Industry News

Slant/Fin is proud to be holding their 2nd Factory Expo. The date is Sept. 16th. Rain or shine. The event is free to current wholesalers and all interested contractors. Pre-registration is requested. The event will highlight Slant/Fin’s newest Lynx boiler along with their other hi-efficient products. There will be vendor exhibits and seminars with the main event being an hour long seminar by Dan Holohan. Slant/Fin expects over 200 contractors and wholesalers along with several vendors including TMB Publishing (PHC News).  If you are interested in participation please call 516-484-2610 ext 283 and speak with Stacey B. Droogan.

Morton Grove, Ill. — ITT H2O Pros is the name of a new social media initiative created by ITT RCW to facilitate online conversations and engagement between industry HVACR, Plumbing and Building Service professionals worldwide. The program is driven by social media sites Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and linked with a blog housed on www.itth2opros.com.
The ITT H2O Pros community was designed to provide social media forums where consulting specifying engineers, contractors, installers, wholesalers, building services, ag/irrigation and other industry professionals can converse on a variety of topics ranging from technical issues to career advice. The ITT H2O Pros online portal will feature feeds from social media, blogs, videos, surveys, chats, personal profiles and links to case histories, articles, product updates and other valuable information from leading industry resources.
“We believe the ITT H2O Pros social media community will be very beneficial to the industry,” said Monica Levy, Director of Communications, ITT Residential  Commercial Water (RCW). “The new communities will promote and facilitate sharing of information that can be very useful to building services professionals in performing their jobs more effectively.”

Chairman of the World Plumbing Council, Robert Burgon, has welcomed the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly on 28 July 2010 of a resolution recognizing access to clean water and sanitation as a human right. The resolution is calling on States and international organizations to provide financial resources, build capacity and transfer technology, particularly to developing countries, in scaling up efforts to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all.

“While many people will already be aware of the Millennium Development Goals which aim to improve the percentage of the world population which has access to clean water and sanitation, the UN resolution should come as a timely and powerful reminder that plumbing is not only important but a key human right.” Burgon continued “Attention is often focused on Africa and Asia as the regions of the

world having the biggest problems in relation to lack of water and sanitation. In fact, there are problems in many parts of the world. For example, nearly 140 million people – 16 per cent of Europe’s population – still live in homes that are not connected to a drinking-water supply, and about 85 million people do not have access to adequate sanitation. These are shocking statistics and WPC will continue to do whatever it can to raise awareness that good plumbing is essential to create the living conditions to which all people are entitled.”

Attleboro, Mass. — A.O. Smith Water Products Co. has been presented with the Manufacturer of the Year Award by Supply New England. Matt Conant, A.O. Smith’s Regional Sales Manager, accepted the award from David Corcoran, President of Supply New England, at a recent ceremony held in Supply New England’s Attleboro headquarters.

“A.O. Smith’s products have been our best performing product category in the past year, despite these difficult times,” said David Corcoran. “We appreciate Matt’s contributions and steadfast assistance to our account.”

A.O. Smith Water Products (www.aosmith.com) is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment, offering a comprehensive product line.

Rockville, Md. — The Mechanical Contractors Association of America, Inc. (MCAA) and its Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA) subsidiary have revised the Electrical Safety Guidelines for Mechanical Service Safety Training Kit to reflect recent changes to the NFPA70E National Electrical Code.  Production of the revised kit, which educates mechanical service contractors about the protective measures required while working with electricity, was underwritten by CNA.

“The safety of our clients and customers is of paramount concern to us at CNA, and as such it is our pleasure to support the safety programs and initiatives that are important to MCAA and the industry at large,” said Mike Farrington, CNA Underwriting Director – Construction. “By working closely with MCAA, we’ve been able to develop risk control tools and resources specifically designed to meet the ever-changing needs of mechanical contractors.”

Caleffi is pleased to announce our Carhartt apparel promotion. Contractors can earn free Carhartt/Caleffi branded jackets or sweatshirts with the purchase of Caleffi hydronic products. Contractors can purchase qualifying products from any Caleffi wholesaler. Any earned apparel will be shipped from Caleffi directly to the contractor. The promotion runs Sept. 1, 2010 through Oct. 31, 2010.

Don’t miss out!   Visit our website, www.caleffi.us, to find our Manufacturer’s Representative or nearest Caleffi Wholesaler to learn more.  Our Customer Service team is also available to answer your questions at (414) 238-2360.

Lane Wallace, pilot, writer and adventurer, will kick off the meeting with an opening keynote speech. Her theme: Taking Charge: Strength Through Adversity.

Ms. Wallace resigned from a corporate marketing job 20 years ago to pursue more joy, meaning and learning in her life. Her work as a pilot has taken her around the world and she has had her fair share of interesting journeys. She will share her thoughts on what it takes to pursue an adventurous path in life.

Visit www.pmihome.org to register.

Ontario, Calif. (July 1, 2010) — The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) today re-launched its significantly upgraded interactive job board, the Career Center, with new feature benefiting both job seekers and potential employers.

“IAPMO recognizes many employers in this economy are more focused on retaining employees than adding new ones, but when openings do become available they want to attract the absolute best candidates,” said Kathleen Mihelich, director of Program Development and Career Center administrator for IAPMO. “IAPMO’s newly-enhanced Career Center smoothly facilitates the introduction of perfectly-qualified applicants with the employers who seek them.”

IAPMO’s Career Center is the premier electronic recruitment resource for plumbing and mechanical code administrators, bringing exceptional candidates together with municipalities and agencies in need of their talents. Both IAPMO members and non-members can use the Career Center to reach qualified candidates or seek a job.

Among the brand new features enhancing an already successful employment site are:

FOR EMPLOYEE SEEKERS

• Automatic notification when a posted résumé matches a particular job criteria
• Links to facebook, LinkedIn and other social networking sites to extend reach to thousands more candidates
• “Featured” employers receive additional exposure to candidates visiting the Career Center
• Streamlined application process
• Increased pool of job seekers due to site enhancements on their behalf

FOR JOB SEEKERS

• Audio Advantage: Job seekers can create a brief audio clip to introduce themselves and highlight their relevant skills and accomplishments.
• Hoover’s Job Seeker Reports: Provides job seekers with pertinent information on more than 24 million companies spanning 400 industries in order to better prepare for interviews and craft cover letters/résumés.
• Career Self Management Program: Career fitness tools to help candidates develop a self-empowering philosophy to enhance their marketability and performance. Includes a personal locker, planning and status system, professional networking tool and résumé builder.

Registered employers can post jobs instantly and search the résumés of all registered candidates, who can likewise post their résumés and search for jobs by discipline, geography or keyword.

To celebrate the improved Career Center, employers posting a job listing now through August 31 will receive a 25 percent discount by using the promo code: Summer2010.

Take a tour of the site by directing your Web browser to The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO)http://careers.iapmo.org/. For more information  and/or questions, please contact Kathleen Mihelich at (708) 995-3003 or kathleen.mihelich@iapmo.org.

DALLAS — Danco, a supplier of plumbing repair and replacement parts for major retailers, including The Home Depot and Lowe’s, announced the acquisition of GoBidet, one of the largest lines of attachable bidet products in the U.S. GoBidet is sold at major retailers nationwide.

“This acquisition is consistent with our company growth strategy,” said Scott Thresher, Danco CEO. “It allows Danco to expand into a new product category, while leveraging both our relationships with our retail customers and our distribution and supply chain platform.”

GoBidet offers a complete line of attachable bidet products for residential-style toilets currently sold in select Home Depot, Lowe’s and Menards locations. The products are also sold online through a variety of internet partners. Danco will continue to market these products under the GoBidet brand name.