Industry News

WORCESTER, Mass. — Webstone announced the launch of the Webstone YouTube Channel where detailed videos highlighting the functionality, space, and labor saving advantages of Webstone’s complete line of engineered products are now available.

Visit YouTube directly or access the channel via the literature and presentations section of Webstone Valves’ website.

Founded in 1954, Webstone is recognized as an industry leader for innovative design of residential and commercial valves used in plumbing, hydronic, radiant, solar and geothermal applications. These designs focus on time and space saving concepts that simplify future maintenance and upkeep of all piping systems. Some of Webstone’s trademarked and patented items include; Hydro-Core™, The Isolator®, Isolator EXP™, Pro-Connect™, and Pro-Pal® Step Saving Valves.

Visit www.webstonevalves.com

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Thomas & Betts (T&B) launched an Earth Day social media campaign on April 1, which continued through Earth Day, April 22. The campaign was developed to reward followers for “green” decisions at home and in the workplace.

Three winners of the “Going Green Contest” were selected to win environmentally conscious prize packages. As part of the campaign, T&B shared its successes in reducing energy consumption, water consumption and waste through its channels on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

T&B’s environmental efforts include its Green Initiative Program, which was launched in 2007 and has grown to 16 facilities currently participating. A Green Tracker program generates an annual report of monthly data that each facility’s Green Team compiles for electricity usage, water usage and waste generation. According to T&B Electrical Division’s annual report of 2012, there was a 5.8 percent reduction of energy consumption, an 11.8 percent reduction of water consumption and an 8.3 percent reduction in waste.

“We adopted the Green Initiative Program in 2007, and it’s become part of T&B’s core values,” said Chuck Gilreath, vice president of operations for the Electrical Division of Thomas & Betts. “We are seeking to do more than merely comply with existing regulations; we are seeking opportunities for innovation by outperforming what the regulations require.”

The Earth Day social media campaign also informed followers how Thomas & Betts’ environmental innovations can help to significantly decrease the amount of right-of-way (ROW) land affected by electric transmission construction projects. Meyer® Steel Structures, Thomas & Betts’ line of tubular steel transmission structures, are designed to require less equipment and smaller crews for installation, and to enable shorter installation times that measure in days, rather than weeks, saving not only time and money, but also reducing the environmental impact to construction areas.

T&B’s Environmentally Responsible Transmission (ERT) construction solution reduces the destruction of ROW land to as little as 2 percent, compared with traditional methods. Meyer® Steel Structures also are designed to be delivered via air lifts, eliminating the need and cost for building access roads to transport them. As Meyer® Steel Structures’ ERT solution becomes more commonplace, far less land will need to be cleared for utility construction.

Visit www.tnb.com

OLATHE, Kan. – On April 16, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn; Soren Sorensen, vice president of Grundfos and chairman of Grundfos North America Board; Jes Munk Hansen, president of Grundfos North America; and Martin Tully, mayor of Downers Grove, Ill., gathered to break ground at the new Grundfos North American headquarters. The new location address is 2001 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove, Ill.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Grundfos announced its strategy to double U.S. sales to $1 billion and laid out its 5-year growth plan. The company also unveiled its LEED-certified design concepts for the space.

With an annual production of more than 16 million pumps, Grundfos is a global leader in advanced pump solutions and a trendsetter in water technology. Since its inception in 1945, the company has flourished from one small factory in Bjerringbro, Denmark to more than 80 companies and 18,000 employees worldwide.

This year, the company celebrates its 40th anniversary in the U.S. In North America, Grundfos employs more than 1,600 people – 1,300 in the U.S. alone – and is continually expanding its regional expertise.

Visit www.grundfos.us

MADISON, Wis. – Gerhards, The Kitchen and Bath Store by First Supply, announced FIRST LOOK, a local industry event for architects, builders, designers, plumbers and remodelers showcasing new trends in the industry.

Select Gerhards are offering a visual “Look Book” presentation showing the products of tomorrow and the trends of today. The presentation will be approximately one hour, is and hosted by one of Gerhards’ designers along with vendor supported materials.

This schedule for FIRST LOOK is as follows:

• Rochester, Minn. – Wednesday, May 1
• Madison, Wis. – Wednesday, May 1
• Brookfield, Wis. – Thursday, May 2
• La Crosse, Wis. – Tuesday, May 7
• Dubuque, Iowa – Wednesday, May 8
• Minneapolis, Minn. – Thursday, May 16
• Appleton, Wis. – Tuesday, May 21

Visit www.GerhardsStore.com

DUBLIN, Calif. — Epicor Software Corporation announced that the Water World Group of Companies was selected to implement the Epicor next generation enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution in its offices in Egypt and the U.S.

Water World is a leading water treatment company in Egypt that specializes in water treatment systems, including technology used to purify and filter potable water. Taking advantage of the solution’s scalability, accessibility and flexibility, Water World has chosen to
deploy the financial, logistics and manufacturing modules of Epicor ERP.

The solution is being implemented in collaboration with Global Business Solutions (GBS), an Epicor Channel partner in Egypt. GBS provides high quality and cost effective solutions to organizations looking at standardizing its business management operations. It employs up-to-date technologies that enable businesses to achieve their strategic objectives. With more than 60 local implementations of Epicor
solutions to different industries and market segments under its belt, it is considered one of the most professional software companies in Egypt.

“The single most important criteria for selecting Epicor was our need for a powerful, proven solution that comprehensively supports manufacturing while still being easy to use,” said Islam Fayez,
financial controller at Water World. “The favorable cost of the solution was another significant motivator for our choice. The fact that Epicor also offers excellent after-sales support meant that we can rest assured that we will always have the critical data that we need.”
“Epicor ERP strongly complements the strategic expansion plans of Water World,” said Paul Hammond, regional vice president for Epicor in the Middle East. “The solution gives them enhanced scalability and flexibility coupled with continuing support of new requirements and the availability of tailored business intelligence reports. Epicor provides an inspiring solution that covers every requirement for all the departments of Water World demonstrating our flexibility to cater to the business software requirements of companies from diverse industries. It also represents another important step forward as Epicor continues to expand its presence in the Middle East across a broad customer base.”

Visit www.epicor.com

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Ambrose Graham Delany, a past president of Coyne & Delany, Inc., the flush valve manufacturer, passed away peacefully in his adopted hometown of Charlottesville, Va. on March 24, 2013. Born in 1917, Delany lived 96 full years. He was responsible, along with his cousin Jack Delany, for moving Coyne & Delany to Charlottesville in 1969.

Coyne & Delany was founded in 1879 by John J. Delany, Ambrose Graham Delany’s grandfather, in Brooklyn, N.Y. The company originally produced copper tub linings and high tank toilets that made up the original indoor water closets of the late 19th century. “Doc” Delany, Ambrose Graham Delany’s uncle, pioneered the next wave of plumbing with inventions such as the Flushboy valve, Regulating Screw, Rubberflex handle and industry standard Vacuum Breaker, all key components of the current Delany line.

A pipe hanging form his mouth was Ambrose Graham Delany’s trademark as was his ability to remain calm in any crisis or difficult situation. A proud engineering graduate of Lehigh University in 1940, he ran the production and product development side of the business. During World War II, Delany served in the Army Corps of Engineers rising to the rank of Major. Having joined the company after the war, he took the reins around 1965. Sensing the need to grow and upgrade the company’s capabilities, his first bold action was to move out of Brooklyn, leaving behind the old neighborhood and moving to a new, larger state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.

After a thorough search, Charlottesville was chosen. By 1974, the brand new self-designed building with a high-quality foundry and superb plating capabilities was complete. Under Delany’s direction the company became a leader in the new electronic age of flushometers. He encouraged the development and patenting of one of the market’s first sensor operating battery powered flush valves in 1988, the Impulse.

Today, New York City’s commercial and public school lavatories still utilize the Delany Flush Valve. National landmarks, such as St. Louis Gateway Arch, and local Charlottesville businesses, such as John Paul Jones Sports Complex, Scott Stadium, and the Emily Couric Cancer Center, use the valve as well.

In 2005, Delany officially retired, but he never stopped coming into the office to do the business he loved and developed. His sons, Peter and Ambrose Graham Delany Jr., managed the day-to-day operations. In 2009, his youngest son, Scott, also joined the company. At that time, the name was officially changed to Delany Products.

Ambrose Graham Delany was shared a 62 year partnership with his wife, Melene Hart Delany, who pre-deceased him. In his spare time, Delany served as a member of the Charlottesville Rotary Club, and was also on the board of The United Way. He was honored by the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) in 1996 with the “Samuel Mindel Award,” a lifetime achievement honor.

In addition to his three sons, Delany is survived by a daughter, Brook of Parker, CO, as well as seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The family requests that any donations on Delany’s behalf be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Steamist announced the recipient of its annual Rep of the Year award as Charles A. Davis & Associates, LLC. The company was selected from Steamist’s 26 North American sales representative agencies as a result of their outstanding sales performance in 2012 and ongoing market development efforts.

Headquartered in Evergreen, Colorado, with a satellite office in Salt Lake City, Utah, Charles A. Davis & Associates represents a wide range of clients in the high-end decorative plumbing and hardware industry. In addition to Colorado and Utah, the sales team’s coverage also extends into Wyoming.

Founded in 1959 by Charles A. Davis Sr., the agency is currently owned and operated by his son, Charles A. Davis Jr.
“Being named Steamist’s Rep of the Year is a great honor,” said Davis Jr. “For more than 50 years, we have operated on the principals of integrity and knowledge while working to bring manufacturers and customers together. We take great pride in this recognition from one our valued clients, and we look forward to continuing to provide Steamist and our entire roster of clients with the highest level of service.”
This marks the sixth annual Rep of the Year award for Steamist. The program is designed to recognize the company’s sales representatives for their hard work and dedication to the brand.

Jeff Carney, vice president of sales and marketing for Steamist, noted, “We have an incredible team of sales representatives across the country, all of whom are vital to our continued growth and success. We’ve been consistently impressed with Charles A. Davis & Associates, and we look forward to a long and prosperous partnership.”

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. – Klein Tools acquired Civitella & Cia Ltda , a privately-held tool and equipment manufacturer in Brazil. Civitella’s manufacturing and distribution center is based in São Paulo and serves customers throughout Brazil. Together, Klein Tools and Civitella can provide a full range of high-quality products for the electrical, construction, oil & gas and telecommunications industries.

Klein Tools initiated its global expansion strategy with the establishment of a Mexican subsidiary, Herramientas Klein, S.A. De C.V. and subsequently acquired Australia-based Mumme Products. The Civitella acquisition builds on Klein Tools’ expansion plans. Brazil is the sixth-largest economy in the world. With its rapidly increasing middle class and already announced major infrastructure investments, Brazil provides a tremendous growth opportunity. By partnering with Civitella, South America’s largest premium grip manufacturer, Klein Tools will further its reach internationally.

“With common core values and business cultures emphasizing high-quality manufacturing as well as strong customer service, Civitella and Klein Tools are natural partners,” said Matthew Thomason, director of corporate development for Klein Tools. “The integration of these two companies creates a winning combination of global reach and national expertise, backed by a commitment to superior products and service.”

“With the upcoming Olympics and World Cup events, there is an enormous amount of infrastructure construction in Brazil,” stated Giuliano Civitella, marketing director of Civitella & Cia. “We feel our customers will appreciate and benefit from the expanded product offering and industry knowledge that comes from partnering with North America’s leading premium hand tool manufacturer.”

“To successfully expand into Brazil, Klein Tools needs to have a physical presence in the country,” commented Tom Klein, president of Klein Tools. “The acquisition of Civitella provides Klein Tools with a business operation in Brazil and demonstrates a long-term commitment to the Brazilian market. Civitella is an outstanding company with premium products, excellent service and well established clients that we are proud to join.”

MOUNT UNION, Pa. — Bonney Forge Corporation, a leading international manufacturer and marketer of industrial forged steel valves, cast steel valves, forged steel fittings, unions and branch connections, completed the acquisition of BFE S.p.A., an Italian manufacturer of industrial valves for applications primarily in the oil and gas industries, from Pegaso S.p.A., a subsidiary of Acciaierie Valbruna S.p.A.

Established in 1957 and headquartered in Albano Sant’Alessandro (Bergamo, Lombardy), BFE S.p.A. specializes in the design, development and manufacture of a comprehensive range of industrial valves for applications in the oil and gas, chemical, petrochemical and power industries. BFE’s product portfolio encompasses forged steel valves, API 6A valves, ball valves, cast steel valves, and pressure seal valves. Since 1987, BFE has held an exclusive license agreement to use the Bonney Forge trademark in markets outside of North America, and Bonney Forge has been the exclusive sales and marketing agent for BFE products in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.

John Leone, chairman and CEO of Bonney Forge Corporation, commented, “The completion of this acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for Bonney Forge. This is an ideal strategic alliance between two experienced management teams with a long history of successfully partnering. BFE’s highly engineered products, key position as a premiere supplier in the international oil and gas industry, and exciting growth potential make it a compelling fit for our organization. We are confident our customers will benefit from the addition of BFE’s product offering and international manufacturing and distribution capabilities.”

BFE was acquired in a cash transaction. Other terms of the acquisition are not disclosed. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to Bonney Forge. Lazard & Co. and UniCredit S.p.A acted as financial advisors to the Seller.

PERRYSVILLE, Ohio – Mansfield Plumbing Products is proud to be expanding its U.S. plant. The company announced it rewarded hundreds of distributors and customers with cash and prizes for selling its American-made products.

Through its “American Classic” and “American Muscle” promotions, Mansfield awarded hundreds of gifts that ranged from American flags and poles installed at winners’ businesses to $1,000 debit cards.

“We’re proud our ‘American Classic’ and ‘American Muscle’ promotions have been so well received, and that our customers support American industry and keeping jobs here in the U.S.,” said Charles Scott, vice president of marketing for Mansfield Plumbing. “The promotions are great ways for us to not only spread word about how well our toilets flush, but also that we employ hundreds of hard-working Americans at our Ohio and Texas manufacturing plants, and are continuing to invest in growing our U.S. production.”