contractors

Caleffi North America, a leader in state-of-the-art engineered solutions for hydronic and plumbing systems and committed to Excellence in Education, announces that registration is now open for Coffee with Caleffi™ LIVE at AHR 2024, Booth #S7941.

With training content suitable for contractors, engineers, and distributors, AHR attendees can register for up to three of the unique in-booth training events that were inspired by the popular Coffee with Caleffi™ technical training webinar series.

Coffee with Caleffi LIVE will engage attendees with informative, lively conversations being lead by by industry experts like Mechanical Hub’s John Mesenbrink, Tim Ward, Eric Aune and Andy Mickelson as well as esteemed Carlson-Holohan Award Alumni including John Siegenthaler, Dan Holohan, David Yates, Bob Rohr, Ingrid Mattsson, John Goshulak, David Hughes and perhaps a surprise or two!

Free Registration and Schedule at a glance: 

• Monday, 1/22 at 11:00 am:   Charting the Course for Lifelong Learning
• Monday, 1/22 at  2:00 pm:    Enabling Electrification Through Hydronics 
• Tuesday, 1/23 at 11:00 am:  Bridging the Knowledge Gap

For those who pre-register, a special gift will be provided (one per attendee, while supplies last) and the opportunity to enter a drawing to win a one-of-a-kind sculpture by Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr.

A barista will be on hand to prepare a made-to-order Americano, espresso or cappuccino to compliment your Coffee with Caleffi LIVE experience.

“It’s like Disney World for engineers and contractors,” said one visitor on the tour. The Mechanical Hub team made a quick visit to Apple Valley, Minn., to visit Uponor North America as the company celebrated the grand opening of its newly constructed Uponor Experience Center with a “pipe-cutting” ceremony.

Andres Caballero (fifth from left) performs the pipe cutting for the new Uponor Experience Center.

The team was treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the new 4,500-sq.-ft. customer experience center, which features hands-on displays, full-scale residential and commercial training areas, and cutting-edge innovation showcases, and a place to bring MEP students from the area to get a taste of the trades. The new Uponor Experience Center is a flexible education and discovery space designed to advance the technical skills of current and potential customers. In addition, it will help foster innovation within the plumbing and HVAC industry and provide an immersive experience for employees and visitors alike.

Some displays mimicked true applications.

The new Uponor Experience Center occupies the company’s previous customer training area, which was originally built in 2000 and renovated in 2010. It is at the center of the North American headquarters campus, surrounded by corporate offices, an R&D facility, and manufacturing space.

Andres Caballero thanks his staff for all of the hard work and dedication that went into planning and constructing the experience center.

“The opening of our new Uponor Experience Center signifies the importance we place on keeping the needs of our customers, employees, and key stakeholders top of mind as we continue our mission of becoming the global leader in sustainable water and energy solutions,” says Uponor North America President Andres Caballero. “The ‘X’, as our employees have begun to call it, is a culmination of our rich history and decades of innovation coming together to generate awareness and create enthusiasm for moving water more efficiently, effectively, and sustainably.”

With original concepts beginning back in 2020, the Uponor Experience Center was several years in the making. The thoughtful design, which takes into consideration the company’s rich Finnish roots, resulted from many months of internal team collaboration, as well as feedback from customers, partners, and industry influencers.

Mechanical Hub took the opportunity to record parts of the Appetite for Construction podcast with Des Clancy, director of training, Uponor, and the “architect” for the new center.

As guests move through the front doors toward the back of the space, they first experience displays depicting who Uponor is as a company along with the customers served and the unique value provided to key audiences and the industry.

Experience center visitors will get the full hands-on treatment as seen here with one of its gracious partners Milwaukee Tool and its PEX Expander.

Then, there are product showcases and interactive displays for plumbing, fire safety, radiant heating/cooling, hydronic piping, and pre-insulated piping system solutions for residential and commercial markets. Finally, there is an oversized training area, featuring both wood and steel structures, where professionals will learn proper hands-on installation techniques as well as how Uponor’s emphasis on problem-solving and productivity delivers results for their businesses.

Doug Vetter, center, and Brian Spjut, left, from Vetter Plumbing, came all the way from Seattle to get a first glimpse of the space. (Pictured right is Uponor’s Dan Hubbard.)

“We wanted the Uponor Experience Center to extend beyond simply training customers on our products and systems,” says Vice President of Sales Matt Bahr. “As a result, we’ve created a holistic experience that spans a broad spectrum of who we are as a company, showcasing the depth and breadth of our product portfolio and sustainable solutions as well as providing access to the best trainers in the industry.”

With the focus not only on customers but also employees and those in the community, Director of Training Des Clancy says the planning team was very thoughtful about creating an elevated experience for everyone.

“At any given time, we will have contractors, builders, engineers, owners, students, employees, civic leaders, and other guests coming through the doors,” he says. “From tours and training, to onboarding and education sessions, the Uponor Experience Center offers something for everyone, and we are proud to showcase all we are offering to the industry and our community.”

Mechanical Hub’s John Mesenbrink (l) and Tim Ward (r) complete the “Uponor sandwich” as they also toured Uponor’s Distribution Center in Lakeville, Minn., with tour guide and director of logistics and warehousing, Nate McIntosh.

Taco Comfort Solutions has partnered with Contractor Rewards, a free program designed to reward professional contractors, plumbers, builders, and remodelers for buying the industry’s leading products.

Customers earn points on Taco’s heating and plumbing products that can be redeemed for thousands of possible rewards – anything from movie tickets to tools or live events and vacations.  Taco’s full catalog of residential heating and plumbing products is eligible.  Points are earned on circulators, zone valves, or switching relays that were going to be purchased anyway.

Enroll today and use the bonus code GreenRewards to earn 200 points, free.  This jumpstart is Taco’s way of saying “thank you” to loyal customers.  Signing up is free and only takes a minute.  Just go to ContractorRewards.com and answer a few questions.

For questions, email ContractorSupport@ContractorRewards.com or call 1-877-286-7064.

Scholarships awarded to children, grandchildren and employees of Carrier and Bryant distributors and contractors nationwide

Carrier and Bryant have announced the recipients of this year’s Carrier & Bryant Distributors’ Education Foundation scholarships. Recipients will receive funding for their post-secondary or vocational program during the 2022-2023 school year. Carrier and Bryant are part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions.

Established in 1981 the Carrier & Bryant Distributors’ Education Foundation was created to commemorate the late William A. Blees for his many years of service as an advisor to Carrier and Bryant distributors. Since inception, the foundation has awarded scholarships to over 400 students. Today, the foundation continues to serve the children, grandchildren and employees of distributors and contractors while also honoring the industry’s founder, Willis Carrier.

Willis Carrier attended Cornell University on a full, four-year merit scholarship. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, became a successful inventor and businessperson, and, in 1902, invented the founding principles of modern air conditioning. Willis Carrier was a consummate scientist and an educator who attended college on scholarship, just as our recipients will in his honor.

“The Carrier & Bryant Distributors’ Education Foundation scholarships are a special way for us to say ‘thank you’ to our contractors and distributors for their expertise and support,” said Justin Keppy, President, NA Residential & Light Commercial HVAC, Carrier. “This year’s outstanding scholarship recipients embody all of the values and characteristics we look for in future leaders, and we’re proud to support their educational endeavors just as Willis Carrier was supported in his.”

Scholarships from the foundation are available to children, grandchildren and employees of Carrier and Bryant distributors and contractors and their employees throughout the U.S. Students are awarded the scholarship based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, demonstrated leadership potential, and personal motivation. A short essay about the candidates’ educational and career aspirations is required during the application process. There were 119 total applicants from 27 states for this year’s scholarships.

The 2022 Carrier & Bryant Distributors’ Education Foundation scholarship recipients include:

For more information about Carrier or Bryant, please visit https://www.carrier.com/residential/en/us/ or www.bryant.com.