Briefings

Manufacturer news

DaVinci Roofscapes® launches color design program

DaVinci Roofscapes LLC, Kansas City, Kan., has launched the DaVinci Color Design Program, which includes a new Color Designer online tool and personalized color consultation assistance. The program helps users select roof colors to complement their homes by allowing them to see how different colors work together.

Homeowners interested in selecting a color or blend for their roofs can use the Color Designer tool at www.davinciroofscapes.com. Additional color support materials and activities will be added to the DaVinci Color Design Program throughout 2011.

Seaman awards facilities

Seaman Corp., Wooster, Ohio, has presented FiberTite Silver Roof Awards to eight businesses to celebrate FiberTite roof systems that have remained in service on their facilities for 25 years. The award recognizes building owners, contractors and roof consultants for the critical role they have played in helping pioneer FiberTite's reputation of performance without failure.

The following facilities, which received 36-mil FiberTite Roof Systems in 1985, received the award: Concordia Manor, St. Petersburg, Fla.; Wildwood Springs Condominium, Bradenton, Fla.; Punta Gorda Public Library, Punta Gorda, Fla.; Bank of Naples, Naples, Fla.; Rubbermaid Inc., Greenville, Texas; Marietta Corp., Cortland, N.Y.; Lakeville Elementary, Lakeville, Ohio; and Nashville Elementary, Nashville, Ohio.

Carlisle SynTec joins Flickr®

Carlisle SynTec, Carlisle, Pa., has joined the photo-sharing website, Flickr. Carlisle SynTec's Flickr page features photos of its traditional EPDM, TPO and PVC roof systems, as well as its Plaza Paver and Roof Garden systems.

Flickr users can comment on Carlisle SynTec's photos at bit.ly/flsbaX or visit www.flickr.com and search for Carlisle SynTec.

Johns Manville invests in new facility

Johns Manville, Denver, has announced it is investing in a single-ply roof membrane facility in Milan, Ohio. The facility will manufacture EPDM roofing products beginning in the second quarter of 2012.

Because about 80 percent of the U.S. EPDM market is located in the Midwest and Northeast, Johns Manville selected a location close to a majority of its customers to ensure the most efficient delivery. The Milan facility, a former rubber manufacturing facility, is scheduled to begin renovations in May with about 100 million square feet of manufacturing capacity and production scheduled for mid-2012.

The Bilco Co. opens office in China

The Bilco Co., New Haven, Conn., has opened a new office in Guangzhou, China, to respond to the growing demand for its specialty access products in the Asian market.

The new Guangzhou facility will manufacture The Bilco Co.'s roof hatches and other standard architectural products for exclusive sale in Asia, eliminating the need for shipment to the Asian market from other manufacturing locations. The facility also will handle local sales and marketing efforts to allow The Bilco Co. to serve its Asia-based customers more promptly and efficiently.

The Guangzhou office will provide customer service, manage promotions and trade show events, and work on establishing a network of dealers and distributors in the region. The Bilco Co. also has international offices in Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico and the U.K.

Lapolla Industries enters alliance

Lapolla Industries Inc., Houston, has entered a strategic alliance with Momentive Performance Materials Inc., Columbus, Ohio.

As part of the alliance, Lapolla Industries will distribute Momentive Performance Materials' GE silicone roof coatings to complement its leading line of acrylic elastomeric roof coatings. The addition of GE silicone roof coatings ensures Lapolla Industries has a varied and comprehensive product suite of energy-saving solutions to offer residential and commercial customers.

Dow Building Solutions products are recertified

Orlando, Fla.-based Dow Building Solutions' building insulation products have been recertified by the Cradle to Cradle® Certification program, a multi-attribute eco-label that assesses a product's safety and environmental impact.

Originally certified and announced at the 2010 International Builders' Show, STYROFOAM™ Brand Extruded Polystyrene Foam Insulation and SAFETOUCH™ Fiberglass-Free Insulation were recertified at the SILVER level, and STYROFOAM SIS™ Brand Structural Insulated Sheathing, THERMAX™ Exterior Insulation and STYROFOAM Brand Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation were recertified at the BASIC level.

Other news

BuildSite partners with True North Estimating Systems

BuildSite LLC, Oakland, Calif., and True North Estimating Systems Ltd., Mississauga, Ontario, have partnered to launch True North Product Search, available at www.rooflogic.com/buildsite, which will be part of True North's RoofLogic and RoofCAD applications and act as an integrated single source for product and technical information for True North Estimating Systems customers.

True North Product Search will access a database powered by BuildSite. The database is accessible through NRCA's Roofing Industry Product Center at www.nrca.net/rp/buildsite.

Contractors can search for manufacturers listed in the database by manufacturer name, roofing product category or ASTM International specification. Each product has a detail page with links to product data, material safety data sheets, installation details and more. True North Product Search users also can enter a U.S. ZIP code or Canadian postal code to access a database of more than 800 building product distributors.

CPI introduces SPF training program

The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council, Washington, D.C., has introduced its online SPF Chemical Health and Safety Training program, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to train those using high-pressure spray polyurethane foam (SPF) about good safety practices. As part of its commitment to education and safety, CPI is offering the training for free.

The training is available at www.spraypolyurethane.org and takes about 1 1/2 to two hours to complete. At the end of the training, users who successfully pass a test receive a completion form and wallet-sized card that is valid for two years.

The training is composed of 12 units, which include information about SPF ingredients; safe use, handling and disposal of SPF; and safety-control measures, including engineering controls, work practices and personal protective equipment.

Up the ladder

Aspen Contracting Inc. has appointed Pat Nussbeck president and chief operating officer.

Polyglass® USA Inc. has named Louis L. Grube manager of research and development and Steven Wadding project services manager.

National Coatings Corp. has named Brian Buck Pacific Northwest sales manager.

ADCO Products Inc. has hired Mike Geary as senior field sales representative for the company's Business Unit serving the Dakotas, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Tecta America Corp. has named Paul Stubitsch vice president of information technology.

The W.P. Hickman Co. has retained RMH Architectural Inc. and its president, Randy Harding, as an independent representative to market The W.P. Hickman Co.'s metal products in Indiana.

Firestone Building Products Co. LLC has named Jeff Henegar director of research and development; Gary Thompson general manager of Firestone Energy Solutions; Eric Ziemba general manager of GenFlex Roofing Solutions; and John Bernardi vice president of business development overseeing the new Building Envelope Solutions department.

Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance has named Daniel Saddler director of safety, field operations.

ABC Supply Co. Inc. has named Kevin Hendricks vice president of divisional operations and strategic business units and Brent Fox vice president of national business development.

Affiliate news

Texas group names new officers

The North Texas Roofing Contractors Association (NTRCA), Fort Worth, Texas, announced its 2011 board of directors. Joe Henderson, partner of Tice Enterprises Ltd., Dallas, is president; Kirk Scott, president of Scott Exteriors, Dallas, is past president; Mike Huddleston, owner of Mike Huddleston Roofing, Mansfield, Texas, is president-elect; and Susan Kittrell, outside sales representative for Firestone/C-CAP, Dallas/Fort Worth, is treasurer.

NTRCA also announced the winners of its Associate of the Year and Industry Leader awards during its Gala and Awards Banquet held Jan. 29.

NTRCA's Industry Leader award was given to Tim Rainey, co-owner of Supreme Systems Inc., Dallas, and Associate of the Year awards were given to Ron Schuler and Chuck Dupree, outside sales representatives for Spec Building Materials Corp., Kansas City, Kan. This is the first time two people received Associate of the Year awards.

Additionally, NTRCA launched its new branding campaign at the Gala and Awards Banquet. As part of the organization's rebranding effort, an updated logo was created to set NTRCA apart and give the association a strong, clear identity. A new tagline, Who's On Your Roof?, was designed to reinforce the association's commitment to serve as the premier resource in north Texas for its members as well as homeowners and business owners looking for roofing contractors who maintain high standards.