A.O. Smith acquires Canada-based Giant Factories

A. O. Smith announced it has acquired Giant Factories, a Canada-based manufacturer of residential and commercial water heaters, with trailing 12-month sales of about $105 million.

“The addition of Giant strengthens our leadership position as a global supplier of residential and commercial water heaters. The acquisition also supports our corporate strategy by increasing our North America market penetration, creating additional capacity and enhancing our distribution capabilities,” said Kevin J. Wheeler, A. O. Smith’s chairman and chief executive officer.  “Along with its rich history, established relationships and talented team, Giant’s values and business approach align with ours, and we look forward to welcoming Giant’s employees to the A. O. Smith family.”

Claude Lesage, Giant Factories president, commented: “We are extremely excited about the benefits of a powerful combination with a world leader in global water technology. This natural and logical partnership with A. O. Smith will enhance prospects for our customers, employees, and suppliers.”

A family-owned business founded in 1945, Giant markets its water heaters under the Giant brand and employs more than 300 people, primarily in Canada. Giant manufactures water heaters at two facilities in Montreal and sells water-heating products across Canada. The addition of Giant to A. O. Smith’s existing water heater operations enlarges the company’s presence in the Canada water heater market, which is characterized by a high percentage of replacement demand.

The acquisition of Giant also supports A. O. Smith’s decarbonization efforts by increasing the amount of water-heating products in its portfolio that are supplied by a renewable energy grid – Giant’s end markets are mainly served by a grid that is primarily hydro-sourced and non-carbon intensive.

Munch’s Supply raised more than $24,000 for the virtual St. Jude’s Walk./Run to End Early Childhood Cancer. Photo courtesy of Munch’s Supply

Munch’s Supply raises more than $24,000 for St. Jude

Employees from New Lenox, Illinois-based Munch’s Supply participated in the virtual St. Jude’s Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer on Sept. 25.

For the past eight years, Munch’s Supply has supported the event. “We are proud that our employees and customers have wholeheartedly supported our annual tradition to help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the groundbreaking work they do to treat children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases,” said Keith Kramer, Munch’s Supply chief operating officer.

Although 2021’s event was virtual, the Munch’s Supply team worked to raise more than $24,000 – its highest-ever fundraising amount. This put Munch’s Supply in second place out of the 127 St. Jude Walk/Run teams in the Chicago area.

New this year, Munch’s Supply raised funds through a Senior Leadership Match Days campaign with its management team. The company also offered an online Munch’s Supply/St. Jude Summer Fun Store where employees and customers could purchase special items (such as T-shirts and electronics items) with purchase proceeds going to St. Jude. Other activities included raffles for customers and employees along with traditional participant donations.  

The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Founded by Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.

Bradford White’s Kozak wins

AIM/R Golden Eagle Award

Matt Kozak, vice president of sales for Bradford White Water Heaters, has been named the 2021 recipient of the prestigious Golden Eagle Award by the Association of Independent Manufacturers’ Representatives (AIM/R).

The AIM/R Golden Eagle Award, presented annually at the group’s conference, recognizes senior-level plumbing manufacturing executives who have actively supported independent reps and their important role in the supply chain. Kozak was honored at the 49th annual AIM/R conference, held Sept. 28-Oct. 1 in San Diego.

“AIM/R provides valuable resources on issues such as succession planning, sales techniques and running a solid business, all of which are of vital concern to their manufacturer partners,” Kozak said. “The support and tools offered by AIM/R enable reps to improve their business practices and strengthen the partnership and communication between reps and their manufacturers. We are such big believers in the group’s value that Bradford White strongly encourages all of our reps to belong to and be active in AIM/R.”

Kozak is the fifth executive from Bradford White to be selected for the award. Previous Bradford White Golden Eagle Award winners include Bob Carnevale, Nick Giuffre, Bruce Carnevale and Jim McGoldrick.

“Those who have previously been honored with the Golden Eagle Award have set the bar very high,” Kozak said. “Those leaders set the tone for how Bradford White as a company views and treats its reps, and I am pleased to be carrying on that tradition. We continue to only sell through wholesale and we use manufacturers’ reps as a conduit to our wholesale customers and their customers. Our reps are a huge part of who we are. They represent our company, they are our salesforce, and they have daily interactions with our customer base, whether it’s with our product line or one of the others they represent. We treat our reps like family because if we do our job and take care of them, they will take care of us.”

Rinnai announces commercial business program

Rinnai is now offering a national accounts program to its commercial business partners. The program is designed to be a turnkey hot water solution for its commercial customers and includes both repair and replacement services.

Rinnai’s one-stop hot water experience for hotels, restaurants and other commercial customers provides 24/7, 365 hot water support. Regardless of whether the water heater is a Rinnai unit or not, plumbers will be deployed from Rinnai’s vast network to assess the situation and repair product, the company adds.

If a replacement is needed, the plumber will work with the customer to identify the best solution for their business, plus the program delivers pricing quotes and 100% guaranteed system sizing. Additionally, Rinnai handles all aspects of the businesses’ hot water from selecting the plumber to processing payments for the job.  

“Hot water is a necessity and a vital part of our customer’s business,” said James Woodruff, senior director of commercial business for Rinnai America. “We offer our expertise in water heating as a service to our customers that is turnkey and simple. This allows them to worry less about their business operations while we ensure their hot water is there when they need it.”

“Through our extensive contractor network, we can coordinate our premium response program and offer a service that is much-needed by our customers in the industry,” Rinnai America Corporation’s President Frank Windsor said. “We are committed to creating a healthier way of living, and providing a worry-free, turnkey solution for our customers is a great step towards achieving that commitment.”

Water Quality Association opens new headquarters

The Water Quality Association hosted a grand opening Sept. 13 for its new international headquarters and laboratory in suburban Chicago. The larger, state-of-the-art facility allows increased capacity, flexibility and efficiency for Gold Seal product testing, industry training and membership services.

“Our amazing new laboratory and offices will allow us to serve more members of the industry, certify more products at a quicker pace, and provide additional education and training that will ensure that our members have the know-how to provide the proper solutions,” said Pauli Undesser, WQA’s executive director. “So this new building is a launching pad for all of the incredible things our industry can do for residential, commercial and industrial water treatment.”

WQA President Toby Thomas, president of Kinetico, said:“We are at a pivotal moment in the marketplace. We are being called upon to help protect people’s lives and improve the quality of their lives. This new facility allows us to take not just a next step, but a ‘giant’ next step forward.”

Among the local officials who attended the ceremony and toured the building were Lisle Mayor Chris Pecak, Illinois Sen. Laura Ellman, D-Naperville, and Greg Bredalov, president and CEO of Choose DuPage, an economic development group.

WQA, a not-for-profit trade association representing the residential, commercial and industrial water treatment industry, moved to the facility at 2375 Cabot Drive in Lisle from a building it had constructed in Lisle in 1982. The WQA Board of Directors officially approved the relocation plan in April 2019, after more than two years of research and planning, and the former headquarters was sold to another Lisle-based association in March 2020, right as the coronavirus pandemic hit.

WQA, an $11 million association, employs 70.

“When we decided we needed to move, we could have looked elsewhere, but we felt this is our home,” Undesser said. “And we kept these jobs right here in Lisle and DuPage County.”

Most WQA employees began working remotely in March 2020, but the laboratory remained open throughout the pandemic and during the year-long buildout and relocation process. Over the last several months, other WQA employees have been returning to the workplace, at least a few days a week, although the new facility’s technology allows seamless teamwork between remote and in-person employees.

The relocation was assisted by a “Building Our Vision” capital campaign, which contributed more than $400,000 in funding and equipment. Donors are honored in a mural on the building’s second floor.

Sonnhalter raises more than $26,000 in tool donations

Sonnhalter, a communications firm marketing to the professional tradesman in the construction, industrial and MRO markets, partnered with Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity for a 12th year during its annual Sonnhalter Tool Drive, which ran the entire month of August and collected $26,500 worth of donations of tools and building materials. Since Sonnhalter began its efforts in 2010, it has collected $336,500 in donations.

Organizations, businesses and residents were encouraged to donate new and gently used tools, as well as building materials, furniture and appliances, to Sonnhalter to help benefit Habitat for Humanity’s cause of eliminating substandard housing and homelessness.

“Every year, we at Sonnhalter are inspired and uplifted by the generosity of our great community in its efforts to help those in need with donated tools and building materials,” said Matt Sonnhalter, vision architect at Sonnhalter. “We would like to thank our clients, partners and community members for their continued support in helping Sonnhalter raise nearly $336,500 for this great cause.”

“Sonnhalter’s Tool Drive is like Christmas in August! Instead of Santa’s sleigh, they bring a large truck full of tools for us and that’s the gift that keeps on giving all year around,” said John Habat, president/CEO of the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity. “Sonnhalter’s Tool Drive helps to bring awareness to areas we have no access to and provides us tools to work on our houses, in our tool shop and to be sold to the general public.”

Community participants in the 12th Annual Sonnhalter Tool Drive included Berea Recreation Center, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Berea Branch, Fear’s Confections, Frangos Group, Pinnacle Condominiums, Rising Star Coffee Roasters, Rock & Roll City Studios, St. Mary of the Falls, Skidmark Garage, Westlake Porter Public Library,The Wine Spot and many individuals living in the community.

Trade industry participants in the 12th Annual Sonnhalter Tool Drive included Buyers Products, CSV Marketing, Endeavor Business Media, General Pipe Cleaners, Ignition, Jergens, Kapro, Lakeside Supply, Ledlenser USA, Mortar Net Solutions, Samsel Supply, Sutton Industrial, Wolff Bros. Supply and Woodhill Supply.

All of the donations that Sonnhalter collected benefited Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity. The donated items will be used for Habitat for Humanity projects or will be sold at one of the organization’s ReStores, recycled building materials and home furnishings stores. Proceeds from the ReStore sales are used to help Habitat build and rehabilitate homes for those in need.