Industry News

New Retail Assortments Available Fall 2024

For over 100 years, the iconic American brand, SK Professional Tools, has been committed to manufacturing innovative and high-quality mechanics tools for American professionals. Today, SK Professional Tools is proud to continue that tradition by relaunching its 100 plus-year-old brand with special assortments, including those for independent hardware stores, discounted 50%, and available when purchased through SK Professional Tool’s sister company, Arrow Fastener, at these upcoming fall trade shows:

• ACE Hardware Fall 2024 Convention – Chicago, IL.  Aug 8-10
• True Value Fall 2024 Reunion – Orlando, FL. Sept. 9—11
• Blish-Mize Fall Customer Buying Market – Overland Park, KS. Sept. 12—14
• Wallace Hardware Fall Dealer Market – Sevierville, TN. Oct. 2 – 3
• United Hardware – Oct 9-11
• House-Hasson Hardware Fall Dealer Market – Charlotte, NC.
  Oct. 10–12
• Orgill Winter 2024 Online Buying Event – Nov. 4 – 17

Now a part of the family of companies owned by GreatStar Industrial, SK Professional Tools continues to manufacture select products for industrial and independent tool truck partners in the USA. At the same time, SK Professional Tools is now able to expand and democratize its product line to offer the highest level of quality and performance, as well as offering more affordable price points, to a broader audience by leveraging the global footprint of its parent company – GreatStar Industrial.

“For 100 years, we have been providing our customers with our top-notch tools and service,” says Christopher Woolley, Vice President Product and Brand Management, SK Professional Tools. “We are so proud of the rich history and exceptional reputation of our company.  And now, going forward, we are excited to have the dual opportunity of staying true to our roots of manufacturing products here in the U.S., while at the same time, being able to broaden our range of offerings by utilizing the wide-ranging experiences and resources of GreatStar Industrial.”

SK Professional Tools’ sister company, Arrow Fastener, has its global headquarters located in Saddle Brook, NJ, which also serves as GreatStar Industrial’s U.S. headquarters for sales, marketing, and distribution of its branded tool product portfolio. According to Justin Sumner, Vice President Sales, Arrow Fastener, “This proximity provides expanded opportunities for proven brands like SK Professional Tools to be available to the independent hardware dealer channel conveniently through the sales division at Arrow. At the fall shows, we will be offering special assortments, such as a range of drive tools, screwdrivers, pliers, and shears, curated for our customers, including independent hardware stores, with a special discount of 50% and with hot open stock deals.”

GF Building Flow Solutions (formerly Uponor) published the company’s Sustainability Review 2023. The Review, prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative Standards and assured by an independent third party, details the company’s ambition, work, and achievements in sustainability throughout the year, as well as highlights people leading sustainability development in different parts of the organization. Sustainability initiatives in 2024 and beyond will be reported on GF.

In 2023, Uponor implemented aggressive global sustainability initiatives that were created in collaboration with clients, customers, employees, and other key stakeholders. The company’s ambition is to lead the construction industry towards net zero, decarbonize its operations, and maintain its strong track record of advancing sustainable innovations. In Europe, the company partnered to produce the world’s first circular PEX pipe from its own production waste, received validation for new greenhouse gas emission reduction targets from the Science Based Targets initiative, and celebrated a factory in Nastola, Finland, achieving complete carbon-neutral operations.

“Our industry has a strong influence on sustainable ways of life. With our products and systems, we want to continuously reduce the CO2 footprint of buildings. On the one hand, our innovation focus lies in making our products easy to use and, on the other hand, making the production and materials of our products even more sustainable,” says Michael Rauterkus, president, GF Building Flow Solutions. “To support our commitment to leading the construction industry towards net zero by example, we have created a Carbon Neutral Factory concept, which highlights our efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Our objective is to replicate the concept in our other factories.”

Sustainability and innovation at the core

Rauterkus adds that GF Building Flow Solutions is committed to finding new ways to conserve, manage, and provide water responsibly.

“The combination of Uponor and GF products and solutions allows us to serve our existing and new customers even better and help them making an impact,” says Rauterkus. “Our shared sustainability approach is ambitious, holistic, and strategic. We are well-positioned to seize the opportunities created by the growing demand for energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, as well as for sustainable systems for safe and clean water. As we continue our sustainability journey, I want to express my gratitude to all our stakeholders for the excellent cooperation and outstanding achievements. My warmest thanks go especially to all our employees for their uncompromised sustainability commitment.”

The Sustainability Review 2023 can be found from the company website at Sustainability Review 2023 | Uponor

Falls Church, Va. — Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC) unveils Jeff Butler and Mary Kelly as the keynote speakers for CONNECT 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama, October 7-10, at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.

Jeff Butler is a workplace strategist, who has offered expertise to help companies like Amazon, Google and John Deere foster a harmonious and high-performing workplace. Butler will present a keynote address, “Building an Effective Multi-Generational Workplace.” He will also lead a breakout session on the topic of “Winning the Talent War.”

Mary Kelly is a Council of Peer Award of Excellence speaker, best-selling author and Navy commander. At CONNECT, Kelly will share various stories and experiences of interest to p-h-c contractors during her keynote address, “Why Leaders Fail and the 7 Prescriptions for Success.” Kelly will also lead a breakout session, “Master Your World,” where she will emphasize effective tactics, practical strategies and innovative solutions that are tailored to dilemmas faced by today’s leaders.

“I know that many attendees, including myself, are anticipating the remarks that Jeff and Mary will share,” says Joe Cornetta, PHCC national president and co-owner of Cornetta Brothers, Inc., Elmont, New York. “We are excited to have these two leaders join us and help offer invaluable insights to the industry.”

For more details, including the schedule-at-a-glance, visit phccweb.org/CONNECT. This site offers information on education sessions, speakers, exhibitors, registration and hotel reservations, as well as the many attractions of Birmingham, known as “The Country’s Best Kept Secret.”

Finding the perfect mix of glycol and water in a hydronic system doesn’t have to be hard. Guest presenter John Panasewicz will discuss the best ways to specify and maintain water-glycol blends in boilers, chillers and other heat transfer applications. This pre-heating-season webinar will clear up the confusing aspects of antifreeze for designers and installers.

→ How do you know what percentage of glycol is best for your project?
→ What is the best way to maintain system fluid?
→ What is the difference between freeze and burst?
→ How can recovered glycol be reused?
→ How do air and dirt separation affect system fluids?

John was a founding member of the ASTM D15.30 Subcommittee on Heat Transfer Fluids and will provide both technical and practical insights on this topic. He is the Director of Technology at G2 Solutions in Denver, Colorado.

REGISTER HERE