Industry News

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Sale of HD Supply complete

 

Supply completed of the sale of the company to a group of three private equity firms comprising Bain Capital, The Carlyle Group, and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. HD Supply, a leading diversified wholesale distributor of construction and maintenance-related products in North America, with annual sales of more than $13 billion, was acquired from The Home Depot for $8.5 billion.

 

The acquisition includes a portfolio of 11 businesses and HD Supply Canada. The company will retain the HD Supply name.

 

“We are thrilled to be associated with this group of distinguished private equity firms, and we are excited about the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead for our associates, our customers and our new owners,” said Joe DeAngelo, chief executive officer of HD Supply. “As an independent company, we can now accelerate our momentum in serving the comprehensive needs of our professional customers with the best products and customer service in the industry.” For more information, www.hdsupply.com.

 

EPA gets WaterSense program rolling

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first products to receive the prestigious WaterSense label for efficiency and performance. In January 2007, WaterSense released its final product specification for high-efficiency toilets (HETs). To qualify for the WaterSense label, toilets must be independently tested and certified by an EPA-licensed laboratory to use 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf) or less and flush 350 grams of media.

 

Since April, 44 HETs from six manufacturers have earned the label, with more to come throughout the year. Plumbers, contractors, and consumers will be able to look for the label on showroom floors and retail shelves in the coming months, and can order WaterSense labeled HETs online (from plumbing distributors) right now. A full list of WaterSense labeled HETs can be found at http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pp/find_het.htm.

 

WaterSense labeled HETs can help plumbers and other contractors promote customer savings. A family of four that replaces its pre-1994 toilets with WaterSense labeled models can reduce annual water use by at least 16,000 gallons and save more than $95 each year. If every home in the United States upgraded to water-efficient fixtures, as a country, we could save more than 3 trillion gallons of water and more than $18 billion annually.

 

WaterSense is in the process of finalizing its next plumbing product specification for high-efficiency bathroom sink faucets and faucet aerators that flow at 1.5 gallons per minute or less. The specification should be final in October, and WaterSense labeled faucets will be available in early 2008.
WaterSense — an EPA partnership program — is seeking to enhance the market for water-efficient products and services. To build a national brand for water efficiency, EPA created the WaterSense label to help consumers identify products that meet the program’s water-efficiency and performance criteria. By choosing products with the WaterSense label, consumers will know they are getting products that are both water efficient and high performing.

 

Hydronics marketing campaign to yield 15% Canadian market share

 

The Canadian Hydronics Council (CHC) is poised to expand the hydronics market in Canada to 15% market share over five years -- resulting in over $100 million in new business. This gain is a direct result of a new marketing campaign the Council has been working on for the last 18 months.

 

In 2005, CHC was tasked with finding a solution to an age-old problem that has plagued the industry: flat-lined market share of approximately 5% of the heating sector. Since then, CHC has been working with a marketing firm to explore potential solutions. In June, at the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating’s Annual Business Conference, CHC offered the results of their work. The response was so positive that a National Marketing Forum was held on August 29th to highlight the campaign and discuss potential support by the industry.

 

“By all accounts, the support for change in our industry has been outstanding,” stated CHC Marketing Committee Chair, John Goshulak, Weil-McLain. “They (the industry) seem very pleased with the solution we have presented and its intended results with respect to market growth,” Goshulak shared.

 

“The timing couldn’t be better,” explains CHC’s manager, Jason Bourque. He elaborated, “Our research found that, despite growing revenue in hydronics, the market share of single-detached homes in Canada has been steadily declining since 2003. This came as a surprise to many of us!”

 

The campaign, designed to target the public, is exactly what other industry associations, including the Milk, Boating and RV industries have done to reverse a trend of declining market share.

 

The CHC Marketing Committee is working closely with industry to create the appropriate funding mechanism to ensure the success of the program. CHC hopes to have a funding model established by the end of October so that the ad campaign can be developed and rolled out in 2008. For more info, www.ciph.com.

 

Halsey Taylor celebrates 95 years of safe drinking water

 

Halsey Taylor, a manufacturer of water coolers and drinking fountains, is proudly celebrating its 95th anniversary this year. Since 1912, Halsey Taylor has been committed to providing safe drinking water by manufacturing high quality drinking fountains and water coolers.

 

“For nearly a century, Halsey Taylor has demonstrated a commitment to research and development, high quality products and, above all, providing safe drinking water,” said Johnnie Bertella, director of sales for HaIsey Taylor. “As a leader in the industry, Halsey Taylor will continue to develop innovative new water coolers and drinking fountains to meet our customers’ needs.”

 

For more information, www.halseytaylor.com.

New Products

	Water filtration system www.cuno.com The new 3M Whole House Sanitary Quick Change (SQC) filtration system is the industry’s first water filtration solution that truly addresses water quality and convenience in a single unit. It’s a high-performing multi-tasking filter that helps reduce sediment, dirt and rust, as well as chlorine taste and odor. Easy to install, maintain and change out, it also has incredible staying power, with each patented quick-change cartridge designed for 100,000 gallons or a full year of daily use. 3M.
	Hybrid water heater www.eternalwaterwater.com The Eternal Hybrid water heater features an advanced Turbo Heat Exchanger, which incorporates a storage reservoir to supply endless hot water from the best of both tank and tankless technologies. As an on-demand system, the Eternal produces an endless hot water supply similar to tankless units. Plus the Eternal offers a small water reservoir like a traditional tank system but with 86% thermal efficiency, better reliability and no worries of cold water shock. The Eternal will generate a first hour output rate of more than 300 gallons and is recirculation friendly. Eternal Water Heaters.
	Accessible drinking fountains www.hawscorp.com Model 1117L multi-height drinking fountain offers outstanding accessibility to users, with simple installation and maintenance. It features a patent-pending low profile bowl design, with proprietary “outside-the-wall” trap feature. Constructed of 14-gauge type 304 stainless steel with a satin finish, it is also available in a single fountain configuration (Model 1107L) that includes all of the same design and construction advantages. Haws.

Extensive product line catalog www.matco-norca.com Comprising over 15,000 individual products for the plumbing, PVF and soil irrigation markets, catalog info contains: pipe fittings, pipe nipples and couplings; brass/bronze PVC valves; cast iron valves; specialty items (sink traps, circulator flange kits, dielectric nipples, drains and strainers, etc.); faucets; plumbing specialties (supply hoses, dishwater and washing machine products, sink strainers and drains, etc.); and no hub cast iron soil pipe products. Matco-Norca.

Movers & Shakers

PMI announces committee technical director, chairs The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (PMI) announced that Shawn Martin has joined the organization as Technical Director. In this position, Martin will handle a number of key PMI functions such as training in the area of codes and standards, interpreting technical data for staff and members and representing the organization at various industry meetings.   Congratulations to the following committee chairs recently elected by the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute Membership. The new three-year terms begin with the Fall 2007 meeting in Washington, D.C. New appointees include: Flushing Devices: Arturo Robles, Codes and Standards Coordinator, Fluidmaster; serving with John Watson, Sloan Valve Company; Supply Fittings: Mike Miller, Senior Project Engineer, Alsons (Term begins Spring 2008); serving with Larry Himmelblau of Chicago Faucets.   In addition the following chairs were appointed to new terms by PMI president Ken Martin: Government Affairs: Mark Bidinger, Director, Product Development, Elkay; serving with Lee Mercer, Moen; Fair Trade: Robert Easter, President, H2O Guard; serving with Gary Cole, T and S Brass.

Viessmann announces new general manager for U.S. operations   Viessmann Manufacturing appointed Richard Corcoran to general manager of Viessmann Manufacturing Company (U.S.) Inc. effective September 2007. Based at the Viessmann U.S. head office in Warwick, Rhode Island, Corcoran will be responsible for all aspects of Viessmann U.S. operations, including sales & distribution, marketing, customer service and internal operations.

IAPMO hires green technology expert   The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) announced the hiring of Pete DeMarco as its new director of Special Programs. After more than 32 years with American Standard, DeMarco will join IAPMO in November, bringing to the organization his expertise in green technologies. While at American Standard, he has held many positions in the engineering and marketing departments including technical services manager, manager of codes and standards and product manager for commercial fixtures.