Uponor North America hosted a ribbon-cutting and plant tour on Thursday, Oct. 11 to celebrate the grand opening of its newest expansion, a 237,000-square-foot facility located in Hutchinson, Minn. The plant was completed earlier this year, six months ahead of schedule, and has already produced more than 30 million feet of PEX tubing, while adding Read More
Industry News
Uponor North America hosted a ribbon-cutting and plant tour on Thursday, Oct. 11 to celebrate the grand opening of its newest expansion, a 237,000-square-foot facility located in Hutchinson, Minn.
The plant was completed earlier this year, six months ahead of schedule, and has already produced more than 30 million feet of PEX tubing, while adding more than 40 jobs in the community.
Uponor Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony | October 11, 2018
“While this is our latest expansion, it is certainly not our last. We are grateful to Hutchinson and community leaders for their support. We look forward to remaining part of the community for years to come,” said Bill Gray, president of Uponor North America.
Uponor North America first announced the $6.35 million investment in Hutchinson in July 2017 to support the company’s growing U.S. manufacturing operations. Hutchinson was an attractive location as it provided access to a large manufacturing workforce and the community showed strong support for Uponor.
Hutchinson Mayor Gary Forcier said, “I would like to thank Uponor for choosing our town to come to. We feel fortunate to have an upstanding company like Uponor come and be part of our community. We’re excited about the employment opportunities this brings and are looking forward to working with Uponor to continue to improve our community.”
At Hutchinson High School, guests toured the newly completed Center for Technical Excellence (CTE). The CTE is part of TigerPath, a skilled-workforce training program funded by 28 community partners, including Uponor.
Robert Danneker, principal of Hutchinson High School, said, “The strength of TigerPath lies within the strong, collaborative partnerships Hutchinson High School builds, maintains, and sustains with our local businesses and industries. Today, we celebrate Uponor and thank them immensely for their generous donation to TigerPath.”
To further celebrate Manufacturing Month, Uponor organized several additional events:
Oct. 10, Uponor joined nearly 1,000 organizations to raise awareness about the value of water by participating in Imagine a Day Without Water on social media.
Oct. 12, from 8:45 to 11:30 a.m., Uponor welcomed 75 students from local schools to its Apple Valley facility. The students toured the plant and heard from a panel of experts on career opportunities in manufacturing.
Falls Church, Va. — The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation announced the winners of 2018 scholarships awarded through the Foundation. Twenty-six students were awarded a total of $60,000 in scholarships funded by the Foundation, the South Jersey Mechanical Contractors Association, Gerry Kennedy, Anne Williams, the McGlame-Wordell Scholarship Committee, the PHCC Auxiliary of Texas, the Read More
Falls Church, Va. — The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation announced the winners of 2018 scholarships awarded through the Foundation. Twenty-six students were awarded a total of $60,000 in scholarships funded by the Foundation, the South Jersey Mechanical Contractors Association, Gerry Kennedy, Anne Williams, the McGlame-Wordell Scholarship Committee, the PHCC Auxiliary of Texas, the PHCC Auxiliary of Massachusetts and PHCC’s Past National Officers. The students, their schools and studies are listed below.
Eighteen additional students have received 2018 scholarships thanks to $45,000 in funding provided by A. O. Smith, Bradford White, Delta Faucet Company, RIDGID and State Water Heaters. The winners of these awards will be announced under separate releases.
The top Foundation scholarship winners for 2018 are:
• Aaron Ziccarelli from Madison, Wis. has been awarded the 2018 Charles F. Hiley Memorial Scholarship, a $5,000 award funded by the PHCC Educational Foundation and South Jersey Mechanical Contractors Association. He is studying plumbing installation, service & repair at Madison Area Technical College.
• Zachary Bonnema from Sioux Center, Iowa is studying HVACR installation, service & repair at Southeast Technical Institute and was awarded a $5,000 scholarship.
• Liam Chapman from Arlington, Mass. is studying Mechanical Engineering at Middlesex Community College and was awarded a $5,000 scholarship.
• Eric Young from Buena Park, Calif. is studying plumbing installation, service & repair at the PHCC of Orange County Apprentice Program and was awarded a $5,000 scholarship.
The following students have been awarded $2,500 scholarships funded by the PHCC Educational Foundation:
• David Drum from Encinitas, Calif. is studying plumbing installation, service & repair at the PHCC Academy of San Diego.
• Walker Dunn from Hoquiam, Wash. is studying HVACR installation, service & repair at Perry Technical Institute.
• Collin Engler from Dunmor, Ky. is studying HVACR installation, service & repair at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College.
• Austin Magruder from Fort Collins, Colo. is studying HVACR installation, service & repair at the PHCC Academy of Colorado.
• Tyler Ray from Santa Fe, Texas is studying Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M.
• Reymundo Torres from Santa Ana, Calif. is studying plumbing installation, service & repair at the PHCC of Orange County Apprentice Program.
• Aaron Wilson from Gypsum, Colo. is studying plumbing installation, service & repair at the PHCC Academy apprentice Program.
The following students have been awarded $1,000 scholarships funded by the PHCC Educational Foundation:
• Jorge Cortes from Fullerton, Calif. is studying plumbing installation, service & repair at the PHCC of Orange County Apprentice Program.
• Riley Larkin from Wentzville, Mo. is studying Business Management at the University of Missouri, Columbia.
• Quantavious Mathis from Savannah, Ga. is studying plumbing installation, service & repair at PHCC Academy Online Program.
• Dennis Medina from Anaheim, Calif. is studying plumbing installation, service & repair at the PHCC of Orange County Apprentice Program.
• Max Reidinger from Mission Viejo, Calif. is studying plumbing installation, service & repair at the PHCC of Orange County Apprentice Program.
• Fred Rodriguez from Anaheim, Calif. is studying plumbing installation, service & repair at the PHCC of Orange County Apprentice Program.
• Sean Rodriguez from Santa Ana, Calif. is studying plumbing installation, service & repair at the PHCC of Orange County Apprentice Program.
• Shannon Short from Bellflower, Calif. is studying plumbing installation, service & repair at the PHCC of Orange County Apprentice Program.
• Dev Tavares from Spring, Texas is studying Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech University.
Other scholarships awarded by the Foundation and funded by PHCC members and organizations were:
• Zachary Blum from Wallingford, Conn. was awarded a $2,500 funded by Gerry Kennedy. He is studying HVACR installation, service & repair at the New England Institute of Technology.
• Jaylene Colon from East Taunton, Mass. was awarded a $2,500 Fran Williams Memorial Scholarship funded Anne Williams and the McGlame-Wordell Scholarship Committee. She is studying Construction Management at Roger Williams University.
• Erin Freitas of Natick, Mass. was awarded a $2,500 scholarship funded by the PHCC of Massachusetts Auxiliary and PHCC Educational Foundation. She is studying Business Management at Villanova University.
• Chase Curtis Coburn from Van Alstyne, Texas was awarded a $2,500 scholarship funded by the PHCC of Texas Auxiliary and PHCC Educational Foundation. He is studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arkansas.
• Jose Garcia from Fullerton, Calif. was awarded a $2,500 need-based scholarship sponsored by the PHCC Past National Officers. He is studying plumbing installation, service & repair at the PHCC of Orange County Apprentice Program.
• John J. Gisonna from Monroe, N.Y. was awarded a $2,500 need-based scholarship sponsored by the PHCC Past National Officers. He is studying HVACR installation, service & repair at the Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Monroe, N.Y. — Nebrasky Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, an award-winning Hudson Valley business, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. Since its founding, Nebrasky has delivered trusted service to residents of Orange, Dutchess and Rockland counties. To commemorate the milestone, President Paul Nebrasky along with his staff, clients and friends gathered at the Harness Racing Museum in Read More
Monroe, N.Y. — Nebrasky Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, an award-winning Hudson Valley business, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. Since its founding, Nebrasky has delivered trusted service to residents of Orange, Dutchess and Rockland counties. To commemorate the milestone, President Paul Nebrasky along with his staff, clients and friends gathered at the Harness Racing Museum in Goshen, N.Y., on Thursday, September 27, 2018, to acknowledge the many people who have contributed to the business’s success.
“Everyone here is here for a reason; you are part of the company’s success,” said Nebrasky. “Nebrasky Plumbing wouldn’t be here without all of our amazing employees, many of whom have been with me for 10, 15 or 20 years. There’s a reason why for five years running, the company has been named Best Plumber/HVAC in the Hudson Valley by the Times Herald-Record. The only way we can be the best is with great employees and I just want to thank every single one of you.”
Paul Nebrasky and family celebrate 30 years of business at anniversary dinner. (From left to right): Son, David Nebrasky; Daughter, Julia Nebrasky; Paul Nebrasky; Wife, Ilene Nebrasky; Daughter, Emily Nebrasky.
Nebrasky Plumbing, Heating & Cooling launched in 1988 when Paul Nebrasky took over his father’s plumbing business. While the company began with a home office and one employee, Nebrasky has grown to employ more than 30 people, including highly trained technicians and office administrators. It has also added HVAC, whole house generators and home energy assessments to its service lines and been recognized amongst the community for its innovation and outstanding customer service.
“The key to success is all about communication and customer service,” said Nebrasky. “Treating our customers the way we want to be treated is a practice I’ve instilled in our staff since the beginning. It’s important to understand that when a customer asks about our services, they are in need; they see water damage and dollar signs. From the compassion exhibited by our employees answering the phone to the service provided by our technicians, we do our best to ensure our customers’ needs are met and their experience is unparalleled.”
Nebrasky has committed himself to identifying opportunities for improving the customer experience. He regularly attends business, marketing and technology conferences to learn about new technology and practices that could be applied to his business.
Fifteen years ago, the company began using a reverse GPS system that allowed office administrators to be able to track Nebrasky vehicles and provide more accurate arrival times to customers. Now, Nebrasky uses an automated system that sends text and email alerts to customers at every step of their appointment process.
“Customers can make an appointment with one of our technicians using our online request form and they will immediately receive a text or email confirming their appointment time,” said Nebrasky. “The day before a scheduled appointment, the customer will receive another message confirming the time of our technician’s arrival. Then, the day of the appointment, our customers receive an alert with the name of the technician, his or her photo and a bio so that the homeowner knows exactly who will be arriving at their house. The alert also includes a tracking feature so customers are able to see how close the technicians are as their appointment time approaches.”
For Nebrasky, improving the customer experience goes beyond customer service skills – it involves ensuring his customers’ safety. In 1998, Nebrasky Plumbing, Heating & Cooling became the first New York State certified plumbing and HVAC company to conduct carbon monoxide tests. Nebrasky worked with the National Comfort Institute to train and certify all of his technicians as carbon monoxide analysts.
In 2004, Nebrasky was named Contractor of the Year by Contractor Magazine. The company was also honored by Delta Faucet Co. and the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC) as a runner-up for its Plumbing Contractor of the Year. The prestigious award recognizes excellence in the plumbing industry.
“I am grateful to be celebrating 30 years in business, despite tough economic climates and many industry-wide changes and standards,” said Nebrasky. “Our success is in no small part a result of hardworking and compassionate employees, loyal customers and constantly adapting to deliver quality service.”
To learn more about Nebrasky Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, visit www.nebraskyplumbing.com.
Atlanta—ASHRAE and the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalizing the organizations’ relationship. The MoU was signed by 2018-2019 ASHRAE President-Elect Darryl Boyce, ASHRAE Executive Vice President Jeff Littleton, 2016-2018 ASPE President Mitch Clemente, CPD, FASPE, and ASPE Executive Director/CEO Billy Smith, FASPE, on Oct. 1. The Read More
Atlanta—ASHRAE and the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalizing the organizations’ relationship.
The MoU was signed by 2018-2019 ASHRAE President-Elect Darryl Boyce, ASHRAE Executive Vice President Jeff Littleton, 2016-2018 ASPE President Mitch Clemente, CPD, FASPE, and ASPE Executive Director/CEO Billy Smith, FASPE, on Oct. 1. The agreement defines parameters on how the two societies will collaborate more closely to continue furthering and promoting the advancements of a more sustainable built environment.
These include but are not limited to: general advocacy; research; technical committee coordination; joint conferences and meetings; training and education programs; publication distribution and chapter collaboration.
“We are excited about exploring collaborative ventures with ASPE,” says Sheila J. Hayter, 2018-2019 ASHRAE President. “Many ASHRAE members work in firms that provide a full spectrum of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) services. The water-energy nexus in buildings is becoming more pronounced as we push buildings to perform using integrated building design tools and techniques.”
“Working with other professional societies in the broader engineering community is critical in today’s fast-paced world of evolving technologies and engineering methods,” says Smith. “We look forward to working together with ASHRAE to promote ongoing education, best practices, networking and new technologies for a more sophisticated and sustainable indoor environment.”
McLean, Va. — The days of lead service line contamination are steadily coming to an end in Flint, Michigan. The city is on schedule to complete its lead replacement program by 2020 using new copper piping. To highlight the progress, the Copper Development Association (CDA) released a new video that showcases how the city is Read More
McLean, Va. — The days of lead service line contamination are steadily coming to an end in Flint, Michigan. The city is on schedule to complete its lead replacement program by 2020 using new copper piping. To highlight the progress, the Copper Development Association (CDA) released a new video that showcases how the city is bringing clean, safe water back to its residents.
After switching its water source to the Flint River in 2014, the city’s lead pipes were rapidly eroded by the highly corrosive water, causing a massive lead contamination and public health crisis. Ultimately, the city chose to rectify the situation by installing new copper piping, which will provide a long-term solution.
“There’s a big difference between lead reduction and lead elimination,” said CDA’s Vice President Andrew Kireta Jr. “Filters are a short-term option to reduce lead, but the only way to truly eradicate lead contamination is to completely remove all lead piping. CDA is proud to stand alongside Flint, and other communities, as they work to restore their water quality and security.”
As our nation’s system of water infrastructure continues to age, lead contamination only becomes a greater threat. In fact, the American Society of Civil Engineers recently gave the nation’s drinking water infrastructure a “D” on its quadrennial report card. There’s an estimated 3.3 to 10 million lead pipes still active across the country; municipalities should act proactively to prevent another lead crisis.
“The assistance from the Copper Development Association was invaluable to the city of Flint,” said General Michael McDaniel, former head of the Flint Action and Sustainability Team (FAST START). “When they assisted us in acquiring some copper piping that was the point in time I think that residents of the city truly realized that the city was committed to replacing all the service lines in the city.”
CDA is dedicated to helping municipalities combat lead contamination issues by serving as a key knowledge center on the proper design and installation of copper piping. For more information about copper piping, visit www.copperservicelines.org.