General News

November 3, 2016 – Greg Brandon has joined Watts as Regional Sales Manager – South Central.  He brings more than 20 years of sales and management experience to the position. Most recently he served as Director of Regional Sales-Americas for Supply Technologies for a global distributor of MRO and Class C components. Greg is a graduate of Texas Tech University.

RIDGID^® has awarded four scholarships to students enrolled in plumbing apprentice programs. In partnership with the Educational Foundation of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC), the scholarship recipients will receive up to $1,000 in tuition assistance as well as $1,500 in RIDGID tools.

There are as many as 3.1 million trade jobs available currently with an additional 2.1 million jobs to fill in the next two years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The scholarship program, administered by PHCC and supported by RIDGID since 2011, is designed to attract new talent essential to the future of the plumbing, heating and cooling industry.

“The need for tradespeople is growing and RIDGID has been a long-time supporter of programs helping to fill the gap. We’re proud to be able to provide these scholarships to help not only train professionals but also set them up with the quality tools they will need to enter the industry,” said Christopher Burton, RIDGID Global Director of Brand Management.

The 2016 scholarship recipients are:

• Jose Avila of San Diego, Calif. is working for PHCC member company The Brinks Group, Inc. He is studying plumbing at the PHCC Academy of San Diego.
• Devon Moyer of Lauries Station, Pa. is working for PHCC member company Tim Beil Plumbing. He is studying plumbing at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute.
• Spencer Sarjeant of Atlanta, Ga. is working for PHCC member company Plumb Works, Inc. He is studying plumbing at PHCC Academy of Georgia.
• Brendon Webb of San Diego, Calif. is working for PHCC member company The Brinks Group, Inc. He is studying plumbing at the PHCC Academy of San Diego.

RIDGID has a long history of supporting trade education through tool donations and monetary support to trade schools. In addition, the company provides ongoing training around the world at one of 14 training centers to distributors, employees and local vocational and high school students. In 2017, the company will announce additional initiatives to drive awareness and combat the trade shortage trends.

For additional information about RIDGID, please visit RIDGID.com, connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, or call toll-free: 1-800-769-7743.

About RIDGID^®

RIDGID is a global manufacturer of more than 300 dependable and innovative tools, trusted by the professional trades in over 140 countries. RIDGID products are designed to help professionals in the demanding commercial, industrial and energy markets install and maintain the world’s infrastructure with greater certainty and efficiency. Headquartered in Elyria, Ohio, RIDGID is a business unit of Emerson™, a global innovator in technology and engineering.

About Emerson
Emerson (NYSE: EMR), based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets around the world. The company is comprised of five business segments: Process Management, Industrial Automation, Network Power, Climate Technologies, and Commercial & Residential Solutions. Sales in fiscal 2015 were $22.3 billion. For more information, visit Emerson.com.

©2016, RIDGID, Inc. The Emerson logo and RIDGID logo are registered trademarks of Emerson Electric Co. or RIDGID, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks belong to their respective holders.

Winsupply Inc., one of the largest distributors in the nation, has opened Winsupply of Smithtown (N.Y.), serving contractors in the plumbing and hydronic heating industries on Long Island and in the New York City metropolitan area. Winsupply of Smithtown is the ninth new company Winsupply has opened in 2016.

Rob Butler joins Winsupply as president of Winsupply of Smithtown. He leads a team of six who have 75 combined years of experience in the plumbing and hydronics industries. Butler was previously vice president and general manager of Kelly & Hayes, an electrical supplier that formerly also distributed plumbing supplies.

“Rob Butler has 20 years’ experience in plumbing distribution and has strong customer relationships throughout Long Island and beyond,” said Roland Gordon, president of Winsupply Inc. “Rob took the opportunity to invest in the unique equity partnership that Winsupply offers. A graduate of West Point and a former captain in the U.S. Army as an armor officer, he has the skills that have proven successful for so many of our company leaders.”

In the Winsupply co-ownership business model, Winsupply Inc. has majority equity in each of its locations, while the local company president and sometimes employees own substantial equity. With this model, local companies have the autonomy and flexibility to decide how best to meet the needs of the customers in their markets. Co-ownership gives them “skin in the game,” pride of ownership and the ability to share in the company’s profits without caps. Winsupply provides its local company locations purchasing power, distribution and other support services such as business consulting, accounting, payroll, IT and marketing. The centralized support allows local operators to focus on their customers, local markets and products.

There are some 580 Winsupply locations across the United States serving the residential and commercial construction and industrial markets with supplies and materials.

The latest version of the Geberit Now DVD-ROM, subtitled “The sheer beauty of water,” offers current product and technical information for Geberit space- and water-saving products, including the latest In-Wall Tank and Carrier Systems, manual and sensor-operated Flush Plates, designer-styled Bath Waste and Overflow products, and the Monolith floor and wall mount toilet systems. The disc is a perfect reference for the designer, architect, installer, contractor or anyone interested in a complete bathroom experience.

The Geberit Now DVD-ROM provides a plethora of inspirational designs and technical information. It also contains installation instructions, repair parts, rough-in drawings, Revit® files, specification sheets and installation and product demonstration videos. The disc is organized by product category, with technical and literature libraries, media and product images, and videos in each category for easy reference.

“The easily navigated DVD-ROM features all of our newest products such as the new 2×4 carrier system, the newest designs in touch free and manual actuators like the Sigma Series and more,” says Pete Christofferson, Marketing Services Manager, Geberit North America. “The disc provides everything designers need to specify Geberit in their projects.”

Because the tank is hidden behind the wall, the Geberit in-wall toilet system increases usable space in full bathrooms and powder rooms while the convenient dual-flush actuator saves water. The Monolith floor and wall mount systems offers designers a striking option to use in place of the toilet tank while offering easy accessibility for maintenance. Geberit’s easily-installed, cable-operated BWOs are available in a wide range of colors and finishes and ensure simple, safe installation in almost any construction situation.

The Geberit Group is an integrated, global company and European leader in the field of sanitary products, headquartered in Switzerland. Geberit maintains a strong local presence on most continents, including North America, providing concealed systems for wall-hung and floor-mounted toilets and fixtures. Geberit systems improve the look of any bathroom by hiding unsightly plumbing hardware. Replacing a standard toilet with the Geberit system results in more usable space, improved hygiene and better accessibility. The unique dual-flush valve saves water and is practically maintenance free. Geberit also offers cable-controlled bath waste and overflows in a variety of designer finishes. Critical working parts are outside the waterway, ensuring years of trouble-free operation. With 35 production facilities and more than 12,000 employees in over 40 countries, Geberit generated net sales of CHF 2.6 billion in 2015. The Geberit shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange; since 2012, the Geberit share has been included in the SMI (Swiss Market Index).

For a copy of the Geberit Now DVD-ROM contact Geberit North America at 2100 South Clearwater Drive, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018, or call 866-787-3924. You can also visit Geberit North America at geberit.us.