Briefings

Manufacturer news

KARNAK opens facility

KARNAK Corp., Clark, N.J., has opened a new production facility in Kingman, Ariz.

"We are excited about the addition of this production plant that, along with our other facilities in New Jersey, Illinois and Florida, enhances our ability to service the U.S., Mexico and Canada," says James Hannah, KARNAK's president and chief executive officer.

Aldo Products selects distributor

Aldo Products Co. Inc., Kannapolis, N.C., has selected Mount Airy, N.C.-based NCFI Polyurethanes as the authorized North American distributor of its ALDOCOAT 800 Ignition Barrier Protective Coating.®

"We're honored Aldo Products selected NCFI to distribute ALDOCOAT 800 for the North American market," says Nelson Clark, NCFI Polyurethanes' senior vice president. "We look forward to helping spray foam insulation trade contractors achieve 'best practices' results and continue to help America build better."

GAF Materials wins award

GAF Materials Corp., Wayne, N.J., has received the Gold Remi award from the WorldFest Houston Film Festival for its Extreme Shingle Testing video. WorldFest is the world's oldest independent film and video festival and was created to recognize and honor outstanding creative excellence in the film and video arena.

In GAF Materials' Extreme Shingle Testing video, the company's Timberline® shingles with Advanced Protection technology are subjected to tests meant to simulate extreme weather conditions, including extreme water and hurricane-speed wind testing.

"We are extremely honored to have won this award and are thrilled to know that our video was so effective in delivering its message," says Paul Bromfield, GAF Materials' senior vice president of marketing.

In addition, GAF Materials is running a promotion open to all professional roofing contractors, builders and remodelers. By texting GAFTRUCK to 41411 between June 15 and Aug. 15, individuals can enter to win a 2010 Ford® F-150 valued at $37,655.

GAF Materials' promotion also includes awarding a complete GAF-Elk Timberline roof system valued at $4,000 to three first-place winners; 30 squares of Timberline Prestique® 30 shingles valued at $2,800 to five second-place winners; and $100 VISA® Gift Cards to 10 third-place winners.

To enter without incurring text message charges and for official rules, visit www.gafpromoclub.com.

Metal-Era reduces lead time

Metal-Era Inc., Waukesha, Wis., has reduced the lead time on its Perma-Tite Coping system; the system now will ship in five days when ordered in any of Metal-Era's 15 express colors.

"Our customers tell us that speed and quality are vital to the success of their business," says Tony Mallinger, Metal-Era's chief operations officer. "That's why we are constantly seeking ways to reduce lead times and build in performance on all of our product lines."

In addition, Metal-Era has been named among the top 100 workplaces in southeastern Wisconsin by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The newspaper surveyed businesses' employees regarding six areas: direction, execution, career, managers, conditions, and pay and benefits. The surveys' results were tabulated, and the top 100 companies were divided into three categories: large, midsize and small. Metal-Era was named 17th in the small workplaces category, and its top rank was in the area of pay and benefits.

"I am honored that Metal-Era is considered a top workplace and named among so many other well-known companies," Mallinger says. "The credit goes to all of our employees who are Metal-Era's true asset."

Tremco announces headquarters renovations

Beachwood, Ohio-based Tremco Inc. has announced plans to perform $5 million of renovations on its headquarters that will include numerous sustainable features. The company intends for its headquarters to receive the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED® Gold certification.

Among the renovation's most noteworthy sustainable features are four types of sustainable roof systems, including a vegetative roof system featuring local plants; an ENERGY STAR®-qualified Rock-It™ roof surfacing system composed of white gravel set in white adhesive; a white, reflective, single-ply roof system installed beneath a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system; and a thin-film rooftop PV system that will be used to generate electricity for the building.

"This renovation gives us an exceptional opportunity to show our commitment to sustainability to our customers, staff, suppliers and others," says Randy Korach, Tremco's president. "We intend to create a truly high-performance, sustainable facility that integrates our rich array of corporate solutions and highlights the use of construction best practices."

The Garland Co. wins awards

The Garland Co. Inc., Cleveland, recently received two regional awards: the MANNY Award and the Leading EDGE Award.

The MANNY Award, sponsored by Inside Business, honors the best practices of manufacturers based in northeastern Ohio. The Garland Co. won the award in the Workplace Environment category; the award acknowledges the company's collaborative, service-oriented culture.

The Leading EDGE Award, sponsored annually by Crain's Cleveland Business, honors middle-market companies in northeastern Ohio. To qualify, a company's annual sales revenue must be no greater than $750 million. In addition, companies must sell some of their goods or services outside the immediate region. The contest uses its own metric for tracking and measuring value as it pertains to a company's bottom line and the well-being of the community. This is The Garland Co.'s fourth year winning the award.

The industry online

Knaack LLC has launched its new dealer locator tool at www.knaack.com. The dealer locator tool functions on a Google™ Maps 3.0 platform and allows users to search for job-site, truck and van equipment dealers by ZIP or postal code and a radius search. In addition, the dealer locator tool highlights dealers that are participating in sales and special promotions.

AppliCad has launched www.applicad.com, which features information about all AppliCad roof estimating products and an interactive return on investment calculator that allows users to determine the payback on their investments.

Contractor news

TRS participates in eco-friendly building

Thermal Roof Systems (TRS), Sacramento, Calif., will work with Henry® Co., Garland, Texas, to provide and install energy-efficient, waterproof spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation for the PUNCHouse Project 234, the first energy-neutral home in Santa Monica, Calif.

TRS and Henry Co. also will apply a white reflective roof coating that will contribute points to the project's LEED® Platinum certification. PUNCHouse Project 234 will serve as a residence that highlights the advances of environmentally friendly home building, finishes, furnishings and technologies.

"We are excited to be participating with our partner, Henry Co., in this project, which will showcase the importance of using sustainable building materials and practices," says Al Kennedy, TRS' general manager. "SPF roofing and insulation applications are important components for achieving an eco-friendly structure and for meeting PUNCHouse Project 234's environmental goals."

Dobson Sheet Metal & Roofing wins award

Dobson Sheet Metal & Roofing Inc., Mobile, Ala., recently won Eufaula, Ala.-based American Buildings Co.'s (ABC's) Excellence in Design Award, which recognizes builders and roofing contractors for their innovation and distinction in design.

Dobson Sheet Metal & Roofing received the 2010 Roof of the Year Award and was named the Excellence in Design winner in a second roofing category for its work at Colony at the Grand in Fairhope, Ala.

"We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our network of builders and roofers," says Ray Napolitan, ABC's president. "We are honored to work with such a talented group and were impressed with the many deserving projects that were entered in this year's Excellence in Design Awards."

Tecta America employee is honored

Jenny Benkosky, business development and marketing manager for Skokie, Ill.-based Tecta America Corp.'s Sacramento, Calif., branch, has been selected as the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Sacramento/Central Valley Chapter's Allied Member of the Year for the third year in a row.

"It's an honor to be recognized, of course, but the real satisfaction comes from being involved in such a worthwhile organization as BOMA," Benkosky says.

Benkosky is chair of BOMA's Careers in Commercial Real Estate Committee and Spring Bowling Event Chair, as well as Tecta America's liaison as luncheon sponsor of the month. Benkosky will continue her duties on BOMA's Scholarship and Allied Steering committees and will co-chair the organization's Holiday/TOBY Awards Party.

In addition, Mark Santacrose, Tecta America's president and chief executive officer, has been named one of 28 finalists from Illinois and Indiana for the Midwest Region Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Regional Awards. Finalists are selected for extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

Simon Roofing opens facility

Youngstown, Ohio-based Simon Roofing has opened a 42,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in the Struthers-Youngstown area that will manufacture composites for commercial roof and flooring systems sold throughout the U.S.

"We are extremely proud of our decision to build our manufacturing division, SR Products, in the Youngstown area, where Simon Roofing has been headquartered for more than 100 years, and to open this modern manufacturing facility," says Alex Simon, Simon Roofing's co-owner. "Ten years ago, we made a large investment in this property, and we are now ready to start production."

Other news

RICOWI elects officer

The Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues (RICOWI) has elected Jim Baker, the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association's director of industry affairs, its secretary/treasurer. Baker will serve a two-year term.

"I'm thrilled about the opportunity to serve RICOWI and look forward to applying my experience in ways that make a positive contribution to its mission," Baker says.

RCMA elects leadership

The Roof Coating Manufacturers Association (RCMA) elected and installed its board of directors and committee chairs during its 2010 Annual Membership Meeting at its 2010 Annual Conference & Expo in Charlotte, N.C.

Joseph Mellott, director of technology for The Garland Co. Inc., Cleveland, was named president; Jeff Blank, vice president and general manager of SR Products Inc., Cleveland, was named vice president for strategic planning; William J. "Skip" Leonard, director of technical service for Henry® Co., Garland, Texas, was named vice president for member services; and Steve Heinje, vice president of research for United Coatings, Spokane Valley, Wash., was named secretary/treasurer.

Up the ladder

Firestone Building Products Co. LLC has named Vince Hill the national account's strategic account executive for the company's developers sector. Mike Hubbard has been named manager of product development.

The Dow Chemical Co. has named Scott Young president and general manager of Dow Roofing Systems LLC.

ChemLink has named Jeff Schuette regional manager.