Briefings

• Photo courtesy of ElkCorp.

Manufacturer news

ElkCorp encourages corporate giving

As a result of encouragement from management, employees of Dallas-based ElkCorp have reached out to help their community. The company has provided monetary donations to charities while employees have volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, cooked dinners for young cancer patients and their families, and raised about $6,500 for the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas in a 100-mile (161-km) bike ride.

In addition, ElkCorp donated $10,000 to the Ronald McDonald House, which has been chosen as the company cause for 2004 primarily because all proceeds go to the local Dallas chapter. A company cause is a cause or charity that is ElkCorp's specific philanthropic commitment.

"It's been a good year for us as a company," says Diane Carpenter, who is coordinating ElkCorp's philanthropic efforts. "It feels good to give something back in the way of time and involvement that really makes a difference."

Companies receive energy label

Perth Amboy, N.J.-based Englert Inc. has received the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) ENERGY STAR® label for Kynar 500/Hylar 5000 fluorocarbon metal roof coating paint finishes. Finishes include preweathered Galvalume,® metallic copper, dove gray, sierra tan, patina green, deep red, bone white, sandstone and seafog.

Similarly, Courtland, Ontario, Canada-based Dura-Loc Roofing Systems Ltd. announced that more than half the colors in its Lasting Impressions metal roofing line have earned the ENERGY STAR rating. This includes exceeding the ENERGY STAR criteria with Columbus, Ohio-based supplier Akzo Nobel Coatings Inc.'s Egyptian white and ash grey colors. Akzo Nobel Coatings' Colonial Red TRINAR® finish surpassed the initial solar reflectance of 25 percent and 15 percent solar reflectance on steep-slope roof systems after three years.

To earn the label, a roofing product must meet DOE and EPA criteria for reflectivity and reliability. The ENERGY STAR label promotes household and commercial building products that save energy and money.

Perma-Tech receives honor

Cleveland-based Perma-Tech was named a Tier I Design Center for Minneapolis-based Graco Inc.'s proportioning equipment and spray gun. Perma-Tech sells, services and provides training for the Graco Reactor® E-XP proportioning system and Fusion® spray gun.

Reichel & Drews is in China

Reichel & Drews, Itasca, Ill., has installed a modified bitumen membrane production system in Beijing. The system, installed for Beijing Dongfang Yuhong Waterproofing Technology Co. Ltd., reportedly will increase APP- and SBS- modified bitumen membrane production.

CertainTeed adds new line in Kansas

Valley Forge, Pa.-based CertainTeed Corp.'s Insulation Group will build a new manufacturing line in its Kansas City, Kan., facility. The new line will produce GREENGUARD Certified loose-fill products, OPTIMA Fiber Glass Blown-In Insulation and InsulSafe 4. Construction will begin in early 2004.

In other news, CertainTeed plans to install a new facility in Sherman, Texas, for manufacturing heating, ventilation and air-conditioning textile duct liner. The company's duct liner plant in Corbin, Ky., was destroyed by a fire in February.

Tarco expands facilities

Tarco, North Little Rock, Ark., has expanded its Belton, Texas, and Greencastle, Pa., production facilities. The expanded facilities now feature specialized equipment to manufacture self-adhering roof membranes and other roofing products.

"The recent expansion is Tarco's response to the steadily increasing demand for ... conventional asphalt-saturated products [and] ... self-adhering membranes," says Steve Ratliff, Tarco's president and chief executive officer.

Up the ladder

Michael E. Wogan has been appointed Western regional sales manager for Johns Manville's Roofing Systems Group.

Steve Mallein has been named business manager for the Northeast region at Firestone Building Products Co.

Facility Services Group LLC has appointed David M. Link operations manager.

Hamish Smith has been hired as manufacturing engineer at Dura-Loc Roofing Systems Ltd.

Brent Harder has been named South Central regional sales manager at Trimline® Building Products.

Beacon Roofing Supply Inc. has appointed Robert R. Buck president and chief executive officer.

Donald L. Davis has been named Ventco Inc.'s vice president and chief financial officer.

Gerard Roofing Technologies has made the following appointments: Ron Anderson, Central regional manager; Scott Collier, Western distribution manager; and Justin Holland, Eastern distribution manager.

Dana T. Spurgeon has been named Stevens Roofing Systems' district sales manager for Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Chad Lesher has been appointed vice president of roofing sales and Eric Brandenburg has been appointed vice president of waterproofing sales for United Building Products Southwest Inc.'s Dallas distribution facility.

Contractor news

The Durable Slate Co. is honored

Columbus, Ohio-based The Durable Slate Co. received a 2003 Better Business Bureau's International Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, making it the first roofing company to win the award since it was presented in 1996.

The Durable Slate Co. received the award for its commitment to ethical practices, high standards of behavior and ethical reputation.

NRCA affiliate news

Florida foundation receives $25,000

Joplin, Mo.-based TAMKO Roofing Products Inc. endowed the Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association Educational and Research Foundation with $25,000 to be used for educational purposes.

The contribution will assist the foundation in funding research about roofing industry issues, as well as providing quality seminars.

Distributor news

Bradco announces new locations

Avenel, N.J.-based Bradco Supply Corp. has opened new branches in Glendale, Ariz., managed by Rob Richardson; Jefferson Parish, La., managed by Rene Daigle; and Fort Pierce, Fla., managed by Pat Ruane.

Other news

SMACNA honors members

Kevin Gill, president of Hingham, Mass.-based McCusker-Gill Inc., was the recipient of the SMACNA Contractor of the Year Award at the 60th annual convention of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) Inc.

Gill played an important part publishing Creating the High-Performing Contracting Company—Best Practices for SMACNA Contractors.

In addition, Susan E. Karr, executive vice president of the Florida SMACNA Inc. chapter, was given the Petersen-Dunn Award for her contributions to SMACNA and her local association.

The industry online

• Enco has launched www.use-enco.com, which provides a free library of machinery manuals, as well as ways to search for Enco products' availability and prices. Other features include checking the status of orders, tracking shipments and setting up an account.
  
  
• The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association's Web site, www.asphaltroofing.org, now includes more graphics and interactive features to teach roofing professionals about asphalt roof systems' performances.
  
  
• ASTM International has launched the Journal of ASTM International on its Web site, www.astm.org. The journal contains technical papers from ASTM symposia and other sources addressing all ASTM International topics.
  
  
• DEWALT tool users now can order parts, view tool diagrams and wiring schematics, read service notes and watch repair videos on the company's Web site, www.dewaltservicenet.com.
  
  
• Dura-Loc Roofing Systems has redesigned its Web site, www.duraloc.com, to feature downloadable product literature, warranty and installation information, product manuals, and estimating data and codes, among other things. Users also can read the company's quarterly newsletter online.