Industry News

Innovative mobile learning and product demo platform equips manufacturer’s reps to deliver immersive Bradford White experience to contractors and suppliers

Bradford White Water Heaters, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, is taking its top product and training solutions directly to professional contractors and suppliers with a new fleet of fully equipped mobile trailers.

The fleet consists of 19 custom 15-foot trailers for Bradford White’s network of trusted independent manufacturer’s representatives. The trailers serve as a mobile platform for an immersive interactive learning experience based on digital multimedia presentations and hands-on product demonstrations.

“These trailers expand our ability to meet our customers where they are, which is out in the field providing service,” said Carl Pinto, Jr., senior director of marketing communications for Bradford White. “Our relationships with the professionals who rely on our products and services are the foundation of Bradford White. With this initiative, we’re enhancing our already strong presence in the field and creating another means to share the Bradford White story to our contractor and wholesale customers and connecting them to a whole new level of training, in a way that’s going to empower and energize them and support their continued success.”

All 19 new Bradford White-branded trailers are equipped to carry a range of the company’s Built to be the Best® products. Demonstrations are enhanced by on-site training sessions selected from Bradford White’s extensive catalog of For the Pro® digital learning tools, offering the latest tips, techniques, and best practices for plumbing and HVAC installation, service, and maintenance.

The trailers allow for flexible trainings and the added ability to meet the needs of our customers no matter the size.  An internal display monitor accommodates individual or small-group training sessions. A large external monitor is available for large groups. Products and training tools will be rotated from the company’s wide selection of equipment and professional educational material.

For more information about Bradford White Water Heaters, visit https://www.bradfordwhite.com.

Oatey Co. remains committed to supporting, advancing and retaining its operations associates through world-class, on-the-job training, as well as educational opportunities.

In 2016, Oatey launched its first-ever Industrial Maintenance Apprenticeship Program, designed to promote the advancement of operations associates into higher-skilled positions that are more aligned with their long-term career goals. It also leverages additional career-development opportunities for the company’s more experienced associates, allowing them to hone their leadership, training and mentoring skills, while working with a diverse group of apprentices.

Oatey’s registered apprenticeship program, which is based at its Cleveland Manufacturing facility and led by Maintenance Supervisor Ruben Santos, is sponsored by Manufacturing Works and regulated through the State of Ohio. As the sponsor, Manufacturing Works helps manage the program and provides Oatey with continuous expert guidance about how to offer the most cutting-edge resources for associates.

“Since its inception, the program has received a tremendous response, and associate participation continues to grow,” says Santos.

To date, the program has included three groups (or cohorts), including a total of six registered apprentices. Every other year, Oatey anticipates adding a new cohort to the program roster. “We continue to maintain 100% retention of associates who participate in the apprenticeship program,” Santos explains.

Oatey’s inaugural group of two apprentices successfully completed all of the program’s training requirements in 2020, and two deserving individuals earned the title of Journeyman. After graduating from the program, these individuals have gone on to advance their careers.

“Our Journeymen continue to embody the spirit of Oatey and set a positive example for fellow associates,” says Santos. There are currently two active cohorts with four apprentices making their way through the program. All current apprentices are from underrepresented groups (Hispanic and African American). Oatey also recently welcomed its first female apprentice, who will graduate as part of the third cohort. Oatey’s commitment to small cohorts ensures personal attention to the apprentices’ development.

When the need for new apprentices is determined, positions are opened and the application, recruiting and selection process begins. The four-year program welcomes applications from any active operations associate in good standing, including those at Cleveland Manufacturing and Distribution facilities; however, the selection process for admission is rigorous. Applicants must display a strong work ethic, reliable attendance record, commitment to Oatey, and passion for skilled technical work.

Prior to acceptance, new candidates for apprenticeship must provide evidence of earning their high school diploma or GED, and complete a Mechanical Aptitude Test and a college admissions placement exam to ensure successful completion of the program.

The Industrial Maintenance Apprenticeship is a hybrid program that offers both in-classroom instruction with college credit and on-the-job training (OJT). Oatey partners closely with Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) to deliver a robust, specialized curriculum to complement the OJT that takes place at the Oatey facility. Every apprentice must complete up to 10,000 hours of OJT.

Visit Oatey.com to learn more about career opportunities at Oatey Co.

Manufacturer’s Industry Forward™ charitable giving program provides strategic grant funding and donation of 10 heat pump water heaters to support ECA’s workforce development training and low-income assistance program

Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading American manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, announced today a $30,000 grant and the donation of 10 65-gallon AeroTherm® heat pump water heaters to Pennsylvania’s Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA).

The grant, part of Bradford White’s Industry Forward™ initiative supporting workforce development and public awareness of plumbing and HVAC industry careers, will directly benefit ECA’s Philadelphia Youth Pathways to Clean Energy Careers program, which introduces low-income minority students to clean energy career paths.  The program offers 100 hours of classroom and hands-on experience for students in five possible career tracks, including commercial HVAC installation, HVAC maintenance and repair, and heat pump water heater installation and maintenance. The program will sharpen their technical skills, help them acquire needed credentials and advance them toward job placement.

As part of this workforce education grant, Bradford White training experts will lend their expertise throughout the year to ECA staff and students by providing in-person and online training to further advance their knowledge and complement the education offered by ECA.

“The skilled trades offer a variety of rewarding career opportunities that many rising jobseekers aren’t aware of,” said Rebecca Owens, senior manager of communications for Bradford White. “These jobs offer competitive salaries and benefits, career advancement, job security and satisfaction. We’re proud to partner with ECA and advance their work to ensure that students from all backgrounds have full access to these potentially life-changing opportunities.”

ECA also received 10 Bradford White AeroTherm® heat pump water heaters, which were delivered by Rich-Tomkins, a manufacturer’s representative for the company. Two units will be used in ECA’s heat pump training lab and eight will be donated to qualifying families through the Philadelphia Water Heater Emergency Fund. The heat pump lab will further expand their efforts to train local residents on this product, allowing them to be prepared for future conversions to this energy-efficient technology in Philadelphia.

“It’s a privilege to partner with Bradford White, the industry leader on this technology, and to receive this generous support from their Industry Forward program,” said Steve Luxton, chief executive officer, ECA. These funds will give underserved Philadelphians the skills they need to install the AeroTherms and open doors to good-paying plumbing and HVAC jobs. Every week we receive calls from low-income seniors and families living without hot water. This support will help meet that need, and at the same time, help the city meet its goals for electrification.”

For more information about Bradford White Corporation’s Industry Forward™ initiative, visit https://www.bradfordwhitecorporation.com/giving/.

Niagara Additionally Honored with 12 National Recognitions for Water Conserving Ingenuity This Year 

Niagara®, the leader in high-performance, high-efficiency, water-saving toilets, was honored today with The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA’s) WaterSense Partner of the Year award for helping people save water.

As many Americans look to reduce water consumption through products that can help alleviate high utility bills and reduce impacts of the serious drought in portions of the U.S., Niagara continues to innovate and be nationally recognized for its high-performing, water-saving products. This is Niagara’s sixth WaterSense award and the company has received 12 awards or accolades this year that recognize the company’s ingenuity in water conservation technology and products.

In just the last few months, Niagara was recently honored with the Business Intelligence Sustainability Initiative of the Year award for its Pro line. Niagara also received the Stevie’s People’s Choice for Business-to-Business Products for the toilet product suites that it launched in 2021 that are designed specifically to save water. Two Niagara executives, Carl Wehmeyer and Holly Shadel, were honored with SEAL’s 2022 Sustainability Leader of the Year award for leadership in sustainability and environmental management, and Stevie’s Best Female Employee of the Year respectively.

“We are honored to be named the WaterSense Partner of the Year and to join such an incredible list of industry leaders,” said Wehmeyer, executive vice president at Niagara. “Our mission is to bring new technology to our customers that conserves water without sacrificing performance. This award is a huge accomplishment for our entire team and a giant step in continuing to fulfill our mission.”

WaterSense, a voluntary partnership program sponsored by the EPA, is both a label for water-efficient products, programs, and homes and a resource for helping consumers learn ways to save water. Since 2006, more than 2,100 WaterSense partners and over 40,000 models of certified water-efficient plumbing and irrigation products have helped consumers and businesses save 6.4 trillion gallons of water—enough water to supply all households in the United States with water for eight months. In addition to water savings, WaterSense has helped reduce the amount of energy needed to pump, treat, and heat water by 754 billion kilowatt hours and helped consumers save $135 billion in water and energy bills. These savings also helped prevent 288 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which is equivalent to planting 4.8 billion trees.

“Throughout 2021, our award-winning partners helped people protect this precious resource by promoting WaterSense labeled products and water-efficient behaviors,” said Veronica Blette, Chief, WaterSense Branch. “Saving water is particularly critical in areas impacted by drought, but is also a path to helping consumers stretch dollars by reducing their water and energy bills.”

WaterSense honored Niagara as a 2022 Partner of the Year for Niagara’s commitment to educating partners, architects, engineers, staff and sales teams about WaterSense benefits and products through continuing education programs, materials, online resources and product packaging. In recognition of their commitment to promoting WaterSense and water efficiency in 2021, Niagara was honored today during the WaterSmart Innovations (WSI) Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, along with along with 33 other awardees – utilities, manufacturers, builders, retailers, and other organizations that partner with WaterSense to promote water-efficient products, homes, and programs.

To learn more about Niagara’s high-performing, water-saving products, please visit niagaracorp.com.