Ace Hardware Corp. will shelve plans to switch from a
dealer-owner cooperative to a corporation after discovering a $154 million
accounting shortfall that dates back at least five years.
The ASA Education Celebration features 75% off current pricing and the Fundamentals for Profitability training package. Introduced in the July edition of ASA News, the ASA Education Celebration offers an
The Home Depot announced the completion of the
sale of HD Supply to a group of three private equity firms comprising Bain
Capital, The Carlyle Group, and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc.
The ASA Education Foundation’s ProductPro product knowledge courses have long been the first step in strengthening a distributor’s workforce through training. Industry experts unanimously agree that a solid foundation in
Two weeks ago, Delta Faucet Co. sent a letter to distributors and other members of the industry announcing that it planned to conduct a pilot program with the Inland Valley
The American Supply Association and the ASA Education Foundation announced that Michael M. Adelizzi has been appointed to the position of ASA’s Executive Vice President.
Uponor North America recently announced that
Gregory J. Lawler has joined the company as vice president of supply chain and
as a member of the Senior Management Committee.
Uponor’s new Advanced Design Suite™ (ADS)
software calculates heat loss and guides the system designer through every step
of radiant floor heating (RFH) system design.
The Weir Group PLC, based in the UK, will acquire SPM Flow Control for $653 million. SPM, based in Fort Worth, TX, manufactures high-pressure well service pumps and related flow
Weldbend Corp.’s founder and CEO, James J. Coulas Sr., died peacefully at home on July 4, apparently of heart failure, at age 92. He founded the industrial fittings company, originally
NCWA: The North Central Wholesalers Association reported mostly flat sales for the first six months of 2007 based on a survey of 34 wholesalers with about 155 locations. Both the
Wolseley Canada (Burlington, ON) has acquired Maverick Supplies Ltd. from Kathy Davies, Rick Davies and Bergum Equities Inc. Maverick is a distributor of PVF and other industrial supplies to oil
Wolseley plc (Reading, England) named Dan Parr vice president of acquisitions and business integration for Wolseley’s North American division. In addition to maintaining his current responsibilities with Ferguson, where he
The importance of safeguarding our precious
resources forms the foundation for the Fall 2007 PMI meeting scheduled for Oct.
7-10 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Washington, D.C.
Home prices and sales will continue to drop in 2007 as the National Association of Realtors trimmed its monthly forecast for the ninth time this year. Resales will drop 9
The North Central Wholesalers Association (NCWA)
will host a golf outing and MAD reunion dinner meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at
Plum Hollow Country Club, Southfield, MI, for members and guests.
Bob Miodonski, former editorial director of
Supply House Times, and most recently publisher and editorial director of
Contractor magazine, has joined BNP Media as publisher of PM Engineer,
associate publisher of Plumbing & Mechanical and Supply House Times
magazines, and special projects director for the company’s plumbing division.
Howard Schambach, 86, chairman and former president of Bimco Corp., Winston-Salem, NC, died Aug. 1 at Forsyth Medical Center. He entered the PHCP industry in 1947 when he joined Crane
Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose an average of 6.1 percent in 2007, less than the 7.7 percent increase reported last year but still higher than the increase in workers’
George Morlan Plumbing, Portland, OR, hosted a concert in its showroom June 30 for listeners of Portland radio station KPAM (860 AM) and morning announcer Bob Miller. The event was
Mid-City Supply Co. (Elkhart, IN) will partner with Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County to sponsor a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house for the Adams family of Middlebury, IN, in October. Volunteers for
Grundfos has promoted Kerry Baskins to the new position of vice president/industrial business unit director for Grundfos Pumps in the U.S. He will implement a new corporate business unit structure
U.S. Nuclear Power Industry Evaluates 59% Capacity Expansion Industrial Info Resources (www.industrialinfo.com) said there are 48 nuclear power plants being evaluated for development by both utilities and private investment groups.
Channel Marketing Group and Allen Ray Associates are jointly conducting a research study to better understand the invoicing challenges faced by contractors and distributors, sponsored by Billtrust, a company that
J-M Manufacturing Co. completed its previously reported merger transaction with PW Eagle Inc. in late June, in which PW Eagle became a wholly owned subsidiary of J-M Manufacturing. The companies
Red Man President/CEO Craig KetchumTwo of the industry’s largest industrial and oilfield PVF suppliers, Red Man Pipe & Supply Co. and McJunkin Corp. announced a self-described “merger of equals” that
Metropolitan Industries officially celebrated its 50th year with the raising of a commemorative flag at its headquarters in Romeoville, IL. Most of its 120+ staff attended the event. Later this
Froet Industries LLC named A.R. Burkholder & Associates, Simsbury, CT, its Rep of the Year. Pictured (L to R): Craig J. Froeter, president, Froet Industries LLC; Kyle Burkholder, president, Peter
Activant Solutions Inc. signed a definitive asset purchase agreement to acquire the Intuit Eclipse™ Distribution Management Solutions business. Under the terms of the agreement, Activant, a provider of vertical business
American Standard Cos. Inc. (Piscataway, NJ) sold its bath and kitchen products business July 23 to global private investment firm Bain Capital Partners LLC for $1.76 billion. Boston-based Bain Capital,
Conbraco Industries said that its president, Glenn Mosack, was named Ernst & Young’s Carolinas Entrepreneur of the Year in the Manufacturing and Industrial Products category. He was one of 30
Johnson Controls was named one of the 40 “Best Companies for Diversity” and among the top 15 for “Supplier Diversity” by Black Enterprise magazine, a business and investment publication for
The Water Heating Division of Rheem Manufacturing Co. presented a “Supplier-Partner of the Year” award to the top-performing supplier for 2006 in each of six different commodity groupings at its
Crawford Supply (Morton Grove, IL), in conjunction with Kohler Co., Kallista and Tip Top Construction, held its first design contest with senior design students from Harrington Design School and Harper
Former President Bill Clinton will deliver the keynote address
on opening day of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild conference and
exposition, Nov. 7-9, in Chicago.
A.O. Smith Water Products Co. has signed a long-term
exclusive brand license/endorsement agreement with the producers of the TV
series, “Living With Ed,” and its star, Ed Begley Jr.
After Hurricane Katrina, people predicted that
New Orleans would become a magnet for modular housing plants, which would serve
as an economic redevelopment engine.
Wolseley plc, Reading, England, said that falling lumber and structural panel prices have led to the decision to close an additional 24 branches of Stock Building Supply, Raleigh, NC, reducing
Murray Supply Co. (Winston-Salem, NC) held a Jones Stephens counter day at its Hickory, NC, branch in June 19. Hal Clark from Ludwig, Smith and Walker presented the company’s commercial
Lennox International Inc. will open a new manufacturing operation in Saltillo, Mexico under the name LII United Products. The manufacturing lines responsible for Lennox-brand Merit series air conditioners and heat
Weil-McLain named John Way as president. He formerly was president of Thermal Product Solutions, a unit of SPX Corp. The company offers hydronic heating systems for residential and commercial structures,
Northwest Pipe Co. has acquired substantially all the operating assets of Continental Pipe Manufacturing Co. (Pleasant Grove, UT). Details of the cash transaction were not announced. Continental produces spiral welded
Northwest Pipe Co. named Robert Mahoney senior vice president in charge of the Tubular Products Group. Mahoney, who has been with Northwest Pipe since 1992, most recently served as vice
Nu-Way Kitchen and Bath (Utica, MI) has opened an 8,000-sq.-ft. showroom in downtown Birmingham, MI. The July 17 ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by local, county and state officials, members of
Parker Hannifin Corp. announced the acquisition of Mitos Technologies Inc. Mitos manufactures fluid-handling products and systems designed to meet the high purity requirements of the biotech industry, including tubing and
Aquatic Industries hired Jim Boerma as Eastern regional sales manager. His experience includes 10 years as district sales manager at Jacuzzi and four years as president of operations at Builder
Grundfos promoted Kerry Baskins to the new position of vice president/business unit director for Grundfos Pumps in the U.S., based in Olathe, KS. Formerly he was OEM sales manager for
MAAX appointed Amy Henderson to the new position of luxury segment director - North America, Bathroom Sector. She has spent 10 years in design & marketing at Taps Bath Center
REHAU hired Mike Cabral as strategic sales coordinator for fire protection. Previously he served in sales and product management positions with Potter Electric Signal Co. He has been a member
SFA Saniflo announced that Johan Bouwer retired as head of the company’s Canadian operations, effective July 31. Bouwer launched Sanitary For All Ltd. in Toronto in December 1987 and served
Sonia named Martin Siwy Western regional sales manager. Previously, Siwy was the vice president of Waterdecor, a luxury faucet and fixture manufacturer.
Victaulic appointed Dr. Hsiang-Cheng Kung as research director of engineering. Dr. Kung will oversee research regarding the fire safety market and represent Victaulic in a global capacity on committees and
BleichDornbracht Americas has created a new product management department, to be overseen by Oliver Bleich, brand communication and marketing manager for Dornbracht Americas. WolfReporting to him is Alexander Wolf, who
WIT buying group announced that Chris Phillips, its director of marketing, resigned in June to take a marketing position with a financial concern. Nicole Edwards, marketing services coordinator, will assist
Wiseway Supply (Florence, KY) hired Stephanie Johnson as showroom manager. She was formerly involved in showroom operations at Ferguson Enterprises, Newport News, VA. Her primary focus will be to grow
Rep South of Charlotte, NC, was honored by Elkay as its “Rep of the Year” during the 2007 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas. Elkay bases this annual award
Scott Dillner has been appointed director of marketing for the Flow Technology Segment of SPX. Since joining the organization in 1997, Dillner has held various marketing roles - expanding his
Kohler Co. said it was laying off 160 employees from its Kohler, WI, operations effective July 13, due to a slower summer production schedule and the continued soft housing industry.
Security Supply (Selkirk, NY) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its 4,400-sq.-ft. Bath Expressions showroom in Poughkeepsie, NY. Brands carried include Delta, Eljer, Elkay, Grohe, Jacuzzi, Maax, Moen, Rohl and TOTO.
State Water Heaters and driver Ward Burton helped lead NASCAR fans in a Memorial Day tribute to America’s Armed Forces at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC, to kick off
Sustainable Facility, a new publication from the editors and publishers of Environmental Design + Construction (ED+C) and Sustainable Home magazines, will debut in October to more than 30,000 BPA-audited facility
TOTO USA President Kazuo Sako (left) and Senior Vice President of Sales and Branding Katsuhito Nojima attended the grand opening party for the company’s new Chicago gallery in June. This
Velan Inc. has entered into a purchase agreement with an investment of about $6.5 million for a 75% interest in a European manufacturer of valves for nuclear and process applications.
Spirax-Sarco Engineering appointed Mark Vernon as chief operating officer. He joined the Group in May 2003 as president of Spirax Sarco Inc. Prior to that, Vernon acquired broad experience in
Watsco Inc., Coconut Grove, FL, has agreed to buy ACR Group Inc. for $6.75 a share in cash. Houston, TX-based ACR is a $240 million distributor of air conditioning and
Delta Faucet announced that its Water-Efficient Showerhead with H2Okinetic Technology® won the Stevie Award in the “Best New Product or Service – Consumer Products” category at the 5th Annual American
Falcon Waterfree Technologies said product awards it has received for its zero-water-consumption urinals include: American School & University’s Top Product of 2006; 2007 ADEX Platinum Award for Design Excellence from
Conbraco said its president, Glenn Mosack, was named as Ernst & Young’s Carolinas Entrepreneur of the Year in the Manufacturing and Industrial Products category. Mosack was one of 30 finalists
Flowserve Corp. has sold its small production facility in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and two small non-core valve product lines located there to Weka AG, a specialized Swiss manufacturer of cryogenic
The International Stainless Steel Forum reported that global stainless steel production was flat in the first quarter of 2007. ISSF tallied an increase of only 0.7% compared to the first
Carrier Corp. has signed a letter of intent to acquire E.B. Ward & Co./Valair, a long-standing Carrier distributor of residential, light commercial and commercial products. The purchase price is not
Caroma said that 20 of its 30-plus dual-flush toilets for the North American market have been certified to carry the EPA’s new WaterSense label. The remaining toilets are expected to be
DDI System has launched its new Web site at www.ddisys.com. This new site highlights the advantages of its latest distribution technology. With specific industry features, DDI users are gaining efficiencies
Tyco International named Patrick Decker president of Tyco Flow Control. Decker joined Tyco in May 2003 as the chief financial officer of Tyco’s Plastics & Adhesives business. He has been
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) expressed strong doubts regarding China’s stated commitment to limit steel exports to 10% of total production. The
Energy Maintenance Services Group (EMS Group), one of the largest providers of pipeline operations & maintenance in the U.S., acquired Energy Facility Services Inc. (EFSI), a leak detection, mechanical repair
Tyco Fire & Building Products opened the Grinnell mechanical grooved products warehouse in Avon, MA, which offers mechanical grooved couplings, fittings, valves and accessories, including the Grinnell Copper System.
Fairmont Supply Co., a full-line distributor of MRO supplies based in Canonsburg, PA, has acquired the outstanding stock of Houston-based PVF distributor Piping & Equipment Inc. As a wholly owned
Ferguson/J.D. Daddario celebrated the grand re-opening of its expanded showroom in Franklin, MA. More than 3,500 sq. ft. has been added to the store, which offers bath fixtures, lighting, kitchen
First Supply (Madison, WI) celebrated the grand opening of its Gerhards showroom in Brookfield, IL, June 26. The registered Kohler showroom has nearly 3,000 sq. ft. of fixtures, baths and
The Lochinvar KNIGHT heating boiler is now available in new wall-mounted models for space-saving installation versatility. The new compact models are designed to enhance installation flexibility, while still offering all
The new 106-page brochure showcases the company's complete offering of bath faucets, showers and accessories. The illustrated brochure devotes separate, multi-page presentations to showerheads, handshowers, wallbars, showerpipes, showerpanels and bodysprays,
Thermostatic Mixing Valve Model 220-USW for single- or multiple-outlet point-of-use or small hot water heater applications provides water temperature control at the source and is offered with union connections. Designed
Oil Eater cleaner/degreaser claims to be a high-powered, water-based cleaner that eliminates the need for multiple cleaning solutions. It is low-voc, non-corrosive, nox-toxic and non-flammable. The cleaner is said to dissolve
The T-K3-0S is the company’s first tankless water heater built only for outdoor installations. At 13.8 inches wide and weighing only 40 pounds, its ultra-compact design allows it to be
Clean-ups and bathing pets claim to be a breeze with Advance Tabco’s line of laundry/utility sinks. Choose from either wall-mounted or free-standing floor units. Numerous 1- and 2-compartment sizes are
The two-disc DVD/Windows software training set for the Coleman Echelon™ modulating gas furnace is the first in the ProficienTECH series of media-based technical training from Johnson Controls Unitary Products. With
Century 4072Largo 3660 and Century 4072 are two new whirlpool tubs in Eljer’s Luxury Series line. With a modern rectangular shape and oval bathing well, the Largo 3660 is 60