Briefings

Manufacturer news

Duro-Last® receives award

Saginaw, Mich.-based Duro-Last Roofing Inc.'s Grants Pass, Ore., facility was awarded the Oregon Governor's Sustainability Award during the Future Energy Conference April 22. Duro-Last Roofing was one of seven Oregon companies and non-profit organizations chosen as leaders in sustainability.

Duro-Last Roofing received the award for a program wherein vinyl collected in Grants Pass is shipped to the company's headquarters where a subsidiary reprocesses it into commercial flooring systems, expansion joints and other products.

"We are honored to be recognized by a state that has high sustainability standards," says Tim Hart, Duro-Last Roofing's vice president of West Coast Operations. "We're also proud to have a recycling program in place. We recycle 100 percent of the scrap we generate during production. Plus, we take back our roofs—some installed more than 20 years ago—and we also accept vinyl material from other businesses in southern Oregon."

In addition, Duro-Last Roofing has released an updated specification manual; an online version is available at www.durolast.com.

"The revised manual offers a comprehensive overview of the Duro-Last roof system," says Keith Gere, Duro-Last Roofing's director of engineering services. "The new online version will enable roofing contractors, building owners, architects and other professionals to easily get the information they need to specify Duro-Last's various roof systems. In addition to product details and installation specifications, the online manual includes material safety data sheets, code information and other important material."

Metal Sales Manufacturing opens facility

Metal Sales Manufacturing Corp., Louisville, Ky., opened a new manufacturing facility in Fort Smith, Ark., April 20.

According to Metal Sales Manufacturing, the 34,000-square-foot facility will better serve the needs of customers throughout Arkansas, northern Louisiana and Oklahoma by offering a full line of the company's commercial, agricultural and residential products with ENERGY STAR®-labeled colors. The branch also will feature a delivery fleet.

Metal-Era launches multifacility program

Metal-Era Inc., Waukesha, Wis., has launched its national account program for multifacility owners. The program is designed to address the specific needs of design professionals involved with managing multiple facilities throughout the U.S.

As part of the program, Metal-Era will conduct free assessments and analyses of current roof edge and roof ventilation details. Based on the results, Metal-Era will offer recommendations for cost and labor savings.

"Our national account program is designed to give peace of mind to multifacility owners," says Steve Gaffney, Metal-Era's national account manager. "We have an amazing engineering department that is able to recommend innovative solutions that frequently improve performance and reduce costs. Customers know they can rely on us to provide them with sound technical advice and give them a product that will be consistent on each and every building."

Soprema aligns North American operations

Soprema Inc., Wadsworth, Ohio, has aligned its U.S. and Canada operations. According to the company, the North American alignment will promote collaboration, strengthen synergy between divisions, implement a unified direction, maximize efficiency and offer expanded customer support.

Bayer MaterialScience launches program

Bayer MaterialScience LLC, Pittsburgh, has launched its EcoCommercial Building Program in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) region; the program focuses on offering materials and fostering collaboration among industry, academia and government to provide holistic solutions to building decision makers. According to the company, the EcoCommercial Building Program network will be able to address energy savings, environmentally friendly materials, emissions-reducing materials, application efficiency, ecology and economics.

"We're building a collaborative network that brings together innovative products and services to make sustainable, environmentally friendly and profitable building solutions possible," says Paul Platte, head of Bayer MaterialScience's EcoCommercial Building Program, NAFTA.

Bayer MaterialScience currently is seeking network member organizations to provide products and/or services for the program's seven building solution areas: insulation; daylighting; illumination; indoor environment quality; sustainable energy; intelligent building; and heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

Tremco forms partnership

Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance, Beachwood, Ohio, and New York-based Smart Energy Capital (SEC), a solar finance, development and advisory firm, have partnered to offer rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems and power purchase agreements to customers in education, health care, government, commercial and other markets nationwide. The collaboration's goal is to help customers lower energy costs and carbon output at participating facilities.

Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance will manage roof system renovations necessary before PV systems are installed, and SEC will finance the PV systems and sell power to customers under long-term power purchase agreements. SEC also will help customers receive the full benefit of applicable state and federal financial incentives.

"We are delighted to work with Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance in bringing affordable solar solutions to organizations throughout North America," says Brian Weisman, SEC's managing partner. "The combination of our finance and solar industry experience together with Tremco's exceptional roofing and service capabilities will positively impact the growth of the market for distributed solar generation."

MAGE SOLAR announces North American headquarters

MAGE SOLAR GMBH, Ravensburg, Germany, has announced its North American headquarters and production facility for photovoltaic (PV) modules will be established in Dublin, Ga. According to MAGE SOLAR, it will invest $30 million to create 350 jobs in the region during the next five years.

MAGE SOLAR's North American corporate campus will house the company's headquarters, a large manufacturing facility and a solar academy that will promote solar knowledge and training. The North American headquarters will manage all administrative and operational processes necessary to serve the U.S. solar market, and the manufacturing facility will produce MAGE SOLAR's crystalline PV modules. The production of MAGE POWERTEC® PLUS modules is scheduled to begin at the facility at the end of this year.

"We are certain we have found the perfect home for our company based on the excellent infrastructure and impressive work force known for its productivity, integrity and skill, as well as a keenly business-oriented leadership who, during the whole process, also never lost focus of what is best for the future of Georgia, Laurens County and the city of Dublin," says Norbert Philipp, MAGE SOLAR's chief executive officer.

The industry online

Englert Inc. has launched www.leafguard.com, a new website for its LeafGuard® one-piece hooded leaf protection system. The website features videos, a design studio, upgraded photo gallery, frequently asked questions page and improved dealer locator feature.

Distributor news

ABC Supply moves branch

ABC Supply Co. Inc., Beloit, Wis., is relocating one of its two Fort Lauderdale, Fla., branches to Pompano Beach, Fla. The new facility is larger and will incorporate the company's Solution Center showroom design and feature a wider array of exterior building products.

The branch will continue to carry residential and commercial roofing materials, as well as tools and equipment. The larger facility will allow the branch to offer siding and gutters and expand its selection of windows, doors and specialty roof systems.

"The new facility will be much more convenient for contractors and will help us serve them more efficiently," says Ken Dunn, the location's branch manager. "There will be more parking. The yard will be 40 percent larger, giving us much more staging and loading space and providing easier access for trucks. We'll have an additional loading dock for customers, allowing them to quickly pull in, have their trucks loaded, and then get back on the road. We'll also have added capacity for our own trucks, making our deliveries more efficient."

Contractor news

Thermal Roof Systems forms partnership

Thermal Roof Systems (TRS), Sacramento, Calif., and Henry® Co., El Segundo, Calif., have formed a partnership to increase awareness of energy-efficient spray polyurethane foam's (SPF's) benefits and establish a standard for high-quality craftsmanship within the industry.

"We are excited to be aligning ourselves with a top-quality manufacturer like Henry Co.," says Al Kennedy, TRS' general manager. "Our goal is to work together to increase awareness of the benefits of SPF, elevate the standards within the industry and ensure that customers are receiving best-in-class service and superior technical expertise along with a top-notch product. The TRS/Henry partnership will give us a national platform to achieve these goals."

Roofing executive is honored

William Robert Cole, vice president of Cole Roofing Co. Inc., Baltimore, has received a Baltimore SmartCEO 2010 Circle of Excellence Award, which recognizes 10 Baltimore-area chief executive officers who have demonstrated specific leadership attributes that have made them uniquely successful in the business community.

"We are honored that SmartCEO thought enough of our company, our history and myself to present us with this award," Cole says. "It is truly a reflection of our family's dedication to our values and our ability to find like-minded people to help us achieve our goals."

Roofing professional passes away

William Clark Monday, president of Poole Roofing and Sheet Metal Co., Gainesville, Fla., passed away May 10. He was 45.

Monday enjoyed hunting, fishing and attending Future Farmers of America and 4-H activities with his daughters. He is preceded in death by his father, Billy Joe Monday.

Monday is survived by his daughters, Heather Dampier and Andrea Monday; mother, Barbara Monday; sister, Beverly McCabe; grandson, Preston Dampier; and nephew, Christopher Davis.

Stock Roofing wins award

Stock Roofing Co., Minneapolis, a Tecta America company, has won Skokie, Ill.-based Tecta America Corp.'s first Tecta America Sustainable Operating Unit of the Year Award.

Forty-seven Tecta America operating units vied for the title, which was awarded based on an across-the-board assessment of all environmental practices. Stock Roofing won the award, in part, for its installation of a vegetative roof system on the Target Center, Minneapolis.

Roofing contractor passes away

Thomas H. Bates Jr., founder of Bates Roofing and Waterproofing Inc., Macon, Ga., passed away May 20. He was 78.

Bates served in the U.S. National Guard and was a Mason and member of Scottish Rite and the Shriners.

Bates is survived by his wife, Peggy Joyce Bates; children, Tommy Hall Bates III, Teresa Purser, Renell Bates and Cassandra Phillips; sisters, Betty Willingham, June Suedbeck, Faye Gatte, Selma McCook and Wanda Smith; 14 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.

Other news

SPRI offers online seminar

SPRI has created a Web-based educational program regarding perimeter edge metal wind design. The online seminar, titled Understanding ANSI/SPRI ES-1, is available at www.spri.org/seminar and is free to the general public.

ANSI/SPRI Standard ES-1-2003, "Wind Design Standard for Edge Systems Used with Low Slope Roofing Systems," was approved in 1998 and revised and re-approved in 2003. The standard addresses copings and horizontal roof edges and is intended as a reference for individuals who design, specify and install edge materials used with low-slope roof systems.

"This online seminar is designed to help the roof design community—as well as roof consultants, roofing contractors and others—better understand the ES-1 standard and how to apply it when designing and installing perimeter metal edge systems," says Linda King, SPRI's executive director. "ES-1 is currently the standard included in International Building Code and is the primary standard by which roof edges are judged."

ARMA launches case study program

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) has launched its Quality Asphalt Roofing Case Study Program (QARC), a recognition program designed to give roofing contractors, consultants and architects the ability to gain national prominence for their work with asphalt roofing.

QARC will award three winners, allow entrants to share success stories and best practices, and give participants a chance to network and learn while promoting asphalt roofing's core benefits.

ARMA has made an online form available for applicants to submit examples of projects that showcase asphalt roofing's advantages. The form requests project information, including contractor name, consultants, products and specifications. A description of the project's special challenges and the logic behind the selection of asphaltic roofing materials is required within the application's summary section. Residential and commercial projects, including new construction and renovation, qualify for submission.

ARMA will select three finalists to receive top honors and prizes after entries are collected and judging ends in September.

More information and the online submission form are available at www.qualityasphaltroofingcasestudy.com/index.php.

Up the ladder

EagleView Technologies™ Inc. has named Heidi J. Ellsworth marketing director.

Duro-Last® Roofing Inc. has named Peter Stackpole assistant director of accounting; Alan Mullins has been named sales coordinator for Duro-Last's Rocky Mountain region.