November/December 2006

Phc News announces contest winner Investment firm to buy Jacuzzi, sell Zurn California prisons install water-conserving controls NSPC committee approves code changes RCR and Burton join the LENOX family

 

Phc News announces contest winner

Congratulations! Bob Fiorini, owner of Hilltop Heating Corp., Delanson, N.Y., is the winner of Phc News’ “Hydronicizing with Hot Rod” contest.

Bob Fiorini, owner of Hilltop Heating, Delanson, N.Y., is the winner of the “Hydronicizing with Hot Rod” contest in which he will spend a weekend with Hot Rod talking modern hydronics.

“It is exciting to have been picked to spend the weekend with Hot Rod! I received the call from Phc News that I had won the contest when I was vacationing with my family at Zion National Park in Utah. I was standing on the side of a mountain checking messages when I heard from Phc News that I had won. It was an incredible way to start a vacation! I thought the first two phone messages were a hoax. The third one convinced me to call in and claim the prize,” said Fiorini.

Fiorini and his wife, Liz, will spend four days and three nights visiting with Hot Rod, talking modern hydronics and working on radiant projects. Fiorini is scheduled to meet with the Rohr’s in early January.

“I don’t usually enter contests, but this one had such a great twist! Hot Rod is an industry icon. It’s one thing to meet someone like Hot Rod at a seminar or show, but what an opportunity it is to spend a weekend with him at his place! His areas of interest -- radiant, hybrid wood, solar and alternative systems -- are exactly what we’re involved in. It was a perfect fit. After my first conversation with Hot Rod, I knew I had won a pretty amazing trip. I also hear Hot Rod has a first-rate bass pond that we might be visiting,”said Fiorini.

The contest drew huge interest -- hundreds of contestants tried their luck. We would like thank everyone for their participation. Also, we would like to thank the Rohr’s for their extended hospitality.

“Ellen Rohr has been fantastic in coordinating everything. She has put together a really fun weekend with a lot of time for work and play. My wife Liz and I are really looking forward to learning a lot from her. I really want to thank the Rohr’s and the folks at Phc News for making this possible. It’s something that we’re very excited about and something from which we will really benefit,” said Fiorini.

Hilltop Heating offers professional radiant design services that help customers plan radiant projects. When purchasing Aqua-Floor radiant supplies and materials from Hilltop Heating, clients receive a complete materials list, heat loss analysis, and radiant layout -- free! Hilltop Heating services include: outdoor wood furnace installations; residential gas & oil boilers; radiant heating; hot water heaters; and pool heating.

Stay tuned to Phc News for upcoming contests throughout the year.

Phc News thanks our sponsors:

• Able Distributors
• Appropriate Designs
• Bradford White
• Buderus
• Caleffi
• Grundfos
• HeatingHelp.com
• Lochinvar
• Precision Hydronics -- PHP Inc.
• Stabila
• Taco
• Watts Radiant
• Webstone
• WILO

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Investment firm to buy Jacuzzi, sell Zurn

West Palm Beach, Fla. -- Jacuzzi Brands Inc., maker of whirlpool baths and plumbing products, agreed to be bought by private-equity firm for $990 million, but the deal was immediately opposed by Jacuzzi’s largest shareholder.

The prospective buyer, Apollo Management LP, offered $12.50 per share in cash, a premium of 21% over the closing selling price of $10.35.

Southeastern Asset Management Inc., the largest shareholder of Jacuzzi, said it “vehemently” opposes the transaction and called the offer “insufficient,” according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The shareholder said it prefers to have Jacuzzi “proceed as an independent company under Al Marini, rather than hand over future profits to a very smart group at a bad time,” according to the filing.

One analyst said Apollo’s offer was fair.

“In terms of competing bids -- while one can never be sure -- we put a low level of probability that others could step in at this point,” said analyst Robert Schenosky of Jefferies and Co. Inc.

Apollo plans to pay for Jacuzzi with a combination of cash and debt. It will also assume $260 million in debt, for a total transaction value of $1.25 billion.

Jacuzzi’s board agreed to the deal, which is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval. The companies expect to close the transaction in the first quarter.

Apollo said it plans to sell Jacuzzi’s plumbing business, Zurn, to mechanical engineering affiliate Rexnord Corp. In a separate statement Rexnord confirmed those plans, saying it agreed to pay about $950 million, provided the Apollo purchase goes through.

Marini, president and chief executive of Jacuzzi, is expected to remain after the closing. Rexnord’s non-executive chairman, George M. Sherman, will become non-executive chairman of Jacuzzi.

“By adding Zurn to Rexnord’s already successful business, we will create a high quality multi-industry company with the potential for enhanced growth,” Sherman said in a statement.

Apollo bought retailer Linens ‘n Things Inc. earlier this year and recently joined in a bid to buy casino operator Harrah’s Entertainment Inc.

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California prisons install water-conserving controls

Two California prisons are doing their part to conserve water by installing MICROPlumb plumbing control systems from Sloan Valve Company, a leading manufacturer of water-conserving plumbing. Facility operators at California State Prisons, Corcoran in Corcoran and High Desert State Prison in Susanville, can also use Palm Pilots to remotely turn on and off water flow to sinks, toilets and showers -- either in individual cells or complete buildings -- for maintenance/repair or security reasons.

Prisons typically install MICROPlumb and other programmed water technologies systems to curb prisoner abuses to plumbing fixtures, which can result in fixture damage, cell flooding and security breaches. Schools and other public facilities with high-use/high-abuse restrooms or locker rooms have also chosen the control systems to thwart vandalism.

MICROPlumb allows facility operators to program pre-set usage parameters, such as how long a faucet can run or how many times a toilet can be flushed within an hour. Limits and complete plumbing system shut-downs discourage abusive behavior and keep prisoners from flushing contraband or other materials that can cause mainline blockages.

But the primary reason that Corcoran and High Desert prisons have installed MICROPlumb is to conserve water. Both prisons are already conserving substantial amounts of water by limiting the number of flushes inmates are allowed, for example, and by converting to Flushometers that use less water per flush.

Corcoran officials report saving thousands of gallons of water per day. High Desert, which has been exceeding its local sewer water treatment agency’s permissible wastewater levels due to oveRCRowding and high water usage, has decreased its water usage by one-third just by installing MICROPlumb and retrofitting fixtures at its high-security yard alone. High Desert expects to be at acceptable capacity levels once its conversion is completed throughout the prison.

Sloan Valve Company, one of the world's leading manufacturer of water-conserving plumbing systems, is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2006. Headquartered in Franklin Park, Illinois, the company manufactures plumbing products and accessories for commercial, industrial and institutional markets worldwide. For more information, visit www.sloanvalve.com.       

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NSPC committee approves code changes

The National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC) committee, at a recent public hearing, approved significant changes to the NSPC. 

The committee reviewed and voted on 125 proposed code changes to the 2006 edition of the NSPC. The changes that were approved will appear in the 2007 Supplement to the 2006 NSPC. The hearing was well attended by a cross-section of industry representatives.

Nspc chairman Dick Wagner said that one of the most significant changes to the code involved adding an appendix that greatly expands the listings of water supply fixture units (WSFUS) and their corresponding water supply flow rates (gpm), making interpolation unnecessary.

Wagner pointed out that one of the advantages of the NSPC is that it is updated by a supplement or a new edition of the NSPC annually so that it reflects the latest in plumbing design and construction. Other codes are updated on three-year cycles. This concluded the 2006 cycle for the NSPC and the committee was praised for another smooth code hearing process.

The NSPC Committee is composed of contractors, engineers and inspectors who voluntarily serve to revise and interpret the code. The committee will meet again in May 2007 to review new proposed code changes, and a public hearing will be held on Aug. 23, 2007. Wagner said that in 2007 the code committee will be focusing on several new areas such as reviewing the plumbing requirement in food handling areas. The deadline for the 2007 proposed code changes is April 26, 2007.

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RCR and Burton join the LENOX family

East Longmeadow, Mass. -- Lenox Industrial Tools has partnered with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and driver Jeff Burton in a multi-year sponsorship agreement beginning with the 2007 NASCAR Cup season.

Lenox will be an associate sponsor throughout the season on Burton’s No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet. The Lenox logo will appear on the rear quarter panels of the car just behind the rear wheels.

In addition, Lenox will serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 31 in two races during the 2007 season -- May 5 at Richmond International Raceway and July 1 at New Hampshire International Speedway (located less than 150 miles from Lenox’s home headquarters). This season’s July New Hampshire event was known as the Lenox Industrial Tools 300.

“Like Richard Childress Racing, Lenox is committed to quality, innovation, and extreme performance,” said Bill Burke, president of Lenox. “This sponsorship of the No. 31 team and Jeff Burton is an exciting step for our company. We look forward to strengthening our commitment to the sport of auto racing and extending our reach to its fans.”

Lenox, which will utilize the partnership through marketing and advertising initiatives, has an extensive product line including the Lenox Gold bi-metal reciprocating saw blades; Lenox Gold bi-metal utility blades and knives; Lenox ARMOR Rx+ bi-metal coated band saw blades for cutting structurals and tubing; and the Lenox all-in-one screwdriver, just to mention a few.

“We’re proud to have Lenox join the RCR family of sponsors and the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet team with Jeff Burton,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. “Their commitment to producing high quality saw blades and hand tools carries over to their commitment to RCR through the many marketing and promotional programs they have planned. Lenox is a very welcomed addition to the No. 31 team’s sponsorship group.”

Burton heads into this weekend’s race at Texas Motor Speedway tied for fourth in the “Chase for the Championship.” Thus far in 2006, he has one victory (Sept. 24 at Dover), seven top-five and 19 top-10 finishes, and four pole positions. He has also led nearly 650 laps. The 2006 season marks his 14th season in NASCAR’s elite division. He’s captured 18 victories and four times has finished in the top five of the final championship standings. In addition to his Cup success, he has also garnered 22 wins in NASCAR’s Busch Series, two coming this season.

“I can’t tell the employees of Lenox Industrial Tools how proud I am to become a part of their team in 2007,” said Burton. “I am going to work extremely hard to help promote the Lenox brand and to let consumers know that -- just like our race team -- Lenox is committed to being the best. The quality of their products prove that. We still have some unfinished business in 2006 but this is something I look forward to for 2007.”

For more information on Lenox products, www.Lenoxsaw.com.              

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