Activant to host Summit in March
Yardley, Pa. — More than 1,400 distributors are expected to converge in Washington, D.C., March 10-13 for a summit on how to transform operational excellence into growth. Summit is the annual conference for distribution customers of Activant Solutions Inc.
“Most distributors are concerned with two things right now: achieving operational excellence in order to reduce costs, and growing their market share in a recovering economy,” said Kevin Roach, executive vice president and general manager of Activant. “Summit will focus on both. A major topic will be applying lean practices to distributors.”
Speakers for the three-day event include: Dr. Barry Lawrence, industrial distribution program director at Texas A&M University; David Bauders, president of Strategic Pricing Associates Inc.; Bill McCleave, president of W.R. McCleave & Associates; Jon Schreibfeder, president of Effective Inventory Management Inc.; and Bill Muehlbauer, founder and principal consultant for Distribution Strategies.
They will be joined by Activant technology and distribution experts who will share their knowledge with attendees. Some educational sessions will include hands-on workshops where participants can experiment with what they learn directly on a PC.
This annual event has always been an important networking opportunity for distributors. Unlike industry trade shows, Summit gathers distributors from across the wholesale spectrum and enables them to share insights and gain useful tips.
“Often, Summit attendees will tell us that the networking opportunities are as valuable as the educational sessions,” said Roach. “They get a lot out of interacting with each other and Activant employees in a less formal setting. Some real friendships have grown out of Summit.”
Visit distribution.activant. com/summit2010/
Brauer Supply opens a new facility
St. Louis — Brauer Supply, the 129-year-old family owned HVAC, thermal insulation, air filtration and fastener wholesaler headquartered here, opened a distribution center in the Kansas City Metro area. The new 24,000-square-foot facility is located at 74 South James Street in Kansas City, Kan., and features a showroom and extensive inventory of equipment, parts, supplies and industrial goods.
The Brauer sales and management team welcomed K.C.-area customers to the new location at a grand opening in October that featured a NASCAR-simulated vehicle experience sponsored by Arcoaire, along with refreshments, drawing prizes and special sales promotions.
This is the company’s twelfth location and brings its unique brand of service to the Kansas City area for the first time. They will be a one-stop shop for HVAC contractors, thermal insulation contractors, and for maintenance staffs of commercial businesses and institutions. Brauer maintains a staff of seasoned product managers and customer service personnel with many years of trade experience to assist customers.
The family ownership team of Jim Truesdell, Bill Brauer and Bob Brauer is committed to providing a good representation of key brand names. These include popular products such as Arcoaire heating and air conditioning equipment, Continental registers, Koch air filters, Selkirk vent pipe and Heating and Cooling fittings as well as insulation products from Knauf, Certainteed, IIG, Armacell, Proto, Unifrax, Kingco and others. The company also provides fastener products such as blind rivets, self-drilling screws, and threaded inserts by manufacturers such as Pop, Surebonder, AVK, Parker-Kalon, Atlas, and others.
“We expect to be an important resource to the industry in Kansas City and surrounding areas,” said Truesdell. Bob Brauer added that “we are committed to growth as the Midwest economy recovers. We will be there to help our customers capitalize on opportunities.”
Brauer will be represented in the area by a sales team of representatives familiar to area contractors. John Becker, Greg Davey and Everett Vaughn will be introducing Brauer products to area customers. Al Skubic and Mike Johnson will provide outside sales support for industrial products. A veteran team of counter and driver personnel will provide service for pick-up or on-site delivery.
Brauer was founded in St. Louis in 1881 and today the Brauer family is still actively running the company. In addition to the St. Louis headquarters and the new Kansas City facility, they have branches in Columbia, Springfield, Joplin, Jackson, O’Fallon, Union and Festus, Mo, and Springfield and Swansea, Ill.
NIBCO offers new extended 125/5 valve warranty
Elkhart, Ind. — Effective immediately, NIBCO has extended its exclusive 125% pressure-rated metal valve warranty from one to five years from date of service.
Unlike valve warranties that only replace the product cost, NIBCO will also pay the owner the greater of 25% of the current published price or $10 dollars for product that was determined to be defective due to material or workmanship.
“NIBCO pressure-rated valves are manufactured with quality that our customers have come to rely upon,” said Phil Liles, senior product manager–valves. “The warranty extension demonstrates NIBCO’s pride and confidence in the material and workmanship that goes into the manufacturing process.”
NIBCO operates 11 manufacturing facilities throughout the U.S., Mexico and Poland. Products are manufactured under a Quality Management System conforming to the current revision of ISO 9001 International Standards.
Visit www.nibco.com.
Noland opens HVAC location and Bath & Idea Center
Elkhart, Ind. — Noland Company, a distributor of plumbing supplies and heating and air conditioning equipment in the Southeast since 1919, has opened new locations in Florida and Virginia to serve commercial and residential contractors and their customers with HVAC equipment, consulting services and luxury items for the home.
Noland is a wholly-owned subsidiary of WinWholesale Inc., one of the nation’s largest distributors.
Noland Company’s Pinellas Park, Fla., location serves contractors in four counties with NuTone Heating and Cooling Products, the exclusive brand. NuTone has the highest efficiency air conditioner in the industry at 24.5 SEER using IQ Drive Technology, said manager Rick Brock.
The Falls Church, Va., Bath & Idea Center by Noland Company serves the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The showroom provide contractors and consumers with a pleasant atmosphere where they can talk with consultants about their needs and see a range of products that include luxury items for bath and kitchen new construction and remodeling.
The Falls Church showroom carries a variety of brands, including American Standard, Grohe, Brizo, Delta, Moen, MTI, MAAX and Acryline, according to manager YoLanda Sarraga.
“The openings in Pinellas Park and Falls Church are examples of how Noland will carefully grow the business in selected markets by giving customers a competitive advantage through superior service and quality products provided by knowledgeable people,” said Jim Adcox, Noland chief operating officer.
PVFShare.com successfully launches in December
Hartford, Conn. — There is a new channel between member sellers and buyers providing profitable solutions to excess product for a balanced inventory.
President Paul Banville announced the December 15 launch of PVFShare.com, a unique distributor-based web solution empowering members to promote and sell excess inventory to other members. PVFShare.com facilitates sales of a distributor’s excess inventory of industrial pipe, valves, fittings and specialty products. This creates a stronger cash flow and additional warehouse space for more profitable products and services.
“A cornerstone of our success is our development of a strong network that share similar core values including authenticity, relationships, service and growth,” said Banville. “Members are empowered to sell/buy excess inventory that better serves their local, unique and dynamic markets”.
Founders Paul Banville and Raymond Perrotti, with over 60 years of industry marketing and sales experience, established PVFShare.com in response to recent and dramatic market changes that have left many with unbalanced inventories.
“PVFShare’s non-restrictive policies and broad market exposure creates a new and robust marketplace for redistribution of excess inventory,” Banville noted. “Cash is freed up and with additional shelf space; creating profitable opportunities for members. Our site is so intuitive and transaction-friendly, thereby creating a huge pool of distributor members as buyers and sellers. It’s a win-win solution.”
Product searches provide a comprehensive listing of all matching results regardless of warehouse location. The member is provided contact information, and quantities per location. PVFShare.com is distributor centric; it is not a party to the transaction and does not charge a transaction fee. PVFShare.com facilitates the communications channel between member sellers and buyers within an open market environment
Brad Carstensen, president of Boston Pipe and Fittings Co. Inc., believes in this proactive approach for distributors. “When we were introduced to PVFShare.com, we recognized the positive impact this site would make to our business,” he said. “The industry has been waiting for a solution to excess inventories sitting in distributor’s warehouses across the country. To have the opportunity to move this product, increase profitability and be connected with new distributors, it’s an easy decision to join. We are certain PVFShare.com will become an invaluable tool to our business in the months ahead.”
PVFShare.com’s inventory search is free for its member distributors. Members wishing to list inventory can post their excess inventory without restriction to quantity or product brand for a nominal fee. Interested distributors can tour the site and contact Paul Banville at 860/983-3979 or Raymond Perrotti, Perrotti Sales Associates, at 908/806-8899.
Watts lead-free line in compliance with new legislation
North Andover, Mass. — Watts Water Technologies Inc. and its associated brands are in the forefront of the lead-free movement. The company has announced the availability of its extensive line of lead-free* products that are compliant with California and Vermont legislation.
Watts Water Technologies’ www.WeAreLeadFree.net website provides frequent updates on what is happening around the country with lead-free legislation and requirements. This website provides an interactive map showing the status of lead-free initiatives nationwide, downloadable catalogs and educational material. Visit the site today to see an overview video.
Watts Water Technologies, with worldwide sales over $1 billion , designs, manufactures and sells an extensive line of valves and related flow control products to the plumbing and heating and water quality markets.
*The wetted surface of this product contacted by consumable water contains less than one quarter of one percent (0.25%) of lead by weight.
Shelton Winnelson introduces WinAcademy
Shelton, Conn. — Shelton Winnelson Co., a wholesale distributor of plumbing and heating supplies rolled out its new training program, WinAcademy.
WinAcademy is a series of nine free classes offered to Shelton Winnelson customers. Training is provided by the Shelton Winnelson sales and training manager, Gary Maturo, and participating vendors.
“WinAcademy was created in response to our customers’ feedback,” said Mauro. “We surveyed customers and the response overall showed that they were very interested in participating in training sessions to gain more product knowledge.”
Maturo joined Shelton Winnelson in August. He has worked in the plumbing industry for 23 years. Maturo has also worked as a trainer for radiant heat, PEX plumbing systems and circulator pumps. He has conducted training classes on solar installs, boiler piping and pump dewatering.
Shelton Winnelson customers can sign up for classes by stopping in or calling. Classes are held weekly. Special arrangements can be made if customers are interested in hosting the training at their location. Customers are allowed to take as many classes as they want. Classes offering certification are Uponor and Wardflex. Customers that attend more than one class will automatically be entered into a drawing for a prize that will be awarded at the end of each semester.
Vendors participating in WinAcademy include: Burham, Buderus, Grundfos, Munchkin, Navien, Oventrop, Rinnai, Taco, Tekmar, Triangle Tube, Uponor, Viesmann, Wardflex and Wilo.
Shelton Winnelson is located at 740 River Rd. and is open Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Shelton Winnelson heating showroom will be completed in early 2010. Customers can see a wide range of working heating products on display once the showroom is open. The phone number is 203/929-6344.
The company is partly owned by WinWholesale Inc., a leading national supplier of domestic and industrial supplies headquartered in Dayton, Ohio.
A.Y. McDonald’s no-lead products comply with new legislation standard
Dubuque, Iowa – With over 20 years of research and development, A.Y. McDonald has significant experience in manufacturing no-lead products. Its no-lead products meet all the requirements of the new California and Vermont legislation that went into effect January 1.
Available products include the following:
• No-lead brass ball valves in sizes 1/2 to 2 inches. Valves are soldered and threaded; full port; and with a blowout-proof stem
• 125-pound no-lead red brass pipe nipples. Over 150 SKUs are ready for next-day shipment. Nipples conform to ASTM B687, ANSI B1.20.1 and ASTM B43
• 125-pound no-lead bronze fittings. Over 100 SKUs are ready for next-day shipment. Fittings conform to ANSI/ASME B1.20.1, WW-U-516-B, ASME B16.14 and ANSI/ASME B16.15.
Visit www.aymcdonald.com.