Plumbers Warehouse Expands
The Plumbers Warehouse recently announced it would soon expand into a new full-service facility in Corona, Calif. The newest addition to the Plumbers Warehouse roster of locations is slated to open this month. The 25,000 square foot Corona facility will boast a 5,000 square foot showroom that will be anchored by a Kohler Premier space and a fully functional GE Monogram kitchen. The company said this new branch will offer expanded product availability with lines like Kohler, Moen, Delta, Price Pfister, Grohe, GE, Thermadore, Bosch, and Bradford White to name a few. Matt McGuire, business development manager, will manage the new facility.

PMI Names ‘Legislator of the Year’
The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute Apr. 15 named Ronald S. Calderon (D-Montebello), a member of the California State Senate, its 2007 Legislator of the Year, “in recognition of exemplary leadership on plumbing manufacturing issues.” Sen. Calderon recently introduced legislation calling for third-party certification that all affected plumbing products meet California’s new “lead-free” formulation, thus assuring a level playing field for manufacturers when the legislation takes effect in two years. Not an annual event, the PMI “Legislator of the Year” award is presented only on those occasions when an elected official--local, state or federal--has made an extraordinary effort that is beneficial to the plumbing industry.

Uponor Factory Training Schedule Available
Uponor has released its Factory Training Program dates for the second half of 2008. The three-day sessions, held at the company’s Apple Valley, Minn., facility, are currently available for reservations for the months of July through December:

July 17-19: Radiant Design, Application and Operation
Aug. 6-8: Radiant Design, Application and Operation
Aug. 21-23: Radiant Controls and Electronics
Sept. 25-27: Radiant Design, Application and Operation
Oct. 1-3: Radiant Design, Application and Operation
Oct. 27-29: Radiant Computer Design and Mechanical Piping (USDS)
Nov. 3-5: Radiant Controls and Electronics
Nov. 13-15: Radiant Design, Application and Operation
Dec. 1-3: Radiant Design, Application and Operation

For more information or to register for upcoming factory classes, go to www.uponor-usa.com, click on “For Professionals” and select “Training Center.” For further assistance, contact Jodi Staub, training and technical product coordinator, at (800) 321-4739, ext. 5333.

PMI Debuts Micro Site
The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute recently launched a new micro site—www.SafePlumbing.org—with the goal of updating ideas about plumbing fixtures and fittings. SafePlumbing.org is designed for lawmakers, journalists, trade professionals and homeowners who seek straight talk about issues that tend to generate a lot of emotion. “We called it the safest place for information about plumbing on the Internet, because we want it to be a trusted resource for truthful information about clean drinking water, water conservation and efficiency, and home safety,” said PMI executive director Barbara Higgens.

Hansgrohe Web Site Launched
Hansgrohe, Inc. recently launched a new Web site expressly for the North American market aimed at both professional and consumer audiences. The new www.hansgrohe-usa.com is based on a standard Web site user interface that its parent company in Germany created for all Hansgrohe online sites worldwide. In addition to information on the company, its brands and product offerings, the menu bar of the new site incorporates a large “Projects” section, highlighting a wide array of high-profile building projects around the world that use Hansgrohe and Axor bath and kitchen products.

Steamist Announces Rep of the Year
Steamist, manufacturer of steam bath and sauna equipment, announced recently that the Joyce Agency, Inc., of Springfield, Va., is the new recipient of its Rep of the Year award.  The Joyce Agency, Inc. was selected from 26 Steamist sales representative agencies for Steamist as a result of its sales growth and overall market development in 2007. The Joyce Agency covers Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, and increased its sales of Steamist products by nearly 40 percent during 2007. 
         
LA-CO Launches Web Site
LA-CO Industries, Inc., has rolled out its new Web site at www.laco.com. Designed for easy navigation, the newly revamped site is a reference tool for plumbing professionals, specifically showcasing the company’s plumbing and chemical products in a clear and concise manner. Visitors can browse product offerings, complete with thorough product details and photos of sealants, fluxes, and specialty chemical products.

‘Hall of Leaders’ Introduced
 The Service Roundtable has created a “Hall of Leaders” to recognize and profile the notable leaders from the plumbing and air conditioning industry who have been recognized as “Servant Leaders” by the best practices group for contractors. The Hall of Leaders is accessible from the Service Web site, www.serviceroundtable.com, under the “Servant Leaders” tab. The “Servant Leader” Awards recognize outstanding individuals who lead through service to their industry and the people in their industry. 

Delta, Brizo Win ADEX Awards
Delta’s Allora pull-down kitchen faucet has received a Silver ADEX Award, while Brizo’s RSVP Bath Collection and Pot-Filler Faucets garnered Platinum ADEX Awards in the 2008 Award for Design Excellence competition. The Design Journal, a trade publication for interior designers, hosts the contest annually.

Clear Seas Attains CASRO Membership
Clear Seas Research, a division of Reeves Journal parent company BNP Media of Troy, Mich., said it has been accepted as a member of the Council of American Survey Research Organizations, a membership organization in the market research industry. “CASRO sets the standard for research excellence. The CASRO designation further solidifies Clear Seas as a firm dedicated to providing superior research results. This designation also serves as an assurance to our clients that our research practices are conducted with integrity and that we abide by the highest of ethical standards,“ said Sarah Corp, executive director. “We are honored to be a part of this exciting family of premiere research organizations.“

Plumbing Museum Relocates
The Plumbing Museum, previously based in Worcester, Mass., is being moved to a renovated icehouse at the company headquarters of J.C. Cannistraro, LLC, in Watertown, Mass., one of the largest mechanical union contractors in New England. The museum will have displays outlining history of industry, with examples of tools, materials and fixtures from various periods. The plumbing museum was founded in the 1970s and a board of trustees will include Michael Kohler of the Kohler family; PHCC of Greater Boston executive director Hugh Kelleher; and reps from the vocational education community.

Sloan Ad Wins Award
Sloan Valve Company said it has received a 2008 Excellence in Advertising “Best in Class” Award from Architectural Record magazine for its full-page advertisement introducing the Sloan ECOS electronic dual-flush flushometer.

A.O. Smith Earns Silver EID
A. O. Smith Water Products Company said in early May its Cyclone Xi 500,000 BTU commercial water heater has received the Silver level award in the Commercial Appliances Division in Appliance DESIGN magazine’s 21st Annual Excellence in Design Competition. Judges noted that companies behind the honored entries demonstrated they are serious about industrial design. Another common element found among recognized products was the ability to make technology more accessible to the user. Photos and descriptions of winners will appear in the June 2008 issue of Appliance DESIGN magazine, and in the print, digital and online versions at www.appliancedesign.com. Appliance DESIGN is a publication of Reeves Journal parent company BNP Media of Troy, Mich.

Watts Invests $25 Million
Watts Industries Inc. May 10 announced its acquisition of Sacramento-based Hunter Innovations Inc. for $25 million. Watts paid $10 million for Hunter Innovations at the closing of the deal and will pay the balance over the next four years, according to a company statement. Watts, which designs, manufactures and sells valves to prevent backflow and to regulate and control water flow, has annual sales of $575 million. Hunter, which is transforming itself from a technology development company to a manufacturing company, reported sales of $1.5 million during the past year. Hunter has developed a patented diaphragm seal technology currently licensed by Watts for its backflow prevention product line.

Viega Honors ‘Top Guns’
Viega took advantage of its annual company awards ceremony at its company headquarters in Wichita to present “Top Gun” awards to its best sales people. David Walter, Texas regional manager, who received the highest award, Viega National Top Gun--2007, led off this year’s winners. Other Top Guns included: Al Ackel--Midwest Region; Ted Atkinson--Western Region; Curtis Dady--Southern Region; Dennis Harvey--Upper Midwest Region; Paul Jappe--Northeast Region; Sid Medina,--Latin America; Jorge Megias--Southern Region; Scott Ohman--Pacific Northwest Region; Kevin Sawyer—Ontario, Canada; and Dave Sutton—Mid-Atlantic Region.