The Unified Group, a national network of independent mechanical contractors, celebrated 10 years together in 2008. The group was founded with 10 companies in 1998 and today has 52 members.

In other news, more than a dozen HVAC wholesalers were honored by Emerson Climate Technologies for outstanding sales performance in 2008.

Also, Tunstall Corp., based in Chicopee, MA, a family-owned, third-generation manufacturers rep, engineering and international distribution company that supplies steam and hydronic products to the New England states, celebrated 50 years in business in 2008.

Pictured here: Charter members of the Unified Group. Back row, L to R: Denny Mann, Marina Mechanical; Mike Houghton, Dowling Corp.; Judy Wooten, GES Inc.; Gerry Wiegmann, Wiegmann Associates; Fred Roser and Thomas Roser, Frantz Inc. Front row, L to R: Tim Smerz and Jim Bartolotta, Air Comfort Corp.

The Unified Group

The Unified Group was formed by 10 companies in 1998 to provide training and the chance to collaborate and share best practices. Seven of the original 10 are still members: Air Comfort Corp., Dowling Corp., Frantz; GES; Marina Mechanical; Nashville Machine Co.; and Wiegmann Associates. Jim Bartolotta and Tim Smerz are managing partners and co-founders of the group. Today it has 52 HVAC commercial contractor members, representing more than $880 million in revenue, and it is still growing. For more information, visit www.theunifiedgroup.com.

HVAC Wholesalers Honored By Emerson

Mark Gibson, vice president and general manager of Emerson Climate Technologies, Distribution Services Division, presented awards to the company’s best performing wholesalers during its annual National Wholesaler Conference in October.

Dennis Co., Johnstone Supply of Atlanta, Meier Supply Co. and Refrigeration & Electric Supply Co. received the Peak Performance Award for achieving 10% growth in Copeland brand products in 2008.

Ed’s Supply Co. of Nashville and Johnson Supply & Equipment were presented with the Summit award for achieving an average of 10% growth in 2008 across all Emerson product lines they represent.

Allied Supply Co., Abco Refrigeration Supply Corp., Barsco, Ed’s Supply Co. of Little Rock, G.W. Berkheimer, Makdad Industrial Supply Co., MJM International Corp., Refrigeration Sales Corp. and Refrigeration Supplies Distributor won the Signature award for achieving an average of 10% growth across all Emerson product lines in 2008.

G.W. Berkheimer, Johnstone Supply - The Ware Family Group, and Johnstone Supply of Atlanta were presented with the SystemPro award recognizing the greatest increase in M-Line and F-Line sales in 2008.

Refrigeration Supplies Distributor received the Center Stage award for outstanding Emerson merchandising and promotional activities in 2008. For more information, visit www.EmersonClimate.com.

Tunstall Hits 50

Tunstall Corp. was founded in 1958 as the Donald J. Tunstall Co. Today its lines include: Airtex radiant ceiling panels; Dole valves and regulators; Keflex HVAC products; valves from Macon Controls; Runtal radiators; Vulcan heaters and convectors; and assorted HVAC products under the Tunstall brand name.

The company began developing steam traps under the Tunstall name in the 1980s. It acquired Macon Controls, a distributor of radiator valves and regulating sensors, in 1988.

Tunstall opened a 15,000-sq.-ft. central warehouse in 2007.

For more information, visit its Web site at www.tunstallonline.com.