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May 30, 2007

Currahee Club Golf Professionals Achieve Class A Status

Assistant Golf Professionals Pittman, Robinson graduate PGA's Management Program.

Toccoa, GA (PRWEB) May 30, 2007 -- Currahee Club assistant golf professionals Ben Pittman and Tim Robinson have achieved Class A Professional status within the PGA of America, according to Head Golf Professional John Wade.

Both Pittman and Robinson recently completed the third and final level of the Professional Golf Management Program, thus attaining full PGA membership.

"I'm extremely proud of Ben and Tim for earning their Class A Professional status and becoming PGA members. This is quite an achievement," said Wade. "When an assistant golf professional takes a job at a club, he or she is stepping into a costly and time-consuming effort to become a PGA Member."

"There are three levels of education an assistant golf professional must complete within six years to graduate from the program," continued Wade. "Testing and seminars follow each level, which assistant golf professionals must pass and complete before moving onto the next level within the program. The education that Ben and Tim have obtained through the PGM Program, along with their work experience, prepares them for the next step in their career, that of becoming a head PGA golf professional at a prestigious facility like Currahee Club."

In the first level, the PGM Program for golf professionals covers a wide range of subject material, including the Rules of Golf, tournament operations, golf car fleet management, teaching, golfer development programs, golf club design and repair and more.

At Level 2, subjects covered for golf professionals include analysis of the swing, business planning and operations, customer relations, business communications, turf grass management and an elective. The third and final level of instruction covers the swing concepts of teaching, supervising and delegating, merchandising and inventory management, food and beverage control and an elective.

The PGA Electives for golf professionals are golf course design, golf facility design, golf range management and caddie program management. Outside electives include CPR/first aid and public speaking. Students must complete one elective from each category.

Pittman, 35, came to Currahee Club in May 2004 as an assistant golf professional working with Wade. "I love this place; I absolutely love this place," he said about the community.

Born in Staunton, Va., Pittman grew up in Greenville, S.C. and earned a BA degree in Political Science from Rhodes College in Memphis. He began his career as a golf professional working part-time at Willbrook Plantation at Pawley's Island, S.C., while earning an associate's degree in complex golf management at the Myrtle Beach campus of the San Diego Golf Academy's Myrtle Beach. He has worked as an assistant golf professional at St. Ives Country Club in Duluth, Ga. and at The Cliffs in S.C.

Pittman is married. He and his wife live in Greenville with their six-month-old daughter.

Robinson, 31, is a native of Gainesville, Ga., who starting playing golf at 11 and working as a cart attendant at Chicopee Woods in his hometown at age 16. But he spent six years in the military before accepting what he calls his "first real golf job," that of assistant pro at Chicopee Woods starting in 2001.

In 2004, he moved to Wynlakes Golf and Country Club in Montgomery, Ala., before joining Currahee Club in July 2005 as one of the assistant golf professionals.

Robinson and his wife live in Baldwin, Ga.

About Currahee Club
Currahee Club, a golf, lake and private mountain community, is located just 90 minutes from Atlanta and 60 minutes from Greenville, S.C., off of Highway 17 in Toccoa, Ga. Currahee Club is a Hartwell lakefront property development of Whitley Development Group, Inc., a father-son team involved with successful, notable properties such as The Bear's Club in Palm Beach, Fla., The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club & Spa in Jupiter, Fla., Colleton River Plantation near Hilton Head, S.C. and The Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta. For more information on Currahee Club, please visit www.curraheeclub.com or call (706) 827-1000 or (888) 560-2582.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:41 AM | Comments (0)

Amberly Continues its Rapid Construction and Sales Pace as Three Neighborhoods Sell Out, Two Neighborhoods Open for Home Sales

The master-planned Amberly community, situated on the western edge of Cary, North Carolina, one and a half miles southwest of the Research Triangle Park, was the top selling Triangle-area community in 2006. Amberly's success continues in 2007 as its Lexington Park, Blackstone and Arlington Park neighborhoods have officially sold out. High-end and custom homes are now selling at The Peninsula at Amberly and Village Square at Amberly.

Cary, NC (PRWEB) May 30, 2007 -- Amberly, the top selling Triangle-area community in 2006, continues its growth and sales success with three of its top selling neighborhoods nearing completion.

KB Home's Lexington Park and Arlington Park and Pulte's Blackstone are officially sold out after selling a combined 396 homes since Amberly broke ground in mid-2005. Two new neighborhoods, The Peninsula at Amberly and Village Square at Amberly, have recently opened.

Del Webb continues to lead Amberly in sales, having sold 458 homes since its inception. KB Home remains active at Amberly with its Washington Square neighborhood, which has sold 80 townhomes to date.

"This begins a new era for Amberly," said Bob Jones, general manager for Amberly and GS Carolina's Raleigh division. "With three neighborhoods sold out, two new neighborhoods breaking ground and the Residents' Club at Amberly poised to open this summer, Amberly is quickly becoming the community we've envisioned for years," said Jones.

New in 2007, The Peninsula features custom homes from the $400s to the $800s built by 1st American Homes, Royal Oaks Building Group and Garman Homes. The Peninsula also offers custom lot sales to those wanting to buy now and build later.

Amberly's newest neighborhood, Village Square at Amberly, features the custom builder team the Bedford Builder Group. The group consists of 12 Triangle-area custom homebuilders, which offer single-family homes and townhomes priced from the $300s. Village Square is located adjacent to the Residents' Club at Amberly and contains the Village Green and community amphitheater.

Construction at the Residents' Club at Amberly is currently nearing its last phase, and the 19,000 sq. ft. facility is expected to celebrate its grand opening in mid to late summer of 2007.

About Amberly
Amberly is situated on the western edge of Cary, N.C., one and a half miles southwest of the Research Triangle Park, and is located just off Highway 55. The community spans 1,100 acres and includes approximately 5,000 homesites. The Residents' Club at Amberly features programming and staffing provided by UNC Health Care, and the community will also feature UNC Health Care's UNC Wellness Center at Amberly. Amberly is the first North Carolina development to contain an Active Adult neighborhood integrated within a mixed-use community. Amberly is an L.M. Sandler & Sons Inc. development, and is managed by GS Carolina. For more information, call 1-877-4AMBERLY (1-877-426-2375) or visit www.Amberly.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:41 AM | Comments (0)

Martin Freedland, CEO of The Berke Group, Addresses the Current Housing Downturn at PCBC

Martin Freedland, CEO of The Berke Group, spoke to PCBC attendees today about how to successfully navigate the current housing downturn by strengthening their human capital.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) May 30, 2007 -- Martin Freedland, CEO of The Berke Group, presented cutting-edge strategies to help home builders address the current housing downturn at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference on Wednesday, May 30th. Mr. Freedland's 30+ years of experience in organizational development and the new home market uniquely positions him as one of home-building's most respected experts.

Mr. Freedland advised home builders on the importance of "courageous leadership" in the current market, which requires taking risks to achieve long-term gains. According to Mr. Freedland, "taking risks means not following the crowd or matching the competition, but rather taking strategic counter-cyclical actions designed to strengthen your business and to build for the future."

One of the key areas Mr. Freedland addressed with home builders is the strengthening of their human capital during the soft market. He discussed the importance of identifying the core characteristics of successful performers in critical positions such as Sales Consultant and of fine-tuning their organizations' recruiting and hiring practices to ensure the selection of top talent during the down cycle.

Mr. Freedland also revealed findings from The Berke Group's ongoing study of personnel in the home-building industry utilizing the Berke Assessment, an online employment test measuring candidates' natural talents, behaviors and personality traits against job requirements and company culture. After testing personnel across multiple home builders, The Berke Group identified the behaviors and talents commonly held by top performers in key roles. The same study also revealed that home builders are often disregarding these characteristics during the recruiting and hiring process.

Mr. Freedland encouraged home builders to take a hard look at their current teams and to identify those individuals who are not well-matched behaviorally with their positions. At the same time, Mr. Freedland challenged home builders to actively recruit "A" players during the down market in order to position their organizations for even greater success when the market turns.

Mr. Freedland's presentation is available on The Berke Group website.

About Martin Freedland
Martin Freedland has been committed to helping organizations improve the way they recruit, hire, train, manage and motivate their people for over three decades. Mr. Freedland founded Organizational Development Associates, now known as The Berke Group, in 1974. A significant aspect of his work has been providing managers with the skills and tools necessary to ensure the right people are hired for the right jobs, which includes use of the leading-edge Berke employment test. A number of Mr. Freedland's clients have achieved national recognition based on the strength of their organizations, including Fortune Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" designation, as well as "America's Best Builder" and "Builder of the Year."

About The Berke Group
The Berke Group is an assessment and consulting company specializing in employee selection, management and retention. It is the creator of the Berke Assessment, an online assessment tool measuring candidates' natural talents, behaviors and personality traits against job requirements and company culture.

Contact:

Leslie Owens, Director of Marketing
The Berke Group
404-262-7009

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:40 AM | Comments (0)

Innovative Design Protects Emergency Pull Stations Vital to Building Safety

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, in 2005 approximately 115,000 fires occurred at non-residential structures, and as a result of those fires 50 people died and another 1,500 were injured. Fortunately, contractors and building owners have fire codes that require them to install fire safety products, but often fire pull stations are damaged or knocked off walls by workmen or other members of the public. In an attempt to decrease fire safety hazards, Fire Protection Devices, Inc. has created the Pull Station Protector.

(PRWEB) May 30, 2007 -- Protecting emergency pull stations is easy with Pull Station Protectors from the newly founded Fire Protection Devices, Inc.

Ed Hevy, a licensed electrician and President of FPD, came up with the concept of a Pull Station Protector after regularly being hired to repair fire pull stations that had been knocked off walls in commercial and industrial settings.

Hevy realized that not only is it dangerous for fire protection products to be damaged, but replacing emergency pull stations is also expensive. On average, it costs $300 to pay for a replacement pull station and the labor of a licensed technician. Furthermore, if damaged pull stations aren't brought up to code quickly, fines from fire professionals might result.

"When I searched for protective devices for emergency pull stations, I was surprised to find that this type of product did not already exist," Hevy says. "I recognized the need for this important product, so I quickly went to work with engineers and material experts to get it made."

The fire engine red coverings for these fire protection products are backed by a 10 year warranty and are designed to protect fire pull stations from impact caused by rolling carts, trolleys and the like. This means that the Pull Station Protector absorbs all the impact, so the emergency pull stations are not adversely affected by accidental run-ins.

"We are proud of the quality of this product and stand behind it," Hevy says. "Once we had a demo made, we sent the Pull Station Protector to an outside materials lab where it was impacted at various speeds and angles. As we suspected, our product passed these rigorous tests with flying colors."

Moreover, the Pull Station Protectors are easy to install on new or existing pull stations. The only tools required for installation are a Phillips screw driver, a level, a drill with a ¼" drill bit and a utility knife.

To learn more about the Pull Station Protector, please visit fireprotectiondevices.com.

About Fire Protection Devices, Inc.:

In 2007, Fire Protection Devices, Inc. was started by electrician Ed Hevy. The idea for his invention, the Pull Station Protector, came to Hevy after years of regularly being called upon to repair damaged pull stations. Damaged fire protection products, such as fire pulls, pose an obvious threat to the public, so in order to promote public safety and save commercial and industrial building owners expensive repair jobs, Hevy began working with an engineering team to turn his idea into a quality product.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:40 AM | Comments (0)

Amvic to Release a New 12" ICF

On June 1, 2007, Amvic Building System will release a new 12" Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) to the current line of 4", 6", 8" and 10" forms. Amvic ICF also features the unique, fully reversible FormLockTM interlocking system which has considerably deeper grooves than competing products and is the strongest on the market.

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) May 30, 2007 -- On June 1, 2007, Amvic Building System will release a new 12" Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) to the current line of 4", 6", 8" and 10" forms. The new 12" form will be 17"w x 24"h x 48"l. It will be available in a straight form which will cover 8 sq ft and in a 90 degree form which will cover 9.83 sq ft.

Amvic ICFs are manufactured using 2.5 inches of 1.5lb/cf density EPS foam on each side of the form. These panels are very rigid, therefore maintain shape, remain straight and plumb and require less bracing during concrete pouring and curing. Amvic is one of few ICFs on the market that can withstand internal vibration which ensures proper concrete consolidation and creates a structurally superior wall. Amvic ICF also features the unique, fully reversible FormLockTM interlocking system which has considerably deeper grooves than competing products. This provides greater connection strength and eliminates the need for gluing or taping. As a result, when concrete is poured into Amvic ICFs the likelihood of separation is very low. In addition, Amvic ICF is the strongest on the market as proven by Canadian Construction Material Center (CCMC) forming capacity strength test at 865 lbs./sq.ft.

The web placement in Amvic forms is 6" on centre vs. 8" on centre in most others. This allows for most cut-off pieces to be reused which can result in less than 1% construction waste compared to up to 6% for most competitors. The polypropylene webs are manufactured using more raw material than in other ICFs, which results in a greater rigidity and allows for an ultimate 198 lb pull-out strength for interior and exterior attachments. They also have a unique rebar holding system with built-in clips that can hold up to two courses of rebar securely in place without tying and place rebar most effectively to maximize structural strength.

Not only does Amvic provide a superior product which provides many benefits to the builder and occupant, it is also Green. Amvic ICFs use 60% recycled materials, reduce deforestation and Amvic ICF structures reduce energy consumption by 30-50% on average as well last for over a hundred years with limited maintenance. Amvic recently conducted an industry leading third party LEED Product Assessment which proved that using Amvic ICF can result in up to 28 points towards a structure's LEED certification. (For documents to support this data, please contact Amvic)

Amvic has recently developed Amvic Design Software (ADS) TM, a leading engineering software for checking the structural adequacy of Amvic walls, lintels and AmDeckTM. Users simply input variables and the system calculates if they satisfy the appropriate building code. The software is visually interactive and entries are reflected in real-time. Currently, ADS is the only software with built-in text and graphic reports for complete transparency. ADS streamlines the design process, increases efficiency and ensures accuracy.

These recent progressive investment decisions clearly indicates that Amvic is determined to increase sales in the commercial segment of the ICF industry and is dedicated to meeting the needs of their customers.

For more information on Amvic Building System, please visit the website at www.amvicsystem.com or call 1 877 470 9991.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:39 AM | Comments (0)

Solar Night Industries, Inc. Offers Builders their Solar SynapseTM Pre-Wire Kit for Renewable Energy in New Home Construction

Kit means builders can introduce renewable energy into new home design at a fraction of the usual cost.

Saint Louis, MO (PRWEB) May 29, 2007 –- Solar Night Industries (OTC: SLND.PK) offers builders their Solar SynapseTM Pre-Wire Kit for Renewable Energy in New Home Construction. The design behind the Solar SynapseTM Pre-Wire Kit is to cost-effectively provide builders a renewable energy option for a new home at a reduction of the cost of the addition of a new, post-construction PV solar energy system. This allows future homeowners the opportunity to easily, and affordably add a solar modern energy system at their leisure. The Solar Synapse Pre-Wire Kit includes all the necessary internal components needed for a Builder to pre-wire the home while under construction, saving incremental parts and labor costs -- versus a retrofit system -- of over $4,000.

Each Kit also includes complete, easy-to-follow installation instructions, as well as a textbook on introductory photovoltaics -- designed to educate the homeowner on the benefits and options available when solar is incorporated into the home. When ready, owner need only to add the PV solar panels and an inverter to begin saving on their electricity and help decrease the use of non-renewable energy.

The Builder benefit of incorporating the Solar SynapseTM Pre-Wire Kit goes well beyond simply giving the home-owner a more affordable opportunity to install a solar PV system at their convenience. Pre-Wire Kit Benefits:

Builders:

Improves green marketing image

Offers affordable opportunity to incorporate green building options

Accelerates adoption of modern energy products by simplifying the process; estimated savings over retrofit of more than $4,000

Attracts the growing green home buying market

May qualify for Federal, State and local grants

May be eligible for two LEED points—one for education and one for forward-looking home engineering

Home Owners:

Allows future home owner the opportunity to reduce their CO2 emissions

Allows future homeowner the opportunity to combat rising energy costs, Creates additional value in home (According to the National Appraisers Association, for every $1 saved on annual energy savings, the value of the home increases $20) thus, decreasing time the home is on the market

May also allow home owner access to federal tax credits

According to Ben Hanewinkel, SNI Director of Sales, “The modern energy revolution has begun. SNI’s Solar SynapseTM Pre-Wire Kit offers Builders an affordable opportunity to be a part of the early stages of this movement.” Already, in New Mexico, the new Solar Collector Standards Act and Construction Industries Licensing Act require New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, the Construction Industries Division (CID) and the Construction Industries Commission (CIC) to adopt rules, standards or codes for new construction to accommodate the later installation of solar collectors, including…built-in conduit, wiring, piping and brackets for attaching solar collectors. Other state’s initiatives are surely to follow New Mexico’s lead.

More information can be found by visiting SolarSynapse.com.

About Solar Night Industries, Inc.
Solar Night Industries Inc. (OTC:SLND.PK) is an early stage, clean-energy Company that enables residential and commercial energy users across the country to implement cost-effective, clean-energy solutions that help them reduce their dependence on traditional energy sources, reducing CO2 emissions. Solar Night Industries, Inc. is based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA). For more information, please visit http://www.SolarNightIndustries.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are made in reliance upon the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from the statements expressed or implied herein due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to: the development of Solar Night Industries’ solar cell technology and solar solutions ability to secure additional financing, the successful marketing and distribution of Solar Night Industries’ products market acceptance of Solar Night Industries’ products and technology, competition and timing of projects and trends in the solar industry, as well as other factors. The forward looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and Solar Night Industries undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

For more information: Solar Night Industries, Inc., Molly Salinas, Director of Marketing, molly @ solarnightindustries.com, 314-922-0154 or 877.826.1991.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:39 AM | Comments (0)

HDTV Installation Pioneer, HD Installers, Installs 60,000 Televisions and Wins the 2006 Home Theater Installation Company of the Year Award

HD Installers: Home Theater Installation, the pioneer in big screen HDTV installation, surpasses its 60,000 television screen installation.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) May 29, 2007 -- HD Installers: Home Theater Installation, the leading independent big screen HDTV installer, has completed 10,000 LCD TV and plasma television installations since the first of the year.

With the consumer mass adoption of big screen HDTV's the adoption of professional installation as a percentage of big screen sales have increased. HD Installers is the clear leader of plasma installation, LCD installation and home theater installation in the United States. Nobody has completed more HDTV installations than HD Installers.

Even with the launch of "semi-professional" installation services provided by big box stores more customers trust their investment to HD Installers the winner of the prestigious 2006 Home Theater Installation Company of the Year. Myles Rothacker - General Manager of HD Installers says, "Consumers are choosing HDInstallers.com more than any other tv installation company because of our commitment to customer satisfaction. The big box stores are only interested in their bottom line and typically use uncertified installers that are clueless. The big box stores interest in customer satisfaction is shown in the recent firing of 3,400 employees by one big box store because the employees did a good job and got raises. The other big box store has recently announced they will do the same. Fifty percent of the installations we perform are by dissatisfied big box store customers that ordered installation service from them. The management team at HD Installers believes that providing great installation service shouldn't be grounds for firing employees so we only hire and maintain the best TV installers in the industry. That is why we are the most awarded tv Installation Company in the U.S.A."

About HD Installers: Home Theater Installation
HD Installers specializes at HDTV television installation and surround sound installation.

Visit our site at: http://www.hdinstallers.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:38 AM | Comments (0)

Home Inspection Business Start Up Information

Home Inspection Business Start Up Information from an experienced home inspector

West Paterson, NJ (PRWEB) May 29, 2007 -- Home inspection businesses start up and fail all the time. In an effort to educate new home inspectors experienced home inspector Michael Del Greco, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc. has started a series of articles posted to http://AccurateInspections.com to provide useful information to those who wish to become home inspectors.

Del Greco starts off explaining those who wish to become home inspectors have many different skill sets to master. Contrary to popularly belief the technical knowledge of how to perform a home inspection is a small percentage of what a home inspector must have in order to run a successful home inspection business. Home inspection business information located here.

Running a home inspection business entails learning the technical information each home inspector must know, developing a business plan, simultaneously running the business while juggling the responsibilities of a business owner and developing the skills necessary to be a good home inspector.

Information is provided as to exactly what training a person needs to become a home inspector including details on obtaining field training and the benefits of combining the field training with class room training as well as how to tell when one is ready to go out on their own.

The web site also has two useful Excel spread sheet downloads to assist new inspectors on figuring out where there time will be spent and where their money will go.

While many feel technical knowledge is the most difficult to master the real difficulty is writing a report with enough detail for the average person to be able to determine what is wrong, why it is wrong and what to do about it.

Most home inspectors end up in trouble with clients because defects were observed and some what reported to the client but not pointed out clearly as being defects that must be cured to avoid safety risks and or the risk of further damage. Under reporting defects is a major cause of expensive litigation.

People who are thinking of entering the home inspection business will find the information provided to be of great interest as it provides incite into how the home inspection business works and details as to the eduction and training necessary to own and operate a successful home inspection business.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:38 AM | Comments (0)

Best Real Estate Website? RealEstateSpace.tv Unveiled as First 'MySpace for Real Estate'

As the real estate market has moved from agent driven to consumer driven, a new site takes this to the next level. RealEstateSpace.tv acts as a Web 2.0 connection hub for agents, consumers, lenders, builders, investors, and practically everyone involved in the real estate profession.

(PRWEB) May 29, 2007 -- 80% of consumers use the Internet as their primary resource while searching for real estate and professionals. While many real estate professionals may have their own web page or utilize one of the industry websites for real estate agents, there has not been one solely designated real estate networking site completely dedicated to all parties involved in the real estate industry-- including agents, consumers, investors, builders, lenders, developers, appraisers, brokers, and more.

Until now.

RealEstateSpace.tv was recently unveiled to fill this glaring void in the industry. And, by capitalizing on the networking models that have made sites like MySpace.com, YouTube.com, and E-Bay.com so successful, RealEstateSpace.tv is positioned to become the premier virtual real estate resource. The new site utilizes the latest technologies of the Web 2.0 revolution to keep all parties instantly and completely connected. Users are able to harness the power of SMS text messaging, podcasts, video casting, personal web pages and more to enhance their real estate experience-- whether business related or personal.

Katrina Adams, spokesperson for RealEstateSpace.tv, explains, "RealEstateSpace.tv's networking abilities, that incorporate new technologies like text messaging, podcasting, and video services, transform the site into a complete virtual community. And, by including all aspects of the real estate industry, RealEstateSpace.tv is a one-stop-shop for consumers where they can meet all of their needs, from lenders to appraisers to agents and more. We are certainly positioned to become the best real estate website on the market for these precise reasons."

Professionals may also join the community and earn money through the referral network. This is yet another feature that makes RealEstateSpace.tv stand out from the common crowd of websites for real estate agents.

Adams notes, "We are essentially bringing unity back to the real estate community. We want to dynamically connect agents and consumers without the annoyance of unwanted solicitations and additional fees. We do so by being an all-inclusive full service technology driven real estate marketplace."

Agents and real estate professionals are also able to create their own web page to feature on RealEstateSpace.tv. Then, they can use cutting-edge technology to mass market their services. SMS text messaging for appointments, videos to accompany listings, and personal podcasting. These are just a few of the benefits of joining the growing community at RealEstateSpace.tv.

To see why this community excels way beyond other websites for real estate agents, please visit www.RealEstateSpace.tv.

About RealEstateSpace.tv:
Roberta Hillary, CEO of RealEstateSpace.tv, has over 35 years experience in Executive Management with Technology, Real Estate, and Financial Services. RealEstateSpace.tv is the first online community and networking website for real estate and its professionals.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:37 AM | Comments (0)

Architecture Firm Expands Its Services

In a move to diversify, Clearwater based architectural firm, Design Styles, Inc. has announced that it is continuing to grow its services into the commercial arena.

Clearwater, FL (PRWEB) May 29, 2007 -- In a move to diversify, Clearwater based architectural firm, Design Styles, Inc. has announced that it is continuing to grow its services into the commercial arena.

"We will continue to develop the residential architectural designs that our firm is already so well known for" said Peter Fertig, AAIA, partner of Design Styles, "we have diversified our commercial architectural services to better serve the growing needs of our clients."

The firm is already in the process of designing its largest commercial project yet - $5 million corporate headquarters for the nation's fastest-growing direct mail postcard marketing company, PostcardMania. The project consists of a 22,800 sq. ft. office for 200 employees above a two story parking garage. The exterior of the building will be an urban industrial design intended to emulate a New York style warehouse circa 1920. The interior office space has been designed as an open, colorful and high energy avant-garde world with cost efficient materials such as exposed block walls, exposed mechanical systems and stained concrete floors.

"Our firm has grown significantly to where we've been able to expand our services" said Andy Dohmen, AIA, partner of Design Styles. "We are now able to offer our commercial clients the same quality and attention that we've been producing in our residential architectural designs. We pride ourselves in listening to our clients and designing creative solutions to suit their needs, " Dohmen said.

Design Styles is presently in negotiations on other commercial projects in addition to the many single and multi-family projects they already have underway.

Dohmen and Fertig partnered in 1998 to form what is now known as Design Styles, Inc. Since its beginning, the firm has experienced tremendous growth in many areas including its size, services and client base.

About Design Styles, Inc.
Design Styles, Inc. was founded in 1998 by partners Andy Dohmen, AIA and Peter Fertig, AAIA. Today, the award-winning architectural design firm is made up of more than 20 people with a diverse combination of experiences and talents. Located in Clearwater, FL, the firm has grown to service the southeast U.S. and the Caribbean. Design Styles offers a full range of architectural services encompassing a variety of commercial and residential project types. For additional information about the services and project types that Design Styles offers, visit their website at http://www.designstylesinc.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:36 AM | Comments (0)

JRS Architect, P.C. Names Kenneth R. Garvin Associate

Long Island-based JRS Architect, P.C., one of the nation's leading architectural design firms, appointmented Kenneth R. Garvin as an associate of the firm. He currenly oversees the design and construction of 25 bank branches for JP Morgan Chase.

Mineola, NY (PRWEB) May 29, 2007 -- JRS Architect, P.C., one of the nation's leading architectural design firms, announced the appointment of Kenneth R. Garvin, A.I.A., as Associate.

Garvin, 42, previously a Project Architect at JRS, is responsible for overseeing the design and construction of various bank branches in New York for JPMorgan Chase. He is currently managing 25 projects.

"Ken Garvin's practiced experience and leadership make him a valued asset to the firm," said JRS President John Sorrenti, F.A.I.A. "His ability to understand the various needs of the numerous users and provide a design solution to create a space that functions well and is exciting to be in, is exemplified in all of his work. His attention to detail and ability to coordinate with multiple engineers and with our client's consultants brings a comfort level to each project he works on. Ken goes the extra mile for every project."

During his 11 years at JRS, Garvin has spearheaded several corporate interior renovation projects for JPMorgan Chase, Roslyn Savings Bank and AIG. In addition to corporate work, Garvin has managed more than 55 retail bank branch projects in the tri-state area, ranging from new buildings to the design of interior/exterior alterations. He also co-managed the South Nassau Communities Hospital Emergency Department project.

A native of Levittown, NY, Garvin received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Detroit in 1989 that included studies in Italy. He has a diverse project background, including shopping malls, libraries, fire houses, post offices as well as Americans with Disabilities Act related projects. Prior to joining JRS in 1996, Garvin worked for Schaardt & Fullan Architects in Bellmore, NY, and for RTKL Associates Inc. in Baltimore, MD.

Garvin resides in New Hyde Park, NY, with his wife Anna and their three sons. He is an active member of the American Institute of Architects Long Island Chapter and is a member of the Planning / Architectural Review Board of the Village of New Hyde Park. A former president of the Floral Park Art League, Garvin paints in water colors and oils in his spare time. He is also active in Church of the Holy Spirit in New Hyde Park.

About JRS Architect, P.C.
JRS Architect, P.C., with offices in Mineola, NY, New York City, and Princeton, NJ, has grown from six people since its establishment in 1986 to more than 60 today serving New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It has developed design expertise in the corporate, financial, healthcare, educational, hospitality and retail markets. The firm has ranked within Interior Design Magazine's list of 100 Giants in the nation for the last three years. For more information about JRS Architect, P.C. call (516) 294-1666 or visit www.jrsarchitect.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:36 AM | Comments (0)

RCS Development Announces Plans for New Neighborhood Shopping Centers in Southeast Las Vegas

The Las Vegas-based Gatski Commercial Real Estate Services is currently pre-leasing Patrick Neighborhood Plaza and Serene Neighborhood Plaza -- two of RCS Development's new, ground-up shopping centers in Las Vegas. Both plazas will feature retailers, restaurants and services geared to neighborhood shopping centers and will also accommodate the business daily service needs in the area. Construction is set to begin on both Patrick Neighborhood Plaza and Serene Neighborhood Plaza this summer.

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) May 29, 2007 -- The Las Vegas-based RCS Development announced plans for the 22,000-square-foot, $9 million Patrick Neighborhood Plaza, located at Patrick and Pecos, and Serene Neighborhood Plaza, a $5 million, 11,750-square-foot retail community center planned for Serene and Tamarus.

The Patrick Neighborhood Plaza, which is adjacent to a Sonic Fast Food and a corner C-Store and gas station, is located across the street from Home Depot, a 110-acre master-planned business park and Del Sol High School. The project also offers quick access to the 215 Beltway and the I-15 freeway. Serene Neighborhood Plaza is located near a Home Depot and Wal-Mart power center on Eastern, the 215 Beltway, Silverado High School and a day care facility.

The general contractor for both developments is Massengale Construction and Gatski Commercial Real Estate Services is the leasing agent of record.

Serene Neighborhood Plaza is scheduled for a July, 2007 groundbreaking and Patrick Neighborhood Plaza is scheduled for an August, 2007 groundbreaking. Projected delivery dates for both developments will be in the first quarter of 2008.

Both plazas will feature retailers, restaurants and services geared to neighborhood shopping centers and will also accommodate the business daily service needs in the area. Target tenants include a dry cleaner, insurance office, real estate office, mortgage office, cellular phone store, coffee shop, sandwich shop, or any other food users, said Rob Lujan, vice president, leasing and sales for Gatski Commercial Real Estate Services.

For more information about Patrick Neighborhood Plaza or Serene Neighborhood Plaza, contact Rob Lujan or Jason Simon at Gatski Commercial, (702) 221-8226 or visit RCS Development's website, www.lvshoppingcenter.com

Owned by Frank Gatski, CPM, CCIM, the Las Vegas-based Gatski Commercial Real Estate Services offers brokerage services, commercial property management services, in-house building maintenance, landscaping services, emergency response and mold remediation. Gatski Commercial's portfolio is available at www.gatskicommercial.com

RCS Development www.lvshoppingcenter.com is managed by real estate industry rising stars Richard Crighton, Chris Shelton and Ryan Crighton, who have extensive background in both residential and commercial development and sales.

Source: Gatski Commercial Real Estate Services for RCS Development

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:35 AM | Comments (0)

Getec Industrial, North American Division, Makes Plan to 'Extrude' More Business from the Internet

GetecNA announces agreement with marketing and SEO consultant, Renea Blanck, as part of their effort to support the Internet's growing soft alloy extruded products market.

Redondo Beach, CA (PRWEB) May 28, 2007 -- Getec North America, a leading manufacturer of high-quality extruded products, announced today their selection of SEO consultant, Renea Blanck, to develop an online marketing strategy to help their website better support the growing soft alloy extruded products market.

GetecNA provides a full range of extruded products in key market segments like telecommunications, power supply, and thermal management. With plans to position themselves as an online resource and trusted advisor to this growing market, their website features industry news, benefits of aluminum extruded products, metal comparison charts, and advice on how to select the right heat sink.

"Our goal is to provide a better user experience than has been offered in the past." Says Hart N Cardozo III, President, Getec's North America Division. "The online demand for soft alloys is expected to grow and with world-class technology and operations in state-of-the art facilities, we are well positioned to meet the ongoing global demand."

The agreement between GetecNA and SEO consultant, Renea Blanck, includes natural search engine optimization as the highest priority and has been allocated the highest percentage of the marketing budget.

"SEO will provide maximum ROI for Getec." Says Renea Blanck, Marketing and SEO Consultant. "SEO is non-intrusive. It allows you to target people who are more open to your marketing message because they're already out there looking for you, thereby generating warm, targeted leads that are more likely to translate into a sale."

GetecNA is confident this strategy will exceed online visitor's expectations to further distinguish themselves from their competitors.

About Getec Industrial
Getec Industrial, North American Division, is a global supplier of aluminum extruded products, die castings, CNC machined products, sheet metal stamping, and flexible and specialty packaging. For more information visit www.getecna.com.

About Renea Blanck
Renea Blanck is an independent Marketing and SEO consultant with expertise in Search Engine Optimization. Based in Houston, TX, Renea takes on clients Nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.expertseoconsultant.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:35 AM | Comments (0)

Peachtree Lighting Introduces LEDO, Cutting Edge Wall Sconce for Use in Low Energy LEED Certified, Green Buildings

Graceful, slender, clean. Wall Sconce luminaire Only 10" x 6" x1 3/4" Less than 10 watts total. 50,000 hour LED lamp life , creating a soft up and down light pattern with no UV, and you design the look and finish to fit your space.

(PRWEB) May 27, 2007 -- Covington, Ga. based Peachtree Lighting , a leader in Very low Energy Highly Efficient Architectural luminaries has introduced a new families of small wall mounted Sconce using the new LED light source.

LED light sources have in the past two years accelerated miniaturization of lighting equipment used for modern architectural lighting.

The LEDO series is a graceful, slender, clean Accent Wall luminaire only 10" x 6" x 1 ¾" deep easily complying with ADA requirements. Creating a soft up and down lighting pattern which is both functional and decorative.

Typically normal ceiling heights ceilings and corridors have presented issues for architects and lighting designers. Few energy efficient commercial grade products exist in a sizes which compliments the space.

LEDO series is available with an interesting and unique edge illuminated translucent graphic and or logo panel.

The standard finish is Brushed Aluminum and is available eight other finishes including "Copper", and "special wall covering" unites which are clad with, for example, the Hotel wall covering material.

The LED light source produces no ultraviolet so wall coverings or pictures will not degrade.

Not only is this luminaire only 7.8 watts of energy (ideal for a LEED certified "green" building) the life is 50,000 plus hours.

Standard LED light source elliment color is white - Other LED colors are Aqua, Blue, Red, and Green. Think of all the possibilities - perhaps alternating colors on a corridor wall.

One could create an application of color to the interior terrain that will metastasize, the resulting ambiance can be both nuanced and sophisticated.

Selecting material is a snap. The lighting designer for a project such as; Theatre, Church, Hospital, Hotel, Motel, Office, Public space, or specialty application can easily make many choices, compare data regarding size and performance output, as well as features and attributes, in their quest to achieve spectacular lighting results, by accessing www.peachtreelighting.com.

Depending upon the specific selections, easy to use pull down menus appear on the web site selection guide including various special functions to help the lighting specifier narrow down the options available to achieve the best possible illumination of distinctive interiors. The lighting designer can make a choice based upon description and then click on the "PDF" page number icon, which will then bring up the complete data sheet, with product photo, dimensional drawings, and complete detailed specification information. Next the designer can opt to access the IES formatted luminaire performance report, in a form that will easily integrate with any major Design Layout software program.

In addition, the eight product category sections ( Cylinders, Church, Medical, Pendants/Bowls, Decorative, Down-Lighting, LED/Specialty and Custom) each contain: Installations/Applications Photos, Application guides, and many color product brochures in downloadable PDF format as well as a direct link to see RAL color samples.

Peachtree Lighting feels these new products along with the enhanced information on the Web Platform will greatly improve efficiency for building designers charged with the responsibility of soliciting distinctive energy sensitive illumination. The Web Platform allows seamless access anytime to the almost 6000 luminaire choices available to the designers of Nonresidential facilities from Peachtree Lighting. Please visit www.peachtreelighting.com for direct access.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:34 AM | Comments (0)

Ross A. Pudenz Becomes Only Irrigation Contractor in Wisconsin to Hold the Distinction of Certified Irrigation Designer with All Specialties

Most recently Ross Pudenz of Pudenz Irrigation,LLC has completed all steps required by the Irrigation Association to become a Certified Irrigation Designer with a Residential specialty. He is now the only irrigation contractor in Western Wisconsin to be a Certified Irrigation Contractor, Certified Golf Course Irrigation Auditor, as well as a Certified Irrigation Designer with Residential, Commercial and Golf specialties.

Durand, WI (PRWEB) May 27, 2007 -- The Irrigation Association is pleased to announce that Ross A. Pudenz, of Pudenz Irrigation, LLC (www.pudenzirrigation.com), Durand, WI, has passed the required IA Certification Examination to become a Certified Irrigation Designer -- Residential (CID). A CID is an Irrigation Specialist who engages in the preparation of professional irrigation designs. They evaluate site conditions and determine net irrigation requirements based on the needs of the project. The designer is then responsible for the selection of the most effective irrigation equipment and design methods. The objective of the CID is to establish specifications and design drawings for the construction of an irrigation project.

To become a CID, individuals must complete a four-step process, including passing three specialized exams. The IA began certification programs in 1983 in order to provide an avenue for qualified irrigation professionals to demonstrate their experience and technical competence within and outside the industry. Exams are designed to meet standards of validity, reliability and difficulty. Certified individuals have made a commitment to professionalism in the industry, subscribing to a Code of Ethics.

The IA is the world's premier organization representing professionals who channel their expertise toward a common goal -- efficient irrigation. The mission of the IA is to improve water resource knowledge and efficient irrigation practices to shape the industry around the globe. A non-profit organization based in Falls Church, VA, the IA has members and affiliates across North America and the world. The IA provides leadership and impact in legislative and regulatory areas, public awareness programs, industry outreach standards, education, professional certification and research information.

Ross has also completed the required process to become a Certified Irrigation Contractor and a Certified Golf Course Irrigation Auditor. He is the only irrigation contractor in Western Wisconsin to be a Certified Irrigation Contractor, Certified Golf Course Irrigation Auditor, as well as a Certified Irrigation Designer with Residential, Commercial and Golf specialties.

Pudenz Irrigation, LLC also has a Certified Landscape Auditor on staff, to make them the most certified irrigation company in Wisconsin.

For more information on the IA Certification Program, visit the IA Web site at www.irrigation.org, or contact Karen Koenig, Certification Manager at the Irrigation Association office, 6540 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church, VA 22042; phone (703) 536-7080; fax (703) 536-7019.

For more information on Pudenz Irrigation, LLC, visit our website at www.pudenzirrigation.com, or contact Hanna or Ross, Owners, at W6707 US Hwy 10, Durand, WI 54736; phone (888) 264-8858, fax (715) 672-3963.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:34 AM | Comments (0)

The Hampshire Companies Host Broker Event Showcasing Desirable Piscataway, N.J. Portfolio

Open house displayed newly-renovated 140 Centennial Avenue property.

Piscataway, N.J. (PRWEB) May 26, 2007 -- The Hampshire Companies, a full service, private real estate investment fund manager with equity in assets valued at over $1.5 billion, hosted more than 50 commercial real estate brokers at an open house luncheon on Thursday, May 10, 2007. The event, which began at the newly-renovated 140 Centennial Avenue property, and showcased the Companies' highly desirable Piscataway portfolio featured limo rides and tours of 240 Centennial Avenue, 860 Centennial Avenue, and 80 Kingsbridge Road.

The event was co-hosted by Hampshire's exclusive leasing agent for the property, the CB Richard Ellis team of Carolyn Sica, First Vice President, Mindy Lissner, Senior Vice President, and Robert Ryan, Senior Associate.

The open house allowed the commercial real estate community to experience firsthand the major renovations recently completed at 140 Centennial Avenue which have transformed the building into a state-of-the-art facility, ideal for even the most technologically advanced users, including biotechnology, aeronautics, or pharmaceutical.

"Hampshire has undertaken significant property improvements to make these offerings highly attractive to hi-tech companies that require superior technological services, numerous amenities, and the ability to accommodate a flexible layout," noted Deborah Haller, Investment Manager for Hampshire Partners Fund VI, Hampshire's institutional investment fund that owns the property.

Hampshire's Piscataway properties are positioned in the heart of Central New Jersey, and are conveniently located off Interstate 287 with easy access to the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway and Routes 18, 1, and 22. A variety of hotels, major retail, restaurants and other amenities are conveniently located in the immediate area. In addition, its proximity to Rutgers University and the talent-rich Central New Jersey area, make these properties attractive to thriving and emerging companies.

Hampshire acquired the portfolio in the Centennial Avenue submarket in August 2005 and promptly undertook efforts for major site upgrades and property renovations.

"The Hampshire Companies recognized a market need for hi-tech office space in the technology-driven Central New Jersey marketplace and undertook plans to provide this space in the most convenient location with easy access to major highways," noted Norman A. Feinstein, Executive Managing Director of The Hampshire Companies. "This event demonstrated The Hampshire Companies' commitment to attract a high-quality tenant and to present solutions for the growing business challenges for companies requiring office space featuring the latest in technology and design."

Hampshire Partners Fund VI is a commingled, discretionary value-added real estate investment fund. The goal of Hampshire Partners Fund VI is to deliver superior, above-market returns to its institutional investors through the acquisition, repositioning and operation of investment-grade properties in attractive locations. The focus of investment for this value-add fund is on industrial, retail and suburban office product located in the growth corridors of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The Fund continues to actively seek additional acquisitions throughout its targeted markets.

The Hampshire Companies is a full-service, private real estate investment fund manager based in Morristown, New Jersey. The Hampshire Companies is a vibrant, dynamic organization that combines creative vision and superior execution, thereby enabling it to create and enhance value in real estate investments in order to consistently outperform the market. Additional information on The Hampshire Companies and its funds is available online at www.hampshireco.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:33 AM | Comments (0)

ATI Funding Says Dollar's Free Fall Creates Once in a Lifetime Opportunity for Overseas Countries

ATI Funding is able to finance foreign companies as well as foreign governments on equipment and construction loans originating from the USA without collateral up to 100% Financing . ATI Funding's new program will also finance US companies exporting US products at rates and conditions never seen before.

Miami, Florida (PRWEB) May 26, 2007 -- ATI Funding is able to finance foreign companies as well as foreign governments on equipment and construction loans originating from the USA without collateral up to 100% Financing . ATI Funding's new program will also finance US companies exporting US products at rates and conditions never seen before.

When Kuwait unpaged its Dinar from the US Dollar on Sunday, May 20th, it signaled the possible beginning of an accelerated decline in the value of the greenback..

"The massive decline in the dollar's exchange rate against main currencies ... has contributed to the increase in local inflation rates and this step is part of the central bank's efforts to curb inflationary pressure," Sheik Salem Abdul-Aziz al-Sabah" said in a statement published by state news agency KUNA.

"The decreasing dollar pulled down the value of Kuwait's Dinar causing the cost of imports to dramatically increase. Other Gulf states may soon follow," according to Vince Defauwes of ATI Funding. "This will quicken the dollar's fall."

"As more countries unpag their currencies, there will be less demand for the greenback. The trend is definitely lower for the forseenable future."

In fact, many foreign countries can receive a 'financial bonus' when borrowing from US lenders.

"With the US Dollar falling like a rock, many of our borrowers are realizing significant savings on their loans." commented Defauwes of ATI Funding, "A year ago, one US Dollar bought 0.81 Euros. Today it buys .073 Euros. That's almost a 10 percent drop."

"If you borrowed US$1 million (810,000 Euros) a year ago, when you went to repay it today, you would be writing a cheque for 730,000 Euros", according to Defauwes, "that's a nice 80,000 Euro saving."

The long term trend for the US dollar remains downward. A fact which made the cover of a recent Newsweek edition. This downward US Dollar trend will likely continue until the US Government addresses its Trade and Budget deficits.

Until then, Local and national governments, state run businesses such as hospitals, airports, universities, or ports, along with residential and commercial developers and other well run businesses should review their borrowing needs and where they finance their projects in the US and abroad.

Major factors to consider when financing or refinancing your projects are whether you are over paying interest annually, if your payments are monthly or bi-annual, how much collateral is required if any.

About ATI Funding
ATI Funding is a private domestic and international lender that specializes in loans from US$3 million to $50 million and above for commercial and residential real estate developments.

Contact Information:
Vince Defauwes
ATI Funding
One Turnberry Place
19495 Biscayne Blvd.
Suite 708
Aventura,
FL 33180
1-888-70-FUNDING
http://www.commercialhardcash.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:33 AM | Comments (0)

Adchem Announces Foamex International Foam Bonding Charts

Foam bonding solutions for Foamex Foams.

(PRWEB) May 25, 2007 -- Adchem Corporation, a leading manufacturer of high performance film and foam bonding adhesive tapes, announces the release of Foam Bonding Adhesive Tape Guides for Foamex International Inc.’s polyurethane foam systems. Foamex (OTC: FMXL), is a leading producer of flexible polyurethane and advanced polymer foam products. Based on recently completed studies of Adchem’s adhesive systems for commonly used Foamex foams, this information allows engineers and specifiers to select proven adhesive tape candidates for evaluation.

Adchem engineers and manufactures adhesive tapes for foam fabrication, foam laminating, gaskets, seals, and vibration damping specializing in providing foam bonding solutions for a variety of markets, including: abrasives, automotive, construction, electronics, industrial equipment, medical devices, and transportation.

Foamex Technical Products Technical Foam Solutions Director, John Galbraith, said “It is important to us that our customer base have easy access to critical supporting technologies. Adchem’s information can help our customers save money and shorten development time when selecting foam bonding adhesive systems for our foam products.” A complete set of these informative charts can be provided on request for qualified manufacturers.

Adchem’s extensive foam bonding capabilities, combined with Foamex’ advanced polyurethane product development capabilities, offer customers a wide array of proven high performance systems. Through their in-house laboratories, located in a 200,000 square foot facility in Riverhead, NY, Adchem is able to meet ever-changing requirements for foam bonding applications. Foamex’s R&D facility in Eddystone, PA provides product development support to customize materials meeting their customer’s specific needs.

Adchem’s double-coated, single-coated and transfer tape adhesive tape systems provide solutions ranging from economical rubber-based systems to the most demanding high performance acrylic systems and hybrid coatings combining both technologies.

About Adchem Corporation:
Adchem, an ISO 9001 certified and A2LA accredited company, manufactures an innovative line of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape systems, including double-coated papers, films, tissues, foams and fabrics; transfer tapes; one-side coated products and other custom-coated specialty products. Our 100% solids adhesives, solvent and water based acrylics and rubber adhesives are used in a variety of industries, including automotive, construction, electronics, graphic arts, medical and general industrial tape applications. For additional information and samples, please contact Adchem Corporation, 1852 Old Country Road, Riverhead, NY 11901 Phone: (631) 727-6000 Fax: (631) 727-6010 or our website at www.adchem.com.

About Foamex
Foamex International Inc., headquartered in Linwood, PA, is North America's leading producer of flexible polyurethane foam for the bedding, furniture, carpet cushion and automotive markets as well as technical foams for diverse applications in the industrial, automotive, electronics, consumer and medical sectors. For more information, please call (877) 319-9224 or visit the Foamex web site at foamex.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:32 AM | Comments (0)

PBS&J Tapped as General Engineering Consultant for Grand Parkway

Progress on Houston's third outer loop continues.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) May 25, 2007 -- Houston's third outer loop just got a boost with the Texas Department of Transportation naming PBS&J as the General Engineering Consultant for Grand Parkway, a proposed 180-mile scenic highway that traverses seven counties in Texas and encircles the greater Houston region. One 18-mile segment opened to public use in 1994, and additional segments have since been under environmental review, design, and construction.

The majority of the segments will be four-lane, controlled access toll roads. Segment I-2, under construction from IH 10 to FM 1405, is slated to be opened in December 2007.

PBS&J will serve TxDOT's Houston District as the general engineer to support in the completion of Grand Parkway, also known as State Highway 99. PBS&J will provide professional project management services and coordinate project development. Activities include financial plan analysis, working with segment engineers to produce approved environmental documents, schematic designs, coordinating right-of-way maps, and participating in the public review process. Additional segments are anticipated to be opened beginning in September 2011 with the final segment slated to open in September 2015.

Among other activities, PBS&J will be responsible for:

Financial Plan Analysis: Determine the cost effectiveness of corridor alternatives and prepare a funding strategy, evaluate toll feasibility and revenue, and assess risk.
Public Involvement: Convene a public agency committee to development and implement the Corridor Mitigation Plan covering landscaping, wetland mitigation, joint development opportunities and vegetation; facilitate small group meetings with local community stakeholders; attend public information meetings, including public workshops and environmental hearings; host and maintain the project Web site.
Environmental Coordination: Coordinate the process to prepare an overall Project Mitigation Plan, review the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for impacts to human and natural environment, review the Record of Decision for the final Environmental Impact Statement and submit it to the State.
Schematic Design: Coordinate design element review, including alternative alignments for select segments of Grand Parkway.
Right-of-Way: Review parcel maps, legal descriptions, and right-of-way maps to facilitate acquiring real property and title.

"The completion of the Grand Parkway has been a long time coming," said David Gornet, executive director for The Grand Parkway Association. "We're anxious to complete this highway to provide an alternative route to improve traffic flow, while shoring up continued funding via toll revenues."

"We're proud to serve the Grand Parkway Association and the Texas Department of Transportation to complete this ambitious and essential highway project," said Jerry Ramos, project manager and vice president for PBS&J. "We look forward to leading the engineering efforts to bring Texas travelers an aesthetic highway experience and improve regional mobility in metropolitan Houston."

About PBS&J
PBS&J (http://www.pbsj.com) is an employee-owned firm that provides infrastructure planning, engineering, construction management, architecture, and program management services to public and private clients. The employee-owned firm is ranked by Engineering News-Record as 25th among the nation's top consulting firms. PBS&J has 3,900 employees and more than 75 offices located throughout the United States and abroad.

http://www.pbsj.com/Press/Releases/District/GrandParkwayGEC/index.asp

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:31 AM | Comments (0)

PBS&J Helps Texas Honor Veterans Through State Cemetery Program

Two cemeteries open, design process begins on the third.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) May 25, 2007 -- More families of Texas veterans now have a place to honor loved ones who have served their country, thanks to PBS&J. The engineering, construction management, architectural and environmental sciences consulting firm is working with the Texas Veterans Land Board on the Texas State Veterans Cemetery Program, an initiative to build seven veterans cemeteries across the state with the goal of having one within a two-hour drive of nearly every Texas city.

"There just isn't room in our national cemeteries to honor all of the veterans," said Jerry Patterson, chairman of the Texas Veterans Land Board. "The need for state veterans cemeteries is great. Burial in these hallowed grounds is not a benefit given. It's a right earned."

In May 2001, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 310 to authorize the creation of up to seven state veterans cemeteries, which will supplement the four U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) cemeteries in Texas. The first two cemeteries in the program planned and designed by PBS&J -- the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen and the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission -- both opened last year.

Planning for the third cemetery, located in Abilene, is under way and designs are scheduled to be complete this summer. The Texas State Veterans Cemetery Committee has selected Corpus Christi as the fourth cemetery site to be developed through the program.

"Our goal in designing the state veterans cemeteries is to create the look, feel and sense of deference present at places like Arlington National Cemetery," said Scott Smiley, project manager for PBS&J. "We have a high regard for our veterans in Texas, and PBS&J is proud to help create places of honor, quiet dignity and natural beauty that will stand the test of time and stir the souls of future generations of Americans."

Both the Killeen and Mission cemeteries feature an amphitheater layout, which allows every headstone to be viewed from the access roads to the facilities. Buildings in the cemeteries are also uniquely designed to complement surrounding local architecture.

The Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery currently includes an information center, administration building, committal shelter, assembly area for ceremonies, columbarium for approximately 1,100 cremated remains, and approximately 6,500 in-ground burial places. The 174-acre site is capable of providing approximately 50,000 burial places for veterans, their spouses and eligible dependent children.

The Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery currently includes approximately 6,200 interment sites. The 75-acre cemetery site will ultimately provide approximately 26,000 burial locations.

PBS&J is also working on the expansion of the VA's Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

About PBS&J (www.pbsj.com)
PBS&J is an employee-owned firm that provides infrastructure planning, engineering, environmental, construction management, architecture, and program management services to public and private clients. The firm is ranked by Engineering News-Record as 25th among the nation's top consulting firms. PBS&J has almost 3,900 employees located in more than 75 offices throughout the U.S. and abroad, including ten offices in Texas.

http://www.pbsj.com/Press/Releases/TexasCemeteries/index.asp

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:30 AM | Comments (0)

The Hampshire Companies Develop Six Medical Office Buildings in Joint Venture with Central Development Company

The Hampshire Companies is developing six medical office buildings totaling 31,400 square feet located at 721 South Park Drive in Littleton, Colo., in a joint venture with Central Development Company.

Littleton, CO (PRWEB) May 25, 2007 -- The Hampshire Companies, a full service, private real estate investment fund manager with equity in assets valued at over $1.5 billion, is developing six medical office buildings totaling 31,400 square feet located at 721 South Park Drive in Littleton, Colo., in a joint venture with Central Development Company. The land was purchased from Shea Development Co., on behalf of The Hampshire Generational Fund, one of the firm's private equity real estate investment funds tailored to high net worth investors.

Situated on 2.5 acres of land, the buildings are located one mile from Littleton Hospital and are desirably situated just south of Denver. The six buildings have been constructed and are being marketed for sale as medical condominium properties. The properties are currently 95% occupied and the remaining available space is ideal for solo practitioners.

"This project is an excellent addition to our portfolio," said Norman A. Feinstein, Executive Managing Director of The Hampshire Companies. "With its excellent location and tenant track record we are confident that it will be a valuable asset for our Hampshire investors and our joint venture partner, Central Development Company."

The Hampshire Generational Fund, LLC, is a commingled, discretionary real estate investment fund. The goal of the Fund is to deliver superior, above-market returns to its investors through the acquisition and operation of industrial, retail, and office product as well as an investor in other real estate funds.

About The Hampshire Companies
The Hampshire Companies is a full-service, private real estate investment fund manager based in Morristown, New Jersey. The Hampshire Companies is a vibrant, dynamic organization that combines creative vision and superior execution, thereby enabling it to create and enhance value in real estate investments in order to consistently outperform the market. Additional information on The Hampshire Companies and its funds is available online at www.hampshireco.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:29 AM | Comments (0)

May 24, 2007

Solar Night Industries Executives Brief U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) in Washington, D.C.

Solar Night Industries [OTC: SLND.PK) executives Tim Corbet (CEO) and Jason Loyet (President/Chairman) met today with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) May 24, 2007 -- Solar Night Industries (OTC: SLND.PK) executives Tim Corbet (CEO) and Jason Loyet (President/Chairman) met today with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) in Washington, D.C. SNI reviewed their new Solar Pre-Wire Kit design and offered key recommendations for accelerating the adoption of solar and wind energy systems within residential, commercial, and United States government buildings. The acceleration is needed in order to meet our nation's rising peak energy demands and to reduce levels of CO2 in the atmosphere.

The mission of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is to enhance energy efficiency and productivity; bring clean, reliable and affordable energy technologies to the marketplace; and make a difference in the everyday lives of Americans by enhancing their energy choices and their quality of life.

“The guidance and long term support of the U.S. Department of Energy and EERE greatly benefits SNI and our development of our next generation of modern energy products,” says Jason Loyet, President and Chairman of SNI. “We were excited to have the opportunity to present our ideas directly to the key decision makers of our nation’s clean energy efforts.”

About Solar Night Industries, Inc.
Solar Night Industries Inc. (OTC:SLND.PK) is an early stage, clean-energy Company that enables residential and commercial energy users across the country to implement cost-effective, clean-energy solutions that help them reduce their dependence on traditional energy sources, reducing CO2 emissions. Solar Night Industries, Inc. is based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA). For more information, please visit http://www.SolarNightIndustries.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are made in reliance upon the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from the statements expressed or implied herein due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to: the development of Solar Night Industries’ solar cell technology and solar solutions ability to secure additional financing, the successful marketing and distribution of Solar Night Industries’ products market acceptance of Solar Night Industries’ products and technology, competition and timing of projects and trends in the solar industry, as well as other factors. The forward looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and Solar Night Industries undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

For more information: Solar Night Industries, Inc., Molly Salinas, Director of Marketing, 314-922-0154.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:18 PM | Comments (0)

TopSkips.com Achieves ISO9001 Quality Standard and is featured in The Daily Telegraph

Skip hire experts, TopSkips.com, have been accredited the coveted International Quality Standard (ISO9001:2000) for its provision of high quality skip hire services to domestic and commercial customers across the UK and Ireland at the same time as being profiled in The Daily Telegraph.

Manchester, England (PRWEB) May 24, 2007 -- ISO 9001:2000 is an international standard that outlines requirements for an organization's Quality Management System ("QMS"). It indicates that a supplier has established a systematic approach to quality management.

Mark Attwood, TopSkips.com founder and Managing Director is thrilled with the achievement. "This international standard substantiates our position as the foremost skip hire service in the UK. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all our staff; all of whom see quality and customer satisfaction as an integral part of out day-today operations.

"We've know for a couple of years that over 88% of our customers, which include tens of thousands of domestic skip hirers as well as hundreds of national and international contractors needing multiple skips in multiple areas, have described our service as 'Excellent' or above in response to a questionnaire, but achieving ISO 9001 is a very nice pat on the back as well as giving prospective customers even more confidence that they are dealing with a top quality company," he said.

TopSkips.com was established by husband and wife team Mark and Katy Attwood in Manchester in 2003 as the world's first fully online skip hire service. In 2005-6 the company grew by 659%. It also publishes a national trade magazine for the skip hire industry called "The Skip" (www.theskip.net) which has seen them appear on numerous BBC TV and Radio stations as skip hire industry experts.

The ISO 9001 accreditation comes on the back of a raft of industry-first innovations, such as:

TopSkipsTV (http://www.topskips.tv) - online streaming video demonstrations of skips in action to help people get the right skip sizes more easily

Skip Hire Blog - the world's first blog dedicated to skip hire and waste management (http://skiphireblog.topskips.com)

LivePerson chat help - the first skip hire service to offer live chat help to people online

The only skip hire website to be verified for online security daily by Hackersafe and Safebuy

The company will also soon be the very first skip hire service where people can book and pay for their skip hire online using Google's new Checkout service - and if they do, they'll get an additional £10 off the cost.

TopSkips.com was also profiled by The Daily Telegraph on 22 May 2007 in an article entitled "Skipping to Success on the Web" (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/05/22/cbskip22.xml) profiling TopSkips rapid rise as the UK's number one skip hire service.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:17 PM | Comments (0)

How to Decide Where to Place a Pool on One's Property

Choosing the best location for a new pool requires considering overall design, function, and other key items that are often overlooked. The Concrete Network offers suggestions for deck layout, best locations on large and small properties, and other design tips.

Yucaipa, CA (PRWEB) May 24, 2007 -- As Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer season, many homeowners will be spending time outdoors, and may be planning for a new pool and concrete deck to stay cool. When the time comes to install that new pool, careful thought should be taken on how the location of the pool and deck will affect the overall aesthetics of the pool's design.

The Concrete Network, the largest and most comprehensive resource online for concrete information, offers tips for choosing the ideal pool location.

"Think of the entire pool area as a total swimming environment, with the pool as the focal point," says Jim Peterson, president of The Concrete Network. "Also, the pool deck complements the pool itself and considerations should be given to its size and shape."

While it may seem most "natural" to have a deck layout in which people have the house at their backs, this is not always desirable. A home with a well-landscaped rear facade may well have that as its most aesthetic view, as opposed to a backyard fence and view of a neighbor's home. A pool close to the house is convenient and easy to watch over, but it may be very noisy for occupants of the house when there is a group of children playing and splashing in it.

There are several different options, features and limitations to consider when working with large or small properties. For more detailed information on accommodating different property types, The Concrete Network offers more tips on pool deck orientation, layout, coping, materials. There is also a complete pool deck photo gallery exhibiting today's most popular decorative concrete applications.

Established in 1999, The Concrete Network's purpose is to educate consumers, builders, and contractors on popular decorative techniques and applications. These include stamped concrete, stained concrete floors, concrete countertops, polished concrete, and much more. In April 2007 The Concrete Network Web site had over one million visitors researching decorative concrete.

The site excels at connecting buyers with local contractors in their area through its Find-A-Contractor service. The service provides visitors with a list of decorative concrete contractors throughout the U.S. and Canada, and is fully searchable by 23 types of decorative concrete work and 200 regional areas throughout North America.

Article photo courtesy of Concreations LLC. Attached photos courtesy of John Siskin and Davis Colors.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:16 PM | Comments (0)

New Plasma Cutter from Hobart Welding Products Features Built-in Air Compressor Weighs 27 lbs.

Hobart Welding Products introduces the AirForce 250ci plasma cutter which runs on standard 115 VAC household current, features a built-in air compressor and weighs just 27 lbs., making it a convenient tool for hobby, farming and auto body applications.

Appleton, Wis. (PRWEB) May 24, 2007 -- Designed to be the most convenient, portable cutting system available, Hobart Welding Products today introduced its new plasma cutter, the AirForce™ 250ci. Featuring a built-in air compressor and lightweight inverter technology, the unit offers powerful cutting abilities and weighs just 27 lbs., half the weight of the previous model. The AirForce 250ci is powered by standard 115 VAC household current, can cut 1/8 in. mild steel and sever 1/4 in. steel. The unit allows cutting with an arc up to 3/16 in. long--up to three times longer than some competitive units--which improves results when freehand cutting.

"This level of portability for a plasma cutter is an excellent alternative to oxy acetylene systems for home hobby, farming and auto body applications where clean, precise cutting is desired," says Caleb Krisher, product manager, Hobart Welding Products.

Available through farm/ranch and hardware/tool retailers in the US and Canadian markets the AirForce 250ci has an MSRP of $839, prices will vary by retailer.

Ready to Cut Out of the Box
The AirForce 250ci comes ready to cut with a 16.4 ft. ergonomic HP-25 torch designed for increased comfort, more efficient post-flow air cooling and economical replacement tips. The unit comes with extra replacement tips (2 tips, 2 electrodes), and a convenient cable management strap for easy transportation. Users simply need to plug it into 115 VAC, pull the trigger and begin cutting. The unit has a 35 percent duty cycle at its rated output of 12 amps at 110VDC?no need for a 230-volt hookup.

Why Plasma vs. Oxy Acetylene?
Plasma technology is simple. It uses an electrical arc and compressed air to cut steel, aluminum, stainless steel and other conductive metals, where oxy acetylene is limited to steel only. In addition, there are several advantages that make plasma technology an easier option:
- Cuts faster than oxy fuel
- More precise cut, thinner kerf, less slag to clean up
- Smaller heat-affected zone for less warping
- No gas pressure settings or flame tuning needed
- No preheating of metal prior to cutting
- No pressurized gas cylinders to transport
- No worries about running out of gas on the job
- No expense for gas refills?ever

Hobart backs the AirForce 250ci with its 5/3/1 warranty, which covers the rectifier parts for five years, power source switches, controls and valves for three years and the torch for one year. For more information, free literature or a detailed spec sheet, visit www.HobartWelders.com, call 1-877-HOBART1 (462-2781) or write to Hobart Welding Products at P.O. Box 100, Lithonia, GA 30058.

Hobart Welding Products offers a complete line of industrial-grade Stick, MIG, TIG and spot welders, plasma cutters and generator/welding power sources designed for easy use and is a division of Hobart Brothers Company, Troy, Ohio, a wholly owned subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE: ITW).

Editorial Contact:
Ron Piskula
Insight Marketing, LLC
Direct: (262) 478-9295

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:15 PM | Comments (0)

Phoenix Palmaire Condominium Sales Exceed Expectations

Local Phoenix, Arizona developer Helix Development reports that sales of its eighteen unit residential condominium project, Palmaire Condominiums in Uptown Phoenix have surpassed projections and are on target to sell out by the end of July, 2007.

Phoenix, Arizona (PRWEB) May 24, 2007 -- WeKnowUrban.com announced that Phoenix real estate development company, Helix Development, has reported exceptionally strong sales of its Palmaire Condominium community located at 1630 E. Georgia Avenue, just north of Camelback Road, in the Uptown area of Phoenix.

The small eighteen unit condo community exemplifies mid-century modern architecture with geometric overhanging patio covers, rectangular paneled pool and balcony railing, Biltmore-esque concrete grid-block fencing coupled with 21st century landscaping and new electrical, air conditioning, and low-e double pane windows and doors.

Interior finishes include European kitchen and bathroom cabinets, butcher block and honed slab granite countertops, contemporary light packages, vertical grain bamboo flooring in living areas, loop pile carpeting in bedrooms, ceramic "brick staggered" tile in bathrooms, walk-in closets, brushed aluminum hardware, three panel doors, and smooth finish plaster walls.

Upgrades include a built in and amplified i-Pod docking station. One literally can walk through the front door, insert their portable i-Pod into the wall cradle and get instant tunes piped throughout the home.

The condo community sits on a quite cul-de-sac next to a park but in true "urban" fashion is just a short walk from some of the best restaurants in the area and biking distance from world famous Biltmore shopping.

Prices start at $216 per square foot which is extremely competitive when compared to other new build and condo conversion projects in the area ranging from $300 to 400 per square foot.

Ryan Spiekerman, partner of Helix Development, states that "our goal is to offer buyers a hip, edgy, condominium at an affordable price and in a desirable area. The fact that we are selling so quickly is a testimonial that we have achieved what we set out to do."

Sales Manager Will Daly says that, "buyers comment that there's no better product out there, condo or otherwise, for the money and that they're crazy about the uptown Phoenix area. I expect to be sold out by the end of July at the latest. This has been a very good project for us."

Helix Development is actively looking for new sites for future development. For additional information on Helix and its other projects in general or Palmaire Condominiums specifically contact Adam Feldman at (602) 648-2020.

Helix Development, a partnership between Adam Feldman and Ryan Spiekerman, focuses on the acquisition and residential and commercial development of small to medium sized infill lots within the mid-town and up-town areas of Phoenix, Arizona.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:15 PM | Comments (0)

Weil & Associates Teams Up With Reggie White Foundation’s Crescent Rising Program

SAN ANTONIO (BusinessWire EON) May 24, 2007 -- The Reggie White Foundation’s (RWF) Crescent Rising Program selected San Antonio-based Weil & Associates to represent them in all aspects of strategic marketing and fundraising, specifically relating to corporate sponsorships.

The RWF’s Crescent Rising program is the most ambitious free demolition program serving the people of New Orleans. At the current pace of demolition, New Orleans residents must wait over one year to rebuild. Crescent Rising’s goal is to expedite the demolition process by encouraging the private sector to contribute towards this important project that will jumpstart economies and foster an environment of sustainable growth.

“We are pleased that Weil & Associates joined our team at Crescent Rising,” said Matt Cormier of Crescent Rising. “We are looking forward to working with them on raising the funds that will enable us to help as many people in New Orleans as possible.”

“We are honored to have been selected by the RWF to work on Crescent Rising,” said Larry Weil, president. “Not only is it good business, but more importantly, it is a way to connect corporate sponsor dollars to a project that will revitalize the city.” Weil & Associates has placed or purchased over $150,000,000 in sponsorships since 2003.

Weil & Associates is currently recruiting Crescent Rising “Founding Partners” and sponsors for the June launch event. To learn more about corporate sponsorship, call Weil & Associates at 210-828-0200 or email info@larryweil.com.

Crescent Rising kicks off its free demolition project in New Orleans on June 21, 2007.

Weil & Associates http://www.larryweil.com/

Weil and Associates specializes in sponsorship sales, planning, valuation, and acquisition. It represents both buyers and sellers of sponsorships throughout all major sports, events, and entertainment properties.

Crescent Rising Program http://www.crescentrising.com/

Crescent Rising is the most ambitious free demolition program serving the people of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The Reggie White Foundation (RWF)

The Reggie White Foundation was created to continue Reggie’s legacy of helping those in need. Over the last several years organizations started and supported by the late Reggie White have worked closely with underprivileged children, single parents, drug addicts, and other at-risk groups to provide the financial, emotional, and spiritual support they need to face life’s adversities.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:13 PM | Comments (0)

HandCrafted Homes Promotes Alan Trull to Sales Manager

Alan Trull of Raleigh, N.C., has been promoted to Sales Manager at HandCrafted Homes, a leading systems-built company. Recently named Top Salesman of the Year during HandCrafted Homes' Builder Show, Trull brings a track record of more than 25 years of success to the position, with skills including great builder recruitment, account development and relationship building.

Henderson, NC (PRWEB) May 24, 2007 -- Alan Trull of Raleigh, N.C., has been promoted to Sales Manager at HandCrafted Homes, a leading systems-built company. Recently named Top Salesman of the Year during HandCrafted Homes' Builder Show, Trull brings a track record of more than 25 years of success to the position, with skills including great builder recruitment, account development and relationship building.

Trull will be responsible for day to day operations which includes management of the sales representatives & sales coordinators, responsible for builder recruitment & development as well as sales budgets, including orders, shipments & collections.

"Alan has consistently been at the top of the HandCrafted Homes sales staff in terms of production each year of his 5 1/2 years of employment," said Bill Murray, HandCrafted Homes General Manager. "He brings a strong personality and passion for success to the position that will continue to steer HandCrafted Homes in a positive direction."

Named as one of Builder Magazine's Top 20 Modular Builders in 2006, HandCrafted Homes has consistently set the standard for system-built homes, a customized niche of the housing market, by providing builders with superior customer service, state-of-the-art modular technology and unique home designs. Established in 1998, HandCrafted Homes is a wholly owned subsidiary of HHHunt, a major residential and commercial real estate developer. For over three decades, HHHUNT has been a recognized leader in real estate development throughout Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina. For more information about HandCrafted Homes, call toll-free at (877) 424-4321 or visit online at www.HandCraftedHomes.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:13 PM | Comments (0)

A Renovation Coach Can Help Homeowners Save Money in Changing Housing Market

A new article at RenovatorsPlace.com, a leading resource on the Web for home remodeling enthusiasts, helps consumers stay on their home improvement budgets with the help of a renovation coach. Spring renovators face a competitive hiring market for home renovation contractors, so the help of a renovation coach with experience and time on the job helps projects run smoothly, adds RenovatorsPlace.com founder Allison Beatty.

(PRWEB) May 24, 2007 -- A new article at RenovatorsPlace.com, a leading resource on the Web for home remodeling enthusiasts, helps consumers stay on their home improvement budgets with the help of a renovation coach. Spring renovators face a competitive hiring market for home renovation contractors, so the help of a renovation coach with experience and time on the job helps projects run smoothly, adds RenovatorsPlace.com founder Allison Beatty.

Because it's easy to spend too much money on a home improvement project, RenovatorsPlace.com, an online interactive home repair resource, suggests that homeowners find a renovation coach in addition to a qualified remodeling contractor to stay on schedule and budget (http://www.renovatorsplace.com/dsp_articles.cfm?l_article_id=584). With housing prices in fluctuation all across the country--in some major housing markets experts expect prices to drop by as much as 9 percent--it grows increasingly important for renovation-minded homeowners to spend their money wisely. Consequently, hiring a consultant to provide expertise and guidance is a wise investment.

Drawing on the expertise of a professional consultant is nothing new in other industries, but renovation coaching is a relatively new trend to the home improvement world. According to RenovatorsPlace.com's recent article on the topic (http://www.renovatorsplace.com/dsp_articles.cfm?l_article_id=584), a renovation coach can help communicate with contractors, obtain the necessary permits, as well as point out ways to save money on the entire project. A remodeling contractor's motivation is mainly to get the job completed and move on, but a renovation coach can ensure the home improvement process is done well, not just done.

With uncertain home values and spring remodeling in full swing, finding home improvement specialists to add value in today's housing market is crucial, says Allison Beatty, founder of RenovatorsPlace.com. "The spring remodeling season actually starts now for many savvy home owners," Beatty points out. RenovatorsPlace.com, a premier online home improvement resource, gives readers the tips they need like, "book contractors early, before they are inundated with calls for work." Tips for employing a renovation coach are on the site as well.

The experts at This Old House are calling renovation coaches "a new breed of therapist" who can help save the homeowner from making costly mistakes. Unlike contractors and other professionals in this field, the renovation coach frequently charges an hourly rate as opposed to a lump sum.

For more information, visit http://www.renovatorsplace.com.

RenovatorsPlace.com is an online home improvement resource that provides tips, articles and local contractor directories. It features interviews with homeowners and photos of their real remodeling experiences.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:12 PM | Comments (0)

Kasi Infrared Leads the Revolution in Asphalt Restoration With New State-of-the-Art Infrared Technology

New infrared asphalt repair system sports never before seen ease of use and maneuverability.

(PRWEB) May 24, 2007 -- New infrared asphalt repair system sports never before seen ease of use and maneuverability.

It's hard to believe that with infrared asphalt repair having been around for some 30 years, public utilities and contractors are still using ineffective, costly and time-consuming traditional cut-and-fill asphalt restoration methods.

"A major problem with infrared restoration systems has been the maneuverability and fitting in of large trucks that carry the systems," said Roger Filion, whose company Kasi Infrared produces a state-of-the-art infrared technology unit called the Patriot. "The latest equipment performs asphalt repairs where before they were difficult, and in some cases impossible."

Infrared technology itself is an enormous improvement in asphalt repair. Traditional pavement maintenance leave seams that allow water to penetrate the repair, and the repaired, filled-in portions nearly always fail within a year or so. The infrared technology blends the new asphalt right in with the original by heating an area 6 to 8 inches beyond the perimeter of the pavement repair; the new asphalt is then compacted with the old creating a seamless permanent restoration.

Infrared also slashes costs for pavement maintenance repairs. Where an average 5-foot square repair requires 4 to 5 personnel and at least a day to affect that same pavement repair can be made with infrared using 2 people in about 20 minutes. In addition to substantial labor cost savings, this can make an enormous difference to clients when roadway traffic or business parking is blocked.

Traditional methods of asphalt repair dictate that all of the old asphalt be cleaned out and replaced with all new "virgin" asphalt. Infrared utilizes the old asphalt in the repair, only requiring new material to bring the repair up to grade, and hence saves substantially in material cost. Before compacting, rejuvenator is sprayed on to the repair to replace oils in the old asphalt that have been lost over time, which helps to secure the pavement repair.

Infrared can be used in all types of repairs in which traditional methods were used: alligator cracking, potholes, utility cuts, settling against concrete walks or barriers, and more.

With its compact cab-over design, the Kasi Patriot delivers all equipment and functionality normally only available on larger infrared truck systems. On one chassis is provided a 48-square-foot infrared pavement heater, a 2 or 4-ton capacity asphalt reclaimer, a large tool storage area, a compactor compartment, and a dumping waste bin. Propane tanks are tucked safely under the reclaimer doors. Under 22 feet long, the Patriot offers a superior turning radius that makes it able to fit where previous systems could not.

A very useful option for the Patriot is a timer that alerts the user when asphalt is heated to temperature. This is particularly helpful when asphalt is being heated for the next job while a user is distracted performing the current job--a flashing LED signal alerts the user when the heat is complete, preventing overheating or burning the asphalt. Another cost saving option is a blower motor with no brushes or armatures, meaning fewer parts to wear out and replace.

Today, economical and technologically superior infrared asphalt repair now more possible than ever.

For more information contact:
Kasi Infrared
Roger Filion
www.kasiinfrared.com
Phone: (800) 450-8602
Fax (603) 542-1505

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:12 PM | Comments (0)

QSI's NEW InfiniTouch Exceeds the Limits of Traditional Touch Screen and Offers Complete Freedom in Touch Surface Selection.

To address the need for reliable, durable touch panels that can withstand continuous use, abuse, weather elements, harsh and unsecure environments, QSI Corporation today introduces InfiniTouch™, a patent-pending Force Panel Technology™ (www.forcepaneltechnology.com/) that enables any semi-rigid material - metal, glass, wood, stone, ceramic, plastic, or any combination of these materials, to sense touch.

Salt Lake City, Utah (PRWEB) May 23, 2007 -- To address the need for reliable, durable touch panels that can withstand continuous use, abuse, weather elements, harsh and unsecure environments, QSI Corporation today introduces InfiniTouch™, a patent-pending Force Panel Technology™ (www.forcepaneltechnology.com/) that enables any semi-rigid material - metal, glass, wood, stone, ceramic, plastic, or any combination of these materials, to sense touch.

"For nearly 40 years, engineers have worked to develop a commercially-viable, force-based technology. Today marks an industry milestone with the announcement that QSI has achieved success with the InfiniTouch Force Panel Technology," said James Elwell, QSI Corporation chief operations officer and InfiniTouch co-developer. "The InfiniTouch technology represents a major advance in touch control. It also solves the problems of how to handle the non-orthogonal nature of touches, how to adjust for the force variations during touch duration, and provides a touch surface with the durability and reliability to meet the needs of diverse industries. All at an affordable price."

Different from existing bending wave and projected capacitive ruggedized touch screens, the InfiniTouch Force Panel Technology offers:

- Force-based touch sensing - InfiniTouch Force Panel Technology measures the force of a user's touch, rather than using a complex, indirect measurement. The location and force of the user's touch can be quickly and accurately determined by placing four force sensors near the corners of the touch surface. Relatively simple mathematical equations can be used to determine the X-Y location of the touch and the corresponding z-axis force.

- Any semi-rigid surface can become a touch panel - the InfiniTouch Force Panel Technology's unique configuration enables any semi-rigid material, of any shape, to become touch sensitive including metal, glass, wood, stone, ceramic, composite, plastic or any combination of these materials. This capability enables the freedom to construct the panel to be as durable, waterproof and aesthetically pleasing as desired.

Suited for use in both secure, indoor and harsh, unsecured environments, the InfiniTouch Force Panel Technology is resistant to impacts of more than 1,400 g. InfiniTouch also offers unique capabilities not possible with existing technologies, such as the integration of multiple materials in a single touch surface, operable with elevated and irregular surfaces, attachments and penetrations. Additional features of InfiniTouch include:

- Capable of dynamic self calibration
- Scalable to any size, proven up to 1.2 meters
- Supports two-sided display
- Usable with various elevations: flat plane, curved surface, 3-D surface, projected surface, or a surface with holes, such as a speaker
- Highly light transmissive
- Touchable with a finger, gloved hand, stylus, or other object
- Operable when covered with ice, water, dust or debris
- Capable of capturing signatures

Available now, the InfiniTouch Force Panel Technology is currently being field tested with the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) in Orange County, California at its toll road operations. Each tollbooth attendant averages 100,000 presses on the panel per month.

"The punishing level of continuous use at TCA's toll plazas proved too much for traditional touch screens," said Elwell. "Sensitive contact points quickly wore out, rendering the touch screens inoperable. The glass touch surface and sensor configuration of the InfiniTouch Force Panel Technology eliminates this challenge and has consistently delivered 100% performance touch after touch."

InfiniTouch is the only technology that directly measures the force of a user's touch, rather than using an indirect method that must translate a touch. The most simple, purest form of touch technology, InfiniTouch Force Panel Technology is ideal for outdoor kiosks and ticketing machines, ATMs, restaurant and hospitality, POS and retail, industrial, gas pump, military, medical, and other applications.

About QSI Corporation
Established in 1983, QSI Corporation (www.qsicorp.com) the InfiniTouch Force Panel Technology innovator, is also a manufacturer of rugged handheld, panel-mount and pedestal-mount terminals for industrial OEMs and commercial vehicle systems integrators. QSI's human machine interface (HMI) and mobile data terminal (MDT) products include character and graphic terminals that are programmable, customizable, CE certified and NEMA 4/12/13 rated. Numerous interfaces are available, including EIA-232, EIA-422, EIA-485, J1708, Ethernet and Power-over-Ethernet. QSI excels at designing and building custom and semi-custom terminals able to withstand high levels of shock, vibration, humidity and other environmental parameters. All QSI Corporation products are manufactured in the USA at the company's headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, contact QSI Corporation at 801-466-8770 or info(at)qsicorp.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:11 PM | Comments (0)

Verde Energy Improves the Renewable Energy Customer Experience

Deploys online customer relationship management portal for renewable energy contractors.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) May 23, 2007 -- Verde Energy, the only company to provide customers a trusted source for competitive quotes on solar power, solar thermal, and wind power projects, announced today the deployment of a customer relationship management (CRM) portal for its nationwide network of pre-screened renewable energy contractors known as Verde Pros.

Verde Energy launched the CRM portal, hosted by Salesforce.com, to provide seamless lead delivery and powerful customer life cycle management tools designed to improve the overall customer experience. "Our objective in providing this tool is to help our nationwide network of Verde Pro contractors provide the absolute best customer service possible," said Chris Frothingham, chief operating officer for Verde Energy.

Extending the services available to Verde Pros, the CRM portal offers a robust, reliable platform for the management of Verde Energy qualified leads. The platform allows Verde Pros the ability to schedule follow-up, store contract details and site notes, and manage their sales.

"With the rollout of the portal, Verde Pros can now go to a secure online site that contains their customer records in one convenient place," said Frothingham. "We are continuously looking at ways to improve the service we provide, both to customers and our contractors. We feel this will make an immediate impact."

The CRM portal is available now to all existing Verde Pros and will be provided to new contractors joining the Verde Energy network.

About Verde Energy
Verde Energy helps customers of all sizes obtain project financing, competitive project bids and expert installation of solar power, solar thermal, wind power and other renewable energy systems from trusted local professionals nationwide. Visit us at www.verdeenergy.com.

Media Inquiries:
media(at)verdeenergy.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:11 PM |