MCAA Creates Online Piping Guide

The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF), the educational arm of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), has created an online resource, the Online Piping & Usage Specification (OPUS), to help users find the right piping and fittings for an installation.

Just go to http://opus.mcerf.org to search for combinations of pipe types, materials, applications and joinings in an easy-to-use website. Developed by a joint task group of MCAA contractors, Manufacturer/Supplier Council members, in conjunction with MCERF, OPUS is primarily aimed at those who are new to the industry, but it serves as a handy gudie for anyone.

Chinese Court Protects Rotork's Intellectual Property
In landmark rulings in the Shanghai People's Court of China, the British valve automation company Rotork has successfully defended its trademark and copyright to its intellectual property following infringements by Shanghai Autork Digital Instrument Co. Ltd. (Autork),  also known as Greatork.  The Court also found Autork guilty of engaging in unfair competition through the use of false publicity for which they were fined the maximum amount permitted by the court.  Furthermore, Autork was ordered by the courts to cease these infringements.

SyncroFlo CEO David Hanson, 1942-2009 
David Hanson, CEO of SyncroFlo, passed away on June 6. A registered Professional Engineer, in 1973 he assumed control of SyncroFlo and built it from three people into a domestic water booster system leader employing some 100 people. He served as president from 1973 to 2006.

Valve Market Outlook Workshop Slated For August
The Hydraulic Institute (HI) announced that registration is now open for the 2009 Market Outlook Workshop in Chicago August 13-14. Organized by the Valve Manufacturers Association, the Workshop is focused on key valve and pump industry markets, including water/wastewater, pulp & paper, power, nuclear, oils and gas, petrochemical, mining, hydrocarbon processing and construction. Registration details can be found at www.Pumps.org.

Three F.W. Webb Execs Celebrate 40th Year
Erne Coutermarsh (left), senior vp of industrial sales, is one of three F. W. Webb executives recently honored on the occasion of their 40th anniversary with the company. Also joining the company in 1969 were Chairman Jack Hester (center) and Charlie Slattery, senior vp of purchasing.

China Manufacturing's "Quality Fade"

This book review brings to mind anecdotes we've heard from companies that outsource or are looking to do so in China. Certain Chinese manufacturing companies will do whatever it takes to land your business whether or not it represents profitable pricing. Then once an agreement is signed, they will cut corners every which way to make some money off the deal.

Experienced outsourcers say the only way to protect yourself is to have virtually a constant presence at offshore factories.

Buried Pipe Design, 3rd Ed.  - $107.95

This edition of Buried Pipe Design helps you analyze the performance of a wide range of pipes, so you can determine the proper pipe and installation system for the job. Covering almost every type of rigid and flexible pipe, this unique reference identifies and describes factors involved in working with sewer and drain lines, water and gas mains, subway tunnels, culverts, oil and coal slurry lines, and telephone and electrical conduits. It provides clear examples for designing new municipal drinking and wastewater systems or rehabilitating existing ones that will last for many years. Follow this link for full details or to purchase this item.

Visit AECstore.com to view all of our products for PFV pros.

Tech Tip #25 by Gregg Marshall
To help you make the most of the Digital Age.

Book Airfare Early or Wait?

When is the best time to book the cheapest flight? There are websites that try to predict the fares (http://farecast.com). Various travel writers have come up with various lead times for the best deal, frequently either several months or just a month out.

There is another way to get piece of mind, use the tracking service Yapta (http://www.yapta.com). Yapta takes your flight details (either entered manually or by giving it your record locator number) and watches your flight every few hours. If the price goes down, you get an email alert.

It turns out that for most airlines, even if you have a heavily restricted ticket with $150 change fees, you can still get a travel voucher used for future flights if you call and ask.

Not every ticket will trigger an alert; in fact most airfares go up and up. But I've had about 4 or 5 go down, resulting in a couple of hundred dollars in vouchers. And it only takes a couple of minutes to enter the information, less if you install Yapta's web browser add-in.

Gregg Marshall, CPMR, CSP, is president of Rep Connection Inc. He can be reached by e-mail at gmarshall@repconnection.com, or visit his LinkedIn profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/greggmarshall.

Low-Temp Flush Gap Gasket From Anvil
Anvil International has introduced an enhanced sealing Flush Gap™ gasket specifically designed for applications where low-temperature performance is needed. The new gasket is available in a variety of sizes ranging from 1 inch to 8 inches. It contains a center rib which fits flush over the gap between the pipe ends and closes off the gasket cavity. This allows for the reduction of build up of moisture and ice which can cause standard gasket designs to leak under freezing conditions. The Flush Gap™ with triple seal ribs provides the best gasket seal for grooved couplings in extreme temperature applications.

Charlotte Comes Out With Nonpotable Piping System
Charlotte Pipe  has introduced the new ReUze™ piping system. This new system will be available in CTS sizes ½", ¾", 1", 1½" and 2" sizes in 20-ft. lengths, delivered clean to distributors in sealed heavy duty polyethylene bags and available for sale by August 2009. The pipe will be the universally accepted color for non-potable water, purple, and will have 2 lines of type 180° apart clearly identifying the contents as "WARNING: NON-POTABLE WATER DO NOT DRINK." ReUze will be listed with NSF International and bear the mark "NSF-rw".

Ultrasonic Flow Transmitters
Clark Solutions  announces the availability of a Three-Wire RTD Temperature Output on both CSLFB and CSLFC Ultrasonic Flow Transmitters. These transmitters are ideal for measuring flow rates and temperature of acoustically conductive liquids, including most clean liquids and many liquids with entrained solids. Model CSLFB Ultrasonic Flow Transmitters are designed for full-scale flow ranges from 15 to 400 GPM in ¾" to 3" pipe. They are available for purchase online at http://www.clarksol.com.

Vacuum Pipe Lifter
A vacuum lifter for pipe from Anver Corp. features curved foam pad attachments to handle a wide variety of pipe from the top surface, without slings or magnets. The Anver VPE Pipe Vacuum Lifter features an electric powered vacuum pump that accepts interchangeable pad attachments to fit pipe from 3 to 36" O.D. and lengths from 12 to 20 ft., with larger sizes up to 40 ft.  It is equipped with an internal check valve to maintain a safe vacuum level in the event of a power failure.  Applications include hot-rolled metal-, ferrous-, non-ferrous, and plastic pipe.