Industry News

Oatey Co. to sponsor PHCC Connect 2023 Cleveland, offering tours of its local manufacturing and training facility and sponsoring Women in Industry Luncheon

Oatey Co. is proud to announce its sponsorship and participation in PHCC Connect 2023 Cleveland, the premier national conference for plumbing, heating, and cooling professionals in the United States. The event will take place on October 23-26, 2023, in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Huntington Convention Center.

As a Cleveland-based company and one of the oldest and most respected names in the plumbing industry, Oatey Co. will be a part of a showcase of Cleveland hometown brands, joining forces with Ridge Tool Company (RIDGID), Moen, and Merit Brass. These companies will be positioned in a central area of the Exhibit Hall and some will also be offering plant tours to celebrate and showcase Cleveland manufacturing.

“Oatey Co. is incredibly proud to sponsor and participate in PHCC Connect 2023 Cleveland, an excellent opportunity for industry leaders and plumbing experts to come together, learn, and share ideas,” says Patrick Aquino, Oatey’s Vice President of Wholesale Sales.

Katherine Lehtinen, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Oatey, added: “We look forward to giving attendees and media an insider’s look at the world of Cleveland manufacturing as well as Oatey’s many innovations and contributions to the industry since its founding more than a century ago.”

“We are excited to welcome these industry leaders to Cleveland and to showcase our region’s position as a hub for advanced manufacturing,” says Gordon Taylor III, Chief Sales Officer at Destination Cleveland, the destination marketing and management organization for the region. “While exploring our city and touring the innovative local businesses, conference attendees will see firsthand that Cleveland is The Land of building meaningful connections.”

As a Cleveland-based sponsor, Oatey will offer tours of its 160th Street manufacturing operations, providing an opportunity for attendees to gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of the company’s world-class facility, learning about the chemical and mechanical processes that bring the highest-quality plumbing products to life.

Then, attendees will enjoy a hands-on experience at Oatey University, a best-in-class training center for industry tradespeople, inspiring innovative new products and advancing the state of the art in the plumbing industry. Oatey social media ambassadors Nick Parlet (@plumbingsk8r), Colin Luttrel (@colintheplumberllc), Rob Broccolo (@prodrains) and Evan Berns (@re.plumb) will be on hand at Oatey University to welcome facility visitors. They are looking forward to connecting with fellow industry members, sharing their knowledge and personal stories about promoting the plumbing trade.

Once registered for the PHCC Connect Conference, attendees can sign up to participate in this tour, which will take place on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, from 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM ET.

That same day, Oatey is proud to sponsor a Women in Industry Luncheon hosted by the PHCC National Auxiliary and Women in Piping and Plumbing. Oatey’s Lehtinen will open the event, which will include an interactive panel discussion, featuring women who work in the plumbing and HVAC industries. Panelists will share their personal stories, challenges faced, and thought-provoking ideas for how the trades can become even more welcoming and inclusive.

Lehtinen will also highlight The House That She Built, an organization whose mission is to help generate awareness of the skilled trades. A new children’s book, also titled The House That She Built, educates young readers about the people and skills that go into building a home, telling the true story of a home built by all female tradespeople. Each luncheon attendee will receive a copy of the book and be asked to read it to a child in their life or a local elementary school classroom. Lehtinen sits on The House That She Built Executive Leadership Council.

After registering for the conference, attendees can sign up to attend the Women in Industry Luncheon, which will take place on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, from 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM ET. Each luncheon attendee will receive a copy of The House That She Built.

Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas group (Logisnext), a leading North American provider and manufacturer of material handling and innovative automation and fleet solutions, today announced its sponsorship of the 2023 FedEx St. Jude Championship. Set to take place Aug. 9 – 13 at the TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, promising an exhilarating showcase of talent, competition and compassion. The tournament will feature the top 70 players on the PGA Tour as they compete in a thrilling battle for the FedExCup.

The FedEx St. Jude Championship will be celebrating the 53^rd year of supporting the lifesaving work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, generating over $65M to advance St. Jude’s mission. As a partner sponsor this year, Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas extends a warm invitation to its valued Dealers and Dealer customers, offering an exclusive opportunity to join this golf experience while supporting the fight to end childhood cancer and other life-threatening illness.

“We are honored to support the PGA Tour’s FedExCup Playoffs and be part of this championship event,” said Stu Jacover, General Manager of National Accounts, Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas. “This sponsorship reaffirms our commitment to charitable initiatives and making a positive impact in the communities we serve, while also giving our Dealers and Dealer Customers an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and foster strong relationships.”

The PGA Tour also provides the opportunity to host and network with B2B customers, all of whom aim to drive positive change in the world and the local communities they serve. As a key player in the material handling industry, Mitsubishi Logisnext of Americas values the opportunity to contribute to such prestigious events that bring communities and businesses together.

To learn more about the event please visit https://www.fedexchampionship.com/.

Leading plumbing provider offers tips to Brooklyn residents to help ensure their home’s water remains safe and clean

Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, a family-owned home service company serving Brooklyn and Manhattan since 1906, says National Water Quality Month is a great time for homeowners to pay special attention to their water quality and take proactive steps to help improve it.

“Being able to take a clean shower or drink water from the tap without fear of contamination isn’t a luxury everyone gets to enjoy,” said Michael Petri, owner of Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning. “Since August is National Water Quality Month, this is a great time for homeowners to focus on some simple tips to ensure their own water stays safe and clean.”

Petri said that communities can work together by following these tips to improve the water quality in their neighborhoods:

1. Don’t dump chemicals down the drain. Whether homeowners are using liquid drain cleaners or other chemicals to clean their pool or rid their homes of pests, they should consider the proper way to dispose of chemicals. By opting for organic drain cleaners and taking items like motor oil, pool chemicals and harsh cleaners to collection centers, homeowners can keep shared municipal drains free of hazardous waste.
2. Manage stormwater runoff. By diverting downspouts into yards, cisterns or other containment areas, homeowners can keep pesticides and bacteria from clogging up municipal storm drains.
3. Properly maintain sewer lines and septic tanks. Homeowners should regularly service their sewer lines and septic tanks to ensure that pollutants and disease-causing bacteria don’t leach into the groundwater. Septic tanks should have regular cleanings and sewer lines should be maintained so that contaminants can be properly contained and treated. Try to avoid getting chemicals into storm drains.
4. Don’t over irrigate lawns. Overwatering a lawn can cause runoff that contains fertilizers and pesticides that can seep into storm drains or an area’s groundwater. This tip provides the added bonus of conserving this natural resource.
5. Consider a water filtration system. Because many cities have older pipes that experience failures, even the water that comes into a home may contain contaminants. Using bottled water as a substitute also adds a lot of plastic to local landfills. Homeowners can protect their water quality and the environment by adding a water filtration system to their home’s plumbing system.

“Water is one of our most precious natural resources and is vital to any community,” Petri said. “This August, we should all take some time to consider how we’re dumping contaminated water and work on ways to improve the water quality in our neighborhoods. Following a few simple steps can ensure we all have clean water for years to come.”

For more information about Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, visit https://www.petriplumbing.com/.

Cleveland — Oatey Co. (Oatey) announced the acquisition of Lansas B.V. (Lansas), a manufacturer and distributor of underground pipe and disc plugs based in Eijsden, Netherlands.

For more than 70 years, Lansas has been a leading manufacturer of pipe and disc plugs servicing the waterworks markets in Europe. Manufactured through a highly efficient and automated production process, Lansas plugs are high-quality, innovative and designed to meet the requirements of customers.

“For decades, Oatey has been a leader in the U.S. waterworks pipe plug market under our Cherne brand,” said Oatey CEO Neal Restivo. “The addition of Lansas, its outstanding employees, its advanced technology, and its manufacturing footprint well positions us to grow our presence in the European waterworks market. Utilizing the combined experience and expertise of Cherne and Lansas will significantly enhance our ability to serve our customers in Europe.”