Briefings

Manufacturer news

Grace Construction Products opens European headquarters

Cambridge, Mass.-based Grace Construction Products has opened a European headquarters in Waterloo, Belgium.

Waterloo was selected as the site because of its accessibility, availability of a multilingual work force and cross section of European cultures.

"Europe is an important strategic market for Grace Construction Products as we continue to advance our global business," says Andrew Bonham, vice president and general manager of Grace Construction Products—Europe. "This new facility underscores our ongoing commitment to customers across Europe and enhancing our services throughout the region."

CertainTeed products are featured in movie

Valley Forge, Pa.-based CertainTeed Corp.'s DryRight™ Fiber Glass Insulation and Landmark™ Premium asphalt roofing shingles are featured in the Revolution Studios movie "Are We Done Yet?", which was released in April. Forty-eight bags of DryRight Fiber Glass Insulation and four pallets of Landmark Premium asphalt roofing shingles were used in the movie, which tells the story of a man attempting to remodel his new home while dealing with an eccentric contractor.

"Having our products featured in a Hollywood film about a remodeling project is an excellent way to extend our brand in a relevant setting," says Peter Dachowski, president and chief executive officer of CertainTeed. "It's a wonderful opportunity to have millions of people see our products on the big screen."

Polyglass® USA opens facility

Fernley, Nev.-based Polyglass USA has opened a manufacturing facility in Winter Haven, Fla. The facility, which includes Florida's first modified bitumen manufacturing plant, will produce Polyglass USA's entire line of roofing products.

The computer-automated plant will serve Florida and the southeastern U.S. Located on a 9-acre campus that includes administrative offices, research laboratories and a storage warehouse, the facility will be Polyglass USA's headquarters for research and development, procurement, logistics and supply.

Carlisle Construction Materials acquires Insulfoam

Carlisle, Pa.-based Carlisle Construction Materials (CCM) has acquired Tacoma, Wash.-based Insulfoam, a manufacturer of block-molded expanded polystyrene products, from Premier Industries, Tacoma. Insulfoam has about 750 employees and 13 production and fabrication facilities across the U.S.; it will operate as a stand-alone entity within CCM.

"This acquisition will enhance CCM's overall offerings for building owners, architects and contractors who want to promote and use energy-efficient construction products," says John Altmeyer, CCM's president and chief executive officer.

Firestone Building Products makes donation

Indianapolis-based Firestone Building Products Co. and Woburn, Mass.-based Eastern Architectural Representatives joined to donate $10,000 to the North/East Roofing Educational Foundation (NEREF) Inc.'s Foundation Friends Program.

The donation is part of a commitment the companies made in 2003 to contribute $50,000 to NEREF during a five-year period. As a result of the donations, NEREF established a Platinum Scholarship for vocational school and college students. NEREF will award at least nine $2,000 scholarships this year.

In addition, Firestone Building Products and Eastern Architectural Representatives have pledged to continue donating $10,000 per year to the program.

Duro-Last® Roofing receives award

Duro-Last Roofing Inc., Saginaw, Mich., and Hardy Communications Inc., a Midland, Mich.-based creative media firm, received Bronze awards in the Corporate Training and Multimedia Program categories of the 28th Annual Telly Awards Competition. The companies received the awards for their joint work on "Achieving Proficiency: A Learning Tool for Duro-Last Contractors," a two-DVD set that demonstrates proficient installation and maintenance of a Duro-Last Roofing single-ply roof system.

Duro-Last Roofing and Hardy Communications wrote, designed, produced and distributed 3,000 sets of the program, 1,100 of which were translated for Spanish-speaking audiences.

Telly Awards honor outstanding local, regional and cable television programs and commercials, as well as video, film and multimedia productions, for creative and technical excellence.

Gerard Roofing Technologies is featured on television show

Gerard Roofing Technologies, Brea, Calif., a Metals USA® company, was featured on the March 4 episode of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

Gerard Roofing Technologies donated 55 squares of its Barrel Vault stone-coated steel roof system to the Tate family of Tampa, Fla., whose home was destroyed when it was struck by a plane in 2006.

Roofing professional passes away

Eric Henderson, general manager of Milwaukee-based Giuffre Bros. Cranes Inc.'s Salt Lake City branch, died March 7 in an airplane crash. Henderson was 39.

Henderson worked at Giuffre Bros. Cranes Inc. for many years and served on its management team. He is survived by his wife, Raquel, and their four children.

Open Energy announces partnership

Open Energy Corp., Solana Beach, Calif., has announced a joint marketing and distribution agreement with Eagle Roofing Products, a manufacturer of concrete roof tiles. The companies will supply building-integrated photovoltaic solar solutions and train and equip roofing professionals to install Open Energy's photovoltaic roof systems.

The companies have developed solar tiles that match Eagle Roofing Products' three most popular concrete tile colors. Additionally, Open Energy and Eagle Roofing Products have jointly filed for patents on transitional concrete tiles that will interface their flat solar tiles with Capistrano tiles—curved "S" or barrel tiles. Eagle Roofing Products will produce the transitional concrete tiles in its manufacturing plants.

Long-time roofing industry member passes away

Richard G. Ducey, former manager of roof construction services for Denver-based Johns Manville Corp., died April 16. Ducey was 79.

Ducey worked for Johns Manville for 37 years. He is survived by his wife, Joan; sons Bud, Daniel, Kevin, Michael, Patrick and Paul; daughters Julie and Marianne; brother David; and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his grandson Timothy.

The Ducey family requests contributions be made to Fisher House Foundation, 1055 Clermont St., Denver, CO 80220.

Up the ladder

Carlisle SynTec Inc. has named Rudy Gutierrez Southwest regional manager and Paul Markel FleeceBACK® sales and marketing specialist.

ABC Supply Co. Inc. has named Tim Hashagen South Florida district manager.

OMG Inc. has named Ned Woodbridge chief financial officer.

Other news

RCI presents awards

RCI Inc.—The Institute of Roofing, Waterproofing & Building Envelope Professionals has announced the winners of its 2007 Document Competition. RCI's Document Competition recognizes RCI members' excellence in roofing, waterproofing and building envelope documentation.

Christopher T. Waites, project manager for ADC Engineering Inc., Hanahan, S.C., won first place in the Report Writing category for the Medical University of South Carolina's Institute of Psychiatry, Charleston. Scott Toller, director of Houston-based PBK Inc.'s Dallas office, won first place in the Small Roofing/Waterproofing/Building Envelope Proj­ect Documents category for Southern Methodist University's Dallas Hall, Dallas. Michael Petermann, consultant for Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc., New York, won first place in the Large Roofing/Waterproofing/Building Envelope Project Documents category for 60 Sutton Place, New York.

ARMA announces contest winners

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) has announced the winners of its 2006 Accident Prevention Contest. Manufacturing facilities were categorized by number of labor hours worked during 2006: Group A—more than 300,000 hours; Group B—200,000 hours to 300,000 hours; Group C—100,000 hours to 200,000 hours; and Group D—less than 100,000 hours.

The facility with the fewest accidents in each category received an ARMA President's Award. Recipients include the following: Group A—GAF Materials Corp.'s Mobile, Ala., facility; Group B—GAF Materials' Chester, S.C., facility; Group C—Owens Corning's Summit, Ill., facility; and Group D—Soprema Inc.'s Wadsworth, Ohio, facility.

ANSI reaffirms standard

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has announced the reaffirmation of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A10.38-2000 standard, "Basic Elements of an Employer's Program to Provide a Safe and Healthful Work Environment." The standard was reaffirmed by ANSI April 12 and establishes minimum elements of a program for protecting the safety and health of employees involved in the construction and demolition industries.

The standard is available in print and electronic formats. To obtain a copy of the standard or for more information, contact ASSE customer service at (847) 699-2929 or visit www.asse.org.