Kitchen & Bath

When Mid-City Supply set out to install two restrooms to service new office space, Saniflo’s above-floor plumbing solution eliminated the need to undertake a complicated concrete drilling project, saving the business 12 hours in labor.

by Tony Bara

The city of Elkhart is an oasis of people amidst the sparsely populated countryside of north-central Indiana. Known for its railroad museum and nicknamed the “RV Capital of the World,” Elkhart embodies the rustic charm of the American Midwest.

An Elkhart mainstay since 1947 has been Mid-City Supply Company, a family-owned wholesaler that deals primarily in plumbing, HVAC and refrigeration supplies. Besides Elkhart, the company has six other locations scattered throughout Indiana and Michigan.

Growth has been a constant for Mid-City Supply throughout its history. The company currently boasts around 100 employees. When the main branch in Elkhart outgrew office space, something had to be done. “We looked at various places to put new office space, including the front of the building and the warehouse. We finally settled on putting it upstairs near some existing training classrooms,” recalls Dan New, Vice President of Operations and the third generation of family management at Mid-City.

Naturally, the new office space needed new restrooms to save employees the hassle of running up and down the stairs. The decision of which plumbing system to install was rendered relatively quickly, according to New. “We really did not want to drill through the concrete floor to install the plumbing,” he says, “As a result, we turned to a solution that we have been stocking at our supply house for the better part of 10 years — the above-floor plumbing option from Saniflo.”

Above-floor plumbing systems eliminate the need to break through a concrete floor to install drainage below. A macerator or a grinder located behind the toilet reduces the waste into a slurry and pumps it through small-diameter tubing straight to the drain line. Above-floor plumbing systems, which can also handle drainage from sinks, tubs and showers, can be used to create restroom and bath facilities in garages, basements, attics, warehouses — anywhere conventional plumbing might prove difficult and therefore costly to install.

Ryan Hendershott, a licensed plumber with Schreiner & Sons and the installing contractor on the Mid-City job, says the restroom application was well-suited to an above-floor installation. “In this case, short of choosing a different location for the restrooms altogether, above-floor plumbing was the least-complicated solution, due to the concrete being there.”

New ended up choosing the Sanibest Pro heavy-duty grinding system for both the men’s and women’s restrooms. The 1-HP grinder can pump up to 25 feet vertically when it is installed below the sewer line; or nearly 150 feet horizontally to the sewer stack. It is specifically engineered to handle the accidental flushing of larger sanitary articles and other items a conventional plumbing system might struggle to handle. “Working in a commercial setting, we wanted to ensure that anything we flushed, intentionally or unintentionally, got taken care of,” explains New.

Straightforward Installation

Beginning in August 2015, the Elkhart installation came on the heels of another above-floor plumbing project in Mid-City’s new Kalamazoo branch last spring. “We were confident in our decision to choose this plumbing solution after our experience in Kalamazoo,” notes New.

To minimize the level of flushing noise in Elkhart, Hendershott installed the grinder unit behind the wall. He also installed the elbows for the pump’s ejection line at a 45-degree angle and used 3/4- inch pipe. “The smaller the pipe’s diameter, the less noise it will tend to make,” explains Hendershott.

Located on the building’s second floor, the unit pumps the waste slightly upward before gravity takes over and moves it to the drain line. A below-floor installation would have been significantly more labor-intensive and expensive, not to mention messy. According to New, by choosing the above-floor option, Mid-City Supply cut installation time by 12 hours.

Overall, the Elkhart installations went smoothly and without any major complications. It took roughly five hours to complete the job per restroom. “There were no hiccups, especially with the Kalamazoo installation under our belts,” affirms New. “A successful installation really comes down to two things: the type of application and the plumber’s experience. We had a fairly straightforward application and an experienced plumber, so there were no issues.” The bathrooms were finished in October 2015.

New is pleased with the units’ performance since the installation. “Above-floor plumbing is certainly a niche category, but this brand is the best within that category, and the installation turned out great” he comments. “Some plumbers are still hesitant to switch to this style of plumbing, preferring conventional methods that they are more comfortable with. Nevertheless, above-floor plumbing has certainly proven itself to be simple, reliable and cost-effective many times over

Pioneer Industries introduces sleek, contemporary MOD lavatory faucets for the residential bath. With clean elegant lines and superior brass construction, MOD offers the ideal combination of style and durability. MOD faucets are also WaterSense® and CalGreen certified with a flow rate that meets even the most stringent water conservation guidelines.

“Our MOD Bath Collection offers builders an affordable way to provide the modern, high-end style homeowners want,” said Nick Eleftheriou, CEO, Pioneer Industries. “It was a priority for us to meet or exceed Watersense and CalGreen standards so MOD faucets and low-flow showerheads are a good fit for green building now and in the future.”

MOD lavatory faucet features include:

• 1.5 GPM laminar flow rate/1.0 GPM flow rate option
• Single-handle and double-handle models
• Smooth operating ceramic disk cartridge
• Brass pop-up drain assembly
• ADA Compliant
• Available in polished chrome, PVD brushed nickel and matte black (finishes model dependent)

The MOD Bath Collection also includes low-flow showerheads, tub trim sets and a full line of accessories: towel bar, towel ring, robe hook and tissue holder.

Bryan Aown is new VP Product Management and Innovation, responsible for product development for Franke, KWC and Kindred brands; Amy Trump is US Controller overseeing Kitchen Systems.

Franke, the largest stainless steel kitchen sink manufacturer in the world and a leading name in kitchen faucets, is bolstering its Kitchen Systems North America leadership team with two new members, enhancing its capacity to expand its reach in the North American market in 2017 and beyond. Bryan Aown was recently named VP Product Management and Innovation and Amy Trump was named the company’s US Controller.

“Bryan and Amy have extensive and proven track records of success in their respective backgrounds, and we look forward to benefiting from their expertise,” said Gary Langbo, President of Franke Kitchen Systems. “We are confident they will bring both insights and best practices to all aspects of our growing North American business, particularly our mission to provide consumers with the most innovative and exceptional sink and faucet systems on the market.”

Bryan Aown

In his position as VP Product Management and Innovation, Aown is responsible for leading Franke’s Kitchen Systems product development group responsible for the Franke, KWC and Kindred brands, and translating insights into consumer solutions. Aown’s primary focus will be driving growth in Franke’s core business, in addition to expanding the brand’s innovative kitchen portfolio.

Aown has more than 20-years’ experience identifying and translating consumer insights and market trends into opportunities that drive growth. Prior to joining Franke, Aown was with Whirlpool Corporation where he held several positions over the course of 20-years including: Director of New Business Creation and Director – Innovation. Aown is a graduate of Central Michigan University and received his MBA from Indiana University South Bend. He lives in Nashville with his wife, Shari, and two children. Aown likes to cook, ride his bike and play golf. He is an avid sports fan and a home enthusiast that appreciates design and smart solutions for the home.

Amy Trump

As Franke’s US Controller, Trump has financial oversight of all four subsidiaries within Franke’s Kitchen Systems division. Trump and her team will manage a range of responsibilities including monthly sales, general ledger reporting, monthly forecasting, annual budgets, and manufacturing costs.

Trump has three years of experience in public accounting and over 15-years of experience in private accounting. Most recently, she was Finance Controller at Weir Minerals North American Process Systems; prior to that, she was Plant Controller at Mountain City Meat Company. Trump has mastered many disciplines within the diverse field of private accounting, having also worked as an accountant and an analyst. She is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and lives in Nashville. She enjoys afternoons on the lake, spending time with her family and friends and watching sporting events.

About Franke

Franke is the largest stainless steel kitchen sink manufacturer in the world and a leading name in kitchen faucets; hot- and cold-water filtration; topmount, undermount and apron front sinks; and waste disposers. The Franke Group is a world-leading provider of solutions and equipment for domestic kitchens, washrooms, professional food service, coffee preparation and beverage delivery. The group has 72 subsidiaries with more than 9,000 employees in 37 countries and generates consolidated sales of CHF 2.1 billion. For more information, visit www.franke.us/ks or call 800- 626-5771.

Venetian Bronze Wavey Grab Bar – Stylish Meets Functional

#GRABDASHBAR offers a unique wave design grab bar for extra support and mobility without sacrificing style where needed for fall prevention. This contemporary, sleek design can be installed horizontally, vertically or on an angle to provide a best combination of safety and designer style. Complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when properly installed, sized, and located. Comes with a 1 Year Manufacturers warranty. Available in 16″, 24″, and 36″ as low as $41.99

Home owners as well as contractors have been ordering as newer office spaces are trying to look less institutional in their restrooms while meeting building codes for safety products.