PMI and CIPH: Barbara C. Higgens, executive director of the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute, and Ralph Suppa, president and general manager of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at PMI’s Spring Meeting to establish a framework for cooperation between the two trade groups, thus formalizing an already productive 10-year relationship.

Based in Toronto, CIPH includes manufacturers, wholesaler distributors, master distributors, manufacturers’ agents and allied companies that manufacture and distribute plumbing, hydronic heating, industrial, waterworks and other mechanical products.

“The MOU expresses our mutual commitment to create an organized and systematic approach for voluntarily exchanging information and materials on common educational, technical, scientific, legislative and regulatory matters that affect the plumbing industry worldwide,” said PMI’s Higgens. “We will do this through publications, reports, association conferences and industry meetings.”

PMI has forged similar agreements with two other associations outside the United States: the Plumbing Products Industry Group, a Melbourne-based trade organization of plumbing manufacturers and importers from Australia and New Zealand and the Bathroom Manufacturers Association of the United Kingdom. PMI also participates in The European Committee of the Valve Industry, or CEIR, a federation of national manufacturer associations, representing virtually the entire valve and fitting production in Europe.