NKBA: Upgrades made to K/BIS
Hackettstown, N.J. – Attendees at the 2011 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, scheduled for April 26-28 in Las Vegas, will find a broader array of offerings, the latest in trends and technology, and many more opportunities to collaborate with peers and exhibitors. ?The NKBA and partner Nielsen Exhibitions have enhanced K/BIS with the introduction of mobile applications, interactive and hands-on displays, and an expanded array of conferences and events.
“In response to the challenges of today’s economy, our members and exhibitors have changed the way they do business to be more productive,” said Dave Alderman, president-elect of the National Kitchen & Bath Association. “Our goal at K/BIS is to make sure we provide the most up-to-date tools and trends to help them stay successful.”
Beginning in 2010, an extensive research project was initiated to help re-define the strategic direction of the show for the future. Focus groups were conducted with hundreds of past and present exhibitors, attendees and NKBA members, which resulted not only in new exhibits, speakers and education, but in a re-branded strategic position as well. The new logo and tagline, “Collaborate. Innovate. Inspire.”, developed by show organizer Freeman will debut with the attendee outreach campaign in November. The branding campaign will be seen in advertising and collateral materials, as well as on the re-launched www.KBIS.com.
“Attendees and exhibitors provided invaluable insights into what they wanted from K/BIS, and they will see those changes reflected on the trade show floor, in the conferences and speakers, and even in the way they can navigate the show and collaborate with each other,” said Brian Pagel, vice president of the Kitchen and Bath Group for Nielsen Expositions. “We felt it was important to rebrand K/BIS to mirror the significant changes in the show.”
The new changes will be apparent to attendees long before they arrive at the show. K/BIS Connect, an online scheduling and mapping tool, will allow attendees and exhibitors to plan and update meetings and classes, as well as research and review exhibits and products. And for the first time, a K/BIS smartphone app will be available, beginning in January. Attendees will also be able to download a K/BIS QR (quick response) code to access show guides and materials throughout the venue.
K/BIS 2011 will be kicked off by keynote speaker Pat Croce, best-known for leading the Philadelphia 76ers through their dramatic “worst to first” turnaround as the team president.
The comprehensive conference and education schedule has been built around the topics most requested by member and attendees, prominently including, “Moving Your Business Digital,” by kitchen and bath technology specialist John Morgan, and “Gen-Now” by nationally-recognized columnist and designer Sarah Reep. The NextGen Home Experience will feature two fully-functioning homes: the Eco-home, featuring the latest products and trends in sustainability, and another featuring universal design.
Also new this year will be the Industry Segment Connection, a networking and educational event targeted to professionals in all segments of the kitchen and bath industry. The conference and education slate has been greatly expanded, with a number of conferences available to view online, another first.
Cash Acme and SharkBite set to expand
Cullman, Ala. — Reliance Worldwide Corporation, manufacturer and distributor of Cash Acme® and SharkBite® products, has announced plans to build a new facility near its current plant in Cullman, Ala. The new facility comes on the heels of a major expansion in Cullman that was completed in 2009. It will create an additional jobs in Cullman related to continuing growth of the water control product lines marketed by both Cash Acme and SharkBite.
VP Supply helps the environment, economy and local contractors
Rochester, N.Y. — In light of a shifting economy and record energy prices, VP Supply is promoting green technology through their innovative Renewable Energy Division. VP hosted a commercial solar photovoltaic training installation with Key Systems Inc. of Victor, N.Y., between ?December 6-8, where a 20KW commercial system was added to an existing 10KW residential system. Contractors attended both classroom and on-site training to educate them in renewable installation practices.
VP Supply instituted a Renewable Division in the beginning of 2009 and has since taken on full lines of wind, solar hot water, solar photovoltaic, geothermal HVAC, rainwater collection and waste water treatment. The department has been a pioneering force towards VP Supply’s goal to become a more “green” conscious company. The department features regular state-of-the-art training courses on all renewable related installations, keeping the contractors of Western New York up to date with the innovative and ever-changing technology.
VP Supply has eight locations spanning across New York State and Pennsylvania, including the major regional areas of Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Erie, Pa. The Renewable Energy training courses have attracted contractors as far as Philadelphia and New Jersey. The department consists of Renewable Energy director Mike Parks, and director of Renewable Energy Dealer Development Jay Didas.
VP Supply Corporation is a Rochester-based company that provides wholesale plumbing, HVAC, kitchen and renewable energy products to both contractors and a retail audience. Since 1965, VP Supply has consistently offered quality products with top-of-the-line customer service to its customers.
TOTO partners with ecoScorecard on environmental documentation
Morrow, Ga. – TOTO announced that they are the first plumbing manufacturer to partner with ecoScorecard and incorporate this service into their product catalog. TOTO believes this partnership will help customers streamline the time needed to deliver the environmental documentation required to qualify for green building rating systems such as LEED, GGHC Labs 21, CHPS and the NAHB Green Home Building Guidelines, as well as other third-party product certification systems.
These green building rating systems provide third-party verification that a building is designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across the areas that matter most, — water efficiency, energy savings, CO2 emissions reduction and more.
“TOTO recognized that it took our customers countless hours to search, evaluate and document our high-efficiency plumbing products’ environmental characteristics and develop the documentation needed for them to qualify under the major green building rating systems,” said Lenora Campos, Ph.D., company spokesperson. “We wanted to simplify this process for them, and ecoScorecard enabled us to put this information at their fingertips — online, up-to-date and available 24/7/365.”
A TOTO product’s ecoScorecard includes information such as pre- and post-consumer recycled content, life cycle analysis status, product and packaging recyclability, and freedom from hazardous metals—for example, lead, mercury and cadmium. Now, architects, designers, owners and specifiers can immediately access environmental information about TOTO’s products and be assured that the data is current and accurate. In addition, they may immediately print the required product documentation for their green building projects.
Installing TOTO premium high-efficiency plumbing products is a significant way to enhance the sustainable designs that create a better world, and TOTO’s partnership with ecoScorecard will streamline the environmental documentation process that third-party certifiers require of its customers.
ecoScorecard provides product specifiers the ability to search, evaluate and document products based on environmental characteristics. The program does the calculations to rate systems such as LEED, GGHC Labs 21, CHPS and the NAHB Green Home Building Guidelines and includes and accounts for other third-party product certifications. The tool produces the product documentation necessary for inclusion in the submission process. ecoScorecard is free to users and is supported by manufacturers wanting to ease the specification of green products for customers and salespeople.
Miura hosts VIP factory tour to introduce steam generator
Atlanta – On October 21, Miura Manufacturing America hosted a VIP group of dealers, installers, consultants and other professionals at its factory in Rockmart, Ga.
The group witnessed the unveiling of the new Miura LX-300 zero side-clearance, ultra-low NOx, on-demand steam generator. Designed with a compact footprint, the LX-300 is UL-approved for side-by-side installation without the need for clearance between units.
The on-demand performance of Miura’s modular boilers makes a multiple installation of LX-300s particularly well suited for larger-scale facilities and district-energy plants seeking superior thermal energy management customized for their specific demand profile.
A multiple installation of Miura LX-300 modular boilers provides enhanced energy management via precise “load-matching” capability primarily because they can be sequentially turned on or off in response to load fluctuations, as opposed to consuming energy while idling on stand-by.
“The implementation of the zero-side-clearance concept in North America has been a dream for a long time; today this dream has come true,” said Miura North America president Hiroshi “Harley” Fukushima during his welcome to visitors at Miura Manufacturing America.
Miura steam boilers are known for their energy-efficient, eco-friendly “green” design; their unique burner design and superior efficiency translate to lower emissions, outputting significantly reduced levels of NOx and reduced levels of CO2.
Mark Utzinger, president of Miura Manufacturing America Co. Ltd., followed Mr. Fukushima’s welcome with additional comments.
“We believe the LX-300 will change the boiler industry in the U.S.,” Utzinger commented. “Miura was the first to introduce compact boilers that can make steam from a cold start in five minutes or less... As of today we are also the only known manufacturer that can provide industrial steam boilers with zero side-by-side clearance to minimize space requirements.”
Paul O’Donnell, general manager of Miura’s Southeast Region, added, “Miura has been operating for more than 50 years in Japan. In that time more than 140,000 Miura boilers have been installed worldwide.”
O’Donnell then prepared Miura’s guests for their factory tour by outlining the challenges of designing the arrangement of fin tubes in the new LX-300’s pressure vessel. The goal was to maximize surface area, optimize heat transfer and achieve low emissions.
He also encouraged the group to think of Miura not simply as a boiler-maker, but as a complete steam solutions provider, which includes Miura’s integrated intelligent water-softener monitoring technology and its BOILERMATE chemical-treatment system.
Following an extensive tour of the factory — which began with a demonstration of the precision cutting of pipes destined to become fin-tubes, and ended with a close-up look at fully inspected Miura boilers ready for shipment —the company served guests a buffet lunch in the conference room.
ASA, Equity Plumbing Group relationship to advance goals
Chicago — Realizing that a coordinated effort between all industry participants is needed to advance issues of critical importance to the long-term health of the industry, the American Supply Association has entered into a formalized working relationship with the Equity Plumbing Group.
“Two vital, long-range goals have guided ASA’s move to sign agreements with industry buying groups and work more cooperatively,” said ASA executive vice president Mike Adelizzi. “Engaging everyone in the industry to aid in the fight to protect industry interests in Washington, D.C., and the need to elevate the professionalism of the industry has prompted ASA to develop these closer working relationships. We recognize that buying groups are an important part of the business interests of many of our members. The groups’ strong connections with a broad cross-section of wholesalers and manufacturers can assist in motivating owners to take action on important industry issues.”
ASA is the logical organization through which the industry can affect change in Washington, D.C. Through the association, wholesalers and manufacturers can influence issues such as Card Check, Cap & Trade, LIFO repeal, as well as environmental issues such as the W.A.T.E.R. Act, which can have a favorable impact on industry markets. By partnering with the Equity Plumbing Group and other buying groups, ASA is able to coordinate efforts and strengthen the industry’s position on these issues.
In addition to advocacy efforts, the partnerships bring the programs of the ASA Education Foundation to a wider audience, promoting the benefits of an educated industry. “A rising tide raises all boats,” continued Adelizzi. “An employee who understands how his or her role directly contributes to a company’s profitability finds ways to remain competitive without resorting to cutting price every time. Therefore, the more distributors in the PHCP and PVF industry that have well-educated and knowledgeable employees, the stronger the industry will be as a whole.
“The Equity Plumbing Group does a great job providing its members with tremendous purchasing power. ASA does a great job of advocacy, education and benchmarking. Forming a working alliance with the Equity Plumbing Group makes good sense,” concluded Adelizzi.
Equity joins Affiliated Distributors, the Embassy Group, Omni and WIT & Co. as the industry groups that have formalized their working relationships with the American Supply Association.