912 24" x 24" pre-assembled package system contains a 41-gallon capacity, exceeding that of a traditional 18'530' package system. The 360º molded handle acts as a secondary anti-flotation device. Flat areas allow for additional field installed inlets and cover connections are threaded for vent and discharge piping. Available with pump Model 211 and cast iron construction Models 264 or 266. Zoeller Pump Co.
|
Movers & Shakers
|
Bringing an extensive background in public affairs and government relations, Jessica Johnson Bennett joined PHCC in late December 2007 as director of government relations. Johnson Bennett is especially well versed in small business, construction, trade, labor and energy-related issues as a result of her experience in Congress, trade associations and the consulting field.
|
Clockwork Home Services, Inc., a leading provider of home services, announced its appointment of Peter C. Grabowski to the position of chief financial officer. Grabowski will oversee Clockwork’s financial operations and will be based in Clockwork’s Sarasota, Fla., headquarters.