Briefings

Manufacturer news

Owens Corning^® participates in Harvard Business Review research

Owens Corning, Toledo, Ohio, took part in research conducted by Harvard Business Review Analytic Services to explore the role sourcing, procurement and supply chain management have in enterprise success.

The research report explores how Owens Corning and other companies implemented strategic sourcing with the help of cloud-based strategic e-sourcing company Scout RFP, San Francisco, to maximize efficiency and respond to the demands that drive the marketplace and enterprise revenue growth. Owens Corning gradually is changing how each of its locations sources its materials by deploying a collaborative sourcing solution throughout all the company's manufacturing plants and offices. After implementing strategic sourcing, all three Owens Corning divisions were profitable for the first time in 75 years.

Harvard Business Review Analytic Services' research report is available by clicking here.

Duro-Last^® opens manufacturing facility

Duro-Last Inc., Saginaw, Mich., has opened a new manufacturing facility in Ludlow, Mass. A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held June 20.

The 60,000-square-foot facility is Duro-Last's sixth manufacturing facility and manufactures custom-fabricated roof membranes and accessories for customers in the Northeast region.

Carlisle Construction Materials acquires Drexel Metals

Carlisle Construction Materials, Carlisle, Pa., has acquired Drexel Metals Inc., Louisville, Ky., a manufacturer of residential and commercial architectural metal roofing products.

The acquisition enables Carlisle Construction Materials to integrate residential roofing products into its product portfolio, as well as expand its commercial product offerings beyond traditional low-slope, single-ply products.

The Garland Co. receives workplace award

The Garland Co. Inc., Cleveland, has received a 2017 Top Workplace Award by Ohio newspaper The Plain Dealer for the sixth consecutive year. The Garland Co. placed 27th in the Small Companies category.

This is the eighth year the newspaper has ranked more than 100 companies in northeastern Ohio based on results of an employee feedback survey administered by WorkplaceDynamics LLC. Employees are invited to provide feedback regarding several aspects of their companies' workplace cultures, including alignment, execution and connection, which are measured and used to determine the Top Workplace recipients.

The Dow Chemical Co. receives award

The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., has received the Green Sports Alliance's Environmental Innovator of the Year Award. The Innovators of the Year Awards recognize the efforts of organizations that encourage environmental or social change through the cultural and market influence of sports.

Together with project investment service provider NatureBank, Vancouver, British Columbia, and Environmental Resources Management, a global provider of environmental, health and safety consulting services based in London, The Dow Chemical Co. created a Climate Solutions Framework for Events to encourage wider adoption of cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. During the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, The Dow Chemical Co. implemented the framework in Latin America through a variety of projects that enabled businesses to enhance productivity and conserve energy by switching to renewable energy sources; optimize resources in agriculture and livestock farming; and build capacity for more energy-efficient infrastructure.

Through the end of 2026, The Dow Chemical Co.'s framework is projected to generate more than 2 million tonnes of climate benefits in Brazil and throughout Latin America.

Contractor news

Guardian Roofing acquires Jorve Roofing

Guardian Roofing, Auburn, Wash., has acquired Jorve Roofing LLC, a Seattle-based commercial and residential roofing contractor.

The acquisition enables family-owned Guardian Roofing to expand its contracting services to reach additional customers in the Northwest region.

Distributor news

ABC Supply opens Illinois branch

ABC Supply Co. Inc., Beloit, Wis., has opened a new branch in Elgin, Ill.

The branch will offer roofing products, siding, windows, doors and other exterior building products to contractors operating northwest of Chicago.

Other news

Melvin Kruger scholarship applications are available

The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress is accepting applications for its 2018-19 Melvin Kruger Endowed Scholarship Program. The merit-based scholarship program is available to NRCA contractor or supplier member employees and their families to assist with furthering their education in pursuit of careers in the roofing or building construction industries.

Applicants must be full-time employees of an NRCA member company or dependent children or spouses of employees of an NRCA member company with a minimum of one year of full-time employment with their companies as of the application deadline date. High school seniors or graduates who plan to enroll or who already are enrolled in a full-time undergraduate course of study at a two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for an entire academic year also are eligible.

Two of the scholarships awarded annually are sponsored by Firestone Building Products, Nashville, and require additional qualifications. Applicants for these scholarships must be students who will study and/or have an interest in advancing environmental issues in the construction and roofing industries through new technologies such as recycling, life-cycle analysis, environmental product declarations, reflectivity, vegetative roof systems and photovoltaic systems. A separate essay also is required.

Other named scholarships available include Beacon Roofing Supply Inc.; Dan Cohen; Fred Good; William Good; and OMG Roofing Products.

Scholarship recipients are selected based on academic record; potential to succeed; leadership and participation in school and community activities; honors; work experience; a statement of career goals and aspirations; and an outside appraisal. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 award renewable for up to three years of undergraduate study or until a bachelor's degree is earned, provided the awards are renewed annually and recipients maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.

For more information and to download an application, click here. Applications must be postmarked no later than Jan. 31, 2018.

In addition, the Alliance welcomes three new members: Bluefin LLC, Greenwood Village, Colo., has joined at the Service Provider level; Rackley Roofing Co. Inc., Carthage, Tenn., has joined at the Governor level; and Trent Cotney, a Tampa, Fla.-based construction lawyer, has joined at the Individual level. The membership commitments entitle the companies to participate in project task forces established to guide the Alliance's agenda and attend the Alliance's semiannual meetings.

PIMA releases technical bulletin

The Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) has released PIMA Technical Bulletin 501: "High-Density Polyiso Cover Boards."

The bulletin highlights the performance benefits of high-density polyisocyanurate cover boards and ease-of-use advantages compared with alternatives in the cover-board market. The bulletin is available by clicking here.

Copper association announces award winners

The Copper Development Association has announced the recipients of the 2017 North American Copper in Architecture Awards. The following NRCA members received an award: CopperWorks Corp., Decatur, Ala., for new construction on a private residence in Gurley, Ala.; Heather & Little Ltd., Markham, Ontario, for restoring Centre Block of the Canadian Parliament, Ottawa, Ontario; J.S. Wagner Co. Inc., Hyattsville, Md., for restoring a private residence in Alexandria, Va.; Steinrock Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., Louisville, Ky., for restoring historical Fayette County Courthouse, Lexington, Ky.; and Toitures Trois Étoiles Inc., Montréal, for restoring Le Windsor-Mansard, Montréal.

A complete list of the winners is available by clicking here.

MCA announces competition schedule

The Metal Construction Association (MCA) has announced the schedule for its National Metal Roofing Championship Games to be held during METALCON Oct. 18-20 in Las Vegas.

The "Aces of Las Vegas" competition will feature five challenges held on each of the first two days of the event. Each day, five pre-registered teams with two contestants each will compete for cash awards. On Friday, the third day, the two teams from Wednesday and Thursday with the most collective points will compete for the Grand Cash Award and title of "MCA METALCON 2017 National Metal Roofing Champion."

Each challenge will last between 15 and 30 minutes. Judging will be provided by the Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association; cash awards are provided by MCA member/METALCON Exhibitor companies. Each team will be provided required power and hand tools, gloves and safety glasses, and contestants will be required to wear rubber sole nonslip shoes. Only one company's team of two contestants can compete each day; two separate teams from the same company can compete on separate days.

The deadline for registration is Sept. 30. Registration forms and a detailed schedule are available by clicking here.

RCMA accepting abstract submissions

The Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) has announced it is accepting abstract submissions for the 2018 International Roof Coatings Conference to be held July 23-26, 2018, at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park in Chicago.

Abstract submissions are welcome from roofing industry professionals, building envelope technology experts, material scientists and those in the design community. Possible presentation topics include global market developments; green building trends; application practices; energy-cost savings evaluations; roof coating formulation advancements; roof systems analysis; and in-situ field research.

For more information and to download an abstract submission form, click here. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 31.

The industry online

ASTM International has upgraded its online learning management system, www.astm.org/TRAIN. New features include an expanded search tool; continuous access to ASTM International training content; enhanced reporting capabilities; and customized curriculums.

Up the ladder

Polyglass U.S.A. Inc. has named Tino De La Rosa regional market manager for the Northwest region; Tyson Everett district sales manager for Florida; Kevin Ferriera sales representative for eastern Canada; Robert Kaethler sales representative for western Canada; Stephen Kubicka regional sales manager for the Northeast region; Trevor Layng sales representative for western Canada; Dan Nichols regional sales manager for the Western region; Ali Spingler district sales manager for Florida; and Arturo Vazquez district sales manager for Florida.

Events

September

21
CERTA Train-the-trainer Authorization
NRCA
Rosemont, Ill.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

22
CERTA Train-the-trainer Reauthorization
NRCA
Rosemont, Ill.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

24-27
Future Executives Institute (FEI-8)
NRCA
Chicago
Contact: Janice Davis, director of NRCA University, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7505 or jdavis@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

October

16-18
MRCA 68th Annual Conference & Expo
Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA)
St. Louis
Contact: MRCA
(800) 497-6722 or mrca@mrca.org
www.mrca.org

17-20
NRCA's Fall Committee Meetings and Legislative Conference
NRCA
Washington, D.C.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

18-20
IFMA's World Workplace
International Facility Management Association (IFMA)
Houston
Contact: IFMA
ifma@ifma.org
worldworkplace.ifma.org