Industry Briefing

SPRI develops wind-design seminar

SPRI has developed a daylong seminar about proper wind-design methods for low-slope roof systems. The seminar, designed for architects, consultants, specification writers, contractors and others, will focus on wind loads and how to calculate them. The seminar also will discuss wind's effects on different roof systems, wind-load references by Factory Mutual Research and American Society of Civil Engineers, and SPRI's publications and standards regarding wind issues.

The program is available for presentation to industry groups. For more information, call SPRI at (781) 444-0242 or e-mail info@spri.org.

Tecta America acquires business

Skokie, Ill.-based Tecta America Corp. has acquired the assets of Lavey Roofing Corp., San Diego. Lavey Roofing, which was founded in 1980, has facilities in San Diego and Santa Ana, Calif., and about 55 employees. According to Tecta America representatives, Lavey Roofing will operate under the name Lavey Roofing Services Inc. and no employee or facility changes will occur. Tecta America now owns 12 companies in 23 locations and has more than 1,300 employees.

Manufacturer founder passes away

Dolores Morales de Lobo, widow of Humberto Lobo Villarreal, founder of Santa Catarina, N.L., Mexico-based Protexa S.A. de C.V., passed away at the age of 82.

Morales participated in the founding of Protexa and worked as a chemist in the company's laboratories testing waterproofing materials. Morales remained active in the company after her husband passed away in 1976.

Morales is survived by her daughters, Dolores, Cristina, Margarita, Rosa Maria and Magdalena, as well as sons, Humberto, Javier and Rodrigo.

EcoStar founding employee dies

Timothy J. Kokolus, a founding employee and regional manager for EcoStar Inc., Vernon Hills, Ill., passed away March 9. Kokolus was 48.

Kokolus had 25 years' experience in the roofing industry as a distributor's and manufacturer's representative. In 1998, he joined EcoStar and received three Regional Manager of the Year Awards during his tenure.

Kokolus is survived by his wife, Patricia, and daughters, Lauren, Shannon, Jaclyn and Alyson. The family has requested contributions be sent to the Timothy J. Kokolus Children's Educational Fund, c/o Heintzelman Funeral Home, 4906 Route 309, P.O. Box 196, Schnecksville, PA 18078.

Roofing companies receive safety awards

Five roofing contracting companies recently were honored with Contractor Safety Awards by the Safety Incentive Program (SIP), a Cleveland-based labor-management partnership. The program annually recognizes northeast Ohio's union contracting companies that have the best safety practices and records. Fourteen trades incorporating 1,200 contracting companies participate in SIP. Those companies that have lost-workday incident rates 25 percent below the national average receive awards.

Roofing contracting companies that received 2001 Contractor Safety Awards include NRCA members T & F Systems Inc., Cleveland, and Warren Roofing and Insulating Co., Walton Hills, Ohio. Other roofing companies honored were Gundlach Sheet Metal Works, Sandusky, Ohio; Northern Ohio Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., Elyria; and Ray Roofing & Supply Inc., Canton, Ohio.

The Industry Online

• MonierLifetile has redesigned its Web site, www.monierlifetile.com, to include links for its architectural specification programs and RoofCAD on its home page.
  
  
• DTN has changed its name to Meteorlogix and its Web site address to www.meteorlogix.com. The site provides weather-related products and information.
  
  
• A permanent polyurethane exhibition is available online at www.pu2pu.com. The Web site includes commercial and technical information, press releases and links that relate to the polyurethane industry.
  
  
• GAF Materials Corp. has redesigned its Web site, www.gaf.com, to include downloadable documents, online instructional videos and steep-slope roofing information for homeowners.