Briefings

Manufacturer news

Karnak offers product seal

Karnak Corp., Clark, N.J., has introduced its KANOPY product line seal. The KANOPY seal represents Karnak's commitment to developing products that protect the environment, save energy and reduce waste.

To qualify for the KANOPY seal, products must be lower in volatile organic compound content than same-category product alternatives, reduce energy consumption, reduce heat island effects or reduce waste through sustainability.

Dow Chemical acquires company

NRCA member The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., has acquired Denmark-based Edulan A/S, an independent poly­urethane systems company specializing in rigid foam and elastomer technologies.

The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approval, states Dow Chemical has acquired Edulan A/S' business, production facility and systems.

"Edulan A/S not only offers us an excellent position in northern Europe, it also expands our portfolio of poly­urethane systems technology, helping us provide our customers with solutions that are tailor-made to their specific needs," says Juan Antonio Merino, Dow Polyurethane Systems' general manager.

In addition, Dow Polyurethanes, a business group of Dow Chemical, will add 130 million pounds of specialty mix polyols capability at its Freeport, Texas-based manufacturing facility. The capability increase is scheduled to begin in early 2009.

"We're seeing solid growth in all aspects of our business but are particularly encouraged by growing customer interest in our low-amine emissions VORANOL™ VORACTIVE™ polyols," says Doug Warner, business director of Dow Polyols, a business unit within Dow Polyurethanes. "The additional polyols capability Dow Polyurethanes is investing in at our Freeport facility is further assurance for our North American customers that they can focus on innovating and growing in downstream markets while working with Dow Polyurethanes as a reliable supplier."

Firestone contributes to foundation

Indianapolis-based Firestone Building Products Co. LLC has donated $5,000 to the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) Foundation, a nonprofit organization that was created in 1987 to provide financial assistance to students planning to pursue construction careers. To date, Firestone Building Products has donated more than $65,000 to the MRCA Foundation.

"Firestone Building Products is committed to supporting quality educational opportunities, recognizing that these programs are beneficial to the next generation of roofing contractors," says Mike Gorey, Firestone Building Products' president and Bridgestone Firestone Diversified Products' chairman, chief executive officer and president. "We are proud to be part of such an honorable program that aims to help future roofing professionals further their knowledge and success."

Open Energy secures funding

Open Energy Corp., Solana Beach, Fla., has executed a definitive agreement relating to a private placement with an accredited investor for $20 million in the form of a convertible note and a warrant to acquire up to 40 million shares of common stock in the company. Ardour Capital Investments LLC, New York, and Knight Capital Group, Jersey City, N.J., acted as co-placement agents in the transaction, and Ardour Capital Investments has been retained to act as Open Energy's strategic adviser.

"We are pleased to announce this successful capital rise," says David Saltman, Open Energy's chief executive officer. "It provides the financial resources we require to execute our business plan within a rapidly changing solar energy marketplace."

Up the ladder

Stevens Roofing Systems has named Peter Kesser vice president of sales and marketing.

Contractor news

Roofing contractor passes away

Joseph P. "Pat" Smith, owner and operator of NRCA member Donald B. Smith Roofing Inc., Hanover, Pa., died Oct. 23, 2007. He was 73.

Smith owned and operated Donald B. Smith Roofing for more than 50 years. He is survived by his wife, Yvonne; four children; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; one brother; three sisters; and two stepbrothers.

Distributor news

A.C.T. opens distribution center

Aurora, Ill.-based A.C.T. Metal Deck Supply has opened a warehouse in Birmingham, Ala. The company's network of distribution centers now includes 10 locations.

All metal deck types, gauges and finishes are available from A.C.T. Metal Deck Supply's distribution centers.

N.B. Handy acquires distributor

NRCA member N.B. Handy Co., Lynchburg, Va., has acquired Baltimore, Md.-based Morris Ginsberg & Co. LLC, a roofing distributor. Morris Ginsberg & Co. will continue to operate its locations in Baltimore; Herndon, Va.; and Lorton, Va., as a subsidiary of N.B. Handy.

"We are pleased to have this opportunity to grow our market base with the addition of one of the industry's top distributors of commercial and residential roofing products," says Mitch Reaves, N.B. Handy's president and chief executive officer. "Morris Ginsberg & Co. always has had a strong reputation for quality service, and this acquisition will allow us to better serve our customers in Maryland; Washington, D.C.; and northern Virginia."

Affiliate news

MRCA names new officers

The Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) has elected its 2008 officers. Their one-year terms began Oct. 26, 2007.

Rodney Petrick, vice president of Ridgeworth Roofing Co. Inc., Bridge­view, Ill., was named MRCA president; John Daly, vice president of Kaw Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., Kansas City, Kan., was named first vice president; Ronnie McGlothlin, president of Empire Roofing Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, was named second vice president; and James L. Ramser, treasurer of Highland Roofing Co. Inc., Louisville, Ky., was named secretary/treasurer.

Additionally, MRCA honored Jay Crisp, former owner of Service Roofing Co., Waterloo, Iowa, with its James Q. McCawley Award, which is the highest honor MRCA bestows. The award is presented annually to an individual in recognition of outstanding service to the roofing industry.

Other news

ConsensusDOCS Webinar released

The Foundation of the American Subcontractors Association (FASA) has released its Webinar "Maximum Value: Getting the Most from the New ConsensusDOCS Contractor-Subcontractor Agreement" on CD-ROM.

Produced as the second of eight Webinars in the American Subcontractors Association's 2007-08 "Subcontractor Bidding and Negotiating Advantage Series," this Webinar explains provisions of ConsensusDOCS 750: Contractor/Subcontractor Agreement, including payment timing, final payment, retainage, indemnification, insurance options, delays and claims for extra work.

"Maximum Value: Getting the Most from the New ConsensusDOCS Contractor-Subcontractor Agreement" features an audiovisual recording, media player and installation instructions. The CD-ROM can be ordered at www.contractorsknowledgenetwork.org or by calling FASA's Contractors' Knowledge Depot at (888) 374-3133.

EPDM group announces recycling project results

The EPDM Roofing Association (ERA) has completed the first phase of a project researching the possible recycling of EDPM single-ply roofing material. The project is being conducted by Firestone Building Products Co. LLC, Indianapolis, and Carlisle SynTec Inc., Carlisle, Pa.

The project's results indicate it is logistically viable to remove an EPDM membrane from a roof system and create a product from the recycled roof membrane.

"This project has generated the type of positive results we were seeking when we initiated it," says Mike DuCharme, Carlisle SynTec's director of product marketing and chairman of ERA's board of directors. "While there still is work to be done, we believe we have developed a viable system for removing and reusing much of the EPDM membrane that will be ready for replacement in the coming years."

The project's next phase will focus on expanding the geographic range from which EPDM material can be gathered, adding grinders, determining the likely amount of available material and creating a cost structure.

Miami-Dade introduces processing system

The Miami-Dade County Building Department, Miami, has introduced a processing system that allows roofing contractors to submit CD-ROMs containing the permit documents required for Miami-Dade County Building Department roof permits.

With the new system, the building permit application form—which must be provided as a paper document—and the data on the CD-ROM are downloaded into the Concurrent Plan Processing (CPP) System, and a process number is issued. The data then can be reviewed by multiple reviewers or departments on their personal computers.

Once a permit application is approved, a roofing contractor can pay for the roof permit online and print the permit card and approved permit documents. Roof permits will be issued on a trial basis until the full production of the CPP System is implemented.

Industry online

Makita USA Inc. has launched its new Web site, www.makitatools.com, which features a modular design with streaming video, animated product calls-outs and promotional information.

Grace Construction Products has updated its Web site, www.graceconstruction.com, to include "Building Green with Grace," a section dedicated to green building products and practices. The new section includes an interactive product guide that features prerequisites needed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® Green Building Rating System.™

Performance Roof Systems Inc. has redesigned its Web site, www.derbigum.com/us. The Web site is geared toward architects, specifiers, roofing contractors, roof consultants and building owners and features expanded product information.