Briefings

Manufacturer news

CertainTeed Corp. expands shingle availability

CertainTeed Corp., Malvern, Pa., has expanded the availability of its NorthGate™ SBS polymer-modified bitumen shingle because of increased demand after the product's limited release in 2015.

NorthGate shingles are designed to endure harsh weather elements that threaten the longevity of residential roof systems. The shingles originally were made available in Alaska, British Columbia, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. In the U.S., the shingles now are available in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and select areas of Michigan and Nebraska. In Canada, the shingles now are available in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and select areas of Ontario.

GAF wins Women's Choice Award

GAF, Parsippany, N.J., has been awarded the 2016 Women's Choice Award by WomenCertified Inc., Hollywood, Fla., for the fourth consecutive year.

The Women's Choice Award helps women make smart purchasing choices by identifying the brands, products and services that are most recommended by other women. GAF received the award based on the results of WomenCertified's annual customer satisfaction survey that revealed 100 percent of the female customers polled would recommend GAF to their families and friends.

Progressive Materials unveils new office space

Progressive Materials, New Albany, Ind., has moved into a newly renovated office space in New Albany.

The office space, originally 1,800 square feet when Progressive Materials first occupied the space in 2011, recently was enlarged to 6,000 square feet. The space now features private offices, cubicles, a kitchen and a production office as well as conference rooms for meetings and classes and an updated laboratory for manufacturing products.

Distributor news

N.B. Handy Co. celebrates anniversary

N.B. Handy Co., Lynchburg, Va., celebrated its 125th anniversary April 1. The company, a wholesale distributor of commercial roofing and other industry products, has been privately owned and operated by the same family since 1891.

In celebration of the company's anniversary and to thank its customers, employees and vendors for their support, a party was held April 1 at every N.B. Handy location. Employees also gave back to the community by hosting special fundraising events for the company's Handy Helping Others charitable organization.

Other news

SPFA announces award winners

The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) has announced the recipients of its 2016 Spray Foam National Industry Excellence Awards. The awards are given to companies whose project submissions best demonstrate innovative uses of spray foam in one of five categories: commercial wall foam, residential wall foam, roof foam greater than 40,000 square feet, roof foam less than 40,000 square feet, and specialty applications.

NOVA Spray Foam Insulation LLC, Leesburg, Va.; USI, St. Paul, Minn.; NRCA member Central Coating Co. Inc., Madera, Calif.; NRCA member Wedge Roofing Inc., Petaluma, Calif.; and RPC Industries Inc., Hampton, Va., each received an award.

RCI founder passes away

Lyons

Robert "Bob" Lyons, founder of RCI Inc., passed away March 16. He was 63.

Lyons founded RCI in 1983 with an initial charter membership of 30 members. Currently, the association has more than 3,000 members. Lyons recently was awarded the RCI Lifetime Achievement Award, and Sunday, March 13, was declared Robert Lyons Day. Lyons is survived by his wife, Norma; his sons, Jason and Jonathan; his daughter, Kimberly; his brother, Randy; and four grandchildren.

Lyons' family has asked that donations be made through the RCI Foundation, which recently established the Robert Lyons Scholarship to aid college students in engineering, architecture and construction science fields of study, at www.rcifoundation.org.

MCA welcomes new members

The Metal Construction Association (MCA) has welcomed four new member companies. California Panel Systems, El Cajon, Calif.; CEI Composite Materials, Manchester, Mich.; NRCA member Duro-Last Roofing Inc., Saginaw, Mich.; and Mill Steel, Grand Rapids, Mich., join more than 75 other member companies with specialties in the metal construction industry.

RICOWI announces board of directors

The Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues (RICOWI) Inc. elected its 2016-18 board of directors at a meeting held March 10.

Rick Olson, president of Tile Roofing Institute, Seattle, has been elected chairman; David Balistreri, president of Building Envelope Consultants Ltd., Waukesha, Wis., has been elected vice-chairman; and Mike Ennis, technical director of SPRI, Waltham, Mass., has been elected secretary-treasurer. Lynne Christensen, director of operations for the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau, Mission, British Columbia, will serve as past chairwoman.

The industry online

The Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) has made its Reflective Roof Rebates Database available to the general public. Originally created for RCMA members only, the database serves as a customized search tool to help contractors find up-to-date listings of local, state and utility financial incentives available for installing low- and steep-slope reflective roof systems. The database is available at www.roofcoatings.org/reflective-roof-rebates-database.

The Metal Construction Association has enhanced the technical resources section of its website, www.metalconstruction.org/Tech-Resources. More than two dozen technical resources are available for use by contractors, architects and building managers with the newest resources now displayed at the top of the technical resources section followed by resources grouped in categories such as metal roofing, metal walls and insulated metal panels.

Up the ladder

ABC Supply Co. Inc. has named John Askin Jr. manager of its Lakewood, N.J., location.

Events

May

19
CERTA Train-the-trainer Authorization
NRCA
Rosemont, Ill.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

20
CERTA Train-the-trainer Reauthorization
NRCA
Rosemont, Ill.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

June

5-11
National Roofing Week
NRCA
Nationwide
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

12-14
Western Roofing Expo
Visit the NRCA booth
Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA)
Las Vegas
Contact: WSRCA
(800) 725-0333
www.wsrca.com