Waterworks

Industry leaders deliver comprehensive distribution of AI-based water management, protection and risk mitigation solutions throughout the U.S. WINT Water Intelligence, a global leader in cutting-edge water management and leak-prevention solutions, announces a strategic collaboration with Ferguson, the largest value-added distributor of plumbing supplies, PVF, waterworks, and fire and fabrication products in the United States. WINT’s solutions Read more

Industry leaders deliver comprehensive distribution of AI-based water management, protection and risk mitigation solutions throughout the U.S.

WINT Water Intelligence, a global leader in cutting-edge water management and leak-prevention solutions, announces a strategic collaboration with Ferguson, the largest value-added distributor of plumbing supplies, PVF, waterworks, and fire and fabrication products in the United States. WINT’s solutions are now available to Ferguson’s extensive distribution network, offering a broader selection of advanced technologies that complement Ferguson’s existing commercial building solutions.

“We are thrilled to team up with Ferguson, a true leader in the plumbing and HVAC industries,” said Alon Geva, WINT’s CEO. “This strengthens WINT’s distribution channels with more capabilities while also allowing us to concentrate on elevating and further developing our innovative software solutions. Together, we aim to set new standards in water management and leak detection.”

Moving forward, Ferguson will now offer WINT’s advanced water management solutions to its customers and manage the distribution of WINT’s systems throughout the United States. The relationship will take the industry standard to the next level when it comes to accurate water consumption monitoring, water damage prevention, water waste reduction and promoting water sustainability across the board, while positioning each company at the forefront of water management.

“As the importance of preventing leaks and water damage grows, we recognize the need to provide our customers with the most advanced and reliable solutions available,” said Trey Horne, Ferguson outside sales representative. “Working with WINT ensures our customers have full access to top technology to help safeguard their properties and minimize the impact of water-related issues, all while driving the path toward better sustainable water management together.”

WINT systems installed in buildings report to reduce water consumption and its associated carbon emissions by 20%-25%. Moreover, a recent study by Munich Re, the world’s largest global reinsurer, found that construction jobsites protected by WINT dramatically reduce the impact of water leak damage; sites where WINT was installed were found to submit 73% fewer insurance claims and resulted in 90% less payouts when compared with sites not protected by WINT.

WINT equips contractors, developers and property management teams with holistic solution for managing water throughout the lifecycle of a building, from construction to operation. It is used globally by customers including Suffolk Construction, HP, PepsiCo, the Empire State Building, as well as many other leading enterprises, general contractors (GCs) and facility owners.

The WINT platform includes portfolio-wide water monitoring and analysis, leak mitigation with real-time detection and auto shut-off; unparalleled anomaly detection and analytics powered by advanced AI algorithms; and comes with an enterprise-grade management for operation in large and mid-sized facilities. Green buildings deploying WINT can add multiple credits to their overall LEED sustainability score to increase their overall ranking.

To explore how you can benefit from the Ferguson and WINT collaboration,click here.

The new distribution center will serve all of the company’s branch locations in the Upper Midwest as well as direct-to-customer deliveries Exotec®︎, a global warehouse robotics provider, announced that First Supply, the largest Wisconsin-based wholesaler of HVAC, Builder, Plumbing, Lighting, Waterworks, Industrial PVF, Pump, Well and Septic supplies, has partnered with Exotec to install cutting-edge warehouse Read more

The new distribution center will serve all of the company’s branch locations in the Upper Midwest as well as direct-to-customer deliveries

Exotec®︎, a global warehouse robotics provider, announced that First Supply, the largest Wisconsin-based wholesaler of HVAC, Builder, Plumbing, Lighting, Waterworks, Industrial PVF, Pump, Well and Septic supplies, has partnered with Exotec to install cutting-edge warehouse robotics at its new 308,000-square-foot distribution center in Western Wisconsin.

Like many companies experiencing strong growth, First Supply was challenged with changing its operating model to reimagine the possibilities of its supply chain. This included finding a solution to manage a growing variety of stock-keeping-units (SKUs), effectively utilize available space, and reduce labor-intensive manual picking practices. By automating its warehouse with Exotec’s Skypod System, First Supply aims to improve productivity, optimize resource utilization, and ultimately better serve its customers.

First Supply’s Skypod system will consist of over 43,000 storage bins, 36 robots, three picking stations, and three induction work stations. Anticipating continuous growth, First Supply has designed the distribution center to easily scale its storage capacity by up to 30% in the system by adding bins and robots. The system will make use of Exotec’s smart conveying technology, Skypath, to feed six packing stations and a sortation loop with 12 outbound destination lanes. The distribution center will support all of the company’s branch locations in the Upper Midwest, as well as effectively supplying direct-to-customer deliveries.

“As a 127-year-old, 5th generation company, First Supply is committed to innovating how our employees experience work daily. Our rich history has laid the groundwork for success in distributing innovation and fostering partnerships in our communities, with our customers, and among our partners,” says Katie Poehling Seymour, President & CEO at First Supply. “We’re transforming our supply chain, focusing on optimizing inventory management through enhanced technology and refined procedures, exemplified by our new distribution center.”

First Supply has chosen to deploy Exotec’s Skypod system in its distribution center, with the goal of innovating its current operations to prioritize its workforce and enable further business growth. First Supply is excited to enhance efficiency while also being able to make the warehouse a more enjoyable workplace for its employees.

“We believe in working smarter, not just harder. Robotics provide us with an efficient means to store and retrieve items, enhancing efficiency and enabling us to swiftly adapt to the evolving demands of our business,” Poehling Seymour highlights. “We foresee a bright future for our company, driven by human connections in our operations while collaborating with companies like Exotec to accelerate our innovations.”

“First Supply is among the first US companies in their industry to adopt cutting-edge robotics solutions for their warehouse,” states Stanislas Normand, Managing Director of Exotec, North America. “This not only demonstrates their capability for innovation but also establishes the gold standard for the industry in building customer-centric supply chain operations.”

About First Companies
Established in La Crosse, WI, First Companies is a regional distributor with 52 locations, including: 28 First Supply distribution branches, 5 First Waterworks branches, 1 Central Distribution Center, 14 Gerhard’s Kitchen, Bath and Lighting stores, and 4 Kohler Signature Stores by First Supply in the upper Midwest. Founded in 1897, First Companies employs over 650 people, is a family-owned, single source provider of HVAC, Builder, Plumbing, Lighting, Waterworks, Industrial PVF, Pump, Well and Septic supplies. For more information, visit: FirstSupply.com

About Exotec
Exotec is a global warehouse robotics company powering the world’s largest brands. The company combines the best of hardware and software to offer elegant warehouse robotic systems that drive operational efficiency, add resiliency, and improve working conditions for warehouse operators. 50+ industry-leading brands including Gap Inc, Carrefour, Decathlon, and Uniqlo trust Exotec to improve their operations across 100+ sites worldwide. Learn more at Exotec.com.