Industry News
We would like to take this opportunity to give a special thanks to this month's sponsor -- Metropac. Metropac sells exclusively to wholesalers, OEM’s, and manufacturer reps, throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Major product lines include, Honeywell, Invensys, Johnson Controls, Robertshaw, White-Rodgers and much more. Visit their redesigned web site at www.metropac.com to see their complete product offerings. Or call their sales department at 800-852-HEAT(4328)
To find out more about special e-newsletter advertising opportunities, please contact your Wholesaler sales rep by visiting www.thewholesaler.com.
Metropac increases inventory of Johnson Controls for 2010, including the New System 450™ Series of microprocessor-based modular controls.
Metropac, a national Master Distributor of HVAC Controls, has increased its Johnson Controls inventory by 25% from 2009. “The economy is affecting everyone, we are noticing wholesalers across the county are finding it difficult to stock their shelves, and losing sales because of it. As an HVAC Master Distributor, we are making a commitment to have a deep inventory of hvac controls for those wholesalers to pick from.”. Bryan Cosentino, Vice President Metropac Industries.
The expanded inventory includes the new System 450™ Series of microprocessor-based modular controls. As a new product within the Johnson Controls/PENN brand, the System 450 Series provides versatile, compact, cost-effective and accurate digital control for a variety of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration (HVACR) and industrial controls applications. Designed to replace the System 350 and System 27 Series control systems, the new System 450 Series is easy to use, flexible, and can handle hundreds of custom applications. . For more information on Jonhson Controls System 450 visit www.metropac.com/system450.html
Gerber launches Water Conservation Services program
“Save Water – Save Money” is the motto of Gerber Water Conservation Services, the company’s new program serving the hospitality industry. The initiative is a collaboration between Gerber and leading hospitality renovation firms. It will offer turnkey water and money saving upgrades to hotel guest bathrooms, laundry, kitchen, HVAC and irrigation systems.
“Partnering with Gerber Water Conservation Services, we were able to substantially reduce our water usage and costs quickly without sacrificing comfort for our guests,” said Yousouf Jeerooburkhan, director of engineering for the Marina Del Ray Marriott Hotel. “We are now a truly green property and our payback was only 14 months.”
Hotel owners and property managers can quickly realize the potential savings and benefits they can achieve by completing an online water savings audit on www.gerber-conservation.com.
Granite Group opens new location
The Granite Group Wholesalers LLC opened a new location at 266 Mechanic Street in Lebanon N.H. This new location also includes an Ultimate Bath showroom featuring the finest kitchen and bath products displayed in an eye appealing space, perfect for homeowners, designers, builders and plumbers.
“We have long been attracted to the area and are excited to add a service counter and showroom in a such strong marketplace,” said chairman and CEO P. Kevin Condron.
The Granite Group wholesale branches are staffed with plumbing, hydronic and HVAC technical specialists available for design, product recommendation and technical support. The company, headquartered in Concord, N.H., is a full service wholesale distributor of plumbing, heating, cooling & water supplies. The company has 26 branches, 13 Ultimate Bath showroom locations and a 160,000-square-foot Central Distribution Center in Londonderry, N.H.
K/BIS organizers project 40% increase in attendance
With the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) set to embark on McCormick Place in Chicago April 16-18, attendee figures are showing a significant 40% increase over last year’s numbers during the same time period to date. Show producer Nielsen Expositions is now anticipating nearly 35,000 attendees at the show this year, which will include the industry’s top dealers, designers, builders, remodelers, retailers, and other professionals directly involved in the design and remodel of residential kitchens and bathrooms.
“The numbers are pretty staggering at this point as our research shows that 67% of the attendees who are registered for KBIS 2010 did not participate last year,” said Brian Pagel, vice president of the Kitchen and Bath Group at Nielsen Expositions. “This has surpassed our expectations and has generated a lot of early buzz and excitement surrounding the show in Chicago this year.”
A significant growth is particularly seen in the number of architectural firms that have signed up to attend the show to date, with a 20% increase compared to 2009 figures including many major architectural offices that have projects in the pipeline and will be looking for specific products, ideas and inspiration during the show. In addition, Nielsen anticipates nearly a 10% increase in the number of plumbing wholesalers and distributors at KBIS this year based on the current projection figures.
Grundfos Pumps opens facility near Houston
Despite the challenges of the global economic downturn, Danish pump manufacture Grundfos Pumps continued its commitment to the North American market with the grand opening of the new Peerless Engineered Systems (PES) building. The 45,000-square-foot facility was built outside Houston in Brookshire, Texas. The building shares land with Grundfos Commercial Building Services (formally PACO Pumps), and will be home to the PES division of Peerless Pump Company.
The PES facility will continue its focus upon the design and manufacture of pre-packaged fire pump systems. “A near 50% gain in square footage will definitely aid in our growth ambitions,” said Arron Phillips, PES general manager. “Our proximity to the Grundfos facility will not only support with our integration activities, but allow us to take full advantage of the synergy that exists within our products and our talented group of employees.”
The nearly $4-million facility will be home to 32 highly skilled workers including; engineers, machinists, welders and electrical professionals.
New Products
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Lead-free bubbler
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Quick connect valves
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Vandal-resistant coolers
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Movers & Shakers
Dakota Supply Group announced that Mechanical Group manager Ryan Tracy will now focus all of his energies on managing DSG's growing presence in plumbing and HVAC, passing on the day-to-day oversight of DSG's Aberdeen, S.D., branch to his experienced staff. This move will allow the Mechanical Group to take another step toward enhancing its product lines, relationships with manufacturers, and training capabilities for plumbing and HVAC customers.
The Keeney Manufacturing Company appointed Karen Condren sales manager-national accounts. Most recently, Condren served as regional sales manager. In her new position, Condren will maintain her territory responsibilities while driving sales and market growth with buying groups and national accounts.
Hastings Tile & Bath hired industry veteran Jody Rosenberg to head its sales and marketing organization. Long admired in the industry for being innovative and tireless, Rosenberg has over 23 years of experience, including an earlier position at Hastings, but most recently as national sales director at Sonia America. He is also a member in good standing of the DPHA, and in 2007, he received the DPHA’s prestigious President’s Award. He currently sits on the board of the DPHA, where he plans to continue to advance the organization’s mission to its members.
Scott Graham was named industrial sales manager at LASCO Fittings Inc. He has 14 years of experience at BF Goodrich, Noveon and Lurbrizoll. At LASCO, he will guide the company to more end users of Schedule 80 PVC and CPVC Schedule 80 products. Graham will operate simultaneously with LASCO’s existing regional managers while aligning the company’s sales efforts toward key industrial manufacturers’ reps. |