Briefings

Manufacturer news

CertainTeed donates materials

CertainTeed Corp., Valley Forge, Pa., donated 45 squares (405 m) of its Presidential Shake™ TL wood shake-style asphalt roofing materials to support a community's work to help an Iraq war veteran.

The community in Kent, Wash., banded together to make Staff Sergeant Americana Mulitauaopele's house wheelchair-accessible after Mulitauaopele returned to the U.S. in a wheelchair because of a spinal cord injury in Iraq.

CertainTeed was informed about the project by local roofing distributor Stoneway Roofing Supply Inc., Seattle.

"Donating roofing materials was the least we could do for someone who made such a sacrifice for our country," says John Donaldson, president of CertainTeed's Roofing Products Group.

Polyglass opens new facility

Fernley, Nev.-based Polyglass U.S.A. Inc. has announced the opening of a new regional warehouse and manufacturing center in Winter Haven, Fla. The facility is a response to the demand for self-adhered modified bitumen roofing products in the southeastern U.S. as a result of natural disasters and growth in new construction.

"Our self-adhering products have been well-accepted throughout the country, especially in Florida," says Natalino Zanchetta, executive vice president of Polyglass U.S.A. "This new facility will support our long-term corporate goals of growth and commitment, adding value to current roofing products."

Sarnafil wins award

For the second consecutive year, Sarnafil Inc., Canton, Mass., has earned Premier Business Partner honors from Rebuild America, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) conservation initiative.

Sarnafil was one of 24 partners to receive the honor for its excellence in promoting energy-efficient technologies and practices and strong participation in Rebuild America events, especially Rebuild America's series of technical seminars. Sarnafil also was rated in the top 15 percent overall of Rebuild Allied Partners by DOE.

"We're proud of our growing relationships with our Allied Partners in the industry," says Daniel Sze, Rebuild America's program manager. "Transformation or deployment—whatever you call it—begins and ends with energy projects. You get faster and stronger commitments to change when industry and government agree on solutions. These projects advance the goals of energy independence and energy security. Industry gets the work done."

Hunter Panels plans facility

Hunter Panels, Portland, Maine, is building a fifth manufacturing facility in Tooele, Utah. Scheduled to begin plant operations during the first quarter of 2006, the 230,000-square-foot (21367-m²) facility will operate a high-speed Hennecke rigid foam laminator and service the Southwestern states, as well as the West Coast.

"These are energy-conscious states where the building community recognizes the value of thermal efficiency in roof system design," says Alma Garnett, vice president of Hunter Panels. "We have been welcomed by the state of Utah and business community of Tooele with great enthusiasm for our products and company."

Up the ladder

Tremco Inc. has named Will Rich business leader and Mike Soeder vice president of U.S. sales.

Contractor news

Kirberg changes name, logo

St. Louis-based Kirberg Roofing has adopted a new brand name—Kirberg Co.—as well as a new logo to better represent the company's present services and promote growth. The logo symbolizes the company's tradition of quality craftsmanship and future-minded progress and is accompanied by a new slogan, "Old-World Craftsmanship + Tomorrow's Technology."

"By updating our brand, we improve our communications with all customers and open doors to new ones," says Douglas O. Kirberg, president of Kirberg Co. "We are recommitting ourselves to our near-century-long tradition of service while embracing the future."

Distributor news

Bayer acquires SPF supplier

Bayer MaterialScience LLC, Pittsburgh, has acquired Polythane Systems Inc. (PSI), Spring, Texas, a supplier of spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roof systems in the U.S.

Bayer MaterialScience will operate PSI through its wholly owned subsidiary, BaySystems North America LLC and retain PSI's trade names, 31 employees and facilities. PSI's Everest Coatings Inc., Spring, which manufactures acrylic elastomeric coatings, polyurea, sealants and primers, also is included in the acquisition, which was completed by Aug. 31.

"PSI's alliance with Bayer MaterialScience is a big step forward for PSI and its customers," says Tom Sparks, chief executive officer for PSI. "It combines Bayer's excellent reputation and vast resources with PSI's technology and reputation for production and marketing know-how in creating value for customers."

NRCA affiliate news

FRSA announces officers, awards

The Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (FRSA) recently held its 83rd Annual Convention in Orlando, Fla.

During the convention, the association elected the following officers: president—David Shewski, owner of Shewski Roofing Inc., Sarasota, Fla.; president elect—Gary Register, president of Register Contracting Co. Inc., Jacksonville, Fla.; vice president—Billy Cone, president of Rooftech, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; secretary/treasurer—Keith Swope, president and owner of Tampa Roofing Co., Tampa, Fla.; and immediate past president—Jim Cheshire, president of Dimensional Roof Systems, Winter Park, Fla.

In addition, the following awards were given to FRSA members: Bieler Family's Enthusiasm Gets It Done Award—Jim Brauner, owner of Roofing Equipment of Florida, Orlando; Earl Blank Heart Award—Tonya Cogan, owner of Millennium Metals Inc., Jacksonville; Charlie Raymond Membership Award—Dave Cumming, estimator for Camp Rigby Roofing & Sheet Metal, Cape Coral, Fla.; President's Award—Bob Ferrante, vice president of adhesive products for Polyfoam Products, Sunrise, Fla.; Life Membership Award—Melanie Luikart, secretary/treasurer and co-owner of Ray Roofing Co., West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Bob Campanella Memorial Award—Steve Sutter, president of Sutter Roofing Co., Sarasota.

Other news

Scaffold standard is recognized

The Scaffolding, Shoring, & Forming Institute (SSFI) SSFI SC100, "Standard for Testing and Rating Scaffold Assemblies and Components," has been recognized as an American National Standard by the American National Standards Institute and is the first national standard for testing and rating scaffolds.

SC100 offers a way to test and rate scaffold assemblies and components, using the results as a means of comparison. The standard covers a variety of assemblies and components, including welded frame scaffold assemblies; guardrail scaffold components; screwjack scaffold components; system scaffold assemblies; putlog scaffold assemblies; caster scaffold components; side and end bracket scaffold components; and tube and coupler scaffold components. SSFI will pursue action requiring all scaffolds sold in the U.S. to be tested to the standard.

Industry online

The Bacou-Dalloz Hearing Safety Group's new Web site, www.hearingportal.com, combines information from Howard Leight® Industries earplugs and Bilsom® earmuffs. The Web site features product information; news archives; literature downloads; attenuation ratings; global sales contacts; and a search engine. It includes short articles that address questions and concerns of safety professionals involved in the development and implementation of hearing-conservation programs. The Web site also will incorporate an expanded hearing-conservation section that will include new research findings and educational tools.

The Web site www.RoofAuction.com offers consumers and vendors of roofing products and services an online marketplace. The Web site includes a standard auctions portal based on the eBay® auction model; procurement portal with sealed bids or reverse auctions; and classified ads portal. Auctions can be conducted publicly or privately.