One of the nation’s largest aerospace firms planned to expand and modernize existing capabilities at an occupied research and development facility in southern California. Xcel Mechanical Systems, based in Gardena, CA, was hired to design and build the mechanical, plumbing and process piping elements of the new project. To minimize risk and maximize labor efficiency, the Xcel team selected NIBCO® Press fittings and valves as a smart solution for the multi-phase project.

“Leveraging press technology mitigates the inherent risks of working with open flame within an occupied space,” said Jason Gordon, Xcel Mechanical’s vice president of operations. “We chose NIBCO Press for this job for multiple reasons, including safety, time and labor savings, and aesthetics,” said Gordon, whose firm has been a preferred design-build mechanical contractor on the sprawling campus for more than two decades. “NIBCO is a proven brand name in our industry. That’s important to us because the products we select are a reflection on our company.”

After four carefully planned construction phases, three and a half years of steady and precise work, the $8 million HVAC, plumbing and piping elements of the estimated $50 million laboratory modernization project are nearing completion.

The total renovation project included remodeling existing labs located on the ground floor of a three-story, 1960s-era research and manufacturing facility; labs which must be constantly redesigned and reconfigured to meet the specific requirements of each new contract award. The owner’s primary goal was to convert the subdivided lab space into a large open floor plan, creating the opportunity to build-out a modern, flexible and scalable “factory of the future” that would maximize the total available 160,000-square feet of lab and manufacturing space and 57,000-square feet of office space.

The building was stripped down to concrete on all four sides, exposing what was left: columns, high ceilings, and slabs. The original building design included old stanchion supports with piping and electrical systems running up from the floor. To free up valuable floor space, the new design features steel overhead utility racks that now run 500-600’ feet across the exposed ceiling for a nice clean application. Major mechanical and plumbing systems were removed and redesigned to align with the new design.

Project team members, from left: Wes Whittle (Piping and Plumbing Superintendent); Foreman Shawn Gibson (Pipefitter, Welder); Jason Gordon (VP of Operations); Foreman Ray Adams (Plumber, Pipefitter); Tim Brown (Service Technician); Steve Prisk, CSHO, ASH (Safety Director).

The Safety Factor

In this facility, the mains on the overhead utility distribution racks are sized 2” down to ¾”.  Separately, the HVAC system has chilled water and heating hot water lines measuring up to 4” in diameter. Some of those lines drop down from a chilled water system located on the roof that serves a newly installed air handler.

“Typically, we would use steel for those 4” lines,” Gordon said. “But since the piping ran down an existing shaft, there were safety concerns around welding or grooving the 4” steel. And then there was the weight factor and what would be required to run steel pipe down that shaft versus copper,” he said.

“For these reasons, my foremen advocated for the additional material spend on copper. Obviously, the material cost is considerably more but we felt the safety benefits and labor savings would offset it,” Gordon said. “We are a strong believer in getting perspective from our foremen. If they support the plan, believe in the products they are installing, and it makes sense financially, then it’s a win-win.”

Gordon said using NIBCO Press on the project also meant not having to go through the facility’s Hot Work permitting process which typically adds time to any project. “The customer liked that the NIBCO product removed a certain level of risk, and also the smell of soldering and flux from an operational lab environment,” he said. “So, in the end, our customer was happy. Our safety team was happy. And our field personnel were happy.”

Labor Savings is Big

NIBCO Press is easy to install which helps reduce labor costs while keeping projects on schedule. “Material is material, but labor is what makes or breaks a job,” Gordon said. The project’s process piping system consists of three copper lines, one each for compressed air, nitrogen, and industrial vacuum systems. Each run is 400-500’ long and includes multiple connection points. Gordon said the press product made working in smaller areas and also making multiple connections overhead much easier from both a safety and labor efficiency perspective. “We fabricated a fair amount of material used in this job, but with a multitude of small overhead connection points located 6-12’ apart along these lengthy runs, the copper press solution was key. We saved a minimum of 30-40% on labor on some parts of this job, and significantly more on other parts,” he said.

Minimizing System Downtime

Through the life of the project, the ongoing challenge was to build safely around the 100-200 employees who were working in the lab areas. The project’s four-phase approach called for temporarily relocating employee teams into other parts of the facility while completing construction one section at a time. “Using NIBCO Press not only reduced labor time, but it shortened shutdown periods, allowing us to get the building back online sooner.”

Looking Good

Although functionality and flexibility played an important role in modernizing this facility, creating a visually appealing space was also a consideration, Gordon said. “Aesthetically the NIBCO Press product is a good-looking product and a clean application overall,” he said. “For nitrogen systems, we would typically purge and braze, and afterward the copper is oxidized. When we install press, the copper looks brand new. It’s a good look.” 

Smart Solution

As the project nears completion, Xcel Mechanical will continue to use NIBCO Press systems to ensure their reputation for high quality and good workmanship is maintained. Press is easy to install and the labor cost savings generated cannot be understated.  The proven performance of Press makes it a smart solution for every job.

For more information, visit www.NIBCO.com or contact Sally Boyer, manager of marketing communications, at boyers@nibco.com.

The first of its kind grant program will help recipients across North America further invest in their small businesses and the communities they serve

Jobber, the leading provider of home service management software, today announced the recipients of its $150,000 grant program, Boost by Jobber. Thirty small businesses were selected from thousands of applications and received funds ranging between $1,500 to $20,000 USD.

“From experienced entrepreneurs to those starting a new career in home service, all our Boost by Jobber recipients are unique—but the incredible impact they’re making on their local communities is something they all share,” said Sam Pillar, CEO & co-founder at Jobber. “Our team was truly inspired by the entrepreneurial stories and demonstrations of resiliency that were shared with us. Home service businesses are made up of incredible people and hometown heroes that deserve to have a spotlight on their work, their stories heard, and our continued support. This is our goal for the Boost by Jobber program.”

The grant recipients range from pre-business entrepreneurs to experienced owners and represent a variety of home services industries, including tree care, lawn care and landscaping, plumbing, residential cleaning, HVAC, contracting, carpentry, pressure washing, and more. These funds will help support entrepreneurs in the home services category who keep our homes and offices running smoothly, help their friends and neighbors build meaningful careers, and give back to the communities where they live and work.

The application process involved written and video submissions, followed by interviews with Boost by Jobber’s judging panel. To select the recipients, Jobber individually scored applicants based on their community contributions, leadership style, business plans, and the overall impact the funding would make towards their goals.

The top grant of $20,000 was awarded to experienced entrepreneur Joseph Gillingham, founder of Heritage Tree Care. Gillingham started his company, a full service tree care business, 15 years ago and now employs 20 people during peak seasons. The company has helped create interactive outdoor learning spaces for local schools and daycares by donating labor and repurposed wood chips, logs for seating, and large outdoor wooden building blocks for children to play with, all while maintaining 5-star customer service. The company also supports a network of community gardens and assists with emergency response for urban animals requiring rescue from heights.

“Receiving this Boost by Jobber grant makes it all worthwhile in a way,” said Joseph Gillingham. “As an entrepreneur, sometimes I wonder if I am doing the right thing as there is often a residual feeling of imposter syndrome despite the thousands of happy customers over lots of years. Getting recognized in this way takes away the doubt. Thanks to Jobber, we can bring some of our dream entrepreneurial ideas to life. With this funding, we will not only grow the business and hire more expert team members, but also we plan to help subsidize tree planting for low-income daycares and community centers, thereby creating a green legacy of shady spaces throughout my city and beyond.”

New entrepreneurs Courtney and Burgess Heberer, owners of Santa Claus Exterior Cleaning, received a $10,000 grant. Courtney has been a middle school music teacher and Burgess previously worked as a scientist developing infant formula and childrens’ nutritional products. Santa Claus Exterior Cleaning donates 10% of profits to children in need around the holidays, and also cleans and sanitizes four local public school playgrounds at no charge.

“The Boost by Jobber grant was really needed,” said Burgess Heberer. “We are at this point where we are ready to take things to the next level and move our business out of our garage and into its own dedicated space. This grant is going to help us do that. It’s a big step forward⁠— and to know your hard work is acknowledged by a partner like Jobber is awesome.”

Courtney added, “We took a big risk starting this business, so this is very reassuring. We can’t say enough good things about the team at Jobber.”

Below is the full list of 30 recipients for this year’s Boost by Jobber grant program from across North America:

Experienced Business Owners (3+ years):

• Joseph Gillingham, Heritage Tree Care Inc. (Toronto, ON)
• Monique Olson and Erik Olson, Safe N Soft Carpet Cleaning (Boise, ID)
• Amber Starling, Good Witch Cleaning Services LLC (Manhattan, KS)
• Branden Sewell, Seal Pro Painting Inc. (Orlando, FL)
• Bryon Rocz, Father & Son Restoration (Taylor, MI)
• Kirk Brown, Kirk’s Lawn Care LLC (Limerick, PA)
• Lauren Penner and Julie Penner, Unaffiliated Hot Tub Home Care (Saskatoon, SK)
• Chris Senger, Errol Palmer and Dane Findlay, Mow Town Edmonton Ltd. (Edmonton, AB)
• Jessica Bilmer and Jonathan Alvernaz, Kitchen Makeovers (Aldergrove, BC)
• Dave Clauson, Cove Power (North Vancouver, BC)

New Business Owners (0-3 years):

• Courtney Heberer and Burgess Heberer, Santa Claus Exterior Cleaning LLC (Santa Claus, IN)
• Raquel Hughes and Aaron Kirkaldy, Sparkle & Sheen Organize and Cleaning Services Ltd. (Edmonton, AB)
• Donny Mills, Liberty Village Plumbing (Toronto, ON)
• Eric Kleynenberg, Alpha Repair and Renovation LLC (Caledonia, MI)
• Meaghan McVicker, Green Clean Machine (Nipomo, CA)
• Nolan Rinta and Taylor Rinta, T-Rex Rinks (Stillwater, MN)
• Amy Morgan and Cody Morgan, Pit Stop Pool Service (Cypress, TX)
• Bernard Jackson, BLE Management LLC (Fayetteville, NC)
• Alberto Herrera, Exin Car Detail (Tempe, AZ)
• Riley Flatt and Brittany Flatt, Semper Fi Heating & Cooling (Malta, MT)

Almost Entrepreneurs (pre-business):

• Kevin Long, Fall Creek Power Wash, LLC (Pendleton, IN)
• Findley Wilson, Fin’s Custom Builds (Ohsweken, ON)
• Crystal Bissell, Eco Food Gardens (Austin, TX)
• Jacob Micflikier and Alysha Murdoch, Seed Cleaning & Services LLC (Destin, FL)
• Ben Clark, CSRA Bin Cleaning (North Augusta, SC)

COVID-19 Support:

• Lisa Sullivan and John Sullivan, Heather Ridge Contractors Inc. (North Riverside, IL)
• Ana Lupu and Horea Lupu, FloorMaxx Inc. (Chicago, IL)
• Paddy Treacy, Northern Lines (Toronto, ON)
• Fatukanu Kabia, Diamond Janitorial Services (Anchorage, AK)
• Adrienne Tutty, Calavo Landscape Inc. (El Cajon, CA)

To learn more about the Boost by Jobber recipients and their stories, and to watch for updates around next year’s program, visit https://www.boostbyjobber.com/

Renee to lead R&D team towards development of innovative technologies, driving market growth 

Rinnai America Corporation, manufacturer of the number-one selling brand of tankless gas water heaters in North America, announced Renee Eddy joined the organization as its Vice President of Innovation. With Renee’s zeal and extensive knowledge in developing new and innovative technologies, Rinnai will continue to expand its portfolio and drive growth in new markets.

“My passion is transforming data and technologies into cool, new products and that passion is sure to come through while at Rinnai,” said Renee. “I look forward to driving development for innovative technology, leading the team towards new idea creation and outside of the box thinking.”

Renee’s passion for creating new technologies began over 35 years ago. Most recently, she was Director of Innovation, Methods and Operations at Eaton, leading up to 200 employees. During her time at Eaton, she created the Innovation, Methods and Operations team from the ground up, developing a strong, collaborative culture within R&D across 26 divisions. Prior to her time at Eaton, Renee developed products across a number of industries for Fortune 100 companies and customers, including residential and commercial HVAC, transport refrigeration, telecommunications and aerospace.

“Renee’s diverse product knowledge in a variety of industries is invaluable for Rinnai,” said Frank Windsor, President, Rinnai America Corporation. “Her vision and expertise will spearhead the development of technologies in new markets, aiding in Rinnai’s growth strategy, as well as producing products that support our commitment to Creating a healthier way of living.”

Rinnai’s expansion goals not only encompass physical growth in North America but market growth, as well. With the addition of Renee to the executive leadership team, Rinnai will continue to drive R&D and push innovation to new heights.

To learn more about Rinnai, visit www.rinnai.us.

Manufacturing Plant and Training Center in St. Louis, Missouri

RLS LLC, manufacturer of the Rapid Locking System line of flame-free press-to-connect fittings for HVAC and refrigeration systems, has announced it will be moving into a new 80,000 square foot multipurpose facility in St. Louis, Missouri, which will serve as its corporate headquarters and will include a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, training center and showroom.

RLS will be relocating manufacturing from Shelbina, Missouri, where it has been sharing a plant with its sister company, Cerro Flow Products. Both are part of the Plumbing and Refrigeration sector of Marmon Holdings, a Berkshire Hathaway company. All RLS operations are planned to be consolidated into the new building by the end of 2021.

“We’re very excited to have manufacturing, office staff and training all under one roof,” said Paul Schubert, president of RLS. “The larger, upgraded facility will significantly increase our production capacity to meet the growing demand for our products. And the new training center will allow us to regularly educate HVAC/R contractors and distributors on our patented press technology, which is easily identified by our unique double circular press and flares.”

After originally introducing its press fittings in 2015 under the ZoomLock brand through a private-label agreement with Parker Hannifin, RLS has experienced tremendous growth since relaunching under its own brand name at the end of 2019. To support this continued growth, RLS has recently added more than 10 new positions in sales, marketing and engineering across the U.S., and is currently hiring.

“As more and more contractors discover the many benefits of using press fittings over the traditional brazing process, they continue to choose the time-tested and field-proven technology provided by RLS,” said Schubert. “As a result, we are continuing to invest in the facilities, equipment and people needed to meet demand.”

RLS press fittings connect in 10 seconds using a battery-powered tool and jaws, replacing the time-consuming process of manually brazing HVAC/R joints. The fittings result in faster, more consistent connections that reduces total installed costs, while also increasing jobsite safety by eliminating the use of an open flame.

For more information on RLS, visit rapidlockingsystem.com.