Briefings

  • Pictured from left to right: Michael Gorey, president of Firestone Building Products; Nelson Braddy, president of the National Roofing Foundation's (NRF's) Board of Trustees; Don McCrory, NRF trustee; Chris Seidel, executive director of NRF; and Robert Delaney, vice president of sales for Firestone Building Products.

Manufacturer news

Firestone makes donation

Firestone Building Products Co., Carmel, Ind., donated $10,000 to the National Roofing Foundation (NRF), a separate but related educational and research organization of NRCA, during NRCA's 117th Annual Convention and Exhibit in San Diego, Feb. 22-25. The donation will be used toward the foundation's scholarship fund—annual scholarships available to employees, immediate family members of employees or immediate family members of NRCA contractor members enrolled in an undergraduate program.

Derbigum® turns 25

Kansas City, Mo.-based Performance Roof Systems Inc. celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Derbigum roof membranes at NRCA's convention in San Diego, Feb. 22-25. During the trade show, the company announced the winner of The Derbigum Challenge, a contest in which Performance Approved Contractors entered photos and descriptions of their oldest or most unique jobs built with Derbigum materials.

The grand prize winner, Cliff Johnson, president of Empire Roofing, Tulsa, Okla., received a special edition 25th anniversary spray rig worth about $38,000. Johnson won for having the oldest Derbigum roof system still in place. The roof system was installed in June 1980 and never has been repaired.

Owens Corning enhances program

Owens Corning, Toledo, Ohio, introduced enhancements to its Preferred Contractor Program during NRCA's 117th Annual Convention and Exhibit in San Diego, Feb. 22-25. A customer-loyalty program for the roofing industry, the Preferred Contractor Program now offers discounts on a variety of products and services, as well as promotional allowances that will help program members develop and fund their business growth activities.

Other new program features include the chance to double or triple Preferred Points™ awards through product promotions; the opportunity to discuss issues and trends during regional roundtables; and lead-generation tools, including enrollment in a direct-mail service and use of the company's ProConnect™ contractor locator service.

In other news, Owens Corning plans to upgrade its Jackson, Tenn., facility to increase glass-fiber capacity. Estimating a $30 million upgrade, the company expects to complete the expansion by August. As part of the expansion, Owens Corning is using a $1 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to develop new technology that will emit less carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide and use less natural gas. The facility also will produce Owens Corning high-performance Advantex® Glass, which is said to improve the wind resistance and application strength of asphalt shingles.

Infrared Solutions earns award

Minneapolis-based Infrared Solutions Inc. has received an award from Plant Engineering magazine for its FlexCam® infrared camera. The camera won the bronze award in the 17th Annual Plant Engineering Product of the Year Awards, which recognize innovative new products that have technical and engineering merits. The award selections are based on criteria such as functionality and ergonomic aspects.

Atlas receives LTTR validation

Atlas Roofing Corp., Atlanta, has received third-party validation of its long-term thermal resistance (LTTR) values for its permeable-faced polyisocyanurate roof insulation products. Atlas Roofing is the first polyisocyanurate insulation manufacturer to receive the validation and adopt the Quality Mark designation.

Introduced by the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, the Quality Mark Program is a voluntary program administered by FM Global that has established a third-party certification procedure for polyisocyanurate roof insulation products. Annual manufacturing process reviews and verification will be conducted at all Atlas Roofing plants as part of the program.

Carlisle SynTec sponsors film

Carlisle SynTec Inc., Carlisle, Pa., has sponsored and helped fund the production of an award-winning PBS documentary, "The Rural Studio Film," which aired April 7 on WITF-TV, Harrisburg, Pa. As a supporter of the architectural community, Carlisle SynTec's sponsorship was based on its belief that education and support of the architectural community are important.

Winning Best Feature Length Documentary Film at the Barcelona International Film Festival, "The Rural Studio Film" focuses on architecture students and professors at Auburn University's Rural Studio, Auburn, Ala., designing and constructing buildings in poor regions of Alabama. Founded by the late professor Samuel Mockbee, the Rural Studio program educates architecture students while improving communities.

Henry® Co. offers free assessments

Henry Co., Huntington Park, Calif., is offering building owners and building managers free roof system assessments by its certified contractors as part of its Henry Roof Maintenance Survey. The contractors discuss budget, maintenance and reroofing issues and provide inspections of flashings, insulation, coatings and more. The Henry Roof Maintenance Survey is available for new commercial and institutional projects.

Sarnafil announces award winners

Canton, Mass.-based Sarnafil Inc. has announced the following winners of its 2003 applicator Project of the Year challenge: first place—Bloxsom Roofing & Siding Co., Traverse City, Mich., for the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School project; second place—Clarks Quality Roofing, Salt Lake City, for the Dixie Regional Medical Center project, St. George, Utah; and third place—Diamond Roofing Co. Inc., Syracuse, N.Y., for the Skaneateles High School and Middle School project, Skaneateles, N.Y.

Eligibility for the annual award is offered to Sarnafil's authorized roofing and waterproofing applicators who submit their most challenging Sarnafil projects. The first place winner receives a $5,000 check and recognition from industry peers.

Tremco joins mentor program

The Roofing and Building Maintenance Division of Tremco Inc., Beachwood, Ohio, has joined the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) Mentor-Protégé Program as a mentor. Through the program, large firms help smaller businesses, such as minority educational institutions or economically disadvantaged businesses, improve their performances during FAA projects. FAA chooses mentors by evaluating their capabilities for choosing and helping protégés who are well-suited for FAA. Tremco is the first Ohio-based and only roofing products and services company to join the FAA program as a mentor.

Hunter Panels opens facility

Portland, Maine-based Hunter Panels, is building a third manufacturing facility in Lake City, Fla. Scheduled to open this month, the facility will have more than 100,000 square feet (9290 m²) of warehouse space, as well as a new laminator.

"Our expansion into the Southeast is key to the company's continued growth," says Alma Garnett, vice president of Hunter Panels. "This is a vibrant region for polyisocyanurate growth, and our customers need access to supply."



Up the ladder

Firestone Building Products Co. has appointed Kelly Barrett Mid-Atlantic regional business manager; Beth Crider division manager of corporate logistics; Bob Delaney vice president of sales and marketing; George Furman division manager of corporate quality; Jim Hoff vice president of product development and technology; Terry O'Connor Canadian business manager; and Mike Vall vice president of strategic planning.

ERSystems has appointed Andy Baylon technical salesperson for Michigan, northern Indiana and northwest Ohio; Mark Novak technical salesperson and inside sales/support for Loretto, Minn.; Tom Shackelford technical salesperson for Arizona, New Mexico, southern California and Las Vegas; and Rebekah Simonton technical salesperson for Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

A-Lert Roof Systems has named Tammy Bell purchasing manager, Brad Peery Texas area sales manager and Ryan Surratt Houston area sales representative.

CENTRIA has appointed Rick Brow director of marketing for its Architectural Systems Division.

Dura-Loc Roofing Systems Ltd. has named Derek Chalk Southeastern sales representative.

Mark Kilmer has been appointed Midwest regional sales manager for W.P. Hickman Co.

Edward R. Krusec has been named Midwest sales manager of Hunter Panels.

The Pneu-Fast® Co. has appointed Thomas Stilp chief financial officer.

Bostik Findley has appointed Paul Gallagher business development manager, international and retail.

Mel Limon has been named executive director of sales for Flame Engineering, Inc.



NRCA affiliate news

Carolinas group elects officers

The Carolinas Roofing & Sheet Metal Contractors Association has elected its 2004 officers. The following are serving a one-year term that began Jan. 1: president—John T. Atkins, roofing superintendent of Fort Roofing & Sheet Metal Works Inc., Sumter, S.C.; first vice president—Wayne Patrick, owner of Roof-Ply Inc., Greensboro, N.C.; second vice president—Larry Davis, president of Davis Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., Charleston, S.C.; and secretary/treasurer—Taylor Dyer, vice president of East Coast Roofing & Metals Inc., Greenville, N.C.



Other news

ARMA names contest winners

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) has announced the winners of its 2003 Accident Prevention Contest.

Manufacturing facilities were categorized by the number of labor hours worked during 2003: Group A—more than 300,000 hours; Group B—200,000 hours to 300,000 hours; Group C—100,000 hours to 199,999 hours; and Group D—less than 100,000 hours.

The facility with the fewest number of accidents in each category received an ARMA President's Award.

Recipients include the following: Group A—Valley Forge, Pa.-based CertainTeed Corp.'s Oxford, N.C., facility; Group B—Wayne, N.J.-based GAF Materials Corp.'s Chester, S.C., facility; Group C—CertainTeed's Birmingham, Ala., facility; and Group D—Toledo, Ohio-based Owens Corning's Morehead City, N.C., facility.

MCA names award winners

The Metal Construction Association (MCA) has announced the winners of its 2004 President's Awards. Entries from Metal Architecture magazine's Annual Design Awards contest, in which architects and manufacturers submit metal construction projects, are eligible for the awards.

The President's Awards winners are chosen from the submissions that have used products from MCA member companies.

Following are the 2004 winners: historical restoration—Umicore Building Products USA Inc., Raleigh, N.C., for the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco; commercial—CENTRIA, Moon Township, Pa., for Reliant Stadium, Houston; institutional—Morin Corp., Bristol, Conn., for Prospect Place Modular Buildings, New Haven, Conn.; residential—Metal Sales Manufacturing Corp., Longmont, Colo., for 5A Farms, Belleville, Texas; metal roofing—MBCI, Houston, for the Lester E. Palmer Events Center, Austin, Texas; industrial—CENTRIA for Sara Lee Coffee & Tea, Suffolk, Va.; and overall excellence—ATAS International Inc., Allentown, Pa., and CENTRIA for the Clover Park Technical College of Automotive Education and Training Facility, Lakewood, Wash.



Industry online

  • Ludowici Roof Tile has launched a new Web site at www.ludowici.com. The Web site includes company history, installation instructions, computer-aided design details, product photos, a virtual plant tour and a frequently asked questions section.

  • BuildSite has introduced its online product and technical database for distributors and contractors involved with commercial and infrastructure construction at www.buildsite.com. Users can search for product information from more than 150 manufacturers in a variety of mediums, including roofing materials. The Web site also features an Expert Resource database and Submittal Builder.

  • Firestone Building Products Co. has redesigned its Web site, www.firestonebpco.com. The Web site now features an improved home page with a What's New section and a Firestone Feature section highlighting Firestone Building Products' roof system installations; online registration forms for seminars; and links to a product list, technical information sheets and more in the Roofing Systems section. Other features include Firestone Building Products' RoofingEdge newsletter and a Company News section.

  • Metro Roof Products has launched a new Web site at www.smartroofs.com. The Web site provides contractors and homeowners with an easier way to register new roof systems or settle warranty transfers. It has an online warranty registration where people who buy Metro Roof Products roof systems can print their warranties.

  • MonierLifetile now offers Web-based order entry at www.monierlifetile.com. Users can click on "MY MLT" and enter their orders. Customers who complete the online registration process will be contacted by a representative, who will provide further instructions.

  • Infrared Solutions Inc. has launched its new Web site at www.infraredsolutions.com. The Web site includes product information about Infrared Solutions cameras and software, sample images, live-action product demonstrations, an application and technology case studies library, and thermal analysis sample reports.

  • CertainTeed Corp. has launched its new Web site at www.certainteed.com. The Web site offers audience-specific content, so if a user selects "contractor" from the audience option, all information the user receives will be contractor-related. The Web site also features trends, tips and corporate information.

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