Rob Saltiel 

The Granite Group announces branch opening

Concord, New Hampshire-based distributor The Granite Group announced the opening of its relocated Portland, Maine branch at 331 Warren Ave. The new branch sits a few miles away from the original St. John Street location.

 “After more than 30 years on St. John St., we felt it was time to move to a new, more efficient facility conveniently located close to the highway,” said Chris Ploss, The Granite Group’s COO. “Together with our south Portland branch on Rumery Street, trade customers in the greater Portland area can now get everything they need from two branches to keep their day moving, including a veteran group of industry experts, a robust product selection and the world-class service you’d expect from The Granite Group.”

The company’s Ultimate Bath Store, serving retail showroom customers, will remain at its current location on St. John Street until early June when it too moves to a new space on Warren Ave.

Rob Saltiel 

F.W. WEBB OPENS TWO NEW LOCATIONS

In May, F.W. Webb company opened a counter store in Colonie, New York, and a new Frank Webb Home retail showroom in Salem, Massachusetts.

The Colonie location has a small convenience-store feel that will complement the company’s larger wholesale store in Albany, New York, the distributor explained. It stocks plumbing, heating and HVAC/R supplies and is designed to be a quick-stop for contractors that need to grab an item fast and get right back on the road.

“Colonie is where people live and where a lot of the businesses are,” F.W. Webb Albany General Manager Mike Bifano said. “Our customers have been telling us they wish we were in this area. We are glad to now have a convenient one-stop shop to support their needs.”

The new Frank Webb Home bath, kitchen and lighting showroom in Salem is nearly 5,000 square feet and features top brands within lifestyle settings. It also offers kitchen faucet and showerhead working displays, and lighting displays with the latest styles.

Earlier this year, F.W. Webb acquired Danbury Plumbing and HVAC Supply in Danbury, Connecticut, opened a new counter store in Norwich, Connecticut, and the F.W. Webb Brockton, Massachusetts branch moved into a larger facility in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Rob Saltiel 

PDI ACQUIRES GEORGIA DISTRIBUTOR

Plumbing Distributors Inc. (PDI) announced the acquisition of West Georgia Plumbing Supply, a wholesale-distributor in Columbus, Georgia, effective May 10.

West Georgia Plumbing Supply provides wholesale plumbing solutions and services to the trade and public customers throughout Columbus, Georgia and the surrounding Chattahoochee Valley area.

Founded in 1983 by Shirley Wetherington, the company operates a single branch and warehouse facility. The acquisition of West Georgia Plumbing Supply supports PDI’s strategic growth initiatives, as well as increases service levels for existing customers in Columbus and the surrounding areas. 

Jim Wetherington, president of West Georgia Plumbing Supply, said: “The acquisition of our company by PDI is a game-changer for Columbus. We are very excited about what PDI is going to bring to our area.”

Coley Herrin, president & CEO of PDI, added: “We are excited to bring the West Georgia Plumbing Supply team into the PDI family. This move into Columbus will give us the ability to better serve our customers and expand into new markets.”

West Georgia Plumbing Supply will now operate as PDI.

Rob Saltiel 

WINSUPPLY NAMES VENDORS OF THE YEAR

Winsupply recently named its vendors of the year. The preferred vendors that won in each category were chosen by Winsupply local companies.

“This past year was un-precedented and full of unforeseen challenges,” said Amy Souders, Winsupply’s vice president of vendor relations. “Through it all, Winsupply local companies managed to be amazingly successful. We are so appreciative for our vendor partnerships and the support they’ve provided.”

Nominees were based on several criteria, the most important of which was being a leader in growing the segment’s business over the past year. They also were judged on selling to a breadth of locations that buy the vendor’s product, providing strong support at the local level, and consistent volume and growth.

This year’s winners include Viega (rough-in plumbing), Navien (finished plumbing), Advanced Drainage Systems (waterworks), Rain Bird (irrigation), Zoeller (pumps), Di-versitech (HVAC), Spears (industrial/fire) and Topaz Electric/Lighting (electric).

Rob Saltiel 

MESTEK ACQUIRES SLANT/FIN

Mestek, a manufacturer of specialty HVAC for industrial, commercial and residential spaces, announced the acquisition of the baseboard assets of Slant/Fin, a leading provider of hydronic baseboard radiation.

The transaction builds upon Mestek’s track record of investing in channel-specific companies that provide its customers with high-quality solutions to their HVAC needs while keeping in concert with their core manufacturing strengths, the company noted.

The acquisition of Slant/Fin baseboard assets brings together a major business component of two family-run companies that have always focused on consistently manufacturing and delivering superior quality, solutions-based hydronic heating equipment to residential and commercial customers across North America, Mestek pointed out.

“Slant/Fin baseboard is a proven product with a very loyal following of customer partners and falls seamlessly within our corporate philosophies,” said Tim Markel, president of Mestek’s distributor products group. “We are very excited for this opportunity to continue the hydronic baseboard legacy of two respected industry icons, and take great pride in both the past accomplishments of these organizations and look forward to continuing on with the Slant/Fin baseboard brand while upholding the history of this tremendous organization.”

Mestek, originally the Sterling Radiator Co., was founded in 1946 by John E. Reed, while the Slant/Fin Corp. was founded in 1949 by Mel Dubin.

In a small Bartlett St. garage in Westfield, Massachusetts, in February 1946, Reed began producing fin-tube radiation using 1-inch and 2-inch steel tubes with 32 fins per foot. Fin-tube radiation was first used before World War II to heat railroad cars and was adapted in the post-war era to heat commercial buildings using both steam and hot water. Today, Mestek is a family- run company of more than 46 specialty manufacturers serving many facets of the HVAC equipment and building envelope industries, including HVAC, metal forming, architectural building envelopes and intelligent equipment controls.

Some 165 miles to the south, down I-95 in a small bakery on Coney Island, Dubin began producing an alternative to the newly established North American commercial baseboard market through the utilization of a “slanted locked fin” design, ultimately becoming the Slant/Fin Corp.

“Mel Dubin built a great company based upon the simple premise of making quality products and serving our customers,” said Adam Dubin, CEO of the Slant/Fin Corp. “Along the way, many families, employees and customers contributed to the growth of the company. Slant/Fin baseboard carved out a place in the American dream heating millions of homes. I’m proud that the Slant/Fin brand will continue on as part of Mestek.”

Both organizations have continued to engineer their products and perfecting their crafts for decades while amicably competing against each other for more than 72 years, Mestek noted. Still today, both organizations continue to develop new products and grow with Slant/Fin concentrating on the hydronic heating segment, with not only its baseboard and hydronic heating business, the assets of which were sold in this acquisition, but also boilers covering both commercial and residential applications; and Mestek, concentrating in both the hydronic heating segments, as well as in other concentrated areas including gas-fired air-side heating equipment, metal forming and architectural, including louvers and dampers.

Sawaya Partners acted as financial advisor to Slant/Fin Corp. with respect to the asset transaction.

Rob Saltiel 

MILWAUKEE TOOL EXPANDS INTO DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE

Milwaukee Tool announced the expansion of its corporate operations into downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company’s current global headquarters in Brookfield, Wisconsin will remain the central location for the company’s corporate operations. This new expansion will provide increased space to accommodate the company’s rapid growth. Anticipated to open in October, this building will house 1,200 employees within the next three years, the company explained.

“Over the past 10 years, we’ve grown at an incredible rate, not just across the country and the world, but also at our global headquarters in Wisconsin, said Steve Richman, president, Milwaukee Tool. “By extending our corporate presence into downtown Milwaukee, we are poised for continued growth. As one of the largest em-ployers in southeastern Wisconsin, we’re thrilled to expand our presence in the city, as we continue to attract, retain and recruit from a diverse pool of local talent.” 

Milwaukee will invest more than $30 million to purchase and renovate a vacant 333,000-square-foot building in downtown Milwaukee. This building will act as an ex-tension of the company’s global headquarters in Brookfield. Milwaukee Tool’s initial plans include housing at least 1,210 employees at this location within the next three years; however, the company has the option to expand the office space by adding 150,000 square feet, for up to an additional 790 employees.

While U.S. manufacturing and distribution are an integral part of Milwaukee Tool’s global footprint, the disruptive innovation for the trades all starts at the global headquarters in southeastern Wisconsin, the tool manufacturer noted. 

Over the last decade, the company redeveloped 190,000 square feet of space in Brookfield to accommodate research and development, product development, prototyping, packaging design, marketing, sales, training facilities and administrative offices. 

In 2017, Milwaukee Tool completed construction and took occupancy of a new 200,000-square-foot, four-story office building on the same campus, and took occupancy of an additional 116,300-square-foot building in January 2020. With a recent announcement of a new campus in Menomonee Falls, a West Bend-based manufacturing plant, and this new expansion into downtown Milwaukee, the company is positioned to stay in the heart of Wisconsin long-term.

By the end of 2021, the company will have more than 3,100 employees located in Wisconsin.

Rob Saltiel 

WATTS OFFERS ONLINE LEGIONELLA COURSE 

“Mitigating the Risk of Legionella” is the new 8-module online course from Watts for facility managers, engineers and infection control professionals.

In this 2 1/2-hour course, industry experts explain points of legionella risk in a building’s premise plumbing system, best practices for testing and monitoring, current design trends and more. Hear from experts Janet Stout, MD, president, Special Pathogens Laboratory; Aaron Boch, P.E., senior plumbing engineer; and Christoph Lohr, vice president, strategic initiatives, IAPMO.

By completing all eight modules, engineers can receive 0.25 continuing education units (CEUs) through the American Society of Plumbing Engineers, and all participants who complete the modules will receive a certificate of completion for the course.

“Our goal is to help customers prevent illness, shutdowns and disruption by gaining a deeper understanding of legionella in building plumbing systems,” said Scott Al-ford, health care accounts manager at Watts. “This course is a ‘go-to’ resource not to miss.”

The eight-module course is available for $50 per person. Go to LegionellaCourses.com to watch a preview or to register.

Rob Saltiel 

BRADFORD WHITE PARTNERS WITH PLUMBERS WITHOUT BORDERS

Bradford White announced its partnership with Plumbers Without Borders, a grassroots non-profit organization working to increase global access to safe water and  sanitation.

“Plumbers Without Borders is a unique organization that demonstrates the generosity and goodwill of the hard-working men and women in our industry,” said Carl Pinto Jr., senior director of marketing communications for Bradford White. “Our company has always been dedicated to social leadership and to strengthening the plumbing and water heater industry. Helping uplift the work of Plumbers Without Borders not only supports their noble work around the world, it’s an investment in showcasing the essential nature of the work we do every day.”

Plumbers Without Borders, founded in 2010, connects volunteer plumbers and other skilled tradespeople with projects around the world that are establishing safe plumbing and sanitary systems, and promoting related health and safety education. Plumbers Without Borders selects partners based on quality, service, craftsmanship and training.

“It’s an honor to partner with Bradford White Corporation,” said Domenico DiGregorio, president and co-founder of Plumbers Without Borders. “Our mutual respect for quality, craftsmanship, professional training and workforce development creates a great platform for advancing our collective work toward improving lives and health around the world by increasing access to safe water and sanitation.”

Rob Saltiel 

UPONOR NAMES NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO

Uponor’s board of directors appointed Michael Rauterkus as president and CEO of Uponor Group and chairman of the executive committee. He will join the company and assume the CEO responsibility on Aug. 21.

Rauterkus has long experience, wide knowledge and good networks from the industry, as his most recent operative role was the CEO of Grohe AG, a German sanitary technology manufacturer, Uponor noted. During his tenure as CEO in 2015-2019, he developed Grohe into a global leader of bathroom and kitchen solutions. Prior to this, he has worked in various roles at Grohe since 2006. Earlier in his career he worked for companies such as Hasbro, Levi Strauss & Co., Kraft Jacobs Suchard (now Mondelez).

“I am very pleased that Michael Rauterkus has accepted the assignment to lead Uponor into the next phase and I look forward to working with him. Michael is a seasoned visionary leader with strong strategic competence. He understands the dynamics of our industry inside out,” said Annika Paasikivi, chair of the board of directors, Uponor.

Rauterkus said: “I am very excited to join Uponor, a leading iconic brand in the industry with a global presence. I love this industry, as water delivery and energy effi-ciency are essential for the everyday life of people. I look forward to learning the Uponor business, meeting the Uponor teams in the markets, visiting the production sites and discussing with our customers and shareholders Uponor’s future plans. It is a great opportunity to lead more than 100-year-old Uponor to its next development phase.” 

Rob Saltiel 

REGISTRATION FOR AIM/R ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPEN

AIM/R announced registration for its 49th annual conference (Sept. 28 – Oct. 1) is open. The in-person event will take place at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego.

From AIM/R: “AIM/R is looking for a few good men and women to partake in face-to-face training. Reconnect and recharge with your colleagues in 2021. Commit to be-ing in San Diego for the AIM/R 49th annual conference. Manufacturers attend from Sept. 28 – 29. Rep Agents attend from Sept. 28 – Oct. 1.”

To register, visit www.aimr.net and select “Events” in the blue header.

There are also opportunities for companies to support the AIM/R 49th annual conference through sponsorships. The Sponsorship Program includes several options at varying levels. There are also virtual exhibit opportunities for vendors and service providers. For details on sponsorships and virtual exhibits, or for general questions, please contact AIM/R at info@aimr.net or at 630.942.6581.

Find registration information here.