MECHANICAL SUPPLY NEWS

MANUFACTURERS • DISTRIBUTORS • WHOLESALERS

HAPPY RETIREMENT Viessmann Canada held a celebration at the company’s Waterloo, Ont. headquarters on November 22nd for outgoing president Harald Prell (HP) who is retiring after 41 years with the company.

Prell first joined Viessmann in 1980 as an assistant general manager. He was promoted to general manager of North American operations in 1986, and in 1990 he established Viessmann US in Warwick, Rhode Island. He was later appointed president of Viessmann Canada in 2010.

DURAVENT ACQUIRES HART AND COOLEY DuraVent has acquired Michigan-based Hart and Cooley, bringing together two HVAC industry venting pioneers. Operating since 1901, Hart and Cooley’s product portfolio includes residential and commercial products including grilles, registers, diffusers, commercial and residential venting and chimney systems, and air filtration products and systems. The company owns facilities throughout Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

DuraVent, venting and chimney specialists, also owns Security Chimneys in Montreal.

“Our immediate objective is to build one unified company, with one team, focused on world-class manufacturing and distribution,” said DuraVent president and CEO Simon Davis in announcing the deal. duraventfiltration.com CIPH ESTABLISHES WOMEN OF DISTINCTION AWARD The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) Board has approved a new award to recognize women in CIPH with outstanding leadership. At the request of the CIPH Women’s Network the award was approved by the Board and will be named the CIPH Women of Distinction Award.

To be considered, nominees must demonstrate commitment to mentoring, developing and promoting women in the plumbing and heating industry through their leadership. The award is based on the following criteria: a minimum of 12 years in the plumbing and heating industry (with a CIPH member company); minimum four years of service on any CIPH committee or council; and a maximum of two women per year can receive the Award.

The deadline for nominations for the first annual is February 1st, 2022. ciph.com OUELLET SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION Ouellet Canada has awarded the Électro-Fédération Canada (EFC) scholarship to Charles-Olivier Duquette, a mechanical engineering student at Cégep Limoilou. The scholarship, which is worth $3,500, is to support students so they can achieve and realize their career aspirations. Ouellet Canada is a subsidiary of the Ouellet Group, a Quebec manufacturer of electric heating products and distributor of air-conditioning products. ouellet.com

Scholarship awarded to Charles-Olivier Duquette (centre), from Louis Beaulieu, president/CEO Ouellet Canada (right) and Miguel Robichaud, engineering manager Ouellet Canada.

DANFOSS CELEBRATES NEW CANADIAN OFFICE On September 23, Danfoss welcomed employees and guests to their new Canada office and training centre in Oakville, ON to celebrate a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Officially opening in December 2020, the event was delayed due to COVID-19. The office employs 36 people from three business segments: Danfoss Climate Solutions, Danfoss Drives and Danfoss Power Solutions.

Additionally, the office houses a training centre as well as meeting and event space.

Danfoss has operated in Canada for 69 years.

In other Danfoss news, the company has broken ground on a new 167,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Tallahassee, Florida. Scheduled for completion in early 2023, the new facility will host manufacturing of Turbocor compressors. The award-winning compressors use magnetic-bearing technology instead of oil and provide a low-carbon and ultralow global warming potential (GWP) cooling option for commercial air conditioning and refrigeration units. danfoss.com

John Galyen, president Danfoss North America, and Randy Ross, senior manager of HR for Danfoss in Canada, officially open the new Danfoss office and training centre in Oakville, Ontario.

Hutchinson building in Minnesota is undergoing 25,000 sq. ft. reno. UPONOR EXPANDING TWO MANUFACTURING PLANTS To help meet growing demands for PEX pipe, Uponor North America is expanding its manufacturing capacity in Minnesota. The company’s Lakeville distribution center, originally built in 2009, is adding 57,000 sq. ft. (a US$5 million project scheduled for completion in June 2022), and its Hutchinson facility, acquired in 2017, is adding 25,000 sq. ft. also at a cost of US$5 million (scheduled to be complete in May 2022).

“As we enter the post-pandemic business climate, Uponor is positioning itself to increase capacity and productivity to effectively meet customer demand for our product,” says Bill Gray, president, Uponor North America.

After completion of both expansions in 2022, the total Uponor North America building square footage will exceed one million. uponor.com

A.O. SMITH ACQUIRES GIANT FACTORIES Wisconsin-based A.O. Smith has acquired Giant Factories, the Quebec-based manufacturer of residential and commercial water heaters, for US$192 million.

A family-owned business founded in 1945, Giant markets its water heaters under the Giant brand and employs more than 300 people, primarily in Canada. Giant manufactures water heaters at two facilities in Montreal and sells its products across the country.

Claude Lesage, Giant Factories, Inc, president, commented, “We are extremely excited about the benefits of a powerful combination with a world leader in global water technology. This natural and logical partnership with A. O. Smith will enhance prospects for our customers, employees, and suppliers.”

The addition of Giant to A. O. Smith’s existing water heater operations helps grow the company’s presence in the Canadian water heater market, which is characterized by a high percentage of replacement demand.

The purchase of Giant also supports A. O. Smith’s decarbonization efforts by increasing the amount of electric-powered water heating products in its portfolio supplied by a renewable energy grid – as a number of Canadian provinces, Giant’s end markets, are mainly served by an electrical grid that is primarily hydro-sourced and non-carbon intensive. aosmith.com giantinc.com DISTRIBUTION

>> Saniflo Canada Selects Jones Goodridge for Mid-West Canada Saniflo Canada has announced Jones Goodridge as its new plumbing wholesale-channel representative for Mid-Western Canada.

Jones Goodridge serves residential and commercial plumbing and heating markets with offices in Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Regina.

“It is with great pleasure that Saniflo Canada welcomes Jones Goodridge to our sales representative network,” says Phil Warren, national sales manager for Saniflo Canada.

“Their in-depth product and application knowledge will be an outstanding complement to our team.” saniflo.ca jonesgoodridge.com

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