Congratulations 2007 Reps Of The Year
Be sure to read the June issues and visit the Web sites of Supply House Times, Plumbing & Mechanical and PM Engineer to learn more about manufacturers reps honored this year:
Harry Warren LLC, Kernersville, NC - Supply House Times
Emerson-Swan, Randolph, MA – Plumbing & Mechanical
Bornquist Inc, Chicago – PM Engineer

Basco promoted Jason DeBruer , pictured right, to Eastern regional sales manager, where he will serve as a liaison between the company and its manufacturers reps in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Prior to this, DeBruer served as Basco’s training specialist, teaching all the classes at the Basco University training facility. He joined the company in 1998 as a customer service specialist, and then served as a technical specialist from 1999-2004.

The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute announced that Dave Viola, its technical director, has resigned from PMI and has accepted an offer of employment from IAPMO. The details of his departure and the transition of his responsibilities are still in the works, but it is likely he will leave PMI in July.

The Sump and Sewage Pump Manufacturers Association (SSPMA) recently elected the following officers and directors to a two-year term: president, Ryan Fickes (Pentair Water, Delavan, WI); vice president, Ted Foti (Franklin Electric Water Transfer Systems, Oklahoma City, OK); secretary-treasurer, Susan O’Grady (Pentair Water, Delavan, WI). Directors elected were Charlie Cook (Liberty Pumps, Bergen, NY) and Loran Knudsvig (SJE-Rhombus, Detroit Lakes, MN). Raymond Zoeller (Zoeller Co., Louisville, KY) continues on the board as past president.

ITT named John Williamson president of its Residential and Commercial Water (R&CW) value center. He succeeds Gretchen McClain, who has been promoted to president of ITT Fluid Technology Corp.

IAPMO Research and Testing named Shirley Dewi as its new management system registration manager. She will head the company’s Management System Registration Services department, overseeing the audit program and expanding the department’s available services.

The Geberit Group announced a North American partnership with Duravit. They will combine efforts to develop the concealed installation system and wall-hung toilet market in North America. The partnership will combine Geberit’s plumbing technology know-how with Duravit’s design excellence to more aggressively pursue the North American single and multi-unit residential and hospitality markets, according to William Christensen, president of Geberit North America, pictured here (l) being greeted by Scott Franz, publisher of Supply House Times (r), at K/BIS 2007. A joint training program and marketing program will be launched in the coming months, and three regional training centers — in Atlanta, Chicago and New York City — will be established to educate architects, designers, engineers, plumbers and showroom salespeople. Also, Geberit North American will establish a competence center in Chicago where North American specific solutions will be developed and tested.

Kohler Co. partnered with NextGen by providing plumbing fixtures and faucets in a completely finished home that was built on the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center at the 2007 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show. Among the products featured were Kohler’s Purist Hatbox® toilet (pictured right), the DTV™ custom showering system, WaterTile™ bodyspray, C³™ toilet seat with bidet functionality, the Archer™ whirlpool bath, Smart Divide™ kitchen sinks, Simplice™ pull-down kitchen faucet, Wellspring™ touchless™ kitchen faucet, San Raphael Power Lite® toilet and the Robern® mirrored cabinet with night light.

Delta Faucet Co. has announced its involvement in the MGM Project City Center in Las Vegas. Chosen by MGM Mirage and Gensler, a leading architecture, interior design, planning, and strategic consulting firm, Delta Faucet Co. will provide bath and shower fixtures for the 68-acre urban development. Product from both the Delta and Brizo brands will be included.
Full story >>

Symmons Industries showcased its Design Studio Live, a revolutionary design process that allows architects, designers and engineers to quickly and easily craft unique bathroom fittings for any project, at the 2007 Hospitality Design Expo & Conference this month. With Design Studio Live, designers can work off existing fittings or create their own unique concept, and with the help of Symmons engineers and advanced CAD systems, can finalize their design.

Event Coverage

The 2007 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference, hosted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association, a 44-year-old international not-for-profit organization, was held in three halls at the Las Vegas convention center May 7-10.

KBIS 2007 brought together more than 900 exhibitors and 40,000-plus national and international industry professionals.

The show included specialty showcase and learning areas focused on green design, kitchen and bath technology and outdoor living.

Following are a few highlights from the show (photos by Tim Fausch, corporate publishing director at BNP Media):

Pictured left, Paul DeBoo of Sloan Valve Co. explained some of the finer points of Flushmate technology to a prospective customer. The company offers a pressure-assist flushing system for pressure-assist toilets. Systems are available in ULF, 1.6 gpf and HET, 1.0 gpf. Toilets equipped with Flushmate are available in four continents worldwide. The latest enhancement is smoother and gentler actuation.

Attendees noticed a large contingent of Chinese exhibitors at this year’s show. Among them was Bally Sanitary Ware Co. Ltd. of Guangdong, China, which describes itself as a professional bath products factory engaged in foundry, glazing and enamel. Pictured right, Bally Sanitary Ware displayed a tub with clear panels and a remote control for the temperature/jets.

Franke Consumer Products (FCP), the U.S.- based business of the Kitchen Systems division of Franke, headquartered in Aarburg, Switzerland, markets Franke, FrankeUSA and Kindred brands of sinks, faucets, water filtration, waste management, accessories and kitchen ventilation products. Pictured left, a faucet display at the Franke booth drew visitors.

Vendor & Supplier News

Chicago Faucets recently introduced a 36-page catalog (right) that features its laboratory products, including fittings, turrets, flanges, valves and components for laboratory applications. It also provides information on Chicago Faucet’s line of safety products.

Tied in with its introduction of the Easy•Clean™ toilet seat, which can be lifted entirely off the toilet for cleaning, Bemis Manufacturing Co. is embarking on a national “search and rescue” mission to honor and pamper the “ultimate mom.” The company is offering a contest with a grand prize that includes the following twice a month for a year: maid service, a personal chef, massage therapist/spa treatment and babysitter allowance. In addition, it provides two full days’ time of handyman service over the course of one year.

Steamist has created a brochure that explains the attainability of personal steam baths to help homeowners create a space of tranquility they can enjoy on a daily basis. It offers installation tips, control options and explains the health benefits of steam bathing, which include an improved complexion, boosted immune system and increased circulation.

Brizo has collaborated with photographer Howard Schatz and fashion expert Jason Wu to create a dream-like environment for its new print ad campaign (right) set to launch this month. Three ads have been conceived by Young & Laramore, inspired by the brand’s theme of “Open Your Eyes And Dream”: “Dream. Bath.” “Dream. Shower.” and “Dream. Kitchen.” 

Schatz has captured the delicate movement of dancers with fluid effects; the dancers wear three new Jason Wu custom-designed dresses inspired by Brizo’s faucets. 

The first two ads will focus on Brizo’s RSVP bath suite, which draws on the influences of Art Nouveau and follows the curves of a woman’s silhouette for a sensual effect. The campaign also features the Venuto pull-down kitchen faucet. 

The first ad debuts in May and the two succeeding ads will appear later this summer.

Green Street

Homeowners can save $600 or more per year on utility bills by upgrading appliances, windows and insulation to EnergyStar®-rated products, according to the U.S. Dept. of Energy.

Also, homeowners can save up to $175 annually on their water bills by retrofitting their homes with water-efficient fixtures such as aerators for faucets, tankless water heaters and low-flow or dual-flush toilets, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program.

The federal government also offers a $500 tax credit for energy-efficient windows, doors, insulation, HVAC and other upgrades. The credit expires at the end of 2007.

Kohler Co. announced that eight of its toilets, including the KOHLER San Raphael® Power Lite® Toilet pictured,  have earned the EPA’s WaterSense label, which means these toilets use at least 20% less water than standard 1.6-gallon toilets while still meeting strict flushing performance guidelines. Visit www.kohler.com for a full list of the toilets with the label.

If it’s spring, that means water officials all over the country are begging us to cut back on water: don’t water our lawns, wash our cars, or take long showers. But here is what they don’t tell us: The same folks who want us to save water are responsible for water mains that leak 20-50% of clean, treated water before it ever reaches our faucets. Full story >>

The practices of commissioning new buildings and retrocommissioning existing facilities offer the potential to significantly reduce energy use and improve the building environment. Visit Environmental Design & Construction magazine for the full story by clicking here.

The 6,700-sq.-ft. Naples showroom is located at 3406 Domestic Ave. Lindsay Hayes is showroom manager.

The El Paso showroom at 820 Sunland Park Dr. is 11,000 sq. ft. Todd Hutzler is general manager.

All three new showrooms offer plumbing products, appliances and lighting.

In related news, Ferguson added a 5,000-sq.-ft. appliance gallery to its existing showroom at 2000 South Blvd. in Charlotte, NC. Sonia Gant is general manager. The showroom plans to offer monthly demonstrations in its working kitchen.

Carolyn Peters, national sales & marketing manager at Masco Design Solutions, offers the following suggestions to update the look of your showroom this spring:

  • Update with new colors from the 2007color palette

  • Integrate technology that has purpose

  • Develop a new product area that is ever-changing to highlight new 2007 products

  • Add accessory products such as pendant lighting, small appliances and decorative hardware to help sell major product lines

  • Retire old product from the showroom — remember that less is more

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and Nielsen Business Media announced the extension of their long-standing partnership, renewing their contract for another 20 years, beginning in 2009.

The contract-signing ceremony was held at the Industry Trends Marketplace at the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference (K/BIS) at the Las Vegas Convention Center on May 8. K/BIS is owned by the NKBA, produced by Nielsen Business Media and sponsored by K+BB magazine.

The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials held its annual Technical Committee meeting in St. Louis April 23-27 to review proposed changes for the 2009 Uniform Plumbing Code and 2009 Uniform Mechanical Code.

All official committee actions will be published in IAPMO’s Report on Proposals, which will be available in August. Participants at the Assembly Consideration Session can advocate their positions either for or against the actions taken by the Technical Committees in the Report on Proposals. That session will be held Sept. 25, 2007 during IAPMO’s Annual Education and Business Conference in Las Vegas.

In related news, representatives from IAPMO and the American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a dialogue between the two organizations and demonstrate a willingness to work together in promoting their shared goals in the areas of safe drinking water and public safety.