Briefings

Manufacturer news

CertainTeed to develop photovoltaic products

NRCA member CertainTeed Corp., Valley Forge, Pa., has made a joint agreement with Energy Conservation Devices Inc., Rochester Hills, Mich., to develop roofing-integrated photovoltaic products for the residential roofing market. The products will combine Energy Conservation Devices' UNI-SOLAR cells and CertainTeed's roofing products and are expected to be available in 2010.

"This agreement is a significant expansion into a new market for Energy Conservation Devices," says Mark Morelli, Energy Conservation Devices' president and chief executive officer. "CertainTeed is clearly an industry leader in building materials and has a broad product offering that can take advantage of the unique characteristics of our flexible, lightweight and reliable UNI-SOLAR cells."

Garland Industries launches subsidiary

Garland Industries Inc., Cleveland, has launched Garland Energy Systems Inc., a subsidiary that makes large-scale alternative energy solutions for commercial, industrial and institutional customers.

Garland Energy Systems' management teams are based in California and Cleveland, and the company has sales representation throughout the U.S. The company facilitates every aspect of solar system implementation, including analysis, technology selection, financing, system integration and maintenance.

"Garland Energy Systems is a direct and inevitable evolution of Garland Industries' ongoing commitment to sustainable technologies," says David Sokol, Garland Industries' president. "Garland has been helping organizations adapt to the ever-changing social and economic challenges of facility infrastructure management since our founding in 1895. As one of our industry's earliest adopters of sustainable initiatives, we have successfully integrated the capabilities needed to help our customers realize their visions for a fully sustainable future."

Duro-Last® Roofing donates material

Saginaw, Mich.-based Duro-Last Roofing Inc. donated more than 4,500 square feet of roof membrane to Beacon House in Marquette, Mich. Beacon House is an independent organization that provides lodging and other support services for patients, their caregivers and family members traveling to Marquette County for medical treatment.

"Our prayers literally have been answered," says Marcy Griffen, Beacon House's executive director. "We will no longer need to worry about our roof leaking when the big storms of the Upper Peninsula roll in. We are so grateful to Duro-Last and all the roofing companies coming together to help us."

Other news

ARMA is featured on television

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) is featured in a new episode of The History Channel's Modern Marvels series titled "Secrets of Oil." The episode focuses on how oil is used for products other than gasoline and features a segment explaining how asphalt roof shingles are made and their benefits.

"Asphalt shingles are the leading choice for residential roofing in the U.S. because they provide quality, durability, versatility and economy," says Reed Hitchcock, ARMA's executive vice president. "Asphalt is the key to the durability of asphalt shingles, allowing them to endure harsh weather conditions all year round in every climate."

More information about "Modern Marvels: Secrets of Oil" is available at www.history.com/minisites/modernmarvels.

Polyurethane associations present awards

The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry and the American Chemistry Council have announced the winners of the 2008 Polyurethane Innovation Awards.

NRCA member BASF Corp., Florham Park, N.J., received an award in the Polyurethane Chemicals category for its introduction of Pluracol® BALANCE™ Renewable Resource Polyols. BASF also won an award in the Finished Product category for its Elastocoast® Elastomeric Revetments.

NRCA member Graco Inc., Minneapolis, won in the Processing Equipment category for its Fusion® CS Spray Gun with ClearShot™ Technology.

Both companies were finalists in numerous other award categories.

APA offers product reports online

APA—The Engineered Wood Association has made its APA Product Reports® available for free at www.apawood.org. The reports are intended to supplement existing code evaluation reports and signify that a product complies with national building codes.

"The report evaluations are based on test data and/or analysis that we perform on a regular basis," says Borjen Yeh, director of APA's technical services division. "The information will help designers, code officials and building professionals determine product conformance with national product standards and building codes."

The industry online

A.R.E. has added a Build/Quote Your Own Truck Cap link to www.4are.com. The link allows consumers to build and view a truck cap or tonneau before purchasing it.

EXCEPTIONAL® Metals, a division of Duro-Last® Roofing Inc., has redesigned www.exceptionalmetals.com to include a complete edge-metal accessories product line, access to product data specifications and a navigation system that reportedly is easy to use.

The online roofing resource, www.rooferscoffeeshop.com, has been redesigned to include an optimized search engine, lead generation, news and features, a chat forum, education and training information, an interactive version of Roofer's Exchange magazine and a new logo.

The EPDM Roofing Association has added a "More than Green" section to www.epdmroofs.org. The section includes roofing projects that incorporate EPDM and have won awards and recognition for their environmental performance.

Up the ladder

Bert W. Maldonado has been named regional fleet specialist for ABC Supply Co.'s southeast region.

Bostik Inc.'s Construction & Distribution Division has named Christine Krisko and Richard Zeuli marketing communications managers.

Peter Kennedy, Eric Murff and Ken Pate have been appointed to Elastomeric Roofing Systems Inc.'s sales staff.

GAF Materials Corp. has named Lee Ramsey area vice president, east region. Anthony Utter has been named area vice president, west region, and Chris Yeats has been named area vice president, central region.

Sam Everett has been named channel marketing manager for OMG Inc.'s Roofing Products Group.

Lori Espinosa has been named National Coatings Corp.'s lead customer service support. Nicole Kuske has been appointed marketing associate.

RoofLogic has appointed Ashu Faruki sales and marketing manager.

Joe Carbine has been named vice president of national account sales and renewable energy solutions for Nations Roof LLC.

Polyfoam Products Inc. has named Shawn McGurrin Hawaiian sales and technical service representative, and Sanjai Ramchandani has been named California and Pacific Rim regional manager for all sales and training related to Polyfoam's Polyset and EcoSet® roof tile attachment systems. Paul Bato and Christian Weiss have been named sales and technical service representatives in California.

Ryan Lettau, EIT, has been named project engineer and solar consultant for Velcheck & Finger Roof Consulting & Service.