A H R E X P O S H O W R E P O
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
AHR Expo show report APRIL 2010 VOL. 79 • NO. 4 www.snipsmag.com A magazine for sheet metal, heating, cooling and ventilation contractors 001_SNIPS0410.indd 1 3/12/10 2:56:22 PM the BrandYou NamesKnow The Parentnow Company meet The 100+ employees of Lockformer®, Iowa Precision® and Engel® want to thank our loyal customers for sticking with us throughout the first decade of the 21st century. Participating recently in the AHR show in Orlando, we were reminded of how the duct shops from around the world have supported and continue to support us as we produce and continue to perfect the workhorse tools of the industry from “Pittsburgh” and “TDC®/TDF®” roll formers to Vulcan® cutting machines to our 12 productive choices for duct automation to our family of Cornermatic and Whisper-loc® automated corner inserters and duct seam closers. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the many competitive versions of these industry changing machines at the recent AHR show – many the work of our alumni – engendered thoughts of humility and gratitude. We work in a great and competitive industry where our talented employees help duct shops *patent pending and sheet metal workers build great products and strong businesses. We know that all of you have choices when you decide to invest in duct shop equipment. We promise you that Mestek Machinery will not take your business for granted. Every day we strive to help you be more productive. To serve you better, we support a team of over 25 domestic dealers,12 sales people, 13 service people, 8 engineers, and more than 50 manufacturing people. So again, thanks for your business and continuing support. If you contact us before the end of April, 2010, we will make that thanks more tangible. Mention this ad and you will receive a special certificate for significant discounts on orders placed before the end of the second calendar quarter for many of our industry-leading Lockformer and Engel roll forming machines, Vulcan service contracts and Iowa Precision control up-grades. Mestek Machinery 5480 Sixth Street SW • Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404 USA Tel: (319) 364-9181 • Fax: (319) 364-3436 www.mestekmachinery.com www.lockformer.com • www.iowaprecision.com • www.engelind.com FREE INFO: 31 SNIPS04104Lockformer.indd 1 3/5/10 1:14:50 PM Bennington Vermont Stockton Grinnell California Iowa Columbus Ohio Fountain Inn South Carolina Hillsboro Texas Big project? Tight deadline? No problem! Our manufacturing network has you covered. To serve you better, McGill AirFlow has six With our six-plant manufacturing capability, you’ll benefit by: manufacturing plants strategically located t Having your order delivered when you need it across the country. This gives us the capability t Being able to handle larger projects and to manufacture your duct system much closer tighter deadlines to the jobsite, which speeds up delivery and t Quicker response to changes and additions reduces shipping costs. And when you have t Working with your local AirFlow salesperson a large project, a tight schedule, or both, our regardless of the project location multi-plant network can work as a team to t Reduced downtime and better staging and scheduling assure you get the products you need on time. t Lower shipping costs No more waiting and worrying about when To learn more about McGill AirFlow’s products your order will be delivered. and services, please inquire with the McGill AirFlow salesperson in your area or visit: mcgillairflow.com/snps/apr10/ An enterprise of United McGill Corporation — Family owned and operated since 1951 FREE INFO: 51 Affiliated with the SMWIA since 1951. SNIPS04104Unitedmcgill.indd 1 3/5/10 9:22:37 AM inside april snips Features 6 Education on a ‘hot’ topic What every welder should know about the plasma cutting process 6 12 Happy returns Show finds success with Florida visit 22 Powering up Contractor grows business with electric-generating plants Departments 58 Advertisers Index 30 Applications in the Field 43 Meetings & 12 34 Association News Conventions 49 Books, Software & Lit 50 New Products 51 Calendar of Events 45 People in the News 55 Classified Ad Directory 48 Regional News 22 22 Contractor News 38 Supplier News 5 Editor’s Page 52 Wholesaler & Mfr. 42 Internet News Reps. Directory about the cover: This month’s cover features a picture of Vision Mechanical’s sheet metal shop in Pueblo Columns West, Colo. The related story starts on page 22. The cover was designed by Nicole 47 Admit it: Some customers are wrong Kevonian. Mind Your Business by Jim Olsztynski Contractor Cents by Ruth King will return. SNIPS Magazine Volume 79/Issue 4 (ISSN 0037- 7457) is published 12 times annually, monthly, by BNP Media II, L.L.C., 2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084-3333. Telephone: (248) 362-3700, Fax: (248) 362-0317. No charge for subscriptions to qualified individuals. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in the U.S.A.: $104.00 USD. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in Canada: $137.00 USD (includes GST & postage); all other countries: $154.00 Visit us online at: (int(int’l l mail) payapayable in U.S. funds. PPrintedrinted in the UU.S.A. Copyright 2010, by BNP Media II, L.L.C. All rights reserved. The contents oof this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consentco of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for pproductroduct cclaimslaims and representations. Periodicals Postage Paid at Troy, MI and www.snipsmag.com at additional mmailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: SNIPS MagMagazine,azine, P.OP.O.. Box 2148, Skokie, IL 60076. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement ##40612608.4 GST account: 131263923. Send returns (Canada) to BBleuchipleuchip InteInternational,r P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2. Change of address: Send old address label along with new address to SNIPS Magazine, POP.O. Box 2148, 2148 Skokie, IL 60076. For single copies or back issues: contact Ann Kalb at (248) 244-6499 or [email protected]. 4 APRIL 2010 Q www.snipsmag.com 004_TOC.indd 4 3/11/10 1:36:17 PM welcome to snips! Associations talk Publisher: Sally Fraser EDITORIAL politics, lobbying Editor: Michael McConnell Tel. 248-244-6416 at conventions [email protected] Associate Editor: James J. Siegel editor’s page By Michael McConnell Tel. 415-503-0455 [email protected] he old adage about not discussing politics in polite company may have never Art Director: Nicole Kevonian been designed to apply to contractors and HVAC companies. ADVERTISING PRODUCTION & SALES In the last year or two, I’ve seen political talks come up more as con- National Advertising Manager: Sally Fraser T vention seminar topics at events I attend around the country. This includes last Tel. 248-244-6240 year’s annual meeting of the Heating, Airconditioning & Refrigeration Distributors [email protected] Adv. Production Manager: Karen Talan International and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America’s 2010 convention, Classified Ad Sales: Michael O’Connor from which I just returned. Tel. 610-354-9552 At both events — as well as the recent International Roofing Expo — the policies [email protected] of President Barack Obama’s administration were a hot topic. On some issues, such MARKETING as extending generous tax incentives for the purchase of high-efficiency or energy- Marketing Manager: Petra Cady saving equipment, the construction industry is generally supportive. Trade Show Coordinator: Drew Matthews But on others, especially attempts to enact health care reform or cap greenhouse Editorial Reprints: Jill DeVries gas emissions, the associations have become vocal in their opposition. Tel. 248-244-1726 Active lobbying is not an arena that many HVAC groups are used to. But as a [email protected] HARDI official told me a few years ago, (See “Energy law shows need for contrac- List Manager: Robert Liska Tel. 800-223-2194 tors, industry to be politically involved,” February 2008, Editor’s Page) they have no [email protected] choice. HVAC is no longer an industry that federal and state politicians are likely to Account Manager: Shawn Kingston ignore. Tel. 800-409-4443 [email protected] Active lobbying is not an arena that AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT many HVAC groups are used to. Corporate Audience Development Director: Christine A. Baloga That was the lesson many groups learned in 2007, when a bill eliminating feder- Audience Development Coordinator: Christina Kopah al preemption of air conditioner and furnace efficiency standards was signed into law Multimedia Coordinator: by then-President George W. Bush. The bill divided the industry, with manufacturer Kara Dykstra groups such as the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute supporting Audience Audit Coordinator: the bill. Others such as HARDI, ACCA and the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Contractors Kelly M. Carlson fought until the end to remove the anti-preemption provision. Single Copy Sales: Ann Kalb Tel. 248-244-6499 [email protected] Stepping up After that defeat, HARDI and the ACCA appear to have stepped up their pressure on CUSTOMER SERVICE For subscription information or service, Congress. In addition to paid lobbyists such as the ACCA’s Charlie McCrudden, the please contact Customer Service at: groups have staged more “fly-in” events in Washington, D.C., to give members more Tel. 847-763-9534 • Fax 847-763-9538 time to personally explain their concerns to House and Senate staffers. [email protected] This is a wise strategy. As I’ve said before, whether it’s your city’s zoning board or a national issue that impacts you or your business personally, it’s imperative to be aware of issues and how to contact your state, local or federal representatives.