W&D Weekly - March 19, 2008 | Vol 3, Num 12
|
|
U.S. Home Improvement Products Market |
|
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 | |
|
Billion Dollars |
306.7 |
302.1 |
310.9 |
332.1 |
357.8 |
381.0 |
|
% Change |
-2.0 |
-1.5 |
2.9 |
6.8 |
7.7 |
6.5 |
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy have named Gorell Windows & Doors, Pella Corp. and ProVia Door as Energy Star Partners of the Year for 2008...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy have named Gorell Windows & Doors, Pella Corp. and ProVia Door as Energy Star Partners of the Year for 2008. The awards recognize manufacturers and retailers for their efforts promoting and delivering Energy Star labeled products.
Pella is being recognized for the second year in a row as Partner of the Year in the window manufacturing category. “Pella has been committed to environmental stewardship and providing quality product solutions to our customers throughout the company’s 83-year history,” says Elaine Sagers, vice president of marketing. “Pella is proud to be recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy for providing ‘green’ energy-efficient products that help customers save money and conserve valuable natural resources.”
Both Gorell and Provia Door, previously known as Precision Entry, are being honored with Sustained Excellence Partner of the Year Awards. This award is given to organizations which have already won the Energy Star Partner of the Year award multiple times. Gorell notes this is the third year in a row it has received the Sustained Excellence Award and 2008 marks the fifth consecutive year that Gorell has been recognized by EPA and DOE.
“To receive the Sustained Excellence Award again—and to consistently be named Energy Star Partner of the Year—says a lot about Gorell and the products we make,” says Wayne Gorell, president and CEO of the Indiana, Pa., based vinyl window manufacturer. “More than an astounding 94 percent of the windows we manufactured in 2007 qualified for the Energy Star label because our windows are designed and made exceptionally well. We are committed to being a ‘green’ company—protecting the environment and partnering with Energy Star is an important part of this process.”
“ProVia Door is committed to helping protect the environment through our durable, energy efficient entry doors,” says Bill Mullet, president of the Sugarcreek, Ohio, based company, which produces all its entry systems as Energy Star qualified. “Our long standing partnership with Energy Star shows our organization’s commitment to energy efficiency. We understand that partnering with Energy Star is an important step in protecting the planet God has entrusted us with.”
Robert J. Meyers, principal deputy assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air & Radiation, commends all three companies for their achievements. “Pella’s efforts in manufacturing products that earn the Energy Star make them a leader in demonstrating that consumers can enjoy quality products that also protect the environment,” he states. Year after year, he adds, partners like Gorell and ProVia Door are “examples of the benefits of a long-term commitment to energy efficiency. Their actions are leading the way in saving energy and helping to protect the environment.”
All three manufacturer’s accomplishments will be recognized at an April 1 awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
PGT Industries is expanding its commercial business
operations...
Joining other residential window manufacturers looking to diversify, PGT Industries is expanding its commercial business operations. The Florida-based manufacturer now has formed a partnership with ASI Ltd. to provide unitized wall solutions.
The joint venture is designed to enable the two firms to compete for large-scale commercial projects. "By offering a one-stop-shop for unitized curtain walls to the commercial construction industry, we are offering the industry a way to save money and gain control over their projects by dealing with one team that is involved in every stage of the project as it moves from design to construction," says Wayne Varnadore, PGT’s vice president of architectural systems. "Customers will benefit from PGT's strength in manufacturing and supply chain management combined with ASI Ltd.’s extensive experience in sales, marketing, engineering and project management. This is another positive step in the expansion of PGT's Architectural Systems commercial product capabilities."
"We will be the only manufacturer of unitized curtain walls in North America that will control all aspects of manufacturing in-house,” adds Ken Smith, ASI president. “This work includes the manufacturing of tempered glass, laminated glass, insulated glass, and aluminum panels that will be integral to the units."
With operations in Venice, Fla., and Salisbury, N.C., PGT produces vinyl and aluminum windows and reports it is the largest manufacturer of impact-resistant products in the country. The company launched its Architectural Systems Series line last year to serve the needs of the commercial and residential high-rise window and door market, including condos, hotels, office, retail, education, among others.
Based in a new 180,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, Ind., ASI supplies facade solutions to contractors throughout the United States, and operates an ornamental division that also produces metal panels, sun shades, and other ornamental shapes.
The joint venture was finalized in February, and the two companies already have one project in process: the 34-story River House apartment complex in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Simplex Building Products North America Inc. reports it has signed an exclusive PVC window extrusion supply contract with a major window manufacturer...
Simplex Building Products North America Inc. reports it has signed an exclusive PVC window extrusion supply contract with a major window manufacturer. The name of the manufacturer was not disclosed and the company did not return calls for comment.
“Our window profiles will save this customer over $1 million annually," says Cliff Wright, Simplex president. "We anticipate a seamless transition period, with deliveries to begin in the third quarter of this year. Annual revenues from this multi-year contract should exceed $5 million.”
“We are targeting major window manufacturers for similar contracts as we firmly believe we can both lower our customers' profile costs and provide better service,” Wright adds. “Simplex will be purchasing and financing the tooling for the profiles in the next few weeks."
Simplex was launched by CMI Engineering, a product design and engineering services firm based in Lebanon, Ind. Approached by a group of vinyl window fabricators to investigate offshore cost-savings opportunities, Simplex announced plans in 2005 to gather an international team of companies that could design, tool and manufacture extrusions using a common engineering platform that could be shared by a network of fabricators around the country.
Late in 2007, Simplex was acquired by Herc International, National City, Calif. Herc, which provides water and wastewater infrastructure products and services, acquired Simplex to serve existing customers and expand into the consumer market, according to company officials.
Simplex will import its own proprietary building products from the Anhui GuoFeng Plastic Industry Co., a manufacturing company in Hefei, China, and supply these products to the North American market, the company reports. In addition to window products, the company supplies fencing, decking, and railing products under the Polytimber brand name.
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AERT Plant Recycling New Building
Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies Inc., a supplier of extruded building products made from reclaimed plastic and wood fiber waste, broke ground on a new plastics recycling plant in Watts, Okla. on March 14... read more
VPI Achieves ISO 9001:200 Certification
VPI Quality Windows reports it has achieved certification to the ISO 9001:2000 quality management system standard. The Spokane, Wash., based manufacturer’s certification, approved by BSI Management Systems Inc., states that processes are standardized, documented, and systematically improved throughout the company in order to maintain compliance with the international standard... read more
Keystone Quality Assurance Program Accredited
Keystone Certifications Inc. reports its quality assurance program is now accredited by the International Accreditation Agency. Accreditation means program participants can qualify for all major approval and evaluation programs, such as Florida Product Approval, International Code Council Evaluation Service reports, Architectural Testing Code Compliance Research Reports and others, the company explains... read more
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Builder Confidence Remains Unchanged in March
from National Association of Home Builders
Builder confidence in the market for new single-family homes remained unchanged in March, according to the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. The HMI held firm at 20, which is near its historic low of 18 set in December of 2007 (the series began in January of 1985)... read more
Special Tax Rebates Will Begin May 2: IRS
from CNNMoney.com
The IRS on Monday said it would begin sending out 130 million tax rebate payments aimed at boosting the economy on May 2... read more
Best Places To Get Ahead
from Forbes.com
Manhattan, Hollywood and Silicon Valley may boast some of the richest residents in the country, but these hugely competitive places don't necessarily boast the best job prospects for the average American... read more