PHCC California Apprentice Winners
Justin Randall, representing the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors of the Greater Los Angeles Area, walked away with the top prize at the PHCC California apprenticeship competition held concurrently with the PHCC GLAA Trade Show in Long Beach Jun. 7. Placing second was John Evans, representing the PHCC of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The third podium finisher was Morgan Newell, representing the PHCC of Sacramento.

APHCC Texas Awards Scholarships
The Associated Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors of Texas Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a total of $22,000 in 2008 scholarships to the following students from various institutions throughout Texas: Rachel Chapman; Ryan Crawford; Nathan Dawson; Richard Delavan IV; Amanda Dowdy; Matthew Drews; Samantha Fortune; Lauren Johnson; Cody Jungman, Kyle Kamerbeek; Taylor Kay; Robert Liebel; Erick Maldonado; Carrie Martin; April Parker; Eryn Reznicek; Christina Schulle; Miranda Shorter; Lacey Stanford; Sarah Strutton; Kelsie Sweeten; and Mario Vazquez. These scholarships were awarded on the basis of academic ability, school participation and community involvement. Members of APHCC-Texas sponsor students. The APHCC-Texas Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a total of $108,000 in scholarships during the past five years.

Moen Now a WaterSense Partner
Moen Inc., a manufacturer of kitchen and bath faucets and other hardware based in North Olmstead, Ohio, has teamed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program. WaterSense aims to reduce water use, encouraging consumers to look for WaterSense-labeled products, which have been independently certified for efficiency and performance, and promotes water-saving techniques that reduce stress on water systems and the environment. “Moen is proud to be a WaterSense partner,” said Kathy Flinn, Moen director of advertising and brand. “We look forward to manufacturing and promoting our WaterSense-labeled products to help consumers save water and their wallets.”

InSinkErator President to Chair AHAM
Jerry Ryder, president of InSinkErator in Racine, Wis., has been elected board chair of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. AHAM is a not-for-profit trade association representing manufacturers of major home appliances, portable home appliances, floor care appliances and suppliers to the industry. Ryder previously held the position of first vice chair for the association.

Chicago Faucets Offers Savings Bonds
Chicago Faucets Co., of Des Plaines, Ill., has resurrected a promotion that offers licensed plumbing contractors $500 U.S. Savings Bonds when they purchase and install $5,000 worth of Chicago Faucet products in a school project. The promotion applies to minimum orders of $5,000 that are placed and installed between May 1, 2008 and Sept. 30, 2008. The promotion is only open to plumbing contractors or plumbing contractor companies and is restricted to installations in educational facilities that are for $5,000 or more. There is no limit to the number of savings bonds a contractor can obtain as long as the orders are placed and the products installed between May 30, 2008 and Sept. 30, 2008. Entry forms and rules for qualification are available at participating wholesalers, from Chicago Faucets sales reps or by visiting www.contractorsforecucation.com.

Apollo Joins USGBC
Apollo Valves of Matthews, N.C., has announced its formal membership—through its parent company Conbraco Industries, Inc.—in the United States Green Building Council. The USGBC is a non-profit agency that serves as a clearinghouse and voice for more than 13,500 organizations including the building trades and suppliers from across the nation that support “greener” and more environmentally sustainable development of residential and commercial buildings. The Green Building Council sponsors workshops, networking, certification and other programs.

Wilo, Zurn Join Green Mechanical Council
Wilo USA LLC, a manufacturer of pumps and pump systems for heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, water supply and sewage, said Jun. 10 it has joined up with the Green Mechanical Council as a manufacturer member. And Zurn, a manufacturer of drainage, water control, water conservation and commercial plumbing products, has joined the council as a founding member. The Green Mechanical Council, based in Neenah, Wis., aims to educate contractors, field technicians, and industry leaders about creating and maintaining environmentally sound residential and commercial mechanical systems.

Bradford White Announces New Rep
Bradford White recently announced the addition of Dellon Sales Company, located in Albertson, N.Y., as its new Northeastern region representative. Dellon will rep Bradford White products in  New York City, Long Island and West Chester County, NY.

Everpure Garners Design Industry Awards
Everpure, LLC, a Pentair company and the leader in commercial grade water filtration for residential use, has been awarded Gold and Silver ADEX (Awards for Design Excellence) product design awards for its Exubera Sparkling & Chilled Water Dispenser and its Helia Hot & Chilled Eater Dispenser, respectively. The company said this is the fifth industry award for the Exubera and the second for the Helia.

TOLCO Bracing Gets Approval
TOLCO, based in Corona, Calif., said recently that its seismic bracing products have recently passed through a rigorous and unprecedented test standard created by FM Global Engineering. This makes TOLCO the first manufacturer of seismic bracing products to attain this approval: “The FM test procedure was a dynamic test and the first one of its kind in our industry," said TOLCO marketing director Greg Shaughnessy. The following TOLCO products are now FM Approved per Approval Standard 1950:  Figure 980 Swivel Attachment (to structure); Figures 800 and 825 Attachment (to structure); Figure 4L Attachment to Pipe (longitudinal); Figures 1000 and 1001 Attachment to Pipe (lateral FM Approved-add one). TOLCO has updated its product data sheets to include the FM Approved design loads and the FM Approved logo, which can be downloaded at www.tolco.com.

Utility Picks Big Apple Reps
Utility Enterprises of Westbury, N.Y., a supplier of chemicals to the plumbing, HVAC and janitorial/sanitation industries,  announced the appointment of the Martin L. Kornstein Agency as its sales representatives for the New York metro area market.

Waterless Company Updates Web Site
Waterless Co., LLC, of Vista, Calif., Jun. 12 said it has updated its Web site’s listing of the company’s distributors and representatives in the United States as well as countries around the world. The update is necessary, according to Klaus Reichardt, managing partner and founder of Waterless Co., because several new distributor/representatives have recently been added: “We now have representation in pretty much every state in the U.S.,” Reichardt said. “And we have expanded our worldwide representation to such countries as Guatemala, Malaysia, India, New Zealand, Jamaica, and others.”

Prices Jump
Taco, Inc. of Cranston, R.I., said Jun. 1 it would increase prices on its residential product line. Prices have increased by an average of 6.5 percent for Taco circulators, controls and electronic components. Continuing double-digit price increases for raw materials plus unprecedented fuel surcharges are behind the need to increase prices.

Thermasol Honors Distributor
Bill Meyer, president of the Aurora, IL based Wm. F. Meyer Co., received ThermaSol’s first ever Exclusive Distributor Award from national sales manager Jim Van Landingham at a recent customer appreciation show.  With eight locations and three showrooms in the Midwest, the Wm. F. Meyer Co. has worked with ThermaSol for more than a decade, diligently striving to increase sales in its territory.