Kohler Co. is participating in a “Bathroom of the Future” display at Epcot Center in Disney World, Orlando, FL, in the INNOVENTIONS attraction.

On display is the DTV custom shower system from Kohler — a thermostatic valve and intuitive digital interface that combines multiple showerheads, hand showers and bodysprays, all controlled with a slight turn of a wheel and a touch of a button similar to the functionality of a MP3 player, plus six 22-nozzle WaterTile bodysprays and two WaterTile Rain overhead showerhead panels which incorporate four individual WaterTile sprays into the design. Kohler’s sleek and “tankless” Hatbox toilet (pictured) is also among the company’s plumbing fixtures and faucets featured in the futuristic bathroom.

Read more about it in the “This ’n That” section below.

Michael M. Adelizzi

The American Supply Association and the ASA Education Foundation have appointed Michael M. Adelizzi to the position of ASA’s executive vice president. In addition to his long tenure with the Mason Contractors Association, Adelizzi has worked with the Illinois Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors, and served as District Representative for the office of U.S. Rep. Philip Crane. He is also very active in his local community, current serving as the Schaumburg (Illinois) Township Republican chairman.

Dave Viola

The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) has hired Dave Viola as director of Special Services. Prior to joining IAPMO, Viola served as technical director for the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (PMI), where he oversaw all plumbing code, plumbing product standard, product certification, and technical training activities.

IAPMO also hired Pete DeMarco as its new director of Special Programs. After more than 32 years with American Standard, DeMarco will join IAPMO, 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.

Two of Moen Inc.’s executives have been promoted to new positions within the company. Mike Bauer has been named vice president and general manager of Moen’s retail business unit, and Todd Teter has been appointed as vice president and general manager of Moen’s wholesale business unit.

Scott Boise

Basco Shower Enclosures hired Scott Boise as its builder sales representative. Based at Basco’s full service center in Jessup, MD, Boise will work with the new construction market in the Maryland, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia areas, providing them with shower enclosures, mirrors and closet systems. Formerly, Boise was a territory manager for Baltimore Window Factory.

DECOLAV hired Jack Bell as its first director of Procurement and Specification. Since 2005, Bell was the director of Quality Assurance for Baha Mar Resorts, Ltd., which operates three hotels and is building a mega resort in Nassau, Bahamas. Prior to that, he worked in various operations capacities for Higgins Purchasing Group, Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, Bell Associates and the Bel Air Hotel Management Co.

Ron Modugno

LASCO Fittings hired Ron Modugno as its Western regional sales

Supply House Times and its sister magazines have unveiled a website for the plumbing and heating industry filled with news, events, products and resources. The new gateway is called MyPlumbingPortal.com, and we urge you to bookmark the site. It will feature daily updates, such as industry news, economic and market flux information, links to useful tools and products, training events — a one-stop online portal for your industry! And more features will be added in the coming weeks. Don't miss out on this new access to knowledge.

Vendor News

DECOLAV has expanded its operations with a new West Coast distribution center in Southern California. The 133,000-square-foot distribution center is located in Carson, 13 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. (DECOLAV also has a 170,000-square-foot East Coast warehouse in Greensboro, NC.) The company will initially distribute two vitreous china undermount sinks in white and biscuit from the “Classic” collection: the oval 1401 (pictured here in biscuit) and the rectangular 1402.

JACLO has appointed Imperial Decorative Hardware as its exclusive Canadian Distributor. Imperial Decorative Hardware has a 10,000-sq.-ft. distribution center in St. Laurent, Quebec. It carries product from luxury manufacturers such as Villeroy & Boch, Jado, Fusion and Classic Brass. The distributor also serves an independent dealer network in major cities across Canada.

With over 130 dealers and distributors from Radio Distributing, Roth Distributing and Westye Group Midwest attending, Best by Broan held its final All Stars training camp from July 29-Aug. 2 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Chicago O’Hare Airport. The training camp allowed North Central dealer and distributor salespeople to learn about Best by Broan products, features and applications as well as the importance of proper ventilation, according to Fred Rogers, director of sales. Earlier this summer, training camps were held in Seattle, San Francisco, Dallas, Atlanta and New Jersey.

GE has launched a new line of appliances, the GE Café Series (pictured), with a restaurant–inspired appearance and features for people who love to cook and entertain. The Café series includes a gas and dual-fuel range, dishwasher, refrigerator, over-the-range microwave and vent hood. The new series offers a suite of appliances for those who not only love the look of stainless steel wrapped technology, but who actually love to cook and entertain family and friends. The fact that each appliance is free-standing in configuration also makes them an easy upgrade.

St. Thomas Creations has published a 128-page, full-line catalog and specification guide (pictured) for its 35 water closets, 19 bathroom suites and collection of bathroom accessories. Details are also provided on the company’s Quattro Flushing Technology.

A recent collaborative study conducted by MJSI, Inc. and a major hotel chain found that installation of the HydroClean toilet fill valve in high-efficiency 1.6-gallon toilets saved between 16 and 78 ounces of water per flush per toilet, with 73% of the low-flush toilets saving 32 ounces of water or more per flush. Specifically designed to detect leaks, the newly installed HydroClean toilet fill valve detected leaks in 20% of the toilets, mostly due to faulty flappers. In addition, because the HydroClean is engineered to shut off the water flow at a slower rate, the hotel study showed that water hammer was completely eliminated in 64% of the toilets and significantly reduced in the remaining 36%.

Green Street

Shelton Group, an advertising and marketing agency serving the energy and energy efficiency industries, plans to release its third annual “Energy Pulse” national consumer study this fall. “Energy Pulse 2007: Where America Stands on Electric Utilities, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Conservation” evaluates attitudes, opinions and purchasing habits related to energy use and conservation in general, as well as energy-efficient products and services in multiple categories, such as electric utilities, green building and residential construction, transportation and home appliances. The survey methodology provides a representative sampling of U.S. consumers and a confidence level of ±4.9%.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first products to receive the 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, including American Standard, Caroma, Kohler, Niagara, Sterling, TOTO, and Vitra. A full list of WaterSense-labeled HETs can be found here.

Erin Adams, a tile designer and founder of Erin Adams Design, Inc. , has introduced Luna (pictured), her new environmentally conscious glass and aluminum tile collection developed in collaboration with Mexico-based Allumillenium Tile. The creation of the tiles utilizes technologies that limit waste. All aluminum used in Luna is recycled, and the oil used to heat up the metals during production is recycled car oil. The aluminum tiles come in three finishes: brushed, sand blasted and vibrated. The brass tile is available in four finishes: sand brushed, green, verdigris and brown.

VitrA announced it has introduced a 0.25 gallon per flush (gpf) High Efficiency Urinal (pictured), the sixth water-conserving bathroom product to be added to the company’s EverGreen line.

Sustainable Facility , a new publication from the editors and publishers of Environmental Design + Construction (ED+C) and Sustainable Home magazines, will debut in October to more than 30,000 BPA-audited facility and energy management subscribers. The magazine will publish twice in 2007 with editorial content written for professionals overseeing commercial, institutional, industrial and government facilities. Editorial content will include all phases of commercial resource conservation unique to the “green” facility community, including alternative energy, building automation efficiency, sustainable design/build techniques for interiors and envelopes, and water conservation techniques, among others.

Ann Sacks , a division of the Kohler Co. Interiors Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kohler Co., is also involved in the House of Innoventions bathroom attraction at Epcot Center in Disney World. Its Cappadocia porcelain floor tile and Erin Adams Triple Basketweave glass mosaic tile for the walls provide the finishing touches to the bathroom. The Cappadocia floor tile is inspired by the warm, natural limestone of the Anatolian region near ancient Constantinople and the fabled city of Troy. The Erin Adams Triple Basketweave wall tile (pictured) creates a warm artistic aesthetic that employs luminescent colors to glass mosaics. Ann Sacks offers tile, stone, plumbing, lighting and accessories.

“Visitors to this exhibit will be able to experience how technology has been seamlessly integrated into ordinary bathroom products such as the shower and toilet without compromising excellent design,” David Kohler, executive vice president of Kohler Co., said in a statement.

The display of Kohler and Ann Sacks products will be on exhibit in the INNOVENTIONS East pavilion, which is one of two buildings that house the 100,000-sq.-ft.-plus interactive playground at Epcot. Visitors see how new breakthroughs in science and technology can simplify and enhance their lives today and in the future.

Paint manufacturer Benjamin Moore is conducting a search among North American architects and interior designers for those who have brought color to their work in the most respectful, novel and celebratory ways, and will honor the best of the best with its HUE awards. The company, which has presented 13 awards and $65,000 in prize money since HUE awards were first established two years ago, has put out a Call for Entries that is downloadable on its website, www.benjaminmoore.com, with the form also available in the summer issue of Ensemble, the magazine it publishes exclusively for design professionals. There is no fee required for entering and submissions are due by Friday, Oct. 26, 2007.

Black and White: Bathrooms have evolved into a mood-setting environment — a place to unwind after a long and tiring day. So it comes as no surprise that design-oriented homeowners are choosing to play with a striking palette of color combinations in this space.  And for those individuals who love a little drama in their lives, black and white bathroom décor is a huge draw. While black radiates sophistication and elegance, white is all about supreme tranquility and conveying a sense of space. The colors can be combined to achieve varied results, striking, elegant, lively or pulsating. There’s just no dearth of novel black and white bathroom decorating ideas, including those pictured here from Sonia (Nouveau Vanity with a retro anthracite countertop) and Stone Forest (Papillon Bathtub in black granite, black and white).

Knobs and Pulls: A new piece of hardware, such as designer knobs and drawer pulls from Top Drawer Hardware , can be a simple way to incorporate personal taste, style and ideas into a kitchen, for a fraction of what it would cost to renovate. To add a touch of tradition to the kitchen, Top Drawer offers oil-rubbed bronze hardware, or for a sleeker appearance, stainless steel and brushed nickel pieces are available. For a more casual look, the company offers colored glass knobs and pulls.

Tomlinson Industries ’ Pro-Flo product line now offers a chrome-plated, lead-free brass bubbler that features a flexible guard molded with AgION antimicrobial technology, a silver-based compound that is activated upon contact with moisture and inhibits and reduces microbial growth. These AgION-enhanced flexible guards are designed to provide safe, effective, long-lasting protection from bacteria growth and cross-contamination. AgION technology is safe and approved by the EPA, FDA and NSF for food and water contact.

Expanding its Tuscany Collection of wine bottle pendants, Meyda Lighting has introduced new sizes and profiles. Meyda Lighting is a division of Meyda Tiffany, a manufacturer and designer of Tiffany lamps and stained glass lighting and accessories. The company has added 4-inch wine bottle pendants in white (71220), blue (71193), and green (71191), featuring a wider profile than the three-inch-wide styles. All wine bottle pendants include a canopy and 72-inch wire, allowing the user to extend its overall height from 16 to 84 inches off the ceiling. The wine bottle pendants feature glass wine bottles designed as pendant shades, with T6 40-watt lamping.

Aquatic has introduced a new style for its Century, LuxeAir, Luxury, Serenity Air Bath, and HotSoak Series. “Motif” is a transitional design featuring clean lines, plus a comfortable curve for neck support. Motif is a jump from classic-styled tubs, but does not step into the ultra-modern look. Five to seven new tubs will be introduced across five of Aquatic’s product lines by 2008. The new tubs will vary in size for one and two bathers. Pictured here is the Riviera Motif tub.

W.A.C. Lighting , a designer and manufacturer of track, recessed, undercabinet, decorative and monorail lighting, has introduced a premier low-voltage framing projector track fixture. The fixture provides a “self-illuminating effect” for paintings, drawings, photographs and wall art. The luminaire creates a square or rectangular area of light, with minimal light spill, to frame or highlight four-sided flat objects on display. Like a camera lens, the projector can be adjusted to match the width and length of the object. Offered in black and white finishes, the framing projector is 13-3/8 inches long, has a diameter of 4-3/8 inches, and a maximum extension of 9 inches.

Willoughby Industries has introduced a bariatric toilet specifically designed for use in the bariatric units of a hospital environment. Bariatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity. The toilet will withstand loadings up to 2,000 pounds and is provided with a special hinged open front seat that is rated for 1,200-pound capacity. The unit is fabricated from heavy-gauge stainless steel and is then coated with a gloss white powder coat enamel finish.

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