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June 28, 2007

DirectBuy Opens Thousand Oaks Members-Only Design Showroom

The DirectBuy Thousand Oaks location will be a low-cost, one-stop shopping destination for home improvement and remodeling.

Thousand Oaks, CA (PRWEB) June 28, 2007 - DirectBuy, the leading members-only showroom and home design center that offers merchandise at manufacturer-direct prices, announced the opening of a brand-new full-service design showroom in Thousand Oaks, California. DirectBuy of Thousand Oaks is located at 1445 Lawrence Drive, and will offer Thousand Oaks/Ventura County residents thousands of items, including kitchen cabinets, electronics, flooring and patio furniture from more than 700 top manufacturers and their authorized suppliers.

"DirectBuy is proud to give homeowners in the Thousand Oaks area, as well as consumers throughout Ventura County, the opportunity to purchase virtually everything for in and around their home with no traditional retail markup," said Bart Fesperman, vice president of sales and marketing for DirectBuy. "DirectBuy has offered its members unmatched savings, selection and service across North America for the past 35 years, and we are excited to bring that tradition to Thousand Oaks."

DirectBuy is a membership-based company that allows consumers to purchase brand-name merchandise for their home and family at manufacturer-direct prices. By providing brand-name items without traditional markup, DirectBuy dramatically increases the purchasing power of its members, enabling them to enjoy the home of their dreams.

To assist with home renovation, DirectBuy of Thousand Oaks members will also have access to licensed interior designers, as well as product specialists who are specially trained in one of five areas of merchandise: Home Furnishings, Home Improvement, Flooring, Accessories, and Entertainment/Outdoor.

DirectBuy of Thousand Oaks is owned and operated by Denny Otto and Greg Ruetz, who have recently opened another location in Burbank, California.

"Consumers in the Thousand Oaks area will be blown away by the look of the showroom," said Denny Otto, co-owner of DirectBuy of Thousand Oaks.

Co-owner Greg Ruetz added, "Our members will enjoy personalized service from product specialists as they navigate through our extensive selection of merchandise for virtually everything they need to decorate or remodel their home."

Consumers who are interested in joining DirectBuy of Thousand Oaks are encouraged to attend an exclusive Open House event, which is designed to educate families about DirectBuy's unique business model. The Open House also helps consumers better understand how DirectBuy members avoid traditional markup when purchasing brand-name merchandise.

About DirectBuy
For more than 35 years, DirectBuy has been offering thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything to decorate, remodel or build their home - from patio furniture, flooring, tile and indoor furniture, to kitchen cabinets, and electronics, appliances and much, much more.

DirectBuy enables members to purchase most every product offering from several hundred top manufacturers at over 140 showrooms across North America. To request a "Free Insider's Guide to Buying Direct" and a Visitor's Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, call 805-214-3030 or visit www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:23 PM | Comments (0)

Flat Glass Market Sparkles with Demand Expected to be Over 39 Million Tons by 2010, According to New Report

According to a recently released market research report published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., global flat glass demand is likely to go beyond 39 million tons by 2010. Greater use of varieties of glass by architects and car designers for civil construction and automotive applications is providing impetus to growth. About 70% of flat glass is used in construction industry. On the regional front, Europe, Asia and North America account for over 90% of global flat glass consumption.

San Jose, Calif. (PRWEB) June 28, 2007 -- Flat glass market bears a positive outlook as the industry derives growth from new smart-glass products such as electrochromic, switchable glass, self-cleaning window glass and heads-up display windscreens. "Development of new smart glass products such as self-cleaning glass and light-control products is forecast to boost demand for flat glass" according to research published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Technologies such as electrochromic windows and liquid-crystal glass are also gaining market acceptance. Architectural market for advanced flat glass will benefit from features like low-emissivity, reflective and smart glass.

Greater use of varieties of glass by architects and car designers for civil construction and automotive applications is providing impetus to growth. About 70% of flat glass is used in construction industry. On the regional front, Europe, Asia and North America account for over 90% of global flat glass consumption.

Over the years, the glass industry witnessed a gradual shift away from single glazing to double/insulated glazing. Added to this, implementation of new legislation for energy efficiency glass has made double-glazing mandatory in most of parts of the world. These stringent regulations have led to greater energy-efficient coated glass.

The float glass industry is highly concentrated with about four players accounting for a sizable share of the market. Asahi Glass, NSG/Pilkington, Saint Gobain, Guardian are the major players. Other market participants include PPG, Central Glass, Hankuk, Visteon, Cardinal Glass Industries.

The report titled Flat Glass: A Global Strategic Business Report, provides an extensive review of market trends, drivers, players and competition among others. The report also offers profiles of leading players and presents recent developments, mergers, acquisitions, as well as other strategic industry activities. The study analyzes flat glass market by major product segments including float glass, sheet glass and rolled glass, and end use segments construction, automotive and specialty. Detailed analysis is provided for major geographic markets including United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East.

For more details about this research report, please visit www.strategyr.com/MCP-1153.asp

About the company
Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a reputed publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company is globally recognized as one of the world's largest market research publishers. The company employs over 700 people worldwide and publishes more than 880 full-scale research reports each year. Additionally, the company also offers a range of over 60,000 smaller research products including company reports, market trend reports, and industry reports encompassing all major industries worldwide.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Telephone 408-528-9966
Fax408-528-9977
Web Site www.StrategyR.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:22 PM | Comments (0)

New Technologies Ride the $12 Billion Industrial Furnaces and Ovens Market, According to New Report

According to a recently released market research report published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., the global US$12 billion industrial furnaces and ovens market is projected to grow at a compounded rate of 1.8%. Europe leads the world market for industrial furnaces and ovens, accounting for approximately 38% share. The matured United States industrial furnaces and ovens market is projected to register a CAGR of 0.75%. Asia-Pacific represents the fastest growing market for industrial furnaces and ovens.

San Jose, California (PRWEB) June 28, 2007 -- Industrial furnace market wakes up from its siesta upon spotting a revolutionary hybrid furnace. The new hybrid furnace is all set to replace the conventional air fuel technology, a process used in glass melting.

"The new technology brings together air-fuel and Oxy-fuel technologies to aid glassmakers in providing high quality, fuel-efficient products," according to research published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Oxy-fuel technology utilizes oxygen for environment-friendly glass combustion by eliminating nitrogen present in air, reducing maintenance cost and providing designing simplicity. Oxy-fuel also gains ground by improved productivity, enhanced glass quality and stable batch patterns.

Major players in the industrial furnaces and ovens market include Kilns & Furnaces, CM Furnaces, Inc., Inductotherm, Nachi-Fujikoshi, Surface Combustion and JLS Redditch.
The report titled Industrial Furnaces and Ovens: A Global Strategic Business Report, provides an extensive review of market trends, drivers, players and competition among others. The report also offers profiles of leading players and presents recent developments, mergers, acquisitions, as well as other strategic industry activities. The study analyzes major product groups including Electrical Industrial Furnaces & Ovens, Induction & Dielectric Furnaces & Ovens, Industrial Electric Heating Equipment, Fuel-fired Industrial Furnaces & Ovens and Other Industrial Furnaces & Oven. Detailed analysis is provided for major geographic markets including United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain, Russia, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East.

For more details about this research report, please visit www.strategyr.com/MCP-2754.asp

About the company
Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a reputed publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company is globally recognized as one of the world's largest market research publishers. The company employs over 700 people worldwide and publishes more than 880 full-scale research reports each year. Additionally, the company also offers a range of over 60,000 smaller research products including company reports, market trend reports, and industry reports encompassing all major industries worldwide.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Telephone 408-528-9966
Fax 408-528-9977
Web Site www.StrategyR.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:22 PM | Comments (0)

Senior Move Management Company to Partner with Habitat for Humanity

Transitional Assistance & Design to provide support to Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County.

Gaithersburg, MD (PRWEB) June 28, 2007 -- Transitional Assistance & Design , the Gaithersburg based senior move management company, today announced plans for a long term partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County. Effective immediately, the organization will begin donating goods and services to benefit the residents and staff of Habitat for Humanity, also based in Gaithersburg.

Transitional Assistance & Design has already begun providing product donations to Habitat for Humanity's non-profit retail outlet, the Habitat ReStore. Proceeds from the sale of products such as furniture and housewares will be used to help Habitat for Humanity continue to build affordable homes for families in Montgomery County. Town & Country Movers, one of the companies that regularly works with Transitional Assistance & Design, will drop off the donated goods directly from the client's home to the ReStore at no additional charge, when hired by a client.

The senior move management company will also offer a series of seminars at Habitat's newest community in Burtonsville, MD on issues related to the moving process, and will act as regular contributors to the Habitat newsletter.

"In creating Transitional Assistance & Design, our goal was to develop a company that provided services for those truly in need, while at the same time creating a culture of giving back," states Susie and Joel Danick, co-owners of Transitional Assistance & Design. "We work closely with many communities and organizations and feel strongly about our commitment to each. We will always seek ways to integrate this mission into our daily work."

John Paukstis, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, states that he is, "very excited and gracious that Transitional Assistance & Design has decided to team up with Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County. The mission of Habitat for Humanity is to provide affordable housing ownership for low income families in Montgomery County." Paukstis adds, "We are excited to partner with an organization that also seeks to help families in aspects of home transitioning."

Transitional Assistance & Design has been in the professional and senior move management business since 2000. They specialize in assisting individuals and families move into independent or assisted living facilities and strive to remove the emotional and physical burden of the moving or downsizing process by working with their clients and their clients' families on every aspect of the move--from arranging the moving company to transferring utilities to decorating the new space exactly to their liking.

As an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County seeks to reduce substandard housing by providing a hand-up rather than a handout to help families to realize the dream of homeownership. Working in partnership with families, Habitat volunteers build affordable housing in Montgomery County, Maryland. For more information on Transitional Assistance & Design's partnership with Habitat for Humanity, please visit www.helpseniorsmove.com or call 240-403-0177.

About Transitional Assistance & Design:
Transitional Assistance & Design, LLC specializes in downsizing, moving and decorating services for aging adults. Founded in 2000 by Susie Danick, a Registered Nurse by trade, the company offers a variety of services to help make the otherwise overwhelming and traumatic experience of downsizing go as smoothly as possible. Transitional Assistance & Design is a member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM). Ms. Danick is also a member of the association's Board of Directors. To learn more, visit www.helpseniorsmove.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:21 PM | Comments (0)

Architectural Wood Designs: Buyers' Market Leads to Crafty Home Renovation Techniques

Gaining high home improvement yields with low investment wood components - As the balance of home inventories in America tip from a seller's to a buyer's market, more and more home owners are considering ways to make their home more distinctive and make them stand head-and-shoulders above the rest.

Geenwell Springs, LA (PRWEB) June 28, 2007 -- According to Architectural Wood Designs , as the balance of home inventories in America tip from a seller's to a buyer's market, more and more home owners are considering ways to make their home more distinctive and help them stand head-and-shoulders above the rest.

Curb appeal is a key, but it doesn't stop at the curb. Home buyers and visitors notice little details - from a well-kept yard to high-end flooring and woodwork. Those looking to sell their home in 2007 can attract increased buyer attention by installing an upscale mantle and crown moulding, for example.

"With sub-prime foreclosure effects just starting to hit the real estate market and the quantity of homes entering foreclosure this year slated to exceed one million, home sellers are going to find it difficult to return a satisfactory profit without adding fine touches that set their home apart from the competition," states Kim Vedros, Founder and President of Architectural Wood Designs. "Fine, hand-carved woodwork and crown moulding can truly make a difference."

"Turn cabinets into personalized furniture for the home," explains James Carey, co-host of the Springfield, Missouri home improvement radio show 'On the House with the Carey Brothers'. "Cabinetry embellishments are the secret to an elegantly appointed kitchen. Consider adding a selection of large and small scroll corbels, split turning spools, French legs or decorative rosettes to kitchen cabinetry. These pieces add an extra element of detail, texture and character to base and wall cabinets."

To view or order from the complete collection of fine, hand-crafted mantels, corbels, range hoods, ornamental friezes and crown moulding, visit www.arch-wood-designs.com.

About Architectural Wood Designs
Architectural Wood Designs, founded by Kim Vedros, an experienced artisan, carpenter and craftsman, provides distinctive, high-quality woodwork and home interior décor to architects, contractors, interior designers and home owners across the nation

If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Kim Vedros, please call 225-892-7835.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:20 PM | Comments (0)

Restaurant Equipment Distributor Excels Under Small Business Philosophy, Continued Restaurant Management

Companies that experience growth while maintaining their small business philosophies see financial growth while maintaining something that corporations are having trouble maintaing these days: honor and respect from their peers. One example of this growing phenomenon is Rob Keller, a sales person from The Restaurant Source, a Denver-based restaurant equipment and restaurant supply distributer.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) June 28, 2007 -- Companies are increasingly hard pressed to maintain their small company philosophies as they grow. "When companies can maintain their dedication to customers, their personal feel, and their commitment to customer service, they find that they are recieving something they cannot buy: the honor of their peers."

This was the case when, recently, Restaurant Source's Rob Keller was honored as Distributor Sales Representative of the month by Foodservice Equipment And Supplies magazine. His business philosophy of treating everyone equally, and guiding customers to the restaurant equipment that most accurately fit their need is reflective of the small business philosophy that has allowed The Restaurant Source to succeed over it's last 66 years in business.

Rob Keller was practically born into the restaurant industry: his parents were franchisees of A&W Restaurants while he was a child. He progressed through the industry, eventually earning a managerial position at a Colorado Red Robin restaurant location in 1993. During the 7 years that he managed that location before joining The Restaurant Source, Rob gained invaluable industry experience that lets him relate to customers coming into The Restaurant Source to purchase restaurant equipment.

It is this industry experience, and a strong sense of a small business philosophy that has allowed him to be so successful in his sales. Customers appreciate his honesty; Rob says customers 'don't always need a Cadillac (high-end equipment) when a Ford will do...'

About The Restaurant Source
The Restaurant Source first opened in 1941 as United Glassware & China. Since then, it has grown from a glassware and restaurant china company into a full service restaurant equipment distributor. The Restaurant Source provides commercial restaraunt supplies and beverage distribution for restaurants and private homes, as well as full-scale equipment design from concept to completion.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:19 PM | Comments (0)

BidClerk.com Reports Construction Projects up for Bid in the St. Louis, MO Area

BidClerk's daily update of Missouri construction projects coming up for bid and starting construction within the next 90 days.

(PRWEB) June 28, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following commercial construction projects are planning to go out for bid or start construction in the next 90 days in the St. Louis, MO area. Businesses interested in providing services relative to these projects should visit BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

St. Louis, MO - St. Catherine Laboure Addition, 9740 Sappington Road, 120-seat church addition, August 2007, $3 million. Project ID: 629986

St. Louis, MO - Cityside Residences of Park Pacific, Tucker Boulevard and Olive Street, 170-unit residential development and mixed-use, August 2007, $100 million. Project ID: 617420

Florissant, MO - Club Fitness / Florissant, 1159 N. Hwy. 67, 1,500-square-foot fitness center addition, September 2007, $200,000. Project ID: 606512

St. Louis, MO - Holtzman Office, Page Street and Lindbergh Street, 118,000-square-foot office renovation, September 2007, $6 million. Project ID: 612588

St. Louis, MO - Cabanne Townhomes, 5842-5860 Cabanne Ave., 12-unit townhome development, August 2007, $1 million. Project ID: 612804

BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in depth information on thousands of construction projects coming up for bid all throughout the United States. Our daily updates of commercial and residential construction project leads are available to contractors and businesses in related industries that are seeking bid opportunities. For more information on bidding construction projects in your area, visit BidClerk online or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:19 PM | Comments (0)

Steel Pipes & Tubes Market to Cross 103 Million Tons by 2010, According to a New Report

The global steel pipes & tubes market is projected to cross 103 million tons by the year 2010, growing at a compounded annual rate of more than 3%. Economic development and industrialization constitute a potent growth driver for the steel tubes & pipes market.

San Jose, California (PRWEB) June 28, 2007 -- A new report released by Global Industry Analysts, Inc. "Fiber Optic Sensors: A Global Strategic Business Report" provides a comprehensive review of detailed company profiles and enumerates recent developments, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic industry activities. The study also analyzes market data and analytics in volume sales for regions such as United States, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Rest of World by the following product segments - Electric Resistance Welded Pipes (Mechanical Steel Tubing, Structural Tubing, Structural Steel Pipes, Pressure Tubing, Standard Pipes, Oil Country Tubular Goods, and Line Pipes); Seamless Pipes & Tubes; Continuous Welded Pipes & Tubes; and Gas Spiral Welded Pipes & Tubes.

Steel is being realized as an essential material for strengthening existing installations and infrastructure. Primary application sectors for these products include nuclear, construction, automotive, oil and natural gas, steam generation, and metal processing industries. Steel products such as steel pipes & tubes, beams, rods etc., are used for a number of applications, including oil & and gas industry, petrochemical industry, construction industry, energy, transportation, automotive industry, and others. The US represents the world's largest steel pipes and tubes market and is projected to account for over 40 million tons by 2009. There is high growth potential for segments such as oil country tubular goods (OCTG) and structural tubes. Electric resistance welded pipes market is projected to cross 41 million tons by 2009, growing at a compounded annual rate of over 3.4% during the ten-year analysis period. Asia-Pacific and Latin America are among the fastest growing steel pipes and tubes markets owing to high economic growth with increased activity in sectors such as oil, power, and refineries. Asia-Pacific steel pipes and tubes market is projected to register a CAGR of over 3% over the ten-year analysis period.

With the development of infrastructure, the market for steel and other metals has also increased. Steel is the most sought after metal and is used for a number of purposes. The steel pipes and tubes market faces continuous pricing pressures. With excess capacity and increased production, pipe manufacturers slash prices in order to improve their individual positions in the market. Any fluctuation in price of steel, leads to an increase or decrease in prices of steel pipes and tubes. However, with the use of new technologies, manufacturers are able to lower production costs of steel pipes and tubes, thereby lowering the price of steel pipes and tubes.

The global seamless pipes market is expected to remain balanced for the next couple of years with supply meeting demand. However, supply is likely to exceed total demand by 2009, as a result of excessive production from China. Seamless pipes & tubes market in the oil & gas sector is expected to rise by more than 3.6 million tons by 2009 as compared to the year 2006. Construction of oil and gas pipelines fuels demand for new and replacement steel tubes, globally. Continuous welded pipes & tubes market is projected to account for more than 12.1 million tons by the year 2009.

Major players dominating the global steel pipes & tubes market include Arcelor-Mittal, Corus Group, Dofasco, Europipe, IPSCO, JFE Steel Corporation, Kobe Steel, MacSteel, Melewar Industrial Group Berhad, Nippon Steel Corporation, Northwest Pipe Company, Oregon Steel Mills, Sandvik Steel, Sumitomo Metal Industries Limited, Techint Group, Tenaris, Ternium S.A., The Timken Company, Tubacex S.A., United States Steel Corporation, Vallourec & Mannesmann Tubes, Volzhsky Pipe Plant, and Wheatland Tube Company.

For more details about this research report, please visit www.strategyr.com/MCP-2769.asp

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a reputed publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company is globally recognized as one of the world's largest market research publishers. The company employs more than 700 people worldwide and publishes more than 880 full-scale research reports each year. Additionally, the company also offers a range of more than 60,000 smaller research products including company reports, market trend reports and industry reports encompassing all major industries worldwide.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Telephone 408-528-9966
Fax 408-528-9977
Web Site www.StrategyR.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:18 PM | Comments (0)

New Abbington and Stone Home Product Library Links Home Product Manufacturers Directly with Consumers

The Abbington & Stone Home Product Library does not sell, endorse or review home-related products. However, it has a profound ability to influence the home product purchasing decisions of millions of homeowners.

Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) June 28, 2007 -- The new Abbington & Stone Home Product Library inspires consumers to explore innovative fashionable home and garden products ranging from raw materials to finishing touches and encompasses the knowledge they need to make educated home product purchasing decisions among the widest possible variety of choices. The Library is the first comprehensive online environment dedicated to providing consumers with:

Direct connections to in-depth home-related product information
Detailed product specifications, manuals, literature, purchasing options
Available manufacturer promotions, discounts and other incentives
Service and support options

For home product manufacturers, many smaller to midsize or specialty manufacturers, the Abbington & Stone Home Product Library presents compelling new opportunities to interact with consumers in ways that move beyond the limitations imposed by both Internet and traditional advertising. Through a clean, sophisticated, uncluttered interface, manufacturers can tell the complete story of their distinctive and exclusive products. For a limited time, the Abbington & Stone Home Product Library is offering home product manufacturers five product listings at no charge to experience the power of the Abbington & Stone Home Product Library with no risk.

"An estimated two billion home product-based search engine searches conducted every month are tied into highly ad-saturated environments -- consumers experience frustration and distraction and are increasingly ad-averse, to both Internet and traditional media advertising. The long-term success of today's manufacturer is firmly entrenched with informed and loyal consumers. Quality, dynamic promotion such as that offered by the singular Abbington & Stone Library is essential," notes Kevin Williams of Abbington & Stone.

Counter to established advertising and business models, the potent combination of elements yields remarkable opportunities to develop powerful relationships with long-term benefits to both consumers and manufacturers.

Says Williams, "Manufacturers find the task of attracting meaningful consumer attention an increasingly more expensive, time-consuming and an often-unproductive endeavor, as consumers response to advertising dwindles. Manufacturers of all sizes are challenged to penetrate markets and retain viability. The Abbington & Stone Home Product Library reverses directly addresses consumer needs while offering an extraordinary new growth platform for manufacturers."

"The ultimate customer exploration experience -- in-depth product information, specifications, warranty, support, promotional offers, sales outlets and more - are all available within an ad-free environment via the Abbington & Stone Home Product Library," remarks Steven Driscoll, Ph.D. of Abbington & Stone. "In 2008, consumer and manufacturer interaction will advance with access to the Abbington & Stone Home Product Library over mobile devices."

For manufacturers, appropriate and timely delivery of relevant product information is the thread that links them to consumers. In addition to robust product searches, the Abbington & Stone Home Product Library includes a suite of integrated tools that make product information distribution easy:

Abbington & Stone's new Product Cycle Management system is the first international product registration system designed to deliver the latest product information based on product manufacturing stages by means of a registration number included on or with registered products.

JetSet, another exclusive Abbington & Stone innovation, provides custom real time global product information distribution that allows manufacturers to "push" product information in real-time worldwide from a central location -- JetSet technology makes Abbington & Stone real-time product data globally portable.

These innovations from the Abbington & Stone Home Product Library solves many complex information distribution problems facing home product manufacturers today.

"The Abbington & Stone Home Product Library re-engineers the relationship that exists between consumers and manufacturers," remarks Williams. "The Abbington & Stone Home Product Library environment cultivates these relationships. The interactions will offer a fascinating view into the future of business."

The uniqueness, power, and depth and breadth of material available from the Abbington & Stone Home Product Library is garnering industry and public attention in a big way. "Even prior to formal release, we are working with thousands of manufacturers," notes Williams. "We expect this number to multiply over the next few months as manufacturers take advantage of lifetime pricing advantages and the rush to be represented in November when the consumer search opens to an estimated one million plus daily searches. It is encouraging to observe the level of excitement and acceptance witnessed from all sectors. The positive response illustrates the willingness of companies to move in new directions with consumers -- and consumers are welcoming the sentiment."

The Abbington & Stone Home Product Library opens to consumers in November 2007.

For more information, visit AbbingtonStone.com (http://AbbingtonStone.com).

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:17 PM | Comments (0)

Becovic Holdings, Inc. Completes 3 Million Euro Phase 1 Renovation of Guest Rooms and Banquet Hall at Hotel Mediteran Resort, a Coastal Montenegrin Hotel Facility Overlooking the Adriatic Sea

Becovic Holdings, Inc. announced today the completion of its Phase 1, 3 Million Euro, renovation of the Hotel Mediteran Resort. The renovation work completed at this scenic Montenegrin coastal resort overlooking the Adriatic Sea included completely refurbished guest rooms, ballroom, and reception area.

Ulcinj, Montenegro (PRWEB) June 28, 2007 -- Representatives of Becovic Holdings, Inc., and the hotel's management company, announced today the completion of a 3 Million Euro "Phase 1" renovation program at the Hotel Mediteran Resort. The work was completed in time for the resort's guests to enjoy during the busy high summer season along Montenegro's scenic coast.

"I'm proud of the quality we've achieved with this first phase of renovations at the resort," stated Mr. Isa Becovic, worldwide Managing Director of Becovic Holdings, Inc, "it was important to the Becovic organization to show in this very first phase of renovation, our commitment to quality facilities and quality service, for our guests. Now we can focus on Phase 2 and Phase 3. We've begun." Becovic Holdings Inc. purchased the Hotel Mediteran Resort in July 2005 from the Bankruptcy Court of Podgorica (Montenegro), with plans to redevelop the property into a first-class coastal destination resort. Its Phase 1 renovation marks the completion of the company's first step towards this goal.

The resort's guestroom refurbishment includes all-new solid wood furniture, including new wardrobes, desks, sitting chairs, mirrors, bed frames, and patio furniture. All new doors and windows have been installed. Finishing touches for the guest rooms include new heating and air conditioning systems, satellite television, draperies, and all new bedding and bath towels. The resort's reception area has been refurbished, including an Internet Cafe' in the lobby, and television viewing lounge adjacent to The Deck bar. The Hotel Mediteran Grand Ballroom boasts new carpeting, drapes, and lighting, and a refurbished catering kitchen. The ballroom, the largest clear-span event facility in the region, has already hosted wedding and other social gatherings involving more than 500 guests per event.

"As a new General Manager for the resort, I can't tell you how terrific it feels to see the Becovic commitment to guest service," said James T. Costa, General Manager of the Hotel Mediteran Resort, "and I've got a great story to tell with the additional amenities and facilities coming with Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the property's redevelopment. We're returning a grand old facility to its former glory." The Phase 2 and Phase 3 redevelopment program for the resort, includes a new guestroom tower with 4-star quality fittings, a spa offering natural treatments from the neighboring sea pine forests, a major casino complex, fitness center, and indoor-outdoor pool features. The Hotel Mediteran Resort at one time was a favorite of German, Italian, Russian and other European travelers. Among local residents, memories abound of nights filled with music on the hotel's terrace - now dubbed "The Deck." Views of sunset over the Adriatic Sea from The Deck are well known in the region and considered by some as among the most spectacular in the greater Mediterranean coastal region. The resort also overlooks the beach, public promenade, and 2,000-year-old historic town of Ulcinj.

Becovic Holdings, Inc. is a privately-held U.S.-based investment organization, based in Chicago, with diversified interests in real estate development, property services, media, apparel, and tourism. The firm is affiliated with Becovic Propeties and Becovic Management Group, related entities involved with real estate investment, development, and property management in the U.S., with portfolio concentrations in Illinois, Indiana and Arizona. Many of Becovic Properties' premium residential communities in the Chicago metropolitan area are situated just a short stroll from Lake Michigan, Lake Shore Drive, and downtown Chicago's entertainment, dining, and nightlife districts. Becovic Holdings, Inc. and related entities trace their roots back more than 30 years, when the Becovic family emigrated to the U.S. from what has now become the new nation of Montenegro.

The Montenegro coastal resort region, centered in Ulcinj, is considered to be the world's #1 tour and travel growth market for the next decade, according to the World Travel Tourism Council.For more information or to make on-line reservations for summer 2007 at the Hotel Mediteran Resort, please call (in Montenegro) at +382 (0)85 403 124 or by visiting the resort's website (www.Hotel-Mediteran.com)

Further information about Becovic Holdings Inc is available by visiting the company's website (www.BecovicHoldings.com). Contractors, vendors, and suppliers interested in bidding on next phases of the resort's redevelopment, should contact BHI owner's rep Stonecreek LLC for more information by visiting the firm's website (www.stonecreekllc.com).

Queries concerning this media release may be made to BHI press representative Adventure Studios iMedia (www.adventurestudios.com) by phoning (in the U.S.) at +1 (818) 973-3157.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:17 PM | Comments (0)

A One Stop Resource For Tools

Tools can complete a wide assortment of jobs. It can definitely play a role in helping end-users execute their projects right as well as helping them take control of their tasks. A new website has recently made its debut to cater to professionals, mechanics, designers, contractors, do-it-yourself homeowners and tool lovers to meet their tool needs. People looking for the best tools under the sun can visit www.onlinetoolsdepot.com that offers a wide variety and a complete line of tools catering to numerous categories and types of projects from ordinary home renovations, improvements and repair to complex building and construction

(PRWEB) June 28, 2007 -- Tools can complete a wide assortment of jobs. It can definitely play a role in helping end-users execute their projects right as well as helping them take control of their tasks. A new website has recently made its debut to cater to professionals, mechanics, designers, contractors, do-it-yourself homeowners and tool lovers to meet their tool needs. People looking for the best tools under the sun can visit www.onlinetoolsdepot.com that offers a wide variety and a complete line of tools catering to numerous categories and types of projects from ordinary home renovations, improvements and repair to complex building and construction.

The site is a one stop shopping place for high quality, professional grade and reliable tools. Users looking for the best tools can find that the site's tool offerings can tackle and undertake almost all types of projects. Categories include Air Tools - Compressors, Automotive, Cordless, Electrical Tools and Testers, Hand Tools, Jobsite Heaters, Ladders, Measurement, Outdoor Tools, Power Tools, Safety Work Gear, Stationary Tools, Storage and Welding. www.onlinetoolsdepot.com is dedicated and committed to bringing to the market only top quality tools at very affordable and discounted prices.

The busy lives that the people of today lead do not give them the luxury of time to venture out of the home to purchase their tool requirements. This site was specifically created to reduce the necessity for consumers to visit numerous local hardware stores and shops that cater to tools. It has even eliminated the need to visit numerous websites and instead provides a stress free online shopping experience that could be done in the comfort of the home or the office. www.onlinetoolsdepot.com is a portal leading customers to the many stores and companies that sell the best tools on the web. It has gathered well known companies, manufacturers and retailers who are industry giants and who have extensive experience in the tool business. The site carries over 200 brands which include top name brands like 3M Company, Black & Decker, Bosch Tools, DeWALT, Felker, Hitachi and Makita among the many others. Customers are able to shop, browse, compare prices and brands and purchase all in a single site.

The site's content and simple layout has been designed to make it user friendly and easy to navigate. There are several ways to find or locate a particular item. For customers who know exactly what they want, the search feature where a keyword/s will be entered is a good option. Products can also be browsed alphabetically, by brands and by tool categories. The tool categories will lead to further sub categories. The products come with a brief description and a picture for viewing.

www.onlinetoolsdepot.com's coupon center is an additional way for customers to save as much as possible before checkout of purchases. The coupon center enables shoppers to redeem special deals on hot products, discounts, percentage cuts, price markdowns, freebie items, free shipping and other promotional savings. Take advantage of Tool King coupons, Home Depot coupons, TK Recon.com coupons, MoreHome.com coupons, Hechinger Hardware coupons, Absolute Home coupons, Ace Hardware coupons, Angie's List coupons, Black Rhino Tools coupons, Sears coupons, Northern Tool coupons, Safety Glasses USA coupons and Construction Complete coupons.

www.onlinetoolsdepot.com understands the needs of consumers by providing products that provide value, meet as well as exceed customer's expectations. Taking on projects like improving, renovating or building may be a job for some people but can be a rewarding and challenging task for do-it-yourself enthusiasts or home hobbyists. It doesn't matter whether it is a professional or a beginner user looking for the best tools, at www.onlinetoolsdepot.com projects are completed on time and on budget.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:16 PM | Comments (0)

National Coatings Announces Low Rise Roofing Adhesive Product Line

National Coatings Corporation (NCC), announces the release of their new Low Rise Roofing Adhesive (LRRA) adding to their extensive line of high performance, environmentally responsible, energy saving, sustainable roof systems for commercial and industrial buildings.

Camarillo, CA (PRWEB) June 27, 2007 -- National Coatings Corporation (NCC), announces the release of their new Low Rise Roofing Adhesive (LRRA) adding to their extensive line of high performance, environmentally responsible, energy saving, sustainable roof systems for commercial and industrial buildings.

Roofing screws and fasteners can now be a thing of the past. "Why make holes in a roof only to try to seal them up?" says Matt Kolb, President of National Coatings Corporation. The rapidly increasing acceptance of low rise roof adhesives is the result of their many benefits. One study even suggests that the labor savings alone can be up to 75% over the mechanically fastened systems! Seamless monolithic LRRA eliminates the temperature transmission from mechanical fasteners resulting in greatly improved building efficiency and positively affecting climate change. The National Roofing Contractors Association estimates that up to a whopping 18% of the roof systems R-value can be recovered by using polyurethane adhesive instead of fasteners.

This very high performing product has been subjected to the industry's most rigorous testing including Underwriter Laboratories UL 1897, Uplift Tests for Roof Covering Systems and FM Approvals Standard 4470 for securing selected roof insulations for various windstorm classifications.

Vince LaBruzzo, National Sales Manager states that "the benefits of adhesion to nearly every deck type, added insulation, long list of credentials, no disruption to building occupants, no VOC's and significant labor savings are sure to please the roofing community.
Performance through Innovation™ is the way National Coatings Corporation (www.nationalcoatings.com) responds to the needs of the roofing community. This is a roofing system engineered to last a lifetime.

About National Coatings Corporation
Performance through Innovation™, National Coatings Corporation (Camarillo, CA) is a leading manufacturer and supplier of premium-quality elastomeric roof and wall coating products. For over 25 years, NCC has provided its customers with leading edge products, support, and thought leadership. National Coatings is a charter member of the Cool Roof Rating Council and the ENERGY STAR® Roof Products group, founding member of the RRCI (Reflective Roof Coating Institute) and was twice recognized as ENERGY STAR Roof Products Partner of the Year. NCC's leading brands include AcryShield®, AcryPly®, AcryGuard® AcryPly-D™, and AcryFlex®.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)

DirectBuy Opens New Northeast Orange County Members-Only Design Showroom

DirectBuy's Northeast Orange County location provides a low-cost, one-stop shopping destination for virtually everything in home design.

Anaheim Hills, CA (PRWEB) June 27, 2007 -- DirectBuy, the leading members-only showroom and home design center that offers merchandise at manufacturer-direct prices, announced today that it will open a full-service design showroom in Anaheim Hills, California. DirectBuy of Northeast Orange County will be located at 4925 East Hunter Avenue, and will offer Northeast Orange County residents hundreds of thousands of items, including kitchen cabinets, flooring, lighting, and major appliances, from more than 700 top manufacturers and their authorized suppliers.

"DirectBuy is proud to give homeowners in the Northeast Orange County area the opportunity to purchase virtually everything for in and around the home with no traditional retail markup," said Bart Fesperman, vice president of sales and marketing for DirectBuy. "DirectBuy has offered its members unmatched savings, selection and service across North America for the past 35 years, and we are excited to bring that tradition to Northeast Orange County."

DirectBuy is a membership-based company that allows consumers to purchase brand-name merchandise for their homes and family at manufacturer-direct prices. By providing brand-name items without traditional markup, DirectBuy dramatically increases the purchasing power of its members, enabling them to enjoy the home of their dreams.

To assist with home renovation, DirectBuy of Northeast Orange County members will also have access to licensed interior designers, as well as product specialists who are specially trained in one of five areas of merchandise: Home Furnishings, Home Improvement, Flooring, Accessories, and Entertainment / Outdoor.

DirectBuy of Northeast Orange County will be owned and operated by Mark and Kim Gower and Ann and Geoff Rocke. The Gowers also operate DirectBuy of South Orange County, which is located at 3030 Pullman Street in Costa Mesa.

"We are excited to bring DirectBuy to Northeast Orange County to provide our members with outstanding value, selection and service through a simplified shopping experience," said Kim Gower, owner of DirectBuy of Northeast Orange County. "DirectBuy takes special care to ensure that our members receive the best service by offering friendly design showrooms to browse and select merchandise in a comfortable, hassle-free environment."

Consumers who are interested in joining DirectBuy of Northeast Orange County are encouraged to attend an exclusive Open House event, which is designed to educate families about DirectBuy's unique business model. The Open House also helps consumers better understand how DirectBuy members avoid traditional markup when purchasing brand-name merchandise for their homes and family.

About DirectBuy
For more than 35 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes - from furniture, flooring, and outdoor living décor, to kitchen and bath remodeling products, appliances, tile and much, much more.

DirectBuy enables members to purchase most every product offering from several hundred top manufacturers and their authorized suppliers at over 140 showrooms across North America. To request a "Free Insider's Guide to Buying Direct" and a Visitor's Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership visit www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)

DirectBuy Opens New Burbank Members-Only Design Showroom

The DirectBuy Burbank location will be a low-cost, one-stop shopping destination for home improvement and remodeling.

Burbank, CA (PRWEB) June 27, 2007 -- DirectBuy, the leading members-only showroom and home design center that offers merchandise at manufacturer-direct prices, announced the opening of a brand-new full-service design showroom in Burbank California. DirectBuy of Burbank will be located at 2850 Ontario Street, and will offer Burbank residents thousands of items, including kitchen cabinets, electronics, flooring and patio furniture, direct from more than 700 top manufacturers and their authorized manufacturers.

"DirectBuy is proud to give homeowners in the Burbank area the opportunity to purchase virtually everything for in and around the home with no traditional retail markup," said Bart Fesperman, vice president of sales and marketing for DirectBuy. "DirectBuy has offered its members unmatched savings, selection and service across North America for the past 35 years, and we are excited to bring that tradition to Burbank."

DirectBuy is a membership-based company that allows consumers to purchase brand-name merchandise for their home and family at manufacturer-direct prices. By providing brand-name items without traditional markup, DirectBuy dramatically increases the purchasing power of its members, enabling them to enjoy the home of their dreams.

To assist with home renovation, DirectBuy of Burbank members will also have access to licensed interior designers, as well as product specialists who are specially trained in one of five areas of merchandise: Home Furnishings, Home Improvement, Flooring, Accessories, and Entertainment/Outdoor.

DirectBuy of Burbank will be owned and operated by Denny Otto and Greg Ruetz, who also run DirectBuy of Thousand Oaks.

"DirectBuy of Burbank will set itself apart from traditional retail stores by providing consumers with a low-cost, 'one-stop shopping' destination for the top brands in home furnishings," said Greg Ruetz, co-owner of DirectBuy of Burbank.

Co-owner Denny Otto added, "Our members will enjoy personalized service from product specialists as they navigate through our extensive selection of merchandise, which includes most everything to decorate or remodel your home."

Consumers who are interested in joining DirectBuy of Burbank are encouraged to attend an exclusive Open House event, which is designed to educate families about DirectBuy's unique business model. The Open House also helps consumers better understand how DirectBuy members avoid traditional markup when purchasing brand-name merchandise.

About DirectBuy
For more than 35 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything to decorate and remodel their homes - from furniture, carpet, flooring, and custom window treatments, to kitchen cabinets, bath cabinets, appliances and much, much more.

DirectBuy enables members to purchase most every product offering from several hundred top manufacturers at over 140 showrooms across North America. To request a "Free Insider's Guide to Buying Direct" and a Visitor's Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, call 818-333-2428 or visit www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

Contacts:
Sara Shragal
DirectBuy
219.736.1100 ext 365

Chris Groppa
Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.
312.751.4193

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:14 PM | Comments (0)

Top Five Common Sunroom Uses

Patio Enclosures, Inc., North America’s largest manufacturer and installer of sunrooms, lets consumers know the top five ways sunrooms are typically used.

Macedonia, OH (PRWEB) June 27, 2007 -– Patio Enclosures, Inc., the largest manufacturer and installer of sunrooms in North America, reports the top five ways consumers use their sunroom.

“While the most popular reason people build sunrooms is for relaxation, we are noticing a shift in how homeowners are using their sunrooms,” says Ken Sekley, Chairman of Patio Enclosures, Inc. “Owners are making their homes more than just a place to live, they are changing their houses into gyms, spas and entertainment areas.”

1. Sunroom Playrooms - Many parents and grandparents elect to make their sunroom into a playroom because it helps keep the children’s toys in one area while allowing their children or grandchildren to enjoy the outdoors all season long.
2. Pet Sunrooms - Many homeowners build sunroom additions specifically to create an oasis for their dogs or cats. This is often done by owners who work during the day and are unable to let their pets outside as much as they would like.
3. Sunrooms for Exercise - Another reason why homeowners build sunrooms is to create an exercise room. This allows owners to enjoy the outdoors while working out in the comfort of their home.
4. Spa Sunrooms – Homeowners also like to have sunrooms specially designed and outfitted with all the amenities of a luxurious spa, including a hot tub, tanning bed and whirlpool foot spa.
5. Game Room - Lastly, homeowners like to create game rooms out of their sunrooms. These rooms include a pool table, bar, arcade quality pinball machines and anything else to make the game room experience complete.

About Patio Enclosures, Inc.
Patio Enclosures, Inc. has been recognized for several years by Qualified Remodeler Magazine as the Top Performing Sunroom Company in North America. Patio Enclosures, Inc. operates 30 branch locations across the United States and Canada and has more than 750 employee-owners. The company also operates three casual living furniture stores in northeastern Ohio and one in Pittsburgh.

Links:
http://www.patioenc.com/index.aspx
http://www.patioenc.com/Products/Sunrooms.aspx

For more information, contact:
Reginald Carter, Public Relations
Patio Enclosures, Inc.
750 East Highland Road
Macedonia, Ohio 44056
phone (330)468-0700 ext. 2278

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:13 PM | Comments (0)

How-to Hire a Contractor in 8 Simple Steps

Free online guide for hiring a contractor to do concrete work provides eight simple steps on what factors should be taken into consideration, and questions to ask when searching for a contractor for an upcoming project.

Yucaipa, CA (PRWEB) June 27, 2007 - When it comes time to start a new concrete project, whether it is a new concrete driveway or an interior resurfacing project, hiring a contractor can be a time consuming and often nerve-racking task. Ensuring that your project runs smoothly can have a lot to do with how you prepare and handle the hiring of your contractor. The Concrete Network, the largest and most comprehensive source for concrete information, has created a simple 8 step guide to hiring a contractor to do concrete work.

These 8 simple steps are important in knowing what information you should look for, what questions to ask, and to understanding some vital do's and don'ts during the process. Selecting the right contractor and learning how to evaluate the estimate and contract can help you avoid many headaches and hassles that often stem from overlooked information and miscommunication.

With this free guide, you'll learn the following:

How noting response times after calling several contractors can help you differentiate among which may be the best to hire
What information should be included in the estimate
How to evaluate the estimate
Resources for evaluating the contractor
Do's and Don'ts when signing the contract
How to ensure your project turns out the way you want by requesting samples
And many more…

This diagram can be printed and should be used as a reference through each step of the project. To get started on your project, find a list of local contractors in your area with The Concrete Network's free Find-A-Contractor service. Searchable by 23 types of decorative concrete work and 200 regional areas throughout North America, you can get contact information for decorative concrete contractors throughout the U.S. and Canada.

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 May 2007 The Concrete Network Web site had over 1.1 million visitors researching decorative concrete.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:13 PM | Comments (0)

Utility Implements Durable Bar Code Asset Tags to Improve Asset Management

Gas, Power & Utility Companies are adopting durable bar code asset tags to track assets such as gas meters for as long as 30 years.

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) June 27, 2007 -- Utilities are replacing manual data collection with durable bar code asset tags, according to a new whitepaper from Cleveland based Camcode.

The whitepaper looks at one major gas company's experience implementing bar code asset tracking of meters on as many as 30,000 meters per year. The document discusses the improvements in efficiency and accuracy gained in their asset management system by using Camcode Durable Metalphoto® bar code asset tags.

Previous methods of asset tracking and monitoring equipment required a technician to manually key in a six-digit serial number each time new meters were taken into inventory, shipped out and installed, removed from service, or received and tested for accuracy. This extra step was prone to errors and slows down the process.

The subject gas company is looking forward to speedier deployment and installation of meters and improvements in tracking those assets. According to a company spokesman, "We expect efficiency and data accuracy to increase dramatically."

The durable asset tags whitepaper is available by completing the request form at: http://www.camcod.com/camcodemail/GIS_form.asp

Metalphoto® asset tags withstand abrasion, intense weather conditions, outdoor exposure, chemicals and solvents and remain readable for up to 30 years even under the harshest conditions. Barcoding virtually eliminates errors caused by manual data collection, ensuring accurate information and providing the efficiency to track assets system-wide more quickly and easily for greater productivity and reduced labor costs.

About Camcode: Camcod.com sells durable asset tags & barcode security labels at http://www.camcod.com/asset/fixed.asp Serving corporations, universities, associations, governmental, financial and health care institutions with fixed asset tags, bar code labels, warehouse labels, UID tags, Metalphoto® durable asset tags, and PropertyID tags. Clients include the Social Security Administration, Weyerhauser Albany Paper, American Cancer Society, Yahoo Corporation.

Contact: - Joe Bruneman
http://www.camcod.com/asset/fixed.asp
Camcode Division of Horizons Inc.
18531 South Miles Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44128
Toll Free: 800-627-3917
Fax: 216-475-6507

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)

Profiles International's Employment Assessments Featured in Lou Adler's Third Edition of Hire with Your Head

The third edition of Hire with Your Head written by Lou Adler, a well-known recruiting and hiring expert, presents a positive review of Profiles International's employment assessments. Profiles International is the premier provider of hiring tools and human resource solutions.

(PRWEB) June 27, 2007 -- The third edition of Hire with Your Head written by Lou Adler, a well-known recruiting and hiring expert, presents a positive review of Profiles International's employment assessments. Profiles International is the premier provider of hiring tools and human resource solutions.

"Everyone should use the ProfileXT(TM) 100 percent of the time before hiring anyone," says Adler. Through his unique training programs, Mr. Adler provides samples of the ProfileXT to his clients having trouble hiring top people on a consistent basis. The ProfileXT predicts job suitability and accurately matches people with the appropriate job, allowing organizations to identify and place top performers. Mr. Adler further advocates the use of Profiles' family of hiring tools throughout the pages of his updated book.

Hire with Your Head has been fully updated to tackle today's online hiring phenomenon as well as new hiring technologies and trends. This informative read is full of tips, exercises, checklists and benchmarks designed to help hire the right person every time.

For more than 15 years, Profiles has assisted thousands of businesses in making the best hiring decisions for the longevity and proven success of their organizations. Recognizing that they had similar goals, Lou Adler and Profiles International make for natural partners in the hiring arena.

"We are honored to receive this commendation from a pioneer in the Performance-Based Hiring(SM) and selection movement," says Jim Sirbasku, CEO, Profiles International. "Profiles fully supports Mr. Adler's efforts in revolutionizing the hiring process, and in turn ,we would like to thank him for his support."

To read a full review of Mr. Adler's Hire with Your Head or to order a copy, log onto AdlerConcepts.com or Amazon.com.

About Profiles International, Inc:
Profiles International, Inc. is the world's leader and innovator in selecting and developing high-performance workforces. Profiles International does this through innovative human resource management solutions and a comprehensive suite of employment assessments which help companies worldwide gain competitive advantage by hiring, retaining and developing great talent. Profiles International is the preferred choice of many of the largest companies in the world because of the quality of its products and services, and because it constantly revalidates and updates its diverse collection of employment assessments. For more information about Profiles International's suite of human resource management solutions, visit our Web site at ProfilesInternational.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:11 PM | Comments (0)

Sell Your Home Fast is the New Alternative to 'For Sale By Owner' Offered by the Industry Experts at AsIsNow.com

Sell Your Home Fast is the new alternative to 'For Sale by Owner' offered by the industry experts at AsIsNow.com. Homeowners now have a unique, third alternative to the traditional methods of selling the family home. Homeowners aware of the pitfalls of hiring a realtor or listing their home as 'For Sale by Owner' have another, easier and hassle-free choice.

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) June 27, 2007 -- Sell Your Home Fast, a new innovative concept offered by the industry experts at AsIsNow.com, provides the ultimate solution for American homeowners. AsIsNow.com, America's top homebuyer since 1995, came up with a revolutionary alternative to selling the family home. The concept of Sell Your Home Fast is explained by one representative: "We'll buy your house, As Is Now, without you ever having to hire a Realtor or put up with the hassle or legalities that go along with 'For Sale by Owner' listings."

Traditionally, homeowners face two options when selling their home: hire a Realtor or list 'For Sale by Owner'. Each option presents the homeowner with its share of problems.

With a Realtor (unless the house is new), renovations will be required, with funding out of the homeowner's own pocket which can be both costly and time consuming. Additionally, schedules accommodating both the Realtor and the homeowner require preparation. Furthermore, the homeowner also faces the simple inconvenience of living in a clutter-free, pristine environment ready to vacate the premises for open-houses and showings until the home sells. Uppermost on every homeowner's mind is the expense of the realtor's high commissions. All of this takes time -- very few Realtors can, realistically, Sell Your Home Fast.

For Sale by Owner' offers its own set of problems. Homeowners must know how to screen potential buyers both as legitimate buyers with financial backing or face the possibility of opening their home to curious onlookers, predators, or thieves. A clear understanding of the legalities of real estate selling is a must; which includes inspections, warranties, and insurance. Knowing the asking or selling price of other homes in their area is required in order to establish a reasonable asking price and know when an offer is acceptable. This option does not help to Sell Your House Fast.

Rather than deal with all the hassles that come along with the traditional methods of selling a home, the experienced and knowledgeable experts of AsIsNow.com offer an alternative: Sell Your Home Fast. Whether the homeowner faces foreclosure, debt problems, is in the middle of a divorce, is simply relocating, or has inherited a house, AsIsNow.com offers to save the homeowner money, time, and trouble with their Sell Your Home Fast alternative.

The AsIsNow.com method does not involve a seller, costly renovations, commissions or a waiting period and Sell Your Home Fast Services are 100% Free. AsIsNow.com will provide the homeowner solid cash offers and a convenient closing date. Sell your Home Fast, from AsIsNow.com, promises exactly that - homeowners' can have cash within 24 hours if the property meets the buying criteria.

Charles E. Scott of Nashville, Tennessee stated, "Health wise I couldn't take care of my house anymore. I called ASISNOW.COM and I got an offer on the first day. It was the best and highest offer I had. I would recommend ASISNOW.COM to anyone who would need to sell their house."

Thanks to the innovative program Sell Your Home Fast, from AsIsNow.com, homeowners' who are reluctant to pay the high commissions of realtors or put up with the hassles of 'For Sale by Owner' listings now have another, easier and better alternative. There is always another alternative and the industry experts at AsIsNow.com are ready to help homeowners to Sell Your Home Fast.

Those interested in AsIsNow.com's program to Sell Your Home Fast are invited to visit the official website at http://www.asisnow.com for more information and for contact details for any of the 13 office locations throughout 6 states (Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale (South Florida), Fort Myers, Houston, Jacksonville, Melbourne, Orlando, Tampa). Or call Toll Free 1-800-AS-IS-NOW or 1 (800) 274-7669.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:11 PM | Comments (0)

BidClerk.com Reports Construction Projects Up For Bid in the Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN Area

BidClerk's daily update of Minnesota construction projects coming up for bid and starting construction within the next 90 days.

(PRWEB) June 27, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following construction projects are planning to go out for bid or start construction in the next 90 days in the Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN area. Businesses interested in providing services relative to these projects should visit BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

Minneapolis, MN - Fusion Flats, 110 E. 18th St., 82-unit condominium building, August 2007, $10 million. Project ID: 628963

Eagan, MN - The National Bank, 4249 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, 5,000-square-foot bank with drive-thru, August 2007, $600,000. Project ID: 591543

Maple Grove, MN - Primrose School, 10,995-square-foot child care center, September 2007, $1.1 million. Project ID: 578604

Richfield, MN - TCF Bank, 6501 Richfield Pkwy., 5,300-square-foot bank, September 2007, $700,000. Project ID: 628520

Fridley, MN - Menards Renovation, 5351 Central Ave. NE, home improvement store fixture set-up, August 2007, $50,000. Project ID: 628942

BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in depth information on thousands of construction projects coming up for bids all throughout the United States. Our daily updates of commercial and residential construction projects are available to contractors and businesses in construction related industries that are seeking bid opportunities. For more information on bidding construction projects in your area, visit BidClerk online or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:10 PM | Comments (0)

BridgeStreet Worldwide Announces Global Alliance Expansion

Corporate housing provider evolves innovative partnership alliance encompassing the global housing industry.

(Vocus/PRWEB ) June 27, 2007 -- BridgeStreet Worldwide, responding to changing client needs and the rapid globalization of the temporary housing industry, has restructured its existing licensed partnership into a cohesive international alliance of high quality serviced apartment providers.

This network, known as the BridgeStreet Global Alliance is a conglomerate of like-minded corporate housing providers dedicated to high quality accommodations and services. The industry first alliance gives customers a comprehensive global housing solution, which delivers a consistent extended stay travel experience across the board.

"A pillar of BridgeStreet Worldwide's success is our dedication to superior services offered consistently across international borders to both clients and guests," said Lee Curtis, BridgeStreet Worldwide president and CEO. "By evolving the standards and participation levels of our Global Alliance program we further ensure our customers will receive reliable, high quality service wherever they are traveling -- whether it be Dubai or Silicon Valley."

BridgeStreet Worldwide selectively recruits the highest quality local corporate housing providers throughout the world to participate in the Global Alliance. "We have assembled a team of industry experts that are placed strategically in key cities to assess client demand for specific locations and perform rigorous due diligence on potential global alliance members", reports Curtis. Members work through a stringent certification process, graduating to the status of Certified Partner.

The BridgeStreet Global Alliance is further stratified with the addition of the category of Premier Global Alliance Partner. This is the highest level of the Alliance and applies to providers who currently participate in the US-based Licensed Global Partner program. It is the goal of the BridgeStreet Global Alliance program to offer members the opportunity to join, gain membership benefits and evolve their businesses through the levels of the Alliance over time, through solid commitment and consistent delivery to superior customer service practices; thus, further formalizing and evolving the serviced apartments industry internationally.

"The Global Alliance participation levels are based on the longevity and strength of the partner's relationship with BridgeStreet Worldwide. Our long-term objective is to establish partner relationships that advance through the hierarchy of the Global Alliance, ultimately developing Premium partners throughout major metropolitan areas across the globe," said Curtis.

Multiple benefits are realized by both customers and alliance members through the Global Alliance program. Global Alliance customers receive a seamless process of reservations, billing and account management and are assured consistently high quality accommodations, service delivery and innovative processes they've come to expect from BridgeStreet. Alliance members benefit from shared operational knowledge, technology, shared buying power and training.

Redefining the BridgeStreet Global Alliance and committing additional resources to roll out the program along with developing new, supportive technology, BridgeStreet Worldwide is positioned to become the first-choice corporate housing provider for clients demanding quality accommodations and impeccable service at their choice of locations around the globe.

BridgeStreet Worldwide is a leading international provider of corporate housing. BridgeStreet and its Global Partner Alliance offer over 15,000 corporate apartments located throughout the United States and 50 cities internationally. An award winner both in the U.S. and Europe, BridgeStreet properties meet uncompromising standards of quality, comfort and service. For more information about the company or to learn more about how BridgeStreet is Making Corporate Housing Easy, visit www.bridgestreet.com or call 1-800-BSTREET.

Contact:
Jennifer Brand
202.232.6579

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:09 PM | Comments (0)

West Point Relocation, Inc. Now Offers Freight Shipping Services to and from Hawaii

West Point Relocation, a leading Hawaii household goods shipping company, now offers Hawaiian freight shipping services at affordable prices.

Kapolei, HI (PRWEB) June 27, 2007 -- West Point Relocation, a leading household goods shipping company, has expanded its offerings to include general freight shipping within Hawaii and between Hawaii and the mainland.

Since its founding, West Point Relocation has focused on shipping household goods and other commodities to and from Hawaii. During the past several years, West Point Relocation has been able to grow its household goods business exponentially through the practice of hard work, knowledge, transportation experience, and its growing network of contacts.

West Point Relocation is now expanding its services to include shipping general freight within Hawaii and between Hawaii and the mainland. West Point Relocation is able to continue offering outstanding rates and exceptional customer service by bringing the same practices that has worked in the household goods industry to the Hawaiian freight shipping market.

Customers are able to receive an immediate, free, no-obligation Hawaiian freight shipping estimate by visiting http://www.freightshippinghawaii.com In most cases, this estimate is given to the customer instantly without having to speak with a customer service representative and without having to wait for a return call or email.

For additional information, please visit our website or call the customer service and sales center toll-free at (888) 659-2766.

About West Point Relocation, Inc:
West Point Relocation, Inc. is a global leader in the Hawaiian shipping market and is able to provide cost-effective, economical shipping services coupled with excellent service for both individual shippers and companies needing to move goods to and from Hawaii. West Point Relocation, Inc. is also a licensed NVOCC for international shipments.

West Point Relocation, Inc. is a member of the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA), the Household Goods Forwarders Association of America (HHGFAA), and the Employee Relocation Council (ERC).

Contact:
Customer Support and Sales
West Point Relocation, Inc.
(888) 659-2766

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:09 PM | Comments (0)

Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs Faces Shortage of Skilled Labor for Construction Equipment Industry

Construction Equipment Industry is in need as the increasing demand for new construction calls attention to the equally increasing shortage of skilled labor workers to fill Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs.

Orange Park, FL (PRWEB) June 27, 2007 -- Construction Equipment Industry is in need, as the increasing demand for new construction calls attention to the equally, increasing shortage of skilled labor workers to fill Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs.

As long as Construction Equipment, such as bulldozers, backhoes, wheel loaders, excavators, and skid steer loaders, sit idle, construction companies lose money, eventually, driving up the costs of construction and lengthening job completion times. As one Heavy Equipment Operator put it: "If it's a three-man job and I'm the only one here qualified to run the equipment - then, it takes a bit longer! Good money though."

The International Union of Operating Engineers reports an expected growth in highway, bridge, and street construction across America, along with, commercial and population growth as cities continue to expand. Any new growth or expansion in business or population means new growth in construction, city services, utilities, and landscaping; all which are areas of industry offering Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs.

Another reason the industry needs qualified workers to fill the Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs and operate the Construction Equipment has to do with the, all-important, issue of safety. These large, powerful machines can make structures look like a deck of cards and where safety is concerned there is no room for error. E. Dombroskie, Supervisor at a new dig site, commented: "I'd rather have the equipment sitting idle, losing money, than have an unsafe or unqualified operator put lives at risk. It aint worth the buck you'd make."

National Heavy Equipment Operators School, also known as EarthMoverSchool.com provides cost-effective training with its Nationally accredited training programs. The school offers intensive training, leading to nationally recognized certificates, in the operation and safety of Construction Equipment: such as, bulldozers, tractor loader/backhoes, articulating wheel loaders, excavators, compact Bobcat® excavators, skid steer loaders and diesel truck tractors.

National Heavy Equipment Operators School (EarthMoverSchool.com) has introduced an innovative and comprehensive training program, reducing class time and offering its' candidates extensive hands on field training in the operation and safety of Construction Equipment. In preparation for any one of the numerous Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs now on the market, each candidate completes a distance education program. The program is delivered in an exciting interactive online format for the computer stimulated crowd. For those who still prefer to hold a book in their hands the school provides 60 individual lessons that are completed at home and then sent to the school for grading. The distance education is thought of as a sort of a ground school; it greatly reduces the amount of time a student has to spend in the classroom, thereby greatly reducing tuition costs to very reasonable levels.

The 350-acre training complex, located in Green Cove Springs, North Florida, proudly claims 25,000 successfully trained graduates and hosts students from all fifty states. The school makes sure that a sufficient number of properly working machines are on hand for the student body at the time of their residency. National Heavy Equipment Operators School partnered with Bobcat® Corporation and John Deere Company, whom are contributing training equipment partners.

EarthMoversSchool.com's Career Services Department continually keeps adding to its employer partners list and referring successful graduates to available openings.

The National Heavy Equipment Operators School invites all potential students to learn more about their program. To find out more about Heavy Equipment Training or the nationally accredited Heavy Equipment Operator School contact National Training Inc. toll free at 1-800-488-7364 or visit the official website at www.earthmoverschool.com. Also, the "Contact Us" page on the website provides further email and mail contact information.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:08 PM | Comments (0)

Giralt Enterprises Receives 2007 New Product Award for Aluminum Picket Handrail

The National Society of Professional Engineers- Professional Engineers in Industry- has chosen Pedro Giralt's aluminum picket handrail for the 2007 New Product Award. This prestigious award honors American companies and their contributions to society. Winning products were chosen for their exceptional engineering research, design and overall impact on our national economy.

Atlanta, GA (Vocus/PRWEB ) June 27, 2007 -- The National Society of Professional Engineers-Professional Engineers in Industry- has chosen Pedro Giralt's aluminum picket handrail for the 2007 New Product Award. This prestigious award honors American companies and their contributions to society. Winning products were chosen for their exceptional engineering research, design and overall impact on our national economy.

This Aluminum Picket Handrail was designed to AASHTO Bridge Design criteria for sidewalks, bridge approaches, retaining walls, etc. Modifications have been made to use them on balconies, pool enclosures, fences and marine construction applications. The basis of the design is a patented method of extrusions and snap-on clips for attaching the pickets. This method makes the product stronger than welded rails, by avoiding the heat effect from welds. US Patents were received in November 2004 and January 2007.

Giralt's mechanized picket railing dramatically saves time manufacturing, increases quality, and reduces product weight, while providing more strength that the Florida Department of transportation requires. It is the highest level of safety you can achieve in a hand railing, and is mandated in Florida on any structure with more that a 30" drop. The aluminum picket handrail is also ADA compliant and meets the International Building Code

Gator Bridge and Rail in Sanford, FL is the exclusive manufacturer and marketer of the Giralt railing. Gator and Giralt look to improve upon the standard picket design by offering other decorative or customized versions. The product is highly customizable- we can add circles, stars, etc to dress up the product.

Some of the advantages of the system are:

Assembly with snap-on clips is much quicker than welding, and can be done by helpers instead of certified welders.
The cleaning and grinding of welds is eliminated.
A greater amount of railing can be produced with the same manufacturing space, equipment and personnel.

For 30 years Gator has brought the best in design and innovation for aluminum bridge and aluminum rail systems. We offer superior lead times along with skilled manufacturing to ensure that your project comes in on time and under budget.

We have the largest spectrum of options in aluminum rail and aluminum bridge products with the capability to provide alternate designs and systems.

Gator Bridge & Rail Solutions
www.gatorbridge.com
www.gatorrail.com
800-621-2207

Giralt Enterprises
Miami, FL
305-234-6663

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:07 PM | Comments (0)

RCN to Acquire NEON Communications Group for up to $5.25 Per Share

- Combination Adds Scale, Network Reach and Commercial Services Growth Potential - - Nearly Doubles RCN Business Solutions Revenue in Lucrative Northeast Corridor and Chicago Markets -

Herndon, VA (Vocus/PRWEB ) June 27, 2007 -- RCN Corporation (NASDAQ: RCNI) and NEON Communications Group, Inc. (AMEX: NGI) today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for RCN to acquire NEON for up to $5.25 per share of NGI common stock, in cash, for expected total consideration of up to approximately $260 million. The transaction has been approved by the Board of Directors of both companies, and is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2007, subject to regulatory approvals and the approval of NEON's stockholders as well as certain other closing conditions described below.

The transaction combines RCN, a leading competitive provider of video, data, and voice services to residential and business customers in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Chicago metro markets, with NEON's pure play network transport services to carrier and enterprise customers in the twelve-state New England and mid-Atlantic regions. NEON offers RCN a complementary network and a customer base that fits very well into RCN Business Solutions' growth strategy. Pro forma for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 (assuming that the transaction had closed on January 1, 2007), combined RCN Business Solutions' annualized Revenue and EBITDA would have been approximately $160 million and $40 million, respectively, nearly twice the actual results of RCN Business Solutions. These figures exclude an estimated $10 million of expected revenue and expense synergies to be achieved during the integration period following the closing of the transaction. In addition, this acquisition expands RCN's overall network footprint, including over 1,000 combined on-net commercial locations, and creating an opportunity to increase its addressable residential homes in markets both inside and adjacent to its existing core footprint.

NEON brings to RCN:

A densely built fiber optic network with approximately 4,800 route miles, over 230,000 fiber miles, 22 colocation facilities, and more than 200 points of presence from Maine to Virginia
A facilities-based wholesale communications provider that supplies high bandwidth fiber optic capacity and comprehensive end-to-end telecom services to approximately 120 carrier and enterprise customers
Unique fiber routes along utility rights-of-way, expanding RCN's commitment to diversity from the legacy telecom infrastructure
Complementary network and similar sales approach, which will help facilitate integration and open up new markets for RCN products
Complementary customer base - NEON's carrier focus and RCN's enterprise focus together offer enhanced growth and sales opportunities

Peter Aquino, President and Chief Executive Officer of RCN added, "We are thrilled to be joining forces with NEON and look forward to welcoming its customers and team members to RCN. This is a significant strategic acquisition for RCN that scales our high-value commercial segment with another premier regional service provider in our own footprint. NEON brings an extensive fiber network in New England and the mid-Atlantic with diverse intercity fiber assets. This combination of NEON, ConEd Communications and RCN's existing metro and intercity rings will now reach into both Tier 1 and Tier 2 markets for enterprise and carrier customers who are looking for robust alternatives to incumbent providers. Additionally, NEON's dense capillarity improves our ability to deliver seamless, high quality services and creates significant growth potential. We are very excited about combining RCN Business Solutions, under RBS President Felipe Alvarez's leadership, with NEON, creating one of the best Regional CLECs on the East Coast and in Chicago."

Kurt Van Wagenen, President and CEO of NEON Communications Group, said, "We are pleased with this transaction and believe that it represents a good outcome for our stockholders, customers and employees. NEON and RCN have had a positive, long standing working relationship. Through this merger, our customers gain access to an enhanced set of services, additional on-net buildings and an expanded geography including a network in Chicago and deeper capillarity in New York City and Washington DC. The combined entity will have more than 14,000 route miles and more than 1,000 on-net buildings."

RCN expects to fund the purchase price for the transaction with $250 million of debt financing, consisting of a combination of senior secured term loans as well as unsecured borrowings, with the remainder funded from its existing cash reserves. RCN has received commitment from affiliates of Deutsche Bank to provide the full $250 million of debt financing. Neither the acquisition nor the additional debt financing require the consent of RCN's existing lenders.

The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2007, subject to FCC and state regulatory approvals, NEON's stockholder approval, and NEON achieving minimum agreed-upon revenue and EBITDA milestones during the second half of 2007. In addition, assuming the required approvals are received and minimum financial milestones are met, the purchase price could be reduced by up to $0.10 per share if NEON does not meet supplementary revenue targets specified in the agreement during the second half of 2007.

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. and Andrews Kurth LLP acted as financial and legal advisors to RCN, and The Bank Street Group LLC and Clifford Chance US LLP acted as financial and legal advisors to NEON.

Non-GAAP Measures
RCN believes that non-GAAP financial measures such as EBITDA, viewed in addition to and not in lieu of the Company's reported GAAP results, provide useful information to investors because they are an integral part of the Company's internal evaluation of operating performance. In addition, they are measures that RCN uses to evaluate management's effectiveness. The EBITDA non-GAAP measure used by RCN may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. EBITDA is defined as operating income plus depreciation and amortization, non-cash stock based compensation and other special items including non-cash issuance of warrants, impairments and other charges and cumulative effect of accounting changes. Free cash flow represents EBITDA less capital expenditures, net interest paid and net changes in working capital.

About NEON Communications Group, Inc.
NEON is a facilities-based wholesale communications provider, supplying high bandwidth fiber optic capacity and comprehensive end-to-end telecom services to communications companies and enterprise customers on an intercity, regional and metro network in the 12-state Northeast and mid-Atlantic region. With 4,800 route miles and over 230,000 fiber miles from Maine to Virginia, NEON is providing unparalleled capillarity and central office connectivity in the world's most demanding telecom market.

About RCN Corporation
RCN Corporation, http://www.rcn.com, is one of the largest facilities-based competitive providers of bundled cable, high-speed internet and phone services delivered over its own fiber-optic local network to residential customers in the most densely populated markets in the U.S. RCN Business Solutions is a growing business that also provides bulk video, high-capacity data and voice services to business customers. RCN provides service in the Boston, New York, Eastern Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and Chicago metropolitan markets. (RCNI-G)

RCN Forward-Looking Statements
A number of the matters discussed in this message that are not historical or current facts deal with potential future circumstances and developments, in particular, NEON's future financial results (including whether NEON will meet the revenue and EBITDA milestones that are a condition to the closing), information regarding RCN Business Solutions, including expected synergies resulting from the merger of RCN and NEON, combined operating and financial data, future plans, and whether and when the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement will be consummated. The discussion of such matters is qualified by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations generally, and also may materially differ from actual future experience involving any one or more of such matters. Such risks and uncertainties include: the result of the review of the proposed merger by various regulatory agencies, and any conditions imposed on RCN in connection with consummation of the merger; approval of the merger by the stockholders of NEON and satisfaction of various other conditions to the closing of the merger contemplated by the merger agreement; and the risks that are described from time to time in RCN's reports filed with the SEC, including RCN's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, as such reports may have been amended. This message speaks only as of its date, and RCN disclaims any duty to update the information herein.

NEON Forward Looking Statements. A number of the matters discussed in this message that are not historical or current facts deal with potential future circumstances and developments, in particular, NEON's future financial results (including whether NEON will meet the revenue and EBITDA milestones that are a condition to the closing), information regarding the new company, including expected synergies resulting from the merger of RCN and NEON, combined operating and financial data, future plans, and whether and when the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement will be consummated. The discussion of such matters is qualified by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations generally, and also may materially differ from actual future experience involving any one or more of such matters. Such risks and uncertainties include: the result of the review of the proposed merger by various regulatory agencies, and any conditions imposed on the new company in connection with consummation of the merger; approval of the merger by the stockholders of NEON and satisfaction of various other conditions to the closing of the merger contemplated by the merger agreement; and the risks that are described from time to time in NEON's reports filed with the SEC, including NEON's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2006, as such reports may have been amended. This message speaks only as of its date, and NEON disclaims any duty to update the information herein.
Additional Information and Where to Find It. NEON will file a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND STOCK HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES THERETO. The definitive proxy statement will be mailed to stockholders of NEON. The definitive proxy statement and other documents filed by NEON with the SEC will be available free of charge at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov), NEON's website (www.neoninc.com) or from NEON directly by making a request to NEON Communications Attention: Investor Relations, 2200 West Park Drive, Westborough, MA 01581 (telephone: 508-616-7800).

Participants in Solicitation. RCN, NEON and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed merger. Information concerning RCN's participants is set forth in the proxy statement on Schedule 14A, dated April 27, 2007, for RCN's 2007 annual meeting of stockholders as filed with the SEC. Information concerning NEON's participants is set forth in the proxy statement, dated January 29, 2007, for NEON's 2006 annual meeting of stockholders as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A. Additional information regarding the interests of participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the merger will be included in the proxy statement to be filed with the SEC.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:07 PM | Comments (0)

BidClerk.com Reports Construction Projects Up For Bid in the Philadelphia, PA, Area

BidClerk's daily update of Pennsylvania construction projects coming up for bid and starting construction within the next 90 days.

(PRWEB) June 27, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following commercial construction projects are planning to go out for bids or start construction in the next 90 days in the Philadelphia, PA, area. Businesses interested in providing services relative to these projects should visit BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

Philadelphia, PA -- Osun Village, 2308-14 Grays Ferry Ave., 22,500-square-foot mixed-use building, July 2007, $3 million. Project ID: 628149

Lancaster, PA -- Ann Taylor / Lancaster, 5,000-square-foot tenant improvement, August 2007, $250,000. Project ID: 622766

Philadelphia, PA -- Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits / Philadelphia, 4,000-square-foot restaurant, August 2007, $500,000. Project ID: 619327

Cherry Hill, NJ -- J. Jill, New Jersey State Route 70 and Haddonfield Road, 3,000-square-foot tenant improvement, August 2007, $150,000. Project ID: 630670

Cherry Hill, NJ -- Zales #1652, 2000 Route 38, 2,000-square-foot retail store, August 2007, $100,000. Project ID: 628967

BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in-depth information on thousands of construction projects coming up for bids all throughout the United States. Our daily updates of commercial and residential construction project leads are available to contractors and businesses in construction related industries that are seeking bid opportunities. For more information on bidding construction projects in your area, visit BidClerk online or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:06 PM | Comments (0)

Vertical Alliance Group Launches BestHousingValue.com Nationwide Web Site Connects Consumers with Modular and Manufactured Housing Developers

DALLAS (BusinessWire EON) June 27, 2007 -- Vertical Alliance Group Inc. (VAG) today launched BestHousingValue.com, a Web site that connects developers and dealers of modular and manufactured homes with interested home buyers.

Vertical Alliance created the site to meet a growing consumer demand for housing information on the Internet. According to the National Association of Realtors, use of the Internet to search for a home has risen dramatically from two percent of buyers in 1995 to more than 77 percent in 2005.

“The rate of consumers searching for online housing information is growing exponentially,” said Jay Wommack, founder, president and CEO of Vertical Alliance Group. “Our primary goal with BestHousingValue.com is fulfilling a need for a segment of home buyers by connecting them with modular and manufactured housing developers. The Web site is also designed to generate pre-qualified leads for developers who pay a low monthly fee to advertise on the site and post company profiles. Vertical Alliance Group works with the housing developers to maximize lead conversion and ensure a more efficient sales process.”

Visitors to BestHousingValue.com click on a developer’s or dealer’s banner ad, or search for companies by state or category. That leads to the developer’s detailed profile page, which provides prospective buyers with everything they need to make an informed decision regarding the modular or manufactured home of their choice. Interested visitors then can submit their contact details directly to their preferred housing provider for further follow-up and information.

The profile page includes custom-written copy and graphics, as well as audio and video messages. It’s designed to pre-qualify buyers before they ever speak with a salesperson. The efficiencies gained by a developer’s sales staff using this system can be dramatic.

Content on BestHousingValue.com consists primarily of advertising and company description space purchased by modular or manufactured housing developers for a low fee that includes not just the ads, but proactive customer support, ad tracking, advertising consulting and more.

About Vertical Alliance Group Inc.

Vertical Alliance Group Inc. is an online publisher that provides direct marketing services – including lead generation for a variety of personal and business services, and targeted recruiting of pre-qualified employees – for clients in 20 niche industry segments. Headquartered in Texarkana, Texas with offices in Dallas, Vertical Alliance hosts and manages more than 40 Web sites, using response engine marketing to increase its clients’ “Basic Unit of Wealth.” For more information, visit http://www.verticalag.com or http://www.besthousingvalue.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:05 PM | Comments (0)

Future Towns Launches New Disaster Management Website

Future Towns has been launched online as offering solutions to a full range of disaster scenarios. It discusses the frequency and impact of disasters with free essay downloads from CEO and journalist Ben Bamber.

(PRWEB) June 27, 2007 -- Given the recent earthquake in Kent and Essex and the recent floods across the country, it couldn’t be more timely to talk about protecting ourselves and our communities against disasters. Future Towns has been launched online as offering solutions to a full range of disaster scenarios. It discusses the frequency and impact of disasters with free essay downloads from CEO and journalist Ben Bamber.

All the information including how architects can submit building designs, examples of what a Future Town might look like, free essays discussing all aspects of the work and information for investors (coming soon) are all available at www.futuretowns.org.uk.

A recent YouGov poll on disasters commissioned by Future Towns.

Of those surveyed 79% say they feel their homes are adequately protected from disasters. This may indicate faith in the higher standards of UK home building and/or may reflect they are underestimating or uninformed about the kind of threats that may affect them in the future.

- There was a higher percentage of 18 – 29 year olds who feel that their homes are not adequately protected. 7% of those surveyed felt that their homes were not adequately protected, whereas double that figure (14%) is found in the 18-29 age range.

- 14% of those surveyed did not know whether they were adequately protected or not, which indicates that people are uninformed about risk. In the 18-29 category this rises to 19%.

- A whopping 89% of people surveyed said they have not spent any money on protecting their homes from disasters. 5% of those surveyed said they had spent money on protecting their homes, leaving 6% who didn’t know whether money had been spent by others in their household or not.

For further details please contact Ben Bamber, Tel: +44 (0) 1242 580692; email: mail(@)futuretowns.org.uk and address: The Bramery, 44 Alstone Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 8HE, UK.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:04 PM | Comments (0)

Becovic Holdings, Inc. Announces the Hiring of Hospitality Industry Veteran James T. Costa as General Manager of Resort Operations for Hotel Mediteran Resort in Ulcinj, Montenegro

Chicago-based Becovic Holdings, Inc. Hires James T. Costa as its New General Manager for Resort Operations at the Hotel Mediteran Resort in Ulcinj, Montenegro. Mr. Costa will play a lead role in revitalizing the resort, which will include continuing renovations of existing facilities, and the construction of new guest rooms, recreation, and spa facilities.

Ulcinj, Montenegro (PRWEB) June 27, 2007 -- Becovic Holdings, Inc. announced today the hiring of James T. Costa as General Manager of Resort Operations for the company's Hotel Mediteran Resort In Ulcinj, Montenegro.

"We are quite pleased to have Jim Costa join us to lead our resort operations," said Isa Becovic, Managing Director of worldwide operations for Becovic Holdings, Inc., "Jim has an extensive and diiverse experience in opening hotels and resorts, and we feel especially fortunate that Jim also has experience managing resort hotels in Montenegro." James Costa was most recently the General Manager of Hotel Operations for Beppler and Jacobson in Montenegro, overseeing the 426-room Avala Resort & Villas in Budva and the 117-room Bianca Resort & Spa in Kolasin.

"This was an exceptional opportunity," said James Costa, "the combination of Becovic Holdings as an organization, the physical scale of the resort and its location overlooking the Adriatic Sea, and of course the tourism growth expected for the Ulcinj coastal area including Velika Plaza, were just amazing. I am excited as I get started here." The Montenegro coastal resort region, centered in Ulcinj, is considered to be the world's #1 tour and travel growth market for the next decade, according to the World Travel Tourism Council.

In addition to his experience with Montenegrin resort properties, James Costa's background includes hotel and resort properties in the Phillipines, Guam, Japan, and throughout the continental U.S. Over a long career, Mr. Costa has been called upon to direct pre-opening marketing, staffing, and training at new hotel facilities, as part of his duties as an operational general manager. Always active with industry associatoins, Costa is a current member of the Montenegro Tourism Board, the Montenegro Sustainable Tourism Council, and the Montenegro Hotel Association.

The Hotel Mediteran Resort is situated in the scenic Montenegro coastal town of Ulcinj, a community with more than 2,000 years of history. Plans for the coastal resort include continuing renovations of a portion of the existing guest rooms, banquet, and reception facilities, and the construction of all new spa, fitness, meeting, pool, and reception areas, as well as 4-star quality guest rooms. Becovic Holdings purchased the Hotel Mediteran in July 2005 from the Bankruptcy Court of Podgorica (Montenegro), with plans to redevelop the property into a first-class coastal destination resort. Prior to Becovic Holding's acquisition, the property had been a resort and hospitality asset of Ulcinj-based hotel-tourist company, Ulcinjska Rivijera.

Becovic Holdings, Inc. (www.BecovicHoldings.com) is a privately-held U.S.-based investment organization based in Chicago, with diversified interests in real estate development, property services, media, apparel, and tourism. The firm is affiliated with Becovic Propeties and Becovic Management Group, related entities involved with real estate investment, development, and property management in the U.S., with portfolio concentrations in Illinois, Indiana and Arizona. Many of Becovic Properties' premium residential communities in the Chicago metropolitan area are situated within easy walking distance of Lake Michigan, Lake Shore Drive, and downtown Chicago's entertainment, dining, and nightlife districts. Becovic Holdings and related entities trace their organizational foundation back more than 30 years, when the Becovic family emigrated to the U.S. from what has now become the new nation of Montenegro. Becovic Holdings' team for the Hotel Mediteran Resort revitalization includes owner's rep Stonecreek LLC (www.stonecreekllc.com) and the design team of Montenegro architect, Resulbegovic-Popovic, with Kahler Slater (U.S.) for conceptual design.

For more information or to make on-line reservations for summer 2007 at the Hotel Mediteran Resort, guests are invited to visit www.Hotel-Mediteran.com or calling (in Montenegro) +382 (0)85 403 124.

Queries concerning this media release may be made to BMG press representative Adventure Studios iMedia (www.adventurestudios.com) by phoning (in the U.S.) to +1 (818) 973-3157.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:04 PM | Comments (0)

DirectBuy Celebrates 35th Anniversary of First Franchise

DirectBuy Continues Tremendous Growth by Opening New Showrooms and Design Centers Across North America

Merrillville, IN (PRWEB) June 26, 2007 -- DirectBuy, the leading members-only showroom and home design center that offers merchandise at manufacturer-direct prices, announced today that it is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its first franchise. DirectBuy has grown to become the largest direct to consumer membership club of its kind, with thousands of members across the United States and Canada.

"We have always believed that consumers should have an alternative, lower-cost channel to buy products for their home and family, and that belief was the foundation for DirectBuy," said Scott Powell, president of DirectBuy. "For the past 35 years, we have allowed our members to take a calculated approach to savings and purchase brand-name merchandise for their homes and family at manufacturer-direct prices. The growth of our business is a testament to the savings, selection and service we provide to our members across North America."

DirectBuy's unique business model continues to gain in popularity as membership has grown more than 50 percent over the past three years. This increase is directly related to the savings, the enthusiasm to purchase the top brands from several hundred manufacturers and their authorized suppliers, and the expanded service offerings DirectBuy offers its members, including newly redesigned showrooms and a partnership with renowned designer Christopher Lowell.

Member Satisfaction
The satisfaction of all members is DirectBuy's number one priority. DirectBuy has a long track record of hundreds of thousands of satisfied members in North America who have enjoyed undeniable savings on a wide array of merchandise.

After the Friedman family finished building and furnishing their dream home in Rochester, New York, with merchandise from DirectBuy, they were so excited they could not decide who to thank first, so they thanked everyone. The Friedman family celebrated their new home by throwing a party for the entire staff from DirectBuy of Rochester.

The Friedmans purchased virtually everything other than lumber and the incidentals of construction without traditional retail markup, and they estimate that they saved $40,000 to $50,000. "For us, it was a no-brainer," said Steve Friedman, a DirectBuy member since November 2005. "In my opinion, it's the best investment we've ever made, let alone in the past five years."

"We were initially drawn to DirectBuy for the obvious reason - savings - but for us, our experiences have not been just about the money," said Denise Pallante, a member of DirectBuy of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, since October 2004. "The brand selection is tremendous, and we have been able to purchase furniture, carpets, wood blinds, area rugs and a grill. The DirectBuy service is exceptional, and everyone is always so pleasant and helpful. Whenever we go to our DirectBuy showroom, we feel like we are walking into a friend's home."

New Service Offerings
DirectBuy constantly strives to improve the member shopping experience. To bring the home improvement experience to life, DirectBuy is rolling out completely redesigned showrooms across North America that will allow members to view, feel and experience the top merchandise in DirectBuy's five major product categories: Home Furnishings, Home Improvement, Flooring, Accessories and Entertainment/Outdoor.

DirectBuy members also have exclusive access to renowned designer Christopher Lowell. In the showrooms, Lowell has designed twelve room settings - created exclusively with products available through DirectBuy - using his Seven Layers of Design. An innovative approach to home décor, The Seven Layers of Design keep homeowners on a budget and from feeling overwhelmed.

New Openings
DirectBuy has recently opened up new design centers and showrooms in new markets across the United States, including:
1. Anaheim Hills, CA
2. Burbank, CA
3. Long Beach, CA
4. Portland, OR
5. Sacramento, CA
6. Shreveport, LA
7. Thousand Oaks, CA

Membership
Consumers who are interested in joining DirectBuy are encouraged to attend an exclusive Open House event, which is designed to educate families about DirectBuy's unique business model. The Open House also helps consumers better understand how DirectBuy members avoid traditional markup when purchasing brand-name merchandise.

About DirectBuy
For more than 35 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything in home design - from furniture, carpet, hardwood flooring, and tile, to kitchen cabinets, bath cabinets, appliances and much, much more.

DirectBuy enables members to purchase most every product offering from hundreds of manufacturers at over 140 showrooms across North America. To request a "Free Insider's Guide to Buying Direct" and a Visitor's Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.DirectBuy.com or www.DirectBuyCares.com.

Contacts:
Sara Shragal
DirectBuy
219.736.1100 ext 365

Chris Groppa
Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.
312.751.4193

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:03 PM | Comments (0)

June 25, 2007

Young Upstart Wins 2007 Most Valuable Product Award from Hanley Wood’s Building Products Magazine

Decco Bath & Shower Works is now being hailed by major corporations as the next big thing in DIY home improvement.

(PRWEB) June 25, 2007 -- A Fort Myers inventor continues Edison’s great American tradition. Andrew Lethert, an Edison Inventors Association member, has a new patent-pending product that is making waves not on the beach, but in the bathroom. His product, Decco Bath & Shower Works, was awarded the 2007 Most Valuable Product award from Hanley Wood’s Building Products Magazine.

Decco Bath & Shower Works is now being hailed by major corporations as the next big thing in DIY home improvement. This unique new product transforms any bathroom with a standard inset tub and shower as never before, making an architectural statement that would be the pride of any home. You now have an option other than glass or a curtain for your bath/shower with none of the drawbacks and totally new features. Combine this with the unbelievable amount of concealed storage and you may curiously develop the desire to show off that previously hidden space, opening up the entire room.

When asked about the extra publicity, Lethert stated that he is very honored by this significant award from Hanley Wood, to be published in Building Products Magazine. "For a young startup company to receive this much recognition so immediately says a lot about the product and its developer," he says. He also noted a thanks to the folks at the Henkel Corporation for their assistance and expertise in making the product so simple and easy to install, with a personal debt of gratitude to the team at 2b Advertising for their market research and consumer testing that he hopes to be able to repay some day.

“It is a tough thing to create and bring a new concept or product to market, and there are no shortcuts,” Lethert says. He jests, “If a company markets directly to inventors you can generally be assured they have spent more money and time marketing to you than they will ever spend on your idea or product.”

Lethert continues, “I feel that the distinguishment of this award has prompted the current discussions with a major unnamed company about licensing or exclusivity, and that in turn will bring the product to consumers much quicker. And nothing would make me more proud.”

To get a sneak preview of this up and coming new product go to: www.deccobath.com

Contact:
Andrew Lethert
239-222-7320

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:56 PM | Comments (0)

Slide-Lok Hits The Jackpot With Recent Addition of Slide-Lok of Las Vegas

Slide-Lok gains another Master Dealer with Slide-Lok of Las Vegas; locks up key growth market in the garage interiors and home storage industry.

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) June 25, 2007 -- Slide-Lok of Las Vegas is the latest master dealership addition in what has been a whirlwind of expansion and growth for garage interiors and home storage market leader, Slide-Lok. For Slide-Lok, having a Master Dealership location in what has consistently been one of the nation's top population growth and new home construction markets is the result of many months of planned, strategic growth.

Slide-Lok of Las Vegas will serve the ever increasing home storage needs of Las Vegas' booming population, coupled with supplying busy home builders the quality plywood garage cabinets, garage flooring and closet systems that are quickly becoming standards across the country. Taking the helm of Slide-Lok of Las Vegas is long time Slide-Lok dealer, Benn Brindley.

Brindley explains, "I've been a Slide-Lok dealer for over three years and have seen firsthand the tremendous momentum that Slide-Lok has generated. For me, it was a great opportunity to lock up such a high growth area and partner with a company whose commitment to quality is unequaled while fully taking advantage of all of the sales and marketing support that Slide-Lok provides their master dealers." Brindley also plans to capitalize on the growing number of NASCAR fans and related businesses moving near his showroom location at the Speedway Commerce Center adjacent to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Slide-Lok's president Brian Strayer stated, "Las Vegas is a very important market to Slide-Lok. Benn Brindley has been a solid dealer for us and truly understands the importance of the Las Vegas market to our North American Master Dealer network."

For more information on Slide-Lok garage cabinets, garage floor coating systems, garage storage and their patented, innovative design advantages, contact Slide-Lok of Las Vegas at 702-437-4500 or www.Slide-LokofLasVegas.com or Slide-Lok directly at 800-835-1759 or visit them on the web at www.slide-lok.com.

About Slide-Lok:

Slide-Lok is an industry leader in the fast growing garage and overall home organization market with over 30 years experience in producing high quality, durable cabinetry and Slat-Wall storage systems. Slide-Lok's garage cabinets utilize a patented dovetail design, plywood construction, adjustable 6-way hinges, and Thermofuse doors - making Slide-Lok the quality leader. Slide-Lok's flooring system featuring FLEXMAR Coatings, LLC polymer extended polyaspartic polyurea garage floor coatings feature a 1 day all weather install and are 4x stronger than epoxy; and Slide-Lok's closet line features dovetail construction, fast order to install time, and the quality and esthetics consumers have come to expect from Slide-Lok.

Slide-Lok's dealer network includes more than 150 dealers across the United States and Canada.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:56 PM | Comments (0)

Green Building and Sustainability Embraced by Health Care Industry

Green Building Movement and Market Penetration Continues Expands to Health Care Industry as Demonstrated by New McGraw-Hill Construction Study.

New York, NY (PRWEB) June 25, 2007 -- Green building and sustainability as it is being incorporated into the health care industry’s construction projects is the focus of a new study by McGraw-Hill Construction (MHC) that has just been released in conjunction with report sponsors Johns Manville, Turner Construction Company and the U.S. Green Building Council. The Health Care Green Building SmartMarketTM Report, was published and made available to the public on June 14, 2007.

The landmark study is the seventh report in a comprehensive series and is based on detailed research that was released just last month. The findings of this report confirm the increasing trend in green building within the $23.7 billion health care market, which is the fourth largest commercial construction sector behind education, office and retail construction respectively. The findings of the Health Care Green Building SmartMarketTM Report show that:

60% of respondents think green will transform the way health care buildings are designed and constructed.
19% of study respondents expect their organization will be significantly involved with green building in 2008, more than triple the level for 2007.
64% perceive more than 10% energy savings from green building.

“Given that creating improved well-being is the overall mission of the healthcare industry, we are pleased to see evidence that the industry is aligning with green building practices. In the latest study, 91% of the respondents report improved medical facility staff and patient health and well-being as the most important reason for building green,” Stated Harvey M. Bernstein, vice president of Industry Analytics, Alliances and Strategic Initiatives for McGraw-Hill Construction. “Our SmartMarketTM Reports show further evidence of the growing trend toward green, and also point out the uniqueness of each market. These findings allow us to be strategic in how we can work toward encouraging the sea of change,” said Bernstein.

The [Health Care Green Building SmartMarketTM Report also found the following:

Internal management and designers/architects have the most influence on health care organizations going green.
66% do not think energy reductions are the only reason to go green.
57% see lack of information on green to be the largest obstacle, making it the leading challenge.
Perception remains that green is costly and doesn’t have ROI benefits despite evidence to the contrary.

The impact of the Green Guide for Health CareTM (GGHC) and the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental DesignTM (LEED) Green Building Rating System on the market is also addressed in the Health Care Green Building SmartMarketTM Report:

A third of respondents think lack of a specific LEED program for Health Care is an obstacle to increased green building in this sector.
Of those who have used GGHC, 78% found it valuable, with no respondents finding it of no value.
Of those expressing an opinion about the value of LEED, 76% thought it was valuable.

“Green buildings can have a significant impact on the health and comfort of their occupants, and nowhere is this more critical than in health care institutions,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. “Patients can clearly benefit from the natural light and cleaner, fresher air that are cornerstones of green buildings, and hospital staff benefits as well. These findings suggest health care administrators are beginning to believe in this, and to bring green building practices into their facilities, and we are pleased that our tools and programs are helping them to get there,” Fedrizzi added.

The study was based on a survey of senior healthcare and hospital administrators, collected online from January through February, 2007, with a total of 95 respondents. The qualitative findings point to underlying opinions and trends motivating and influencing green building in the healthcare construction sector. Survey respondents were geographically diverse, with nearly equal numbers urban, suburban and rural. Twenty eight percent were C-level executives.

About McGraw-Hill Construction:
McGraw-Hill Construction, part of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), connects people, projects and products across the design and construction industry. Backed by the power of Dodge, Sweets, Engineering News-Record (ENR) ( www.ENR.com), Architectural Record, GreenSource (www.greensourcemag.com), and 11 regional publications, the company provides information, intelligence, tools, applications and resources to help customers grow their business. McGraw-Hill Construction serves more than one million customers within the $4.6 trillion global construction community. For more information visit www.construction.com.

About McGraw-Hill Companies:
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education, and business information markets through leading brands including Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2006 were $6.3 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.

McGraw-Hill Media Contact:
Kathy Malangone
McGraw-Hill Construction
(212) 904-4376

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:55 PM | Comments (0)

François & Co. Introduces The New Heritage Collection of Fireplace Mantels

François & Co. Introduces The New Heritage Collection of Fireplace Mantels - Authentic Replicas of fireplace mantels from the French and Italian Renaissance made in Hand-Carved Limestone or in Scagliola Stone™.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) June 25, 2007 -- François & Co. introduces the new Heritage Collection of fireplace mantels - Authentic Replicas of fireplace mantels from the French and Italian Renaissance made in Hand-Carved Limestone or in Scagliola Stone™.

François & Co, is a premier source for Hand-Carved Limestone Fireplace Mantels and fine Hand-Crafted Fireplace Mantels and Kitchen Hoods in Scagliola Stone™.

Scagliola Stone™
Scagliola Stone™ is as rich in texture as it is in history; Scagliola is a technique developed by impoverished Italian Monks in the 17TH century to restore a monastery lost in the mountains of central Italy. In 1997, Thierry François discovered the secret recipe of the Monks to create Scagliola Stone™, an aggregate of marble chips combined with secret stabilizing agents and pigments that once layered by hand, achieve a natural stone texture of amazing clarity and depth which has become the trademark of François & Co.

This stone is used today to create stone mantels that are indistinguishable from the original stone found in monasteries and castles throughout France. The technique and the material now known as Scagliola Stone™ is used today by the artisans of François & Co to hand-craft scagliola fireplace mantels, stone mantels, custom stone mantels, as well as kitchen hoods, stone kitchen hoods, and custom stone kitchen hoods.

The Mantel Collection of François & Co. also features fireplace mantels cast in copper or pewter as well as a series of contemporary fireplace designs. The Metal Collection, featuring fireplace designs in copper or pewter, is stunning. Each of the custom stone fireplaces of this beautiful line combines a historically-inspired design with the modern sophistication of a metallic patina.

Authentic Replicas: Hand-Carved Limestone Fireplace Mantels
The designers of François & Co. travel to France to select one-of-a-kind antique fireplace mantels, some of the finest masterpieces from the Renaissance. Then, the French craftsmen from François & Co. meticulously re-create the work of the original artists; they painstakingly carve exact replicas of the original masterpieces in either reclaimed or newly cut limestone. Each of these exquisite authentic stone replicas is the mirror image of an antique French custom stone fireplace and conveys a tremendous sense of history.

These unique authentic replicas as well as our new fireplace designs are also available in our trademark Scagliola Stone™. François & Co. also retains the original antique fireplace mantels that are used as models for the replicas, and makes them available to the visitors of its Showrooms across the United States.

Homeowners as well as designers and architects of Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando and Los Angeles may visit one of our Showrooms in person yet, they represent only a small portion of our discriminating clientele from across the United States who seek out François & Co. online for their custom mantles and kitchen hoods, as well as for architectural accents and custom designs for individual homes and offices.

So whether you reside in Seattle, Scottsdale, Chicago, Minneapolis, Dallas, or New York - even Hawai - call François & Co. today at 1-866-385-9486 or visit us on the Internet where you can see our new Heritage Collection to learn more about the grandeur of French Masterpieces in Hand-carved limestone or Scagliola Stone™.
Recreating French Antique Masterpieces

"We use the designs found in estates throughout French as our points of reference."
- Thierry François

About François & Co.:
Founded in 1997 by award winning designer, Thierry François, François & Co. is a premiere source for Authentic Replica Hand-Carved Limestone fireplace mantels, and fine hand-crafted Scagliola Stone™ kitchen hoods, bathtubs, authentic fireplace designs, and architectural accents. In addition to its 9,000-square-foot showroom and headquarters in Atlanta, François and Co. has showrooms in Winter Park (Florida), Charlotte (North Carolina) and West Hollywood (California). You may contact François & Co. at 1-866-385-9486 or visit them online.

Contact:
Bruno Francois
Stone Age Designs
1990 Defoors Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30318
Toll Free 1.866.385.9486
404.350.3333 - Extension 4
F. 404.355.4570

Kathleen Austin or Dick Iannella
Arizona High Tech Talent Partnership
480-998-0246

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:53 PM | Comments (0)

Windowglobal ... Bringing Professionals Together Worldwide

Windowglobal.com is the premier internet forum for select professionals who are looking to enhance and expand their referral network globally. "There is nothing like knowing that a referral can come in at anytime from any part of the world without even knowing the person personally. This is the real referral system and it is working," said David, client services director.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) June 25, 2007 -- www.windowglobal.com, an online network global resource for select professionals who want to enhance their profitability and network globally, was recently formally launched.

The world has become a global village through the internet with no geographical boundaries. Businesses can now be done in a far less time than it was done 20 years ago. Windowglobal.com was created to fulfill and take the utmost opportunity with these current trends in allowing select professionals to interact worldwide through the Referral program.

Select professionals in the service industry such as real estate professionals, mortgage/loan professionals, attorneys/lawyers, architects, home builders, estate valuers/appraisers, accountants/CPA, stock brokers, insurance practitioners, shipping and haulage practitioners, surveyors, business brokers, employment practitioners, private investigators, security consultants and custom clearing practitioners are brought together on the net without any language barrier.

With www.windowglobal.com, participating professionals can locate or find other professionals in a region or country, city or area of the world where they do not personally know someone. These professionals can refer (or accept) business/clients for a negotiated referral fee to (or from) a participating referral member in any part of the world. It is a win-win situation.

This is a membership website with $50 to $100 per year membership fees depending on the membership category. Windowglobal.com does not charge members for their transactions with fellow members or the public. "There is nothing like knowing that a referral can come in at anytime from any part of the world without even knowing the person personally. This is the real referral system and it is working," said David, client services director.

There are three (3) major reasons why www.windowglobal.com is unique:

Global network referral without language barrier creating sizable potential referral partners.
Worldwide exposure to fellow professionals and the public.
Interaction with other people from different parts of the world encouraging mastery of the business with diverse culture.

For additional information, please visit www.windowglobal.com

About www.windowglobal.com:
Windowglobal.com is owned by Global Referral Network Partners L.P. and is headquartered in the United States. The professional forum was created based upon the vast experience of the founding members of Global Referral Network Partners.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:53 PM | Comments (0)

BidClerk.com Reports Construction Projects Up For Bid in the Seattle, WA Area

BidClerk's daily update of Seattle construction projects coming up for bid and starting construction within the next 90 days.

(PRWEB) June 25, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following commercial construction projects are planning to go out for bid or start construction in the next 90 days in the Seattle, WA area. Businesses interested in providing services relative to these projects should visit BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

Auburn, WA - Wal-Mart Supercenter #2385, 1425 Supermall Way, 200,000-square-foot retail store, August 2007, $11 million. Project ID: 528939

Issaquah, WA - Newport Way Self-Storage, 820 Newport Way NW, 73,682-square-foot self-storage building, September 2007, $5 million. Project ID: 625806

Tukwila, WA - La-Z-Boy, 17305 Southcenter Pkwy., 18,000-square-foot retail store, August 2007, $700,000. Project ID: 623427

Seattle, WA - Office Max, 20,000-square-foot office supply store, August 2007, $1 million. Project ID: 623510

Seattle, WA - Ballard Park, NW 57th Street and 24th Avenue NW, 268-unit mixed-use building, August 2007, $40 million. Project ID: 628092

BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in depth information on thousands of construction projects coming up for bid all throughout the United States. Our daily updates of commercial and residential construction project leads are available to home contractors and commercial businesses in related industries that are seeking bid opportunities. For more information on bidding construction projects in your area, visit BidClerk online or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:52 PM | Comments (0)

BidClerk.com Reports Commercial Construction Projects Up For Bid in the Charlotte, NC Area

BidClerk's daily update of North Carolina construction projects coming up for bid and starting construction within the next 90 days.

(PRWEB) June 25, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following commercial construction projects are planning to go out for bid or start construction in the next 90 days in the Charlotte, NC area. Businesses interested in providing services relative to these projects should visit BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

Charlotte, NC - Guliani's Fine Jewelry, 9816 Rea Road, 2,074-square-foot retail, August 2007, $100,000. Project ID: 626633

Charlotte, NC - Duo at CBC, Central Avenue and Briar Creek Road, 58-unit residential development, September 2007, $6.5 million. Project ID: 619223

Charlotte, NC - Jack Henry & Associates, 5024 Parkway Plaza Blvd., 60,431-square-foot office, August 2007, $3 million. Project ID: 618546

Charlotte, NC - Perimeter Woods Shopping Center - Phase I, 10221 Perimeter Pkwy., 285,939-square-foot retail development, August 2007, $20 million. Project ID: 621997

Charlotte, NC - Perimeter Woods Shopping Center - Phase II, 10221 Perimeter Pkwy., 136,301-square-foot retail development, August 2007, $8 million. Project ID: 623666

BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in depth information on thousands of bidding construction projects throughout the United States. Our daily updates of commercial and residential construction project leads are available to contractors and businesses in related industries that are seeking bid opportunities. For more information on bidding construction projects in your area, visit BidClerk online or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:52 PM | Comments (0)

ShoreGuard Saves Ancient Treasure Trove

An ultra-modern construction material is giving archeologists a chance to finally learn more about an ancient society.

Atlanta, GA (Vocus/PRWEB ) June 25, 2007 -- An ultra-modern construction material is giving archeologists a chance to finally learn more about an ancient society. In January, crews completed a bulkhead in Edisto Beach, South Carolina using ShoreGuard 950, an exclusive vinyl sheet piling product created by Crane Materials International (CMI).

Long before the Greeks attacked Troy and perhaps even a thousand years before Rome was founded, an early society of Native Americans thrived in Edisto Beach, which is about 50 miles south of present day Charleston. We don't know much about their life on the barrier island, but we certainly have proof that they threw away a lot of trash. That trash, consisting of an enormous mound of mostly shells, plus some bones and pottery shards, has hidden clues about the area's early inhabitants. Yet, year after year, archaeologists watched helplessly as the treasure was washed away by storms and surf.

"I saw the site for the first time 15 years ago. Five years ago, I started working for the state," says David Jones, an archeologist with the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. "I could not believe how much of it had disappeared in just ten years. I knew something had to be done quickly. It's been horrible to watch history literally wash away. Every time I would go down to the site, I was afraid of what I might find."

No one really knows how big the shell mound was when the early Edistoy Indians inhabited the area. After all, that was 2,500 to 4,500 years ago. Because it sits on the bank of a creek, most of it has washed downstream over time. Archeologists say that in the early 1800s the shell mound was about 20 feet high and covered half an acre of ground. Today the site, called Spanish Mount, is only about 10 feet high and 65 feet long.

Jones says most of the shell mound has never been excavated, despite the fact that it holds some of the oldest pottery in North America. Until now, his main focus has been just keeping the site from completely disappearing. Finally, last year the state agreed to build a bulkhead in order to create a barrier between the shell mound and the water. However, installing a bulkhead requires digging into the ground, which sends vibrations throughout the surrounding soil. Jones and other archeologists worried that any construction work would cause the shell mound to collapse.

In order to protect the unstable mound, engineers almost immediately ruled out using traditional construction materials such as timber. Instead, they chose ShoreGuard 950. "Driving timber piles and tieback (anchors) would have created too much vibration. ShoreGuard was strong enough to do this job without requiring tiebacks. That meant less installation issues," says the chief engineer on the project, David Simms.

The state hired Santee Marine Construction, Inc. to handle the delicate project. The company's business manager, Bill Grover, has had positive experience with CMI products in the past and immediately agreed that ShoreGuard was the perfect material for the job. "In addition to the vibration concern, this project was really driven by cost,"

Grover says. "We could have put up a wood wall for the same amount of money, but we didn't think it would last as long as vinyl. Our Parks and Recreation Department doesn't have a lot of extra money, so they needed something that would last." In a marsh environment, it usually doesn't take long for marine borers and other tiny parasites to attack treated lumber. Because these destructive creatures have no appetite for vinyl, ShoreGuard offers enhanced protection from infestation. Plus, it does not corrode like metal materials.

Santee Marine employees arrived at the site in December and basically lived there until the bulkhead was completed a month later. In order to protect the shell mound, no equipment or materials could be brought in over land. Crews had to use boats to get to the site and then carefully move the material.

Jones watched nervously as the first sheets went into the ground. He knew the bulkhead was the only way to save the ancient shell mound, but worried the site might be destroyed in the process. "The vibrating was a huge concern. I can't say it enough," Jones recalls. "I'm happy to report that the ShoreGuard vinyl sheets worked great. I don't even think a half a dozen shells fell out! I'm relieved and thrilled at the result."

Now that the shell mound is protected from the constant threat of erosion, Jones is excited about the future. He is working to secure a grant to begin a full-scale archeological excavation. "The potential is enormous. For example, the Native Americans decorated their pottery by jabbing reeds into the surface of the wet clay. Every time we go down to the shell mound, I see a new decoration I've never seen before. We will finally be able to learn so much more about these people - what they ate and how they lived."

The site is surrounded by a four-mile trail. In recent years, the state had to close a portion of the trail to keep hikers from disturbing the deteriorating pile. Because of the ShoreGuard bulkhead, there is now far less worry about the mound collapsing. The state plans to reopen the area and create an educational program for visitors. Thousands of years after the first inhabitants decided the creek bank would be a good place to put their trash, we may finally get a glimpse into their ancient world.

CMI Waterfront SolutionsTM
The New Vision of Waterside LifeTM
CMI Waterfront Solutions is the leading choice for marine contractors and engineers across the US and around the world. We offer a complete line of waterfront solutions including seawalls, docks, piers, and gangways.

www.cmiwaterfront.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:51 PM | Comments (0)

Schneider Kino-Torsion Mechanism Eases Deployment of Anamorphic Lenses

Compact, rugged, economical solution for screening rooms, corporate media centers and home theatre applications.

Hauppauge, NY (PRWEB) June 25, 2007 -- Schneider Optics, the well known lens and professional filter manufacturer, has introduced the Kino-Torsion™ deployment mechanism for anamorphic lenses used in a wide range of installations.

Unlike conventional linear assemblies, which slide anamorphic lenses across the front of the projector, the Kino-Torsion swings the anamorphic lens precisely into and out of position in a motion similar to the swing of a door.

"The Kino-Torsion represents a 'clean sheet of paper' approach to designing a better mechanism for deploying anamorphic lenses," explained Schneider Optics CEO Dwight Lindsey. "The mechanical design is elegantly simple while matching or surpassing the reliability and ruggedness of traditional linear motion systems…and it is lighter, smaller and less expensive than one would expect for such a high duty-cycle unit."

While the Schneider Kino-Torsion is ideal for demanding installations in screening rooms and corporate media centers, at only $1,995 it is economical enough to be considered as an ideal solution for home theatre owners interested in using an anamorphic lens to project superwide full-screen Cinemascope® images with 16:9 digital projectors. (Schneider offers the Cine-Digitar Anamorphic 1.33X Lens for superior home theatre Cinemascope® viewing).

The Kino-Torsion features easy-to-use adjustments for displacement, pitch, yaw and roll, to enable precise lens alignment. Additional information on the Kino-Torsion is available at www.schneideroptics.com, including a brief video showing the mechanism's operation, and a technical drawing of the unit.

Schneider Optics offers a line of four Cine-Digitar Anamorphic lenses, including the 1.33x, 1.42x, 1.5x and 1.9x. Schneider Cine-Digitar lenses set a new standard for lens performance in Digital Cinema and large-venue, high-brightness digital projection applications. They are designed and tested to be brighter, sharper and more uniform than any other lenses for digital projection. All Schneider lenses for digital projection systems are built to the same high standards that have made Schneider lenses for film projection world-renowned for superior sharpness, highly-efficient light transmission, low distortion, and faithful color rendition.

About Schneider Optics:
Schneider Optics is a leading manufacturer and distributor of photographic equipment. It provides the world's highest quality photographic optics, including world-renowned Schneider filters for motion picture and television production, and B+W filters, lenses and accessories.

Cinemascope® is a registered trademark of 20th Century Fox Corporation.

Contact:
Schneider Optics, Inc.
285 Oser Avenue
Hauppauge, New York, 11788, USA
TEL: 631 761-5000
FAX: 631 761-5090
www.schneideroptics.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:51 PM | Comments (0)

e-Builder Helps Define a Common Language for the Construction Industry

The agcXML Review and Validation Committee working to define a communications standard with help from leading AEC software companies.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) June 25, 2007 -- e-Builder, a leading provider of web-based capital project management software, will support the agcXML Project as a member of the Review and Validation Committee. The Project aims to define a standard for the exchange of construction project information among all building design and construction professionals. This standard will facilitate the efficient transfer and exchange of information by standardizing the data nomenclature used among AEC stakeholders. Additionally the agcXML Project will formalize a set of XML data schema to transfer this information across different technology platforms.

Participating software companies like e-Builder will contribute knowledge and expertise to develop the XML schemas. The goal is to enable the exchange of information among dissimilar and proprietary software applications without re-engineering those applications. The XML schemas will yield a common, non-proprietary data format and classification system for the information to be exchanged. Data such as owner/contractor agreements, schedules of values, requests for information (RFIs), requests for proposals (RFPs), architect/engineer supplemental instructions, change orders, change directives, submittals, applications for payment, addenda, and more is now commonly exchanged in paper documents.

Ron Antevy, e-Builder President, commented "Our vision is to transform the construction industry by improving communication and participating in this committee supports our goal of improving the real estate development and construction process."

About the AGCxml Project:
The agcXML Project is an industry-wide initiative funded and led by Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and managed, under a contract with AGC, by the National Institute of Building Sciences. The goal of the project is to enable the efficient and reliable exchange of electronic construction project information among all building design and construction professionals. While building information modeling (BIM) is designed to facilitate the electronic exchange and the effective use of information about a building facility throughout the life cycle of a building facility, the agcXML Project focuses on transactional data--which may or may not be "building information"--that architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, and building owners typically exchange during the building design and construction process. For more information, visit www.agcxml.com.

About e-Builder:
e-Builder is a leading provider of capital project management and collaboration software. The company's flagship product, e-Builder Enterprise, provides owners of large capital development projects with visibility into key performance indicators across their entire portfolio to ensure timely, on-budget project completion. e-Builder combines cutting edge technology and industry knowledge to provide thousands of owners, architects, engineers, contractors and suppliers with solutions that enhance development and construction processes. The company is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For more information, visit www.e-Builder.net

Media Contact:
Sergio Aranda
954-556-6701

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:50 PM | Comments (0)

Cityblock Announces the Hiring of Dwight Smith - Project Estimator

Cityblock recently announced the hiring of Dwight Smith as a Project Estimator for their construction division. The position of Project Estimator was created by Cityblock to meet the growing market demands in the Phoenix area for high quality commercial construction services.

Tempe, AZ (PRWEB) June 25, 2007 -- Cityblock, one of the fastest growing providers of building and construction services to commercial properties in Phoenix, recently announced the hiring of Dwight Smith as a Project Estimator for their construction division. The position of Project Estimator was created by Cityblock to meet the growing market demands in the Phoenix area for high quality commercial construction services.

Smith's responsibilities include estimating construction projects for clients such as International Capital Partners, Sun Valley Group and Pro-Chem. Dwight brings 14 years of construction experience to Cityblock, and has an excellent reputation for providing exemplary customer service. "I enjoy helping clients, and positively impacting their bottom line," Smith says, "My role as a Project Estimator is important to the success of a project, and I like that Cityblock has a very positive focus on customer service."

Prior to joining Cityblock, Dwight was a Project Estimator at Accell Builders. His 14 year construction career also includes responsibilities as a Project Manager and a Construction Superintendent. In his career, Dwight has found that military construction projects were the most interesting because "they have firm requirements, tight timelines, and tight budgets."

Dwight Smith is a California native who relocated to Arizona from Colorado in 2005. Married almost 30 years, Dwight enjoys skiing, cars, and building things.

Cityblock Director of Construction, Jay Smelser, stated "the addition of Dwight Smith to our team allows us to better serve the commercial real estate market with a full range of construction services."

About Cityblock
Cityblock is a leading provider of building and construction services for commercial real estate in the Phoenix, Arizona Valley. Cityblock uses advanced technology with highly skilled teams of service professionals to deliver value to their clients.

Contact
Craig Mathews, Director of Marketing
Cityblock, Tempe, AZ
480.682.1779 www.cityblock.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:50 PM | Comments (0)

Cityblock Announces the Hiring of Jason Sherwin - Project Manager

Cityblock recently announced the hiring of Jason Sherwin as a Project Manager for their construction division. The position of Project Manager was created by Cityblock to meet the growing market demands in the Phoenix area for high quality commercial construction services.

Tempe, AZ (PRWEB) June 25, 2007 -- Cityblock, one of the fastest growing providers of building and construction services to commercial properties in Phoenix, recently announced the hiring of Jason Sherwin as a Project Manager for their construction division. The position of Project Manager was created by Cityblock to meet the growing market demands in the Phoenix area for high quality commercial construction services.

Sherwin's responsibilities include overseeing construction projects such as International Capital Partners Veritas development and other construction projects. Jason brings over 10 years of construction experience to Cityblock, and has a passion for the construction industry. "I have been working in construction jobs since I was 14," Sherwin said. "I really like seeing a project grow from a piece of paper into reality."

Prior to joining Cityblock, Jason was a Project Estimator with Jokake. His construction career also includes responsibilities as a Operations Manager and Utility Engineer with companies such as RJ Springer and Pacific Environmental Resource Corporation (PERC). One of Sherwin's most recent project accomplishments was the completion of the sewage treatment facility for the Tartesso development in Buckeye, AZ.

Jason Sherwin is a Michigan native who relocated to Arizona in 1999. A graduate of Michigan State University, he enjoys boating, wake boarding, soccer and skydiving.

Cityblock Director of Construction, Jay Smelser, stated "adding Jason Sherwin to our construction team allows us to deliver even better service to our clients, and increases our ability to manage even more construction projects."

About Cityblock
Cityblock is a leading provider of building and construction services for commercial real estate in the Phoenix, Arizona Valley. Cityblock uses advanced technology with highly skilled teams of service professionals to deliver value to their clients.

Contact
Craig Mathews, Director of Marketing
Cityblock, Tempe, AZ
480.682.1779 www.cityblock.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:49 PM | Comments (0)

PVC Fencing Gains Popularity Among Homeowners and Builders

First Fence of Georgia, one Georgia's top fence companies, provides buying tips for PVC fencing.

Kennesaw, GA (PRWEB) June 24, 2007 -- First Fence of Georgia (1stfence.com), North Georgia and Metro Atlanta's leading provider of wood, steel, aluminum and PVC fencing, advises consumers who are considering a fence installation to understand all the options before making a decision. PVC fencing is one of the newest fence types available and has quickly become a top fencing choice for homeowners and residential developers.

"One of our company missions is to educate our customers so they can make the most informed decision possible before investing in a new fence," says J.C. Ordono, president of First Fence of Georgia. "We have found that many of our customers are turning to PVC fencing for its versatility, durability, beauty, and ease of maintenance."

PVC fencing (also known as "polyvinylchloride" or "vinyl" fencing) has grown in popularity particularly among homeowners due to the ease and low cost of maintenance. Some fence types require repainting or restaining after a number of years, while PVC fencing can easily be cleaned with a garden hose or pressure washer.

PVC fencing is also very versatile. Until recently, it was only available in traditional bright white and consumers demanded more options. So fence manufacturers like Country Estate® (the originators of vinyl fencing) have stepped up to the plate by adding colors such as light gray and almond to the mix. They also offer PVC in over fifty styles including picket fences, privacy fences and boundary fences in 2-, 3-, and 4-rail styles. PVC lends itself well to custom fence applications as well as arbors, gazebos, decking and handrails.

First Fence of Georgia, a dealer of Country Estate fencing, provides the following tips for purchasing PVC fencing:

Ensure the vinyl fence you choose is constructed of scientifically formulated 100% virgin PVC compounds with UV stabilizers throughout. This results in a fence that is virtually impervious to deterioration from moisture, temperature extremes, and ultraviolet exposure.
Choose PVC fencing that is formed from a solid-wall extrusion process. This means the fencing components are one solid color throughout. Co-extruded PVC uses varying grades of material and is composed of an inner and an outer layer. From a distance, a co-extruded fence may appear solid, but it is not as durable as solid PVC fence material. Co-extruded PVC is more vulnerable to scratches and cracking that will then show the base color through the outer layer of vinyl.
Vinyl-clad wood fencing is subject to the same damaging effects of outdoor elements as an untreated wood fence like warping, swelling, and rot. This is because a vinyl-clad fence (natural wood that has been coated with a thin layer of vinyl) cannot be waterproofed and sealed through the vinyl coating.
All that PVC fencing requires in the way of maintenance is either a good spray with a garden hose or a pressure washer. Since there are no harsh chemicals involved, PVC becomes a child-, plant-, and pet-friendly fence option.
PVC is naturally waterproof and termite-proof. Additional sealants, chemicals, pesticide, paints or stains are not required, nor are they recommended.
Make sure the vinyl fencing manufacturer you choose guarantees their materials against rotting, peeling, cracking, fading or corrosion.
Take the environment into consideration. PVC is an inert material that does not transmit pollutants into the ground or the air. In addition, if there comes a day when you no longer have a use for your PVC fence, it may be dismantled and recycled.
Start small. Good quality PVC fencing will retain its original color ten, fifteen, twenty or more years from now. New PVC fencing can be added to an older PVC fencing project to provide continuity and a seamless transition from the previous installation. Country Estate offers a 50 year, non prorated warranty that is also transferable within the first 10 years.

About Country Estate® Fences
Country Estate fencing is available through its carefully selected network of dealers like First Fence of Georgia. For more information regarding Country Estate, call 770-752-8500 or visit countryestate.com.

About the Leading PVC Fencing Company: First Fence of Georgia
Located just north of metro Atlanta in Kennesaw, Georgia, First Fence of Georgia is a leading fence company specializing in wood, PVC, chain link, and decorative metal fencing along with security gates, gate operators, trellises and arbors. The company offers a wide variety of residential and commercial fencing installation services along with fencing materials for wholesale and to "do-it-yourself" customers. The company is also the recipient of a 2006 Super Service Award from Angie's List for achieving and maintaining a Superior service rating throughout the year. For more information, contact First Fence of Georgia at 770-422-9996 or visit 1stfence.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:48 PM | Comments (0)

New Construction Strategies Radio Network Announces Distinguished Board of Advisors

Today, the New Construction Strategies Radio Network, a joint venture of Garrison Associates and Jackstreet Media, created to provide the best insights, best practices and latest construction strategies to all industry stakeholders, announced the names of its advisory board. The board is comprised of some of the construction industry's most distinguished thought leaders and will help shape the programming content on the network. Ronald Gafford, George Hedley, Lorraine Kay, Peter Beck, Dennis Feidner, Professor Dean T. Kashiwagi, Dan Whiteman, Ph.D., and Professor Roger, leaders in the construction industry, join NCSRN Advisory Board.

Ormond Beach, FL (PRWEB) June 24, 2007 -- Today, the New Construction Strategies Radio Network, a joint venture of Garrison Associates and Jackstreet Media, created to provide the best insights, best practices and latest construction strategies to all industry stakeholders, announced the names of its advisory board. The board is comprised of some of the construction industry's most distinguished thought leaders and will help shape the programming content on the network.

Ronald Gafford, George Hedley, Lorraine Kay, Peter Beck, Dennis Feidner, Professor Dean T. Kashiwagi, Dan Whiteman, Ph.D., and Professor Roger, leaders in the construction industry, join NCSRN Advisory Board.

"I'm excited about working with our distinguished board of advisors. Each individual brings something special to the program and will certainly keep us on our toes in delivering the best possible product," declared Ted Garrison.

About the Board
Ronald Gafford is CEO for Austin Industries in Dallas, one of the largest, most diversified construction companies in the United States. A former member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, Ron earned a bachelor of building construction in 1972 and was certified in Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program in 1987.

George Hedley, CSP, 'The Business-Builder,' is a business building expert. He is an entrepreneur, business owner, and the recognized authority on how to build a growing business into a company that consistently produces bottom-line results, profits, wealth and equity. He has authored several books including: "Everything Contractors Know About Making A Profit!", "Conversations On Leadership" and "The Business Success Blueprint" series. George founded & built his major commercial construction company from $0 to $50 million dollars in only 7 years.

Lorraine Kay is a pioneer for women having entered the Construction Industry over 35 years ago. Lorraine Kay has vast experience in all aspects of construction and development of commercial Real Estate and Products. Lorraine's philosophy of "Delighting the Customers" is the basis on which she has been able to help Kay Construction to grow into one of the Top 25 Commercial Construction firms in the Philadelphia Region.

Henry C. (Peter) Beck III has been associated with Beck and its affiliates since 1978. During this period, he has held various positions within the firm, and since 1991, has served as Managing Director. The Beck Group is an integrated builder offering project finance, design, construction and development services through nine offices across the United States and Mexico. The firm completed transactions in excess of $780 million in 2006.

Dennis Feidner was born in New York and attended C.W. Post College where he received a B.S. Degree in Accounting. Feidner relocated to Dallas and worked with a large heavy highway contractor holding the positions of Accounting Manager, Controller and Vice President of Finance. Relocated to California and held several different Chief Financial Officer positions for mid to large construction companies with revenues between $25-150 million annually.

Professor Dean T. Kashiwagi, Ph.D., P.E. is the Director of the Performance Based Studies Research Group (PBSRG,) a research group of best value procurement methods at Arizona State University. Dean is the leading expert and researcher in performance and information based 'best value' procurement systems, the measurement of information, industry stability and sustainability, supply chain management and outsourcing theory.

Dan Whiteman is a certified general contractor, and President of Coastal Construction Group. Dan earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in building construction from the University of Florida. In addition, he has recently been awarded his Ph.D. in Design, Construction and Planning from the University of Florida. Dan has taught at the University of Florida, and is currently an Adjunct Professor at both the University of Miami and Florida International University

Dr. Roger W. Liska serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Construction Science and Management at Clemson University. Besides managing the day to day activities of the department, Dr. Liska develops and teaches curricula for the university Tele-Campus and traditional courses. Dr. Liska also oversees the development and administration of Continuing Education, Research, and Public Service for the Clemson Advancement Foundation for Design + Building.

"As we continue to grow and expand our offerings, we are delighted to have such a strong and experienced board of advisors on our team," said Errol Smith of Jackstreet Media. "We will work closely with this group of industry leaders to ensure that we achieve our key business goal of becoming a highly valued resource to all stakeholders in the construction industry."

About New Construction Strategies Radio Network
The New Construction Strategies Radio Network brings together leading thinkers in business and construction to discuss the critical issues facing the construction industry from a 360° perspective. The programming focuses on uncovering the best insights, best practices and latest construction strategies. The program is available on demand, 24/7 at www.newconstructionstrategies.com . A new segment is added every week and visitors to the site may subscribe to the program to get full access to the complete archive of interviews. The program will be syndicated on The Affiliate Nanocasting Network and related industry web sites.

For more information, go to www.newconstructionstrategies.com or www.theann.com, or contact Ted Garrison at 800-861-0874.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:48 PM | Comments (0)

University of Wisconsin - Madison - Concrete Canoe Competition Winners for 5th Straight Year

Engineering students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison win the 20th Annual National Concrete Canoe Competition in Seattle for the fifth year running, making them descendants of a long line of champions.

East Setauket, NY (PRWEB) June 24, 2007 -- This year marked the 20th annual offering of the American Society of Civil Engineers' National Concrete Canoe Competition and the fifth year that the University of Wisconsin - Madison has continued to dominate the event in their concrete canoe aptly named - Descendant.

Hosted by the University of Washington, civil engineering students from the top 22 teams from some of the nation's best engineering schools converged in Seattle, WA to find out if their countless calculations and strenuous hours of practice have defied logic and made the impossible a reality: a canoe made of concrete that can not only float, but also race!

Each year, the American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) National Concrete Canoe Competition gives students the opportunity to learn teamwork, challenge themselves mentally and physically, and apply the engineering knowledge they gained in the classroom to a fun, "real world" project. More than 250 teams work throughout the year to qualify for the national competition and, in the process, gain hands-on experience working with concrete mix designs, and learn the properties of various materials that can be added to concrete to influence performance.

"We are very proud to continue our sponsorship in the Concrete Canoe Competition and for the opportunity to invest in our industry's future." said Robert G. Revera, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of ICS/Penetron International Ltd. "This event allows our students the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the materials and practices of our industry and perhaps even come up with some ideas of their own. It also gives them an opportunity to challenge themselves to find new solutions and to work together creatively as a team as they will have to once they embark on their professional careers."

This year's winners have been invited to participate in the 30th Annual Dutch Concrete Canoe Challenge in the Netherlands in September. Good Luck Badgers!

www.penetron.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:47 PM | Comments (0)

Grand Opening - The Legends at Parkview in Lilburn, Saturday July 14, 2007

Mayfield Homes and the city of Lilburn are honored to announce the Grand Opening Celebration for the city's most luxurious community to date, The Legends at Parkview.

Lilburn, GA (PRWEB) June 23, 2007 -- Mayfield Homes and the city of Lilburn are honored to announce the Grand Opening Celebration for the city's most luxurious community to date, The Legends at Parkview.

This 82 lot neighborhood is designed around the distinguished styles of the Old World. Boasting four sided brick homes with incredible standard features such as elegant granite counter tops, Travertine tile bathrooms and supple hardwood floors, The Legends at Parkview will truly be the pride and joy of Lilburn. Along with the great schools that surround the community, The Legends at Parkview is minutes from I85 and Hwy 78 making the location great for any commuter in Atlanta.

Who: Mayfield Homes LLC
What: Grand Opening Celebration for The Legends at Parkview
When: Saturday July 14th from 11am until 4pm.
Where: The Legends at Parkview. Located on Arcado Road, ½ mile South of Killian Hill Road in Lilburn.

On Saturday July 14th from 11am to 4pm, Mayfield Homes is inviting you to join them for a carnival style event for the entire family. There will be games and snow-cones and cotton candy for the kids and a catered lunch for the adults. Enter the raffle to win one of many prizes such as gas cards, gift cards or the grand prize plasma TV. Some come on down for a day of summer fun and the opportunity to see Mayfield Homes' two designer Model Homes. Mayfield Homes invites you to Relax…You're Home.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:47 PM | Comments (0)

e-Builder to Sponsor Seminar on Collaborative Program Management with South Florida CMAA Chapter

Seminar to offer insights on improving delivery of capital project management and ways to control cost, schedule, and scope.

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (PRWEB) June 23, 2007 -- e-Builder, a provider of web-based capital project management software, will host a seminar with the South Florida Chapter of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) July 19th, 2007, on Collaborative Program Management Technologies and Process Change. The event will be held at e-Builder's training facility in Plantation, Florida from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. A networking reception will precede the seminar, with leading South Florida CM firms and capital project owners in attendance.

The seminar will focus on emerging technologies in the field of program and project management, and how these tools are being deployed by capital project owners to improve project delivery. Additionally, the seminar will cover their effect on CM services and profitability. For more information on the seminar please contact Sergio Aranda at 954-556-6717, or David Carter at 305-514-3272, or to register, please visit www.e-builder.net/cmaa-seminar.html

The last few years have seen owners taking more responsibility to improve their processes by leveraging innovative technology. Owners and CM firms alike have found digital collaborative project management tools and online documentation a way to enhance communication and effectiveness, increase quality, and decrease project costs.

CMAA is leading the growth and acceptance of construction management as a professional discipline that can add significant value to the entire construction process, from conception to ongoing operation. Later this year, the CMAA will issue its annual Owner's Survey in collaboration with FMI Management Consultants. This year's survey will focus on the role of technology in addressing bottlenecks in capital projects and this seminar will provide an overview of some items covered in the survey.

About CMAA
CMAA is a national industry association whose mission is "to promote professionalism and excellence in the management of the construction process." Founded in 1982 in response to the ever-increasing need of owners to manage their projects, CMAA is the only organization in North America dedicated exclusively to the interests of professional construction management/program management. CMAA's membership includes 25 regional chapters and more than 4,000 individuals, firms, and agencies throughout the country. CMAA represents a broad spectrum of the design and construction industry, including CM practitioners, public and private owners, design professionals, contractors, attorneys, insurers, services consultants, educators, and students throughout the United States and internationally. For more information visit www.cmaanet.org.

About e-Builder
e-Builder is a leading provider of capital project management and collaboration software. The company's flagship product, e-Builder Enterprise, provides owners of large capital development projects with visibility into key performance indicators across their entire portfolio to ensure timely, on-budget project completion. e-Builder combines cutting edge technology and industry knowledge to provide thousands of owners, architects, engineers, contractors and suppliers with solutions that enhance development and construction processes. The company is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For more information, visit www.e-Builder.net.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:46 PM | Comments (0)

BiGDUG Gets a New Business Development Manager

BiGDUG, the UK's best value online racking and shelving company, is pleased to announce that Mike Harding will be their new business development manager from Monday June 18th 2007.

(PRWEB) June 23, 2007 -- BiGDUG, the UK's best value online racking and shelving company, is pleased to announce that Mike Harding will be their new business development manager from Monday June 18th 2007.

BiGDUG specialises in providing quality shelving (http://www.bigdug.co.uk/acatalog/265kgs.html ) and racking on a budget, and has recently opened up a new warehouse in Staunton, Gloucestershire. Mr Harding will be joining BiGDUG in their Staunton headquarters from next week.

Previously, Mr Harding has worked at Rapid Racking, a leading UK storage (http://www.bigdug.co.uk/acatalog/Storage_Bays_with_Plastic_Boxes.html ) and racking supplier, and The Consortium, vendors of educational equipment and products in Britain. In his role as business development manager at BiGDUG, Mr Harding will primarily be involved in seeking out new BiGDUG product lines in order to preserve the company's status as the UK's number one store for low-cost shelving (http://www.bigdug.co.uk/acatalog/Budget.html ) online.

Doug Nourse, BiGDUG's Managing Director, commented, "I'm very happy to announce that Mike Harding has agreed to become BiGDUG's new business development manager, and we're excited to see how he'll influence the future shape of our company. Having previously worked at Rapid Racking, one of our biggest competitors, we're sure that Mike will be able to bring both enthusiasm and exceptional industry knowledge to the table."

Mr Nourse added, "As our business development manager, Mike will mainly be concentrating on developing new product lines for BiGDUG, while at the same time continuing our pledge to be the leading budget shelving store online and adhering to BiGDUG's commitment to support our local community in Gloucestershire."

In May, BiGDUG supported multimedia students from the University of Gloucestershire, when the company provided BiGDUG shelving items to six teams as props for assignment in which they had to create a short promotional video. The winning team invented "BiGDUG: the game", in which shelving and storage products were depicted in the form of a computer game.

About BiGDUG
BiGDUG ( http://www.BiGDUG.co.uk ) is the best value online racking and shelving company in the UK. BiGDUG specialises in offering customers specifically produced products that are easy to assemble and operate. BiGDUG's main products include: galvanised shelving, industrial shelving, archive shelving, chrome shelving, plastic bins and workbenches.

BiGDUG also offers its client first-class customer service, with the ability to refund in the event of product dissatisfaction, as well as the option to contact BiGDUG via email or telephone for suggestions and complaints.

BiGDUG is currently one of the biggest employers in a rural area in the UK.

Contact BiGDUG:
BiGDUG Limited
Doug Nourse
Unit 14
The Hawthorns
Hawthorns Lane
Staunton
Gloucester
GL19 3NY
Tel: 08450 654 000
http://www.BiGDUG.co.uk

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:45 PM | Comments (0)

Homes for Our Troops announces June 25th Groundbreaking Ceremony for Specially Adapted Home for Waxhaw, NC Veteran

Homes For Our Troops Director of Projects and Veterans Affairs, Kirt Rebello will hold a press conference at the vacant lot located at 5805 Davis Road, Waxhaw, NC on June 25, 2007 at 10 a.m. to announce the beginning of this building project. Homes for Our Troops, a Massachusetts based 501 (c)(3) organization that builds and adapts homes for handicap accessibility for our most severely wounded veterans will be reaching out to the local community members to help provide a new home for SGT Jonathan Roberts.

Waxhaw, NC (PRWEB) June 23, 2007 -- Homes for Our Troops, a Massachusetts based 501 (c)(3) organization that builds and adapts homes for handicap accessibility for our most severely wounded veterans will be reaching out to the local community members to help provide a new home for SGT Jonathan Roberts.On August 17, 2005 SGT Jonathan Roberts was struck by an 18 wheeler in Baghdad.

Jon was on his way to pick up an officer from the airport when he rounded a corner and saw a semi truck coming straight for him. Jon swerved the car and struck a tree on the other side of the road. He was then struck by the semi. After these two major jolts, Jon was rushed to the hospital where they performed emergency brain surgery. Jon spent the next 3 months in a coma. He has since started to learn the basic functions most of us take for granted.

Jonathan's home is one of five projects that Homes for Our Troops has undertaken in NC. Homes for Our Troops has completed work on barrier-free homes in Fayetteville and Roxboro and the project in New Bern is well underway. Homes for Our Troops has also committed to building a home in Lumberton.

Now Homes for Our Troops is hoping to replicate the local business involvement and the community volunteerism in the Waxhaw area for another wounded American Hero. Homes for Our Troops has committed to building a home for Jonathan to suit his living needs. We will be calling on local residents and businesses to donate building materials, services, professional building labor and monetary donations to help with Jonathan's home.

Who: Homes For Our Troops, Inc., a Taunton, MA based non-profit organization that (at no cost to the veterans they serve) provides specially adaptive housing to severely wounded veterans returning from the War on Terror,: www.homesforourtroops.org

SGT Jonathan Roberts and members of the local community:
http://www.homesforourtroops.org/site/PageNavigator/SGT_Jonathan_Roberts

What: Press Conference by Homes For Our Troops, Director of Projects and Veterans Affairs, to announce the beginning of the home building project for SGT Roberts.

When: Monday June 25, 2007 at 10 a.m.

Where: The vacant lot located at 5805 Davis Road, Waxhaw, NC

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:45 PM | Comments (0)

June 22, 2007

New Fireplace Mantel Collection in Hand-Crafted Scagliola Stone, Cast in Copper or Pewter

Stone Age Designs introduces a new Fire Place Mantel Collection in Hand-Crafted Scagliola Stone™, cast in Copper or Pewter. These fireplace designs are reminiscent of fireplace mantels from the Italian Renaissance. These new creations have become a part of the Scagliola Stone™ Collection of Thierry François that includes custom stone fireplace mantels, and custom stone kitchen hoods that combine Old World elegance with the modern sophistication of today's custom home.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) June 22, 2007 -- Stone Age Designs introduces a new Fire Place Mantel Collection in Hand-Crafted Scagliola Stone™, cast in Copper and Pewter. These fireplace designs are reminiscent of fireplace mantels from the Italian Renaissance. These new creations have become a part of the Scagliola Stone™ Collection of Thierry François that includes custom stone fireplace mantels, and custom stone kitchen hoods that combine Old World elegance with the modern sophistication of today's custom home.

Stone Age Designs, created by Thierry François is now part of the parent company François & Co. The Company's new Metal Collection - featuring fireplace designs in copper and pewter - is stunning. Each new custom stone fireplace combines the elegance of a historically-inspired design with the modern sophistication of a metallic patina.

Traditionally, a custom stone fireplace mantle created in a fine metal finish was extremely rare, prohibitively expensive, and highly prized by connoisseurs. Reviving a rare, almost forgotten art, François & Co., parent company of Stone Age Designs has refined the original process and created a superb line of Scagliola Stone™ fireplace mantels, cast in copper or pewter and these one-of-a-kind metal patinas are achieved by actually adding fragments of metal into the Scagliola blend.

The new Scagliola Stone™ custom stone fireplace mantels provide an elegant alternative to fireplace designs like those in precast stone. The entire collection of stone fireplace mantles cast in Copper or Pewter have the same rich detail and pleasing proportions as all the Stone Age Designs and François & Co. stone products. Superb craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail is the trademark that brings people to our Showcase, and the reason more and more discriminating homeowners are selecting our designs over a cast stone mantel, and concrete products.

François & Co., the parent company of Stone Age Designs, began offering Scagliola Stone™ products in the U.S. in the late 1990s. The texture of each of our fireplace designs is as rich as the history of Scagliola. Scagliola is a technique developed in the 17th century, and our "secret Scagliola Stone™ process" is the art of mixing together chips of marble, limestone and travertine, and layering the mixture by hand to achieve a natural stone texture of amazing clarity and depth. In little more than a decade, the hand-crafted Scagliola Stone™ products of Stone Age Designs and François & Co. have become market leaders and are well-known among homeowners, as well as the design, architectural and builder communities.

A fireplace mantel from Stone Age Designs may also be a customized design to fit any project you are able to imagine. "We have a team of craftsmen," says Thierry François, "that are so skilled; they are able to create the fireplace mantel that you see in your mind."

The pieces are all handmade and unique. We insist that the design of each Scagliola Stone™ piece we create, like the Marie Antoinette, has to be just right - every detail crafted to perfection. And today, we use the designs found in castles and estates throughout France as our points of reference.

Discriminating homeowners seek out Stone Age Designs' original Hand-Crafted Scagliola Stone™ and hand-carved limestone from Francois & Co., http://www.francoisandco.com/index.php?section=home, for their fine homes. "You will also find custom stone fireplace mantels, stone kitchen hoods, and architectural accents from Stone Age Designs in the homes, and offices of successful businesses and of those who know quality, craftsmanship, and want the best," says Thierry François.

The residents of Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando and Los Angeles represent only a small portion of discriminating homeowners from across the United States who seek out Stone Age Designs online -- on the Internet -- for their custom mantles and kitchen hoods, as well as for architectural accents and even bath tubs.

Call Stone Age Designs today at 1-866-385-9486 or visit our Showrooms across the country, or simply visit us on the Internet http://www.stoneagedesigns.net/ where you can see the Collection online and, learn more about the grandeur of Old World Scagliola.
Recreating European Masterpieces

"We use the designs found in estates throughout France as our points of reference."
- Thierry François

About Stone Age Designs and François & Co.
Founded in 1997, Stone Age Designs and parent company, Francois & Co. are premiere sources for Hand-Carved Limestone fireplace mantels, and fine hand-crafted Scagliola Stone™ kitchen hoods, bathtubs, fireplace designs, and architectural accents. In addition to its 9,000-square-foot showroom and headquarters in Atlanta, François and Co. has showrooms in Winter Park (Florida), Charlotte (North Carolina) and West Hollywood (California). You may contact François & Co. at 1-866-385-9486 or visit them online at http://www.stoneagedesigns.net/ or http://www.francosandco.com/

Contact:
Bruno Francois
Stone Age Designs
1990 Defoors Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30318
Toll Free 1.866.385.9486
404.350.3333 - Extension 4
F. 404.355.4570
http://www.stoneagedesigns.net/

Kathleen Austin or Dick Iannella
Arizona High Tech Talent Partnership
480-998-0246

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:24 AM | Comments (0)

G&A Partners Announces Upcoming Webinar on Compensation and Salary Administration

Webinar to discuss new federal and state laws governing business practices.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) June 22, 2007 -- G&A Partners, a fully-integrated Houston-based Human Resource (HR) and administrative services company, announced today that they will host a webinar titled "Compensation and Salary Administration." This webinar on new laws governing companies' compensation and salary administration practices is for HR professionals, and registration is now open. The webinar will take place 11:30 a.m. CDT, Tuesday, June 26, 2007.

Ori Murdock, HR manager for G&A Partners, will provide an overview of the latest federal and state standards, detail minimum wage best practices and highlight emerging unemployment laws and trends.

Registration for the webinar, called "Compensation and Salary Administration," is currently open. To register, visit: https://www.gotomeeting.com/register/898173711.

"As a SPHR and GPHR, Ori is uniquely qualified to help companies-big or small, public or private-understand the new laws addressing compensation and salary administration and their potential impact," said John Allen, President and COO of G&A Partners.

Allen added that, because Murdock's presentation addresses a topic that touches any and all company employees, it will be equally beneficial for managers, HR professionals and employees.

About G&A Partners
G&A Partners is a Houston-based HR and Administrative Services company that manages human resources, benefits, payroll, accounting and risk management for growing businesses. G&A maintains offices in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, College Station and Corpus Christi. For more information about the company, visit www.gnapartners.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:20 AM | Comments (0)

Conceived as Zero Carbon Rated - A Brand New Exotic Home in Turkey by Nirvana International Specialist Turkey Property Developer

A new property development in Turkey that is zero carbon rated. "We are delighted to be offering such an exceptional property", says Robert Nixon, Operations Director for sole selling agents Nirvana International. "This rating has been achieved largely by the incorporation of ancient passive design devices developed over thousands of years of construction. This gives rise not only to energy efficiency but also a distinctive architectural character."

Bournemouth, Dorset (PRWEB) June 22, 2007 -- Following the recent G8 meeting in Germany, and their comments about the continuing need to address the world's problem of global warming, it is with great fanfare that a home has been released onto the market place having been conceived as a zero rating building. Interestingly too, the property is in Turkey.

"We are delighted to be offering such an exceptional property in Turkey", says Robert Nixon, Operations Director for sole selling agents Nirvana International. "This rating has been achieved largely by the incorporation of ancient passive design devices developed over thousands of years of construction. This gives rise not only to energy efficiency but also a distinctive architectural character."

Design techniques include -

Thermal mass - Stone clad concrete used as main structural material which moderates extremes of temperature.

Earth Sheltering - Architectural design follows the natural topography of the land which minimizes energy requirements during construction and allows "earth Sheltering" as a device for climatic control.

Courtyards - These provide a protected environment moderating extreme conditions for winter and summer. Also allow good natural lighting and cross ventilation to all rooms.

Zoned living - The villa provides alternative areas for living in the various seasons. In summer one can utilize the more shady side. A winter living area is on the South side and designed to maximize natural solar gain through large glazed openings. Open fireplaces are incorporate in both living spaces.

Passive stack cooling - The towers allow for the passive stack cooling effect. Vented at the top, warm air floors up and out drawing cooler air through adjoining spaces at low level

Evaporative cooling - The gravity fed water features are not only decorative but provide useful evaporative cooling close to perimeter of building.

Roof construction - Roofs to be of double layer vented construction to prevent excessive build up of heat.

Shading - External decorative sliding fretwork screens to all large openings offer shading.

Landscaping - Extensive landscaping around perimeter of building to prevent build up of heat in the summer.

The Turkey property - Villa Caesar is however not just about zero carbon emissions it is about lavish luxury.

The home provides extensive and sumptuous modern living accommodation; it incorporates a modern lifestyle approach yet interacts with nature, responding directly it its setting and maximizing views and the sun path.

Specifications include, remote video entry system, remote and pre set lighting facilities, control blinds, curtains etc, digital audio system throughout, radio controlled switches to bathrooms for full control from various points within the room plus many other exciting innovations.
The property is enhanced with numerous streams and water features which are gravity fed.

Clever lighting will draw the eye to the beautiful windmill that is part of the eco approach of the property together with submerged pool lighting and a dancing glow of orange light in the "fire pit".

Inside the home floors are dark timber, natural stone or printed polished concrete the various surfaces defining the different areas. Internal doors are solid timber. There are two lounge areas which benefit from open fireplaces, large openings onto courtyards and high vaulted ceilings. There is a state of the art home cinema system, a private library and a galleried observatory in the domed tower.

The kitchen is beautifully appointed and includes solid timber cabinets crafted from Turkish walnut enhanced by stainless steel appliances provided by high quality supplies such as Gaggenau. The dining area is spectacular; inspired by interior shady patios of traditional Turkish architecture, sliding folding doors fold away in the arched openings revealing the waters edge of the pool and a timber bridge that entices one over to the pool house and sauna. Bathrooms and bedrooms continue this approach of superb, high quality living in an environmentally friendly environment.

Villa Caesar is part of the developing Augustus Resort master plan. The property will be near to the planned Country Club and leisure spa, shops, restaurants and bars.

Surrounding this development on three sides are extensive protected forests. Sports include riding, cycling, river water rafting, sea sailing, skiing, golf at nearby Belek and shopping at Side and Antalya.

The property is around 30 minutes from Antalya airport.
Price £795,000

"UK residents have been buying abroad for many years often choosing well known destinations such as Spain and Italy, but in recent years there has been a noticeable surge of new emerging countries where values seem extremely competitive", says Brian French, Chairman of FOPDAC (Federation of Overseas Property Developers, Agents and Consultants).

"The Federation was formed over 30 years ago when foreign investment was in its infancy. Throughout the years it has provided constant support to buyers, guiding and advising on countries and companies with whom they should be relatively safe in their investment.

It is heartening to see that Turkey, a country relatively new to the overseas market place, approaching the environmental issue with such vigour"

Nirvana International
www.nirvanainternational.com
0118 965 4072
Nirvana International is a member of FOPDAC

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:19 AM | Comments (0)

Free Online Calculator Identifies Home Remodeling Costs and Appreciation in Value

Should you update your kitchen or bathroom? Do you know how much it will likely cost to remodel a room? Do you know how much it will add to the value of your home? New website www.remodelestimates.com give instant free remodeling cost estimates for the most common remodeling projects large and small.

Sunnyvale, California (PRWEB) June 22, 2007 -- Home remodeling expert Dan Fritschen has created a website www.remodelestimates.com that gives people free access to a sophisticated online calculator that provides a reliable estimate of the cost to remodel a room, add a room or remodel the entire house. The calculation can also be used to provide an estimate of the amount a home will appreciate because of the remodel.

To generate a remodeling cost and payback estimate the site asks that you identify the following information:

Where the home is located;
The level of material quality;
How much work the homeowner will do themselves; and
The assessed value of the home.

The cost estimate can be refined by entering the amount of work a homeowner wants to do and the size of the room.

One of the biggest benefits is that you can see the impact of different approaches to a remodel. The cost to remodel a bathroom can range from $3,000 to $30,000 depending on the design choices you select.

Another benefit is if you are selling your home you can use the calculator to identify and give prospective buyers a reasonable remodeling credit so they can remodel to match their tastes. The data allows you to negotiate top dollar value for your home.

The site is not intended to take the place of a professional onsite cost estimate by an experienced remodeling expert or general contracting professional.

Dan Fritschen is author of several books including Remodel or Move? Make the Right Decision, Attic Remodeling Workbook, and The Complete Remodeling Workbook and Organizer.

For more information visit www.remodelormove.com or www.remodelestimates.com

Media Kits available upon request. Dan Fritschen is also available for interviews.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:19 AM | Comments (0)

BICA™ Awards Announced for Vinyl & Composite Windows

Market Resource Associates, Inc. of Minneapolis, MN, has announced the winners of the BICA award for vinyl and composite window manufacturers in the United States. Winners include Integrity from Marvin Windows and Doors; Simonton Windows and Renewal by Andefrsen. The out-bound telephone, totally unaided study of 997 United States home builders, remodeling contractors, dealers and distributors tested several aspects of the manufacturer's quality and service related issues.

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) June 21, 2007 -- BICA award winners were announced today by Market Resource Associates, Inc. (MRA), President John Cashmore for manufacturers of vinyl and composite windows.

The BICA was developed by MRA to recognize outstanding performance in studies conducted by the firm. The BICA winners were selected for consistently high quality rankings and remarkable customer service as voted by building trades professionals. These professionals included window distributors, home builders, remodeling contractors and building materials retailers.

Award winners include:

Integrity® from Marvin Windows and Doors, Warroad, MN
Overall Top Rated Non-Wood Window Brand

Renewal by Andersen, Cottage Grove, MN
Overall Top Rated Composite Window Brand

Simonton Windows, Parkersburg, WV
Overall Top Rated Vinyl Window Brand

For this survey, 997 building trade professionals were interviewed using an unaided, out-bound telephone method. Only those individuals who have direct responsibility for purchasing windows were interviewed. The sample was randomly selected, and collected from among the 48 contiguous states in relationship to building permits data compiled by Permits Plus of Ithaca, N.Y.

"The BICA has been designed to be the equivalent of the Oscar or Tony award in the building products industry," said Cashmore. This is the second round of BICAs awarded in this category. Both Integrity from Marvin Windows and Doors and Simonton Windows are repeat winners from a study conducted 18 months ago.

"Recipients of this award should feel extremely proud their companies were so highly regarded by industry professionals taking part in our extensive survey." Twenty different attributes are tested on each brand mentioned by respondents.

The BICA award is only awarded in the building materials industry and is not awarded for best automobile, home builder, copy machine, hotel chain, consulting company, airlines among other industries and products.

For more information on this and other MRA Omnibus Studies visit the MRA website at http://www.mraonline.com or call 800-795-3056.

Based in Minneapolis since 1990, Market Resource Associates is a full-service market research consultancy specializing in the residential and commercial building materials, lawn and garden, kitchen and bath and related fields. BICA is a registered trademark of Market Resource Associates, Inc., Minneapolis, MN.

Contact Matthew Brown - Omnibus Studies Coordinator - 1-800-795-3056

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:18 AM | Comments (0)

BidClerk.com Reports Construction Projects Up For Bid in the Dallas, TX Area

BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following commercial construction projects are planning to go out for bid or start construction in the next 90 days in the Dallas, TX area.

(PRWEB) June 21, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following commercial construction projects are planning to go out for bid or start construction in the next 90 days in the Dallas, TX area. Businesses interested in placing bids on these projects should visit BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

Dallas, TX - Shops at Legacy North, 4890 Alpha Road, mixed-use development, September 2007, $40 million. Project ID: 610819

Dallas, TX - Bishop Arts Plaza & Lofts, 1222 N. Bishop Ave., 36,000-square-foot mixed-use development, August 2007, $1.5 million. Project ID: 499662

Dallas, TX - Old Navy #5159 - Remodel / Dallas, 13340 Dallas Pkwy., 20,000-square-foot retail remodel, August 2007, $1 million. Project ID: 626754

Fort Worth, TX - JPS Labor and Deliver Renovation and Central Sterile Remodel, 1500 S. Main St., medical renovation and remodel, August 2007, $1 million. Project ID: 626648

Flower Mound, TX- Dollar Tree / Flower Mound, 2301 Cross Timbers Road, 10,526-square-foot retail store, July 2007, $1 million. Project ID: 626788

BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in depth information on thousands of Texas construction projects coming up for bids. Our daily updates of commercial and residential construction leads are available to contractors and businesses in related industries that are seeking bid opportunities. For more information on bidding construction projects in your area, visit BidClerk online or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:18 AM | Comments (0)

National Lighting Franchise Growing and Looking for a Few Good People

The lighting industry is expected to reach $ 4 B annually in the next three years. NiteLites National Lighting Franchise has 34 locations nationally and is growing rapidly. The company is searching nationwide for a few excellent people to share in their growth and expansion.

(PRWEB) June 21, 2007 -- NiteLites Outdoor Lighting Franchise is continuing its rapid growth and expansion. As a result of this, NiteLites locations have opportunities for Owner/ Investors, General Managers, Sales Managers, and Installation Technicians throughout the United States. Mr. Thomas Frederick, President and CEO of NiteLites, relayed that the NiteLites business partners know that their success depends upon hiring and retaining capable people. Mr. Frederick added, "We look for people with key traits such as: treating people with respect, good judgment, good communication and a person who can learn, adapt, and who has the desire to meet and exceed the goals they set for themselves."

NiteLites Landscape and Architectural Lighting is an industry leader in the low voltage outdoor landscape lighting field, and specializes in both residential and commercial installations. NiteLites has been in business since 1998, and has grown from a single office operation to a nationwide franchise operation. Each franchise unit is locally owned and operated and offers complete outdoor lighting service -- from planning, to lighting design, through installation, to a comprehensive maintenance plan.

NiteLites sole business is outdoor lighting systems for residential and commercial properties. NiteLites lighting systems are available for architectural lighting, landscape and garden, deck, pools and ponds, and path lighting. In addition to residential properties, our systems are a perfect fit for commercial properties such as subdivision entries, clubhouses, pools, apartments, town homes, condominiums, and public facilities.

NiteLites, in addition to selling its systems to homeowners and commercial properties, partners with high end builders, landscapers, and landscape architects to offer customers the complete property package. NiteLites will work with their professional counterparts in the planning stages of the building or landscaping project.

NiteLites' unique high quality products are made of acid-etched copper and brass which eliminates cracking or peeling. By using low voltage products, NiteLites systems can be installed with a minimum of disruption to the property, and operated more efficiently that a 120 volt line system. NiteLites lighting systems are also easily expanded, should the owner's needs change after installation.

To apply for the open positions at the NiteLites national locations, candidates should log on to www.nitelites.com and select the Job Opportunities link at the bottom of the page or contact the NiteLites Outdoor Lights Franchisee in their area directly.

Mr. Carl Frederick, VP of Franchise Sales and Development, said "given the growth of the outdoor lighting industry anyone with a desire to run their own business owes it to themselves to investigate a NiteLites franchise opportunity. A NiteLites franchise offers independence and financial security to the franchise owner by capitalizing on the growing trend toward outdoor living and entertainment." He also added that NiteLites franchises are available in many major cities, including Austin, Cleveland, Orlando, Las Vegas, Dallas, Fort Worth, Phoenix, San Antonio, Memphis, Boston, New Orleans, Miami, Albuquerque, Salt Lake City, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Seattle, Hartford, Tucson, Denver, Lexington and San Jose.

Entrepreneurs interested in ownership of a NiteLites Outdoor Lighting Franchise should visit www.nitelites.com/franchise and call 1-866-NITELITES (1-866-648-3548) to speak with Carl Frederick. MOre information about franchising and the outdoor lighting opportunity is available at www.franchise.org, www.franchisegator.com, www.entrepreneur.com/franchisezone, www.franchising.com, and www.bison.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:17 AM | Comments (0)

Aktarus S.r.l Signs Exclusive Distributor Agreement for Italy with Industrial Nanotech, Places $100,000 US MOL Order

Industrial Nanotech, Inc., an emerging global leader in nanotechnology, announced today that Aktarus S.r.l., a commercial insulation company, has signed as an Exclusive Distributor for Italy and placed an initial order worth approximately $100,000.00 US.

NAPLES, Fla., (PRWEB) June 21, 2007 -- Industrial Nanotech, Inc., (Pink Sheets:INTK), an emerging global leader in nanotechnology, announced today that Aktarus S.r.l., a commercial insulation company, has signed as an Exclusive Distributor for Italy and placed an initial order worth approximately $100,000.00 US.

"Aktarus first began working with Industrial Nanotech as a non-exclusive independent representative in Italy," states Francesca Crolley, VP of Operations and Marketing for Industrial Nanotech, Inc. "Based on their early success selling our products in the region, they made the decision to purchase the exclusive right to distribute our products in Italy and have placed this substantial order. We are pleased with the continued rapid revenue growth in the international markets."

About Nansulate(R)
Nansulate(R) is the Company's patented product line of specialty coatings containing a nanotechnology based material and which are well-documented to provide the combined performance qualities of thermal insulation, corrosion prevention, lead abatement, and resistance to mold growth in an environmentally safe, water-based, coating formulation. The Nansulate(R) Product Line includes both industrial and residential coatings. Nansulate is a "green product", environmentally safe and providing energy savings.

About Industrial Nanotech
Industrial Nanotech Inc. is rapidly emerging as a global nanoscience solutions and research leader. The Company develops and commercializes new and innovative applications for nanotechnology. Additional information about the Company and its products can be found at their websites, (http://www.industrial-nanotech.com) and (http://www.nansulate.com).

Safe Harbor Statement
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release includes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the impact of competitive products, the ability to meet customer demand, the ability to manage growth, acquisitions of technology, equipment, or human resources, the effect of economic and business conditions, and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel. The Company is not obligated to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

SOURCE: Industrial Nanotech, Inc.
CONTACT:
For Industrial Nanotech, Inc., Naples
Investor Relations
Martin E. Janis & Company, Inc.
Beverly Jedynak, President, 312-943-1100 ext. 12
bjedynak @ janispr.com

or

Martin E. Janis & Company, Inc.
Media Inquiries
Laura Grock, Vice President, 312-943-1100 ext. 13
lgrock @ janispr.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:17 AM | Comments (0)

Renewal by Andersen Introduces New Hardware Offerings for Replacement Windows

Homeowners have more design choices for updating their home.

Cottage Grove, MN (PRWEB) June 21, 2007 -- Homeowners now have more choices when designing their replacement windows with the introduction of the Renewal by Andersen Estate™ Collection of hardware finishes. Renewal by Andersen now offers homeowners eight distinctive hardware finishes including Antique or Bright Brass, Distressed or Oil Rubbed Bronze, Satin or Distressed Nickel, and Brushed or Polished Chrome.

"Homeowners want hardware that complements their home's style and reflects their personal tastes. Now, homeowners can create the ideal look for their home by choosing to match their current hardware design, create accents to their home's interior, or enhance the look of their windows with hand-crafted detailing," says Jim Conway, Director of Marketing for Renewal by Andersen.

With three standard hardware finishes--white, stone and canvas--and eight new Estate Collection hardware finishes, Renewal by Andersen offers homeowners one of the largest selections of window hardware in the industry. The new window hardware complements Andersen® patio door hardware, making it easy for homeowners to achieve the look they desire, inside and out. With a wide selection of hardware finishes, styles and options, homeowners can match window and patio doors to their home's décor.

Homeowners will find designing their Renewal by Andersen® replacement windows is easy. Once they select a window style, homeowners can dress-up their windows by choosing from 22 different window exterior and interior color combinations, selecting from 11 hardware options, and adding, matching or changing the look of their home with multiple grille patterns and selecting from aluminum, glass fiber or Renewal by Andersen's nearly invisible TruScene® insect screen.

Designed for the entire Renewal by Andersen line of venting windows, the Estate™ Collection is forged from solid brass. Brass, nickel and chrome finishes feature special coatings that seal the desired finish, providing a durable finish that is corrosion and tarnish resistant. Oil rubbed bronze and Distressed bronze are available in a "living finish" which simply grows more beautiful over time with use and handling. The new hardware comes with a 10 year limited warranty.

Renewal by Andersen is the start-to-finish replacement window division of Andersen Corporation. The company offers homeowners a variety of window and patio door design options through one of the largest nationwide networks of window replacement specialists spanning coast to coast.

For a complimentary in-home consultation, or to view more information about Renewal by Andersen, visit http://www.renewalbyandersen.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:14 AM | Comments (0)

Swimming Pool Contractor Search Simplified with Repair-Home.com

An in-ground swimming pool can make a homeowner's life a dream -- or a nightmare -- depending on decisions made early in the process. The most important decision is choosing an experienced, ethical contractor. Repair-Home.com helps homeowners find local swimming pool contractors and also offers articles and resources for all home repair projects.

(PRWEB) June 21, 2007 -- Having an in-ground swimming pool installed involves dozens of critical, complex decisions for homeowners -- decisions that can make or break their enjoyment of the pool. Repair-Home.com, an online, interactive home repair resource, simplifies the process of finding a reputable swimming pool contractor by linking homeowners to top area contractors (http://www.repair-home.com/Pools).

"A swimming pool can greatly enhance your home's value and appeal, but it is important to find the right contractor for the job," said Allison Beatty, founder of RenovatorsPlace.com, a premier online home improvement resource. "Visit Repair-Home.com first and see how the contractor search feature can streamline the process."

Repair-Home.com offers numerous articles to help homeowners find their way through the maze of decisions and find local swimming pool contractors. One Repair-Home.com article, "The "Ultimate Swimming Pool Contractor Checklist", contains 15 key factors to consider when hiring a contractor. The checklist advice covers a multitude of considerations: how to make sure the contractor is not a "fly-by-night" operation, what should be included in the contract, who should provide liability and worker's compensation insurance, and how homeowners should make the final payment for the project. To read the complete list of 15 key factors, visit http://www.repair-home.com/The_Ultimate_Swimming_Pool_Contractor_Checklist.html.

Repair-Home.com features articles that advise homeowners to recognize these pitfalls before they become problems:

Deciding which swimming pool to build, and even when to begin construction, are key decisions that can affect cost and enjoyment.
The odds are that the swimming pool contractor won't be the builder, so the homeowner will need to stay alert during construction and insist on good communication among all parties.
Future maintenance, service and repair on the swimming pool should also be considered up front when choosing a contractor.

The key to a happy ending when installing an in-ground swimming pool is for homeowners to ask the right questions and get clear answers at the beginning of the process rather than later. Repair-Home.com helps homeowners know which questions to ask and links them to top swimming pool contractors in their area (http://www.repair-home.com/Pools).

Repair-Home.com is an online home repair resource that includes an interactive homeowner driven forum, contractor listings and home repair resources ranging from walls and floors to cabinets and plumbing. Repair-Home.com connects homeowners with top home repair specialists and contractors for specific home repair projects.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:14 AM | Comments (0)

Deter Theft & Vandalism of Air Conditioning Units with the LOYAL Alarm

The LOYAL Alarm is both a first and second level of deterrent to vandalism and theft. Installed by a professional, it requires no electricity and aides law enforcement officials capture thieves.

Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) June 21, 2007 -- The popularity of residential, business and roof top air conditioning units thefts in whole or in part has increased dramatically and the crime is increasingly becoming a concern for law enforcement officials.

Indianapolis based LOYAL Heating & Air Conditioning (www.loyalhvac.com) announced May 1, 2007, the availability of the LOYAL Alarm, a new security alarm to deter vandalism and theft of all types of air conditioning units. The LOYAL Alarm acts as a first level of security with the alarm alerting unit disturbance. The LOYAL Alarm as a second level security will backup a unit wired into a security system and will sound even though the home security system fails. The LOYAL Alarm is compatible and may be installed on window, rooftop or residential units.

Designed and patented by LOYAL's owner Mike Barger, the alarm is small, mounted to the unit, equipped with a 120 db siren and powered by a high volt battery making connection to a home security system unnecessary. Any attempt to move the unit more than 3/8 ths of an inch triggers the loud siren and alerts to tampering. The LOYAL Alarm is weather proof, tamper proof and will not void the manufacturer's warranty on the units. Video demonstrations of the LOYAL Alarm are now available on Loyal Heating & Air Conditioning's website.

"In most cases a thief is able to get away in approximately 90 seconds," states Barger. Many have asked about building a cage around the units to deter theft. "There are a few reasons not to use cages," states Barger. "Operational wise, the area in and around the cage must be kept clear and trimmed to allow the unit to breathe properly. Maintenance wise, a cage doesn't leave much room for a technician to work on the unit. Security wise, a cage around a unit will not prevent or deter theft; if the thief wants the unit it will only takes a few additional seconds to cut through the cage."

Unlike a cage, when an air conditioning unit with the LOYAL Alarm installed is disturbed in any manner and more than 3/8ths of an inch, the LOYAL Alarm triggers a loud db siren and continues to sound alerting to tampering. The alarm can only be silenced and rearmed by placing the unit in the original position. "The beauty of the LOYAL Alarm is that if the unit is removed, the Alarm continues to sound attracting attention and will further assist police authorities with arrest and conviction," Barger added.

Responses to the announcement press release (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/05/prweb522848.htm) of the LOYAL Alarm have been overwhelming. Calls and e-mails requesting more information and purchases have been received from all over the United States from various entities -- church groups, general contractors, electricians, apartment complexes, heating and air conditioning experts, police departments and more. At a recent meeting with the local law enforcement in Indianapolis, IN, to introduce and demonstrate the LOYAL Alarm, the device received positive and enthusiastic responses. Officials agreed the LOYAL Alarm was a definite deterrent to theft and vandalism.

Driven by the all time high scrap value, steel, copper, aluminum and other precious metals theft is at an all time high. Residential, apartment complexes, new construction sites and commercial roof top units are all being victimized. No unit is safe. Thefts and vandalism are occurring during both the day and night. In many instances, newly replaced units are stolen only days after being installed.

Barger recommends the LOYAL Alarm only be installed by licensed and certified heating and air conditioning professionals or by someone with extensive knowledge of the mechanics of air conditioning units. The LOYAL Alarm is cost effective, very affordable and much less than an insurance deductible or the expense to replace a total unit. The LOYAL Alarms may be purchased individually or in bulk pricing. Barger also notes to protect the integrity of the LOYAL Alarm, its use as a security device and is compiled in a database in an effort to assist law enforcement fight this rising crime, certain information is required to validate requests for information and purchases in an attempt to secure the details of the LOYAL Alarm from getting into the wrong hands. "It's another means to protect the consumer and assist local authorities," states Barger.

Additionally the LOYAL Alarm has variation models which allow it to be used in a number of other ways to serve as a second level of security and protection for cash registers, vending machines, storefronts and more.

For more information on the LOYAL Alarm, contact:

Mike Barger
Loyal Heating & Air Conditioning LLC
Service - Sales - Installation
(317) 797-9772
E-mail: Loyalhvac @ aol.com
Website: www.loyalhvac.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:13 AM | Comments (0)

Investigation Reveals Homebuilders Failed to Pay Taxes on Undocumented Workers; Local, State & Federal Governments May be Owed Over One Hundred Billion Dollars

For over two years, Americas Watchdog has been conducting a nationwide investigation involving regional and local homebuilders using cheap undocumented workers to build much of our nations new housing stock. In the majority of cases examined, no taxes were paid on potentially millions of undocumented residential construction workers. From the coyotes who smuggle the workers into the country, to the homebuilders, to our elected officials, every aspect of this fraud contains corruption and a disregard for the law. It may now be the right time for organized labor to step in to protect these workers.

(PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- Americas Watchdog is one of Americas premier consumer groups. For over two years it has been conducting a nationwide investigation focused on homebuilders using a "coyote labor broker scheme" to avoid the payment of local, state or federal taxes. According to Americas Watchdog, "in the last six years we are talking about millions of undocumented workers and up to a hundred billion dollars in un-paid local, state or federal taxes by their employers = national or regional homebuilders". So what is a "coyote labor broker" & how does the scheme work?

Answer: A "coyote labor broker" is a human trafficker. In the residential construction world they organize "crews" of individuals to build most new US homes (paint, frame, roof,etc). They often work in crews of 10 to 20 men. Typically the crews have a crew chief who keeps track of hours, and gets a check (typically weekly) from the "residential construction labor coyote". The check is then cashed and the cash is distributed to the undocumented workers. In most cases, no taxes ever get paid. Over 50%+ of all new residential construction in the US has been built by undocumented workers.

Where do the workers come from?

Answer: Typically the workers come from Mexico.

Who Organizes The Labor Crews?

Answer: The labor coyote puts out the word in Mexico, or the labor coyote recruits existing undocumented workers or crews, already here in the US. This often involves Mexican organized crime. If an undocumented worker from Mexico or Central America complains about working conditions, or threatens to tell about the "coyote's" schemes to get him/her into the US, he or his family, could be put at risk.

How Do The Home Builders Get Away With It?

Answer: The homebuilder tax fraud scheme is simple. The National or Regional Homebuilders hire legitimate regional or local subcontractors. The local sub contractors then use the "labor coyotes" to staff residential job sites. The actual sub contractor gets a check from the homebuilder for work done at the job site. The sub contractor then pays the labor coyote with another check (1099). The labor coyote then pays their workers with typically one check that has a tax classification as a 1099 subcontractor payment. The check gets cashed and the workers receive cash for the work they did. In most instances workers are not paid overtime or allowed federal work place protections as provided by the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The workers do not complain about the tax fraud, or poor working conditions, out of fear of reprisal.

Do The Homebuilders Know This Is Going On?

Absolutely. There is no way that you could visit almost any residential job site and not know your workers were undocumented workers. There is also no way that homebuilders would not know that their workers or their subcontractors, did not pay any taxes. For members of the press it is recommend they visit any larger residential construction sites in Las Vegas, Arizona, California (Palm Springs), etc. Note: Bring an individual who speaks Spanish, or talk to representatives of the Carpenters or Painters Unions in the Southwest, Texas, Colorado, The West Coast, or Florida.

Does This Tax Fraud Represent The Majority of National Or Regional Homebuilders?

Yes.

Homebuilders are worried about immigration reform

According to Americas Watchdog, "the intent of the "homebuilders" is to perpetuate the largest cases of tax fraud in US history so that they can continue to "1099" illegal workers with their "coyote labor schemes" because they get cheap labor and greater profits". Two days before the most recent failed vote on Immigration Reform, Homebuilders from around the US flooded Washington, DC with check books in hand.

So where do we go from here? Americas Watchdog supports President Bush's efforts to create a legal pathway for undocumented workers to obtain a legal way to work or to obtain citizenship in the United States. Aside from successful passage of the legislation, Americas Watchdog supports the following:

1. Its time for a National Identification Card for all US Citizens and documented workers. The card will have the holders picture and their Social Security number. This card will also either have a fingerprint or retina print that can be easily scanned for positive identification. In a post 9-11 world, this is a must. A National ID card would also be much cheaper than an ineffective wall.

2. It should be a felony to employ any worker unless they have a National ID card. This would ease pressure on the border.

3. Labor Unions should be allowed to openly recruit what are now undocumented or illegal workers, in order to insure these workers are not being mistreated by their employers, as is now the case. There has never been a time in our nations recent history where organized labor was more needed than they are today.

4. Any US Senator that took a campaign "donation" from a Homebuilder or a Homebuilder lobbyist prior to the failed immigration vote should be held accountable for his/her vote.

5. There needs to be a meeting of organized labor, legal experts with experience in labor laws and others who have an interest in human rights and dignity for the individuals who come to the United States, to do the jobs that many Americans will not do. Construction defect experts should also be included in this meeting, as there may be millions of defective homes in the US because a greedy homebuilder cut corners to make more money. This meeting should occur as soon as possible.

For members of the press, organized labor, & legislative investigators, Americas Watchdog will provide more information about its on-going investigation. Americas Watchdog would welcome the opportunity to work with organized labor to insure that up to 15 million undocumented workers living a shadow existence in the US are afforded the same rights as US citizens doing the same job. Americas Watchdogs Media Contact Number is 866-714-6466. Americas Watchdog's Corporate Whistle Blower web site is located at Http://AmericasWatchdog.Com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:12 AM | Comments (0)

The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, Leads The Charge in The Revitalization of Uptown Dallas

Leading the charge in the renaissance of Uptown Dallas, The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, the city's first residences under the famous Ritz-Carlton brand, will soon break ground on Phase II, The Tower Residences and Regency Row. Scheduled for completion in mid 2009, The Tower Residences and Regency Row homes are the newest additions to The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas neighborhood, affording an unprecedented, elegant lifestyle in Dallas that reflects the style, luxury and top-notch service that is expected from a Ritz-Carlton. Phase I of The Residences have already been sold, driving the demand for a second phase.

Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- Leading the charge in the renaissance of Uptown Dallas, The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, the city's first residences under the famous Ritz-Carlton brand, will soon break ground on Phase II, The Tower Residences and Regency Row. Scheduled for completion in mid 2009, The Tower Residences and Regency Row homes are the newest additions to The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas neighborhood, affording an unprecedented, elegant lifestyle in Dallas that reflects the style, luxury and top-notch service that is expected from a Ritz-Carlton. Phase I of The Residences have already been sold, driving the demand for a second phase.

The Tower Residences will feature a 23-story Regency-style tower consisting of 96 residences with a variety of floor plans, ranging from one- to three-bedroom residences to penthouses. Also included are four elegantly appointed Regency Row homes separate from the tower. The Tower Residences will be adjacent to The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas and connected by way of a glass and cast stone, air-conditioned walkway on the second floor, making many of the hotel's personalized services and amenities an extension of each resident's home. Prices range from $700,000 to $8 million. View Available Residences Now

"The Residences will offer a unique opportunity to the buyer to get in on a one-of-a-kind development while homes are still available," says Steve Farmer, sales manager for the project. "Sales for the new development have exceeded expectations and we are pleased to be an important part of the revitalization of the Uptown Dallas area."

Located in the heart of Dallas' thriving Uptown entertainment district on the block bound by McKinney, Pearl, Olive and Cedar Springs, just across the street from the Crescent, The Tower Residences offers easy access to an array of fine restaurants, clubs, galleries and shops. Ideally situated, the new development features exhilarating views of downtown, and homeowners are a stone's throw from Dallas' most desirable venues, including the Central Business District, American Airlines Center, Dallas Convention Center, historic West End, Dallas Market Center and the Apparel District.

The Tower Residences are also adjacent to the largest urban cultural arts district in the country featuring the renowned Dallas Museum of Art and Nasher Sculpture Center. The Arts District is expanding to include the Dallas Center of Performing Arts, Winspear Opera House, and the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Arts Magnet). It is also home to the forthcoming Woodall Rodgers Park - a five-acre urban park that will connect Uptown, Downtown and the Arts District - as well as concerts, outdoor festivals, lectures and youth education programs.

The 4.9-acre luxury Residences neighborhood and common area are designed by renowned architect Robert A.M. Stern, FAIA, with residence interiors by Sherry Hayslip, A.S.I.D., IIDA. Tower and Regency Row residents will have full access to the hotel's signature restaurant, Fearing's, featuring internationally acclaimed chef Dean Fearing; a 12,000-square-foot, world-class spa; 24-hour valet and concierge; in-room dining; and housekeeping service. The homes also will include a private auto court; underground parking with individual storage spaces; a private pool with lush landscaping; an exclusive resident fitness center on the ground floor; and a private dining/meeting room.

Phase I of the neighborhood encompasses The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas and The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, both scheduled to open in third quarter 2007. The 218-room hotel will occupy the first eight floors of the building, and The Residences will consist of 70 private condominiums, located on floors nine through 21.

For more information on The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, please visit The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas

Images available upon request

Contact:
Dawn Rowan/Sharon Harper
M. Silver Associates
212/754-6500

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:11 AM | Comments (0)

Net Gain Answers Real Estate Investors’ Most Important Questions

Net Gain Real Estate presents over 70 answers to those questions that are foremost on the minds of real estate investors.

Mountain View, CA (PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -— Net Gain Real Estate (www.netgainrealestate.com), the leading Internet provider of independent, value-added income property analysis, presents over 70 direct response answers to real estate investment questions. Each question is answered in a manner that is unbiased and instructive, with a primary goal of minimizing risk and maximizing return on income property investment. Answers are based on real world experience and timeless business principles.

The collection of real estate investment questions and answers is located at www.netgainrealestate.com and is constantly growing as Net Gain responds twice per month to select questions. Samples of recent topics addressed are as follows:

What is a reasonable gross rent multiplier (GRM) for income property?
Are REITs a good buy right now?
How can a small investor compete against big institutional buyers?
How important is a capitalization rate to income property?
Is land a good real estate investment?
Is a full building worth below market rents?
What should I look for in a property management company?
How will current world tensions affect income property investment?
Can a 1031 exchange be used with a rental property and a residence?
What affect does the current housing slowdown have on income property?

Net Gain Real Estate is a wholly owned subsidiary of NetGainR.E.Inc. In addition to an extensive question and answer section, investors may also find proprietary essays on income property investment, a comprehensive due diligence checklist, capitalization rate recommendations, and a composite index of REIT data at www.netgainrealestate.com.

Company/Editorial Contact:
NetGainR.E.Inc.
Robert Mann, President
TEL: (925) 336-0718
email: rmann @ netgainrealestate.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:10 AM | Comments (0)

Marin Modern 2.0 Launched for Modern & Architectural Home Enthusiasts

San Francisco Bay Area website re-launched to address the needs of modern & mid-century modern homebuyers and sellers.

Marin, CA (PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- Today Renee Adelmann, the leading authority on modern and mid-century modern homes in Marin County, announced the launch of Marin Modern's new website at www.MarinModern.com.

Initially launched in 2005, the Marin Modern Real Estate site has garnered a loyal following amongst Marin home buyers and purveyors of modern and mid-century modern residential architecture in the Bay Area. To further address the needs of modernists and Marin home buyers and sellers, the site has been completely redesigned. The new site features town-by-town Marin Real Estate profiles and a custom Marin MLS home search page, which provides both city and map-based views of all residential real estate currently for sale in Marin County. The site also includes comprehensive information on Modern Homes in Marin, Marin Schools, and a Green and Prefab home section.

"According to recently published reports, approximately 6% of all commercial websites are real estate-related," commented Renee Adelmann, Realtor, Certified EcoBroker & co-founder of Marin Modern Real Estate. "Our goal in designing this new site was to put the consumer first and raise ourselves above the generic real estate websites that don't really add a lot of useful local content or value to home buyers and sellers. The entire site was designed and copy written from the ground up with the consumer in mind and truly provides a one-stop shop for anyone interested in learning more about Marin County and Marin County real estate."

Lanae Warner, a client of Renee's who recently purchased a modern green home in Corte Madera, commented "The new Marin Modern website is both visually jaw-dropping as well as packed full of useful and practical information for anyone interested in buying or selling a home in Marin County. This site raises the bar for real estate and modernist websites which doesn't surprise me since it's consistent with the way Renee represents herself as well as her clients."

To learn more about the new Marin Modern website, visit www.MarinModern.com

About Renee Adelmann
Renee Adelmann is a top agent and multi-million dollar producer with Keller Williams San Francisco Properties. She specializes in representing buyers and sellers of modern, mid-century modern and architecturally significant properties in both Marin and San Francisco California. Renee was recently named the first new realtor in 14 years to represent Joseph Eichler and California Modern homes in Marin County for the Eichler Network. She can be reached at 1-415-342-4537.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:10 AM | Comments (0)

Internet Site for Home Furniture, Broadspan Commerce, Ranks Amongst Amazon, Dell and Other Online Commerce Sites

Leader in online retailing of home furniture selected for Internet Retailer Magazine’s Top 500 Guide.

New Brunswick, NJ (PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- Broadspan Commerce, the industry leading online retailer of home furniture, was selected for Internet Retailer Magazine’s 2007 Top 500 Guide, which lists the largest sites for online commerce, providing a company profile and industry statistics. This is Broadspan Commerce’s second consecutive year making the Top 500.

The Top 500 Guide, which ranks e-retailers by annual sales, is a virtual who’s who of the $135-billion online commerce industry, with leading companies such as Amazon, Dell, Gap, and more. Broadspan Commerce belongs to the web only sector of the industry (as opposed to catalogs or retail chains), which according to Internet Retailer, “grew their online sales faster than anyone else,” achieving a growth rate of 23.6%. Broadspan Commerce on its own experienced a growth rate of 43.92% in the past year, according to their profile in the guide.

Broadspan Commerce has reached the top by emphasizing customer satisfaction and product quality. By offering personal customer care, a price match guarantee, and a stable and secure backend to ensure privacy, Broadspan has grown tremendously over the past few years to become a leading online retailer for home furniture. To ensure product quality, Broadspan offers only the best pieces from over 80 name brand furniture manufacturers, with each piece hand-selected by furniture experts before ever making its way onto the website.

“We are thrilled and honored to be selected for the Internet Retailer Top 500 for the second year in a row,” said Brian Salau Beck, CEO of Broadspan Commerce. “The efforts of our skilled and dedicated team, coupled with our diligent work during 2006 to improve our web site experience, has really paid off in what we think is the premier online shopping experience for furniture buyers in the United States. With the addition of new furniture lines and additional web site shopping features, we are looking forward to an even more exciting 2007.”

About Broadspan Commerce:
Broadspan Commerce, LLC is the leader in online retailing of Products for Living™ — from beds and rugs to sofas, tables, and lamps — targeting consumers, businesses, interior designers, and other trade professionals. Since the company’s founding in 2003, Broadspan Commerce has delivered home furniture to tens of thousands of satisfied customers throughout the United States. Broadspan Commerce’s recipe for successful online commerce is convenience, value, and fashion. The Company maintains a commitment to provide its customers with a convenient shopping experience, quick shipping, and industry-leading customer service. Broadspan Commerce is headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and maintains complete data and call center service facilities to support its customers. For more information about Broadspan Commerce, visit the Company\'s web sites at www.totalbedroom.com, www.directlyhome.com, and www.buying-bar-stools.com, e-mail info @ broadspancommerce.com, or call 732-418-5300.

Contact:
Brian Salau Beck, CEO
Broadspan Commerce, LLC
(732) 418 – 5300 x229
http://www.broadspancommerce.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:09 AM | Comments (0)

Surface Restoration: A Green Remodeling Alternative

Miracle Method, the nation's largest surface restoration company is doing their part to restore damaged and dated bathroom fixtures, tile and countertops, eliminating the need for replacement, and reducing the amount of unnecessary waste clogging landfills.

Colorado Springs, CO (PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- One sure way to know your neighbor is remodeling a bathroom or kitchen is the presence of a construction dumpster filled with old countertops, sinks, vanity tops, bathtubs, dust and debris. The next stop is the landfill.

According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), new home building generates between 3 and 5 lbs. of construction waste per square foot of home. By contrast a remodeling project can generate between 70 and 115 lbs. of waste per square foot.

Miracle Method, the nation's largest surface restoration company is doing their part to restore damaged and dated bathroom fixtures, tile and countertops and reduce the amount of unnecessary waste clogging landfills.

Porcelain, steel and even fiberglass bathtubs do not need to be replaced just because they are no longer easy to clean or because they are the wrong color. Miracle Method gives new life to fixtures by repairing rough surfaces and chips, changing colors, and restoring surfaces to look and feel like new. Miracle Method's process works equally well on porcelain, tile, cultured marble, fiberglass, and acrylic surfaces.

"It's a shame to see cast iron bathtubs thrown away especially when most 25 to 30 year old tubs are actually made better than today's models," according to Chuck Pistor, President of the 28-year old national franchise. With the Miracle Method process, homeowners avoid the expense of removal and replacement of bathtubs, related flooring, tile, and plumbing hardware. "The savings to homeowners can be as high as 75%," added Pistor.

With growing concerns over global warming, greenhouse gases, and ozone levels surface restoration makes more sense than ever before. Not only does refinishing reduce the burden on landfills, since replacement fixtures are not necessary, but it also helps reduce pollution created by manufacturing and transporting new fixtures. "Refinishing is like creating your own carbon credits and is a choice more and more concerned consumers are making," said Pistor.

As clawfoot tubs and pedestal sinks continue to make a decorating resurgence there is a great demand for authentic antiques. Most Miracle Method offices also restore these priceless vintage bathroom and kitchen fixtures. "These antiques are work of art that deserve an experienced craftsman to restore them," according to Pistor. "Our process can have antique fixtures looking as bright and glossy as the day it was manufactured. Even deep porcelain chips or cracks can be repaired."

Many Miracle Method locations collect and stock un-restored clawfoot tubs, pedestal and farm sinks and other fixtures. These unique fixtures are available to be restored to custom match a customer's décor. It's a better solution than destroying them.

Professional surface refinishing by Miracle Method is not a cheap fix, but a proven restoration process that can add fifteen to twenty years of life to a bathtub. Resurfacing not only saves homeowners time and money, but the hassle and mess of remodeling. Miracle Method's process is unique in that it is the only system that does not use toxic etching acids and has a 28-year proven record.

Miracle Method's most recent product innovation has homeowners resurfacing rather than tearing out and replacing kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities with their new stone look finish. These are extremely durable and available in a variety of colors, hues and textures and provide a solid surface look at a fraction of the cost and time. They can be applied to laminate, cultured marble and Corian™. Unlike expensive man made, granite or marble, Miracle Method's stone finishes can be quickly and economically repaired in the event of a chip.

"With a bit of planning, a homeowner should be able to get the makeover look they want by refinishing instead of replacing. They'll not only save themselves money, but contribute to a better environment," says Pistor. "We like the Green approach to remodeling."

Pistor offers advice to anyone looking for a quality refinisher.

"Refinishing is a great process if it is done with the right materials and techniques, but all refinishing is not the same, so be sure to ask lots of questions. How long has the company been in business? Do they use corrosive acids in your home? Do they ventilate the room and do they offer a guarantee? Before making a decision definitely ask for references."

Miracle Method's 120 locations offer a five-year guarantee against peeling or failure of adhesion. A refinished surface should last 15 to 20 years using the same care and maintenance recommended by new tub manufacturers. To see pictures of refinished fixtures and to learn more about bath and kitchen remodeling, visit Miracle Method's web site at www.miraclemethod.com or call (888) 271-7690.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:09 AM | Comments (0)

Architectural Data Systems Enhances Product Offering with Support Documents

ADS' Support Documents allows one-stop-shopping to manufacturer documents at the push of a button. Support Documents will be incorporated as a feature within three of ADS' products -- ADSearch, ADSymphony and ADScheduleLink -- and will allow immediate and seamless access to a number of manufacturer documents such as CAD details and technical specifications.

Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- Architectural Data Systems (ADS) -- the leader in on-line document production software -- today announced Support Documents, a new feature that allows users to view and/or download any of a manufacturer's Web site documents without having to navigate away from the ADS system. Support Documents will be incorporated as a feature within three of ADS' products -- ADSearch, ADSymphony, and ADScheduleLink -- and will allow immediate and seamless access to a number of manufacturer documents such as CAD details and technical specifications.

"Our customers have been asking for this type of enhancement, and we are thrilled to be able to deliver with Support Documents," said Chuck Williams, founder and CEO of ADS. "Our latest feature gives our customers access to all the documents that a manufacturer provides in one easy location. It's about saving time and increasing organizational efficiency, and our customers get that in Support Documents. They no longer have to navigate through thousands of manufacturer's Web sites to find certain documents -- its all in one place, and at the push of button."

Support Documents Features and Benefits
The Support Documents feature is an open tool that works with commonly used file types making it flexible and integrated. The user can choose to download the chosen manufacturer information to a number of formats including PDF, CAD and HTML. Common manufacturer documents accessed through Support Documents include AutoCAD detail drawings, cleaning/maintenance specifications, product/manufacturer specifications, warranty information, safety documents/hazardous materials, user manuals, parts lists and ADA information. The information is electronically selected and pulled into whatever format the user chooses in an organized and seamless manner.

"Our customers need a tool that connects every aspect of the architectural drawing while, at the same time, enabling easy access to an inordinate amount of product information and content -- all from one location and in real-time," said John Thielmann, e-Commerce Development Manager, Postal Products Unlimited, Inc. "Support Documents is the only feature I've seen of its kind offering a robust, open design that allows us to extend vital information on hundreds of products we offer to the end-user -- all electronically and in one place. It will truly change the user experience."

Pricing and Availability
Support Documents is expected to be available July 1, 2007 through ADSearch, ADSymphony or ADSchedulink products. Support Documents cannot be purchased as a standalone feature. For more information please visit www.architecturaldatasystems.com.

About Architecture Data Systems (ADS)
ADS is a leading provider of online tools and solutions designed by architects for architects. ADS offers a menu of revolutionary product and service solutions that encapsulate a suite of electronic productivity tools designed to allow the user to bridge the gap between traditional practice and newer ways of working and thinking. ADS software automates the specification process by allowing architects to select attributes of products and materials through a menu-driven system. For more information about ADS, visit http://www.architecturaldatasystems.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:08 AM | Comments (0)

BidClerk.com Reports Construction Projects Up For Bid in the San Francisco, CA Area

BidClerk's daily update of commercial construction projects coming up for bid and in the San Francisco, CA area.

(PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following construction projects are planning to go out for bids or start construction in the next 90 days in the San Francisco, California area. Businesses interested in providing services relative to these projects should visit BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

Napa, CA - Longs Drugs, 291 S. Coombs St., 17,950-square-foot retail building, August 2007, $2 million. Project ID: 625757

Nipomo, CA - Nipomo Town Square - Phase I, Juniper Street and Mary Avenue, 272,000-square-foot commercial development, October 2007, $50 million. Project ID: 272886

Richmond, CA - Hilltop Mall Nail Salon, 2200 Hilltop Mall Road, 1,300-square-foot nail salon, July 2007, $30,000. Project ID: 625373

San Leandro, CA - Washington Avenue Commercial Building, 15215 Washington Ave., 2,552-square-foot retail building, August 2007, $300,000. Project ID: 623616

El Cerrito, CA - San Pablo Avenue Mixed-Use Development, San Pablo Avenue and Cutting Boulevard, 58-unit mixed-use building, August 2007, $7 million. Project ID: 443715

BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in depth information on thousands of construction projects coming up for bid all throughout the United States. Our daily updates of commercial and residential construction project leads are available to contractors and businesses in related industries that are seeking bid opportunities. For more information on bidding construction projects in your area, visit BidClerk online or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:07 AM | Comments (0)

BidClerk.com Reports Construction Projects Up For Bid in the Jacksonville, FL Area

BidClerk's daily update of Florida construction projects coming up for bid and starting construction within the next 90 days.

(PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following commercial construction projects are planning to go out for bid or start construction in the next 90 days in the Jacksonville, FL area. Businesses interested in providing services relative to these projects should visit BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

Jacksonville, FL - Circuit City #4278, Argyle Forest Boulevard and Old Middleburg Road, 19,844-square-foot retail store, July 2007, $1 million. Project ID: 620392

Jacksonville, FL - Guess #5631, 4663 River City Dr., 5,000-square-foot retail store, August 2007, $250,000. Project ID: 622783

Jacksonville, FL - eSuites Hotel, 8-story, 224-room hotel, September 2007, $12 million. Project ID: 622531

Jacksonville, FL - The Lofts on Main, 1303 N. Main St., 36-unit apartment complex and 7,612-square-foot retail, September 2007, $4 million. Project ID: 610299

Jacksonville, FL - Union Progressive Baptist Church, 613 Pippin St., 4,000-square-foot church addition, September 2007, $600,000. Project ID: 610296

BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in depth information on thousands of Florida construction projects in the planning and bidding stage. Our daily updates of commercial and residential construction project leads are available to contractors and businesses in related industries that are seeking bid opportunities. For more information on bidding construction projects in your area, visit BidClerk online or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:06 AM | Comments (0)

Lend America Gets an 8,000 Horsepower Surprise

MELVILLE, N.Y. (BusinessWire EON) June 20, 2007 -- Lend America (www.lendamerica.com), the official mortgage sponsor of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and a sponsor on Mike Ashley's 8,000 Horsepower Nitro Funny car received a special surprise Tuesday morning. Employees arrived at work to find the team’s 80 foot "race shop on wheels" and the actual race car at the front doors of Lend America’s headquarters in Melville, NY. While on the way to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ for the ProCare Rx SuperNationals this weekend, the team made a slight detour to support Lend America and its 300 employees with some goodies and a photo shoot.

All of Lend America's 300 employees received shirts sporting the Lend America Racing logo and Mike Ashley's signature promoting Mike's world record setting 334 MPH performance, a mark set earlier this year in Las Vegas. Over 100 of Lend America’s employees will be accommodated with transportation from the office to the track to sit in a special pit side suite overlooking the finish line on Friday, the first day of qualifying.

“This was truly a surprise to see the Funny Car on the front steps of our office! The Lend America family will be in full force in Englishtown to cheer for Mike and the team this weekend,” said Lend America spokesperson Brian Fried.

Lend America is currently promoting a HomeFree™ Giveaway, where a homeowner can enter and have their mortgage paid off in full up to $250,000. Homeowners and potential homeowners can log on to the newly launched website www.lendamerica.com to enter the sweepstakes and learn more about their exclusive loan programs including its Liberty Grant and FHA, government insured loans to help with refinancing and purchasing residential homes.

Lend America is a nationwide direct lender, specializing in residential financing for one to four family homes. Lend America combines a flexible, common sense loan review process with hundreds of loan programs to provide exceptional service for its clients. Potential applicants can call 800-200-LEND for more information.

Editor’s note: Brian Fried is available for interviews at 631-944-6963, bfried@lendamerica.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:06 AM | Comments (0)

Rider Hunt Extends Reach by Forming New Global Practice with UK and Asia Firms

Combined entity offers most advanced techniques for green building initiatives.

Phoenix, Ariz. (PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- Rider Hunt (www.riderhunt.com), one of the world's foremost professional property and construction consulting firms, has joined forces with Levett & Bailey in Asia and the UK-based Bucknall Austin to create a new global practice. The combined group will consist of 1,800 professionals serving clients in four broad geographic regions: Oceania, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), Asia and the Americas.

The new entity represents a fusion of resources, intellectual property and service delivery methods to better serve construction, engineering and development professionals around the globe. As one of the largest global practices, services will include cost consulting, project management and advisory.

"This new global practice is comprised of three organizations that are the recognized and established leaders in their respective regions," said Julian Anderson, president of Rider Hunt. "Our clients will benefit from not only the industry's collection of top talent, but also the knowledge transfer and pooling of industry-specific intellectual property and practices across the world."

Global Green Building Expertise Benefits Clients Locally
The new practice will harness the more than 220 years of company experience across four continents, including industry-leading techniques for sustainable building practices. Two offerings, relifing and four dimensional cost modeling, will help socially responsible organizations take a leadership role in managing the potentially harmful impact of waste, carbon emissions, and energy efficiencies on the global environment.

For example, clients outside the Americas will benefit from Rider Hunt's relifing program, which helps building owners capture the remaining value and extend the life of their buildings after years of service. The methodology, sometimes implemented as a "Building Life Extension Study", is now a requirement for Arizona state buildings of a certain size. Relifing 80 buildings in Arizona has resulted in a more environmentally friendly approach to development needs that has also saved the taxpayers $26 million over a six month period. As a result, The American Legislative Exchange Council has adopted Rider Hunt's relifing as "model" legislation for all 50 states.

Clients will likewise benefit from the Bucknall Austin development of a Four Dimensional Cost Modeling System, which helps to predetermine and manage carbon outputs for buildings. The system facilitates rapid 'what if' scenarios to establish bottom line impacts for capital costs, including the modeling of energy, CO2 and capital allowances. The system looks within the structure of the building and identifies solutions over a period of time to make the existing asset more environmentally friendly. For example, the model found that installing a steam recirculation system within an existing munition facility in South Wales would result in reheating from 90 degrees Celsius instead of 40 degrees Celsius. This small initial investment had the triple benefit of massively cutting the energy bill, in turn reducing the carbon cap levy and reducing CO2 emissions.

"These initiatives are but a few examples of how our combined talent and expertise can provide lasting value for our clients through clarity of strategy, superior service, and the ability to be forward looking," added Anderson. "This state of mind is part of all that we do, and every interaction we have with our clients, regardless of where in the world they turn to us for help."

About Rider Hunt
Rider Hunt is known throughout the world for providing independent, unbiased expert advice on all matters relating to the management of the cost and time of construction. Utilizing its many years of experience and professionally trained employees, and by selectively choosing its clients, Rider Hunt continues to firmly establish itself as one of the major players in the construction industry, on a national, international and local level. For more information on Rider Hunt's services visit www.riderhunt.com.

Contact:
Cathy Planchard, APR
Mindspace
480-941-8497

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:05 AM | Comments (0)

CorrectDeck® is First Composite Decking Combining Microban® Antimicrobial Product Protection with Stain and Fade Resistance

CorrectDeck® CX with Microban® Protection resists mold, stains and color fading.

Biddeford, ME (PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- Correct Building Products® LLC, manufacturer of CorrectDeck® composite decking, offers CorrectDeck® CX with Microban® (http://correctdeck.com/products/decking/cx/default.htm) antimicrobial product protection, the first composite decking to combine antimicrobial protection that resists mold and mildew with stain and fade resistance.

“We developed CorrectDeck CX with Microban protection in response to homeowner concerns that composite decking needed to be improved in several areas, especially mold and mildew resistance,” said Martin Grohman, president of Correct Building Products. “Microban antimicrobial technology makes those improvements because it inhibits the growth of mold and mildew that can cause unsightly stains and spots.

“It truly fulfills the promise of low maintenance that composite deck owners expect,” Grohman said. CorrectDeck’s co-extrusion process engineers Microban protection into each board. Its antimicrobial properties resist mold and mildew by helping to prevent the colonization of mold and mildew that can cause black spots. In addition, CorrectDeck CX resists stains from grease spatter or food spills because wood fibers are coated with plastic, reducing their exposure. Protection of those exposed fibers and the addition of concentrated UV inhibitors enable the planks to resist color fading.

“Other composite deck materials are susceptible to fading because wood fibers were exposed to the elements,” Grohman said. “but because our decking protects fibers, darker colors won’t lose their rich look and lighter colors won’t look black when wet.”

“We’re very enthusiastic about Microban antimicrobial product protection and what it means for our customers,” Grohman said. “We’ve always made a very strong, sag-resistant deck through our use of polypropylene instead of polyethylene, and now with CorrectDeck CX with Microban product protection, we’ve developed a composite deck that really is low-maintenance for homeowners and businesses.”

Correct Building Products® LLC, headquartered in Biddeford, Maine, is the first and most experienced manufacturer of polypropylene-based composite decking products. Correct Building Products leads the industry with technical innovation in areas of design, formulation and automation. The company’s CorrectDeck® CX with Microban® antimicrobial product protection is the first composite decking to combine antimicrobial protection that resists mold and mildew with stain and fade resistance. More information is available at www.correctdeck.com.

Mike Descoteaux
Correct Building Products
8 Morin Street
Biddeford, ME 04005
207-284-5600
miked(at)correctbp.com

Glen Becker
Becker Marketing Group
4202 Portage Street NW
North Canton, OH 44720
330-497-0453
glen(at)beckermg.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:04 AM | Comments (0)

Tenecor Unveils New Lower Pricing on its Popular Ultraquariums

Tenecor unveiled new lower prices on many of its popular Ultraquariums. The Arizona based company has manufactured the world's finest acrylic aquariums for over 20 years and offers the widest selection of aquarium sizes, shapes and styles. Tenecor also designs custom aquariums and its website Tenecor.com features an online aquarium builder, aquarium packages and the Ultraquarium line of fish tanks.

(PRWEB) June 20, 2007 - Ultraquariums are Tenecor's large acrylic aquariums (300 - 1300 gallons). In the past these large aquariums were available in the industry only as custom designed products. However, a few years ago Tenecor introduced them as a standard product that can be easily ordered by the customer. According to Mike Nelson, President of Tenecor "these large aquariums are increasingly in demand in homes, offices, hospitals and these lower prices will make them available to more of our customers".

Of course, if one of the standard sizes or shapes of the Ultraquariums does not meet the customer's needs, Tenecor is able to custom design and build just about anything the customer can dream of.

Tenecor's website, tenecor.com offers a wealth of information about acrylic aquariums, aquarium filtration, aquarium lighting and aquarium furniture. Mike Nelson of Tenecor states, "Whether you are looking for the classic 'show' aquarium, a turnkey aquarium system with filtration, furniture and lighting, or a unique custom design let us show how our Innovative Solutions can work for you".

The website also show cases special offers and online shopping options that enable the customer to create their own aquatic display or purchase a complete "ready-to-run" aquarium package. The online Aquarium Photo Gallery and Custom Photo Gallery showcases the range of standard and custom acrylic aquarium possibilities.

There are many benefits to choosing an acrylic aquarium. An acrylic aquarium is half the weight of a glass aquarium and acrylic fish tanks are several times stronger than glass ones. Also, acrylic can be formed to create unique aquarium designs that cannot be found with glass.

The engineers and craftsmen at Tenecor are known for their attention to detail and manufacture their aquariums in the United States with the finest materials available. By using only the finest domestic acrylic, Tenecor is able to offer a limited lifetime guarantee which alleviates the worry of disastrous aquarium leaks. Additionally, most of the aquariums designed at Tenecor are equipped with many standard features not offered by other manufacturers, at no extra charge.

So visit Tenecor's website today and check out our new Ultraquarium pricing and the other Innovative Solutions that Tenecor offers.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:03 AM | Comments (0)

The Preserve at Rock Creek Present Upscale Mountain Living with a Unique Environmental Touch

The Preserve at Rock Creek, a 281-acre community with 200 acres permanently protected from development by a conservation easement, offers residents attractive home sites surrounded by lush natural forest.

Cashiers, NC (PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- The Preserve at Rock Creek, a 281-acre community with 200 acres permanently protected from development by a conservation easement, offers residents the best of both worlds: Attractive home sites surrounded by lush natural forest.

Exclusively represented by Landmark Realty Group, The Preserve at Rock Creek is a private, gated mountain community with 16 five-acre home sites surrounded by serene natural forest. Eleven lots remain available, including two that feature their own weekend shelter, or guest house. Prices range from $325,000-745,000.

"For me, mountain living means less is always more," said Tim Bright, Owner and Developer of The Preserve at Rock Creek. "I fell in love with this area as a child and when I returned as a developer, I wanted to maintain the unique beauty and natural state that I had grown up with. That is why I set aside 200 acres as a conservation easement, to ensure that it will never be developed."

Bright set aside the conservation easement following an environmental assessment that identified more than 100 wildlife species at Rock Creek, including white-tailed deer, foxes, hawks, grouse, owls and native trout. In addition, nine endangered, threatened, rare or watch list species were also found, which include the Appalachian Bewick's Wren, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Southern Appalachian Salamander.

The Preserve at Rock Creek features an eight-acre naturalized wildflower meadow, which Bright restored after acquiring the property. Other community features include hiking and ATV trails, a stocked trout pond, rock outcroppings, cliffs, caves, natural springs, stunning waterfalls and Rock Creek, which runs almost the entire length of the property. The lots also offer gorgeous mountain and lake views.

"The Preserve at Rock Creek is a controlled development with many unique natural aspects," said Jane Ebberts, Broker-in-Charge and Owner of Landmark Realty Group, the exclusive representative of The Preserve at Rock Creek. "This community really brings together the best of both worlds by providing residents with an upscale lifestyle as well as the natural peace and beauty of mountain living. It is truly a rare combination."

Surrounding areas offer 30 waterfalls, including Whitewater Falls, the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi River, as well as Lake Glenville and Lake Toxaway. Nearby Panthertown Valley, 6,700 acres of lush national forest, offers hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and pristine waterfalls. With average temperatures during the winter months ranging from the 30s to mid 40s and a summer ambient temperature of 72 degrees, this region is the perfect place for year-round outdoor activities.

Located in Sapphire, and just eight miles from Cashiers, The Preserve at Rock Creek is also in close proximity to fine dining, lodging and unique antique and upscale shopping. The community is also a short drive from some of the world's best golf courses, including Wade Hampton Golf Club, Chattooga Club and High Hampton.

About Landmark Realty Group:
Based in Cashiers, N.C., Landmark Realty Group (www.landmarkrg.com) is an affiliation of experienced, successful brokers offering professional brokerage and development services, ranging from general land and individual site planning to full scale development management with expertise in residential, commercial, vacant parcels, and large development tracts in Cashiers, Highlands, Lake Glenville, Toxaway and surrounding areas.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:03 AM | Comments (0)

Popular Soundproofing Materials on Sale

Premium soundproofing materials now on sale. Reduce noise in residential, commercial and industrial settings for walls, ceilings and floors.

Chambersburg, PA (PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- QUIET BARRIER™, a mass loaded vinyl barrier designed to reduce noise in residential, commercial and industrial settings, is now available through the Acoustics Division at AMI at the best price to date. Licensed contractors receive even further discounts.

A favored choice of building professionals nationwide, QUIET BARRIER™ is offered to contractors at additional special pricing through July 20th.

Sale prices apply to 4 ft. x 8 ft. sheet products. All products ship factory direct.

For high performance sound blocking solutions intended for wall, ceiling and floor applications, call the company's acoustics consultants for assistance. The company provides complete soundproofing packages for home theaters, recording studios, condominiums, apartments and office environments.

In addition to noise reduction products, AMI offers a comprehensive line of acoustic and soundproofing materials designed to improve sound quality in any interior setting. The Company maintains a complete inventory and provides quick shipment throughout North America.

American Micro Industries, Inc, founded in 1995, is headquartered in Chambersburg, PA.

Visit the web-site at: www.soundprooffoam.com or call their acoustics experts toll-free at 800-558-2058

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:02 AM | Comments (0)

Beyond Hackers and Viruses: Wake up to Overlooked Computer Security Threats

New white paper "How to Avoid a Data Disaster: Computer Security for Service Contractors" details the realities of computer failure and what it could mean for your business.

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- While computer hackers and viruses often garner the most attention in the realm of computer threats, many contractors overlook the countless ways that physical damage can adversely impact their business. Computer hardware failure, power surges, and/or damage from flood or fire could destroy years of work orders, contacts, accounting records and more. In an instant, your business could find itself having to recreate information that took years to accumulate.

A new white paper - "How to Avoid a Data Disaster: Computer Security for Service Contractors" - addresses physical computer security concerns for contractors. The white paper is is now available free of charge and can be downloaded at:
http://www.databasics.com/white-paper/contractor-security-white-paper.html .

In addressing some of the most pertinent IT security issues to service contractors, the white paper provides insight into the importance of machine redundancy, power-related issues, data corruption and data backups.

"It has become more and more apparent that computer hardware plays an integral role in the success of service contractors," said Arthur Divell, CEO, Data-Basics. "Unfortunately, we often come across contractors that do not have processes or plans in place in case of a major data loss event."

Divell continued, "This white paper provides a starting point for service contractors to take an honest look at their IT infrastructure and the 'what if' plans that they may - or may not - have in place."

About Data-Basics
As a software provider for more than 30 years, Data-Basics (www.databasics.com) has helped hundreds of service, construction and facilities firms streamline and improve their business through technology. The company's software is in use across North America at a variety of businesses, providing the Cleveland, Ohio-based firm with experience in a wide range of industries and disciplines.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:58 AM | Comments (0)

June 19, 2007

Shaikh Holdings to Invest USD 1.2 Billion over Next 5 Years in Golf and Waterfront Developments

Shaikh Holdings has announced that it plans to invest USD 1.2 billion over the next 5 years in premier golf and waterfront communities in the UAE.

Dubai, UAE (PRWEB) June 19, 2007 -- Shaikh Holdings, a Dubai-based real-estate investment and development company, has announced that it plans to invest USD 1.2 billion over the next 5 years in premier golf and waterfront communities in the UAE. The first of these landmark developments is a 96 villa community on the Earth golf course in Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai. These fully landscaped luxury villas, set amidst lush golf vistas and stunning waterfalls and lakes, will provide a unique resort-lifestyle to its residents. The villas go on sale next month.

Shaikh Holdings is a family enterprise with an entrepreneurial heritage in the Middle East, dating back to 1913 in Bahrain. Over the years, the Shaikh family has diversified its interests from its core trading businesses to other areas of activity. Expansion into real estate investments and development has driven Shaikh Holdings to look at both regional and international real estate markets.

The company which holds a significant portfolio of residential, commercial and hospitality real estate, has been a leading institutional investor in the Dubai real estate market since 2002. Shaikh Holdings' primary Dubai investments have been in such developments as the Palm islands, Emirates Hills, Business Bay, Dubai Waterfront and Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Kaiser Shaikh, Chairman of Shaikh Holdings said, "Since 2002 we have been making substantial investments in projects of each of Dubai's government developers. We strongly believe in His Highness Sheikh Mohammed's vision for Dubai and are proud to be part of building this dream into a reality." Today, Shaikh Holdings' real estate activities in Dubai are primarily focused in three major areas: real estate development, real estate investments and real estate marketing.

Shaikh Holdings maintains investment relationships with Dubai Properties, Nakheel and Emaar. It has over the years also developed unique marketing partnerships with these significant Dubai based developers who are creating some of the region's most iconic developments including The Palm, The World, Burj Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Residence and Dubai Marina. Through these marketing partnerships, Shaikh Holdings' companies have not only promoted their projects but have also been actively involved in their awareness and brand building activities. Shaikh Holdings is the only group worldwide to represent all three of Dubai's major developers in the international marketplace.

Imran Shaikh, CEO of Shaikh Holdings added, "Apart from promoting Dubai as a highly attractive investment destination, we have also played a significant role in communicating the spirit and idea of Dubai and its real estate developments to audiences worldwide. To date, Dubai has built a strong foundation through local and regional investments, but to secure future growth and to be recognized as a significant player in the international marketplace, Dubai needs to attract a greater share of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Currently, the UAE attracts less than 5% of the $ 400 billion FDI funds committed to emerging markets. A greater share of these FDI funds is critical to sustained economic growth in the UAE and Dubai. We are currently structuring several vehicles to facilitate further FDI inflow into the region."

"Our continued investments only serve to reinforce our confidence in the sustainable growth prospects that the real estate market offers," says Imran Shaikh. After careful analysis of the UAE real estate market, Shaikh Holdings has chosen to focus on building boutique communities centred around golf and waterfront concepts. The company's current development in Jumeirah Golf Estates shall be followed by other exclusive golf and waterfront projects, as Shaikh Holdings continues to create new benchmarks in real estate development.

For more information:
The Media Office
PR & Corporate Communications
UAE Toll Free: 800 SHAIKH
Tel: +9714 364 2722
Fax: +9714 367 8054
Email: info @ shaikh-holdings.com
Web: http://www.shaikh-holdings.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:46 PM | Comments (0)

Small Business Research Board Industry Study: Confidence of Construction, Contracting Business Owners Registers Third Consecutive Quarterly Gain Despite Concerns About Economy, Revenue During Next 12 Months SBRB Reports

Owners of construction, contracting industry businesses look to increase hiring says SBRB report prepared in conjunction with International Profit Associates.

Northfield, IL (PRWEB) June 19, 2007 -- Owners of construction and contracting businesses continue to remain positive about the future as indicated by the third consecutive quarterly improvement in the Small Business Research Board (SBRB) Small Business Confidence Index (SBCI) reported today.

The Construction and Contracting Industry SBCI rose to 48 during the second quarter of 2007, an increase of 4.6 points from the first quarter according to the latest SBRB report issued here today co-sponsored by International Profit Associates (IPA).

The SBCI of 48 is just more than one point shy of the indicator's historical high of 49.3 recorded during the second quarter if 2006. The index plunged to 30.7 during the third quarter of last year before rebounding to 42.04 during the final quarter -- and what is now the first of three consecutive quarterly gains. The SBRB began reporting the Construction and Contracting Industry SBCI during the second quarter of last year.

The current industry SBCI is two points higher than the SBCI reported for all U.S. small businesses. Furthermore, the confidence expressed by owners in the industry is greater than that of two other key categories. The manufacturing industry and the food industry both reported identical SBCI scores of 40.33.

The higher construction and contracting SBCI resulted entirely from plans for increased hiring over the next 12 months. A full 50% of the respondents indicated they will increase hiring compared to 31.1% that were prepared to make that commitment during the first quarter.

Respondents said they were prepared to add staff despite showing a slight drop in their opinion about the strength of the economy and reduced revenue expectations. The SBRB report indicated 42% of the respondents believe the economy will improve over the next 12 months, a decline from the 43.4% the previous quarter. As for revenue predictions, 52% are projecting improvement in sales versus 55.7% during the first quarter.

"Consistent with current market realities and in respect to predictions for the future, it is evident that those construction and contracting firms which maintain a tight reign on all aspects of their operations -- including taking advantage of any and every opportunity to improve productivity -- will be best positioned to weather the gyrating economic conditions," said Gregg M. Steinberg, President of IPA.

More than 770 small business owners participated in the nationwide poll. The universe of participants is developed from among small businesses across the United States. The SBRB study is a voluntary survey conducted quarterly..

The Small Business Research Board ascertains and reports the opinions of small business owners and managers on a wide variety of topics related to their own businesses as well as national and international issues that may impact their operations. The SBRB conducts these studies for the benefit of small business owners and managers. The SBRB also provides opportunities for third parties to gain real time insight into the attitudes of small businesses nationwide through the independently conducted research.

The latest information about the Small Business Research Board can be found at www.ipasbrb.com.

International Profit Associates, Inc. (IPA) is the largest privately-held provider of management consulting services to small and medium-size businesses in North America. IPA and its more than 1,800 professionals offer a wide range of proven and innovative methodologies to help businesses grow and prosper regardless of the economic cycle. IPA either provides directly or through its affiliated companies a comprehensive array of business advisory services, tax and estate planning services or merger, acquisition and other financial advisory services in the United States and Canada. More information about IPA can be found at www.ipa-iba.com.

The second quarter 2007 summary follows:

SBRB INDUSTRY COMPARISONS May/June 2007 (vs. Prior Quarter)

Small Business Confidence Index -- scale from 0 - 100:
All US 46 (40.78); Construction/Contracting 48 (43.4); Food 40.3 (38.03); Manufacturing 40.3 (37.0).

SBRB Construction / Contracting Forecast:
Outlook for the general economy is for the next twelve months:
42%: Better
19%: Worse
39%: No Change

Revenue expectations for the next twelve months:
38%: Increase of 10% or more
14%: Increase of less than 10%
34%: Will be about the same
7%: Decrease of less than 10%
7%: Decrease of 10% or more

Expectation for hiring new employees during the next twelve months:
50%: Increase hiring
8%: Decrease workforce
34%: Remain the same
9%: Unsure

Copyright 2007 Small Business Research Board (SBRB)

For more information about this poll, results of previous studies or other matters related to the SBRB, please contact Raymond D. Minkus, (847) 441-4192.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:45 PM | Comments (0)

AirAdvice State of Our Indoor Air Report 2007 Reveals Unhealthy Air in 9 Out of 10 American Homes: More than 96% of homes tested have at least one indoor air quality problem

Data released in the AirAdvice State of Our Indoor Air Report 2007, a landmark report developed by AirAdvice Inc. based on the analysis of 49,130 indoor air quality tests conducted in homes across North America, shows that people in 9 out of 10 American homes are breathing unhealthy indoor air. Overall, 96.7% of all homes tested had at least one of six indoor air quality (IAQ) problems analyzed in the AirAdvice study. Most homes had multiple indoor air problems.

Portland, OR (PRWEB) June 19, 2007 -- Data released in the AirAdvice State of Our Indoor Air Report 2007, a landmark report developed by AirAdvice Inc. based on the analysis of 49,130 indoor air quality tests conducted in homes across North America, shows that people in 9 out of 10 American homes are breathing unhealthy indoor air.

Overall, 96.7% of all homes tested had at least one of six indoor air quality (IAQ) problems analyzed in the AirAdvice study -- particle allergens, chemical pollutants, carbon dioxide, temperature, humidity, and carbon monoxide.

Most homes had multiple indoor air problems. Eighty-three percent of all homes tested exhibited two or more of the six problem types; nearly half (49.8%) had three or more problems; 18.9% had four or more.

The most rampant indoor air quality problem in North American homes is particle allergens (e.g., dust, dander, pollen, spores, bacteria, and other airborne pollutants). Over 91% of homes tested showed elevated particle allergen levels. Occupants of homes with elevated particle allergen levels are at risk for adverse symptoms and diseases including asthma and allergies. According to the American Lung Association, in 2004 an estimated 30.2 million Americans -- more than 1 in every 10 people -- had been diagnosed with asthma in their lifetime.

Chemical pollutant problems were the second-most frequent type of problem found. Elevated chemical pollutant levels were found in 7 out of 10 homes (70%). Some chemical pollutants are known carcinogens (cancer-causing).

Carbon dioxide, temperature, and humidity levels were outside recommended ranges in many homes -- 45%, 30%, and 49%, respectively. Carbon monoxide, a clear, odorless, and potentially deadly gas, was found at elevated levels in 2% of homes.

About the AirAdvice State of Our Indoor Air Report 2007
The AirAdvice State of Our Indoor Air Report 2007 presents findings based on 49,130 IAQ tests conducted over a 34-month period (March 2004 - December 2006), the largest collection of data of its kind in the world.

The tests were conducted in cooperation with a network of over 1500 HVAC-IAQ professionals who placed the AirAdvice IAQ monitor in homes across North America to test for six indoor air problem types: particle allergens, chemical pollutants (volatile organic compounds), temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. At an average of 4,320 unique air samples per test, this represents the analysis of about 1.3 billion air samples.

In addition to providing information on the nature, frequency, and severity of indoor air quality problems in homes, the AirAdvice State of Our Indoor Air Report 2007 offers tips and guidelines to create a better indoor environment in your home. Improving your home's air by uncovering and resolving indoor air quality problems creates a healthier, more comfortable environment and can result in significant energy cost savings.

The 28-page AirAdvice State of Our Indoor Air Report 2007 is available for download at http://www.airadvice.com/company_info/publications.html. Or, visit www.airadvice.com for additional indoor air quality resources and information.

About AirAdvice
AirAdvice, Inc., was founded in 1999 to support and improve quality of life for people suffering from conditions related to poor indoor air quality. The company developed the AirAdvice® HVAC-IAQ™ Program to enable HVAC contractors to successfully diagnose indoor air quality (IAQ) problems and recommend the right filtration, ventilation, and humidification solutions as well as traditional heating and cooling solutions. The patented AirAdvice monitors take the guesswork out of identifying IAQ problems and provide independent reports to help consumers make informed decisions about improving their indoor environments.

More than 1,500 HVAC contractors and 30 distribution companies across North America use the AirAdvice HVAC-IAQ Program. For more information, visit www.airadvice.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:45 PM | Comments (0)

Radiant Barriers an Integral Part of Green Construction

New study shows substantial energy savings through radiant barrier roof sheathing.

Atlanta, Ga. (Vocus/PRWEB ) June 19, 2007 -- Have you ever touched a south or west facing interior wall on a summer afternoon? The heat you feel is the result of radiant heat from the sun.

If a well-insulated wall conducts this amount of heat, how much of this heat enters your home through the attic and adversely affects your utility bills? The answer is "a lot," and one solution that is rapidly gaining in popularity is radiant barrier roof sheathing. Energy conservation measures in residential construction typically focus on reducing air leakage and using energy efficient products. And while these tactics are effective as part of an overall conservation strategy, they don't address the effects of radiant heat.

A recent study conducted by the Atlanta-based EarthCraft House Program found that LP® TechShield®, radiant barrier roof sheathing produced by LP Building Products, reduced peak cooling demand by almost 19 percent. LP TechShield consists of regular oriented strand board (OSB) with a thin, durable sheet of aluminum laminated to the smooth side of the panel. The aluminum acts as the radiant barrier and prevents radiant heat from entering the attic.

"This study further validates the real world benefits of LP TechShield radiant barrier," said Rusty Carroll, OSB marketing manager. "We believe demand for this product in the Sun Belt will keep growing dramatically as more and more people learn how it can reduce both air conditioner sizing and peak cooling demand, thus saving on energy costs."

In the analysis, the EarthCraft House Program compared four Atlanta area Haven Homes properties using two different floor plans: the Raleigh (3,616 sq. ft.) and the Darlington (3,100 sq. ft.). The four homes in the program's study included two-story floor plans, low-e windows and R-30 insulated ceilings. In addition, the duct systems and building envelopes of the homes were also well-sealed. Each home also had two HVAC systems, one in the attic and one in the basement or conditioned area. Two of the four homes featured LP TechShield panels while the other pair did not.

According to David Wasserman, the senior research engineer who conducted the analysis, LP TechShield radiant barriers dramatically reduced the peak cooling demand by 14.7 percent and 18.8 percent in the Darlington and Raleigh model homes, respectively. The reduction in peak cooling allows Haven Homes to reduce the size of HVAC units anywhere from 10 to 15 percent depending on the application.

Carroll said more and more builders are recognizing the long-term benefits of LP TechShield in terms of reduced HVAC unit sizes and in delivering a value-added benefit that will pay dividends to homeowners for years to come.

"Anyone who is building a home in the Sun Belt needs to be aware of the advantages of installing radiant barrier roof sheathing such as LP TechShield," Carroll said. "They will save substantial dollars on energy costs over the years."

For more information, go to www.lpcorp.com/techshield.

LP, headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., is a premier supplier of building products, manufacturing innovative, high-quality commodity and specialty products to its retail, wholesale, homebuilding and industrial customers. LP is a registered trademark of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation. The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Visit LP's Web site at www.lpcorp.com for additional information on the company.

Haven Properties is a 100 percent Premier EarthCraft House builder and 2006 Energy Star Partner of the Year based in Atlanta.

About EarthCraft House Program
EarthCraft House is a program the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association developed through a partnership with Southface Energy Institute, government and industry leaders. EarthCraft House is a voluntary green building program that serves as a blueprint for healthy, comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment. For more information, visit EarthCraft House at www.earthcrafthouse.org.

About Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association
Founded in 1945 by a group of builders looking for an organization to serve their interests and needs within the homebuilding industry, the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (HBA) is a not-for-profit professional trade association dedicated to promoting, protecting and preserving the homebuilding industry as a viable economic force in the Atlanta area. The HBA is one of more than 800 local homebuilder associations throughout the U.S. and is affiliated with the Home Builders Association of Georgia and the National Association of Home Builders. With approximately 3,800 members, the HBA is the second largest local homebuilders association in the U.S. and represents the most active residential building market in the country for the last 14 consecutive years. For more information, visit Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association at www.atlantahomebuilders.com

About Southface
Since 1978, Southface has encouraged responsible solutions for environmental living. Driven by the Southeast's growing need to save energy and water and preserve our natural resources, Southface has successfully fostered unique partnerships with public, private and nonprofit organizations. Southface programs and publications reach design and construction professionals, homeowners, government officials and others to promote sustainable homes, workplaces and communities through education, research, advocacy and technical assistance. For more information, visit Southface at www.southface.org.

Contact:
Ken Smith, APR
(336) 812-2018

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:44 PM | Comments (0)

Fire Tragedies Dominate News During National Home Safety Month

PEARL Protected, makers of the recessed permanent fire escape ladder, urges homeowners to create and practice fire safety escape plans.

Atlanta, Ga. (PRWEB) June 19, 2007 -- Just midway through National Home Safety Month, tragic house fires continue to dominate the headlines. There have been more than a dozen major multi-death house fires reported by the media in the past three weeks, including two house fires in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Louisville, Kentucky that killed seven children.

David Duley, CEO of PEARL Protected®, the creators of the patented Permanent Escape And Rescue Ladder (PEARL®) for two and three-story homes, comments: "These tragedies are horrific. But, the real tragedy is what we don't learn from the headlines. How many of us will go home and practice our fire escape plan or test our smoke alarms? It should be the first thing we think of when we hear of people, especially children, losing their lives in house fires."

Today, PEARL Protected urges homeowners and residents to complete the Home Safety Council's Home Safety Checklist which can be found online at www.hsc.org. This comprehensive checklist will walk readers through all aspects of home safety, from fall prevention to poison control and fire safety.

Additionally, PEARL Protected shares tips on how to prepare a customized fire safety plan for your home based on four critical components: prevention, detection, suppression and escape:

Prevention

Be sure an adult is always in the kitchen or by the grill when cooking.
Never leave a candle unattended and keep flames at least three feet away from curtains, furniture or other flammable materials.
Keep matches and lighters out of sight and reach of children.
Keep fuel or liquid that can catch on fire, like gasoline, propane, or kerosene, in a safe container outside of the home in a garage or shed.
If anyone in your home smokes, use heavy, non-tip ashtrays and make sure all cigarettes/cigars are fully extinguished.
Discard frayed or cracked electrical cords.

Detection

Make sure you have smoke alarms on every level (even the basement).
Check to make sure all smoke alarm batteries work. Then, check again every six months. Remember, if you're smoke alarm is more than 10 years old, replace it.
Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings. Smoke rises!
Never remove a battery or disarm a smoke alarm.
Make sure everyone in your home knows the sound of the smoke alarm, what to do next and that the alarm is loud enough to wake up sleeping children and adults.

Suppression

Keep a fire extinguisher handy in fire-prone areas, like the kitchen and garage, for small fires.
No matter how small the fire, if you can't extinguish it immediately, get out!

Escape

Identify two SAFE ways out of every room in the house, especially upstairs. Draw these exits on a map and place a copy in every room.
If your secondary exit out of an upstairs room is a window, have an easy-to-deploy escape ladder nearby. Permanent escape ladders are an excellent alternative. Unlike portable ladders, they are right where you need them, when you need them and are easy enough for a child to deploy.
Practice fire escape drills twice a year. Have everyone practice escaping every room in the house and practice crawling low under smoke.
Pick an outside meeting place where everyone can gather after they've escaped. Remember to mark this spot on your fire escape map!
Keep doors, stairways and other exits clear of toys, furniture and other clutter.
Memorize the emergency phone number of the fire department. Remind everyone that they should get out first, and then call for help from outside or at a neighbor's home.
Close the door behind you. This will slow the spread of fire and smoke.

PEARL has become one of the most recognizable names in residential fire safety innovation and education. As a permanent escape ladder that is recessed into the interior wall space beneath second or third story windows, PEARL is designed to be quickly and easily deployed in the event of a fire, home invasion or other home emergency. The device features high-tech engineering and materials that make it the most reliable and easy-to-use secondary escape option on the market today. PEARL has received the Home Safety Council's 2006 Product Innovation Award and has been featured on multiple episodes of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. PEARL has been also been showcased on NBC's Today and CBS's The Early Show.

To learn more about how to protect your home, please visit the National Fire Protection Association's website at www.nfpa.org. For more information on the PEARL permanent escape ladder, visit www.pearlprotected.com.

About PEARL Protected
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, PEARL Protected is redefining the standards of home and fire safety through its patented, breakthrough product - PEARL - a revolutionary Permanent Escape And Rescue Ladder that can be quickly and easily deployed in the event of a residential fire or other home emergency. It is currently available through a variety of channels, including the nation's largest homebuilders, building supply dealers, home safety companies and remodelers and maintenance specialists. PEARL can also be ordered directly through the PEARL Protected website (www.pearlprotected.com) or via phone at 800.374.5737.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:43 PM | Comments (0)

TopServicePros.com Announces New Home Improvement Related Newsgroup Forums

TopServicePros.com enables homeowners to find the right home related service company for their needs, and allows service professionals to expand their reach to potential clients. The site now includes a set of home improvement related newsgroup forums.

Huntsville, AL (PRWEB) June 19, 2007 -- Homeowners looking for local home improvement professionals can do so for free at TopServicePros.com. A proprietary search mechanism allows homeowners to enter their zip code and receive a list of professionals servicing their area. A new feature of the site is a home improvement newsgroup forum system. These popular forums allow homeowners and service professionals to discuss issues about home improvement, construction, renovation and repair, as well as lawn and garden and house cleaning tips. Dozens of new topics are being created and discussed daily and the forums can be reached directly at www.TopServicePros.com/forum.

"With the addition of the newsgroup forums we are adding the ability for homeowners to exchange advice about any home improvement related topic," said Richard Thoms, President of TopServicePros.com. "This is an added benefit to a Web site that has always made it easy for homeowners to find local professionals in their area."

TopServicePros.com has a simple two-click process to provide a listing of each service professional in the homeowner's area. Clicking on these results will give the homeowner more detailed information about the service professional, as well as contact information, services provided and license and insurance information. The site categorizes dozens of professional services, including home improvement and repair businesses, home remodeling and additions businesses, landscaping, handyman, painting, maid services and electricians, among others.

The site also benefits home service providers, allowing them to add their company quickly and easily. The homeowner's search results are listed by the service professional's join date, so the earlier a professional joins, the higher their company will appear on the list. TopServicePros.com's zip code radius mechanism allows service professionals to specify the target area they serve, avoiding the likelihood of getting service leads from distant locations.

"TopServicePros.com is one of the easiest ways for service professionals to increase their Web presence and connect with local clients," Thoms said, "and with the addition of the newsgroup forums, we've added a great resource for homeowners."

About Top Service Pros, Inc.
Top Service Pros, Inc. provides an online directory connecting homeowners to local home service professionals and home improvement contractors. While the directory contains service professionals from across the nation, the proprietary search algorithms return only those companies local to the searching homeowner. Top Service Pros, Inc. is a constantly growing community of service professionals and homeowners and a major resource for people searching for local service professionals. For more information go to www.TopServicePros.com.

Contact Information:
Richard Thoms
President, Top Service Pros, Inc.
richard (at) TopServicePros (dot) com
256-694-0771

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:42 PM | Comments (0)

First Release Homes Offers Homebuyers the Best Value and Selection when Purchasing a Pre-Built Home or Condo

Through a recent partnership with Clayton Homes, one of largest manufactured home builders in the country, FirstReleaseHomes.com now offers homebuyers the option to search for manufactured pre-built homes in more than 400 cities nationwide.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) June 19, 2007 -- Through a recent partnership with Clayton Homes, one of largest manufactured home builders in the country, First Release Homes (www.firstreleasehomes.com) now offers homebuyers the option to search for manufactured pre-built homes in more than 400 cities nationwide. A manufactured home is built entirely in the factory under federal code administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Building materials are purchased in bulk, assembled under the highest standards and delivered to the home site.

Today's factory-built homes bear little resemblance to their predecessors - the boxy, narrow, flat-roofed mobile homes of the past. Now, uniquely designed factory-built homes are taking their places in more and more communities, including traditional subdivisions. Built indoors and shipped to the homebuyers selected destination, these new homes offer a challenge for those who think they can tell the difference between factory and site-built houses.

"Factory-built homes offer exceptional value and provide homeowners with more amenities than ever before," says Chris Nicely, Vice President of Marketing for Clayton Homes. "Additionally, the efficiencies and quality of factory craftsmanship make it possible for buyers to get more home for their money."

With the availability of numerous financing options and an industry-wide commitment to design excellence comparable to traditionally ground up construction, factory-built housing is now an exciting and affordable alternative for homebuyers."

We are very excited to add one of the largest manufactured home builders to our growing list of quality builders and developers across the country seeking to showcase their pre-released or just released homes, condos, town homes, lofts, master planned and resort communities to a highly targeted home buying audience in the early stages of planning and development," says James Uberti, President and CEO of First Release Homes.

About First Release Homes
First Release Homes, Inc. (www.firstreleasehomes.com) is one of the largest coming soon and just released new home resources for homebuyers and investors seeking the best value and selection to locate, track and purchase a new home the moment it's released for sale often before the general public becomes aware of the initial release through traditional marketing and advertising. For more information about First Release Homes or to become a featured builder please visit us online or call toll free 888-907-7770.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:42 PM | Comments (0)

Chief Manufacturing, Leader in Projector & Flat Panel Mounts, is First in the Industry to Receive UL Listing for it's New Steed Stud Mounts

Chief, the industry leader in flat panel TV and projector mounts, worked directly with UL to ensure that the steel stud mounting kits reached UL safety standards.

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) June 19, 2007 -- www.chiefmfg.com - Chief Manufacturing, leader in projector and flat panel mounts, is excited to announce that the steel stud mount kits and accessories are the first in the industry to be UL Listed! The UL listing ensures that the mounting kits and accessories have achieved the safety standards set forth by UL. Chief worked directly with UL to manufacture the industry's first UL listed steel stud swing arms for 10-50" flat panel displays up to 125 lbs (18 kg).

Solving a real challenge for installers, the kits safely integrate Chief swing arm mounts into steel stud installations. Choose from fully assembled kits that include all needed hardware or retrofit existing swing arm mounts with a convenient adapter plate accessory.

Chief offers the UL listed FWDSK™ fully assembled swing arm mount and FSA1018™ single stud wall plate for small flat panel displays (10-26"). Chief also offers the FWGSK™ swing arm mount that is not yet UL listed. The JWDSK™ swing arm mount and MAC118™ dual stud wall plate for medium flat panel displays (27-40") are compatible with 16/20/24" center studs and UL listed for 16" center studs. For large flat panel displays (30-50"), Chief offers the MWRSK™ and PWRSK™ swing arms, and the MAC119™ multiple stud wall plate accessory that are compatible with 16/20/24" center studs and UL listed for 16" centers.

Chief was recently approved by the Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) to be a certified Client Data Test Site (CDTS). With the new test site, Chief will be able to test most products for UL standards in-house and submit the paperwork to UL for review (automated products will not be tested by Chief).

About Chief
Chief Manufacturing, a division of CSAV Inc. - Chief/Sanus Audio Visual, has more than 29 years of proven product and service excellence. Committed to responding to industry needs in the Pro AV, Residential and Office markets, Chief offers a complete line of mounts, lifts and accessories for flat panel displays and projectors.

Chief continues to design innovative mounting solutions that complement the technology they support. With multiple product awards and patented designs, Chief provides unique mount features, and is recognized for delivering not only quality products, but knowledgeable, helpful customer service.

U.S. and Europe sales offices support a global network spanning the Americas, Europe, the Pacific Rim and beyond. Chief distribution centers are located in Minnesota and the Netherlands. www.chiefmfg.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:41 PM | Comments (0)

Solar Innovations Announces Unique Maintenance-Free Skylights

Solar Innovations, a custom manufacturer of sloped glazing products and versatile line of operable doors and windows, announces unique, maintenance free skylights. This maintenance-free aluminum exterior together with decorative wood interior options is not offered by any other skylight manufacturer.

Myerstown, PA (PRWEB) June 19, 2007 -- Solar Innovations, a custom manufacturer of sloped glazing products, announces unique, maintenance free skylights. This maintenance free aluminum exterior together with decorative wood interior options is not offered by any other skylight manufacturer. From a simple double pitch or flat skylight to a segmented barrel vault or true radius dome skylight, Solar Innovations creates a limitless range of customized maintenance free skylight alternatives.

Solar Innovations offers skylights in a 7" wood system. "These systems are maintenance free aluminum on the exterior with either a solid wood or wood laminate interior". Standard wood options include solid mahogany and Southern Yellow Pine laminate. Upon special request, laminates of Western Red Cedar, Spanish Cedar (straight eave applications only), and Douglas Fir are also available. Solar Innovations' advanced aluminum weep control system carries water and condensation away from the wood, ensuring the safety of the interior wood application. The potential of Solar Innovations' wood interior systems is limitless, with the addition of decorative trim and other accessories. Solar Innovations will prepare the wood surfaces for final finishing with a protective water based sealer that minimizes damage and discoloration during delivery and installation. Final sanding and finishing is to be completed by the purchaser. It is the customer's responsibility to properly maintain the finish on the wood to preserve the warranty of the skylight. Solar Innovations does not recommend using the decorative wood interior option for skylights installed in high humidity environments, especially rooms that are used in pool and spa or greenhouse applications.

An expert in skylight design, Solar Innovations will work with you or, if you choose, your architect, contractor, or dealer to help you create the perfect maintenance free skylight to meet your needs. Solar Innovations will match glass panels, size, roof pitch, colors and accessories to create a unique focal point or to seamlessly blend into the surrounding architecture. Solar Innovations applies the same high standards and strict structural requirements in our residential products as we do in our high-end commercial systems. The systems may not always have the lowest initial cost, but the products are superior in quality, saving costly repairs and replacements in the future.

Solar Innovations, based in Myerstown, PA, is a custom manufacturer of aluminum glazed structures. For more information on Solar Innovations' product line, including skylights, conservatories, greenhouses, sunrooms, folding glass walls, sliding doors and windows, and much more, contact Solar at (800) 618-0669.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:40 PM | Comments (0)

New Construction Projects Up For Bid in the Miami, FL Area

BidClerk.com's report of commercial construction projects planning to go out for bid and start construction within the next 90 days.

(PRWEB) June 19, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following commercial construction projects are planning to go out for bid or start construction in the next 90 days in the Miami, FL area. Businesses interested in providing services relative to these projects should visit BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

Miami, FL - Home Depot #6882, 8400 Coral Way, 100,000-square-foot national chain retail store, August 2007, $8 million. Project ID: 619426

Doral, FL - Residence Inn, 3959 NW 79th Ave., 160-room hotel, September 2007, $10 million. Project ID: 621996

Miami, FL - Dolphin Mall Luxury Theatre, 11471 NW 12th St., 20,000-square-foot cinema, August 2007, $2.5 million. Project ID: 612054

Miami Beach, FL - 301 Miami Beach, Pine Terrace Drive and W 42nd Street, 50-unit condominium building, October 2007, $8 million. Project ID: 612131

Miami Beach, FL - Lincoln Road Plaza, 1111 Lincoln Ln., 11,000-foot commercial building, August 2007, $1.5 million. Project ID: 556027

BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in depth information on thousands of Florida construction projects coming up for bid all throughout the United States. Our daily updates of commercial and residential construction project leads are available to contractors and businesses in related industries that are seeking bid opportunities. For more information on bidding construction projects in your area, visit BidClerk online or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)

BidClerk.com Reports Construction Projects Up For Bid in Atlanta, GA

BidClerk's daily update of bidding construction projects in the Atlanta, GA area.
(PRWEB) June 19, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following construction projects are planning to go out for bid or start construction in the next 90 days in the Atlanta area. Businesses interested in providing services relative to these projects should visit BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

Atlanta, GA - Rames Properties, 4828 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, 20,250-square-foot office building, August 2007, $2 million. Project ID: 622761

Atlanta, GA - Serrano, Roswell Road., 150-unit condominium complex, July 2007, $17.5 million. Project ID: 607066

Atlanta, GA - W Hotel, 188 14th St.., hotel remodel, August 2007, $20 million. Project ID: 615561

Alpharetta, GA - Child Neurology Associates, 3300 Old Milton Pkwy, 2,831-square-foot clinic renovation, July 2007, $400,000. Project ID: 624959

Marietta, GA - Texaco, 2246 Austell Road, 4,500-square-foot service station, July 2007, $700,000. Project ID: 624403

BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in depth information on thousands of Georgia construction projects coming up for bid all throughout the United States. Our daily updates of residential commercial construction projects leads are available to contractors and businesses in related industries that are seeking bid opportunities. For more information on bidding construction projects in your area, visit www.bidclerk.com or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)

ServiceLighting.com Now Offers More Than 15,000 Light Bulbs and Accessories Online

Service Lighting, Inc. recently surpassed more than 15,000 light bulbs and accessories available through their shopping cart at ServiceLighting.com. Online in 1996, ServiceLighting.com was the web's first light bulb e-commerce store, and they are still the web's largest and most complete online light bulb source

Maple Grove, Minn. (PRWEB) June 18, 2007 -- Service Lighting, Inc. recently surpassed more than 15,000 light bulbs and accessories available through their shopping cart at ServiceLighting.com. Online in 1996, ServiceLighting.com was the web's first light bulb e-commerce store, and they are still the web's largest and most complete online light bulb source

ServiceLighting.com offers an incredible selection and a proprietary search engine written specifically for the lighting industry. This makes finding light bulb replacements extremely easy. Most of the products are displayed with exclusive high-resolution photos and detailed specifications, which greatly assist the consumer in accurately locating their product

ServiceLighting.com provides many great proprietary programs to assist the user in having the ultimate online shopping experience. Included is an Energy Savings Calculator that will provide exact energy bill savings based on replacing select incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. They also provide an intuitive Custom Order Form that allows customers to customize their lighting needs based on previous orders. This enables the customer to input specific usage locations for the lighting products and easily re-order directly from the form.

"At Service Lighting, we are committed to providing the most user-friendly and service oriented lighting store on the web," says Dave McLellan, President of Service Lighting, Inc. "Our customer support center allows the customer to speak to someone personally about any and all lighting questions in order to achieve a confident and easy buying experience."

ServiceLighting.com provides a complete online catalog of Osram Sylvania light bulbs and ballasts; Westinghouse light bulbs, fixtures and ceiling fans; Eveready, Duracell and Surefire batteries and flashlights; Maxlite, Panasonic and TCP compact fluorescent light bulbs; Eiko Miniature and Photo, LCD and DLP Projector light bulbs; medical, dental and scientific lighting; GE and Philips replacement light bulbs; and Christmas lights and holiday lighting year round. The website's Bulb Finder feature can cross-reference to find that hard-to-find replacement bulb and provide the exact light bulb you need every time.

Due to phenomenal growth through its website, Service Lighting, Inc. moved out of Fridley, MN in 2005 to a new 21,000 square foot facility in Maple Grove, MN. In-stock orders are shipped within 48 hours, and there are no minimum orders.

"It has always been our firm belief that customer service is number one," adds McLellan. "Whatever lighting product you're looking for, we do our best to locate it for you and at a very reasonable price. If the light bulb is available, we can supply it for you."

For information, please contact Brian Mayes at Nashville Publicity Group, (615) 417-8149.

www.servicelighting.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:35 PM | Comments (0)

Manufacturer of Heat Transfer Products Rolls Out New Hydronic Boiler

Fulton, a global manufacturer of heat transfer products, announces the rollout of its new boiler.

Pulaski, NY (PRWEB) June 18, 2007 - Fulton, a global manufacturer of heat transfer products, is proud to introduce the Pulse 2000 Hydronic Low Emissions Boiler (PHW 2000LE).

The PHW 2000LE is pre-certified to South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 1146.2 with consistent NOx emissions of less than 30 PPM at all firing rates. Existing Pulse Hydronic boilers can also be retrofitted to meet the low emissions standards set forth by SCAQMD Rule 1146.2.

The low emissions design provides all the advantages of the natural Pulse combustion process in an even more environmentally friendly design; making it the perfect boiler for installation in sustainable buildings where low emissions are requested.

As with Fulton’s traditional Pulse Hydronic Boiler, the PHW 2000LE can be plugged into a standard 120 VAC outlet. The PHW 2000LE has extremely low electrical consumption; less than one amp of current draw during boiler operation.

One residential Energy Star refrigerator uses more electricity annually than five Pulse PHW 2000LE boilers.

About Fulton:
Fulton is a global manufacturer of heat transfer products. It has facilities in Pulaski NY with additional facilities in Great Britain, Canada and China. It is a family owned business manufacturing an array of heat transfer products sold throughout the world.

Fulton Boiler Works has been manufacturing the Vertical Tubeless Boiler since its invention in 1949. Fulton Heating Solutions employs pulse combustion technology in the manufacture of their commercial and industrial steam and hydronic boilers. Fulton Thermal Corporation specializes in designing and building complex heat transfer systems for combined heating and cooling systems.

Contact:
Amy Slade, Marketing Analyst
The Fulton Companies
315-298-5121
http://www.fulton.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:34 PM | Comments (0)

Steel and Metal Self-Storage Buildings Become Neighborhood Friendly

In a new trend, self-storage facilities are seeking to become more neighborhood and environmentally friendly. And as usual, American Steel Buildings is ahead of the curve.

Tulsa, Okla. (PRWEB) June 18, 2007 -- Steel and metal self-storage buildings have a reputation of not being the prettiest girl at the prom. However, in a new trend, self-storage facilities are seeking to become more neighborhood and environmentally friendly. And as usual, American Steel Buildings is ahead of the curve.

"More and more, it's becoming the trend for steel and metal buildings to fit into the neighborhood they're built in," said Dean Brown, president of American Steel Buildings. "It's something we've been talking to our customers about, and they've been taking our advice."

Thanks to the planning and zoning commissions in cities and towns, it's become more important than ever for new businesses to maintain the look of the neighborhood they're moving into. A number of cities have guidelines for potential builders to consider when they're thinking of building in a new neighborhood. Everything from height and scale compatibility and architecture to the pedestrian environment and landscaping needs to be taken into consideration.

"With this trend, you really need to impress the planning and zoning departments of your city," said Brown. "You need to show that you won't only blend in with the neighborhood, but that it'll stand out as an impressive facility. You'd be surprised at how much, in this case, fitting in can help you stand out."

Making sure steel and metal self-storage buildings will fit in with their neighborhood has more benefits aside from just being aesthetically pleasing. It will make the business truly a part of the community it's in, and it will keep buying interest strong.

"The visual aspect will enhance current business, but it also keeps up a strong, invisible 'for sale' interest," Brown said. "Many larger corporations are looking to add self-storage facilities to their own portfolios, and if yours is one that looks great and meshes seamlessly with the neighborhood, it could be you they're looking at."

Though blending metal and steel buildings with the surrounding neighborhood may seem difficult, it's not impossible. For more information on upgrading your metal and steel buildings and adding value to your community, visit American Steel Buildings at GoSteelGo.com or call 1-800-400-5121.

About American Steel

American Steel Buildings designs and distributes quality pre-engineered commercial steel buildings, including mini-storage/self-storage buildings, offices, shops, retail businesses, warehouses, churches and agricultural buildings.

American Steel planted its roots in the heart of America in the 1980s. American Steel offers service and quality products to a growing customer base that now spans the entire United States.

Since its buildings include construction drawings, most smaller buildings can be erected with basic construction knowledge. However, American Steel also offers erection labor services, and all buildings are designed to be compliant with local codes.

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Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:34 PM | Comments (0)

Senior Housing Development Services Launched by Aging Services Provider Ecumen

Nationwide senior housing projects get easier with formation of new development partnership

Shoreview, MN (PRWEB) June 18, 2007 -- http://www.ecumen.org - Aging services provider Ecumen, Minnesota's largest non-profit senior housing company, has expanded with the launch of its senior housing development partnership TEAM Ecumen.

Collaborating with Ecumen in this endeavor are Minneapolis-based Adolfson & Peterson Construction, who will serve as general contractor on Ecumen-led projects, and St. Paul-based Pope Associates, who will be the lead architect.

"This partnership is focused on creating senior housing that enhances the larger community," says Steve Ordahl, senior vice president of business development services for Ecumen. "This partnership dramatically simplifies the senior housing development process for our clients."

An early senior housing project by Ecumen, already in progress, is in Sandpoint, Idaho, which was recently named one of the country's Top 10 Retirement Spots by U.S. News & World Report. Being developed in partnership with the First Lutheran Church of Sandpoint, the Luther Park at Sandpoint senior housing development will include independent and assisted living and be physically connected to the church.

Senior housing development projects designed in conjunction with faith communities represent a growth area in markets nationwide. Unfortunately the complexities and expenses of dealing with multiple vendors on a single development project keep many such projects from ever getting off the ground.

"TEAM Ecumen, by combining our partners' proficiencies, reduces or eliminates many of the hurdles that organizations encounter when developing senior housing," says Ordahl.

Ecumen also provides senior housing management services. Ecumen currently manages more than 40 senior housing and long-term care communities for other owners. In addition to its Idaho project, Ecumen is involved in several other senior housing development projects in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

About The Partners
Ecumen
Ecumen (www.ecumen.org) is based in Shoreview, Minn., and is one of the largest non-profit senior housing companies in the United States. The name Ecumen comes from the word ecumenical, which in turn is derived from the Greek word for home: "Oikos." Ecumen works to create "home" for older adults wherever they choose to live. Ecumen is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and has 4,000 team members.

Adolfson & Peterson Construction
Based in Minneapolis, Adolfson & Peterson Construction (A&P) (www.a-p.com) provides project delivery solutions for senior housing, religious and healthcare providers. With sales in excess of $425 million, Adolfson & Peterson is currently ranked 82 on the Engineering News-Record Top 400 General Contractors list. Adolfson & Peterson has offices in Minnesota, Colorado, Arizona, and Texas.

Pope Associates
Based in Saint Paul, Pope Associates Inc.(www.popearch.com) is one of the Upper Midwest's largest architectural firms and maintains registration in 32 states. Pope's extensive senior housing portfolio includes cooperatives, condominiums, rentals, independent and assisted living, memory care, health centers and continuing care retirement communities.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:33 PM | Comments (0)

Small Business Confidence Indexes Rise In Three Key US Industries; Owners Plan to Increase Hiring During Next 12 Months SBRB Reports

Outlook for Construction / Contracting, Manufacturing, Food Industries improved during second quarter says SBRB report prepared in conjunction with International Profit Associates.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. (BusinessWire EON) June 18, 2007 -- The Small Business Research Board (SBRB) reported today that the outlook for small businesses in three key U.S. industry categories has improved from the previous quarter and that the majority of owners are predicting hiring to increase during the next 12 months.

The SBRB Small Business Confidence Index (SBCI) for businesses in construction and contracting, manufacturing and the food industries all showed increases from the previous quarter according to a report issued here today co-sponsored by International Profit Associates (IPA). The higher SBCI tabulations in all three categories were driven by sharply increased plans for hiring -- even though concerns were expressed about the strength of the U.S. economy.

Overall, the SBCI for the construction and contracting industry was the only one of the three key segments to exceed the index for all US small businesses.

The SBCI for the construction and contracting industry rose to 48 during the second quarter of 2007 as compared to the 43.4 reported during the previous period. The higher construction and contracting SBCI resulted entirely from plans for increased hiring over the next 12 months. A full 50% of the respondents indicated they will increase hiring compared to 31.1% that were prepared to make that commitment during the first quarter. Respondents said they were prepared to add staff despite showing a slight drop in their opinion about the strength of the economy. Fewer businesses in this category also are projecting revenue increases.

The construction and contracting SBCI, by comparison, was two points higher than the overall US SBCI of 46 during the quarter. (The US SBCI also posted an increase during the quarter up from the previously recorded 40.78.) The construction and contracting industry also was higher than the SBCI tabulations for the manufacturing industry of 40.33 and the food industry SBCI, which also were 40.33. Both were slight increases from the prior quarter.

Manufacturing business share concern about the outlook for the economy, but the majority are now expecting their revenues to improve over the next 12 months. Moreover, 33% of the respondents believe they will increase hiring during that period, as opposed to 23.3% in the previous period.

Food industry respondents were the most pessimistic about the economy and showed the biggest drop in percentage of businesses which expect revenues to increase (48% down from 55.1%). However, 40% are planning to add staff, up from 24.4%.

“It appears that companies are going to place tremendous pressure on existing employees and new hires to meet their goals during the next 12 months,” said Gregg M. Steinberg, President of IPA. “We can expect businesses to introduce and expand training programs for all employees as the principal means for increasing productivity.”

More than 770 small business owners participated in the nationwide poll. The universe of participants is developed from among small businesses across the United States. The SBRB study is a voluntary survey conducted quarterly.

The Small Business Research Board ascertains and reports the opinions of small business owners and managers on a wide variety of topics related to their own businesses as well as national and international issues that may impact their operations. The SBRB conducts these studies for the benefit of small business owners and managers. The SBRB also provides opportunities for third parties to gain real time insight into the attitudes of small businesses nationwide through the independently conducted research.

The latest information about the Small Business Research Board can be found at www.ipasbrb.com.

International Profit Associates, Inc. (IPA) is the largest privately-held provider of management consulting services to small and medium-size businesses in North America. IPA and its more than 1,800 professionals offer a wide range of proven and innovative methodologies to help businesses grow and prosper regardless of the economic cycle. IPA either provides directly or through its affiliated companies a comprehensive array of business advisory services, tax and estate planning services or merger, acquisition and other financial advisory services in the United States and Canada. More information about IPA can be found at www.ipa-iba.com.

SBRB INDUSTRY COMPARISONS May/June 2007 vs. Prior Quarter

ALL Construction/ Food Manufacturing
US Contracting

SBRB
(current) 46 48 40.3 40.3

Prior
SBCI 40.78 43.4 38.03 37.0






Economy 43 42.0 33 36
Improving

Prior 40.07 43.4 34.6 40.0






Revenues
To Increase
58 52 48 52


Prior 53.71 55.7 55.1 47.8







Hiring
To Increase
37 50 40 33


Prior 28.71 31.1 24.4 23.3

Copyright 2007 Small Business Research Board (SBRB)

For more information about this poll, results of previous studies or other matters related to the SBRB, please contact Raymond D. Minkus, (847) 441-4192.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:32 PM | Comments (0)

Leica Geosystems Introduces Leica GMX901 High Precision Single Frequency GPS with an Integrated Smart Antenna for Affordable, Monitoring Alternative

Ideally suited for precision geodetic monitoring of sensitive structures, the new Leica GMX901 GPS receiver with an integrated antenna delivers an unbeatable combination of simplicity and durability with low power consumption.

Norcross, Ga. (Vocus/PRWEB ) June 18, 2007 -- Ideally suited for precision geodetic monitoring of sensitive structures, the new Leica GMX901 GPS receiver with an integrated antenna delivers an unbeatable combination of simplicity and durability with low power consumption. The GMX901 streams precise single frequency code and phase data up to 1 Hz, providing the basis for highly accurate position determination and deformation analysis.

The receiver is housed in a robust water, heat, cold and vibration resistant unit that is easily mounted on a range of structures including mines, slopes, bridges, dams and buildings. The system connects seamlessly to the Leica Geosystems' Spider Network, an advanced GPS processing software for coordinate calculation and raw data storage. In addition, the GMX901 seamlessly integrates with Leica GeoMoS monitoring software to provide integration with other sensors or analyze structural movements and calculate limit checks. Surveyors can also integrate third party analysis software via the standard National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) protocol.

Gerard Manley, Vice President of Engineering for Leica Geosystems, says, " The GMX901 provides customers with an affordable and reliable GPS monitoring solution." The evolution of the GMX901 was completely driven by customer requests from around the world.

Leica Geosystems - when it has to be right
With close to 200 years of pioneering solutions to measure the world, Leica Geosystems products and services are trusted by professionals worldwide to help them capture, analyze, and present spatial information. Leica Geosystems is best known for its broad array of products that capture accurately, model quickly, analyze easily, and visualize and present spatial information.

Those who use Leica products every day trust them for their dependability, the value they deliver, and the superior customer support. Based in Heerbrugg, Switzerland, Leica Geosystems is a global company with tens of thousands of customers supported by more than 2,400 employees in 22 countries and hundreds of partners located in more than 120 countries around the world. Leica Geosystems is part of the Hexagon Group, Sweden.

For further information please contact:
Andre Ribeiro
Director of Marketing
Leica Geosystems Inc.
Atlanta, GA 30092
United States
Phone: + (770) 326-9557
E-mail: andre.ribeiro(@)leicaus.com
Web Site: www.leica-geosystems.us

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:32 PM | Comments (0)

Leica Geosystems to Open 'Geomatics Center of Excellence' in Houston, TX - Offering Direct Sales, Service, and Support

High-tech facility emphasizes application of advanced solutions and customized training.

Norcross, Ga. (Vocus/PRWEB ) June 18, 2007 -- Leica Geosystems announces the creation of its first ever "Geomatics Center of Excellence", an innovative technology showcase and educational training center designed to support the surveying and engineering community throughout Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. This 4,000 square foot, modern high-tech facility located in Houston, Texas, will offer sales, support, and service for all Leica Geosystems surveying, high-definition scanning products (HDS), and reference station network infrastructures.

Andrew Hurley, Area Sales Manager for Leica Geosystems, says, "The Geomatics Center of Excellence is built with the customers' needs in mind. Throughout the planning process, we've focused on creating a facility driven by the needs of the local market where we will offer direct sales, extensive training, and post-sale support. Furthermore, this state-of-the-art facility will be equipped to provide full technical service on all products."

The Geomatics Center of Excellence is scheduled to open in late summer 2007, at which time Leica Geosystems will host an Open House Week for surveying and engineering professionals and business partners to meet with Center of Excellence employees, see demonstrations of Leica Geosystems' products, and tour the facility. Key staff at the facility will include direct sales representatives Jeff Ryall, Donald Biggs and Donnie Steel, a professional team with 30-plus years experience, collectively, in the surveying and engineering market.

Hurley concludes, "The Center of Excellence is a direct reflection of our renewed commitment to surveyors and engineers in Texas and surrounding states. We're excited about this opportunity to work hand-in-hand with these individuals and groups, sharing our knowledge, products and services while developing ideas and concepts for future advancements."

Leica Geosystems - when it has to be right
With close to 200 years of pioneering solutions to measure the world, Leica Geosystems products and services are trusted by professionals worldwide to help them capture, analyze, and present spatial information. Leica Geosystems is best known for its broad array of products that capture accurately, model quickly, analyze easily, and visualize and present spatial information.

Those who use Leica products every day trust them for their dependability, the value they deliver, and the superior customer support. Based in Heerbrugg, Switzerland, Leica Geosystems is a global company with tens of thousands of customers supported by more than 2,400 employees in 22 countries and hundreds of partners located in more than 120 countries around the world. Leica Geosystems is part of the Hexagon Group, Sweden.

For information please contact:
Andre Ribeiro
Director of Marketing
Leica Geosystems Inc.
Atlanta, GA 30092
United States
Phone: + (770) 326-9557
E-mail: andre.ribeiro(@)leicaus.com
Web Site: www.leica-geosystems.uS

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:31 PM | Comments (0)

Steckbeck Engineering Relies on Leica Geosystemsí ëSmartí Technology to Prep Windmill Farm Project and Exceed Client Expectations

Clark also integrated his two existing SR530 geodetic RTK receivers into the PA Reference Station Network, which is ran and controlled by Precise Geosystems Inc.†

Norcross, Ga. (Vocus/PRWEB ) June 18, 2007 -- When Steckbeck Engineering and Surveying, a full service civil and infrastructure consulting firm in Lebanon, PA, was asked to provide survey support for the construction of a 40 acre windmill farm in western Pennsylvania, they were told the job required speed, submeter and centimeter accuracies and a certain degree of mobility. The overall task included a forest clearance and right-of-way survey, subsequent utility surveys and a complete as-built data file at the conclusion of the project.

Clark also integrated his two existing SR530 geodetic RTK receivers into the PA Reference Station Network, which is ran and controlled by Precise Geosystems Inc.†

Norcross, Ga. (Vocus/PRWEB ) June 18, 2007 -- When Steckbeck Engineering and Surveying, a full service civil and infrastructure consulting firm in Lebanon, PA, was asked to provide survey support for the construction of a 40 acre windmill farm in western Pennsylvania, they were told the job required speed, submeter and centimeter accuracies and a certain degree of mobility. The overall task included a forest clearance and right-of-way survey, subsequent utility surveys and a complete as-built data file at the conclusion of the project.

We're about midway through the project and the combination of power and mobility has worked well. Iím particularly pleased with the ability to complete "open-ended traverses" and tie them down with GPS coordinates,î Clark adds. ìWe are continually losing ground control and the Smart Station allows us to eliminate additional traverse after the initial construction has taken our previous control.† We can set up and establish coordinates anywhere we have GPS capability. Bottom line, we could not complete this project under the given schedule any other way.

Clark believes that robotic technology is key in achieving Steckbeckís strategic goals, which include expanding in both its geographic service area and to larger more complex projects. The firm has already doubled in size in the last five years and anticipates similar expansion over the next five years.†

"GPS, cell phones and wireless technology have transformed the way I work. Bottom line, this suite of products allows me to do more types of projects ñ like the windmill farm surveyófaster and more accurately," Clark says.

Precise Geosystems Inc. worked closely with Steckbeck's Clark to find the most effective technology for the windmill farm survey job. Peter Ruel, president of Precise Geosystems, recalls, ìThe Leica SmartStation combined with the Smart Rover was clearly the best solution for the job. Using Pennsylvaniaís Reference Network, surveyors could received instant RTK positions on the coordinate system of their choosing, allowing them to set up the robotic total station anywhere. The versatility that this system allows todayís surveyors is unmatched by any other product on the market. It is simply incredible.î

Leica Geosystems - when it has to be right
With close to 200 years of pioneering solutions to measure the world, Leica Geosystems products and services are trusted by professionals worldwide to help them capture, analyze, and present spatial information. Leica Geosystems is best known for its broad array of products that captureaccurately, model quickly, analyze easily, and visualize and present spatial information.

Those who use Leica products every day trust them for their dependability, the value they deliver, and the superior customer support. Based in Heerbrugg, Switzerland, Leica Geosystems is a global company with tens of thousands of customers supported by more than 2,400 employees in 22 countries and hundreds of partners located in more than 120 countries around the world. Leica Geosystems is part of the Hexagon Group, Sweden.

For information please contact:
Andre Ribeiro
Director of Marketing
Leica Geosystems Inc.
Atlanta, GA 30092
United States
Phone: + (770) 326-9557
E-mail: andre.ribeiro(@)leicaus.com
Web Site: www.leica-geosystems.us

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:31 PM | Comments (0)

UCLA Extension Presents the Mid-Year Real Estate Forecast Conference: Consolidation & Congestion

On June 27, the UCLA Extension Mid-Year Real Estate Forecast Conference will offer real estate professionals crucial tools and knowledge to boost their ability to make sound investment decisions, improve deal structures and develop viable growth plans. Featuring the highly anticipated Mid-Year Real Estate Forecast prepared and presented by CB Richard Ellis-Torto Wheaton Research, this is a "can't miss" conference for anyone involved in the real estate industry.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 18, 2007 -- On June 27, the Beverly Hills Hotel is the place to be for the latest news on the fast-changing real estate industry. June 27 is fast approaching, but there's still time to sign up for the UCLA Extension Mid-Year Real Estate Forecast Conference: Consolidation & Congestion.

Hear from real estate experts, investors and business professionals as they discuss new trends and directions for the industry. Whether you're a real estate owner, developer, investor, broker or lender, this essential event provides crucial tools and knowledge that will boost your ability to make sound investment decisions, improve deal structures and develop viable growth plans.

The conference program includes:

The Mid-Year Real Estate Forecast, prepared and presented by CB Richard Ellis-Torto Wheaton Research;

"Urban Sprawl and Traffic Snarls: Where Do We Go from Here?" presented by L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chairman Zev Yaroslavsky;

"How Consolidation of Ownership of Major Companies Is Changing the Competitive Edge in the Real Estate Market," moderated by CBRE Senior Managing Director Jim Kruse; and

The luncheon keynote address, presented by Gensler Managing Principal Andy Cohen.

The UCLA Extension Mid-Year Real Estate Forecast Conference takes place Wednesday, June 27, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills. The fee is $325; $375 at the door, space permitting. The conference has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of California and follows the Continuing Education guidelines specified in the California Board of Accountancy Regulations.

For more information and to register online, visit www.uclaextension.edu/realestate, or call 310-206-1409.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:30 PM | Comments (0)

Insurance Consultant Develops Services to Assist Small Business

Assistance is being provided to small businesses looking to address insurance needs and assess their exposure to risk. Recognizing the need for Small Businesses to properly assess their risks and exposures while at the same time obtain objective advice on how to obtain proper coverage and appropriate pricing, Premier Risk Management LLC has developed what they refer to as the "Bucket of Services for Small Business" as a way to address that need. Such continuing innovations have allowed Premier Risk Management LLC to provide its clients with the best advice and counsel on how to protect their business assets from risk at the least possible cost.

Hasbrouck Heights, NJ (PRWEB) June 18, 2007 -- Insurance coverage reviews and insurance program marketing assistance are just two of the many services included in the "Bucket of Service for Small Business" currently offered through Premier Risk Management LLC, a forward-thinking company that is, again, revolutionizing the industry of insurance consulting by providing these types of services to small business.

"Whether a company is large, small, publicly held or something in between the issue at hand remains the same, the purchase of insurance has become extremely complex and businesses at every level need assistance with making proper choices in protecting their business assets. That's where we come in," says R. Scott Wolff, CIC, CRIS and Premier Risk Management LLC partner for the firm. "The key to what we provide is a process and objectivity. We have scaled down the best practices methods we utilize when we evaluate insurance and risk management issues for larger organizations to apply to smaller businesses. By doing so it makes it more affordable for smaller companies to gain access to quality insurance consulting services to obtain the objectivity they need and comfort with the protection program they deserve. Small businesses are the ones that can least afford a coverage gap or deficiency, they just don't have the balance sheet to support it."

"What Premier Risk Management strives to do is bring a value first approach to each and every client. This generally translates into saving the client time, money and potential heartache in the case of an uncovered claim or something along those lines. Clients are surprised to learn what their insurance program actually does and doesn't do. There is no coverage for everything, but getting direction on what should and shouldn't be according to a client's type of business is a great start, especially when there is no salesman involved."

Recently, Premier Risk Management LLC has updated their web site available at www.premierriskmgt.com that provides numerous in-depth articles and tips based on such topics as "Business Income Tips," "Contractor Tips," "Safety Awareness," "Uniformity," "Importance of Insurance Due Diligence," "Loss Control" and much more.

Potential clients can also sign up for a free newsletter that offers tip and suggestions on a variety of important insurance & risk management topics. This newsletter is distributed to clients as part of their service to keep them informed and abreast of important topics.

In addition to this, Premier Risk Management offers numerous other services. To see all of them, too many to list here, visit www.premierriskmgt.com.

About Premier Risk Management:
Premier Risk Management LLC is a company that consists of a team of highly qualified insurance consultants and advisers. Its mission is simple: to give the client the best advice and counsel on how to protect their business assets from risk at the least possible cost. It does this by developing creative and well thought-out insurance and risk management strategies and solutions, and does not sell insurance. Obligation, fidelity and loyalty go 100 percent to the client, meaning the firm is completely objective and unbiased in the advice it provides those clients.

About R. Scott Wolff:
R. Scott Wolff, CIC, CRIS, is a Premier Risk Management, LLC partner. He has over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry and possesses an extremely wide range of insurance and risk management knowledge. Wolff's areas of concentration are in real estate, construction, manufacturing, retail/wholesale distribution, hospitals, non-profit organizations and technology. He is well versed in property and casualty coverage along with directors and officers, errors and omissions, intellectual property, new media and Internet related coverage. He has been recognized by the Professional Insurance Agents Association and received an award for Outstanding Achievement. He attended Vale Technical School, for claim and loss technical training; the IRM School for Fire Safety and Protection; the Royal Insurance Underwriting School, Sitkins Producer Training, Miller-Heiman Strategic/Conceptual Selling and the National Council for Insurance Marketing. He also holds a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation along with the Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designation and currently is enrolled in the Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designation program and is a member of the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM).

Media Contact:
R. Scott Wolff, CIC, CRIS
Premier Risk Management
www.premierriskmgt.com
201-727-1119
swolff @ premierriskmgt.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:29 PM | Comments (0)

1031 Exchange Industry Gets Boost of Certified Exchange Specialists

The Federation of Exchange Accommodators (FEA) announced today the results of the bi-annual examination for the designation of Certified Exchange Specialist® (CES®). This group of professionals took the examination in Washington, D.C. at the FEA Mid-Year Conference in late April.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) June 18, 2007 -- The Federation of Exchange Accommodators (FEA) announced today the results of the bi-annual examination for the designation of Certified Exchange Specialist® (CES®). This group of professionals took the examination in Washington, D.C. at the FEA Mid-Year Conference in late April.

The FEA is the only national trade organization formed to represent the Qualified Intermediary (QIs) industry and the interests of consumers who use these services. FEA also represents the legal/tax advisors and affiliated businesses who are directly involved in Section 1031 Exchanges. Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code provides that no gain or loss shall be recognized on the exchange of property held for productive use in a trade or business, or for investment.

The CES® Program was established by the FEA in 2003 to formally recognize individuals who have satisfied an experience requirement and demonstrated through testing their comprehensive knowledge of Section 1031 and the facilitation of like-kind exchanges. Currently there are 246 CES® Designees nationwide.

"It's exciting to see the commitment that our members have to continuing education and furthering their credibility in the industry," said Hugh Pollard, CES®, 2007 FEA President. "The CES® designation is a designation that anyone executing an exchange should have on their business card. It provides customers with confidence in knowing that they are working with the highest level of professionalism within the industry."

Professionals who passed the exam can now use the CES® designation in their title and include:

John Boyd Greenville, SC
Melanie Brienza Providence, RI
Tacha Bromber Petaluma, CA
Brooke Collins Tallahassee, FL
Angela Fortune Morrisville, NC
Amy Gustin Bellevue, WA
Alan Lichtenstein Dix Hills, NY
Carla Linskey Virginia Beach, VA
Matthew Linville Pilot Mountain, NC
Adam Mishcon Coral Gables, FL
Stephen Rogers Scottsdale, AZ
Scott Rotkowitz Armonk, NY
Esther Silberberg Lakewood, NJ
Sarah K. Smith Las Vegas, NV
Justin Swift Roseville, CA

The Federation of Exchange Accommodators (FEA) is the national trade association organized to represent professionals who conduct like-kind exchanges under Internal Revenue Code §1031 and the interests of the consumers who use their services. Member companies include Qualified Intermediaries (QIs), their primary tax and legal counsel, and affiliated industries (TIC sponsors, banks, real estate brokers, title companies, settlement/escrow agents, etc.). Formed in 1989, the FEA offers multiple services and education to both the exchange industry and general public, encourages innovation in the industry, establishes ethical standards of conduct, and works toward the development of uniformity of practice and terminology within the exchange profession.

For more information please visit: www.1031CES.org.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:29 PM | Comments (0)

Outdoor Waterhog Carpet Mat Ice and Snow Melting System Designed for the Cleveland Clinic by Martinson-Nicholls

A year-round carpet entrance mat system designed for the Cleveland Clinic is now being offered to all. The unique system combines Waterhog Premier Roll carpet with Martinson-Nicholls' heated floor mat technology. The system can be left in place year-round, capturing dirt in warm months, and melting snow and ice during the winter.

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) June 18, 2007 -- Martinson-Nicholls, in conjunction with the Cleveland Clinic, has developed an (www.floormat.com/heated-waterhog-mats.html) outdoor heated matting system to:

• Controls ice and snow build-up in front of public doorways;
• Controls the tracking into the building of calcium or salt used to melt snow and ice;
• Controls dirt tracking into the building during other seasons.

The system was tested at Cleveland Clinic for two years, and continues to work well. Martinson-Nicholls first put down a low profile rubber heated mat. For larger areas, multiple heated mats were placed side by side, covering areas up to 13 feet x 8 feet. Then Martinson-Nicholls covered these mats with Waterhog Premier Roll Goods. This product was designed with extremely deep grooves for the purpose of catching salt, calcium and dirt before it is tracked into the building. The Waterhog Roll was installed without heat inside the doors. Cleveland Clinic reports that over 85% of salt was stopped by this system. Additionally, the system dries itself, and provides substantial maintenance savings on interior carpet or waxed hard floors.

"The custom dual-mat solution of heated mats on the outside and water-grabbing matting on the inside creates a system that gives patients, visitors and staff at the Clinic a safe surface to walk on or maneuver a wheelchair," said John Boike, Director of Environmental Services at Cleveland Clinic.

The Waterhog Premier Roll Goods is great for large entrances and custom cut applications up to 12' X 50'. The bi-level face pattern allows dirt and moisture to be wicked to the bottom of the mat, away from foot traffic. This matting can be free laid or glued down with a solvent-free adhesive and may be purchased pre-seamed and bordered as needed or the matting product and nosing may be purchased separately and installed on site.

One laying the carpet, Martinson-Nicholls mechanically anchors the mat in all four corners keeping mat in place during the worst storms as well as stopping unnecessary theft.

The Cleveland Clinic just turned mat off for non-winter use, pressure washed the top carpet mat and thus continued to enjoy summer maintenance savings by capturing dirt before it enters the building.

Now being offered to all, Martinson-Nicholls has created a truly innovative matting system that adapts to all types of weather year round. Economical and long lasting, this truly is a matting system that shows a payback to your bottom line by reducing maintenance and damage to floors while providing safer footing.

About Martinson-Nicholls
Martinson-Nicholls (www.floormat.com), over the last 25 years, has established itself as a leader in custom floor matting, heated floor mats, and safety solutions.

Martinson-Nicholls provides the customer with the exact size matting needed--small, large, standard, nonstandard, special shapes and logos. Custom installations are also a specialty of the company.

Anti-slip safety tapes and treads are available in various sizes and textures from hand cut or die cut pieces to full rolls and special shapes.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:28 PM | Comments (0)

Slide-Lok Introduces Limited Lifetime Warranty for Flexmar Garage Flooring System

Slide-Lok, the nation's leading manufacturer of garage cabinets and garage storage systems, introduces a limited lifetime warranty for its garage flooring system, featuring Flexmar Coating Systems.

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) June 17, 2007 -- Slide-Lok, the market leader in garage cabinets, garage interiors and garage storage systems, has incorporated a limited lifetime warranty into its one of a kind garage flooring system. The Slide-Lok warranty is absolutely "Best in Class" and is yet another clear differentiator for the company's revolutionary garage floor coating system.

Slide-Lok's garage flooring system, featuring Flexmar Coating Technology, is a true one day application that gives the customer the opportunity to drive on their garage floor within 24 hours after installation. In Addition, the Flexmar sealer can be installed at temperatures as low as -20º F or as high as 140º F, which gives Slide-Lok dealers the ability to install garage floors in virtually any weather. The Slide-Lok flooring system, featuring Flexmar Coating Technology, has 4x more abrasion resistance than epoxy, will not yellow or chalk and cures to handle foot traffic just a few hours after installation.

This new limited lifetime warranty backs an already incomparable garage flooring system. Mike Finfrock, national sales manager of Slide-Lok commented, "Slide-Lok dealers now have a product that no other company can offer. Slide-Lok prides itself on quality products, and now we have a warranty as good as our garage flooring system." Finfrock added, "Slide-Lok dealers clearly have a competitive advantage in the garage floor coating market, a key part of the fast growing garage and home organization industry."

For more information on Slide-Lok garage cabinets, garage floor coating systems, garage storage and their patented innovative design advantages, contact Slide-Lok directly at 800-835-1759 or visit them on the web at www.slide-lok.com.

About Flexmar Coatings, LLC:
Flexmar Coatings, LLC manufactures the highest-quality clear sealers and pigmented coatings based on polyaspartic resin technology. In addition to residential garage floors, remarkable Flexmar coatings are being applied to residential driveways, patios, and walkways as well as a variety of commercial decorative floor surfaces.

About Slide-Lok:

Slide-Lok is an industry leader in the fast growing garage and overall home organization market with over 30 years experience in producing high quality, durable cabinetry and Slat-Wall storage systems. Slide-Lok's garage cabinets utilize a patented dovetail design, plywood construction, adjustable 6-way hinges, and Thermofuse doors -- making Slide-Lok the quality leader. Slide-Lok's garage floor coatings feature a 1 day install and are 4x stronger than epoxy; and Slide-Lok's closet line features dovetail construction, fast order to install time, and the quality and esthetics consumers have come to expect from Slide-Lok.

Slide-Lok's dealer network includes more than 150 dealers across the United States and Canada.

Contacts:

Slide-Lok Headquarters
Jason W. Jantzen, 800-835-1759

Media Contact:

Aric Zion, 602-318-6124
Zion & Zion
www.zionandzion.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:28 PM | Comments (0)

Green Building Grows in NYC with Spec it Green Event

Design and building trade professionals gathered to learn about local green building material manufacturers in NYC. The event highlighted the growth of local green manufacturing companies and the growing interest in specifying green materials.

New York, NY (PRWEB) June 17, 2007 -- Interest in designing and constructing Green Buildings in New York City was evident at a recent Spec-It Green event in New York City on June 6th. Over 100 enthusiastic trade professionals gathered to learn about local green building material manufacturers and distributors. Sponsored by Globus Cork Inc, ITAC and NYIRN, the event drew a large crowd of architects, builders, designers and LEED accredited professionals. A wide ranging panel discussion reviewed the impact and benefits of green buildings as well as green manufacturing practices.

Event participants recognized a growing interest in green materials from within their own companies as well as from their clients. Many noted that the general growing enthusiasm was a result of several trends coming together including the passing of Local Law 86, broader public interest in the environment and more visible presence of green materials in media coverage.

Globus Cork is a manufacturer of colored cork tiles used primarily for flooring. With a wide range of colors, shapes and sizes, Globus Cork offers designers the creative range to design mosaic-style floors in an eco-friendly product. Even better than a renewable resource, Cork is a Harvested Resource as the cork tree is never cut down, only the bark is harvested. The cork bark grows back and is harvested every 9 years. The tree's lifespan and productive years can be nearly 200 years. All pigments, varnishes and adhesives that Globus Cork uses in producing its tiles are water-based, solvent-free and eco-friendly.

Globus Cork Inc. is a US-based manufacturer of colored cork for floors and walls, offering 20 tile shapes and sizes in 37 colors along with custom color and size capabilities. To review their products visit: www.CorkFloor.com. For further information, contact Jennifer Biscoe at (718) 742.7264. More information about NYIRN, the NY Industrial Retention Network can be found at: www.NYIRN.org. More information about ITAC, the Industrial and Technology Assistance Corporation can be found at: www.ITAC.org.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:27 PM | Comments (0)

Dynamic Development Selects Landmark Realty Group as Exclusive Representative of The Cottages at Cedar Crest

Cashiers-based Landmark Realty Group has been named the exclusive representative of The Cottages at Cedar Crest, a 10-acre luxury townhome community nestled in the Smoky Mountains.

Cashiers, NC (PRWEB) June 17, 2007 -- Landmark Realty Group has been named the exclusive representative of The Cottages at Cedar Crest, a 10-acre luxury townhome community nestled in the Smoky Mountains.

"Seasoned brokers with a proven track record of success selling luxury real estate in the Cashiers region, coupled with one of the most talented marketing departments in the business, made Landmark Realty Group the natural choice to represent The Cottages at Cedar Crest," said Buck Walters, Owner, Dynamic Development, the Cashiers-based developer of The Cottages.

Founded in 2004, Landmark (www.landmarkrg.com) is a high-end boutique real estate firm that provides comprehensive brokerage and development services ranging from site planning to full-scale development management. The firm's 14 seasoned brokers are uniquely experienced in residential, commercial, vacant parcels, and large development tracts located in Cashiers, Highlands, Lake Glenville, Toxaway and surrounding areas.

"We are pleased to add The Cottages at Cedar Crest to our list of clients, which include many of the area's most sought-out properties and communities," said Jane Ebberts, Owner and Broker-in-Charge, Landmark Realty Group. "The superior design and architecture of the luxury townhomes within the community are sure to appeal to those discriminating buyers who demand the best from their mountain living experience."

Ultimately, The Cottages at Cedar Crest will consist of 10 two-story, 3,200-square-foot townhomes. The three-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath homes include an office, great room and screened-in porch, as well as such elegant touches as a stacked stone rock fireplace, ceramic tile and high-end GE Profile appliances. Buyers can select from three floor plans, prices for which begin at $995,000.

About Landmark Realty Group
Based in Cashiers, N.C., Landmark Realty Group (www.landmarkrg.com) is an affiliation of experienced, successful brokers offering professional brokerage and development services, ranging from general land and individual site planning to full-scale development management with expertise in residential, commercial, vacant parcels, and large development tracts in Cashiers, Highlands, Lake Glenville, Toxaway and surrounding areas.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:27 PM | Comments (0)

New MAME Glass Door System from DORMA Offers Sophisticated European Design

The new DORMA (www.dormausa.com) MAME (pronounced ma-MAY) glass door family offers sophisticated European design for interior commercial and residential applications. The MAME family includes door frames, hardware and fittings, and specialized glass allowing users to create a breathtaking door that blends seamlessly with contemporary building aesthetics.

Millersville, MD (PRWEB) June 17, 2007 -- The new DORMA MAME (pronounced ma-MAY) glass door family offers sophisticated European design for interior commercial and residential applications. The MAME family includes door frames, hardware and fitting and specialized glass allowing users to create a breathtaking door that blends seamlessly with contemporary building aesthetics.

The unique MAME system comes complete and ready-to-install. The system comes with all door hardware attached.

Available glass design elements include color, sandblasting, LED lighting, and engraving. Other unique materials such as steel cables, wood or even leather can be incorporated into the glass. Some designs offer interchangeable design elements that can be switched out with the décor.

Others offer textured glass, or artistically broken glass between two other panes. MAME glass doors can even be created to match an existing glass door, and serve as a replacement. Thanks to its exclusive design, the slim MAME aluminum door frame is unusually strong and stable. The doors are equipped with 3/8 inch glass.

In addition to swing doors, the MAME family includes glass sliding door systems. MAME glass sliding doors are fitted with high quality stainless steel and aluminum technical parts, which allow smooth and silent operation.

For more information or a product brochure, call DORMA at 1-800-451-0649 or visit www.dorma-usa.com.

About DORMA Group North America:
DORMA Group North America manufactures and markets a wide range of products for the architectural openings industry, with a particular focus on commercial and institutional openings. Part of The DORMA Group worldwide, DORMA Group North America comprises DORMA Architectural Hardware, DORMA Glas, Modernfold, DORMA Canada, DORMA Mexico, and DORMA Entrance Systems -- which markets products and services under the DORMA Automatics, Crane Revolving Door and Carolina Door Controls brands.

DORMA Group North America offerings include safety and security products, locks, door closers, exit devices, glass hardware and patch fittings, sliding and swinging automatic doors, revolving doors and operable partitions.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:26 PM | Comments (0)

Groupe Sécurité CM / CM Security Group Inc. Recognized By The West Island Of Montreal Chamber Of Commerce

Groupe CM Sécurité / CM Security Group Inc. wins The West Island of Montreal Chamber of Commerce categories for 'Manufacturing (50 employees or more)' and 'Markets Outside Quebec'.

Montreal, Quebec (PRWEB) June 16, 2007 -- It was at the majestic Pavillon-sur-le-lac of Chateau Vaudreuil that they gathered, 37 finalists (in 13 categories) who had distinguished themselves in the West Island Business Community.

The winners of the 22nd annual Accolades competition of The West Island of Montreal Chamber of Commerce were revealed at the closing stages of an evening overflowing with fine dining and warm praise - where diverse industries had been unified by indomitable accomplishments and unique successes.

CM Security Group Inc. / Groupe Sécurité CM was amongst the evening's distinguished winners, capturing 2 awards - 'Manufacturing (50 employees or more)' and 'Markets Outside Quebec'.

"Since day 1 (in 1962!), we have had a long-term moral commitment to designing, manufacturing and marketing state-of-the art windows (security, hurricane, educational and high end) - a goal that as longtime leaders in the field, has allowed us to continuously innovate, renew and invigorate the diversification of building technology. This evening, and the WIMCC's efforts to celebrate members of its Business Community, is an exemplary assertion of this goal. It is great to be amongst thriving successful businesses in our 'little neck of the woods'!" stated Ched Draca, President and Founder of CMSG, after the announcements had been made.

CMSG wishes to express it's deepest thanks to the West Island Chamber of Commerce for the honors bestowed upon them - which would not have been possible without the CMSG team and their work, their loyalty, and their commitment to an enduring, flourishing company.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:25 PM | Comments (0)

June 15, 2007

BidClerk Reports Construction Projects up for Bid in the Houston, TX Area

BidClerk's list of commercial construction projects planning to go out for bid and start construction in the next 90 days.

(PRWEB) June 15, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following construction projects are planning to go out for bid and start construction in the next 90 days in the Houston area. Businesses interested in providing services relative to these projects should visit www.BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

Houston, TX - K & B Machine, US HWY 90 & Miller Road, 86,600-square-foot warehouse development, July 2007, $6 million. Project ID: 616940

Houston, TX - Lane Bryant #6249 / Houston, FM 1960 and Highway 249, 4,960-square-foot retail store, July 2007, $250,000. Project ID: 620376

Houston, TX - Home Depot - Lumber Distribution Center / Houston, Goodnight Trail , lumber distribution facility, July 2007, $5 million. Project ID: 619341

Houston, TX - Chili's Bar & Grill / Houston, 6,500-square-foot restaurant, August 2007, $800,000. Project ID: 619510

Galveston, TX - Capital One Bank / Galveston, Stewart Road & 61st Street, 2,755-square-foot bank, July 2007, $500,000. Project ID: 618622

About BidClerk.com
BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in depth information on thousands of construction projects coming up for bid all throughout the United States. Our daily updates of commercial and residential construction projects are available to contractors and businesses in related industries that are seeking bid opportunities. For more information on bidding construction projects in your area, visit BidClerk.com or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:14 AM | Comments (0)

CUNO Improves Industry-leading Home Water Filter Cartridge, AP110 CUNO/3M -- Experts Team Up to Develop One of the Most Efficient Sediment Water Filter Cartridges Available

CUNO scientists and engineers have teamed up with materials experts from 3M to develop a markedly improved Aqua-Pure AP110 series cartridge for home filtration, featuring Micro-Klean™ XL technology*. The result: 30% longer life and 50% better efficiency than the original model. The new AP110 is one of the longest lasting, most efficient sediment cartridges in the industry.

Meriden, Conn. (PRWEB) June 15, 2007 -- CUNO scientists and engineers have teamed up with materials experts from 3M to develop a markedly improved Aqua-Pure AP110 series cartridge for home filtration, featuring Micro-Klean™ XL technology*. The result: 30% longer life and 50% better efficiency than the original model. The new AP110 is one of the longest lasting, most efficient sediment cartridges in the industry.

The new and improved AP110 means cleaner water for longer periods of time resulting in less change-outs (test data available).

"Since the 1950's, the Aqua-Pure AP110, AP111 and AP124 water filter cartridges have helped solve some of the world's toughest residential, commercial and industrial water sediment problems," said CUNO President and General Manager, Tim Carney. "We value our status as innovators and industry leaders and make it a priority to have our cartridge quality reflect our commitment to developing the best products possible."

Cleaner Water and Longer Life.

The new AP110 cartridge is manufactured using a patent pending process to form a progressively complex web of overlapping polymer fibers that entangle and entrap sediment, from larger particles collected at or near the cartridge surface to smaller particles that are captured as water filters through the fiber-dense center. This "progressive porosity" technology is unmatched in the industry for sediment trapping and cartridge life.

"A sediment cartridge's performance is evaluated by cartridge life and efficiency," Keith Solomon, CUNO engineer, said. Cartridge life refers to measuring the amount of contaminant the cartridge is challenged with before reaching a pre-determined differential pressure; Efficiency is the percentage of a particular particle size that is removed by the cartridge, he explained. "We are thrilled to report significant improvement in both cartridge life and efficiency resulting in a 30% extended life coupled with a 50% increase in efficiency."

Better Performance.
One of the trademark features of the original AP110 is its grooved surface, which significantly increases the cartridge surface area, allowing it to hold more dirt on the surface and resulting in increased cartridge life. In fact, the new AP110 cartridges have 132% more surface area than competing smooth, melt-blown cartridges. Improving on the square-groove technology with more and deeper grooves in the cartridge cylinder, the new AP110 has 47% more surface area than the original version.

It has also been enhanced to increase fine particle retention like silt and sand and can now even be used in hot water applications up to 170° F.

In addition, this product serves a special function with well water (where it is used as a pre-filter to a softener system) and sediment-producing water heaters.

The new AP110 will be available for purchase by July 1, 2007. Visit www.aquapure.com to find a distributor near you.

Micro-Klean™ XL technology is a patent pending process that optimizes depth structure and maximizes outside surface area. Most polymer-based cartridges on the market today have a uniform pore structure which results in less efficiency and/or shorter life. On the other hand, manufacturers attempting to emulate the progressive porosity AP110 structure have discrete density sections that dramatically reduce product life.

About CUNO - A Market Leading Filtration Company
CUNO is a leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of a comprehensive line of filtration products for the separation, clarification, and purification of fluids and gasses. Its proprietary products include uses in the healthcare, industrial, and drinking water markets. CUNO has manufacturing facilities and sales offices worldwide.

About 3M - A Global, Diversified Technology Company
Every day, 3M people find new ways to make amazing things happen. Wherever they are, whatever they do, the company's customers know they can rely on 3M to help make their lives better. 3M's brands include Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti. Serving more than 200 countries around the world, the company's employees use their expertise, technologies and global strength to lead in major markets including consumer and office; display and graphics; electronics and telecommunications; safety, security and protection services; health care; industrial and transportation. 3M, Empore, Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scoth-Brite, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti are trademarks of 3M.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:14 AM | Comments (0)

Bidclerk.com Reports Construction Projects Up For Bid in the Los Angeles, CA Area

BidClerk's daily update of commercial and residential construction projects planning to go out for bid and start construction in the next 90 days.

(PRWEB) June 15, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following building projects are planning to go out for bid or start construction in the next 90 days in the Los Angeles area. Businesses interested in providing services relative to these projects should visit www.BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

Los Angeles, CA - Gamestop # 3878, Wilshire Blvd. and S. Vermont Ave., 1,200-square-foot retail tenant improvement, July 2007, $75,000. Project ID : 623435

Los Angeles, CA - Midtown Crossing, Pico Blvd and San Vincente Blvd., 300,000-square-foot retail development, July 2007, $40 million. Project ID: 506329

San Gabriel, CA - Clearman's Galley Restaurant - 8,460-square-foot restaraunt, 7215 Rosemead Blvd., August 2007, $1 million. Project ID: 622106

Palmdale, CA - Comfort Inn, 30,000-square-foot hotel with swimming pool, July 2007, $3 million. Project ID : 93550

Diamond Bar, CA - Northminster Presbyterian Church, 400 Rancheria Road , 2,700-square-foot sanctuary addition, July 2007, $800,000. Project ID : 420877

BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in depth information on thousands of construction projects that are coming up for bid all throughout the United States. For more information on construction projects in your area, visit BidClerk.com or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:13 AM | Comments (0)

Solar Night to Showcase Solar Synapse™ at Green Builders Event Hosted By Private Bank

Solar Night Industries (OTC: SLND.PK) announced its presence as exhibitor at this unique green builders event.

Chesterfield, MO (PRWEB) June 14, 2007 -- Solar Night Industries (OTC: SLND.PK) announced its presence as exhibitor at this unique green builders event. Chicago-based Private Bank is holding an event for ‘green’ builders today at their branch in Chesterfield, Missouri. The event is in response to the growing popularity in green building practices and will showcase a variety of companies in this emerging building segment. Solar Night will be in attendance to educate builders on the advantages of their Solar Synapse™ Pre-Wire Kit for New Construction, a cost-effective renewable energy option for builders. The presentation will illustrate to builders the importance of using this “green kit” to pre-wire the home, appealing to homeowner’s seeking a renewable energy alternative, delivered in an easily and economically solar PV system addition, as part of new construction, saving thousands of dollars over a retro-fit version.

Ben Hanewinkel, Director of Sales at Solar Night Industries Inc. says:
“By pre-wiring the home for photovoltaic solar panels, the builder is cost-effectively increasing the purchase value of the home, while meeting the needs of those consumers seeking an alternative to their power needs, as well as decreasing CO2 emissions. This is a tremendous opportunity for builders to go green.”

For more on SNI's Solar Synapse™ visit www.solarsynapse.com.

About Solar Night Industries, Inc.
Solar Night Industries Inc.’s (OTC:SLND.PK) mission is to accelerate the adoption of modern energy. SNI is a 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 06:13 AM | Comments (0)

DirectBuy of Toronto North Celebrates 10 Years of Member Service

DirectBuy's Markham showroom to host a celebration and charity auction for FightSMA, a charity fighting Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Toronto (PRWEB) June 14, 2007 -- In honor of its 10th anniversary, DirectBuy of Toronto North, the leading members-only showroom and home design centre that offers merchandise at manufacturer-direct prices, will host an all-day celebration and charity event on June 16, 2007, to raise money for FightSMA, a charity dedicated to fighting Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).

For the past ten years, DirectBuy of Toronto North has provided its members the ability to purchase brand-name merchandise from over 500 top manufacturers and their authorized suppliers with no traditional retail markup. Also, in the past year, DirectBuy of Toronto North has more than doubled the size of its showroom, moving from a 7,800 sq. ft. showroom to a 22,000 sq. ft. facility, located at 205 Torbay Road in Markham, Ontario, to keep up with increased demand and to offer additional services to its members.

As part of the anniversary festivities, DirectBuy of Toronto North is raising money for FightSMA with a raffle and silent auction. Various DirectBuy manufacturers provided prizes such as an LCD television, gift baskets, furniture and diamond earrings. In addition, members and their families can enjoy face painting, a barbeque with hot dogs and hamburgers, a jumping castle and much more.

"DirectBuy sets itself apart from traditional retailers by providing consumers with a low-cost, one-stop shopping destination for the top brands in home furnishings and home improvement," said Toronto North Franchisee Kary Tratner. "We are pleased to commemorate our ten-year anniversary by celebrating with our members and raising money for FightSMA. One of our member's children has SMA, and with manufacturer and member donations, we are confident that we can make a sizeable contribution to an important organization."

DirectBuy has a long track record of hundreds of thousands of satisfied members in North America who have enjoyed undeniable savings on a wide array of merchandise.

In its history, DirectBuy of Toronto North has received the Top Service Center distinction, has scored four out of five stars on a recent member customer service survey, and has consistently ranked in the top 5 for both service and membership sales for Canada.

About FightSMA
FightSMA Corporation is an international organization dedicated to finding a treatment or cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the leading inherited killer of children under two. SMA is a motor neuron disease that affects approximately 1 in 6,000 babies born. The motor neurons affect the voluntary muscles that are used for activities such as crawling, walking, head and neck control, and swallowing. To learn more about FightSMA, please visit their website www.FightSMA.org

About DirectBuy
For more than 35 years, DirectBuy has helped thousands of consumers discover unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes - from living room furniture, carpet, hardwood flooring, and custom window treatments, to complete home remodeling products such as kitchen cabinets, countertops, appliances, bathroom cabinets, and much, much more.

DirectBuy enables members to purchase most every product offering from more than 500 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers at over 140 showrooms across North America. To request a "Free Insider's Guide to Buying Direct" and a Visitor's Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:12 AM | Comments (0)

Free Catalog Features Photos, Patterns and Other Pool Deck Options

Free online catalog provides photos and information about pool deck patterns, colors, textures, designs and other options using decorative concrete.

Yucaipa, CA (PRWEB) June 14, 2007 -- One of the biggest trends in outdoor design today is a decorative concrete pool deck. Decorative concrete has opened the doors to creating pool decks that complement the exterior of the home, meld with the outdoor environment and replicate exotic and traditionally expensive materials such as slate, stone or even wood.

The Concrete Network, the largest and most comprehensive source for concrete information, has released a free online catalog about decorative concrete pool decks. This catalog is a convenient source of information for homeowners, builders and designers who are considering a concrete pool deck and want to understand the versatility and affordability of decorative concrete.

The catalog features information on patterns, colors, textures, designs and styles possible with decorative concrete. It showcases numerous photos of concrete pool decks offering great ideas for planning a project. The catalog also provides information on popular stamp and stenciling patterns, and exposed aggregate applications.

For those who have an existing pool deck, but want to spruce it up or get rid of the boring, old, gray look, there is an easy option discussed in the catalog: concrete overlays and toppings. Textured and colored overlays can be applied over just about any surface. Some companies offer a spray-applied texture coat that provides the same decorative options, but also offers a slip resistant finish.

For more ideas, visit The Concrete Network's online photo gallery of decorative concrete pool decks.

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 May 2007 The Concrete Network Web site had over 1.1 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.

Attached photos courtesy of Decorative Concrete of the Tri-State.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:12 AM | Comments (0)

Adchem Corporation Provides Broad Range of Foam Bonding Adhesive Tapes

Specializing in custom foam bonding solutions for a variety of applications.

Riverhead, NY (PRWEB) June 14, 2007 -- Adchem Corporation, a leading manufacturer of high performance film and foam bonding adhesive tapes, specializes in providing a broad range of custom foam bonding solutions for automotive, electronics, construction, graphic arts, medical, and general industrial applications. Adchem provides acrylic and rubber adhesive systems and acrylic/rubber hybrid products for OEMs and leading foam and gasket fabricators nationwide.

The leader in the foam fabrication market for more than 40 years, Adchem provides more than 50 unique adhesive solutions for customers' most demanding foam bonding needs. This broad range of products reduces the need for large inventories of narrower spectrum tape systems. Adchem also offers competitive pricing and engineering support that are unmatched by both smaller and larger adhesive tape suppliers.

Recently, Adchem released composite data for its double-coated and transfer adhesive tapes for PORON®, PE foams, Polyurethane foams, urethane foams, EPDM, Santoprene, ester foam, ether foam, PVC, and vinyl nitrile foams. The data covers products from Armacell, Monarch, Griswold, Rogers, Burnett, Voltek, Foamex and other leading foam manufacturers.

Adchem works closely with customers to help select and design adhesive tape systems to meet their unique material and performance requirements.

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 abrasives, 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.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:11 AM | Comments (0)

Yokogawa and MAVERICK Technologies Announce New Agreement with Chevron

COLUMBIA, Ill. (BusinessWire EON) June 14, 2007 -- Yokogawa and MAVERICK Technologies announced today that their joint alliance has been selected as the main automation and control contractor for Chevron’s global refineries in a long-term agreement.

During this time frame, Chevron intends to strengthen operations and reliability at its eight wholly owned refineries by standardizing and modernizing the process automation and control infrastructure.

Yokogawa will provide its innovative control technologies and MAVERICK will provide the majority of the engineering, construction management and installation services through their YMAC alliance (Yokogawa MAVERICK Alliance for Chevron). The YMAC scope includes validation of design specifications, field instrumentation, Integrated Process Control and Safety Systems design and implementation, asset optimization and advanced applications.

This work will be performed under Service/Purchase Orders incorporating the terms of the International Master Agreement signed recently between Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and Yokogawa.

This landmark agreement for the modernization of these eight global Chevron refineries and related process units is one of the single largest programs in the process automation industry for a main automation contract.

About MAVERICK

MAVERICK Technologies is a next-generation engineering, systems integration and operational consulting firm. The company delivers innovative solutions for a wide range of manufacturing and process clients, leveraging an extensive network of skilled employees deployed from regional and international locations.

MAVERICK’s talented staff is dedicated to helping clients break away from the business inefficiencies they face. MAVERICK delivers profitability improvement — individually in plant automation, performance management and business systems, and holistically by integrating knowledge across the enterprise. To learn more, please visit www.mavtechglobal.com.

For media inquiries, contact Brad Wise at 713-770-3303 or brad.wise@mavtechglobal.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:11 AM | Comments (0)

Charlotte, North Carolina Housing Market Receives National Attention

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BusinessWire EON) June 14, 2007 -- Convergent Acquisitions & Development, Inc a leading developer and vendor of real estate is pleased to announce that the media is highlighting the Charlotte, NC area as one of the strongest real estate markets in the country.

Charlotte was featured on ABC’s Nightline News on June 12, 2007 specifically stressing the area’s booming housing market. The report featured many of the principles Convergent Acquisitions uses to identify emerging markets and position properties that can be found in their White Paper Research Study.

Convergent Acquisitions is noted as a research powerhouse, always looking to position its developments in areas of growth and positive change. Before the media focused their attention to Charlotte, Convergent Acquisitions had identified the Charlotte area as having the strongest layering of probabilities for strong steady appreciation.

“Convergent Acquisitions started offering single family homes to individual investors in Charlotte, North Carolina, back at the end of 2005, well before the media caught up with what we knew would in all probability become the strongest market for a buy-and-hold real estate investment strategy,” says President Nick Sabardin. “Charlotte is the only metropolitan area in the country that follows scrupulously our Due Diligence Rule of 8 that we now see highlighted in the media on a regular basis. With all the real estate scams out there, we are pleased to offer our clients quality product in what we believe and many agree are the best pockets of Charlotte to own real estate.”

Go to http://www.convergentacquisitions.com/inthenews/ to learn more about Convergent Acquisitions and Development in the news.

About the Company:

Convergent Acquisitions & Development, Inc is a leading vendor and developer of real estate especially focused on serving the non-owner occupied or “real estate investor” market. Founded around a team of real estate professionals with in-depth knowledge of the market and a wealth of experience, Convergent Acquisitions and Development, Inc provides single family homes in emerging markets well poised for income and appreciation potential.

Convergent president Nick Sabardin, BS, MBA, graduated from the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris, France, before spending several years as a business consultant to some of France’s largest corporations. He completed his education by earning his MBA at San Jose State University in Silicon Valley, with an emphasis on technology and marketing. He flew as a commercial airline pilot for US Airways for five years after graduation, and fell in love with the Charlotte area, a US Airways hub. He is a long time experienced real estate investor.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:10 AM | Comments (0)

Refurber, the DIY Renovators Online Advice-opedia Launches Public Beta

Vibe Capital, the company behind parenting advice site Minti, is pleased to announce the public launch of our latest vertical ranked advice site Refurber. A Web 2.0 based user-generated ranked-advice site for anyone working on making their house into a home.

Perth, Australia (PRWEB) June 14, 2007 -- Refurber, the latest ranked advice website from the makers of Minti, has launched to the public beta phase. Refurber is a social and reference website for anyone passionate about renovations, DIY, landscaping, design and anything related to home improvement. Members can share and gain valuable advice on a wide range of home improvement related topics.

The content throughout the site is created by members who share real experience in the form of articles. The articles are tagged, rated and commented on by the community to encourage the integrity and relevancy of the information created.

Refurber is like an "advice toolbox", once you have experienced the "right way" to progress your home-making you can share your thoughts and read the feedback of others in a pleasant and dedicated renovation and DIY focused environment.

Refurber has been built using Vibe Capital's proprietary "vibEngine" software, an API that supports ranked-advice communities. The super smart folks at Market United coded the vibEngine to Vibe Capital's specifications and are responsible for the cool designs you can see on Refurber and Minti.

"We are excited to launch Refurber, our second wholly-owned advice-opedia website." said Clay Cook, Co-founder and CEO of Minti. "Drawing from more than a year of user feedback and experience on the Minti site we believe our offering will satisfy the needs of home-makers around the world."

Refurber presents an impressive "mash-up" of Web 2.0 technologies (similar offerings in brackets) including:

user generated content (Wikipedia)
social ranking of content (del.icio.us ; TripAdvisor)
photo storage ranking and tagging (Flickr)
content browsing tag clouds
free project blogs (Blogger)
user created interest groups
friends features and private lounge discussion areas (MySpace)
extensive RSS feeds (from articles to search results)
external "edge content" blog mirroring (Technorati)
detailed Question & Answer features (Yahoo! Answers), and
comprehensive search functionality across all content sources.

Unique additional features only available on vibEngine sites include:

Member ranking on participation and contributions (quality and quantity)
Member controlled reporting and administration by senior ranked members
In-build search features linked to voted quality of articles and relevance of text
Customised user watch-lists with tailored updates available on demand

All this comes in a free-to-use site open to renovators, builders and home-makers worldwide.

Vibe Capital's vibEngine platform is being licensed to other vertical sites worldwide. The first licensed partner is the niche city focused site http://www.buildinginlondon.com . Other licensed implementations of the vibEngine will be launched in the coming months.

About Vibe Capital Pty Ltd - the Advice-opedia company
Founded by internet entrepreneurs Clay Cook, Rachel Cook and Matthew Macfarlane, Vibe Capital Pty Ltd, is a privately held company with a presence in both Perth, Australia and Palo Alto, California. Vibe Capital has raised AUD$2.7MM in funding to date and holds equity stakes in strategic businesses related to its core "vibEngine" advice-opedia software. For more information visit /www.vibecapital.com

Minti®, Powered by Parents®, advice-opedia™, and Refurber™ are trade marks registered by Vibe Capital Pty Ltd. Other product names and brands appearing in this press release, such as MySpace.com, Wikipedia, TripAdvisor, blogger, del.icio.us, technorati, Yahoo! Answers and Flickr, are, or may be claimed as, trade marks of other entities.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:10 AM | Comments (0)

HouseCalls™ Expands Nationwide

HouseCallsAudioTour.com™ the Real Estate Sales and Marketing System has expanded into 12 states and is being used by 4 of the top 5 Real Estate companies nationwide in just over 6 months. This rapid growth and adoption is fueled by word of mouth because of the results HouseCalls generates.

Long Island, New York (PRWEB) June 14, 2007 -- Invores Systems, Inc. announced today that HouseCallsAudioTour.com™ the Real Estate Sales and Marketing System (www.HouseCallsAudioTour.com) has expanded into 12 states and is being used by 4 of the top 5 Real Estate companies nationwide in just over 6 months. This rapid growth and adoption is fueled by word of mouth because of the results HouseCalls generates.

Research has proven overwhelmingly that the most effective way to sell anything is by using your voice. Not pictures or printed words - it is persuasive speech that people respond to. What makes HouseCalls™ very compelling is its ease of use, its ability to augment traditional marketing efforts, its fixed low cost and the immediate notifications and direct connections to potential buyers.

Karin Schaeffer of RE/MAX 1st Choice in Greensboro, North Carolina has been using HouseCalls™ for about a year, and was part of its initial pilot. She says, "We have been using HouseCalls™ for about twelve months and it is by far the most effective sales tool we have ever used for generating leads, finding buyers, and getting listings. We are a team of three agents. We use our HouseCalls™ toll-free number and AudioTour ID numbers on sign riders and also in our print and internet advertising. So far, we have generated over 750 leads directly from HouseCalls™. The commissions generated from these leads represented over $50,000, which is huge. HouseCalls™ costs us less than $30 a month and it's easy to use. There is no other lead generation tool that we have ever tried that costs so little and generates so much income and opportunity for our business. We love it and our sellers love it."

HouseCalls™ is also the first real estate marketing solution to combine VoIP, speech recognition, web browsers and interactive voice response. Targeted at real estate agents, HouseCalls™ is a sophisticated blend of the latest technologies, wrapped in a package that is useful and appealing to one of the largest small business market segments in the US.

"Easy to use management screens on the web for our REALTOR® customers and a simple phone call using speech recognition instead of pressing buttons to get information, makes HouseCalls a complete win for both the REALTOR® and potential home buyer. What could be better than being able to market your listings 24 hours a day even when you are doing something else? And, buyers appreciate the choice to get information about something they are interested in without necessarily speaking to an agent right then and there. The real estate market is a natural market for this technology, not only because it is large and continually renewing itself but because real estate is the ultimate middle market comprised of companies of all sizes with a single need: more effective advertising of their product, at the lowest cost possible in order to increase sales," explains Debra Altschuler, Vice President Sales and Marketing of Invores Systems.

She continues, "The real estate market is also extremely competitive so we wanted to make sure we designed a system that would be an invaluable tool that could become an integral part of an agent's marketing efforts and still be easy to use. To make sure we hit the mark, HouseCalls™ was designed with REALTOR® input, and I am also a licensed REALTOR®. The result is a sales and marketing tool for realtors by realtors that addresses the issues of increasing sales through increased leads, having a competitive advantage to acquire more listings through traditional methods and converting 'for sale by owners' into listings, while being easy to use at a low fixed cost."

HouseCalls™ is available on a subscription basis directly from Invores Systems at www.HouseCallsAudioTour.com and supported by Invores' award winning interactive voice platform EXpress2.0.

About Invores:
Invores is a privately held Long Island, New York software development company focused on Interactive Voice Web self service solutions for commercial, service provider and government organizations. Invores Systems offers a comprehensive suite of licensed software and services designed to automate customer contact business processes over the telephone while capitalizing on existing web infrastructure and IP telephony. Invores solutions are offered for premise based implementation or as a hosted service.

REALTOR® is a registered trademark of the NAR.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:09 AM | Comments (0)

Decorative Concrete Staining The Concrete Superstore Way

Crete Ventures, originator of Decorative Concrete Kits, has formed The Concrete Superstore as a one-stop online service for educational "how to" information and products for Decorative Concrete Staining.

(PRWEB) June 14, 2007 -- Crete Ventures LLC, innovators of exciting ideas in decorative concrete applications and originator of www.decorativeconcretekits.com, has formed www.concretesuperstore.com.

The Concrete Superstore has brought together a dozen or more leading manufacturers of specialty products and tools in an online store enabling contractors, artisans and Do It Yourself consumers to get the correct components and extensive "how to" information and ideas.

There is a lot more to a stained floor than just the concrete stain according to the founder of The Concrete Superstore. One of the biggest challenges has been finding the necessary components for completing a stained concrete floor. Frequently a contractor will spend an entire week of searching for products to get ready for a project.

Some of the components for sale at The Concrete Superstore are:
1. Floor buffers and pads
2. Environmentally safe floor strippers for removing glue and paint
3. Etching product for profiling concrete floors
4. Crack repair kits
5. Concrete overlays and self leveling concrete
6. Acid and Acrylic stains
7. Custom stencils
8. Pump Sprayers
9. Sealers
10. Cleaning and maintenance products

The Concrete Superstore will be introducing design and architectural ideas, application plans, lighting solutions, forums and a regular newsletter featuring new products and sale items.

According to Ed Winslow founder of The Concrete Superstore, there is a lot of general and fragmented information available which is time consuming to find and understand. "Our goal is to organize specialized educational information relating to staining concrete in one place. We were successful with our 'Concrete Kit' program and found a need for extremely specialized 'how to' information."

The Concrete Superstore has a research and development team continually testing products, developing the application systems and providing step by step "how to" processes. If the R & D team doesn't like the product and application system it doesn't make it into the store.

During the past two years concrete staining has emerged as a popular functional and design alternative to conventional flooring like tile, hardwood and carpet. New products are coming to market daily. One of the biggest challenges manufacturers have is explaining to the consumer how and why to use their product.

The Concrete Superstore has found the market getting extremely large and flooded with new products. Their solution is to be focused on one niche in the market and not be all things to all people.

Decorative Concrete has been around for centuries has been a forgotten art until recently. Concrete is enjoying a renaissance which undoubtedly will last thanks to some pioneering artisans and contractors. Stained concrete floors are now everywhere, retail stores, restaurants, office buildings, schools, marinas, residential homes, condos and lofts.

The Concrete Superstore is helping to lead the growth of the decorative concrete staining market with detailed educational application information and products to ensure high quality applications.

For more information visit www.concretesuperstore.com
Edward Winslow
203-438-6542

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:09 AM | Comments (0)

BidClerk Reports Construction Projects Up for Bid in the Washington, D.C. Area

BidClerk's report on commercial building projects planned for the D.C. metro area to go out for bid or start construction in the next 90 days.

(PRWEB) June 13, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following building projects are planning to go out for bids or start construction in the next 90 days in the Washington, DC Metro Area. Businesses interested in providing services relative to these projects should visit www.BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

Winchester, VA - T.G.I Friday's # 528, 111 E Tevis St., 5,818-square-foot restaurant, August 2007, $800,000. Project ID : 524293

California, MD - Dollar Tree, 10,000-square-foot retail store, August 2007, $500,000. Project ID : 620345

Springfield, VA - Emmanuel Bible Church Addition and Renovation, 401 Southern Dr., 27,000-square-foot church addition and renovation, August 2007, $4 million. Project ID : 615416

Forest Hill, MD - Celebree Learning Center, 1519 Rock Spring Road, 8,000-square-foot administrative building, July 2007, $1 million. Project ID : 615405

Bel Air, MD - Wawa Gas Station, Bynum Road, 6,400-square-foot convenience store/gas station, September 2008, $900,000. Project ID : 614913

About BidClerk.com
BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in depth information on thousands of construction projects coming up for bid all throughout the United States. Our daily updates of commercial and residential construction projects are available to contractors and businesses in related industries that are seeking bid opportunities. For more information on bidding construction projects in your area, visit BidClerk online or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:08 AM | Comments (0)

The United States Gypsum Corporation Establishes Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust

The US Gypsum Corporation Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust began accepting claims in February 2007 for individuals who have been injured or who have the potential to become injured from exposure to asbestos in US Gypsum products.

New York, NY (PRWEB) June 13, 2007 -- The US Gypsum Asbestos Trust began accepting claims in February. The trust was formed under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to handle asbestos related personal injury claims that United States Gypsum Corporation is legally responsible for. Early, Ludwick, Sweeney and Strauss, a New Haven, Connecticut based law firm specializing in mesothelioma lawsuits, is currently filing claims with the US Gypsum Company Trust on behalf of individuals who have been injured due to asbestos exposure.

The United States Gypsum Company (USG) is most notably recognized for its manufacturing of gypsum-based products (i.e. sheetrock / drywall) and ceiling suspension systems that are primarily used in the construction trade. Between 1920 and 1978 some of the products produced by USG contained asbestos. Workers in the construction industry and other trades who worked with or in the vicinity of these products were at risk for developing asbestos related diseases like mesothelioma. This exposure risk occurred as a result of workers breathing in asbestos fibers that became suspended in the air during the building and construction process. As a result of this exposure, a significant number of lawsuits were brought against the United States Gypsum Company and USG was forced to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2001 in an effort to thwart escalating litigation expenses. In 2006, the asbestos personal injury settlement trust was established as part of a Joint Plan of Reorganization for coming out of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. For more information visit http://www.usgasbestostrust.com.

About Early, Ludwick, Sweeney & Strauss

For over two decades, the law firm of Early, Ludwick, Sweeney & Strauss has represented mesothelioma victims and their families. The firm is comprised of a dedicated team of mesothelioma attorneys that have become nationally recognized for not only the results achieved for their clients but for the understanding and compassion consistently shown throughout the litigation process. As a result, Early, Ludwick, Early & Strauss has been awarded Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating. The firm is currently licensed to practice in: California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington D.C. In addition, the firm has close working relationships with attorneys throughout the U.S., to assist in the representation of individuals with mesothelioma in other states. For more information about Early, Ludwick, Sweeney & Strauss, call 800-336-0086 or visit http://www.elslaw.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:07 AM | Comments (0)

EquipNet Opens Singapore Office

Asia Pacific location builds on already strong global presence.

Canton, MA (PRWEB) June 13, 2007 -- EquipNet, Inc., the leading provider of proactive asset management solutions, today announced the opening of its Singapore office. The new office is the latest addition to EquipNet's growing number of global locations, which includes various locations in the U.S., Toronto, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and London.

The new location gives EquipNet a foothold in the burgeoning Asian market by providing sales and services from employees that understand the various local marketplaces. The company will offer unmatched industry expertise to help customers manage their excess manufacturing assets.

"With Asian countries unlocking their markets to international competition and manufacturing expanding to compete in overseas markets, EquipNet is uniquely positioned to help Asian companies manage their surplus assets on both a global and local level," said Ben Potenza, Vice President of Marketing Operations for EquipNet.

Industry veteran Vincent Wee will head EquipNet's new Singapore operations. Mr. Wee has over 27 years industry experience in plant and machinery sales, appraisals and real estate in Asia including Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, China, Indonesia and India.

Wee was a Senior Vice President for global online sales of used capital assets and appraisals at an international auction and valuation company. Earlier Mr. Wee was the Managing Director and owner of Real Estate Plant & Machinery Appraisal and Auction Company for 20 years with offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong.

"EquipNet has emerged as a very successful leader in surplus asset management," said Roger Gallo, CEO & President of EquipNet. "The opening of an office in Singapore will strengthen EquipNet's efforts in delivering the best experience to our customers in that geography,"

EquipNet's new office is located at 09-06, 133 New Bridge Road, Chinatown Point in Singapore and already has a number of large customers in the region, including: Colgate-Palmolive, GlaxoSmithKline, Eastman Chemical and Hexion Chemical. Mr. Wee can be contacted at +65 6220 5080.

Since 1999 EquipNet has been revolutionizing the way global companies manage their surplus and idle assets. EquipNet's MarketPlaceTM, www.EquipNet.com, is the world's largest venue for buying and selling pre-owned processing, packaging, lab and IT equipment for the chemical, pharmaceutical, and packaged goods industries. Large global companies and small manufacturers alike can take advantage of EquipNet's multiple Cascading LiquidationTM channels, which include MarketPlaceTM, traditional and online auctions, sealed-bid events, eBay store and scrap management programs. In addition, EquipNet provides unmatched services with certified appraisals, desktop equipment valuations, consignment warehousing, and asset redeployment software, ARMSTM which is deployed in over 1,800 manufacturing facilities worldwide, ARMS making it the most widely used idle asset management tool on the market.
For more information, please visit www.EquipNet.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:07 AM | Comments (0)

Flow Line Options New P-72 Copolymer Flow Meters Provide Economical Metering of Chlorine And Caustics

Flo-Corp's P-72 Styrene Copolymer heavy bodied meters are specifically designed for demanding applications including chlorine, hot wet chlorine gas, chlorine dioxide, sodium hydroxide, high pH sodium hypochlorite, and brines. Previously limited to select OEM accounts, these flowmeters are now offered to the entire chlor-alkali market, along with wastewater treatment plants, chemical processors, and other users of harsh chemicals.

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) June 13, 2007 -- Flo-Corp's P-72 Flow Meters provide a tough, simple, and accurate flowmetering solution for chlor-alkali fluid service. These heavy bodied flowmeters are specifically designed for demanding applications including chlorine brines, hot wet chlorine gas, chlorine dioxide, sodium hydroxide, high pH sodium hypochlorite, and other chlor-alkali applications. Previously custom manufactured for electrolytic cells in the production of chlor-alkali and chlorate chemicals, an engineer in one division of Occidental Chemical called them the "safety standard for chlor-alkali service."

These chlorine flow meters were also selected for the City of Akron's Water Supply Plant for their Sedimentation Basins Rehabilitation Project. Fluids being metered include chlorine and chlorine dioxide. MEM is the only company offering chlorine flow meters in this special material, and Akron selected them because they offered superior corrosion resistance to the chlorine solutions. Additionally, Flo-Corp's meters cost less than the meters originally specified on the job.

Depending on the service, wetted materials are all P-72 Copolymer or P-72 with titanium, electroless nickel plated T310 stainless, and Teflon internals for maximum corrosion resistance. Sight tubes may be glass, polysulfone, or P-72 (again, depending on fluid service). For all P-72 meters, an externally coupled magnetic flow indicator is used.

Flo-Corp's P-72 meters are offered in a variety of flow ranges from 1 to 300 GPM Liquid, or 20 to 3500 SCFM Gas (100 psig, 70 degree F. air equivalent). Pressure-temperature ratings are similar to CPVC. Flanged connections are standard, although NPT and socket cement connections are offered as options. Like all standard MEM Products, P-72 flow meters can be disassembled without removing the body from the pipeline to facilitate cleaning.

These thermoplastic flowmeters may also be supplied with Flo-Corp's electronic accessories, including alarms, remote 4-20mA outputs, and flow computers.

About Flow Line Options Corp.
Flow Line Options was incorporated in the State of Ohio in 1988, and is located near Cleveland. The corporation started with the purpose of representing a small number of manufacturers focused in the marketing and service of instrumentation to municipal, electrical and industrial markets. These include Steel, Automotive, Petro-Chemical, Food, Consumer Health Care, Municipal, Regulated and Non-Regulated Utilities.

In late 1999, Flow Line expanded to the Web, and provides services worldwide. The company also began packaging systems and manufacturing some of its own products. Although it deals with a world market, Flow Line has maintained its small business attitude and commitment to customers.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:06 AM | Comments (0)

Collier Construction Enlists Coptix to Build Online Differentiation

Collier Construction is on a mission to let Chattanooga know what differentiates its services from those of other residential and commercial builders in the city. So Collier enlisted Chattanooga's leading integrated design firm, Coptix, Inc. to spread the good news.

Chattanooga, Tenn. (PRWEB) June 13, 2007 -- Collier Construction is on a mission to let Chattanooga know what differentiates its services from those of other residential and commercial builders in the city. So Collier enlisted Chattanooga's leading integrated design firm, Coptix, Inc. to spread the good news.

Collier Construction's main point of differentiation is its commitment to value, longevity, and green building. The average life expectancy of a house is fifty years, meaning that within that time period most of the major components will be replaced. Collier offers a product that outlives the average in all categories, using advanced construction techniques that bring a high return on investment to owners. Collier is also Chattanooga's leading builder of sustainable homes and commercial projects, using environmentally sensitive materials and techniques to reduce impact on the environment.

"When we wanted to update our website, Coptix was an easy choice for us," said Project Estimator Jason Lentz. "We took one look at the websites they have produced, and knew it was the right fit. We were looking for more than a site with portfolio pictures and contact information, wanting a place on the net that would show a future customer what we do, how we do it, and why."

Working with the brand identity developed by local graphic designer and UTC art professor Matt Greenwell, Coptix designed and built collierbuild.com. The site clearly and simply communicates Collier's mission, abilities and experience, while employing visual cues to subtly communicate uniqueness. Shifting the navigation and logo away from where they are conventionally located, high contrast blocks of color and an updatable news section all differentiate Collier from competitors, in small but effective ways.

"Coptix was extremely helpful and knowledgeable through the process of building the site, and - even better - they built the site so I can easily make quick changes to text, layout, and pictures," said Lentz. "There is no need to contact them every time I want to make edits, because they supplied and support the applications I need to do it myself, on my own schedule."

Equally as important, Coptix is using its web expertise to spread the word about Collier's brand values. Local bloggers, social bookmarking sites, e-mail broadcasts, directory submissions and a public relations campaign have been marshaled to drive thousands of visitors to collierbuild.com [collierbuild.com __title__ Collier Construction in coming weeks.

"The Collier Construction site is a project that is close to our passions," said Coptix Executive Vice President Josiah Roe. "We care a great deal about the burgeoning green design movement in Chattanooga: we are sponsors of Green Drinks and, as members of AIGA, support its growing sustainability initiatives as well. So, we were drawn to Collier's commitment to building sustainable structures that are not only good for customers, but for our community and the planet."

Coptix, which built its customer base upon technology and web services, has extended its creative and marketing services in recent months and has garnered national media attention through a feature on CBS Sunday Morning, which profiled its redesign of the Chattanooga Times Free Press website. In an April Fool's weekend web marketing experiment, Coptix digitally modified a photograph of White House advisor Karl Rove to show him carrying a folder emblazoned with the Coptix logo, bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors to http://coptix.com, and was featured in national news outlets across the country and in Europe.

Contact:
Josiah Q. Roe
Executive Vice President
Coptix, Inc.
423.822.6850
coptix.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:06 AM | Comments (0)

Consumers Find Local Contractors with Repair-Home.com's Free Directory Listing

With recent growth in the home and industrial construction markets, contractors are needed in increasingly greater demand. Repair-Home.com offers a free contractor listing to help businesses take advantage of the need for skilled labor by increasing their visibility among homeowners and other companies.

(PRWEB) June 13, 2007 -- To help homeowners find local contractors to work on indoor and outdoor projects, Repair-Home.com, an online, interactive home repair resource, provides a variety of tools, such as a contractor directory (http://www.repair-home.com/f/add.php). Contractors are expected to be in greater demand than ever, thanks to a boom in the residential construction industry as well as in industrial building and renovation needs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"Finding the right contractor for the job can be the toughest part of any home improvement project," said home improvement expert Allison Beatty, founder of RenovatorsPlace.com. "Consequently, home owners are taking advantage of the Internet's great search capabilities and using web sites like RepairHome.com to find local contractors they can trust."

By inputting information into Repair-Home.com's database, professional contractors in the U.S. can list their contact information, Web site and business services and become fully searchable to homeowners looking to find a local contractor to assist with various home-related projects from repairs to renovations (http://www.repair-home.com/f/add.php).

It is not uncommon for a local contractor to take advantage of an online contractor directory in order to generate business. However, Repair-Home.com provides more than a simple contractor listing. Homeowners visit the site to find information on various home repair topics, including complicated renovations that require the expertise of qualified contractors.

Unlike most other online listing services or publications such as the Yellow Pages or the Blue Book of Building and Construction, placing a business in Repair-Home.com's contractor directory is free (http://www.repair-home.com/f/add.php). Repair-Home.com is a leading online source of information for home repair including articles, chat forums and expert advice in the home repair industry and provides local contractors another option for attracting visibility for their business.

Repair-Home.com is an online home repair resource that includes an interactive homeowner driven forum, contractor listings and home repair resources ranging from walls and floors to cabinets and plumbing. Repair-Home.com connects homeowners with top home repair specialists and contractors for specific home repair projects.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:05 AM | Comments (0)

Allure Las Vegas Leads Way for North Strip Development

With the flurry of recent announcements regarding property acquisitions and real estate transactions, the north end of the Strip has quickly become the focus of redevelopment activity. More than three years ago, developer Steven Fifield had the foresight to put down stakes on this prime real estate. As a result, residents of Allure Las Vegas, one of the very few true high-rise condominium projects, are expected to move in this fall thus pioneering a new era of North Strip living.

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) June 13, 2007 -- With the flurry of recent announcements regarding property acquisitions and real estate transactions, the north end of the Strip has quickly become the focus of redevelopment activity. More than three years ago, developer Steven Fifield had the foresight to put down stakes on this prime real estate. As a result, residents of Allure Las Vegas, one of the very few true high-rise condominium projects, are expected to move in this fall thus pioneering a new era of North Strip living.

Anchoring the northwest corner of Sahara Ave and Las Vegas Blvd, construction on Allure Las Vegas continues to heat up as the 41 story high-rise tower of makes its final push towards completion through the next few months. Allure Las Vegas is quickly approaching one of its last major milestones with the near completion of the five story parking structure, making way for construction to begin on Allure's expansive pool, deck and cabanas.

"The North Strip has some of the most desirable land in the city and will soon be known for its high-end hotel-casinos and mixed use projects," said Alan Schachtman, Senior Vice President and Principal of the Fifield Companies. "For Fifield, developing Allure at this enviable location is strategic, and creates a fantastic opportunity for residents on a site that is increasing in value everyday."

Once completed, the sixth floor pool deck will feature a lushly landscaped pool surrounded by private cabanas. Available for purchase, each cabana comes equipped with air-conditioning, securable sliding-glass doors and are power and cable-TV ready. Also, high-speed wireless Internet is available on the pool deck and public spaces.

"The progress on the building is right on track," said Schachtman. "Now that the garage structure is in place, we are starting the finish work on the sixth floor pool and pool deck. It is exciting to stand on the pool deck and take in the views that our residents will enjoy when they are relaxing by the pool."

Maintaining an aggressive 25-month overall schedule, work on the building's facade is almost complete, with glass infill being done in strategic locations. Allure's place in the skyline is assured as the building is visible from many vantage points in and around Las Vegas. The signature crown will be lit sometime next month, which will make Allure all the more discernible on the Vegas skyline.

Allure Las Vegas features 428 units and 15 distinct open floor plans with studio, one, two and three bedroom residences which range in size from 671 to 4,400 square feet, in addition to tower suites and extraordinary two-story penthouses.

Allure's large outdoor pool deck with cabanas is overlooked by a well-appointed fitness center with locker rooms, and a media center, conference room, catering kitchen and business center equipped with high speed internet computers, wi-fi in all of the public spaces, resident storage, 24-hour security and valet parking. In addition, due to its close proximity to fiber optic lines, Allure will have a large bandwidth connection available to all units for video and data. A private wine cellar will offer climate controlled storage for residents. Allure Las Vegas is also the only high-rise residential development in Las Vegas offering feng shui design.

With remaining residences remarkably priced from the mid-$500,000s, Allure Las Vegas is more than 92% sold out of its luxury units. Each of its remaining residences offer premium views of Las Vegas and the surrounding mountains, superb amenities and exceptional finishes.

There is also something new and delightfully out of the ordinary at Allure. Unique to this community, Allure Now™ is Allure's new and very exciting concierge service. Like having your own personal assistant and lifestyle management expert, Allure Now™ allows Allure purchasers to enjoy the Las Vegas lifestyle while their residence is still being built.

Allure Las Vegas is a project of The Fifield Companies, in a joint venture with CB Richard Ellis-Strategic Partners and ABF, Inc. -- an Andrew Fonfa investment company.

One of the nation's premier developers of luxury high-rise condominiums, rental apartments and urban office towers, The Fifield Companies has earned a reputation for creating superb living and office environments in some of the country's most renowned locations, including Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Honolulu. Fifield has developed and built more than 50 projects in the United States worth more than $4 billion. The company also has 13 additional projects under development worth an estimated $2 billion.

For information about Allure Las Vegas, visit the website at www.AllureLasVegas.com or the Las Vegas Sales Center at the Fashion Show Mall, directly across from Wynn. The Sales Center is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Or, call 702.699.8998.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:04 AM | Comments (0)

June 12, 2007

Tangible Express to be Featured in the July Publication of Plastics Technology

Tangible Express, fractional ownership provider of SLS/SLA rapid prototyping technology from 3D Systems, will be featured in the upcoming July publication of Plastics Technology magazine in response to their innovative Tangible Alliance Program.

(PRWEB) June 12, 2007 -- Tangible Express, fractional ownership provider of rapid prototyping technology from 3D systems, will be featured in the July publication of Plastics Technology magazine. The story is in response to the successful launch of the Tangible Alliance Program the new fractional ownership program from Tangible Express.

"We're pleased that industry publications have taken notice of our innovative fractional ownership program here at Tangible Express." commented Ben Stier, Marketing Director of Tangible Express. "We are introducing new ideas to the rapid prototyping world and the industry is taking notice." added Stier. "We're grateful that Plastics Technology and other reputable industry publications are taking an interest in the direction we're going here at Tangible Express; these are valuable resources in spreading our message of fractional ownership." commented Alex Linde, President and C.O.O.

This announcement comes as Tangible Express prepares to take the Tangible Alliance Program, the industry's first fractional ownership program, to the Medical Design and Manufacturing exposition in New York City where they will exhibit the week of June 11.

After launching the Tangible Alliance Program in February of 2007, Tangible Express has expanded their facility three times to accommodate the needs of their customers. Tangible Express currently utilizes nineteen build platforms on thirteen machines including seven Viper™ Pro SLA® systems which are a cornerstone of the fractional ownership program.

Customers can purchase single or multiple fractions in 3D Systems' equipment owned and operated by Tangible Express, which includes 3D Systems entire Additive Manufacturing Technologies' portfolio, at prices well below the cost of a single system. The large rapid prototyping capacity enables Tangible Express to guarantee monthly cubic inches of building material to their fractional ownership customers. Tangible's customers can also expect a faster turnaround than industry standard because they are guaranteed specific building capacity on a monthly basis.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:33 AM | Comments (0)

Pacific Controls HQ Building Wins Prestigious Buildy Award for Best Intelligent Building at Builconn 2007, in Chicago, Illinois, USA

The Best Intelligent Building Award was recently presented to Pacific Control Systems LLC for their headquarters building in Dubai, UAE.

(PRWEB) June 12, 2007 -- The Best Intelligent Building Award was recently presented to Pacific Control Systems LLC for their headquarters building in Dubai, UAE. This building is the Middle East's First Platinum Rated Green Building (USGBC, LEED) to promote the concept of environmentally friendly buildings in the region.

"Today this project is the one and only certified Green Building in the Middle East and is truly pioneering the cause of Sustainable buildings and the Practical use of Solar Energy," said Anto Budiardjo Clasma, CEO.

The Buildy Awards recognize the individuals and organizations who have stepped up to the challenge of integrating a system into the entire scheme of a building. These individuals and organizations support the vision of networked building systems in which all the facility's disparate systems are seamlessly integrated together to provide the building owner and manager greater value from their investment.

Pacific Controls Head Quarters is located at the Dubai Techno Park, on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE, Dubai today is the global hub for infrastructure development.

Opened on 1st September 2006, the facility houses Pacific Controls Headquarters, U-City Development Centre, R & D Centre for M2M Technologies, Energy Performance, Industrial & Commercial Automation, U-home Products and Solutions. The facility also houses 24x7x365 Global Command Control Centre, Product Engineering and Development Facility and has capacity for 600 employees.

Pacific Controls green building functions on a totally integrated IP enabled Automation System integrating the services in the building including the BMS, IP Telephony, Lighting Controls, AV Systems, Solar PV, Fire Alarm , Lift Alarm, Access Control, IP cameras, Solar Thermal Air-conditioning System, STP, etc, which makes this building totally transparent in terms of its engineering services. This helps to maintain system reliability while substantially reducing operating and maintenance costs and increasing service efficiency.

Commenting on the Award, Dilip Rahulan said, "This award is Unique for a building in the Middle East and is a proof that, our Intelligent green building will be an icon for sustainable development showcasing the State of the Art Converged IP technology in buildings, wherein the reality of the 4th Utility is established, making the building totally Future Ready. We aim at promoting this 'Intelligent Green Building' concept to Builders, Real Estate Developers, Architects and the other members of the fraternity, to build a sustainable future."

About BuilConn
BuilConn® is a unique event that unites all the individuals involved in buildings and IT to take an objective and comprehensive view of buildings and facilities, understand the technologies and trends that shape it, and discover the steps required to implement truly intelligent, integrated buildings.

BuilConn 2007 hosts the 4th annual Buildy Awards. The Buildy Awards is a unique opportunity to promote your peers, your company, or even yourself, as a leader in whole building integration and interoperability Based in Dallas, Texas, with a network of associates and partners around the U.S. and across the globe, Clasma Events is a virtual organization, leveraging the power of the Internet for B2B-centric organization of events.

For more information please go to www.clasma.com

About Pacific Controls
Pacific Control Systems LLC is an Dubai based, ISO 9001:2000 company providing total automation solutions. Headquartered in Dubai, Pacific Controls has been involved in successfully implementing integrated automation solutions in over 3,000 projects in the Government and Private sectors. Pacific Controls adopts a concept-to-service approach in developing automation solutions that utilize the latest in Pervasive Internet applications and deployment of M2M technology for 24x7x365 days, Remote Monitoring covering a wide range of sectors like: Airport sector, Oil and Gas sector, Commercial, Industrial, Home, Infrastructure, Energy Performance Contracting, Hospitality, and Integrated IP Security. Pacific Controls is the first company to establish a Global Command and control Centre for monitoring and controlling Buildings and Assets in their HQ building in Dubai. Pioneering the concept of Knowledge Process Outsourcing, in the field of Facilities Management. Pacific Controls is currently establishing Data Centers in New York, London, Zurich, Singapore and Sydney to establish leadership in the Global Monitoring Service. In Dubai Pacific Controls has embarked on an mission to establish the concept of U-City.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:32 AM | Comments (0)

Parties That Cook™ Recently Featured in the New York Times, Southwest Airline’s Spirit Magazine, and View from the Bay

Innovative culinary firm uses kitchen based events for cultivating business and pleasure.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) June 12, 2007 -- As recently featured on the cover of the New York Times, in Southwest Airline’s Spirit Magazine, and live on the hit TV show View from the Bay, Parties That Cook™ has found the recipe for success for corporate teambuilding activities and private cooking parties.

A former member of Williams-Sonoma, Inc.’s marketing team, Founder and Executive Chef Bibby Gignilliat has received national acclaim for creating cooking party events that promote teamwork, boost morale, and help colleagues bond over their culinary creations. A favorite of corporate trendsetters in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley and Chicago, Gignilliat’s “Gourmet Dating” parties have become a growing phenomenon where attendees learn cooking techniques, eat fabulous food, and meet other fun singles. Even among gay men in San Francisco, Parties That Cook™ has gained a reputation for adding spice to the dating scene with ”Succulent,” an evening of culinary mingling for those who appreciate zest in the kitchen!

“Cooking is an ideal icebreaker. Guests are focusing on cooking together, so it takes the pressure away from making small talk,” notes Gignilliat. “And nothing brings people together better than cooking, wine and music. I even know of a marriage that resulted from one of our Gourmet Dating Parties!”

Whether designed as a corporate team building exercise or a hands-on private cooking party to celebrate a special occasion, guests are greeted at the door of a Parties That Cook™ event with a nibble and a nametag. After professional chefs from respected culinary academies and renowned restaurants provide an introductory lesson featuring professional cooking tips, guests are broken into cooking teams. Each group works on a recipe from a seasonally inspired menu, often sipping wine and listening to upbeat music. After the food is prepared and eaten, copies of the recipes, digital photos and optional party favors, including aprons and the “Sumptuous Small Plates” recipe deck, are distributed.

“I’m not surprised that Bibby’s invention ‘The Kitchen Challenge’ has quickly become the company’s most sought after booking,” said Joan Simon, a principal at the Bay Area based firm Full Plate Restaurant Consulting. “Drawing inspiration from the popular Iron Chef cooking show, this culinary competition themed party definitely raises the heat in the kitchen to a whole new level.”

The “Kitchen Challenge,” which was featured in San Francisco’s 7x7 “Best Of” Issue, Business 2.0 Magazine, The New York Times and profiled on CNBC’s business show “On the Money,” divides guests into teams with the mission of creating an entrée that focuses on three main ingredients in one hour. Experienced chefs are on-hand to provide individual team coaching and the final judging with grades based upon presentation, teamwork and taste.

“Food is the universal language and nothing brings people together better than cooking,” says Starla Sireno, an executive coach, speaker, facilitator, and founder of The Fearless Entrepreneur. “Building consensus, communicating, setting goals and meeting deadlines are positive practices learned in the kitchen that can be taken right back to the office,” Sireno explains.

At the Parties That Cook™ four hour workshop called “The Ultimate Kitchen Challenge,” Sireno utilizes the kitchen environment to help business clients master consultative communication techniques, determine clients’ needs and create solutions. Guests use these pointers to their advantage during a kitchen project where professional chefs act as both customers and final judges. Attendees are broken into teams that must determine their customers’ needs and prepare a delicious meal in one hour that meets or exceeds their customers’ criteria. In the end, all enjoy the fruits of their labor as Sireno gives feedback and summarizes the outcome for each team.

The company’s new “Sumptuous Small Plates” recipe deck (available online both at Amazon Books and through www.PartiesThatCook.com for only $17.95) is drawn from Gignilliat’s eight years experience in organizing interactive cooking events for individuals and corporate clients throughout the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Chicago. “Sumptuous Small Plates” includes thirty original recipes that encourage mixing, matching and sharing. Presented in a stylish “card deck” format, the deck also offers both practical and creative tips for throwing a successful do-it-yourself cooking party and suggested theme menus such as the Asian inspired “Now and Zen” and the deliciously Italian “Tantalizing Tuscany.”

“Based upon client feedback, the “Sumptuous Small Plates” recipe deck was a natural next step in my company’s menu of offerings,” explained Gignilliat. “Many of our clients give it as a reminder of their positive group experience. I see it as the perfect hostess gift, party favor or present for anyone who loves to eat, cook or entertain.”

For more information on hosting an interactive cooking party or purchasing the “Sumptuous Small Plates” recipe deck visit www.PartiesThatCook.com or contact Parties That Cook™ at 1.888.907.COOK or info @ PartiesThatCook.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:32 AM | Comments (0)

Slide-Lok of Northern California Becomes Fourth Master Dealership in California

Slide-Lok of Northern California becomes fourth Master Dealership in the Golden State. Cements Slide-Lok's presence as California's leader in the garage cabinets, garage interiors and home storage markets.

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) June 12, 2007 -- Slide-Lok of Northern California joins fellow Slide-Lok Master Dealership locations in Riverside, Bakersfield, and Monterey Bay, further adding to the bevy of Slide-Lok warehouses and showrooms throughout California.

Slide-Lok of Northern California will serve the booming major metro area of Sacramento and the surrounding counties of Contra Costa, San Joaquin, and Alameda. This newest California location will provide consumers with Slide-Lok's durable plywood garage cabinets, revolutionary new garage flooring product, and the company's recently introduced modular closet line.

Slide-Lok partnered with Doug Sallee, a veteran of several successful businesses in the Northern California area. Of particular interest is Sallee's long standing reputation for successfully serving home builders in his market, which parallels Slide-Lok's quest to become the nation's leading supplier of garage and home storage products to the home building industry. Sallee stated, "Slide-Lok gives me the perfect harmony of top quality products that appeal to both builders and consumers alike, along with the marketing and sales support needed to jump start our business."

Brian Strayer, president of Slide-Lok stated, "Northern California has been a hotbed of growth in recent years, and we are very confident in Doug's ability to properly service this area and really penetrate the booming home builder market." Slide-Lok of Northern California joins the strongest and most extensive network of garage cabinets, garage interiors and home organization dealers in North America.

For more information on Slide-Lok garage cabinets, garage floor coating systems, garage storage and their patented, innovative design advantages, contact Slide-Lok of Northern California at 209-470-0054 or www.Slide-LokofNorthernCalifornia.com or Slide-Lok directly at 800-835-1759 or visit them on the web at www.slide-lok.com.

About Slide-Lok:

Slide-Lok is an industry leader in the fast growing garage and overall home organization market with over 30 years experience in producing high quality, durable cabinetry and Slat-Wall storage systems. Slide-Lok's garage cabinets utilize a patented dovetail design, plywood construction, adjustable 6-way hinges, and Thermofuse doors - making Slide-Lok the quality leader. Slide-Lok's garage floor coatings feature a 1 day install and are 4x stronger than epoxy; and Slide-Lok's closet line features dovetail construction, fast order to install time, and the quality and esthetics consumers have come to expect from Slide-Lok.

Slide-Lok's dealer network includes more than 150 dealers across the United States and Canada.

Contacts:

Slide-Lok Headquarters
Jason W. Jantzen, 800-835-1759

Media Contact:

Aric Zion, 480-751-1007 (x108)
Zion & Zion
www.zionandzion.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:31 AM | Comments (0)

Select Safety Sales Introduces Sqwincher Electrolyte Drink To Combat Heat Stress In The Industrial Workplace

Select Safety Sales introduces Sqwincher Electrolyte Replacement Drink to its line of safety products this summer. It prevents heat stress and greatly improves productivity in an industrial work environment

Clark, NJ (PRWEB) June 12, 2007 - With the hot weather approaching, Select Safety Sales introduces the Sqwincher Electrolyte Replacement Drink to compliment its line of PPE Personal Protective Equipment. Sqwincher Electrolyte Drink is made especially for industry. Construction workers can really benefit from this high quality electrolyte drink. Working long hours in extremely hot conditions can be dangerous. It is extremely important for workers in industry to stay well hydrated during the heat of the summer.

"If workers do not stay continuously hydrated in a hot environment, they could be in danger of heat stress or even more serious, heat stroke," says Matthew Kane, owner of Select Safety Sales. Excessive heat exposure can have serious consequences on both the health and productivity of industrial workers in the summer months.

Potassium, sodium and other important minerals are lost when a worker sweats. An electrolyte replacement drink like Sqwincher is much better than water at replacing those lost minerals and restoring the proper balance in the body during heat stress. Sqwincher is absorbed into the body 98% faster than water and has a great taste so workers will keep drinking to stay hydrated.

Employers in industrial settings should consider having an electrolyte replacement drink as part of their safety program and readily available for their employees. Sqwincher Electrolyte Drinks will help to increase productivity and in addition keep their workforce safe in the hot weather. Keeping employees hydrated on a hot and humid day is as vital as ensuring that they wear their hard hats and safety goggles on the job-site. Heat related illness can have a negative impact on a company's bottom line as much as any other job-related injury. A healthy and safe employee is a productive employee.

"I choose to offer this product because of its many benefits for the industrial worker," states Matthew Kane. "I look for products to sell that truly give my customers a safety advantage in the workplace and I believe Sqwincher to be one of those products."

Select Safety Sales offers a complete line of safety products for the construction and industrial markets.

For additional information contact:

Matthew Kane
Select Safety Sales LLC
(866) 864-3495
www.selectsafetysales.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:30 AM | Comments (0)

Georgia Trial Attorney Named Executive Director of MidTown, Inc.

Teresa Tomlinson to lead community renewal organization

Columbus, GA (PRWEB) June 12, 2007 -- Teresa Tomlinson, a Georgia trial attorney at Pope, McGlamry, Kilpatrick, Morrison & Norwood, LLP, a prominent civil litigation law firm in Georgia, has just been named as the Executive Director of Columbus-based MidTown, Inc. Tomlinson has been serving as interim director since December 2005, when the MidTown Inc. Board of Directors appointed her to a spearhead the newly created nonprofit community renewal organization. Tomlinson, who started her new position June 1, will remain affiliated with the Pope, McGlamry law firm in an Of Counsel status.

"I'm excited to be a part of this renewal and to continue my work with the Board," says Tomlinson. "There is just so much potential here in MidTown and the positive changes are just beginning to happen."

MidTown, Inc. which succeeded the grassroots, community-based revitalization and vision effort known as The MidTown Project, was created to re-establish the historic center of Columbus, known as MidTown, as a community. Plans for revitalization include preserving existing historical neighborhoods, creating more parks and green space, developing mixed-use retail and commercial centers around neighborhoods, and advocating

In addition to her work as a trial lawyer, Tomlinson's legal career is distinguished by the many leadership positions she has held with various legal associations, including the State Bar of Georgia, Joseph Henry Lumpkin American Inn of Court, Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (GAWL) Columbus Chapter, Columbus Associations of Women Lawyers, United States District Court Attorney Discipline Grievance Committee and Justice Served, Inc., a Georgia non-profit organization established to create education programs for Georgia's judicial system. Ms. Tomlinson was also named as one of Georgia's Rising Stars by Super Lawyers in 2005.

About MidTown, Inc.:
MidTown, Inc. is a community renewal organization serving an area of over six square miles in the heart of Columbus. MidTown Columbus radiates from Wynnton Road into six contiguous historic neighborhoods. MidTown incorporates - in addition to residential neighborhoods - schools, parks, the Columbus Museum, the Columbus Public Library, commercial office and retail districts, and the international headquarters for AFLAC. For further information please contact: Ed Burdeshaw, President, MidTown, Inc. (706) 323-1814 or Teresa Tomlinson (706) 494-1663, or visit www.midtowncolumbusga.org.

About Pope McGlamry Kilpatrick Morrison & Norwood, LLP

Pope, McGlamry, Kilpatrick, Morrison & Norwood, LLP, a group of Georgia trial attorneys with offices in Atlanta and Columbus, GA, is a recognized leader in the field of civil litigation. The firm specializes in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases, particularly those involved with products liability or motor carrier liability. The firm is also a recognized leader in business litigation and class actions suits, especially those related to consumer issues. The firm has offices in Atlanta and Columbus, Georgia, and maintains a regional and national practice. For additional information, visit www.pmkm.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:30 AM | Comments (0)

Timeless Commercial Height Balustrade Systems

The Cambridge, Montreaux and Savannah Collections of balusters.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) June 12, 2007 -- Beautifully detailed with crisp, clean lines the Montreaux, Cambridge and Savannah Commercial Collections are the most versatile balustrade systems offered by Timeless Architectural Reproductions, Inc.™ (www.timelessarchitectural.com). These collections can be used in linear, stair and radius elevations.

Balusters for these balustrade systems include commercial, extended stair, all meeting commercial height requirements. Tall and short profile top and bottom railings can be used with the commercial Montreaux and Cambridge collection balusters, providing a variety of height combinations. The Savannah top and bottom railings are available in one height, which when used with the commercial Savannah baluster meets commercial code requirements. The Cambridge and Savannah Collections are also available as rooftop balusters for non-access areas.

Timeless recessed panel commercial newel posts come in 12" widths and three cap styles: peaked, rounded and flat, all perfectly suited to match all three collections. A unique 45-degree paneled newel post allows you to turn corners and create sweeping curves without endangering the integrity of the application. Further adornment can be added to flat or rounded newel posts with the addition of ball tops and risers.

"We are pleased to be able to offer three new balustrade systems to our clients," said Larry Hutto, president of Timeless Architectural Reproductions. "These commercial collections will provide architects and builders with expanded options that can be used to enhance the façade of any commercial building."

For more information about Timeless balustrade systems, decorative capitals, architectural columns, mouldings and millwork visit, www.TimelessArchitectural.com or call toll free 1.800.665.4341.

About The Company
Timeless Architectural Reproductions, Inc., was founded in 1996 and manufactures individually crafted and hand finished architectural products constructed from a proprietary formulation of cultured marble and fiberglass-reinforced resin. In 1999, the company moved to its current office and manufacturing facility in Cumming, Georgia, where it has expanded the initial product offering to include balustrades, spindles, and decorative capitals as well as providing architectural columns, mouldings and decorative millwork for luxury home and commercial building. Timeless products are available across North America. For more information call toll-free at 1.800.665.4341 or visit www.timelessarchitectural.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:29 AM | Comments (0)

June 11, 2007

BASF Defines High-Performance Communities in Interactive, Animated Website

BASF announces the launch of www.highperformancecommunity.com, a website designed to define and present a BASF High-Performance Community by chronicling the lives of the Jones family -- proud new owners of a high-performance home in a sustainable neighborhood.Florham Park, N.J. (PRWEB) June 11, 2007 -- BASF announces the launch of www.highperformancecommunity.com, a website designed to define and present a BASF High-Performance Community by chronicling the lives of the Jones family -- proud new owners of a high-performance home in a sustainable neighborhood.

Through interactive animated vignettes, visitors learn about the benefits of living and working in a community that is optimized by BASF chemistry. These benefits include affordability, energy efficiency, resistance to natural disasters, environmental responsibility, healthier indoor environments and design freedom.

“Because BASF has such a wide portfolio of products that serve all sectors of both residential and commercial building and construction, we are uniquely qualified to provide tangible solutions backed by science to improve the performance of structures such as homes, office buildings, tunnels, and bridges and highways,” says Jack Armstrong, Manager of Building and Construction Markets for BASF. He continues, “Used in concert, these improved materials produce entire communities that out-perform the traditional neighborhood.”

Visitors to the site can also choose to learn more about improvements to applications including the building envelope, heating ventilation and air conditioning systems, concrete and infrastructure technologies, coatings that provide weather resistance and aesthetics, renewable energy systems, pest resistance and landscaping materials, as well as advancements in low voc (VOC?) construction materials that increase indoor-air quality. A selection of success stories, white papers, relevant news and current events are available as well.

Information and links about the specific businesses within BASF that contribute to the high-performance community are provided. These divisions include BASF Canada, Chemical Intermediates, Construction Chemicals, Engineering Plastics, Functional Polymers, Industrial Coatings, Performance Chemicals, Professional Pest Control, Polyurethanes and Styrenics.
BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.®

BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF employs more than 15,500 in North America and had sales of approximately $14.3 billion in 2006. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF’s high-value products and intelligent system solutions help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to meet the challenges of the future and open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. BASF has approximately 95,000 employees and posted sales of €52.6 billion (approximately $66.1 billion) in 2006. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
For more information, contact:

Mary MacLeod
Maverick Marketing on behalf of BASF
Tel: (207) 929-4568

Florham Park, N.J. (PRWEB) June 11, 2007 -- BASF announces the launch of www.highperformancecommunity.com, a website designed to define and present a BASF High-Performance Community by chronicling the lives of the Jones family -- proud new owners of a high-performance home in a sustainable neighborhood.

Through interactive animated vignettes, visitors learn about the benefits of living and working in a community that is optimized by BASF chemistry. These benefits include affordability, energy efficiency, resistance to natural disasters, environmental responsibility, healthier indoor environments and design freedom.

“Because BASF has such a wide portfolio of products that serve all sectors of both residential and commercial building and construction, we are uniquely qualified to provide tangible solutions backed by science to improve the performance of structures such as homes, office buildings, tunnels, and bridges and highways,” says Jack Armstrong, Manager of Building and Construction Markets for BASF. He continues, “Used in concert, these improved materials produce entire communities that out-perform the traditional neighborhood.”

Visitors to the site can also choose to learn more about improvements to applications including the building envelope, heating ventilation and air conditioning systems, concrete and infrastructure technologies, coatings that provide weather resistance and aesthetics, renewable energy systems, pest resistance and landscaping materials, as well as advancements in low voc (VOC?) construction materials that increase indoor-air quality. A selection of success stories, white papers, relevant news and current events are available as well.

Information and links about the specific businesses within BASF that contribute to the high-performance community are provided. These divisions include BASF Canada, Chemical Intermediates, Construction Chemicals, Engineering Plastics, Functional Polymers, Industrial Coatings, Performance Chemicals, Professional Pest Control, Polyurethanes and Styrenics.
BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.®

BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF employs more than 15,500 in North America and had sales of approximately $14.3 billion in 2006. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF’s high-value products and intelligent system solutions help its customers to b