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.
Phc News introduces its lead-free news & information page
Be on the lookout for the February issue of Phc News when it launches its inaugural lead-free page. The page will be chalk full of news, educational information, code updates, etc. The lead-free page will run bi-monthly — or every other month.
Illinois contractor wins the Stanley Pressing Tool contest
Bloomingdale, Ill. — Congratulations go out to Joe Lobraco of HVAC Service Group, Inc. of Bloomingdale, Ill.! Joe was the winner of a new Stanley M20+ pressing tool — an estimated value of $1,600 value. Joe’s entry encompassed the essence of the contest and the usefulness of the tool itself. Labraco will meet with Stanley representatives at the AHR Show in Orlando for the tool hand-off. “I have a complete stock of pressing type valves and fittings for any future emergencies and it is an essential tool in my truck,” said Lobraco.
BLÜCHER part of Watts Water Technologies
Spindale, N.C. — BLÜCHER North America announced that it is now part of the Watts Water Technologies family. Formerly sold under the BLÜCHER-Josam name, BLÜCHER North America will continue to offer its extensive line of stainless steel drain, shower, channel and pipe products. The BLÜCHER product offering will compliment the extensive line of Drainage products currently offered by Watts.
BLÜCHER is a worldwide leader in stainless steel drainage & pipe solutions with 45 years experience. Core products include push-fit pipe and fittings, shower/bath drains for premium commercial and residential applications, and drain and channel products for wide ranging commercial and industrial applications. BLÜCHER products are widely accepted as a drainage standard in food service, industrial manufacturing and processing, brewery, laboratory, pharmaceutical, and marine specifications.
BLÜCHER North America will be based in Spindale, North Carolina and Burlington, Ontario. For more information on BLÜCHER products, www.BLUCHERdrains.com in the US or www.BLUCHERdrains.ca in Canada.
Home Depot pledges $1 million for student scholarships in construction trades
Mount Prospect, Ill. — HVAC Excellence announced that the Home Depot is pledging more than $1,000,000 in scholarships to support HVACR and construction programs.
This year’s program will not only support individual students, but also the schools they attend. Specifically, $1,000 scholarships will be available to 500 trade school students to help them offset the cost of tuition, books and tools for their chosen trade. In addition, the schools of the scholarship recipients will receive matching funds of $1,000 for classroom tools from The Home Depot Foundation.
Scholarship applications will be accepted through April 30, 2010. The scholarship program is open to all students nationwide who are currently enrolled in a building and construction trade school program at a vocational/technical school, college, or university. Winners will be selected based on a combination of academic performance, leadership and work experience.
Nexstar Network and ACE DuraFlo® announce strategic partnership
Little Canada, Minn. & Irvine, Calif. — ACE DuraFlo® Systems (ePIPE) and Nexstar® Inc., have entered into a strategic partner relationship. The Nexstar ePIPE program permits Nexstar members to add ACE DuraFlo’s miniE, epoxy pipe restoration technology to their existing line of services. Nexstar is a member-owned international group of independent service providers in the fields of plumbing, HVAC and electrical services. Nexstar members get rapid results, guided by experienced coaches, surefire systems and incredible peer connections.
“We are excited about the prospect of expanding our installer network in North America by introducing the miniE System to the Nexstar membership”, explains Bill Cooper, President of ACE DuraFlo Systems. “The miniE System is a turning point for the pipe restoration industry and we are happy to be able to offer it through the Nexstar Network of independent service providers.”
“In our continuing scrutiny of the service plumbing industry, we keep our Nexstar eyes peeled for changes in the marketplace, and unique growth technologies like the ACE DuraFlo ePIPE” said Susan Tigner, Strategic Partner Manger with Nexstar. “Our goal is to provide our members with quality growth and diversification opportunities.”
New Products
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Air/Dirt Separator Taco’s 4900 Series Air/Dirt Separator came to the rescue at the Renaissance Providence Hotel soon after the property opened its doors in 2007. The original air separators became clogged with an iron oxide corrosive gunk that caused complaints over inadequate guest room air conditioning. Taco donated two 4900 Series units for the hotel’s HVAC system and they quickly went to work clearing the system. Taco’s 4900 Series Air-Dirt Separator, with its patented PALL Rings, provides complete elimination of air and dirt in closed loop systems. Taco. |
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Plumber’s pad Take the physical pain out of jobs with the award-winning Plumber’s Pad. This ergonomically designed support pad and more on-the-job products for plumbers and HVAC professionals can be found on www.ergopads.com. The Plumber’s Pad provides knee, back and head support to reduce strain and injuries. The Plumber’s Pad is actually two pads: a 6-inch thick base pad for body support, and a foldable head pad that adjusts to cabinet openings and different spaces. Ergopads.com. |
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Preassembled sump pump system The Pro Pak 53 is a preassembled sump pump system complete with company’s Model 53 primary pump and Model 507 backup pump. The Pro Pak offers extra protection when the primary pump fails due to power outages with 7 ½ hours of continuous pumping on a fully charged battery. The Pro Pak 49 also available, featuring a Model 49 primary pump. A 3-year warranty is included on both systems. Zoeller Pump Co. |
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Stainless steel corrugated water heater connectors The new Series FFSS stainless steel corrugated water heater connectors are much more flexible than their comparable copper corrugated products and provide an easy, kink free installation every time. These new connectors provide a built in dielectric sleeve to negate the need for a separate dielectric union and are available with standard 3/4” pipe thread connections in the popular lengths of 12”, 15”, 18” and 24”. Max Pressure: 125psi / 8.62 bar, Max Temperature: 180°F / 82° C. NSF and IAPMO listed. Watts. |