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February 20, 2008

Green or Not Green: Which 'Trail' Did you Choose? Two Trails, Inc. Celebrates 8 Years of Green Building Consulting

Two Trails, Inc. was pushing the construction industry forward into a new realm before the term "green" was commonplace. Today, it is a widely accepted term for environmentally sustainable construction practices. However, 8 years ago it was only through perseverance that a company focused on Green Building techniques could remain in business. In fact, there was no demand for it in the marketplace.

Sarasota, FL (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- When Drew and Debbie Smith dedicated themselves to a little known cause called "Green Building", the term "Green" was just a color in the crayon box. Today, it stands for saving natural resources, energy efficiency and saving money. Two Trails, Inc. -- Green Building Consulting was a dream that needed to become a reality, now 8 years later the trail to success is lush. Two Trails, Inc. has become one of the leaders in the Green Building Industry, by developing programs that help a builder or developer take their projects green through a turnkey process. For more information on Two Trails visit our website at http://www.twotrails.net.

The slowing of residential building allowed builders and developers the time to explore innovations in their industry. Green Building incorporates new technologies within the building process. Two Trails initial focus was to work with supporting industries to help them understand how changing their products can start a domino effect of change within an entire industry. Two Trails developed systems of support for the life cycle of a project.

Some consultants take a piece-meal approach when it comes to greening a project. Two Trails looks at a project as a sustainable entity that will outlast the current generation, it is like taking a step back in time and developing a system for creating an heirloom. The project becomes more than just a residential or commercial project. Residential properties become affordable, durable homes, better built to withstand the elements and use or reuse natural resources. Commercial projects become healthy work or learning environments. Developments incorporate new urbanism designs, creating green lifestyle communities that benefit those who chose to work or live within the project.

Green Solutions:
An example of one such project is University Town Center in Sarasota, FL by Benderson Development Corporation; this development will redefine what is considered "green" in the development world. Alternative fuel vehicles, parks within parking areas, residential homes mixed with commercial space, mass transportation areas to move people seamlessly are some strategies being incorporated. It is a new urbanism approach but taken to a new level of environmental awareness.

"Working on a LEED high-rise twin towers project in Miami has been exciting," stated Drew Smith, President of Two Trails, Inc. "We have done high-rise residential projects before but this project has pushed our team to really think outside of our knowledge base to discover new innovations. The world of green building is ever changing; it is our job to find those new solutions."

Two Trails clientele is impressive, but the projects themselves are innovative in the field of Green Building. In Florida, Two Trails, Inc. is considered a household name in Green Building. Drew Smith, the founding president of the Florida Green Building Coalition, played a key role in the development of many of the recognized green standards used to certify projects. As Two Trails grew, it gave him the opportunity to find those projects, which push the envelope in design, technologies and innovation.

With over 100+ homes at any given time in the certification process, it takes a highly trained team to track and evaluate each project. One of the unique projects is a LEED Platinum School, Learning Gate School, which will have existing buildings next to the new green certified structures. This will allow for a real-life comparison of healthy learning environments. The student body will also be kept separate to ensure accurate data can be obtained. Nevertheless, the part that sets this project apart is the fact that students are all learning about the features and benefits of the new classrooms! They are excited, enthusiastic learners that will carry this experience with them as they make choices in their living environment in the future.

Two Trails, Inc. tailored green building solutions, is a winning combination that has resulted in Two Trails working with a diverse client base including U.S. Government agencies, small and mid-sized businesses, schools and non-profit agencies.

Two Trails, Inc. is unique in their ability to assess needs, identify strengths, and design services that will enhance each client's unique circumstance. Their approach works in tandem to provide education for sales teams, marketing assistance and preventative maintenance solutions to ensure the sustainability of green features well into the future.

Green Building University:
Recognizing the need for continued education of sales teams and technical professionals Two Trails, Inc. added a new division to bring education of not only green building, but global environmental thinking of green lifestyles. Green Building University was created as a resource for green building content. All of our trainers and speakers have real life experience in the green construction world, commanding respect from their peers for their foresight and clarity to help propel green building to the forefront of an industry steeped in tradition. They each bring their own unique experiences to enhance educational presentations, seminars, conventions, keynote, and training programs. Courses are available on-line at http://www.greenbuildinguniversity.com or in person depending on the type of learning experience desired.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:49 PM | Comments (0)

Renaissance Lighting Names New CEO to Drive Aggressive Growth Strategy

Barry Weinbaum to Lead Pioneering Innovator of Solid-State LED Architectural Lighting

Herndon, VA (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 20, 2008 -- In a move designed to ultimately help transform the lighting industry, Renaissance Lighting (www.renaissancelighting.com), a pioneering innovator of solid-state LED architectural lighting, has named Barry Weinbaum, 49, chief executive officer and director.

Weinbaum, a 28-year high-tech industry veteran with extensive experience in growing communications, nanotechnology, components, consumer products, semi-conductors, software and wireless enterprises, has melded extensive large and small corporate experiences with business and technical acumen and the spirit of a serial entrepreneur.

“In the solid-state lighting space, Renaissance Lighting’s technological creativity and innovation are unparalleled,” said company Chairman George P. Crowley, Jr. “Now, with Barry Weinbaum at the helm, we have the best possible combination of talent and product in place to expand the company’s footprint, rapidly grow our customer base and revenues, and exponentially increase shareholder value.”

Renaissance Lighting’s patented lighting systems are preferred by architects and space designers using a technique which blends light from multiple LEDs (light-emitting diodes) in order to produce the industry’s purest single light source.

The company’s environmentally friendly "green" technology is separated further from the competition through the integration of internal sensors which constantly monitor and adjust light output and color. These same sensors have the ability to activate sleeper LEDs that compensate for the gradual degradation of a fixture’s original LEDs during their 50,000-to-70,000-hour life span.

From 2001 until its acquisition in 2007, Weinbaum served as president and CEO of NanoOpto, the leading supplier worldwide for nanoscale optical components. Previously, Weinbaum had a 21-year career at Lucent Technologies and AT&T, where his most recent position was vice president in the Optical Networking Group. Highlights of his accomplishments at Lucent included a turnaround of the Dense Wave Digital Multiplexing (DWDM) Long-Haul Optical Systems Business, directing the mergers and acquisition team for the Optical Networking Business Unit, leading the wireless enterprise PBX and voice response businesses to global leadership, and pioneering the customer relationship management (CRM) business. Weinbaum started his career as an engineer with Bell Laboratories.

About Renaissance Lighting
Renaissance Lighting, headquartered in Herndon, VA, produces highly creative lighting products delivering exceptional appearance, superior efficiency, and glare-free illumination for all architectural applications. The company’s innovative approach to product engineering and design is supported by 27 patents including its optical and feedback control technologies.

Media Contact:
Joe Arimond
ECI Communications
847-381-1205
joseph.k.arimond @ ecicommunications

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:46 PM | Comments (0)

Spring Clean Your Garage: Decorative Coatings Customize Your Garage Floor

Decorative garage floor coatings are a popular, new trend among homeowners and designers. ConcreteNetwork.com offers an extensive and educational overview of the advantages and features of incorporating decorative floor coatings in the home, specifically for garage floors.

Yucaipa, CA (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- Garage floors are often not the first area you think of when you're ready to remodel your home, but a growing number of homeowners and designers are focusing their attention on these often forgotten spaces. Known for their utilitarian purposes for parking cars and storing household items and tools, customizing residential garages is a growing trend that seems to have started in the southwest, where mild weather encouraged people to spend time in their garages.

Today, garages have taken a more prominent place in the design of homes, often built to house three vehicles, and more often than not attached to the home. The Concrete Network, the largest and most comprehensive source for concrete information on the web, offers extensive information on garage floor coatings. The section details everything from available design options for updating your garage floors, floor preparation tips, installation guidelines, and care and maintenance tips.

Also known as, garage floor painting, these coatings increases resiliency to stains and hot tire marks that can often be left behind when driving over an unfinished, concrete floor. Garage floor coverings have the versatility to go with any style of décor, the available design options are limitless and caring for and maintaining your garage floor coating is simple. Maintenance consists of using a soft broom or dust mop daily, or for a thorough cleaning, washing the floor with a neutral cleaner, followed with a good rinsing. The end result is a beautiful floor with looks similar to granite or terrazzo.

Read more about concrete.

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 2007 The Concrete Network Website had over 11 million visitors researching decorative concrete.

The site excels at connecting buyers with local contractors in their area through its Find a Concrete 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 202 regional areas throughout North America.

Attached photos courtesy of Yezco Decorative Concrete.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:46 PM | Comments (0)

Buy Railings.com Raises the Bar with the Launch of their New Website

Buy Railings, a company offering various components and tubing for the highest quality railings, now offers even more options for their customers with the launch of their new website, BuyRailings.com.

Danbury, CT (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- Buy Railings proudly announces the launch of their new website, BuyRailings.com, which provides an online shop for the public to purchase their high quality materials direct. Buy Railings is located out of Danbury, CT where they provide consumers with the highest quality of railing products around. Their rails, brackets, and fittings are the exact same as those that are found in popular restaurants, bars, airports, hotels and office buildings. That means they are quality assured, and suitable not only for commercial use, but for residential wear and tear, as well.

Their main focus as a business is to provide the highest quality of railings and components out there. They know how trying it can be to install brackets that don't line up properly, or deal with fittings that don't actually fit. To eliminate that frustration, they carefully specify and rigorously inspect their products to ensure accurate fit and professional finish. They even work directly with foundries and mills around the world to ensure satisfaction in those areas.

Another feature that assures their railings are superior is the fact they craft their products to meet the expectations of the most discriminating customers. Most all of the brass items they sell are actually solid brass, their stainless steel items are 304 grade solid stainless steel, and their chrome finished items are produced with the finest plating over steel or brass. What is even better is that their products will maintain their beauty and aesthetic appeal with minimal care for many years to come.

Buy Railings launched their new website in order to offer another shopping option for their "railing patrons." It is a very user friendly site for anyone to navigate because everything is so clearly mapped out. A customer can easily go to the home page and find exactly what they are looking for--and then some. They make it simple to find components or rails for any projects, and the projects go beyond regular stair rails. They offer items for specialty projects like bathrooms, curtain rails and more.

Their website presents easy methods of contact for anyone with questions or concerns about the products they sell, ordering, or shipping and handling. The contact page requires only a few short minutes of time to fill out, or for those who prefer more traditional means of communication, a phone number is also listed. In either case, a professional is waiting to assist with any needs a customer has.

For more information on BuyRailings.com please do not hesitate to visit their website at www.BuyRailings.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:44 PM | Comments (0)

Lee Technologies Joins the Green Grid

Membership extends commitment to incorporating energy efficiency best practices into full lifecycle of support and services for mission critical facilities

Fairfax, VA (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- Lee Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of solutions which enable commercial enterprises and public sector agencies to avoid disaster and mitigate risk to their physical infrastructures, today announced that it has joined The Green Grid, a global consortium dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centers and business computing ecosystems. The Green Grid will seek to provide industry-wide recommendations on best practices, metrics and technologies that will improve overall data center energy efficiencies.

"Lee Technologies' membership in The Green Grid reflects our commitment to incorporating energy efficient best practices into our full life cycle of support and services," said Bob Woolley, VP, Facility Operations & Quality Systems, Lee Technologies. "We enthusiastically support The Green Grid's mission to develop innovative yet quantifiable standards, processes and technologies that enable environmental sustainability in the data center."

Lee Technologies' complete lifecycle of solutions can be custom-fit to the energy efficiency requirements of an organization's mission-critical facilities, with services including: mission-critical assessments, design/construction management, equipment procurement, integration, commissioning, operations & maintenance, on-site staffing and remote monitoring.

"Working with industry leaders dedicated to forward-thinking energy efficient practices will benefit every touch point within the data center ecosystem, and Lee looks forward to helping advance these efforts," added George Newstrom, President and Chief Operating Officer, Lee Technologies.

About Lee Technologies:
Founded in 1983, Lee Technologies protects technology infrastructure from disaster for some of the world's most demanding government agencies, Fortune 1000 companies, and IT-dependent firms of all sizes. By ensuring that their mission-critical technology resources are always available -- 24/7/365 - Lee Technologies empowers its customers with infrastructure peace-of-mind, enabling them to focus on accomplishing their core business objectives.

Lee Technologies' services and solutions enable clients to power, protect, monitor and maintain the physical infrastructure on which mission-critical facilities depend. From risk analysis, infrastructure assessments, design and construction management, integration and commissioning to monitoring, facility staffing and maintenance, Lee Technologies offers its customers a single source for eliminating downtime in their facilities.

Lee Technologies is headquartered in the Washington, DC metroplex where it operates a state-of-the-art National Operations Center, and has offices in Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:43 PM | Comments (0)

RidgeLogic Selected by USAV Group to Present at Digital Signage University

RidgeLogic to educate attendees about single location uses of digital signage.

Buffalo, NY (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- RidgeLogic Development, a developer of digital signage software for single locations, has been selected by the USAV Group, a national alliance of professional audio/visual experts, to present at the groups second annual Digital Signage University in Las Vegas on February 26th, which is the day before the industry's largest trade event, Digital Signage Expo.

Digital Signage University is a training program available to the USAV Group's 26 dealer members, representing 48 locations across the United States. RidgeLogic will educate attendees about the digital signage marketplace, their SceneStudio content management software, and how to leverage the easy-to-use application to succeed in one-off sales opportunities.

"The USAV Group is providing their dealer members the tools required to succeed in the digital signage market and we're excited to participate in the training program," says Jack Boyczuk, President of RidgeLogic. "We believe single location uses of digital signage, like corporate and hotel lobbies, are going to experience significant growth and professional audio/visual dealers are well positioned to win these types of deals."

SceneStudio, RidgeLogic's flagship product, provides resellers an affordable price point allowing them to expand into new markets, like small-to-medium business. In addition, the intuitive user interface allows non-technical people the ability to create or maintain the message on a daily basis, keeping the operating cost low, resulting in the lowest possible total cost of ownership.

About RidgeLogic:
RidgeLogic Development provides digital signage software applications, content design and programming services to meet the specific needs of end users, resellers and OEM partners. RidgeLogic is committed to allowing its consumers to utilize non-technical personnel to create or edit content and schedule it for playback, resulting in a digital signage solution that stays fresh and relevant.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:42 PM | Comments (0)

Could You Be Hurting Your Blacktop Surface By Seal-Coating Every Year?

St. Louis-based Creve Coeur Paving debunks myths pertaining to maintenance of asphalt pavements. Are you wasting money, or possibly even shortening the lifespan of your blacktop? To help shed light on the subject, Richard Dinkela II will outline the key points of when, how, why, and who you should plan on maintaining your pavement.

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- In the past decade as our workforce loses out to foreign competition, many people have decided to go into business for themselves. A very easy and lucrative business is asphalt sealing. A person can get started with as little investment as a couple hundred dollars and no experience. This has led to even more problems in an industry that is already marked with scars from bad ethics and scrupulous scams. Until wide spread use of the Internet, consumers have been limited to educating themselves regarding pavement maintenance through the actual installers. The problem is, most of the installers have little knowledge themselves.

Let's explore and offer some answers to the most common questions:

1.) Q. Should seal coating be performed on an annual basis?
A. No. Sealing your surface too much can lead to many problems. Many seal coating installers will lead you to believe otherwise. However, the first two coats of sealer applied to your asphalt are what really protect it. Anything after this is usually for cosmetic purposes. Sealer applied annually tends to crack and flake after about 10 years of annual applications. This may influence the owner to resurface prematurely. To sum up, too much maintenance is not a good return on investment. Other problems caused by over sealing are tracking, creating slippery surfaces, and a smaller balance in your checkbook.

2.) Q. Is it better to apply sealer in hot weather?
A. No. While this is true for paving, it's not appropriate for sealing. Remember, asphalt can get so hot under the hot summer sun; it can nearly burn your skin. This also causes the sealer to dry too quickly. When sealer dries too quickly it can peel, flake, or get a streaky finish. If you must apply sealer in temperatures above 90 degrees, it's a good idea to spray the surface with a light mist of water first. This will cool the surface considerably. Ideal air temperatures are between 50 and 80 degrees.

3.) Q. Sealer is all the same, why shouldn't I choose a less expensive bid?
A. There are far more variables to the seal coating industry than consumers realize. Most directly influence the differences in quoted prices. First off, sealer is water based. Therefore it can be diluted to save money, or not diluted to provide a more superior product. Unfortunately, there is hardly any way to tell what the water content is in sealer. Most applications will have an average of 10%-25% water dilution rate. This is acceptable. Consumers should choose a reputable contractor. Usually a good installer will be more expensive because he doesn't over dilute his material, he may use additives which greatly improve the sealer, he has all the required insurances and licensing to be in business, pays his trained employees a fair wage to do a good job, and will stand behind the work. Shoddy contractors almost never have any insurance, offer a low price to get a large volume of work, hire cheap inexperienced labor, dilute the material heavily, and will never offer any guarantees once paid.

4.) Q. Surface cracks always come back, so why bother filling them?
A. Inexperienced or unethical contractors will shy away from filling cracks. It is important to fill cracks especially in climates that are subjected to freezing temperatures. Water can cause damage to pavement if permitted to get down into the pores of blacktop. Qualified installers will know exactly the best solution to treat cracks.

5.) Q. Why do I need to seal my surface? After all, the interstates don't get sealed.
A. Although your surface may be comprised of similar materials as the highway, it is subjected to much different uses than a highway. Highways don't get sealed because they carry a large volume of high-speed single direction traffic. This has a polishing effect on the surface, which will naturally repel water from being soaked into the pavement. Your surface is subjected to slow moving, heavy loads, or constant maneuvering of vehicles. Asphalt can realize a longer lifespan by sealing because it keeps water or damaging chemicals from penetrating into its pores.

6.) Q. Can I save some money by doing it myself?
A. At one point, some courageous homeowners (and very few commercial property owners) will try to personally seal coat their pavement. Stop for a second and add up the total costs you will incur by undertaking this project. Sealer by the pale costs 4-5 times more at improvement stores (and usually is not of the same quality). Tools available to homeowners are often expensive and not up to the task. Figure on ruining a whole outfit from your shoes all the way to gloves. You may have to persuade somebody to help you, which could cost additional money. On average this will take you four to five times longer than a professional. On a 1,200 square foot driveway you can expect to fork out around $300.00 for the supplies listed above. That doesn't include what you would make hourly at your job. Plus it is highly doubtful that you would do half as good a job as a professional. By today's rates, most professional jobs will range between $180.00 and $320.00.

7.) Q. Should the sealer be applied by spray or squeegee?
A. Here is another reason you should rely on a real professional to come up with a solution for your specific needs. Both application types are suitable under the right circumstances. There is no "one size fits all" method of seal coating. A true professional will determine the process based off of age, degree of deterioration, climate, expected use, budget, term of ownership, obstacles, and how many coats already exist on the pavement.

The main point of this article is to influence the consumer to research and make an educated decision when maintaining asphalt surfaces. Do not make an impulsive decision based solely on price. The first thing you should do is be sure your contractor has an upstanding report with the BBB. Make sure they are well established by investigating whether they have a local advertisement in the yellow pages or a website. It also wouldn't hurt to get several bids, and check references on all of them. Keep in mind you usually get what you pay for.

A well-paved blacktop surface can last 20 years if maintained on proper intervals. Save money by hiring a reputable, paving or sealing contractor. They can develop a strategy to maintain your pavement. Spending a little more now, can save you a lot down the road.

Creve Coeur Paving:
A St. Louis based; family owned paving company focused on delivering the best possible solutions for its clients. Motivated by the company's highly regarded work ethic, it's owners and employees have been striving for perfection in paving for over thirty years. "Our Reputation Rides On Our Service."
Contact:

Richard Dinkela II, Operations
Creve Coeur Paving
314-427-3303
http://ccpstl.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=8&Itemid=51

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:41 PM | Comments (0)

TruStile Doors Leads a Revolution in Green Design

When it comes to Green building, doors are an essential, but often overlooked, detail. Denver-based TruStile® Doors now offers over 350 styles of premium, eco-friendly MDF doors that are SCS certified to contain 82 percent recycled content. TruStile's design-oriented MDF doors are a cost-effective solution for residential and commercial Green builders.

Denver (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- In a housing market struggling to recover from decline, Green builders are experiencing an unprecedented revolution of growth. A leader in the Green building movement, Denver-based TruStile® Doors is educating builders, architects and consumers about the impact they are making on sustainability, healthful living and high design in an industry where doors are often overlooked as a Green building component.

"TruStile's MDF doors have been Green since our company started back in 1995," says Vice President of Marketing Chuck Tamblyn. "As a progressive company building a premium brand in the building products space, we made the strategic decision long ago to create design-oriented doors with eco-friendly construction. It's exciting to see so many builders and homeowners joining the Green revolution and realizing the critical role that doors play in renewable, sustainable development."

Susan Davis, a TruStile enthusiast, Green builder and owner of Spectrum Fine Homes in Mountain View, Calif., believes TruStile is at the industry forefront for sustainable building due to the company's variety of customizable, eco-friendly door options. "I love using the TruStile MDF product for interior and exterior doors for many reasons, including its Green options. The doors are built with stile and rail construction, but are still environmentally friendly -- from the recycled MDF content to the low-emitting binders and no-added formaldehyde option," says Davis. "I also love the fact that there are so many standard designs and options to customize."

TruStile recently provided Davis's company with unique exterior and interior door designs for a $500,000 Green-design remodel in Silicon Valley. "Doing the same old, same old gets tiring," says Davis. "With TruStile we can do something unique and different with the exterior, interior, glass and resin options, while maintaining design continuity throughout the home."

As a leading manufacturer of solid MDF doors made with true stile and rail construction, TruStile is certified by SCS® (Scientific Certification Systems) for using 82 percent recycled content in their MDF door construction, making them ideal for Green builders seeking LEED® certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. "TruStile MDF doors allow Green builders to adhere to sustainable building practices without sacrificing aesthetics or design flexibility," says Jason Mounts, Director of Marketing. "Our signature stile and rail MDF construction delivers an affordable, design-savvy product constructed with premium, eco-friendly materials and finished with superior architectural detailing. And, with our new MDF reclamation process, scrap MDF is ground up and donated to a number of agricultural partners for livestock bedding and other uses."

"People spend thousands of dollars on Green materials like reclaimed bamboo flooring and recycled dimension stone," says Mounts. "But the reality is that doors are found in every room in the home. TruStile eco-friendly doors are a comparatively cost-effective design choice, and have a huge architectural influence on homes and workspaces. Designers are pleased to discover that they don't have to sacrifice style for substance when it comes to our Green product line."

About TruStile® Doors
Based in Denver, TruStile Doors is a leading manufacturer of residential and commercial architectural doors in medium density fiberboard (MDF) and natural wood. With a made-to-order manufacturing process, TruStile offers customers style, selection and design flexibility with more than 350 styles and the ability to fulfill any custom design. TruStile's full-line of interior and exterior doors can be individually tailored to reflect personal design styles, adding beauty and character to any project. TruStile provides the shortest lead times in the industry and limited lifetime product warranties. For more information, visit www.trustile.com.

For More Information Contact:
Jason Mounts
Director of Marketing
720.322.8345

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:39 PM | Comments (0)

United-Bilt Homes, Inc. Celebrates 50 Years in Business

United-Bilt Homes is closing out its first 50 years with a bang reporting its highest revenue ever, and confidently planning increased production for the months and years ahead.

(PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- United-Bilt Homes is closing out its first 50 years with a bang reporting its highest revenue ever, and confidently planning increased production for the months and years ahead.

United-Bilt Homes officially incorporated in Louisiana on February 13, 1958. The company grew out of a building supply business, and began to construct homes in the Shreveport area; then quickly expanded into several surrounding states. Since its inception, United-Bilt Homes has constructed over 30,000 homes in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Specializing in on-your-land construction of new homes, United-Bilt Homes and its affiliates own and operate their own lumberyard which supplies all of United-Bilt Homes’ building projects. This vertical integration and ability to buy materials in bulk directly from suppliers enables United-Bilt Homes to pass unsurpassed savings and quality onto the consumer.

“One of our major lumber suppliers reports that United-Bilt Homes is their only customer which showed an increase in purchases over last year with orders up by 11%,” says Donald R. Pitts, President. “Our strong sales performance is a testament to our 50-year reputation for providing quality, affordable homes. We are continually developing new floor plans to meet the changing needs and wants of our customers, and we’re especially proud to be building homes for 2nd and 3rd generations.”

Additionally, United-Bilt Homes’ financial services make it easy for buyers to afford a custom-built home on their land. Qualified buyers can purchase a home with no money down, no payments for 6 months, no fees or points, and receive insurance for their first year of ownership.

United-Bilt Homes and its affiliates are privately owned and operated with corporate offices in Shreveport, Louisiana and Springdale, Arkansas.

United-Bilt Homes has sales offices in the following cities:

Arkansas: Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Harrison, Jonesboro, and Little Rock
Louisiana: Baton Rouge, Bossier City, and Monroe
Missouri: Springfield
Oklahoma: Tulsa
Texas: Austin, Beaumont, Dallas, Houston, Sherman, Texarkana, and Tyler

Visit www.ubh.com for more information.

Contact:
Susan Idlet
Marketing Manager
479.872.3811
susan.idlet @ ubh.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:39 PM | Comments (0)

HCSS Adds Safety Feature to its HeavyJob Field Management Software

Helps Construction Companies Promote Worker Safety

HOUSTON (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 20, 2008 -- HCSS (www.hcss.com) has introduced a new, easy-to-use safety capability to its popular HeavyJob® Field Management Software. The new capability enables construction companies to plan safety goals by employee and track them quickly and electronically in software that foremen/superintendents are already using.

Tracking safety information traditionally has been paper-intensive, with valuable information stored in boxes to be used only when an incident occurs. “This new software takes safety information capture and retrieval to an entirely new level,” said Mike Rydin, HCSS president.

Types of safety training, including individual subjects, can be set up for use as a pick-list throughout the company. Each class of employee can then be set up with goals specific to that class. For example, an underground utility foreman might be required to attend 10 “tool-box” meetings per year on trenchbox safety and other subjects to help guarantee that he has sufficient knowledge to protect his workers.

As foremen use HeavyJob daily to enter timecards, diary notes and other field information, they can quickly record safety meetings using an electronic form that describes a meeting’s topic and length and the employees who attended it. Since the foreman’s crew is already in the computer, logging employee attendance takes only a few seconds. Company safety personnel can use that information to identify employees who have attained the required amount of training and those who might be deficient. Besides field personnel, the software also handles safety requirements for professionals and executives.

“HeavyJob’s new safety capability helps construction companies live up to their commitment to a ‘culture of safety,’” Rydin explained. “By setting goals and making it easy to monitor those goals, gaps in education can be addressed quickly. If an incident occurs, management has the information at their fingertips to show exactly what kind of training and education has occurred.”

Besides tracking the time of meetings, the software also records meeting cost. The total amount spent on safety education by the entire company is readily available if those numbers are needed by its insurance company, OSHA or in court.

About HeavyJob

HeavyJob is complete job-tracking software that transforms jobsite information into valuable management information on a daily basis. Construction companies use HeavyJob to record labor and equipment hours, progress quantities, major-material receipt and usage and daily notes. That information is instantly available throughout the company in the form of time cards, payroll hours, equipment-usage analysis, material analysis and notes.

For Information

For information about HeavyJob and its safety capability, contact HCSS at www.hcss.com, 800-683-3196 or info@hcss.com.

About HCSS

Founded in 1986, HCSS develops HeavyBid® Estimating Software; HeavyJob® Field Management Software; and The Dispatcher™ Resource Management Software. HCSS sets the standard for estimating and field management and dispatching software for the infrastructure construction industry, with instant 24-hour technical support, on-site training by veteran contractors and annual user’s group meetings attended by hundreds of contractors. Thousands of contractors, bidding in excess of $300 billion per year, rely on HCSS products for their ease of use, speed and precision in performing estimating, field management and dispatching activities.

HCSS is located at 6200 Savoy, Suite 1100, Houston, TX 77036. For more information about HCSS and its complete line of estimating, field management and dispatching products, visit www.hcss.com, call 800-683-3196 or e-mail info@hcss.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:37 PM | Comments (0)

The Bluffs on the Cape Fear is Top Selling Community in 2007

Grand Opening of Blackbeard’s Forest to Kick Off 2008

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 20, 2008 -- According to county tax records, The Bluffs on the Cape Fear closed more homesites than any other preconstruction community in either Brunswick or New Hanover county in 2007. The Bluffs on the Cape Fear is a new 600-acre, gated, fully-amenitized, dockable, waterfront community located off of Dogwood Road in Leland.

The Bluffs closed 181 homesites in 2007, totaling $28.3 million in sales. This brings total sales to $51.6 million for the 386 homesites sold since the community’s Grand Opening in mid-2006. The Bluffs’ sales and marketing company, Vision Producers, Inc. of Wilmington, N.C., attributes the success to the community’s scenic location on the Cape Fear River, the land planning and nature preservation philosophy, extensive amenity package, conservative pricing, close proximity to historic downtown Wilmington, and significant progress in infrastructure and amenity construction.

“The Cape Fear area has recently been recognized by several national publications and organizations for experiencing a large amount of growth, as well as being a desirable place to live, and The Bluffs is proud to be a part of the excitement,” said Judd Arnold, President of Vision Producers, Inc. “The Bluffs team is extremely grateful for all of those who have helped us to earn this position, and we look forward to continuing to provide an exceptional place to live in the renowned Cape Fear area as we enter 2008.”

The Bluffs is releasing Blackbeard’s Forest, a selection of premier wooded, and dockable, waterfront homesites, on April 26th and 27th, 2008. This will be the community’s fourth release. “Every one of our Grand Opening events has been a great success,” said David Swain, President of Wilmington-based developer Swain & Associates, and a partner in The Bluffs on the Cape Fear development. “The guests aren’t only impressed by our community when they visit, but they fall in love with the area and have a great time at our events.”

The Sim family bought a homesite at The Bluffs in 2007 and plans to visit again for the Spring event. “We were tired of the cold snowy weather, rising taxes and traffic of New Jersey,” said Cathy Sim. “When we decided to look for a safe place to continue raising our children, the Wilmington area had the close proximity to water that we were looking for. We soon realized that The Bluffs’ beautiful location along the Cape Fear River was the place we wanted to call home.”

When complete, The Bluffs on the Cape Fear will offer more than 700 homesites in a variety of environments, including riverfront, lakefront, and nature. Amenities include extensive nature trails and parks; a Private Beach Club on Oak Island; a 6,000 square foot Lakeside Clubhouse uniquely built to extend over one of the many community lakes; a fitness center; a media center; indoor and outdoor swimming pools; lighted HarTrue tennis courts; a waterfront park with boat launch facility; a proposed 40-slip marina; gaming areas with bocce ball and horseshoe pits; boat and RV storage; close proximity to renowned area beaches; and over 40 golf courses within a 40-mile radius. More information is available at www.thebluffsnc.com or by calling the sales office at 866-725-8337.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:37 PM | Comments (0)

National Study Determines FedEx Delivers Winning Ad Featuring Carrier Pigeons During Super Bowl XLII

The advertisements featured on the Super Bowl are almost as exciting as the game itself. FedEx delivered with one of the fan favorites with a national ad featuring carrier pigeons.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- With Super Bowl ads a big draw during the Super Bowl XLII, FedEx came up on top with a national survey conducted by HCD Research showed it was a favorite of the viewers. The ad also ranked second on USA Today's 20th Annual Ad Meter.

The Carrier Pigeons advertisement is a spoof set in an office environment that shows the short of chaos that ensues when people try to devise new ways to deliver packages. Of course, carrier pigeons figured prominently in the ad.

"As a pigeon lover, I thought this ad was clever and fun," comments Dave Jones from Deterapigeon. "My company manufactures pigeon control methods, so I am always happy when pigeons are seen in a positive light amongst the public."

With so many excellent Super Bowl commercials, Fed Ex must be pleased with the positive response to their ad. According to news reports before the Super Bowl, FedEx chose to keep a tight lid on the commercial until it aired during the game.

"I just hope that this ad gets people talking positively about pigeons for a change. Recently, there has been so much negativity surrounding pigeon control methods like birth control and fining people heavily for feeding pigeons," Jones comments. "It's nice to see something featuring pigeons that isn't negative."

Anyone interested in viewing the top Super Bowl commercial can visit YouTube. Those interested in learning more about humane pigeon control methods for commercial and residential buildings should visit www.deterapigeon.com.

ABOUT DETERAPIGEON

For 10 years, Deterapigeon has been a leader in safe pigeon spike solutions in the UK. In 1995, David Jones, Director of Deterapigeon invented and patented the Defender 4 pigeon spikes which safely deter pigeons without harming them. This still remains the only pest control product recommended by the Pigeon Control Advisory Service (PiCAS).

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:36 PM | Comments (0)

Eberl Iron Works Launches Online Store

George and Frank Eberl today announce the launching of their online store at http://store.eberliron.com with over 2,500 products. The store was developed in-house by Eberl Iron Works, Inc. and is designed to meet the needs of the expanding non-commercial market when they look for support and traffic safety products online.

Buffalo, NY (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- George and Frank Eberl today announce the launching of their online store at http://store.eberliron.com with over 2,500 products. The store was developed in-house by Eberl Iron Works, Inc. and is designed to meet the needs of the expanding non-commercial market when they look for support and traffic safety products online. This website provides a fully functional e-commerce portal to make buying small and medium quantities of support and traffic safety products quick and efficient. ""Frank and I are excited about how our online store will add a new revenue stream to our business and allow for market expansion, says George J. Eberl, Co-owner of Eberl Iron Works, Inc. "The internet will enable us to offer our products and first-rate customer service to a larger variety of customers that may not have found us otherwise". Eberl Iron Works, Inc. is a family owned business located in downtown Buffalo, NY since 1923.
The new store allows Eberl Iron Works and Unistrut Buffalo to market their products across the country and cater to the facility & maintenance, security, education, medical and purchasing marketplaces among others. The first in their industry with an online marketplace, Eberl Iron Works offers the following products available 24/7.

Unistrut Channels and Parts
Food Grade Strut
Lindapter Structural Fastening System
Pipe and Conduit Supports
Rooftop Supports
Traffic Safety Products

About Eberl Iron Works, Inc.
Eberl Iron Works, Inc has four Divisions headquartered in Buffalo, New York (NY). The Metal Fabrication Division has over 80 years of experience in the custom fabrication of metal sheets and plates. The Unistrut Buffalo Division sells Unistrut metal framing and Grip Strut expanded metal safety grating. The Traffic Safety Products Division sells traffic control products, street sign post equipment and parking lot safety supplies. The System Installation Division designs and installs Fall Arrest safety systems and Unistrut medical supports. Eberl Iron Works has served its customers with unbeatable quality and exceptional service since 1923.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:35 PM | Comments (0)

"Pulse on America" Show to Feature CTS Cement

Rapid-Strength, Durable Concrete Repair Products

(PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- Deerfield Beach, FL - The producers of Pulse on America are pleased to announce that CTS Cement will be featured in an upcoming episode as part of the show's series on Construction Technologies.

CTS Cement Manufacturing Corporation, headquartered in Cypress, CA, is the largest manufacturer of specialty fast-setting cement and shrinkage- compensating cement in the United States. As the leader in advanced cement technology, they provide innovative products to the construction industry through continual research and development. Their products include:

Rapid Set®, a brand of fast-setting cement products well known for their versatility and high performance. Rapid Set® cement products gain structural strength in one hour, are durable, and are used for concrete repairs and new construction projects. Users save time and money, and achieve superior and permanent results.
CTS Type-K Shrinkage-Compensating Cement gives construction professionals the ability to install industrial-size floors and other concrete structures with virtually no curling, no cracking, and no control joints.

CTS Cement, established in 1963, is the #1 choice of owners, architects, engineers, and contractors when selecting high-performance cement products. Their products are used in a wide range of projects, including the construction of the Hoover Dam Bypass, maintenance of the Panama Canal, Lincoln Tunnel, Brooklyn Bridge, earthquake-damaged bridge repairs on Interstate 10 in Los Angeles, major airports, and sports stadiums.

For more information, see www.ctscement.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:34 PM | Comments (0)

Donald L. Warner of SSOE Receives 2008 Engineer of the Year Award

Vice President honored by the Technical Society of Toledo and the Toledo Chapter of the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers

Toledo, OH (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 19, 2008 -– SSOE’s own Donald L. Warner, PE, Vice President and Director of Quality and Training was named Engineer of the Year yesterday at a luncheon held at Gladieux Meadows. The Technical Society of Toledo and the Toledo Chapter of the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers worked together to select Don in recognition of his accomplishments and achievements made to the engineering profession and to the community.

“I have had the pleasure of working along side Don for 26 years. Over that time, we worked on many successful projects together close to home and around the globe. Don has demonstrated time and time again his dedication to our company, the community and the profession of engineering. He is one of the most well rounded engineers that I know and he is intimately engaged in every aspect of his profession. There is no better choice in my mind for the TST 2008 Engineer of the Year.” said Tony Damon, AIA, PS, CEO of SSOE, Inc.

Don has been actively involved in the development of young talent for SSOE, for the University of Toledo (UT), and for the community. He has championed and overseen the implementation of several programs related to the firm’s engagement with universities-- leading to the creation of SSOE’s Co-op/Intern Student Scholarship program. He is also a member of the steering/planning committee that helped launch Toledo EPIC, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce young professionals’ initiative.

Over the past several years, Don has also become deeply engaged in economic development activities in the region. He is a board member of the UT Science & Technology Corridor, and actively participates in numerous other community related organizations. Don has recently taken on responsibilities involving economic development in which he works closely with the University and community leaders to attract biofuels and alternative energy companies to the Toledo area. He is also currently leading an effort to form an Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Association, to promote economic growth of the AEC industry in the region.

In 2007 Don was awarded the Engineer of the Year by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Toledo Section and he also received the University of Toledo’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

Warner graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1976 from the University of Toledo. He has been with SSOE since 1981 where he began as an electrical engineer. In 1992 he was named an associate and he became VP in 2001. During his tenure, he has also served as the Project Director/Manager for several noteworthy projects including Toyota’s Princeton, Indiana Plant Expansion and their new San Antonio, Texas Plant “I consider my greatest professional accomplishment to be simply doing what I can to help younger people develop, advance and realize their aspirations” said Warner.

About SSOE
Celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year, SSOE, Inc. is an international design firm and ranks 8th among the nation’s largest engineering and architecture firms (Building Design and Construction, 2007). Demonstrating fast and consistent growth, 2007 marks the third consecutive year the company has grown its revenue more than 25 percent. SSOE has also been named one of nine Best AEC Firms to Work For (Building Design and Construction, 2007) and as one of the fastest-growing US architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms by ZweigWhite, Hot List 2007.

With 1000 employees and multi-disciplined LEED™ accredited professionals employed in 18 offices around the world the company has earned a solid reputation in facility design for the healthcare, retail, automotive and science and technology markets, as well as process engineering for the alternative energy, biofuels, chemical, food and beverage, glass and personal care industries. SSOE has completed projects in 48 states and 32 countries, and has achieved 60 years of excellence in engineering and architectural design. Visit www.ssoe.com for additional information and career opportunities.

About the Toledo Society of Professional Engineers and The Technical Society of Toledo
The Toledo Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) is the local chapter of the Ohio and National Society of Professional Engineers and represents a broad spectrum of engineering disciplines including civil, chemical, electrical, mechanical, sanitary, structural, industrial, environmental, geotechnical practicing in consulting, industry, government, education, and construction. The Technical Society of Toledo was formed in April of 1968 by merging the Toledo Area Technical and Scientific Educational Foundation, the Engineering Society of Toledo and the Toledo Technical Council - bringing technical, educational and social organizations together as one. Visit www.tspe.net and www.eng.utoledo.edu/tst/ for more information.

Contact:
Danielle Benninger
SSOE, Inc.
Office: 419.255.3830
dbenninger@ssoe.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:32 PM | Comments (0)

SSOEs Phoenix Office Grows with Three High Level Hires

Three project managers add over 50 combined years of experience in the retail and healthcare industries

Phoenix, AZ (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 19, 2008 - SSOE, one of the nations largest architecture and engineering firms, continues its rapid expansion announcing three new project managers for the Phoenix, Arizona office. Appointments include Linda Elmslie, PE; Arnaud Longeau, RA and Edward Roblee.

As we continue to significantly expand our presence and capabilities in the Southwest region, we are extremely delighted to have Linda, Arnaud, and Edward join our team. They bring a wealth of domestic and international experience involving the retail and healthcare sectors.” said Linda Delano, AIA, Business Leader, SSOE, Inc.

Linda Elmslie, PE, Senior Associate will serve as the Lead Project Manager and senior engineer for SSOEs growing site development business in support of the retail, healthcare and industrial sectors in the Southwest. She is a registered engineer with nearly 15 years of experience. Linda holds an MBA from California State University and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida. Noteworthy projects include multiple projects for the University of California San Diego, CA including the Computer Science and Engineering Building and the School of Medicine Research Facility.

Arnaud Longeau, RA, Associate will serve as Project Manager for the Southwestern healthcare business unit. He has significant experience with complex healthcare facilities and large commercial projects. He has over 15 years of experience both domestically and internationally and has worked on projects throughout the US. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from the Superior School of Applied Art, Ecole Boulle in Paris, France as well as degrees in civil engineering and construction technology from the Elisa Lemonier Technical College in Paris, France. Arnaud is a registered architect in the State of Arizona and a Communications Officer for the First Navel Construction Regiment in the United States Naval Reserve. Notable projects include the Glendale Adventist Medical Center Womens Center, Glendale, CA; Banner Heart Hospital, Mesa, AZ and multiple resorts including KukuiUla Resort and Spa in Kauai Hawaii and SilverRock Resort and Spa in La Quinta, CA.

Edward Roblee, Associate will serve as Project Manager for the retail business unit in the Southwest. He has more than 20 years of experience in the building industry managing the design and construction of retail and commercial facilities in the Midwest and Southwest. He will be focusing on the retail sector, working directly with project teams as a liaison between the client, architect and planner. He studied civil and architectural design at Gateway Technical College in Racine, Wisconsin and at the University of Wisconsin. Edwards past experience includes Santan Gateway Commercial Center in Chandler, AZ; Superstition Gateway Commercial Center in Mesa, AZ including Bed, Bath and Beyond; and many theatres, grocery stores, restaurants and retail centers throughout Arizona, the Midwest and East Coast.

About SSOE
Celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year, SSOE, Inc. is an international design firm and ranks 8th among the nations largest engineering and architecture firms (Building Design and Construction, 2007). Demonstrating fast and consistent growth, 2007 marks the third consecutive year the company has grown its revenue more than 25 percent. SSOE has also been named one of nine Best AEC Firms to Work For (Building Design and Construction, 2007) and as one of the fastest-growing US architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms by ZweigWhite, Hot List 2007.

With 1000 employees and multi-disciplined LEED accredited professionals employed in 18 offices around the world the company has earned a solid reputation in facility design for the healthcare, retail, automotive and science and technology markets, as well as process engineering for the alternative energy, biofuels, chemical, food and beverage, glass and personal care industries. SSOE has completed projects in 48 states and 32 countries, and has achieved 60 years of excellence in engineering and architectural design. Visit www.ssoe.com for additional information and career opportunities.

Contact:
Danielle Benninger
SSOE, Inc.
Office: 419.255.3830
dbenninger@ssoe.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:31 PM | Comments (0)

Accent Building Products Introduces New Birch Cabinetry

Direct distributor of Marsh Furniture cabinetry now offers Birch cabinets

Arendtsville, Pennsylvania (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- Accent Building Products, a leading provider of Marsh Furniture kitchen and bath cabinets, is proud to announce the addition of Marsh Furniture's two Birch Lines, Madison and Hillcrest, to their website.

"We are very happy to now offer our customers these wonderful new Birch styles. Both the Madison and Hillcrest lines have an almost identical look to our framed maple offerings, yet they are priced the same as our oak," said Lawrence DePippa, Internet Marketing Manager of Accent Building Products.

Customers can now achieve a more refined, almost sleek look without having to pay the higher price of maple wood. With these two additions there is no need to sacrifice on looks in order to maintain a tight budget.

Birch cabinetry is offered in a full array of wall, base, tall, and vanity sizes. It is also suitable for all of the possible upgrades; wood drawers, full extension drawer glides with silent closure, and plywood construction. And while the trim moldings are only available in limited styles you can confidently use any molding of the same stain from the framed maple lines.

About Accent Building Products:
Since 1998, Accent Building Products has served both homeowners and builders with their broad product offering of interior and exterior building products. Their extensive product line includes; kitchen cabinetry, vinyl shutters, fireplace mantels, Velux skylights, Fypon millwork, vinyl railing, glass block and acrylic block windows.

Contact
Lawrence DePippa
717-677-5843
http://www.accentbuildingproducts.com

Press Contact
George R Perry

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:30 PM | Comments (0)

AFCO White Paper on Datacenter Cooling and Power Efficiency Gives Cold Shoulder to Hot Aisle, Cold Aisle Approach

Independent Academic Research Employs Advanced Data Modeling to Compare Datacenter Cooling Efficiency Models; a must read for datacenter managers trying to contain runaway energy costs.

Farmingdale, NY (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- While the performance and abilities of datacenter technologies have improved according to Moore's Law, the approach to cooling those datacenters are more than a decade and a half behind. To help datacenter managers and other IT professionals better understand how their organizations can contain runaway energy costs through improved datacenter cooling technologies, AFCO Systems, a global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced enclosure technology for mission-critical datacenter environments, is making available "A Strategic Approach to Datacenter Cooling" an independent white paper that investigates the technologies and strategies involved. The complimentary white paper is available for download from http://www.afcosystems.com/white_papers.htm.

The independent white paper, authored by James Fulton, PhD, Associate Professor of Mathematics, New York's Suffolk County Community College in Long Island, demonstrates through advanced data modeling techniques the inefficiencies of traditional approaches to datacenter cooling, such as hot aisle, cold aisle (HACA), and the greater efficiencies gained through inlet control technologies such as AFCO's KOOL IT™ approach.
"Industry must recognize that it has surpassed the limits of the HACA design strategy and now needs to switch to a broader more encompassing cooling solution," said Fulton. "With increasing server density in the cabinets, the cabinets themselves now need to be considered as an integral part of the cooling system. They can no longer be thought of as passive components, they must now take on an active and pivotal role in cooling a datacenter."

The white paper discusses how, beyond the obvious benefit of providing a stable temperature environment, there are numerous other benefits provided by airflow control within the datacenter, including:

Greater efficiency (operational cost savings, better server performance)
Greater server reliability and life
Increased power density potential and scalability
Design robustness and flexibility
Increased recovery time after power failure

The dramatic differences in cooling approach can best be seen here in Figures 1 & 2 which show side-by-side comparisons of racks of computers and servers in a datacenter setting. Figure 1 shows how inefficient cooling through HACA yields over-chilled spots (in purple) and over-heated or hot spots (in orange, yellow and green) in the computer model, while more efficient KOOL IT technologies model as a more consistent blue (for cool) color.

FIGURE 1: INEFFICIENT HACA DATACENTER COOLING APPROACH

FIGURE 2: EFFICIENT KOOL IT DATACENTER COOLING TECHNOLOGY

"Dr. Fulton's research validates and substantiates AFCO Systems' claims that improved airflow technologies, like KOOL IT, are key to reining in datacenter power consumption due to inefficient approaches," said AFCO Systems CEO Michael Mallia. "We hope this white paper lays some myths to rest and provides IT professionals sounder science for cooling their datacenters."

About AFCO Systems
AFCO Systems, a global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced enclosure technology for mission-critical datacenter environments, has the world's largest installed base of thermostatically-controlled, air-cooled and heat load-balancing enclosures. The company is headquartered in Farmingdale, NY, and has a global presence with operations in North America, Ireland, London, Singapore and Tokyo. For more information, visit http://www.AFCOSystems.com or call 631-249-9441.

Media contacts:
Arthur Germain
Communication Strategy Group for AFCO Systems
(agermain @ gocsg.com)
631-239-6335
www.gocsg.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:29 PM | Comments (0)

SnowBlowersDirect.com Launches "Snow Stories"

New Platform Lets Customers Share Real-Life Experiences. Customers can upload images of their snow blowers in action and share real life tips, frustrations and reviews of the products they bought. SnowBlowersDirect.com is rewarding contributing customers. The online superstore is shipping a free can of Sno-Jet Spray to every customer who uploads a Snow Story photo. Several customers have already contributed.

Bolingbrook, IL (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- Product reviews are nothing new. Online shoppers have been writing reviews and rating products for years. SnowBlowersDirect.com, however, is elevating the concept to the next level with the launch of "Snow Stories" - a new interactive online review system.

View Snow Stories at Snow Blowers Direct

SnowBlowersDirect.com carries dozens of snow blowers, ranging from small electric models to massive professional-grade machines.

"The best way to pick the perfect snow blower is to ask fellow snow blower customers," according to Jon Hoch, founder and CEO. "Better yet, why not show them how the products actually perform in the field?"

Snow Stories does just that. The new platform lets customers share their snow blowing tips, triumphs and frustrations with the world.

Customers can upload images of their snow blowers in action and share their real-life experiences. In addition, customers can review multiple tools at once, illustrating how a combination of products solved their particular needs.

Hoch has already submitted several Snow Stories, including actual photos of what happened when he neglected to use his snow blower during a small storm.

What Happens When You Don't Snow Blow

"Snow Stories provides the forum for customers to brag about the recent blizzard or to demonstrate how a new accessory made their life easier," said Hoch.

It also gives online shoppers a unique opportunity to experience snow blowers in action, so they can make smarter purchasing decisions.

"People really appreciate reassurance. They want to know if the product can perform properly before they buy it," said Hoch.

SnowBlowersDirect.com is rewarding contributing customers. The online superstore is shipping a free can of Sno-Jet Spray to every customer who uploads a Snow Story photo. Several customers have already contributed.

Snow Story about the Snow Joe Electric (19") 13.5-Amp Snow Thrower

Power Equipment Direct owns four niche online superstores. In addition to SnowBlowersDirect.com, the Bolingbrook, IL-based company operates AirCompressorsDirect.com, ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com and PressureWashersDirect.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:28 PM | Comments (0)

Manera Group Establishes Distinguished Advisory Board Members include Leading Experts in the Field of Executive Coaching

Manera Group, a Dallas-based company that provides customized on-site executive coaching as well as assessment and talent management, has established an advisory board made up of some of the world's leading experts in the field. The board's role will be to advise the company on major issues affecting business strategy and direction.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- Manera Group, a Dallas-based company that provides customized on-site executive coaching as well as assessment and talent management, has established an advisory board made up of some of the world's leading experts in the field. The board's role will be to advise the company on major issues affecting business strategy and direction.

"We are honored to have assembled such a distinguished group of experts to serve on our advisory board, said Ed Rankin, founder and president of Manera Group. "Their advice will be vital to our business direction and strategy."

Members of the Manera Group advisory board include:

Leni Wildflower, Ph.D., an executive coach, consultant, author and educator with more than 30 years experience designing programs and coaching interventions for schools, businesses and non-profits. Dr. Wildflower, who lives in Santa Barbara, California, has written curricula, conducted training, and designed coaching interventions for organizations such as the Rand Corporation, Conrad Hilton Foundation, and the Center for Creative Leadership. A recognized expert in people management, process and technology, Dr. Wildflower has been a faculty member of Fielding Graduate University for the past seven years. She designed the coaching curriculum for the Organization Management and Development master's program, and currently teaches coaching and conflict resolution courses.
Larry W. Norton, Ph.D. has been PetSmart's vice president of organizational development since 2004 with responsibility over all levels of employee development and training, talent selection and management, succession planning and large-scale organizational change. Dr. Norton, who lives in Mesa, Arizona, previously served in similar positions with other Fortune 500 companies including TXU Corporation, America West Airlines, Frito-Lay and JCPenney.
Rick Fletcher is the founder and president of HRchitect, a Dallas-based Human Capital Management systems consulting firm and the market leader in Talent Management System consulting. Mr. Fletcher has more than 22 years experience in the human resource software and consulting industries, and is often quoted in the press for his expert market analysis regarding the e-HR software components marketplace. Rick has co-developed several of the HRIS industry's most successful software evaluation and implementation methodologies and has served as an advisor and trainer to leading software vendors.
Rhonda Britten, an Emmy Award-winner and repeat Oprah guest, is the founder of the Fearless Living Institute, an organization dedicated to giving anyone the tools they need to master their emotional fears. She is the author of four national bestsellers including Fearless Living which features her groundbreaking work called the Wheel Technology. During her three seasons on the hit daytime reality drama, Starting Over, Britten was named "America's Favorite Life Coach" and was dubbed Starting Over's "Most Valuable Player" by The New York Times. She is a globally recognized expert on the subject of fear and fearlessness.

For more information about the Manera Group, visit www.maneragroup.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:26 PM | Comments (0)

United Country Real Estate Achieves Record-Setting Results in 2007

The residential real estate market throughout the country may have slumped in 2007, but that was not the case for the markets served by United Country Real Estate

Kansas City, Mo. (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- The residential real estate market throughout the country may have slumped in 2007, but that was not the case for the markets served by United Country Real Estate, which recorded its best year ever since its founding more than 80 years ago.

"There is a huge demand for the comprehensive services we can provide buyers and sellers of real estate in rural America," says Dan Duffy, CEO of United Country Real Estate. "With a well-documented migration from urban to rural areas, there is a tremendous demand today for rural property."

United Country is the only national real estate franchise system specializing in all property types in and around small cities and towns across America. The Kansas City-based company will hold its 2008 annual convention February 21-24 here with a goal of continuing the momentum.

United Country's sales volume hit a record $2.54 billion in 2007--an increase over the previous record of $2.53 billion achieved in 2006. The average sale price was up by 4.1 percent and listings increased 18.6 percent. Franchise sales jumped by 32.4 percent, and the number of affiliate offices grew by 17 percent to 700.

Today, United Country supports over 4,000 agents and 700 offices located across the United States and markets a national database of over 60,000 properties per year valued at more than $9 billion.

"More people are migrating from urban and suburban centers to the country. We have the professionals and national network to help every step of the way," says Duffy. "Many people are seeking a better life and a better lifestyle. We call them 'idyllic lifestyle seekers' and as many as 1 million of them visit our website each month to look at properties that meet their particular needs."

United Country's website (www.unitedcountry.com), the leading rural real estate website, saw dramatic increases in 2007 as people searched for their ideal properties. User sessions were up 14 percent, with an average of over 28,000 user sessions per day. Unique visitors to the site were up by 6 percent per month. Further underscoring this continued demand for rural properties was seen in United Country's website traffic in January 2008, when new records were broken in all website traffic categories.

"Technology advances have broken down many of the barriers to living in rural areas," notes Duffy. "People can now live in the country, and still have the same access to the Internet, satellite, cable, mobile phones and other technologies they require on a daily basis. This more developed technology infrastructure allows for remote working and social connectivity."

Continuing a long history of innovation, United Country Auction Services was launched in 2007 with 52 auction-centric offices opened across the country. The new division has already established itself as the nation's largest integrated network of auctioneers and traditional real estate professionals. Overall sales volume from auctions in its first year reached $96 million, with its highest grossing single auction at $4.2 million.

In late 2007, the company partnered with the nation's sixth-largest financial holdings company, U.S. Bank, to form United Country Home Mortgage. Backed by more than $100 billion in loan value and assets over $200 billion, United Country Home Mortgage offers potential buyers more than 200 loan options.

In December, United Country Real Estate also introduced United Country Health Plans to provide owners, brokers, agents and their families with comprehensive and affordable health insurance plans. With more than 3,000 plan variations and an extensive network of more than 750,000 national providers, the program is administered by Affinity Health Plans and is one of the most comprehensive health insurance programs available today.

Last July, United Country Real Estate and Ducks Unlimited formed a unique partnership dedicated to conservation and land stewardship in a joint effort to conserve vital wetlands and habitats throughout North America. The goal is to educate United Country associates, land buyers and sellers about land easements, value, conservation and habitat protection.

In November, the national Future Farmers of America (FFA) selected United Country Auction Services to conduct a live auction fundraising event sponsored by the FFA Alumni Association. The auction set a fundraising record of $84,000, drawing in nearly 850 on-site bidders and more than 40 online bidders.

In 2006, The Wall Street Journal analyzed more than 2,500 U.S. based franchise systems across all market segments and named United Country Real Estate to its coveted list of 2006 "Top 25 High Performers."

United Country Real Estate started 2008 on the right foot when Entrepreneur's Franchise 500®, the world's most comprehensive franchise ranking, recognized the company on its 2008 list of top franchises. United Country achieved the No. 101 overall ranking on the Franchise 500 list.

United Country Real Estate

United Country Real Estate is the only national real estate franchise system specializing in rural properties in and around the small cities and towns of America. Based in Kansas City, Mo., the company has been an innovator in rural real estate marketing since 1925. United Country supports more than 700 offices nationwide with a unique, comprehensive marketing program that includes the leading website in the rural real estate market (www.unitedcountry.com), proprietary real estate catalogs, an extensive buyer database and national advertising of real estate properties to over 90 million homes a week. United Country has been named as a Top 25 Franchise by the Wall Street Journal and among Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500®. In January 2007, the company introduced United Country Auction Services, becoming the nation's largest integrated network of traditional real estate agents and real estate auctioneers.

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
2820 NW Barry Road, Kansas City, MO 64154
816-420-6200 www.unitedcountry.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:20 PM | Comments (0)

Culligan Outfits World's First LEED Platinum Certified Remodeled Home

Live Green, Live Smart™ Sustainable House Boasts Eco-Friendly Softening and Filtration Technology that Saves Salt, Soap, Water, Electricity – and the Environment

CHICAGO (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 19, 2008 -- The world’s first LEED for Homes™ Platinum Certification for a home remodel – a 1948 rambler – is also home to an innovative water management system from Culligan. Platinum is the highest level of certification awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for residential Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The home (based in Minnetonka, Minnesota) is a product of the environmental organization, Live Green, Live Smart green housing project, with virtually every square foot devoted to energy efficiency, water conservation and healthy occupancy. Culligan’s water softener and drinking water systems were instrumental in converting the water management processes of the aging abode to a global role model for contemporary sustainable living.

Culligan Water Conditioning – the Minnetonka-based flagship dealer of the largest independent Culligan franchise with 20 locations throughout Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania and Missouri – donated the solutions necessary to upgrade the home’s existing water treatment systems to meet LEED standards. The equipment donation involved a Culligan Smart-Sensor™ water softener and The Culligan Good Water Machine® reverse osmosis (RO) filtration unit for drinking water.

"Culligan Water Conditioning of Minnetonka wanted to support the Green Movement and participate in this project because we believe in the environmental direction that the home is trying to promote, and we know that our products support this type of initiative. It is the wave of the future. Culligan has some of the most environmentally friendly water conditioners and filters available on the market today, and our involvement was a testament to the quality and capabilities of our products,” said John Packard, president.

Smart Home, Smart-Sensor

Culligan’s water softener technology was, in fact, not a “new” resident of the rambler. Prior to the home’s remodel, the previous owners had left a 15-year-old Culligan rental unit in the utility room. When the new owner – Live Green, Live Smart founder and CEO Peter Lytle – moved in, he discovered the softener and decided to give Culligan an opportunity to contribute to the Live Green, Live Smart project. Lytle met with Steve Lazarski, Culligan Territory Representative, and the two shared an instant passion for the potential of this environmentally redesigned home and how Culligan could play a role in water quality and conservation.

“Renovating an existing structure with ‘good bones’ is much greener than building new, and water is a critical resource in that effort. Every drop matters – both inside and outside the home – and we looked to Culligan to advise us on solutions that would best meet the stringent water management guidelines of LEED certification,” Lytle recalled.

The area in Minnetonka where the house is built is known for very hard water (up to 20 grains per gallon). This is problematic because hard water can produce scale build-up on pipes and plumbing fixtures, which causes them to erode. Hard water also leaves laundry stiff and gray, creates spots and stains on dishes and appliances, and requires more soap for cleansing and bathing to create a decent lather. Traditional water softeners tackle these problems by “cycling” and then releasing salt into the water source, often more than is required – which causes excess waste to the environment and unnecessary consumption of electricity to power the less efficient softening units.

Up to 70 Percent Salt and Water Savings

Culligan’s Smart-Sensor water softener is different. It offers true environmental benefits to homeowners by using a unique digital probe called Aqua Sensor®, which sits inside the Smart-Sensor™ unit. The Aqua-Sensor continuously monitors water use, salt use and changing water hardness and automatically activates regeneration only when needed to ensure optimal water and salt consumption. Just $3 a year in electricity powers Culligan’s Smart-Sensor technology, saving residents up to 20,000 gallons of water and two tons of salt in 10 years – up to a 70 percent savings over a standard water metered softener.(1) Using less soap, detergent and harsh chemical cleansers to remove residue caused by water hardness is another benefit of soft water to the environment.

Great-Tasting Water Also Goes “Gray”

Not only did Lytle replace the home’s 15-year-old rental unit with Culligan’s more advanced Smart-Sensor water softener, he consulted Culligan for a drinking water filtration solution. Lazarski recommended the Culligan Good Water Machine®. The appliance’s RO filtration method improves the taste and odor of drinking water and reduces microscopic impurities. With RO, water passes through an ultra-thin, semi-permeable membrane, which filters unwanted particles such as sodium and lead. The appliance is easily installed, and the faucet mounts to the kitchen sink and comes with integral lights that indicate water quality. In the Live Green, Live Smart home, the water that is rejected by the RO system and shower is then re-used in the toilets as gray water.

As the project progressed, Kyle LeMay, Culligan of Minnetonka Sales Manager, also became involved. He and Lazarski continued to work closely with Lytle, who has been living with his wife in the sustainable house since it was completed in late fall 2007. “The water management system virtually takes care of itself. We’re able to enjoy clear, soft water using an approach that is energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Culligan was key to helping us obtain LEED Platinum certification with their green solutions, reliable maintenance and consistent service every step of the way,” Lytle added.

About Culligan

For more than 70 years, Culligan has been recognized as the world leading innovator and provider of filtration systems to improve general use and drinking water in the home and workplace. Headquartered in the Chicago area, Culligan maintains offices in 12 countries, dealers and licensees in over 70 countries, and a network of 700+ franchise and company-owned dealers across North America. Culligan offers the most extensive water treatment product line in the world, and its solutions have been awarded the Good Housekeeping Seal, highlighted as a Consumers Digest “Best Buy” and featured on the “Designing Spaces” national television show. Culligan is also a founding member of the Water Quality Association and contributing donor to the Water Quality Research Foundation, the research arm of the water quality improvement industry. For more information, visit www.culligan.com or call 1-800-CULLIGAN.

About Live Green, Live Smart™

Live Green, Live Smart™ is a Wayzata, Minnesota-based organization dedicated to promoting a sustainable planet through education, linking of resources, and fostering a global, green community. The organization is formed for the benefit of those individuals concerned about the impact their housing, transportation and lifestyle choices have on the environment. For more information, press kits, photos and the construction diary on the Live Green, Live Smart Sustainable House or Live Green, Live Smart visit: www.livegreenlivesmart.org or contact: editor@livegreenlivesmart.org or by phone at: 651.253.6825.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:19 PM | Comments (0)

SurroundArt Selects the Architect of NYC's Famed Chelsea Piers to Create New "Green" Museum Resource Campus at Brooklyn Navy Yard

Steven Kratchman Architect Chosen for Architectural Master Plan for New Waterfront Development

Brooklyn, NY (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 19, 2008 -- SurroundArt, a leading provider of fine arts services, today announced that it has retained the firm Steven Kratchman Architect, P.C. for the company's new "green" Museum Resource Campus currently under construction at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Expected to open in fall, 2008, the three-building campus includes a new, 89,000 square foot building on Perry Avenue, now in construction; another 71,000 square feet in Building Three at the Navy Yard; and the adaptive re-use of the historic, century-old Paymaster Building. With an emphasis on green design, the new Perry Ave. building will be the first-ever multi-story, multi-tenanted LEED Silver Industrial Building in the United States. The Kratchman firm has been asked to design and unify the new SurroundArt campus with an emphasis on sustainability.

This will be the third major waterfront development project for architect and urban designer Steven Kratchman, AIA. Before establishing his own firm in 1999, Kratchman served as lead designer of the now world-renowned Chelsea Piers recreational complex. Prior to that, he also designed the Hudson Park mixed-use waterfront development in Yonkers, N.Y., which consists of residential, retail and office space, as well as a waterfront pedestrian esplanade and park.

"Most people do not of think of 'green' and 'urban industrial design' in the same sentence, but we have made a commitment to combining the two at the Navy Yard and that's exactly why we selected Steven Kratchman," said Michael Murray, CEO of SurroundArt. "Our new Museum Resource Campus will provide everything the arts industry needs within a green, cutting-edge design built for 21st century sustainability."

SurroundArt provides fine arts services such as secure storage, crating, packing, transportation, fabrication, exhibition design, and installation. The ambitious Museum Resource Campus is the first and only one of its kind in the nation and is being built to support the arts industry in New York and beyond.

"This is a tremendously exciting project for many reasons, not the least of which is the commitment SurroundArt has made to green design and sustainability," Kratchman said. "As the architects, our team will have an opportunity to create a design that integrates the old and the new for a new era of mixed-use, clean urban industry and waterfront development at the Brooklyn Navy Yard."

Based in New York City, the Kratchman firm believes in green, energy-efficient architectural design with an emphasis on new technologies that offer a payback of three years or fewer. Kratchman's firm of 15 professionals focuses on both commercial and residential projects, including historic and landmark properties.

About SurroundArt
SurroundArt is a full-service museum resource company with offices, workrooms, and warehouses in New York and Washington, DC. Founded in 1998, the company supports the international fine arts community by providing a wide array of services, including temperature-controlled and secure storage, crating, packing, transportation, fabrication, design, and art handling. To accommodate its growth, SurroundArt is developing a unique and expansive "fine arts campus" at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, with more than 165,000 square feet of space under management. Staffed by museum-trained professionals, who are educated in fine arts and passionate about their craft, SurroundArt has become a trusted resource to many of the largest and most respected museums, foundations and private collectors in the world. More information can be found at www.surroundart.com.

About Steven Kratchman Architect, P.C.
The firm Steven Kratchman Architect, P.C., was founded in 1999 by Mr. Steven Kratchman, AIA, the architect and urban designer who previously served as Senior Project Designer for the urban redevelopment team that transformed an abandoned New York City urban harbor area into the now world-renowned Chelsea Piers waterfront recreational complex. The firm has grown from two architects to a professional staff of 15, who work on retail, commercial and residential projects, including multi-family residential, single-family residential, historic and landmark properties, private clubs and sports facilities, educational institutions, new from-the-ground-up buildings and restaurants. www.kratchmanarchitect.com

Media Contacts:
SurroundArt
Greg Abel
(410) 466-2210

Steven Kratchman Architect
Daniel Kennedy
Communications Services
(212) 580-3454

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

Preventing Home Invasions and More - Lock Jaw™ Security Offers an Effective and Affordable Solution

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 19, 2008 -- Lock Jaw™ Security introduces the key to protecting against intruder and home invasions and more. Just in time to combat the constant rise of home invasions and the lock bumping crime epidemic, Lock Jaw™ offers a fool-proof solution. Lock Jaw™ prevents deadbolts from being compromised.

A bump in the night could be the first sign of a home invasion. Home invasions are occurring routinely on a nationwide basis and without discrimination. Lock bumping is a lock picking technique that distorts a blank key then tapped into a deadbolt and turned like the actual key. Unfortunately, this technique is now easily available on the internet and can be performed by literally anyone -- unless the deadbolt is equipped with Lock Jaw™. Jake Jakubuwski, Technical Editor, The National Locksmith states “this product beats the daylights out of other door security devices.” Lock Jaw™ does more. It prevents small children from unknowingly unlocking the deadbolt – away from outside dangers. Other child safety devices are simply out of their reach. Both older children and seniors can easily operate Lock Jaw™. “Believe me when I say I’m rarely impressed…deceptively simple…it’s literally made us feel safer in so many ways” says Paul Michael of WiseBread.com. Recently Lock Jaw™ was chosen by Refuse to be a Victim and many Crime Prevention Associations for their seminars.

Lock Jaw™ works by preventing the deadbolts bolt-throw from retracting, keeping the door locked. “We don’t make deadbolts, we make deadbolts better!” says Brett Fulford in a recent interview. According to Steve Kruschen (Mr. Gadget), “this product is exactly what is needed…installation is also quite easy, using two screws or double-sided tape.”

Lock Jaw™ combats home invasions – and more. Lock Jaw™ is the perfect security product for houses, apartments, condos, dorm rooms, hotel rooms, even RV’s - ANY door with a deadbolt. Read what the experts say – the consumer. Innovative, simple, effective and affordable security and safety!

For more information on Lock Jaw™ Security, media can visit www.lockjawsecurity.com.

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

Leica Geosystems Presents the First Ever 2008 CONEXPO-CON/AGG PowerGrade Challenge Simulated Job Site Experience

Interactive simulations transform the showroom floor, putting industry professionals into the driver’s seat of today’s top technologies.

Norcross, GA (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 19, 2008 -- For the first time, attendees to CONEXPO-CON/AGG, the industry’s largest equipment and technology exhibitions, will have an opportunity to experience the Leica Geosystems PowerGrade Challenge, an amazingly realistic, simulated environment uniquely designed to demonstrate the power and possibilities of today’s most advanced construction solutions.

Rich Calvird, Product Marketing Manager for Leica Geosystems, says, “We’re changing the face of show floor exhibits, bringing the construction site to the fingertips of the industry. Through this interactive job site experience, attendees can evaluate and compare productivity benefits by actually performing simulated job site activities with both conventional manual and automated methods. This is a truly exciting first look into equipment and technology demonstrations of the future.”

Take the PowerGrade Challenge at the Leica Geosystems CONEXPO-CON/AGG, March 11-15, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada, at booths # (S-16805) and (S-17105). The daily winner of the PowerGrade Challenge will receive a Leica PowerBlade 2D indicate machine control system valued at $4,000 or credit towards a Leica 2D PowerSnap system.

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.

Contact:
Andre Ribeiro
Director of Marketing
Leica Geosystems Inc.
Atlanta, GA 30092
United States
Phone: +(770) 326-9557
Web Site: www.leica-geosystems.us

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

Mortgage Qualification Calculator Available for Websites

MoneyToys(tm) new Mortgage Qualification Calculator for real estate web sites gives visitors an easy-to-use financial calculator which calculates how much they can afford to borrow for a mortgage loan using historically safe underwriting standards. Accommodates co-borrowers and displays details of three sample loans based on the income and debt information provided by the user. Easily installed on websites.

Ruston, LA (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- With the addition of the new Mortgage Qualification Calculator, the MoneyToys(tm) collection of website calculators now includes 16 website calculators. The Mortgage Qualifier for real estate web sites helps home buyers determine how much they may be able to borrow for a home loan and what monthly payment amounts a lender may allow based upon a home buyer's income, debt and savings.

This mortgage affordability calculator also accommodates co-borrowers. The income and debt information of the co-borrower is considered in the qualification calculation.

Real estate webmasters can modify the default values to reflect their local market conditions. Housing and Debt Ratios, for example, can easily be configured for an agent's local market. These values vary but it is important to remember the lender determines them for a home buyer. Historically, industry standards have been set at 28% for housing and 36% for debt. Real estate webmasters who choose to retain the historical standards for housing and debt ratios will help home buyers discover what their financial situation may safely do for them in terms of a mortgage loan.

In addition to income, debt and mortgage qualifying ratios, the Mortgage Qualification Calculator accounts for the amount a borrower has available for a downpayment and the interest rates they anticipate for different loan terms.

As a website visitor enters his or her financial values, the Mortgage Qualifier calculates and displays the estimated monthly payments, loan amounts and purchase prices for three mortgage loans for which the home buyer may qualify based upon the housing and debt ratio configured by the web master.

The Mortgage Qualification Calculator is designed for conventional fixed rate mortgages which are returning to popularity as home buyers become aware of the financial difficulties which may be posted by adjustable rate and interest only mortgages.

For more information:
http://www.moneytoys.com/mortgage-qualification-calculator.php

The 16 website calculators in the MoneyToys collection are easy to install. With only a few lines of HTML and MoneyToys website calculators, real estate webmasters can quickly add online interactivity to a web site. The font face, colors and sizes of MoneyToys web site calculators are easily modified so they match the design of a website. In addition, the default values for the financial values can be set to fit any local market.

Included in the growing collection of 16 MoneyToys web site calculators are: Simple Loan Calculator, Mortgage Qualification Calculator, Biweekly Payment Calculator, Down Payment Savings Calculator, Very Simple Loan Calculator, APR Calculator, Closing Costs Calculator, Home Seller's Proceeds, Refinancing Calculator, Rent or Buy Calculator, Loan Spread Calculator, Cash Flows Calculator, Future Value Calculator, Pay Down or Invest Calculator, Loan Comparisons Calculator, Mortgage Qualification Calculator and a Payment Calculator.

With MoneyToys calculator collection on a web site, the site's visitors can perform financial calculations without leaving the site! The entire collection of MoneyToys is available for only $139.95 USD. Individual calculators are available for only $39.95 USD.

About Wheatworks Software, LLC

Since 1997, Wheatworks Software, LLC has created innovative financial calculators for consumers, professionals and companies in the real estate and financial services industries.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Rick Wheat
Wheatworks Software, LLC
http://www.moneytoys.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:14 PM | Comments (0)

73 Year Old Apprentice's Family Awarded $2.25 Million For Asbestos Exposure In Workplace

New York Mesothelioma Lawyers Defend Leonard Shafer In Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- A New York City jury awarded $2.25 million in the case of 73 year old Leonard Shafer who had exposure to asbestos in his workplace as a civilian employee at the New York Naval Shipyard (Brooklyn Navy Yard) in the 1950's. New York Mesothelimoa lawyers, Levy, Phillips & Konigsberg, L.L.C., helped prove Shafer developed pleural mesothelioma, which is an aggressive, incurable cancer during his career at the Shipyard.

"Mr. Shafer endured pain and suffering that spanned an eighteen month time period from the time he was diagnosed until the time of the death," said Carmen St. George, New York's top Mesothelioma Lawyers from Levy, Phillips, Konigsberg. "Many years ago, nobody knew the affects of being exposed to asbestos in the workplace and unfortunately today, we are being faced with the dangers."

Like so many of his colleagues, Mr. Shafer never wore respiratory protection and was unaware of the dangers of asbestos. John Crane, Inc. was the company that manufactured and supplied the asbestos-containing stuffing tube packing material to the U.S. Navy for use on Navy ships. In this asbestos exposure lawsuit, the jury determined that exposure to the John Crane packing material caused Mr. Shafer's mesothelioma, and that his illness was reasonably foreseeable to the company.

The New York mesothelioma lawyers have won several significant jury verdicts in the course of more than 25 years of representing victims who suffer from the affects of asbestos exposure in the workplace, including: the first ever asbestos verdict against the welding industry; the first ever asbestos verdict against the talc industry; the largest verdict in the nation against a manufacturer of Navy cable; and the largest verdicts in the nation against manufacturers of asbestos gaskets and packing. New York mesothelioma lawyers at LPK have been recognized on the list of Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers.

About Levy, Phillips & Konigsberg:
Although LPK's offices are located in New York and New Jersey, LPK represents families affected by mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in the workplace nationwide. For more information about this mesothelioma trial, LPK's mesothelioma trial attorneys, or for more information about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, please call the New York mesothelioma lawyers at 800-MESO-LAW or 212-605-6200.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:14 PM | Comments (0)

Are The New Jersey Landscape Trades Top Search Results for NJ Landscape Architects and New Jersey Landscape Design Legitimate?

The president of New Jersey's premier luxury landscape and swimming pool design/build firm offers advice to help New Jersey consumers detect and avoid unscrupulous marketing tactics via the Web

Ramsey, NJ (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- When looking for a landscape architect, landscape contractor or swimming pool company, consumers have a powerful tool in the Internet. Within seconds a search engine can deliver hundreds of hits on nearby businesses that provide those services. But finding the right firm isn't as easy as clicking a button. In fact, the old adage, "buyer beware," probably applies now more than ever.

Chris Cipriano, founder and president of Cipriano Landscape Design, New Jersey's premier luxury landscape and swimming pool design/build firm is available to discuss the pitfalls of researching landscape architects and landscape contractors through Internet search engines. The most obvious of these is that unlike the Yellow Pages before them, search engines don't offer disclaimers advising consumers to consult the appropriate state licensing boards and providing them with a phone number to call and check for valid licenses. That information was always found in phone books under the headings "Landscape Contractor" and "Landscape Architect," as well as those of other trades. "A lot of people don't know how to check a contractor's license or even that it's possible to do so," Cipriano says. "Yet licensing is one of the best ways to tell whether a contractor is legitimate and up-to-date on industry requirements, regulations and standard practices."

The only way to be certain that you're hiring the best firm for the job is tried and true: Do your homework. Cipriano provides the following tips to ensure that you're hiring a qualified landscape architect, landscape contractor or pool construction company:

• Remember that looks can be deceiving. It doesn't take much to create an aura of credibility on the Internet. "We have seen high-ranking Web sites of unscrupulous firms using stock photography, implying that they completed those projects," Cipriano says. "If you see a picture on the Internet that interests you in a company's services, ask for the address and request to see that job site. There is no greater proof than seeing the work in person. If the company tells you that you are unable to visit one or more sites, then proceed cautiously."
Always look at the entire presentation of a landscape in a photo, especially if the firm claims to be full service. If you're viewing pictures of a swimming pool, patio or walls, how do the plants in the background appear? Are there any plants at all? A full-service provider should be able to demonstrate a well-thought out, balanced and creative environment. Also beware companies that display images only from a single project. A gallery of photos from multiple projects will give you a better feel for their body of work.

• Question claims of expertise. Like many other businesses landscape companies are feeling the squeeze of a tightening economy, and many of them are trying to offset lost revenue by expanding into services beyond their niche. For instance, there are large lawn maintenance companies claiming to complete $5 or $6 million in landscape construction annually, if that's true they should be able to showcase 30 to 40 prominent projects. When interviewing companies ask to see design plans and photographs for several projects comparable to your own, then compare the photographs to the plan. Better yet, visit the completed project and be sure to speak with the homeowner. Also, if a company says, "We do it all," ask to have them put that in writing on your contract. Don't be fooled into hiring a contractor that claims to have experience in a particular area, but instead uses low-bid subcontractors.
"Award-winning" is a buzzword on many contractors' sites. What are the awards for? A reputable company usually will have them listed so you don't have to ask.

• Check licensing. Always ask to see copies of the contractor's and landscape architect's license and certificate of insurance when interviewing. Be sure to have contractors list their services on the certificate of insurance to confirm they have proper coverage. If you are hiring a landscape architect, be sure to get his or her state license number, which can be confirmed with your state's Division of Consumer Affairs. New Jersey residents can verify licensees by calling (973) 273-8090 or by visiting the following link:
http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/consumeraffairs/search/searchentry.pl

• Ask for references. Let previous customers tell you whether a contractor can get the job done. Some good questions to ask include whether there were unforeseen costs, if the project met all expectations, and if warranty work was needed and provided.

• Compare apples to apples. Look for projects similar to your needs. If you want a natural stone patio, ask to see previously completed job sites with the same feature. Remember to check on projects that were completed 5 to 10 years ago, as this will give you an indication of how the contractor's work will hold up over time. It also will help eliminate inexperienced firms.

• Meet at least three companies. Winter is the best time to begin planning for outdoor projects. By starting now, you'll be able to interview multiple companies, allowing for a great deal of comparison. Plus, you'll be able to do the appropriate research on each firm--beyond what's available on the Web.

"The Internet should help, not hinder your research gathering," Cipriano says. "Just keep in mind that your custom swimming pool or landscape is going to be a lasting feature of your home. You want to make sure your experience is a pleasurable one day in and day out."

Established in 1989, Cipriano Landscape Design is a recognized industry leader in custom residential landscapes and swimming pools. After a little more than a decade in business, the company catapulted to the top of the state's luxury landscaping and pool design and construction industries when it was awarded a $2.5 million residential landscape project. Today along with the Ramsey, N.J. office, the Cipriano family also owns a 10-acre farm and nursery in Mahwah, N.J., where large caliper specimen trees and other rare plants are grown. With a design office headed by Certified Landscape Architect William Moore, the Cipriano team recently won the Northeast Pool and Spa Association's 2007 Best in Competition swimming pool award. www.PlantNJ.com

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

simpleHome Advances to Full Membership with the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA)

simpleHome is proud to announce that it has advanced to Full membership status with the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA). With the rapid growth of the residential electronic systems industry, becoming a Full CEDIA Member ensures that the company is the "best in the business."

Westborough, MA (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- simpleHome is proud to announce that it has advanced to Full membership status with the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA). With the rapid growth of the residential electronic systems industry, becoming a Full CEDIA Member ensures that the company is the "best in the business." Electronic systems include media rooms and home theaters, automated lighting and privacy/security, whole-house audio, and other integrated electronics.

"CEDIA Membership offers electronic systems contractors instant credibility with homeowners, builders, architects, interior designers and others involved in the home design and build process," said Don Gilpin, executive director of CEDIA. "CEDIA Members are required to meet the highest standards in business and training, such as carrying all of the required insurance, satisfying state regulations and having at least one staff member who has achieved professional certification from CEDIA University." "simpleHome is proud to recognize the achievements of two if its technicians, Ken Gilfoy and Kevin Peckham, and their recent CEDIA certification," said Mark Komanecky, President & CEO of simpleHome. "We value the training and education opportunities that CEDIA provides us, which in turn allows us to better serve the needs of our residential clients. "CEDIA offers resources for its members that include a state-of-the-art training facility and education opportunities to further their knowledge and professional skills. CEDIA's mission focuses on helping business owners and their employees prepare for certification and career advancement. Full membership status is reserved for companies that employ at least one CEDIA Certified Professional, present industry references, and have remained in business at least two years.

About simpleHome
simpleHome, founded in 2004, was established with a single vision: Simple. Easy. Fun. The way life should be. As a result, the company provides homeowners with state-of-the-art smart home and home entertainment products and services that enable easy access to home entertainment; peace-of-mind for primary and vacation homes; security and surveillance of the home and property; and safety for children and pets. Unlike major retailers and other service providers, simpleHome focuses on providing solutions that converge home networking, home computing, home automation, and home entertainment into a single unique solution for any specific homeowner - all with an integrated, easy-to-use central control platform. As a result, the customers' experiences are hassle-free, heavy on support, and exceed expectations. As a member of the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA), simpleHome maintains a high standard of product,service and support training, expertise and innovation.

Based in Westborough, Massachusetts, simpleHome operates 3 design centers and works with clients throughout New England and the greater Philadelphia regions. For more information, visit
www.simplehome.net.

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

Something New Under the Roof

Europe's High-Tech Synthetic Underlayments Make the Roof Work Harder for the Homeowner

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) February 18, 2008 -- When it comes time to replace that tired old roof or, heaven forbid, Mother Nature makes the decision for us, people typically focus on what they will see at the end of the day. Asphalt shingles, clay or concrete tiles, or perhaps metal roofing is the big question.

Little attention, if any, is paid to what goes underneath the roof's top layer. Call it "underwear" for your roof, but underlayments are the heroes of your home. For years, roofers always used asphalt-saturated felt underlayment. Now, thanks to modern science, high-tech, highly breathable synthetics similar to those we use next to our skin to keep us dry and comfortable are available for your roof's under layer.

Starting with a launch at the February 2008 International Builders Show in Orlando, Cosella-Dorken, the leading maker of synthetic underlayments in the most demanding market in the world - Europe - is bringing its leading-edge products to North America. Just in time too, considering the weather seems to be attacking our homes with greater ferocity every year.

"With underlayments replacing roofing felt at a rate of 10-12% per year in North America, the market is ready for these new, environment-friendly products," says Tom Fallon, Vice President, Cosella-Dorken. "They're cheap insurance against mold and water damage, and reduce energy and replacement costs for long-term savings that far outweigh their original cost."

Advanced synthetics such as Cosella-Dorken's DELTA® line can transform the roof from a passive barrier to an environmental system, saving energy by reflecting summer heat away from your home and keeping it healthier by wicking excess moisture out of the house to prevent dangerous molds. For the pro roofer or do-it-yourselfer, synthetic underlayments from Cosella-Dorken are designed to be easy to install, safer to walk on than old-style felt, extremely tear-resistant and so tough they can be left uncovered for months at a time

These underlayments are designed for different roofs and climates: from low-slope to steep-sided roofs; asphalt shingled roofs to clay and concrete tiles or metal clad; for demanding semi-tropical regions, hurricane country and the tough winters of the U.S. Northeast.

Long the gold standard in Europe where homes are typically insulated to the roof line and attics are used for living space, Cosella-Dorken's underlayments can help give homeowners extra living space or, in the cases where their air conditioning is ducted through the attic, lower energy bills.

The DELTA underlayment universe
A pioneer in the synthetic underlayment field, Cosella-Dörken's DELTA line includes:

DELTA-MAXX TITAN - Its shiny silver titanium coating reflects up to 50% of radiant energy to keep homes cooler in summer. By lowering air-exchange rates, TITAN reduces heat-energy consumption up to 9%. A self-adhesive border speeds installation and acts like a zipper to lock weather out and keep home temperatures comfortable. Watertight and exceptionally vapor permeable, it is the only underlay equipped with a bottom layer to absorb excess moisture. This sponge-like layer safeguards wood roof rafters and sheathing by soaking up excess condensation or water, for release later through evaporation.

DELTA-FOXX and DELTA-VENT S - Multi-layered underlayments used on fully insulated pitched roofs. Impermeable to wind and rain, they are highly permeable to water vapor within the building and wick it to the outside. Compared to standard, impermeable membranes, these high-end underlayments can significantly extend the life of the roof.

DELTA-ROOF - The new solution developed for ventilated roofs with conventional asphalt shingles. This non-permeable roof underlayment provides four layers of top protection against any type of weather. Reinforced with a tear-proof grid structure, it is the ideal choice for extreme weather situations, or wherever roofs can't be finished on a same-day basis and will be exposed to wind.

Other Cosella-Dorken products include DELTA®-Dry, an advanced new "barrier" house wrap that drains and dries exterior walls of the home on both the inside and outside, DELTA®-FL for dry, comfortable basement rooms, DELTA®-MS for residential waterproofing and DELTA®-DRAIN geocomposites used for drainage in numerous commercial and heavy construction applications. For more information about a DELTA dealer near you call 1-888-4DELTA4, or visit www.cosella-dorken.com.

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

Albuquerque's GET A GRIP, Inc. Announces New Franchising Opportunities for 2008

Fast-growing New Mexico-headquartered refinishing and resurfacing business plans to increase its reach beyond its existing 33 locations across the U.S.

Albuquerque, NM (PRWEB) February 18, 2008 -- GET A GRIP, Inc., a refinishing and resurfacing company that offers beautiful kitchen and bathroom surfaces at a much lower cost than granite or substrate replacements, plans to aggressively expand its franchises throughout the U.S. in 2008. Over the last decade, the company has quickly made a name for itself through its high-quality products and applications, saving homeowners and apartment owners thousands of dollars in remodeling costs and countless hours of time.

"From the beginning, we wanted to offer customers the smartest solution for making surfaces elegant," says Sharon Dillard, president of GET A GRIP. "This is a product that just makes sense for the long run, in hot or soft real estate markets. Eventually, all bathtubs, tile surfaces, countertops, showers, and sinks wear out or go out of style. Our business model simply asks, 'why replace when you can resurface?'"

In a volatile housing market, homeowners and sellers need to find inexpensive yet highly effective ways to update and beautify their homes. Apartment owners face a slightly different dilemma - the ability to easily update their units without costly downtime for expensive remodels. "The application of our product takes very little time because it is applied with a single, proven technique inspired by a unique patent," explains Sharon. "Most surfaces are ready for use within 24 hours of our application. And because our process takes fewer steps and is non-toxic, it is safer than any other resurfacing product."

Before starting GET A GRIP, Sharon and her husband, Cub Dillard, had long, successful careers in different industries. Sharon worked many years in marketing for high-end fashion brands, and Cub owned and operated a big-rig truck dealership. Together with their sons Ryan and Austen, who train new franchisees and are vice presidents in the company, the Dillard family has built one of the most highly respected resurfacing companies in the industry - which has translated into real success for GET A GRIP dealers and franchisees.

"I have been a proud dealer for GET A GRIP for six years now and can honestly say that I have loved every minute of it," says Velda Wood, owner of GET A GRIP of Phoenix. "While having unbeatable products has played a major role in my success, I know that I would not be where I am today without the support and dedication I have received from GET A GRIP's corporate office."

The Dillards set up their franchisee business to be simple and straightforward. "We know franchisees are anxious to start working and need the business tools to succeed. That's why we offer state-of-the-art operations manuals, advertising and marketing materials and many other ways to get their operations started quickly and correctly," says Sharon. "But most importantly, we take the time to get to know our franchisees on a personal level, give them expert, detailed training, lifetime technical support and a commitment to keep improving our products. After all, we share in each other's success. The more successful we can make our franchisees, the more successful GET A GRIP will be for everyone involved."

About GET A GRIP, Inc.:
A refinishing and resurfacing company that saves customers thousands of dollars in remodeling costs, GET A GRIP offers proven products and techniques inspired by a unique patent. The company's products have been successfully used for years in bathrooms and kitchens in homes, hotels, motels, resorts, commercial complexes, apartments and condominiums, government projects and institutions, schools, churches, hospitals, factories and airports. The private company is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Website: www.getagripinc.com or www.getagripfranchise.com. Phone: 800.290.6004. Email: info @ getagripinc.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:09 PM | Comments (0)

Award-Winning Florida Home Builder and Architect Join Forces in New Line of Custom Homes

The Pineapple Corporation, builder of new homes in Florida, and Kevin Gray, Florida residential architect, have teamed up again to create new luxury coastal homes in Glen Kernan, Jacksonville, FL.

Jacksonville, Florida (PRWEB) February 18, 2008 -- The Pineapple Corporation has earned a reputation of excellence for constructing homes designed with exceptional and unique architectural style. The company is teaming with Kevin Gray of Jacksonville-based Residential Designs by Kevin Gray, Inc. on a new series of architectural designs.

Over the years, the company has partnered with Gray on more than two dozen design/build projects of Jacksonville, Florida homes. Staying ahead of the competition, the company will soon unveil a brand new product design with a focus on coastal architecture.

"These elegant homes will showcase dramatic design elements," said The Pineapple Corporation's Executive Vice President Spencer T. Calvert. "Throughout the design process, our team has worked closely with Kevin to define the unique architectural design and detail that will set our new, innovative coastal home collection apart."

The architecture for this new product line includes coastal, Bermuda and West Indies influences. The Pineapple Corporation is building 15 homes in the collection on Hunterston Lane in the prestigious Glen Kernan Golf & Country Club. Along with masterful design, each home will offer superior quality craftsmanship and the latest production and construction techniques as the foundation for an exceptional living environment.

"It is great to work with Jim Ash and his team at The Pineapple Corporation," Gray said. "They are professionals who understand and appreciate quality design."

All of the homes in the collection will boast a seamless blend of form and function highlighted by designer finishes and features. Gourmet kitchens include state-of-the-art appliances set in designer cabinetry and stonework. Luxurious master suites offer furniture-style custom cabinetry and personal spa amenities for the utmost in privacy and comfort.

The Pineapple Corporation has been a preferred builder for the past eight years in Glen Kernan Golf and Country Club, one of the finest country club facilities in Northeast Florida. The company expects to break ground on this new collection early this year.

The Pineapple Corporation is a premier builder of luxury custom and semi-custom homes in Florida. The company's award-winning designs convey elegance, superior quality and building excellence. The Pineapple Corporation's new homes are showcased in the area's most exclusive neighborhoods including Glen Kernan Golf and Country Club, Villini at Glen Kernan and Palermo, as well as oceanfront and St. Johns riverfront locations.

For more information about The Pineapple Corporation, call (904) 223-7024 or visit www.thepineapplecorp.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:06 PM | Comments (0)

DynaPierTM System Part of Solving Seasonal Foundation Issues

New Pier Technology Resistant to Clay’s Differential Problems

Kansas City, Missouri (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 18, 2008 – Most homeowners take stock in the damage of Winter during the Spring and plan the projects they’ll do when the weather improves. For some the project is cosmetic. For others, movements in the home’s foundation have occurred, causing it to lift or fall in some places and creating massive cracks. Homeowners’ are left to wonder ‘why’ and ‘what can I do’? For them the answer is simple: DynaPierTM.

DynaPier is the creation of Matt Price, a 12-year veteran of the foundation repair business. Price’s interlocking, patent pending system is comprised of high-strength concrete pre-cast in a galvanized steel sleeve segment. The result is a system that stabilizes a home’s foundation no matter the weather or the soil a home sits on.

What’s Wrong with My Foundation?
Foundation problems generally originate from clay and water. In many parts of the country homes are built on soil that contains clay minerals. Clay expands and swells as it absorbs water molecules. It shrinks as it dries. Clay can affect the behavior of soil even if it makes up only 5% of the soil by weight. This moisture differential caused by the presence of water can also be affected by the proximity of trees, drainage and a variety of other factors.

An older home may be especially prone to problems if the foundation’s support structure is not below the Active Zone, or depth of seasonal soil moisture variation.

What to do?
For most homeowners with foundation problems the only answer is foundation repair. That’s when a pier from DynaPier can help. DynaPier’s construction allows them to resist corrosion, provide superior shear strength and compressive resistance.

The DynaPier™ segments are hydraulically driven into the ground one at a time. After one segment is driven, another segment is connected to the foundation pier, and the process is repeated until the foundation pier hits bedrock or a dense strata of subsurface material. The foundation pier is then topped with a galvanized steel cap, and finally, the house is lifted and secured to the foundation pier.

Piers are driven down at least 20 feet to clear the soil’s Active Zone, but in some cases may be driven in deeper. A pier may be driven as deep as 80 feet, according to Price, to be sure that a pier rests on bedrock. The result is a foundation that is:

Resistant to the pushing and pulling caused by moisture differentials.
Resting on bedrock, not on suspect soil.
Supported by load-bearing steel and concrete.
“Our DynaPier system creates a foundation that exceeds its original structural integrity,” says Price. “The foundation is now built to last.”
PierMagicTM of Grandview, Missouri, a foundation-repair company owned by Price, is using the system currently in the residential foundation-repair industry. To date the company has used the DynaPier system in over 100 homes.

Avoiding Problems
As Spring begins there are several things homeowners can do to be foundation-friendly. Price offers these tips:

Scale back trees near your home – Mature trees can pull up to 150 gallons of water a day from soil. Trees that are too close to a foundation may cause a moisture differential that effects your foundation.
Good drainage – Limit surface infiltration of water during the rainy Spring by making sure downspouts discharge water at least 3’ to 4’ away from the foundation.
Look for other sources of moisture – Leaky pipes close to the foundation can also cause swelling. If you see a problem get it repaired as soon as possible. Not only will you save on water utility bills, but you may save yourself a foundation repair later.
Don’t forget the pool – If you have an in-ground swimming pool next to the house check your foundation regularly. Many swimming pool shells are constructed of airblown mortar that is rarely designed for swell pressures created by expansive clay. Moreover, water percolates through the shell and adds water to adjacent soil, creating its own moisture differentiation problems. If not periodically examined the added water may cause soil to swell around your pool deck and an adjacent home foundation.
“Preventative maintenance may not solve all problems, but it can make the difference between saving your foundation or having to call someone to fix it,” warns Price.

The DynaPier system is now available through PierMagic in Alabama, Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee. For more information call 816-765-4800 or go to www.thedynapier.com

Contact:
Scott Wagner
816-753-7272
scott(at)fasonepartners.com

Matt Price
816-765-4800
matt(at)piermagic.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:06 PM | Comments (0)

Future Steel Buildings Can Help Your Spring Cleaning Get Started With A New Home Improvement Online Contest

Future Steel, a leader in the business of designing and manufacturing steel buildings, announced today the Spring Cleaning Home Improvement contest.

(PRWEB) February 17, 2008 -- Future Steel Buildings today have announced an online contest that just may make your spring cleaning project a little bit easier. It's been a long winter and if one has been putting off a garage cleaning, redecorating a bedroom, kitchen or family room, starting a major remodeling job or that extension to the home, Spring always brings out the hope to do so. A home improvement project may help you win a top award.

Entering is easy. Contestants have to submit a spring cleaning story describing the challenges and satisfactions had with a home improvement project to http://www.futuresteel.com/contest for a chance to win a DeWalt Heavy Duty Worksite Radio/Charger, to help pass the time on the next project. A personal story can be a funny experience, a challenge experienced and the how it was overcome.

The Future Steel Buildings contest launches officially on February 19th 2008 and the winner will be announced May 19th 2008. Here is all contestants have to do to win, fill out the short online registration form provided at http://www.futuresteel.com/contest then tell us all about a personal spring cleaning project, and it's just that easy.

About Future Steel Buildings
Future Steel Buildings has been a steel building manufacturer for 25 years. As all of our building styles are based on the strongest architectural design ever -- the arch -- our steel buildings offer you the best value. Every Future Steel Building is backed by a 30 year warranty.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:05 PM | Comments (0)

American Tire Corporation Successfully Presented Radial OTR Tires in Arizona

The global mining industry is suffering supply shortage of various sizes of OTR tires. As one of the most reliable giant OTR tire manufacturers, American Tire Corporation (ATC) was invited and successfully presented its radial OTR tires and Washington OTR tire plant at the quarterly meeting of Southwest Association of Master Mechanics in Mesa, Arizona.

Chino, California (PRWEB) February 17, 2008 -- American Tire Corporation (ATC) successfully presented its radial OTR tires and Washington OTR tire plant at the quarterly meeting of Southwest Association of Master Mechanics in Mesa, Arizona.

On February 15, 2008, Dr. Abraham Hengyucius and Mr. Brad Harris respectively introduced ATC's production and marketing program on behalf of ATC -- the manufacturer of Colorado OTR tires. This 1.5-hour presentation was started from the production section by Dr. Hengyucius who specified ATC's current and coming production, capacity for 63", 57", 51" and 49" radial OTR tires, manufacturing equipments, plant details and strategic objectives. The government support for both production and international marketing was emphasized. Then, Mr. Harris analyzed the current situation of global OTR tire industry, Colorado OTR tire's marketing strategy and on-site engineering support program. The first batch of delivered Colorado 63" tires was introduced, with video and accurate figures collected from the mine site, as a successful example from ATC.

Around 40 audiences from different mines in addition to some OTR tire distributors attended this presentation. Dozens of questions regarding Colorado radial OTR tire's warranty, delivery schedule, pricing, after sale service, etc., were discussed during the Q&A session. According to Southwest Association of Master Mechanics, the audiences are "all maintenance managers, general foremen and supervisors from all of the Arizona mines and from some New Mexico and Nevada Mines."

With objective to become the largest and best manufacturer for 63" and 57" tires, American Tire Corporation is a well-established US OTR tire manufacturer which has had several "firsts" in the OTR tire industry. For more information, please check its website http://www.americantire.us.

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

Silverdell's Academy for Excellence is Launched

Successful asbestos removal contractor Silverdell (UK) Ltd is excited to announce the launch of www.silverdellacademy.co.uk a brand new website dedicated to Silverdell's Academy for Excellence (SAFE).

(PRWEB) February 16, 2008 -- Successful asbestos removal contractor Silverdell (UK) Ltd is excited to announce the launch of www.silverdellacademy.co.uk a brand new website dedicated to Silverdell's Academy for Excellence (SAFE).

Responding to the growing demands on the asbestos management industry to raise standards, Silverdell (UK) has developed SAFE, a well structured, thorough and exhaustive training programme where all of their asbestos Operatives and Supervisors are required to attend.

Detailing a comprehensive list of SAFE courses, the new website provides users with vital information on SAFE's successful case studies, information on the latest legislative news and the key contact details for those wishing to discuss the provision of asbestos awareness training for their staff or supply chain.

Silverdell recently purchased a mobile training suite providing the ability to deliver site-based operational training in a working environment. Clients are now able to receive the same level of compliance training locally at their workplace as a further part of the support offered.

The addition of the SAFE Mobile Training Suite has taken the SAFE initiative on a step further, providing fantastic degree of flexibility. In alliance with their colleagues at Redhill-Analysts, Silverdell has developed an effective platform to deliver asbestos awareness training to those wishing to comply with Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (CAR 2006).

Fully supported by ARCA (Asbestos Removal Contractors Association), Silverdell hope to continue in 'leading the way' in the provisional delivery of training for the whole asbestos industry through the SAFE initiative and change the face of training through its pioneering mobile training suite.

The Silverdell Group provide managed solutions for asbestos, industrial, remediation and environmental services. Working with partners in public, private, construction and industrial markets, we are committed to creating an improved environment in which to live and work.

Further information can be found at www.silverdellacademy.co.uk and the UK's leading asbestos removal contractors www.silverdell.co.uk

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:01 PM | Comments (0)

Industrial Nanotech,Inc. Announces Expansion into South Africa - Expects Electricity Crisis to Create Opportunities for Nansulate®

Industrial Nanotech, Inc., an emerging global leader in nanotechnology, announced today that the Company's exclusive African distributor, Megaros Industrial Products, has expanded its presence on the African Continent by signing an agreement with Copper Sunset Trading 440 Pty Ltd of Johannesburg to represent the Company's patented Nansulate® energy saving coatings in the country of South Africa.

Naples, Fla. (PRWEB) February 16, 2008 -- Industrial Nanotech, Inc. (Pink Sheets:INTK), an emerging global leader in nanotechnology, announced today that the Company's exclusive African distributor, Megaros Industrial Products, has expanded its presence on the African Continent by signing an agreement with Copper Sunset Trading 440 Pty Ltd of Johannesburg to represent the Company's patented Nansulate® energy saving coatings in the country of South Africa.

"The appointment of Copper Sunset Trading to represent Nansulate in South Africa will open new markets in this region where energy conservation has become a top priority," stated Francesca Crolley, V.P. Operations & Marketing, "South Africa recently announced rationing of electricity in order to ease power outages that have negatively affected both businesses and neighborhoods, so this is an area where Nansulate coatings can make an immediate impact by reducing energy consumption. We are pleased to have this opportunity to assist in the region's economic growth and establishment of an environmentally safe infrastructure and improved living environment."

"Copper Sunset Trading 440 (Pty) Ltd are ecstatic at securing the exclusive distribution rights to the Nansulate product range for South Africa," expressed Brad Emmett and Mark Pringle, founding members, "We have identified the tremendous value the Nansulate product range will introduce to a broad spectrum of industry, dealing with current and long term challenges, within the energy consuming market and realise the true benefit the product presents within the South African economy. The technology has captured the global market, with unprecedented success and has resulted in huge financial savings across all sectors of industry, particularly with regards to the reduction of energy consumption, savings in future maintenance and the improvement of carbon emission levels."

The rationing of electricity has affected many large companies in the regions. In January 2008, South Africa's major gold mining companies suspended operations over safety concerns after the state-owned power company, Eskom, advised it could not guarantee electrical power at the mines. The world's largest platinum mine also suspended operations. In addition, Africa's largest steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa announced that power interruption could cause production disruptions and possible rationings. Eskom has also cut exports of electricity to neighboring countries, such as Botswana and Namibia. The government plans to invest some $40 billion in the construction of new power plants over the next five years.

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, resistance to mold growth, and lead encapsulation in an environmentally safe, water-based, coating formulation. The Nansulate(R) Product Line includes both industrial and residential coatings.
About Industrial Nanotech Inc.

Industrial Nanotech Inc. is quickly 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:
The Cervelle Group, LLC
Rob Karbowsky, 407-475-9966 ext. 227.
rob @ thecervellegroup.com

or
Media Inquiries:
The Cervelle Group, LLC
Tina Kuhn, 407-475-9966
tina @ thecervellegroup.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:01 PM | Comments (0)

Mortgagee's Foreclosure Auction, Ayer, MA - Development Opportunity - Autumn Ridge Farm 55+ Condo Community

JJManning Auctioneers is proud to present up to 29 units to be sold in entirety - 7 built, 2 foundations and 1 site located in Autumn Ridge Farm, a 56-unit 55+ condo community for active adults on the Ayer/Groton line.

Ayer, MA (PRWEB) February 16, 2008 -- JJManning Auctioneers is proud to present up to 29 units - 7 built, 2 foundations and 1 site located in Autumn Ridge Farm, a 56-unit 55 condominium community for active adults on 67 acres off Old Ayer Rd. on the Ayer/Groton line with breathtaking views of rolling hills and woodlands. Convenient access to on site clubhouse with fitness center; trails; shopping; restaurants; golf; hospital; commuter rail; Routes 2, 2A, 119 and I-495.

Auction includes an 8-unit foundation, a 6-unit foundation, site for another 8-unit foundation, and 7 partially finished units, newly built by Gillis Homes with open floor plans and luxury amenities. See website for details.

Auction: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 11am
Bid Live On-Site or Online
Previews: Tuesday, March 4 (11am-1pm) & Tuesday, March 11 (9am-11am)

Full Auction Terms, Online Bidding Terms & Instructions, Buyer's Broker Commission Terms, Property Information Package, Photos & More at www.JJManning.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:32 AM | Comments (0)

Lower Gwynedd Design-Build Remodeler Recognized for Bucks-Mont Katrina Charity Work

Harth Builders, recognized with Bucks Mont Katrina charity award at Awards Banquet. They led 25 remodelers from 3 NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) chapters and 10 Americorps volunteers to help rebuild 3 homes in the Waveland, MS gulf coast. Harth volunteered on behalf of Bucks-Mont Katrina and Bucks-Mont NARI and partnered with CityTeam and the Salvation Army in Waveland, MS to help get local residents back into their flood damaged homes.

Spring House, PA (PRWEB) February 16, 2008 -- Harth Builders, a nationally recognized and award winning design-build remodeler was awarded the Bucks Mont Katrina Charity award at their recent Contractor of the Year Dinner. One of the company's owners, Greg Harth, organized a group of 11 remodelers from the Bucks-Mont chapter of NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry), 15 remodelers from Chicago Greatland NARI chapter and 5 from Wisconsin's NARI chapter to help rebuild homes in the Waveland, MS gulf coast in February. They went down to Waveland on behalf of Bucks-Mont Katrina (www.bucksmontkatrinaproject.org) and Bucks-Mont NARI (www.bucksmontnari.org) to help rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. This was the first time multiple chapters of NARI had joined to volunteer a week's effort to remodel homes.

Everyone who attended the week long rebuild came back with an greater sense of purpose and fulfillment. They also realized how much more work will need to be done. "There will be another 5 to 10 years of rebuilding along the coast to bring that area and economy back to where it was pre-Katrina" says Harth.

Additional trips continue to be formed and led by various contractors involved with Bucks-Mont NARI. For opportunities to join the next trip down, please contact Mark Glidden, of Stone-Glidden, Inc. (www.stoneglidden.com) or Kathy Binelli of the Bucks-Mont NARI chapter office (www.bucksmontnari.org).

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:30 AM | Comments (0)

Masonite to Launch Flagstaff, A New Pairing of Interior and Exterior Doors for Design Continuity

A clean and elegantly simple plank design will afford homeowners the ability to create a more harmonious home environment with a single choice.

Tampa, FL. (PRWEB) February 15, 2008 -- Masonite announced today that it will unveil the new Flagstaff™ at the International Builders' Show in February 2008. Building on the company's already diverse product lines, the Flagstaff is the culmination of customer input, trend research and creative design to create a door family that clearly and elegantly links the interior and exterior door. This progressive design of the Flagstaff doors is a pleasing blend between the appearance of historically accurate wood door construction and trend-setting aesthetics.

"Building upon our history of being the first manufacturer to offer a molded hardboard door, we are quite excited to share this design innovation with the building industry," said Keith Kometer, Vice President of Product Management. "The Flagstaff is a bold evolution in door design that indicates the brand's progressive shift to link its interior and exterior door lines. This provides homeowners the freedom to select an updated version of a timeless classic and easily carry that design throughout the home."

The Interior Flagstaff door will be added to Masonite's Anniversary Collection of molded doors, a collection representing the ultimate in wood door authenticity with architecturally correct designs and all the benefits of a composite wood product. These doors will be available in 80- and 96-inch heights, as well as all standard widths. All construction options are available for this door including hollow core, Safe 'N Sound, and solid core. The Flagstaff will also be available in 20, 45 & 60 minute fire ratings. The interior version of the Flagstaff will be produced as a smooth door.

"Exterior doors are often times thought of as the heart of a home's design. With the launch of the Flagstaff doors Masonite will offer homeowners the ability to make a sophisticated design statement that doesn't stop at the front door," said Doug Thompson, Senior Director of Product Management, Exterior Doors.

The exterior version of the Flagstaff door will be added to Masonite's Barrington Series of fiberglass doors. The exterior Flagstaff will come in 36- and 42-inch widths, and will be offered in both 80- and 96-inch heights. The exterior version of the Flagstaff will be a fiberglass door with a mahogany texture and is stainable for an authentic wood appearance.

For more information on the Masonite Frontier doors or other Masonite doors, individuals may visit http://www.masonite.com or call toll-free at 1-800-663-DOOR.

Masonite is one of the world's leading manufacturers of interior doors and entry door systems. Throughout the company's 80 year history, Masonite has maintained its focus on leading-edge innovation, manufacturing excellence and superior customer service. Masonite is committed to delivering product and service innovations that will enhance beauty, functionality and architectural design to its customers around the world. Builders, remodelers, architects and homeowners rely on Masonite products to create homes of distinction while at the same time remaining environmentally responsible.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:27 AM | Comments (0)

Masonite Unveils New Green Interior Doors

From the homeowner that is environmentally conscious to the architect that is designing a project to achieve an industry certification, Masonite has the answer in its Safe 'N Sound®, and Safe 'N Sound® Emerald™ series interior door.

Tampa, FL. (PRWEB) February 15, 2008 -- In response to a grassroots movement in the building products industry Masonite, the world leader in manufacturing of Interior and Exterior doors, announced today that at the 2008 International Builder Show it will again expand on its founders 84 year old vision of environmental stewardship by launching two new interior doors, the Safe 'N Sound and the Safe 'N Sound Emerald.

Recent research has shown that the residential housing markets' desire for "Green products" is here to stay. "It's apparent by the volume of requests we receive that the market clearly has a desire for Green products," said John Stahl, Product Manager - Interior Molded and Flush Doors and Chairman of the Masonite Green Council. "While most requests are simply for environmentally friendly doors, occasionally specific components or construction methods are necessary. As a result Masonite has released two new solid core interior doors that feature DorCor, a low density core made from rapidly renewable wheat straw."

Safe 'N Sound

The Safe 'N Sound a solid core interior passage door made with DorCor will meet the need of the environmentally conscious customer who isn't under the regulations established by program developing agencies.

Masonite's standard Safe 'N Sound door has always contained several "Green" attributes. Every Safe 'N Sound door is constructed with wheat-straw based DorCor and therefore contains Rapidly Renewable content, Post-Industrial Recycled content and low emitting for Formaldehyde using ASTM test methods.

Consumers do not have to sacrifice superior quality for environmental stewardship. Safe 'N Sound doors will maintain premium quality characteristics such as the heft and feel of Solid Wood doors, ease of installation, reduction of sound transmission, and the beauty of architecturally correct designs.

"By offering our existing Safe 'N Sound door with these "Green" attributes, we are giving our customers the opportunity to get the same quality product while being environmentally responsible at the same time," adds Stahl.

The Safe 'N Sound door is available in both the Molded Panel Series and Anniversary Collection. Safe 'N Sound is available in passage and bifold doors in 6'8", 7'0" and 8'0" heights; 1'0" through 3'0" passage widths; 2'0", 2'6", 3'0" bifold widths; 1-3/8" DorCor® Solid Core construction.

Safe 'N Sound Emerald

The unique construction of the Safe 'N Sound Emerald door will afford discerning customers the ability to meet several industry certifications such as the USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the NAHB Green Home Building Guidelines.

"One of the most common requests we receive from customers seeking an industry certification is a door that is constructed without any added urea-formaldehyde," says Stahl. "The Safe 'N Sound Emerald, constructed with wheat-straw based DorCor, and other specific components yields a door that meets the no-added UF requirement."

In addition to all of the attributes found in the standard Safe 'N Sound, the Safe 'N Sound Emerald is constructed with no-added UF and is also Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. This potent combination provides architects and other green specifiers a much needed contribution towards the Green Association Certification points required to achieve the certification they are seeking.

The Safe 'N Sound Emerald door is available in all the same sizes and designs as the standard Safe 'N Sound door. Additional information and technical data sheets are available for both the Safe 'N Sound door and the Safe 'N Sound Emerald door by contacting Masonite at 1-800-663-DOOR.

For more information on the Masonite Safe 'N Sound, Safe 'N Sound Emerald or other Masonite doors, individuals may visit http://www.masonite.com or call toll-free at 1-800-663-DOOR.

Masonite is one of the world's leading manufacturers of interior doors and entry door systems. Throughout the company's 80 year history, Masonite has maintained its focus on leading-edge innovation, manufacturing excellence and superior customer service. Masonite is committed to delivering product and service innovations that will enhance beauty, functionality and architectural design to its customers around the world. Builders, remodelers, architects and homeowners rely on Masonite products to create homes of distinction while at the same time remaining environmentally responsible.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:27 AM | Comments (0)

Masonite Expands Mahogany Door Offering to Meet Growing Demand

New product offerings better compliment popular hardwood flooring and cabinetry choices.

Tampa, FL. (PRWEB) February 15, 2008 -- New product offerings at Masonite compliment popular hardwood flooring and cabinetry choices for customers. Masonite, a leader in design and innovation for over 80 years, is proud to offer four new Mahogany designs that will leave a lasting impression on both residents and their guests, while not requiring all of the maintenance typically associated with a wood door.

As American's migrate from conventional cathedral grained wood species such as Red Oak to finer grained species such as Cherry, Maple and Mahogany for upscale kitchen cabinetry and hardwood flooring, so too has their demand for Mahogany doors.

"Although oak still makes up the majority of our sales, we have seen dramatic increases in our Mahogany doors which compliment premium flooring and cabinetry, whereas oak will contrast many of these warm, fine grains", says Doug Thompson, Masonite's Senior Director of Product Management, Exterior Doors. "The natural beauty of these hardwoods can transform an average living space, into a stunning home. Nothing is more important when creating a stunning home than the first impression that occurs at the front door."

The universally accepted six panel design is available in the popular Belleville® line, and is the perfect fit for almost any home. Combined with Masonite's broad selection of Specialty™ Glass designs, the options to enhance the beauty to a home are nearly endless.

The Barrington® Craftsman has a traditional styling that fits beautifully on many homes, particularly Craftsman influenced homes commonly found in the Midwest and Northwest portions of the country. An optional dentil shelf, SDL (simulated divided lites) bars, and a choice of glass designs provides the ability to customize to the correct architecture and style of the home.

The Barrington Sierra™ line has been extended to include a one panel plank design with a camber top. This popular line compliments Southwestern and Mediterranean style architecture.

With clean and simple lines, combined with a master craftsman's attention to detail, the Barrington Flagstaff™ extends beyond traditional southwestern design into a more contemporary architecture, such as open floor plans with ample natural lighting. Most importantly this marks the dawn of Interior / Exterior door collections for Masonite. This design is available in the Mahogany textured Barrington line with a complimenting interior door to keep design harmony within the home.

For more information on the Masonite's mahogany collection or other Masonite products, please may visit or call toll-free at 1-800-663-DOOR.

Masonite is one of the world's leading manufacturers of interior doors and entry door systems. Throughout the company's 80 year history, Masonite has maintained its focus on leading-edge innovation, manufacturing excellence and superior customer service. Masonite is committed to delivering product and service innovations that will enhance beauty, functionality and architectural design to its customers around the world. Builders, remodelers, architects and homeowners rely on Masonite products to create homes of distinction while remaining environmentally responsible.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:20 AM | Comments (0)

Thomas Equipment Displays Skid Steer Loaders at New York Farm Show

Thomas Skid Steer Loaders are designed to be dependably rugged workhorses on the farm, delivering top performance to farmers whether in tight barn settings or spacious crop fields.

Syracuse, NY (PRWEB) February 15, 2008 -- Thomas Equipment, Inc. will present Thomas Skid Steer Loaders and accessories to farmers attending the New York Farm Show, the Northeast's premier indoor farm show, set for February 21 through 23 at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York.

Gilbert Bedard, Thomas Equipment's Vice President of Global Sales, said, "Farmers have been core customers for many decades and Thomas Skid Steer Loaders are designed to be dependably rugged workhorses delivering top performance to farmers whether in tight barn settings or spacious crop fields."

Petter Etholm, President of Thomas Equipment and its parent company, Osiris Corporation (OSRS.PK), added, "Thomas has a 65-year history providing Skid Steer Loaders to the agricultural and other industries demonstrates our commitment to providing the best in quality and service to farmers."

Thomas Equipment is online at www.thomasloaders.com, where farmers, can learn more about Thomas Skid Steer Loaders, with their bright yellow cab and Polar Bear Thomas logo that are a sign of excellence on any farm.

Thomas Equipment will have its Skid Steer Loaders on display for New York Farm Show visitors. Recently, Thomas won the Best Booth Award in the heavy equipment category at the International Landscape Ontario Congress in Canada.

Thomas Equipment, Inc. is a unit of Osiris Corporation (OSRS.PK), online at www.osiriscorp.net, which provides a variety of branded and other products to industrial markets through subsidiaries including: Thomas Equipment 2004, Inc.; Thomas Equipment Asia Co. Ltd.; Thomas Ventures, Inc., and Pneutech, Inc. The operating subsidiaries, located in Canada, Europe, and Asia, manufacture and market industrial and construction equipment, distribute pneumatic and hydraulic systems and design wireless devices for the telecommunications industry, among other activities. For more information, visit the company's website at: www.thomasloaders.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
Under the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 - This press release discusses forward-looking statements with risks and uncertainties. OSRS results could differ materially due to various factors, including inability to finance operations or expansion and hire or retain personnel, economy and interest rate changes, and events such as terrorism. OSRS believes statements to be reasonable, but neither OSRS nor any other person can represent they will be achieved. OSRS is not obligated to update statements due to new information, events or otherwise. Please see the risk factors associated with our Company and review our SEC filings.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:18 AM | Comments (0)

Masonite Launches the New Web Site www.Masonite.com

Masonite Doors launches the new web site www.Masonite.com with a focus on the customer experience.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) February 15, 2008 -- After several months of research, development and testing, Masonite is pleased to announce the launch of the new the best door products in the industry. The site also includes great new educational sections for those who want to better understand the door category or get technical information about Masonite's products.

Masonite has designed three primary pathways into the site, "Browse, Design or Choose." Browse leads the user to an extensive Product Gallery that showcases the entire Masonite product line. In the Product Gallery, the user can find their specific product through a short series of simple questions. Design features a "Get Inspired" section with a beautiful collection of Masonite's latest photography and the Door Designer. The Door Designer allows the user to build their dream door, see it in a home setting (including uploading a picture of their own home), then find a Masonite Dealer or Home Center to purchase. Lastly, Choose is for the user that really needs to learn a bit more about the product before selection. In this section, users have the opportunity of selecting products by door design or material and learning about each. There is also a "Doors 101" section that is designed for helping the user to get comfortable with the process of selecting and buying a door.

"Our goal was to simplify the process of selecting a door by developing a site that was very user friendly, informative and comprehensively showcased Masonite's wide range of interior doors and entry door systems," says Dale Mayfield, Vice President of Marketing. "We feel that we have developed a world class site that rivals anything today in the building products category."

Many other sections of the site have been enhanced or created such as "Technical Info, Where to Buy, Order Catalogs, About Masonite, News and Events and Contact Us." For more information, please visit www.masonite.com or call toll-free at 1-800-663-DOOR.

About Masonite:
Masonite is one of the world's leading manufacturers of interior doors and entry door systems. Throughout the company's 80 year history, Masonite has maintained its focus on leading-edge innovation, manufacturing excellence and superior customer service. Masonite is committed to delivering product and service innovations that will enhance beauty, functionality and architectural design to its customers around the world. Builders, remodelers, architects and homeowners rely on Masonite products to create homes of distinction.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:17 AM | Comments (0)

Sextant Properties: Raising the French Property Market Standards

The aim of SextantProperties.com is to help people in their search for a French property, would it be a holiday house or a permanent residence. At Sextant Properties, the team of property consultants is made of French natives, knowing their country very well and passionate about it. All of them are fluent in English and can assist customers to find their dream property in the best parts of France.

(PRWEB) February 14, 2008 -- The aim of SextantProperties.com is to help people in their search for a French property, would it be a holiday house or a permanent residence.

At Sextant Properties, the team of property consultants is made of French natives, knowing their country very well and passionate about it. All of them are fluent in English and can assist customers to find their dream property in the best parts of France.

According to Brice Bonato (Partnership Manager) "Customers are always thankful for the help and free service we provide to them in their search of a French property. When they arrive in one of our French estate agent office, they are always welcomed by an English speaking person dedicated to them, they have a good chat together about what kind of property they are looking for, shortlist a few ones matching their needs on our agent's books and then they go together and view the properties selected. It proves to be very efficient as 85% of our clients find the property of their dream in France during their first trip".

As of February 2008, Sextant Properties is a recognised user friendly website updated every day with more than 3000+ carefully selected character properties in the best parts of France. Between 150 and 200 new properties are added every week. It is today one of the busiest and most popular French Property website in the UK.

There is no charge for their service throughout the purchasing procedure. Sextant Properties work on a shared commission basis with its network of French estate agents and the properties appearing on the website are offered at exactly the same price as a customer would pay if he went directly to the estate agent.

On Sextant website you will find a cutting edge advanced search allowing a potential buyer to do very specific searches and navigate faster among all the properties available on the website. For those looking for investment properties, or for property they may used for holidays and rent out when they do not use it, there is a French Leaseback section on the website with guaranteed ROI between 3% and 5.5%, alongside a 19.6% VAT cash back on the property price. For those not familiar with France, or at the very start of their search of a French Property, there are also several sections with lot of information about the different areas of France: Aquitaine, Brittany, Normandy, Limousin, Pays de la Loire, Poitou-Charentes, Languedoc-Roussillon, Midi-Pyrenees and the French Alps.

To ease the property purchase, Sextant Properties can help its clients to transfer their money, find a French mortgage or put them in touch with an English solicitor should they need legal advice.

To get most of SextantProperties.com the property hunter can register for free, save his favourite properties and create his own portfolio. It will allow him to monitor them and to be sure that they are still on the market before coming over in France.

Contact:
Matthieu Cany
Sextant Properties Ltd
0207 428 7750
www.sextantproperties.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:15 AM | Comments (0)

Marquis Construction & Development, Inc. Joins U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Bodman

Marquis Construction & Development, Inc. Joins U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Bodman to launch builders' challenge in Orlando, FL National building performance program to feature new E-Scale.

(PRWEB) February 14, 2008 -- Marquis Construction & Development Inc., of Holiday, Florida, joined today with U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to announce a new national energy-saving initiative--the U.S. Department of Energy's Builders Challenge. Marquis Const. & Dev. Inc., was at the Builders Challenge kick-off event held at the International Builders Show in Orlando, Florida.

"For Marquis Const. & Dev. Inc., building high-performance homes has been a core business model for the last 9 years," said Chris Kavala, Pres. "We welcome this voluntary initiative for builders, and look forward to working with DOE to build consumer awareness of the benefits for buying highly energy efficient homes."

The EnergySmart Home Scale, or E-Scale, will serve as a tool for marketing energy-efficient homes. Consumer interest has been increasing in the top energy-performing homes, and now there is a tool that clearly allows builders to differentiate their products in the marketplace.

"Marquis Const. & Dev. Inc. believes it is possible to build new homes that are more efficient than code by 30 percent or better at little or no net cost," continued Chris Kavala "Achieving these efficiencies does require sophisticated design and installation techniques that go beyond standard industry practice, but the competitive advantage of these homes with their high quality means faster sales. And, we believe this kind of high-performance building is the right thing for our nation, our natural environment, and our customers."

The challenge program encourages U.S. home builders to adopt the E-Scale on a voluntary basis, and also to utilize best practices for home design and construction. The initiative seeks to accelerate use of successful whole-house design and construction practices that have been developed and verified through DOE research in its Building America program.

About Marquis Const. & Dev. Inc.:
Marquis Construction & Development Inc. a Florida corporation starting business in 1988. The founder and president Chris Kavala has been contracting since 1979, starting in Pennsylvania and completing over 300 housing units and commercial projects.

Since relocating to Florida in 1984, Mr. Kavala became a licensed state certified building contractor in 1986. He has been involved in the construction of over 180 residential custom homes, villas, condominium projects, restaurants, child daycare centers, equipment buildings and various commercial rehab projects.

Since 1998 holds a state certified general contractor's license in the state of Louisiana completing various commercial and residential projects in that state.

Since 2000 the company has made a commitment to build exclusively with Steel Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS), becoming an authorized EPA "Energystar" builder. Building only structures that are "Green" and are in compliance with the "Energystar" certification program. The company has successfully completed over 70 SIPS commercial & residential structures.

2003 winner of the prestigious "Aurora" award for best energy efficient home
In addition to having active contactors licenses in Florida & Louisiana, we are active members with: Tampa Bay Builders Assoc., National Home Builders, Assoc., Florida's Home Builders Assoc., Structural Insulated Panel Assoc., The "Green" Building Coalition, EPA - "Energy Star" Partner, Build America Program, Progress Energy - Home Advantage Program and the Steel Framing Alliance.
Company's web site is www.southernsips.com

About the U.S. Department of Energy's Builders Challenge
The U.S. Department of Energy has posed a challenge to the homebuilding industry - to build 220,000 high performance homes by 2012. Homes that qualify for the Builders Challenge must achieve a 70 or better on the EnergySmart Home Scale (E-Scale), meaning that they will use at least 30% less energy than a typical new home built to code. The E-Scale allows homebuyers to understand - at a glance - how the energy performance of a particular home compares with others. Through the Builders Challenge, participating homebuilders will have an easy way to differentiate their best energy-performing homes from other products in the marketplace, and to make the benefits clear to buyers.

Through industry partnerships and existing programs, the Builders Challenge will promote the use of market-tested and cost-effective energy efficiency strategies. The Challenge will support, recognize, and reward builders for achieving higher levels of energy efficiency. DOE's goal is that, by 2030, new home buyers will have the option to buy a cost-effective Net-Zero Energy Home (NZEH) anywhere in the United States. Learn more at: www.buildingamerica.gov/challenge.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:13 AM | Comments (0)

SSOE Welcomes Award-Winning Healthcare Planner and Designer

SSOE welcomes Matthew Kennedy, RA, ACHA as a Senior Associate

Troy, MI (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 14, 2008 -- SSOE, one of the nations largest architecture and engineering firms, continues its rapid expansion announcing the appointment of Matthew Kennedy, RA, ACHA, Senior Associate to the role of Healthcare Account Executive. Matt will be responsible for strategic facility planning, programming and overall design direction for healthcare projects. Matt will support the growth of SSOEs Domestic and International Healthcare Operations.

Mr. Kennedy brings nearly 20 years of experience to SSOE as both an architect and a consultant--working exclusively in the healthcare industry. His expertise and knowledge has played a pivotal role in projects with significant healthcare clients such as Stanford University Hospital and Clinics in Palo Alto, California; Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York; and the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

The addition of Matt Kennedy brings SSOEs clients extraordinary experience in the healthcare industry. His strategic approach to planning and design enables clients to address both the design of their facility and the need to provide excellent patient care while keeping costs competitive and maintaining efficient operations. He has worked on a variety of award winning projects and we are excited to have him on our team." said David Verner, AIA, Senior Vice President of Healthcare.

Matt has worked on many significant and award winning projects including the Spectrum Health, Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion, Grand Rapids, MI (2007 Pebble Projects, Center for Healthcare Design Citation Award); DeVos Children's Radiology Center, Grand Rapids, MI (2003 VISTA Honorable Mention) and the Parrish Medical Center, Titusville, FL (Pebble Projects, Center for Healthcare Design Citation Award, Academy on the Architecture for Health).

He was a contributing writer to Chi Plan: A Space Planning Guide for Health Care Facilities and has given numerous presentations to organizations such as the American Society of Healthcare Engineers, the Construction Owners Association of America and the Academy on the Architecture for Health at key conferences.

Matt is a registered architect and a member of the American College of Healthcare Architects. He was also past president and Regional Director of AIA Mid-Michigan and is in the process of LEED Accreditation. He received both his Masters and Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Michigan. He has also attended Harvard University through the Office of Executive Education for continuing education.

About SSOE
Celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year, SSOE, Inc. is an international design firm and ranks 8th among the nations largest engineering and architecture firms (Building Design and Construction, 2007). Demonstrating fast and consistent growth, 2007 marks the third consecutive year the company has grown its revenue more than 25 percent. SSOE has also been named one of nine Best AEC Firms to Work For (Building Design and Construction, 2007) and as one of the fastest-growing US architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms by ZweigWhite, Hot List 2007.

With 1000 employees and multi-disciplined LEED accredited professionals employed in 18 offices around the world the company has earned a solid reputation in facility design for the healthcare, retail, automotive and science and technology markets, as well as process engineering for the alternative energy, biofuels, chemical, food and beverage, glass and personal care industries. While completing projects in 48 states and 32 countries around the world, SSOE has achieved 60 years of excellence in engineering and architectural design. Visit www.ssoe.com for additional information and career opportunities.

Contact:
Danielle Benninger
SSOE, Inc.
Office: 419.255.3830
dbenninger @ ssoe.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:12 AM | Comments (0)

Power Integrations Unveils Three New Off-Line LED Lighting Application Designs

Targets Wasteful Incandescent Bulbs and Enables High Efficacy LED Street Lights

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 14, 2008 -- Power Integrations (NASDAQ:POWI), the leader in high-voltage analog integrated circuits for power conversion, today announced three new Design Ideas at the Strategies In Light Exhibition and Conference, designed to make implementing LED lighting faster, simpler and more efficient.

Worldwide energy efficiency legislation coupled with ongoing improvements in the performance of high brightness LEDs are accelerating the uptake of LED technology in the lighting market, and Power Integrations has developed a number of power conversion IC solutions that address the novel power needs of the emerging LED applications. The company's TinySwitch-III, TOPSwitch-GX and LinkSwitch-TN devices are amongst the smallest and most efficient power conversion ICs available, and combine high performance with extensive integrated functionality. The versatility of the PI devices is demonstrated by the simplicity of the circuits released today to implement constant current LED lighting drivers.

Design Idea DI-173 describes a high efficiency LED driver power supply circuit that uses Power Integrations' TNY279GN, a member of the TinySwitch-III offline switcher family. The circuit operates in high ambient temperatures of up to 75 degrees centigrade, and meets the requirements of energy efficiency standards including the proposed requirements of ENERGY STAR 2.0, CEC 2008 and the EU CoC. The 14 W design can be used for LED replacement of halogen spotlights and, coupled with high efficiency LEDs, replaces standard 60W incandescent bulbs in general lighting applications.

Design Idea DI-172 details a circuit design for a high efficiency constant current, offline, buck converter able to drive a long string of up to 20 LEDs delivering a constant current of 130mA . The circuit is based on the company's LinkSwitch-TN family of lowest component count, energy-efficient, off-line switcher ICs. This circuit is optimized for LED based replacement of existing bulbs in domestic appliances and is dimmable for general LED lighting applications.

Design Idea DI-136 describes a high efficiency 75W single stage flyback power supply with power factor correction for use with LED Lighting ballasts, based on Power Integrations' TOP250YN, a member of the TOPSwitch-GX family. Combining the high voltage power MOSFET, PWM controller, fault protection and other control circuitry onto a single CMOS chip, TOPSwitch-GX reduces system cost and improves design flexibility, performance and energy efficiency. This design is suitable for LED based streetlight ballasts, neon sign replacement and high power residential or commercial lighting applications.

Comments Silvestro Fimiani, Product Marketing Manager at Power Integrations: “Energy efficiency is grabbing headlines worldwide as governments, corporations and individuals look to reduce waste, comply with legislation and live in a more environmentally-friendly manner. The lighting industry has a tremendous opportunity to make a real difference, and these Design Ideas show how designers can maximize the benefits offered by LED lighting technology, as well as simplifying and speeding up the design process.”

DIs 136, 172 and 173 are available for free download at:

http://www.powerint.com/appcircuits.htm

About Power Integrations

Power Integrations is the leading supplier of high-voltage analog integrated circuits used in power conversion. The company's breakthrough integrated-circuit technology enables compact, energy-efficient power supplies in a wide range of electronic products, in both AC-DC and DC-DC applications. The company's EcoSmart energy-efficiency technology, which dramatically reduces energy waste, has saved consumers and businesses around the world more than an estimated $2.7 billion on their electricity bills since its introduction in 1998. For more information, visit the company's website at www.powerint.com.

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

e-Builder to Showcase the Latest in Project Portfolio Management Software for Healthcare Facility Owners Software at ASHE PDC Conference in Orlando

e-Builder will highlight how health care organizations can leverage project information management software-as-a-service to turn project data into a strategic knowledge base to improve planning, design, and construction of health care facilities.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) February 14, 2008 -- e-Builder, a provider of web-based capital program management and collaboration software, will offer health care executives and AEC professionals attending the International Conference and Exhibition on Health Facility Planning Design and Construction March 10-13, 2008, an overview of how e-Builder Enterprise is helping health care facility owners overcome the challenges associated with managing complex capital programs to deliver projects on time.

e-Builder executives will be available in booth 732 to discuss the latest software-as-a-service developments in capital project management, and demonstrate how an owner-centric solution like e-Builder's Enterprise Edition can help organizations turn project data into practical, valuable information that can be used to track, measure, and improve business processes and efficiently manage cost, schedule, and scope.

Since last July's announcement that Banner Health had selected e-Builder Enterprise 6.0 to manage it's $1.5 billion expansion, the company has signed several health care owners and continues to build momentum heading into Q2 2008.

About e-Builder
e-Builder is a leading provider of web-based, capital program and 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. Since 1995 e-Builder's technology and industry focus has provided 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 08:09 AM | Comments (0)

Swan Pools Receives Bronze Award in APSP International Awards of Excellence Competition

A leading pool contractor in Southern California recently received the prestigious Bronze Award in the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals' International Awards of Excellence.

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) February 14, 2008 -- Swan Pools, a leading swimming pool company in California, recently won the prestigious Bronze Award from the APSP's Freeform 451 sq. ft. to 750 sq. ft. category. The 2007 Association of Pool & Spa Professionals' International Awards of Excellence ceremony was held on Thursday, November 29th at the Rosen Center Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

The Southern California-based swimming pool company received the Bronze Award for its installation in Lake Forest, California. The beautiful inground swimming pool features natural rocks, numerous water falls, and an attached hot tub that blends into its free-flowing curved design.

More than 900 installations were entered in the 2007 Awards of Excellence competition. During the ceremony, 161 awards were presented, including the three Chairman's Awards. There were also17 awards for merit, 32 bronze medals, 49 silver medals and 61 gold medals. There were 34 categories represented.

"We are excited to continue the Awards of Excellence tradition this year," said Association of Pool & Spa Professionals President and CEO Bill Weber. "The AOE ceremony is an important part of our overall association, as it offered members and guests an opportunity to appreciate just how far the industry has come in terms of technological and artistic achievement."

For more information about Swan Pools, visit www.swanpools.com

About Swan Pools:

For more than 50 years, Swan Pools has been creating outdoor family environments that are built to last a lifetime.

Incorporated in 1954, Swan Pools has one of the longest and most dependable track records in the pool and spa industry. Not many companies can claim to have built 50,000 pools in California. The value to the consumer is the immeasurable confidence that their customers have in not only the construction process but also the ongoing future relationship that exists as long as they own their pool.

Through the generations, lifestyles have changed and so has today's swimming pool. To stay on the cutting edge of this changing technology, Swan Pools is constantly developing new design techniques and installation procedures that must pass specific quality control standards. This ensures that each new product or material that a consumer may want will stand the test of time. They build pools, not just for today, but for tomorrow.

Swan Pools is located in the California areas of Napa, Walnut Creek, San Jose, Elk Grove, Stockton, Modesto, Lake Forest and North San Diego.

About the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals:
The ASPS is the world's largest international trade association representing the swimming pool, spa, hot tub and recreational water industries with a mission to enhance the business success of members. The 4,500+ member companies of the APSP include manufacturers, distributors, manufacturers' agents, designers, builders, installers, retailers and service professionals. APSP members adhere to a code of business ethics and share a commitment to public health and safety in the use of pools, spas, and hot tubs.

The Awards of Excellence, presented annually, recognize and reward the most beautiful and creative installation of pools and hot tubs across the United States and around the world. Competition is open to APSP member builders, designers and service and retail firms. For more information about the competition, contact Jennifer Allen at jallen@theapsp.org. For more information about APSP, including how to become a member, visit the www.theapsp.org.

Contact:
Swan Pools Inc.
Brett Marshall
bmarshall @ swanpools.com
www.swanpools.com

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

e-Builder CEO to Present at FIATECH's Annual Technology Conference & Showcase in New Orleans

Jonathan Antevy, e-Builder co-founder and CEO, to speak about the use of collaborative project management software to improve the planning process.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) February 14, 2008 -- e-Builder, a provider of web-based capital program and project management software, announced today that Jonathan Antevy, e-Builder co-founder and CEO, will present alongside Mr. Joseph Buysse, Corporate Implementation Project Manager with K. Hovnanian Homes, on "Improving the Planning Process for Sustained Business Value" April 1st at FIATECH's Annual Technology Conference & Showcase in New Orleans, Louisiana.

FIATECH (www.fiatech.org) is a non-profit research, development and deployment (RD&D) consortium that joins together facility owners, operators, contractors, suppliers, government agencies and government and academic organizations. As a collaborative vehicle, FIATECH helps fully maximize expertise, attract and leverage scarce RD&D dollars for the development and deployment of technologies to substantially improve how capital projects and facilities are designed, engineered, built and maintained.

K. Hovnanian is the 6th largest homebuilding company in the United States, and in 2007 Hovnanian Enterprises ranked 373rd on the Fortune 500, the annual ranking of America's largest companies compiled by FORTUNE magazine.

The presentation will highlight how two years ago K. Hovnanian identified ways to improve communication and collaboration throughout the planning process across several U.S. regions. This initiative resulted in K. Hovnanian Homes developing a system that leveraged e-Builder's online collaboration platform to realize Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM). Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) is a method of planning and managing projects that puts more emphasis on the resources required to execute project tasks in conjunction with the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). This is in contrast to the more traditional Critical Path and PERT methods, which emphasize task order and rigid scheduling.

Participants will learn about Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) and understand how an organization can leverage CCPM to achieve measurable benefits and results. They will also learn about the use of web-based collaborative project management platform as an enabler.

About Hovnanian Enterprises
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., founded in 1959 by Kevork S. Hovnanian, Chairman, is headquartered in Red Bank, New Jersey. The Company is one of the nation's largest homebuilders with operations in Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. The Company's homes are marketed and sold under the trade names K. Hovnanian Homes, Matzel & Mumford, Forecast Homes, Parkside Homes, Brighton Homes, Parkwood Builders, Windward Homes, Cambridge Homes, Town & Country Homes, Oster Homes, First Home Builders of Florida and CraftBuilt Homes. As the developer of K. Hovnanian's Four Seasons communities, the Company is also one of the nation's largest builders of active adult homes.

About e-Builder
e-Builder is a leading provider of web-based, capital program and 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. Since 1995 e-Builder's technology and industry focus has provided 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 08:06 AM | Comments (0)

Homeowners Interested In Rejuvenating Existing Bathroom Space By Replacing Major Features

When it comes to bathroom remodeling, homeowners are working with their existing bathroom space by updating features such as the bathtub or shower, countertops and flooring.

Portland, Ore. (PRWEB) February 14, 2008 -- ReliableRemodeler.com, a trusted home improvement resource for homeowners looking for local, quality contractors, announces the results of their latest homeowner survey on trends in bathroom remodeling, http://www.reliableremodeler.com/about_us/media_center.asp. Homeowners were most interested in remodeling the space they already had, choosing to change and replace major features instead of adding a new bathroom.

When asked what type of bathroom remodeling project they would like to start, sixty-eight percent of homeowners said they would like to remodel their existing bathroom. Twenty-two percent of homeowners were interested in expanding their existing space, while only ten percent of homeowners were interested in adding a brand new bathroom to their home.

Installing a new bathtub or shower was the most popular project for homeowners, with 30 percent answering that they want to change this aspect of their bathroom. New countertops and flooring were the second and third most popular responses with 23 percent and 21 percent of homeowners.

"Homeowners are leaning towards making 'smart remodeling' choices when investing in their home," said Eric Doebele. "Updating an existing bathroom may be a more conservative choice than adding a brand new one, but it still brings a high return on investment, which is what homeowners are looking for."

Bathroom remodels are consistently popular with homeowners, twenty-four percent of respondents were currently in the midst of a bathroom remodel, and 10 percent had done one within the past year. Overall, forty-seven percent of homeowners had done a bathroom remodel within the past 10 years.

About ReliableRemodeler.com:

ReliableRemodeler.com is a leading nationwide home improvement contractor matching service working to bring together homeowners and contractors. To date, the company has matched over 475,000 homeowners with home improvement projects to quality, local contractors. Besides homeowners, the company targets over 1.2 million home improvement and remodeling contractors in the United States, providing them access to quality home improvement leads using proprietary matching technologies.

Both homeowners looking to start a home improvement project, or contractors who want to start receiving qualified leads, can visit our website, http://www.reliableremodeler.com.

For information about this press release or about ReliableRemodeler.com please contact:
Paige Thomas or (media @ reliableremodeler.com).

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:04 AM | Comments (0)

Alliance for Sustainable Colorado Earns the Energy Star for Superior Energy Efficiency

Organization's Alliance Center recognized for super-efficient operations and environmental protection. The Alliance Center, owned and managed by the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado, has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) prestigious Energy Star, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. Commercial buildings and industrial plants that rate in the top 25 percent of facilities in the nation for energy efficiency may qualify for the Energy Star.

Denver (PRWEB) February 14, 2008 -- The Alliance Center, owned and managed by the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado (www.allianceforcolorado.org), has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) prestigious Energy Star, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. Commercial buildings and industrial plants that rate in the top 25 percent of facilities in the nation for energy efficiency may qualify for the Energy Star.

"We are thrilled to accept EPA's Energy Star in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts," said Jeanne Beaudry, executive director of the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado. "Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our commitment to environmental stewardship while also lowering our energy costs."

The Alliance Center is a "Multi-Tenant Nonprofit Center" that provides office and meeting space to 30 nonprofit organizations. The Alliance Center houses groups that advocate for development of policies and implementation of practices of sustainability.

An historic building built in 1908; The Alliance Center is an example of preservation and conservation that maintains historic integrity while adding "green" features. Under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design) program, The Alliance Center is one of only two buildings to earn two certifications: Existing Building (EB) Gold and Commercial Interiors (CI) Silver.

After energy efficiency, the Alliance Center saw significant performance improvements, reducing CO2 emissions by 80,000 pounds per year and cutting energy costs by 12 cents per square foot. "This is positive proof that energy efficiency is all about saving money and saving the environment," said Ms. Beaudry.

Buildings that earn the Energy Star use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. According to the EPA, the Alliance Center energy bills are 39% less than the industry average. The Alliance for Sustainable Colorado took several steps to cut its energy use including halving its energy use from lighting by using new T-8 lamps, high efficiency electronic and daylight-harvesting ballasts, as well as light sensors and motion detectors. In addition, a new energy efficiency management system segments energy use by time of day and specific location, further helping to trim electrical consumption.

"Whether you are running a grocery store, a school, or an office building, getting the most out of your energy dollars - while reducing your carbon footprint - just makes sense," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.

About The Alliance for a Sustainable Colorado:
The Alliance for Sustainable Colorado (www.allianceforcolorado.org), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 2004 to advance sustainable policies in Colorado for present and future generations. The organization creates the vital links that build collaboration and coalitions among nonprofit organizations, socially responsible businesses, local government agencies and academia. The Alliance for Sustainable Colorado owns the Alliance Center, one of the "greenest" buildings in the United States, with LEED Gold certification for Existing Buildings and LEED Silver certification for Commercial Interiors. The Center provides office and meeting space to 30 nonprofit organizations that advocate for policies and programs that support sustainability.

EPA's national energy performance rating system provides a 1-100 scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a rating of 75 or higher is eligible for the ENERGY STAR. Commercial Buildings that can earn the ENERGY STAR include offices, bank branches, financial centers, retailers, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, K-12 schools, medical offices, supermarkets, dormitories, and warehouses.

Energy Star was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products, new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the Energy Star designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. In 2006, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved about $14 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 25 million vehicles.

For more information about Energy Star visit www.energystar.gov.

*To calculate greenhouse gas emissions, please visit www.usctcgateway.net/tool/

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

Class for Building Log Homes Held in Log Home from ‘Northern Exposure’

The Log Home Builders Association offers a two-day class on building log homes from scratch. The class is held at the association’s ranch, which has several log buildings -- including some that were used in the filming of the television show, "Northern Exposure". More information is available on the Association's building log homes class page.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- The nearly 7,000 square foot log home used in the filming of the television series "Northern Exposure" as the home of retired astronaut Maurice Minnifield (played by actor Barry Corbin) serves as the backdrop for a two-day class on building log homes, offered by the Log Home Builders Association (http://www.loghomebuilders.org/). The next class is scheduled for April 5th and 6th, 2008 at the world-famous location near Monroe, Washington.

In addition to teaching the craft of log home building, the Log Home Builders Association shows students how to use pioneering techniques to build their home from scratch without a log home kit. Many of the association’s students have built their log home without a mortgage.

The two-day class is offered periodically throughout the year to students who fly in from around the world to learn the craft of building their own log home. The cost of the class is included in the association’s lifetime membership fee of $795 ($695 each for groups of two or more).

To sign up for a class or to get more information about log home building, visit the association’s web site at www.loghomebuilders.org or call the association at (360) 794-4469.

About The Log Home Builders Association
The Log Home Builders Association has been teaching students to build their own log homes and log cabins from scratch since 1965 and currently has over 45,000 members throughout the world. The association was founded by Skip Ellsworth, a fifth-generation log home builder who is considered the world’s foremost authority on log home construction.

Contact Information:
Steve White
Log Home Builders Association
(360) 794-4469
info@loghomebuilders.org
http://www.loghomebuilders.org

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:02 AM | Comments (0)

Rocco Basile to Speak at Subprime Market Seminar in Brooklyn

Rocco Basile, a project manager for Basile Builders is joining a group of other specialists including Legacy Financial, the law offices of Daniel Boldi, Esq., L.I. Business Consultants, Amenity Appraisals and Ameraprise Financial to hold a free seminar about the subprime lending crisis at 7 PM on February 19 at The Knights of Columbus, Brooklyn, New York. The subprime market crash has affected minority neighborhoods all over the U.S. because they were heavily targeted for risky high cost loans.

Brooklyn, NY (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- Rocco Basile, a project manager for Basile Builders is joining a group of other specialists including Legacy Financial, the law offices of Daniel Boldi, Esq., L.I. Business Consultants, Amenity Appraisals and Ameraprise Financial to hold a free seminar about the subprime lending crisis at 7 PM on February 19 at The Knights of Columbus, Brooklyn, New York.

The subprime market crash has affected minority neighborhoods all over the U.S. because they were heavily targeted for risky high cost loans. With millions of Americans suffering from rising mortgage payments due to adjustable rates, balloon payments and other unscrupulous sub-prime programs, many people are panicking as they hear know of other family members and friends who are losing their homes.

According to a study that was put out by United for a Fair Economy, a Boston-based economic policy group minorities are at the center of the subprime mortgage crisis. The "State of the Dream 2008: Foreclosed" report evaluated subprime lending during the past eight years and projects a direct loss from defaulted subprime loans to range between $365 billion and $605 billion.

Whites hold 55 percent of the bad subprime loans, while minorities hold the other 45 percent, according to estimates. African-American borrowers are projected to lose between $71 billion and $122 billion, which is about 20 percent of the total projected losses. Latinos will lose $76 billion to $129 billion for the same period, about 21 percent of the subprime default burden.

"It's pretty bad here in New York in places like Brooklyn which has a higher number of minorities," said Rocco Basile, product manager for the Basile Builder's Group. "It's our goal to help answer questions because our community needs advice and guidance."

According to this January 26th Bloomberg subprime article, the communities of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights had a foreclosure rate of almost four times the national subprime figure of 6.89 percent, which was the highest since March 2003.

These sharp increases in subprime mortgage loan delinquencies and in the number of homes entering foreclosure do raise important economic, social, and regulatory issues.

For more information on the Feb. 19th free seminar, contact Jonathan at 516-404-5855.

About Rocco Basile:
Rocco Basile graduated from Brooklyn, New York-based Xaverian High School, then received a degree in Accounting from New York University (1990) and attended graduate courses at St. John's University for Finance. Rocco Basile sits on the Board of Directors of both Children of the City and the Joe DiMaggio Committee for Xaverian High School, his Alma Mater. He currently works in his family's business, The Basile Builders Group, and is married with two daughters.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)

Grand Bahama Real Estate's Shoreline Clubhouse Nears Completion

Shoreline, a Grand Bahama real estate oceanfront beach community announces that it is nearing completion of its community clubhouse. The clubhouse is situated near the entrance to Shoreline and houses the community's state-of-the-art fitness center and resident entertainment areas. This is the final luxury amenity in Shoreline's master build plan and with its completion early this spring (2008) residents will enjoy the community in its entirety.

Grand Bahama, Bahamas (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- Shoreline, a Grand Bahama real estate oceanfront beach community announces that it is nearing completion of its community clubhouse. The clubhouse is situated near the entrance to Shoreline and houses the community's state-of-the-art fitness center and resident entertainment areas. This is the final luxury amenity in Shoreline's master build plan and with its completion early this spring (2008) residents will enjoy the community in its entirety.

Renovating Grand Bahama Island's Shoreline at Fortune Beach is a 26-acre, master-planned and gated community with single-family homes under $2 million. Homebuyers choose from ten different floor plans of Bahamian-style layouts ranging from 2,610 to 4,560-square-feet.

Shoreline is just five minutes from Freeport and Port Lucaya, a busy marina with an active marketplace, shops, restaurants and exciting nightlife.

"Upon the completion of Shoreline's clubhouse, the community's final phase will come to a close," said Steve Jervis, Shoreline's developer. "Shoreline's homeowners will have a neighborhood gathering spot and centerpiece that will add appealing value and sense of community to our development."

About the Clubhouse:
The anticipated 5,000-square-foot clubhouse has beautiful decks and verandas that overlook three tennis courts and a 25-meter lap pool. Its centralized location makes the clubhouse a perfect place for a court-side luncheon after doubles or laps and it is only a quick walk from all home sites with extra parking spots for guests.

Residents will also be able to use the state-of-the-art fitness center for a quick workout between errands or on the rainy days when walking the beach is not an option. The fitness center will offer treadmills, elliptical machines, stair climbers, and free weights.

Framed by lush tropical landscaping, the clubhouse will be consistent with the design and Bahamian theme of the community. The interior gathering and fitness rooms will be decorated with island inspired earth tones and rich textures. Whether elegant or casual, the clubhouse awards a relaxing ambiance making it the perfect place to host celebrations with family and friends.

In addition to the clubhouse, Shoreline also offers the following alluring amenities:

Full size communal swimming pool and adjacent tapas bar
Gorgeous landscaping with mature trees and a ¾ acre lake
'Walk in' pool with infinity edges and waterfall
Hot tub
25-meter, two-lane lap pool
Barbeque area
Secluded pathway through the community to the beach
3 tennis courts
Limited-access gated entry
Designer decorated units
Maid service upon request
About Shoreline
Grand Bahama Island's Shoreline at Fortune Beach is a 26-acre, master-planned and gated community with single-family homes under $2 million. Homebuyers choose from ten different floor plans of Bahamian-style layouts ranging from 2,610 to 4,560-square-feet.

Once purchased, each home is constructed in the desired layout with architectural delights such as volume ceilings and balustrade balconies, using a variety of marble, stone and granite. Modern luxuries are available such as high-speed Internet, seven swimming pools, including an infinity-edge pool with adjacent hot tub, waterfall, and barbecue, as well as tennis, and basketball courts. Shoreline residents also enjoy lush landscaping with natural tropical plants and lakes.

For more information about Shoreline's luxury Bahamian residences visit www.ShorelineBahamas.com or call Kelly, 954-205-9339.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:58 AM | Comments (0)

DirectBuy Opens New Columbus East Members-Only Design Showroom

Low-cost alternative to retail is a one-stop shopping destination for consumers furnishing, remodeling or building a new home.

Columbus, OH (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- DirectBuy, the leading members-only showroom and home design center that offers merchandise at manufacturer-direct prices, has re-opened its showroom in Columbus, Ohio. The new full-service design showroom, located at 2188 Citygate Drive, will enable Columbus consumers to purchase brand-name merchandise for their home and family at members-only, manufacturer-direct prices.

The showroom's owners, Keith Rupp, Mark Lankford and Steve Bethel, built the new 10,300 square-foot showroom and adjacent warehouse to give new and existing DirectBuy members more space to walk through vignettes of products arranged in room settings, browse through catalogs from more than 700 top manufacturers and their authorized suppliers, and discuss ideas for their own homes with interior designers and product specialists on staff.

"DirectBuy has offered its members unmatched savings, selection and service for the past 35 years, and we are excited to continue that tradition with the new Columbus East showroom," said Bart Fesperman, vice president of sales and marketing for DirectBuy. "We offer the top home furnishings and home improvement brands at discounted prices that consumers will not find anywhere else. We're confident that Columbus families will quickly benefit from this exciting concept at our new location."

By providing merchandise without traditional retail markup, DirectBuy dramatically increases the purchasing power of its members, enabling them to enjoy the home of their dreams. DirectBuy of Columbus East is owned and operated by Keith Rupp, Mark Lankford and Steve Bethel

"Consumers in the Columbus area will be blown away by the wide array of merchandise and significant savings that we offer," said co-owner Mark Lankford. "DirectBuy of Columbus East will set itself apart from traditional retailers by providing consumers with a low-cost, 'one-stop shopping' destination wherein they can furnish, build or renovate their home."

To assist members with their home renovation projects, DirectBuy of Columbus East offers access to interior designers and product specialists who are specially trained in one of five areas of merchandise: Home Furnishings, Home Improvement, Flooring, Accessories, and Entertainment/Outdoor.

DirectBuy members also have exclusive access to renowned designer Christopher Lowell. 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 budget and from feeling overwhelmed by their project.

DirectBuy Membership
Consumers who are interested in joining DirectBuy of Columbus East 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 retail markup when purchasing brand-name merchandise.

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 614-888-3589.

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, carpet and flooring, and custom window treatments, to kitchen cabinets, bath cabinets and fixtures, appliances and much, much more. DirectBuy enables members to purchase most every product offering from several hundred manufacturers at more than 140 showrooms across North America. To learn more about DirectBuy, visit www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:57 AM | Comments (0)

Americas Watchdog Investigates If First American Corporation's eAppraisal Inflated California Real Estate Appraisals

On November 1st 2007 New York Attorney General Andrew Coumo filed a law suit against First American Corporation's eAppraisal for allegedly inflating real estate appraisal values in New York State. The case was filed by the New York Attorney General in the Supreme Court of Manhattan. Americas Watchdog and its National Mortgage Complaint Center are now investigating if the same thing happened if the same thing happened in California. Real Estate appraisers or homeowners with specific information should contact the National Mortgage Complaint Center immediately.

(PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- As a result of New York State's Attorney Generals filing a law suit on November 1st 2007 against First American Corporation's eAppraisal, Americas Watchdog's National Mortgage Complaint Center is now investigating if eAppraisals was possibly involved in the same types of practices in the state of California. According to the complaint, "the independence of the appraiser is essential to maintaining the integrity of the mortgage industry". The complaint cited a mortgage lender that supposedly "strong armed" eAppraisals into coming up with inflated values.

Americas Watchdog's National Mortgage Complaint Center has been expressing grave concerns over banks, and home builders forcing appraisal firms into inflating the value of US real estate, as far back as 2005. The group says, "one of the reasons we now have a Titanic real restate disaster in our nation is because banks, home builders, and real estate agents were forcing real estate appraisers into inflating real estate values. In the event the appraiser would not inflate the real estate value, the appraiser would be black balled from getting additional work. If an appraiser or homeowner in California has specific information related to a bank, mortgage lender or a home builder inflating real estate values or forcing appraisers to inflate real estate values, they should contact the National Mortgage Complaint Center immediately. The National Mortgage Complaint Centers web site is located at http://NationalMortgageComplaintCenter.Com

The National Mortgage Complaint Center is also investigating California banks, home lenders and home builders for inflating third part costs associated with a real estate transaction. Third party costs include appraisal fees, notary fees, tax certification fees, flood certification fees, and credit reports. According to the Real Estate Settlement & Procedures Act (RESPA), "it is illegal to mark up third party real estate closing costs or fees". According to Americas Watchdog, "our group has concluded that many to most banks, mortgage lenders and home builders were marking up third party costs in California from 2003-2007." If individuals have specific information about any bank, mortgage lender or home builder marking up third party costs they should contact the National Mortgage Complaint Center at 866-714-6466. (http://NationalMortgageComplaintCenter.Com )

The National Mortgage Complaint Center also has substantial proof that national home builders were setting up shell title insurance companies, reselling the new home buyers title insurance policy at a greatly reduced discount to an actual title insurance company, and then pocketing the difference. According to Americas Watchdog, "if this is not a RESPA violation, we don't know what is." The National Mortgage Complaint Center is the most quoted source in the US on predatory mortgage lending.

Americas Watchdog and its National Mortgage Complaint Center are all about consumer protection and corporate responsibility.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:55 AM | Comments (0)

Biscom Announces Release of Biscom Delivery Manager 2.0

Biscom Delivery Server, a division of Biscom, announced the newest update to their enterprise application for secure, manageable file transfer today. BDS is the ideal solution for uploading and protecting large files from data breaches.

Chelmsford, MA (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- Biscom Delivery Server, a division of Biscom, announced the newest update to their enterprise application for secure, manageable file transfer today. BDS is the total solution for companies seeking to resolve unsecured and unwieldy FTP file transfer problems, and circumvent such problematic issues with email attachments as security and attachment file size limits.

The initial release of the Biscom Delivery Manager (BDM) client application provided a robust file upload and download utility for large files. Version 2.0 of the BDM client includes the capability to send and receive deliveries -- both regular deliveries of existing packages, as well as express (ad hoc) deliveries. For administrators who use AD Group Policy to deploy software, BDM 2.0 can be pushed out to desktops remotely, greatly simplifying deployment.

BDM helps users who can't afford to restart a file upload or download that fails mid-transmission. For multi-gigabyte files that have completed the majority of the file transfer, a network failure or power outage can mean several hours lost.

"Our new version of Biscom Delivery Manager enables our customers and their clients to have piece of mind that their large files are uploaded no matter what -- administrators can send and receive gigabyte size file deliveries without the concern of network delivery failure," says Bill Ho, Vice President of Internet Products.

BDM 2.0 requires the latest version of Biscom Delivery Server (2.5 or above). Upgrades are free for existing customers.

About Biscom Delivery Server and Biscom:
Biscom Delivery Serveris a division of Biscom with a focus on managed file transfer solutions; it resolves the security, compliance, and file attachment problems of email and FTP. Biscom is an enterprise software company focused on developing solutions for electronic document delivery. As a pioneer of computer-based fax server software in 1986, Biscom has been providing mission critical document delivery and workflow solutions and support for Fortune 500 companies for over two decades.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:54 AM | Comments (0)

Solar Innovations, Inc. Announces Its Improvements to Orchid Greenhouses

Solar Innovations, Inc. a custom manufacturer of residential and commercial greenhouses, conservatories, sunrooms, folding and sliding glass doors, walls, windows, and screens, has improved its orchid greenhouses through innovation.

Myerstown, PA (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- Solar Innovations, Inc., a custom manufacturer of residential and commercial greenhouses, conservatories, sunrooms, folding and sliding glass doors, walls, windows, and screens, has improved its orchid greenhouses through innovation.

Orchid greenhouses, which have traditionally been difficult to manufacture and successfully operate, have again been improved by Solar Innovations. A delicate plant, Orchids require a consistent environment (55° to 65° F) which is difficult to maintain in greenhouses greenhouses throughout the change of seasons; however, Solar Innovations' thermally broken framing system can improve the greenhouse's operational efficiency.

Orchids are one of the most difficult flowers to care for, and require special attention in several areas: temperature, moisture, lighting, soil, and nutrients. "Solar Innovations' greenhouses are able to provide the proper environment for Orchid growing when designed as explained."

Solar Innovations thermally broken system extends beyond the walls of the structure to the doors, seals, and operable ventilation units. Stainless Steel spacers within the glass panels also improve the greenhouse's greenhouse's environment by providing thermally sound glazing and a more consistent internal environment despite the changes in external temperatures.

Watering systems by Solar Innovations can be incorporated into the structure to provide ease of care for this delicate vegetation. Solar Innovations offers misting and drip systems which provide moisture with the touch of a button and can be easily incorporated into an environmental control system to improve atmospheric consistency within the greenhouse. greenhouse

Solar Innovations many shading options also improve environmental control and can be customized to meet needs specific to each growing environment. Solar offers several shade options that include synthetic fabrics which can be removed from their placement and cleaned, reducing the concern for moisture damage caused by mold and mildew.

Solar Innovations' environmental control systems can be designed to accommodate advanced features like evaporative coolers and foggers, drip systems, sensaphones, remote programming, photo and light sensors, and soil sensors and stabilize the growing environments so that Orchids can flourish. The horticulturalist's time can now be spent tending to plants rather than tinkering with the growing environment. Beyond the cost and time efficiency of the greenhouse greenhouse control system, Mother Nature will also benefit. Control systems reduce the need for chemicals aiding plant growth as the environment is more closely adjusted to create the ideal conditions and reduce energy costs and waste.

Solar Innovations recently completed an Orchid Greenhouse in Georgia, the Dr. Cole Project. This exquisite Orchid greenhouse is an irregular structure as it incorporates a conservatory nose into a partial lean-to section with an attached straight eave, double pitch structure including a gable end. Measuring 27 feet long with a 22 foot projection, this structure includes operable ridge vents, a shading system, and decorative elements to create a focal point in the neighborhood.

Solar Innovations is always pleased to work with its customers to create the perfect environment for any vegetation, especially Orchids. For more information on Solar Innovations' greenhouses greenhouses or their new facility in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, please contact the marketing department at skylight @ solarinnovations.com or call 800-618-0669.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:52 AM | Comments (0)

Packaged Pumping Systems for HVAC and Plumbing Applications Save Contractors Time and Money

New full-color literature from NECO Equipment Company describes the company's line of custom, value-engineered pumping systems for commercial markets.

Souderton, PA (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- New full-color literature from NECO Equipment Company describes the company's line of custom, value-engineered pumping systems for commercial markets including: apartment buildings/lofts, schools, hospitals, hotels, churches and office buildings.

Engineered and sized to meet exacting design specifications, these skid-mounted systems incorporate only the finest brand name pumps, valves, controls and piping accessories to assure long, reliable service life under the harshest operating conditions. And because systems are factory-assembled, fully tested and electronically certified prior to shipment, they arrive at the job site ready for trouble-free start-ups saving time and money.

The brochure also covers information about the company's engineering and manufacturing plus describes the varied types of packaged pumping systems available to plumbing, HVAC and mechanical contractors. Fabricated pumping systems include: water pressure boosters, variable speed pumps, chilled and hot water circulators, condensate return units, sewage lift stations, oil-safe elevator sumps, boiler feeds, fuel oil sets, heat transfer systems and more.

NECO engineers have wide experience in solving some of industry's toughest fluid handling and heat transfer problems. And since the company maintains a library of pre-engineered system designs, a field-proven solution can often be quickly provided to meet a customer's requirements faster and more economically.

NECO Equipment Company has been manufacturing custom engineered pumping, lifting and circulating systems since 1989. For a copy of their new brochure describing products and services, call 215-721-2200. Or, E-mail: sales @ necoequipment.com. Website: www.necoequipment.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:52 AM | Comments (0)

2056 Fifth Avenue in Harlem Kicks Off 2008 With Development and Sales Milestones

AFC Realty Capital has announced several significant milestones on the development and sales fronts at 2056 Fifth Avenue, the luxury condominium community rising in a renovated Harlem Beaux Arts building at this sought-after New York City address. The Manhattan-based real estate investment firm has retained renowned real estate professionals The Corcoran Group to direct the sales and marketing at the condominium building.

New York City, NY (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- AFC Realty Capital has announced several significant milestones on the development and sales fronts at 2056 Fifth Avenue, the luxury condominium community rising in a renovated Harlem Beaux Arts building at this sought-after New York City address.

The Manhattan-based real estate investment firm has retained renowned real estate professionals The Corcoran Group to direct the sales and marketing at the Rhapsody on 5th condominium building which is situated in the heart of one of Manhattan's fastest growing residential destinations.

AFC Realty Capital is also preparing for the Grand Opening of a new fully-furnished on-site sales center and model at 2056 Fifth Avenue. The state-of-the-art facility - which debuts with more than 50 percent of the luxurious homes already sold -- will be located on the second floor of the magnificent building.

The noteworthy announcements do not end there, indicates Arthur Fefferman, President of AFC Realty Capital. The condominium plan for 2056 Fifth Avenue has recently been accepted as effective by the Attorney General and initial occupancy at the building will begin in April. This means new home purchasers can be residing in their condominium residence just weeks after signing a contract.

"2056 Fifth Avenue will kick off 2008 with several exciting and important events," Mr. Fefferman adds. "The addition of The Corcoran Group provides buyers access to seasoned real estate professionals who are well versed in the Harlem neighborhood and its new luxury condominium homes."

"The debut of our on-site sales and model center will offer a first-hand look at not only the upscale interiors featured in these homes, but also at how this historic building combines the allure and charm of old-world architecture with state-of-the-art amenities and services," continues Mr. Fefferman.

Priced from the upper $900,000s, two-bedroom, maisonnette and penthouse homes at 2056 Fifth Avenue boast luxury features including bamboo floors, oversized windows, airy rooms, soaring ceilings, kitchens and baths with wood, glass and stone and home washers and dryers. Master baths feature a separate glass enclosed shower and bath, side-by-side glass sinks, Kohler fixtures and custom-made cabinets for added storage. Some residences also feature balconies and fireplaces.

"The penthouse, maisonette and garden homes at 2056 Fifth Avenue are a rare find in this housing market," Mr. Fefferman points out. "For example, the garden home features a separate entrance and private garden with direct access to the private landscaped courtyard, while the spacious two-story maisonettes provide the feel of townhome living in a highly-amenitized building. The luxurious penthouse homes offer lavish interior elements complemented by abundant outdoor space and spectacular views of Harlem, Manhattan and beyond."

The doorman building features a vaulted lobby, well-equipped fitness room, high-tech security, bike room, residents-only landscaped courtyard and Fresh Direct cold storage room.

The building at 2056 Fifth Avenue began life in the 1920s as a meeting hall serving Harlem's then-extensive Finnish community. The beautifully-detailed structure has had a diverse array of uses throughout its history - for the past four decades as a sanctuary for the Gospel Temple Church.

Within walking distance, residents will find the most diverse public transportation alternatives in the city such as MetroNorth train service, MTA buses and the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 subway lines. Recreational opportunities also abound in nearby Marcus Garvey Park and Central Park.

2056 Fifth Avenue is also at the epicenter of the new Harlem renaissance, with major development initiatives all around.

"The character of the immediate neighborhood is dramatically changing," notes Mr. Fefferman. "The nearby East River Plaza will add 485,000 square feet of retail space and several other residential and commercial endeavors are planned. It is an ideal setting for a small group of distinctive homes with all the charm and elegance of classic city living."

For more information about 2056 Fifth Avenue, please contact The Corcoran Group at 212-828-5556 or visit www.2056FIFTH.com.

About the Developer:
AFC Realty Capital is a premier boutique real estate investment banking firm specializing in debt and equity financing, investment, development, and consulting/advisory services. The firm has been instrumental, in both a principal and advisory position, for financing, investment and development transactions aggregating in excess of $5 billion.

Contact:
Robert Kelly
CAHN Communication
rkelly @ cahncomm.com
201-876-3100

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:48 AM | Comments (0)

North America's Leading Supplier of Crown Molding and Wood Trim Selects SmartDraw Software for Business Graphics

SmartDraw.com today announced that Moulding and Millwork, one of North America's largest suppliers of wood moldings, crown molding and wood trim, has selected SmartDraw software for business process management, IS documentation, technical diagrams and more. SmartDraw, the world's most popular business graphics software, will be used by employees in the company's IS department to create org charts, flowcharts, swim diagrams, network diagrams, factory layouts and more.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- SmartDraw.com today announced that Moulding and Millwork, one of North America's largest suppliers of wood moldings, crown molding and wood trim, has selected SmartDraw software for business process management, IS documentation, technical diagrams, and more. SmartDraw, the world's most popular business graphics software, will be used by employees in the company's IS department to create org charts, flowcharts, swim diagrams, network diagrams, factory layouts and more.

"We needed a well priced, easy-to-use drawing tool with plenty of templates to help us with IS documentation such as business process design, technical programming requirements and general business use," said Phil Patton, CIO of Moulding and Woodwork. "SmartDraw is so easy to use -- you can install the software and be up and running in about 10 minutes."

SmartDraw, which is downloaded every year by more than two million people, automates creation of business graphics for presentations, including process flow charts, organization charts, Gantt charts, project charts and more. Unlike other graphics programs that provide you with a blank screen and expect you to draw, such as Visio, with SmartDraw you start with a template that is specifically designed to create the type of illustration you need. You enter the information and SmartDraw does the rest: building the graphic automatically using built-in rules and professional design themes to guarantee polished, presentation-quality results in just a few minutes. It draws for you! And, in the rare case that users need extra help, SmartDraw offers free customer support to all users.

SmartDraw offers a variety of licensing options and programs, including educational pricing. A free trial is available at www.smartdraw.com and includes both online and telephone technical support.

About SmartDraw.com
SmartDraw.com is the creator of SmartDraw, the world's most popular business graphics software and the first program that makes it possible for ordinary computer users to create presentation-quality business graphics in minutes. Each year more than two million people install and use SmartDraw and the company counts more than half of the members of the Fortune 500 as loyal customers.

Founded in 1994, SmartDraw.com is privately-held and based in San Diego, CA. In addition to SmartDraw 2008 for general business and home use, the company also offers SmartDraw Healthcare and SmartDraw Legal editions which include graphics and applications unique to their respective fields. For more information on the company visit www.smartdraw.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:45 AM | Comments (0)

Express Lien Is Doing Something Sweet for Valentine's Day - Liens for only $35

For Valentine's Day, ExpressLien.com is doing something sweet. Prices on construction lien filings are being cut from $235.00 to $35.00 for 7 days. There's never been a better time to lien a non-paying construction project and protect your construction company's bottom line.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- This Valentine's Day, ExpressLien.Com is doing something sweet.

The revolutionary service that makes filing a construction lien easier and more affordable than ever announces that for 7 days the prices for liens will drop from $235.00 to just $35.00.

"Since launching the site in September 2007, we've seen thousands of hits and made hundreds of filings," says Scott Wolfe, founder of ExpressLien.com. "This sale is a celebration of that success. It's a way of saying thanks to our existing customers, and an invitation to construction companies who have never used our service."

Liening a construction project is one of the most powerful collection tools available to contractors in the United States. In the current economic environment, with sub-prime fears and contractors facing a serious cash crisis, protecting legal lien rights is more important than ever.

"The Valentine's sale is really a one-time event," says executive Doug Reiser. "If you have a slow paying project out there, this is the perfect time to protect your legal rights and file your construction lien."

Construction Liens can be ordered within ten minutes at ExpressLien.com, or by calling 866-790-7881. Liens are filed within three working days, and notices of the filing are delivered to the property owner and interested parties via certified mail. All documents and filings are kept on ExpressLien.com's online servers and accessible to contractors 24/7.

The Valentine's Day Sale will begin on February 14, 2007 and end at midnight on February 21, 2007.

ExpressLien.com makes filing a construction lien easier and less expensive than ever before, revolutionizing how your construction company can handle non-paying projects. Learn more at http://www.expresslien.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:43 AM | Comments (0)

American Tire Corporation Enters Asian Market

American Tire Corporation (ATC) is pleased to announce that its Colorado brand OTR tires have entered into Asian market from the beginning of 2008. Large quantity of Colorado brand 35", 49", 51" and 57" OTR tires will be shipped to Asia. ATC will possibly export more than US$100 million's Colorado OTR tires to Asia in 2008.

Chino, CA (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- American Tire Corporation (ATC) is pleased to announce that its Colorado brand OTR tires have entered into Asian market from the beginning of 2008.

Several containers of Colorado brand 35" and 49" OTR tires have been shipped for users in South Asia and Middle East. Dozen of containers of such tires and larger will be shipped to the same area in the first quarter of 2008.

This is the first time for ATC to contribute directly to Asian countries. This market is previously occupied by Japanese, French, Russian and Chinese tires. According to the current market of OTR tires in Asia, Russian and Chinese tires are successively losing their traditional market. ATC will possibly export more than US$100 million's Colorado OTR tires to Asia in the coming 10 months.

Of course, the entry into Asian market is an opportunity, but also a big challenge, for ATC because ATC will have to take measures to directly face the competition from France and Japan in that continental.

However, ATC is confident in its presence in Asia. With supports from the U.S. government and ATC's engineers, Asian users will see Colorado OTR tire advantages accordingly.

With objective to become the largest and best manufacturer for 63" and 57" tires, American Tire Corporation is a well-established US OTR tire manufacturer which has had several "firsts" in the OTR tire industry. For more information, please check its website http://www.americantire.us.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:41 AM | Comments (0)

Four out of Five Americans Wrong: Fire Deaths More Common at Home

New survey results show that four out five Americans feel safer from fires at home than in a public building, despite the fact that home fires outnumber all other building fires by over three to one and that most fire deaths and injuries occur in the home. As part of Engineering Week, February 17-23, 2008, SFPE hopes to draw attention to fire safety and the role of fire protection engineers by sponsoring an award for best fire protection engineering at the 2008 National Engineers Week Future City Competition.

Bethesda, MD (PRWEB) February 12, 2008 -- A nationwide fire safety survey conducted by the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) reveals that 79 percent of Americans feel safer from fires at home than in a public building, with an additional nine percent feeling equally safe in both locations.

These results are inconsistent with government statistics that show that home fires outnumber all other building fires by over three to one. At the same time, most fire deaths and injuries occur in the home.

Public buildings are subject to tough fire safety regulations and inspections, whereas most homes are not.

"Most public buildings and commercial office buildings are much better protected than homes," says SFPE's Engineering Program Manager, Chris Jelenewicz. "This is because fire protection engineers implement fire-safety strategies and technologies into building the design and construction of commercial buildings."

Fire protection engineers are responsible for designing ways to protect people from fire. They use the latest technologies to design systems that control fires, alert people to danger and provide means for escape. Fire protection engineers also conduct fire safety research on consumer products and construction materials and investigate fires to discover why protective measures failed, and how those measures could have been designed more effectively.

Similar results were found in a 2005 survey conducted by SFPE, where 87 percent of Americans believed they were safer from fires at home than in a public building.

"It's disheartening to see that public perception is not changing," says Jelenewicz. In spite of this, SFPE is working hard to increase the awareness of the importance of home fire prevention. Recently, SFPE partnered with Discovery Education to create and release new high school chemistry lessons that teach students about the science of fire-- a project that was funded by the Department of Homeland Security. As a result of this project, every high school student in the United States will have the opportunity to better understand the dangers of home fires."

Along with the false sense of security at home, the survey also found that 44 percent of Americans think about the dangers of fire once or twice a year- or less.

As part of Engineering Week, February 17-23, 2008, SFPE hopes to draw attention to fire safety and the role of fire protection engineers. They will be sponsoring an award for best fire protection engineering at the 2008 National Engineers Week Future City Competition. Future City is a national competition that introduces seventh- and eight-grade students to the exciting world of engineering.
The survey, commissioned Society of Fire Protection Engineers and conducted in January 2008 by Synovate, polled more than 1,000 American adults. The findings have a margin of error of plus (+) or minus (-) four percent.

What is a fire protection engineer?
A fire protection engineer applies science and engineering principles to protect people, homes, workplaces, the economy and the environment from the devastating effects of fires. Fire protection engineers analyze how buildings are used, how fires start and grow, and how fires affect people and property. They use the latest technologies to design systems to control fires, alert people to danger, and provide means for escape. Fire protection engineers also work closely with other professionals, including engineers of other disciplines, architects, state and local building officials, and local fire departments to build fire safe communities. The job market for fire protection engineers has remained strong for years due to the disparity between the large number of job openings and relatively small pool of potential employees. (http://www.sfpe.org/profession.aspx)

About Society of Fire Protection Engineers
Organized in 1950, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers is the professional society for engineers involved in the field of fire protection engineering. The purposes of SFPE are to advance the science and practice of fire protection engineering, maintain a high ethical standing among its members and foster fire protection engineering education. SFPE's worldwide members include engineers in private practice, in industry and in local, regional and national government. Chapters are located in Canada, China, France, Italy, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and the United States.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:41 AM | Comments (0)

HBH Gas Systems and JARSCO Partner to Manage and Maintain Central Propane Gas Systems

HBH Gas Systems and JARSCO Gas Utilities have joined in a strategic partnership to develop, manage and maintain Central Propane Gas Systems. Central Gas Systems serve entire off-grid communities and resort developments from a single, centralized propane tank.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) February 12, 2008 -- HBH Gas Systems and JARSCO Gas Utilities have joined in a strategic partnership to develop, manage and maintain Central Propane Gas Systems.

Central Gas Systems serve entire communities from a single, centralized propane tank. They allow developers working off of the natural gas grid to offer the benefits of gas to homeowners. Each system allows all the homes in the community to be supplied with propane from a single facility, eliminating the need for individual tanks.

These systems are economical, saving homeowners about 50% on their heating bills when compared to electric heating. Moreover, a recent AGA study showed that most homeowners prefer the luxury of duel fuels for their cooking and heating requirements. Propane can power everything from space and water heaters to clothes dryers to environmentally friendly lawn equipment. Homeowners in a community served by Central Gas System have the peace-of-mind associated with using an alternative green fuel as classified by the Clean Air Act and the Energy Policy Act. In fact, one home fueled by such a system instead of electricity effectively offsets the carbon emissions from one average vehicle.

Together, HBH Gas Systems and JARSCO are capable of maintaining Central Propane Gas Systems in the U.S. and abroad. HBH Gas Systems specializes in the marketing, design, and implementation of fully-engineered Central Gas Distribution Systems worldwide. HBH gas systems serve developments of all sizes with homes built by established national, regional, and custom builders. For more information about HBH Gas Systems, visit www.hbhsystems.com or contact Harris Baker at (512) 306-0073 or info(at)hbhsystems.com.

Based in Santa Cruz, California, JARSCO provides technical support and construction services to Master Meter Gas & Propane Operators. JARSCO has been maintaining and training gas line Safety Regulations compliance under DOT for 27 years. In addition, JARSCO has designed, installed and monitored over 500 cathodic protection systems, conducted Gas Leak Surveys on over two million individual gas services, and in the last two years has installed over 30 miles of polyethelene gas main. JARSCO's services have been utilized by private industry, towns, universities, private utility companies, municipal utility companies, as well as state and federal government agencies.

To obtain more information, visit www.hbhsystems.com or contact Harris Baker at 512-306-0073.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:38 AM | Comments (0)

New Management Software Cuts Bookkeeping Work For Landscaping, Lawn Care Companies

New and improved business management software from Adkad Technologies is easy to use and is specifically designed for the green industry. The software makes it a breeze for landscaping and lawn care companies to do their books.

Delanson, NY (PRWEB) February 12, 2008 -- New and improved management software from Adkad Technologies, Inc. makes it a breeze for landscaping and lawn care companies to do their books.

Groundskeeper Pro is cutting-edge software. It features scheduling, routing, billing, customer account maintenance, job estimating, customizable customer lists, tracking business expenses and much more.

Even someone who knows little about computers can navigate their way through the software.

Most companies in the industry still use pen and paper to do billing.

If they are computer-savvy, they often struggle to make several pieces of software work together to manage their business affairs.
"Generic software makes you fit your industry into a category it may not be suited to," says Dave May, Marketing Director for Adkad Technologies. That's why the company developed Groundskeeper Pro: Easy to use and comprehensive software created specifically for the special needs of the green industries.

Besides the time savings, the software enables companies to look more professional.

Adkad offers a variety of other products and services: Preprinted and perforated invoice forms; double-window shipping and check-return envelopes for the software's invoices; the creation of custom logos or assistance with getting your logo onto the software's estimates, service contracts and invoices.

The software is packed with additional features:
--Enter up to 10,000 customers
--Invoice for regular repeating services and estimates
--Invoice for special services and time and materials
--print or email invoices
--easy access to customer account history

In short, Groundskeeper Pro allows business owners to look more professional and saves time so green industry companies can focus on growing their businesses.

"We understand that you want to be out in the field making money and not behind a computer learning difficult software," says May.
A free trial download of Groundskeeper Pro is available at Adkad.com.

About Adkad Technologies, Inc.
Based in Delanson, NY, Adkad Technologies is committed to providing the easiest and most comprehensive business management software for the green and snow industries. The company's software is easy to understand and completely tailored to landscaping, lawn care and snowplowing companies.

About Groundskeeper Pro
Groundskeeper Pro is business management software for people in the landscaping and lawn care service industries. Features include scheduling, routing, billing, customer account maintenance, job estimating, customizable customer lists, tracking business expenses and more.

Contact: Adkad Technologies, Inc.
Phone: (800) 586-4683
Website: http://www.Adkad.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:37 AM | Comments (0)

DirectBuy Design Showroom Now Open in Bakersfield

DirectBuy Members-only, one-stop shopping destination offers a low-cost alternative for home improvement needs.

Bakersfield, CA (PRWEB) February 12, 2008 -- DirectBuy, the leading members-only showroom and home design center that offers merchandise at manufacturer-direct prices, has opened a new full-service design showroom in Bakersfield, Calif.

DirectBuy offers Bakersfield area residents thousands of items, including kitchen cabinets, flat-screen televisions and major appliances from more than 700 top manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. The new 14,700 sq. foot showroom and adjacent warehouse are located at 4308 Resnik Ct., near the Dreyer's Ice Cream plant.

"DirectBuy has offered its members unmatched savings, selection and service for the past 35 years, and we are excited to bring that tradition to Bakersfield," said Bart Fesperman, vice president of sales and marketing for DirectBuy. "We offer the top home furnishings and home improvement brands at discounted prices that consumers will not find anywhere else. We're confident that Bakersfield families will quickly benefit from this exciting concept."

DirectBuy allows consumers to purchase brand-name merchandise for their home and family at members-only, manufacturer-direct prices. By providing merchandise without traditional retail markup, DirectBuy dramatically increases the purchasing power of its members, enabling them to enjoy the home of their dreams. DirectBuy of Bakersfield is owned and operated by Larry Fleck and John Fitzpatrick.

"DirectBuy of Bakersfield sets itself apart from traditional retailers by providing consumers with a low-cost, 'one-stop shopping' destination where they can furnish, build or renovate their home," said co-owner Larry Fleck. "Members will enjoy personalized service as they navigate through our extensive selection of brand-name, top-of-the-line merchandise."

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

DirectBuy members also have exclusive access to renowned designer Christopher Lowell. 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 budget and from feeling overwhelmed by their project.

DirectBuy Membership
Consumers who are interested in joining DirectBuy of Bakersfield 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 retail markup when purchasing brand-name merchandise.

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 661-735-4500.

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, carpet and flooring, and custom window treatments, to kitchen cabinets, bath cabinets and fixtures, appliances and much, much more. DirectBuy enables members to purchase most every product offering from several hundred manufacturers at over 140 showrooms across North America. To learn more about DirectBuy, visit www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:35 AM | Comments (0)

Fast Radios Announces New Two Way Radio Battery Guarantee

Fast Radios (www.fastradios.com), an industry leader in commercial two way radios, announces a new two way radio battery guarantee on all ICOM F-3021, F-4021 and Jobcom D-series two way radios. Along with the exclusive Fast Radios Four-Year Radio Warranty, these radios now include a Four-Year Battery Guarantee. This new Fast Radios exclusive offer is what has placed Fast Radios 'a cut above the rest' for business looking to two way radios for their communication needs.

(PRWEB) February 12, 2008 -- Fast Radios (www.fastradios.com), an industry leader in commercial two way radios, announces a new two way radio battery guarantee on all ICOM F-3021, F-4021 and Jobcom D-series two way radios. Along with the exclusive Fast Radios Four-Year Radio Warranty, these radios now include a Four-Year Battery Guarantee. This new Fast Radios exclusive offer is what has placed Fast Radios 'a cut above the rest' for business looking to two way radios for their communication needs.

"We are excited to offer our customers this new Four-Year Battery Guarantee on ICOM and Jobcom radios. The battery is a critical element of the two way radio and we just made it simpler and easier for our business customers," states Bill Richards, President of Fast Radios. "This guarantee joins our exclusive Four-Year Two Way Radio Warranty and our Free Trial on any commercial two way radio."

The New Four-Year Battery Guarantee:

Fast Radios now offers ICOM F-50, F-60, F-3021, F-4021 and Jobcom 2 way radios with a Battery Guarantee.
If the battery you purchase with these radios ever fails to hold a charge during the first four years you own the radio Fast Radios will replace it - free.

Other exclusive offers only at Fast Radios:

Free Trial On All Two Way Radios:

An excellent opportunity to test new 2 way radio equipment at a location with no obligation to make a purchase

Four-Year 2 Way Radio Warranty:

Extended Four-Year Radio Warranty on all commercial 2 way radios you purchase from Fast Radios

Fast Radios has earned the trust of their business customers by providing true long-term savings in two way radios for business - such as the new Four-Year Battery Guarantee. Simple, reliable and affordable two-way radio equipment with complete one-on-one customer service is why Fast Radios is a leader in the commercial two way radio business.

For more information on the Fast Radios Two Way Radio Battery Guarantee:

Visit:
ICOM F-3021 and F-4021 Two Way Radios
ICOM F-50 and F-60 Two Way Radios
Jobcom Two Way Radios

Contact: Manzie Lawfer, Sales Manager

Call: 800.691.3970

About Fast Radios:

Fast Radios, a leader in the two way radio industry offers the highest level of customer satisfaction, extended Four-year warranty on all commercial two way radios, Four-year battery guarantees, Free Trial and immediate shipping guarantees. In addition, every Fast Radios customer has their own account manager - a single point of contact - for all their business two way radio needs.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:34 AM | Comments (0)

Snowkiting Expedition Across North Dakota Launches Today

Environmental stewardship meets extreme athleticism on the windy Great Plains

Minneapolis, MINN. (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 12, 2008 -- To promote the wind energy potential of North Dakota, Mortenson Construction (www.mortenson.com) announces the launch of the 2008 To Cross the Moon Expedition (2XtM). For the next 21 days, 3 extreme athletes will snowkite more than 390 miles across North Dakota’s moon-like landscape. The expedition kicks off today at the Canadian border near Crosby, N.D. and ends with community celebrations in Fargo and Grand Forks Feb. 29 – March 3.

The expedition, presented by Northern Great Plains Inc. and YogaSlackers, will be completely self-supported with three athletes hauling all food, equipment and supplies needed to survive the extreme weather conditions where temperatures can reach 40 degrees below zero and wind-chills as low as 100 degrees below zero.

“It will be an extreme challenge,” says expedition leader Sam Salwei, “but our goal is to make North Dakota the ‘state of extremes’ by demonstrating the state’s wind energy potential in a tangible way.”

North Dakota has been called the “Saudi Arabia of Wind.” The U.S. Department of Energy ranks North Dakota the number one state in wind energy potential. Theoretically speaking, North Dakota alone is capable of producing enough wind-generated power to meet more than one-fourth of the U.S. electricity demand, according to DOE estimates.

But despite this potential, North Dakota fell from 13th place in wind energy production in 2004 to 15th place in 2007. Currently, the state only has 344 megawatts of power online, which correlates to only 3/10th of 1 percent of its potential.

“The U.S. is blessed with a vast wind resource that is just waiting to be tapped,” said Randall Swisher, Executive Director of the American Wind Energy Association. “North Dakota could rapidly become a hub of wind power generation, powering a cleaner, stronger America.”

The environmental benefits of wind-generated electricity are increasingly recognized by those who favor "green" power because there are no harmful emissions or climate changing byproducts.

One of the 2XtM’s sponsors, Mortenson Construction, is the leading wind power contractor in North America.

“Since entering the wind market in 1995 we have constructed over 30 percent of the wind energy capacity in the U.S. to date, and are currently completing over 90 MW’s in North Dakota” said Tom Wacker, senior vice president of Mortenson’s Energy Group. “As a company we are committed to environmental stewardship and would like to see North Dakota tap into its enormous wind energy potential.”

In addition to the environmental advantages, the development of large-scale wind installations in North Dakota would create new industry and bring new jobs to the state. Landowners and local communities would experience a positive economic impact as well.

"Currently, only a small portion of the wind being developed in North Dakota has local ownership," said Melissa Peterson, Program Associate for the community wind advocacy group Windustry. "By teaming up with 2XtM and raising public awareness of the tremendous local benefits of community wind energy, we hope to turn this trend around."

“Landowners benefit through leasing of wind rights and schools benefit from increased tax revenues,” said 2XtM’s education coordinator Jason Schaefer. “It's a win-win all around and we need to show that to the world."

Accompanying the athletes on the traverse, the 2XtM community outreach crew will roughly follow the expedition route and give educational presentations to increase awareness of wind energy and climate change in local schools and at community forums. The crew will also hold free snowkiting demonstration clinics where participants will be able to “hold the wind in their hands.” For a complete list of educational presentations and free demo clinics visit www.2XtM.com.

Although 2XtM’s main goal is to raise awareness for the potential of wind power in North Dakota. The athletes — Sam Salwei and Jason Magness, both from Grand Forks, N.D. along with Paul Cassedy from San Diego, Calif. — also hope to bring positive national attention to North Dakota’s assets, including its wide open spaces and opportunities for recreation.

"The trek across North Dakota that Sam and Jason have put together is an example of the exciting recreational opportunities our state offers,” said U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan. “But even more importantly, it's bringing attention to an important issue – the development of our wind energy resource."

More information can be found at www.2XtM.com. When the expedition commences, the website will provide global positioning system (GPS) tracking of the athletes’ progress as well as educational resources including a feature called, “ask an expert,” where visitors can submit questions to experts in the fields of snowkiting, wind energy and climate change.

About Northern Great Plains, Inc.
Northern Great Plains Inc. is a not-for-profit research, demonstration and convening organization. NGP Inc. focuses its work on futures study, creating economic opportunity, and supporting a healthy environment and vital communities.

About YogaSlackers
Team YogaSlackers are a small group of elite ultra-endurance adventurers, master yoga teachers, and stewards of the environment. Through adventure racing, yoga instruction, slacklining (tight-rope walking), remote climbing, packrafting and snowkiting expeditions, team members strive to live by the principles of environmental sustainability. Team YogaSlackers is committed to eco-conscious education, renewable energy promotion, and partnering only with companies who truly share the ideals of positive global change.

About Mortenson Construction
Founded in 1954, Mortenson Construction is a U.S.-based, family-owned construction company. As one of the nation's top builders, and the leading wind power contractor in North America, Mortenson provides a complete range of services, including planning, program management, preconstruction, general contracting, construction management, design-build, and turn-key development. Mortenson has offices in Chicago, Denver, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Seattle with international operations in Canada and China. Engineering News-Record ranked Mortenson 12 in power in the 2007 Top 400 Contractors listing, all of which is renewable power, and named the company the 17th Top Green Contractor. For more information, please visit mortenson.com.

Media Contacts

Jessica Brennan
Public Relations Specialist
Mortenson Construction
763.287.5151
jessica.brennan(at)mortenson.com

Jason Schaefer
Education Coordinator
2XtM
701.741.0709
2XtM08(at)gmail.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:33 AM | Comments (0)

Find Help, Find Work, Find ServiceInABottle.com.

Consumers hire out projects, tasks, chores, errands, and jobs.

Eagan, MN (PRWEB) February 12, 2008 -- ServiceInABottle.com (launched in January of 2008) matches consumers who need to find help getting service work done with providers who want to find service work. The new, free, website helps people across the United States find local, qualified individuals or businesses to complete their projects, tasks, chores, and errands by matching them based on user criteria. ServiceInABottle.com also helps individuals looking for employment in a service industry by matching them with organizations looking to fill open positions.

Jason, a ServiceInABottle.com user, compared ServiceInABottle.com to a Yellow Pages for individuals, a Yellow Pages for businesses, and a Monster.com (with a service industry focus) all rolled into one website. The most unique of these three, a Yellow Pages for individuals, is like an eBay for services, but without the auction format. While eBay empowers individuals to be merchants selling products, this website empowers individuals to be providers selling services. ServiceInABottle.com separates itself from the competition by offering precise matching between consumer requirements and provider capabilities via their selected criteria, introducing consumers to providers, supporting the sharing of rich content (pictures, videos, documents, etc) between consumers and providers, and being exceptionally user-friendly.

The website has consumers create Projects and providers create Profiles for services such as Home Maintenance (handyman work), Landscaping, Sports Training, Event Planning (weddings to scrapbooks), Tutoring, Personal/Family duties (chores/errands to child care), PC support, and much more! Find out more about How It Works at http://www.serviceinabottle.com/HowItWorks.aspx.

ServiceInABottle.com's President, Brian Walker, sums up the concept behind the website, when he says, "In decades past, local gathering points were a reality and a community bulletin board worked for finding help or finding work. Today's society is more fragmented and the same approach is now much less effective. ServiceInABottle.com is an online tool similar to a community bulletin board. It allows members of the community to connect for getting service needs met and for generating income by meeting service needs."

ServiceInABottle.com is owned and operated by Wingenious Inc. Wingenious architects, designs, and develops ingenious applications to be delivered over the web. The web applications have unique and powerful functionality; much of it deriving from the databases. The headquarters for Wingenious are located in Eagan, MN.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:32 AM | Comments (0)

New York Real Estate Developer Tuhsur, LLC chooses CinciMedia to Create Marketing Web site and Renderings for Millennium99 Project

CinciMedia is pleased to announce that is has completed its latest real estate marketing web site project for New York, NY developer Tuhsur, LLC. "Tuhsur and the architects Isaac and Stern chose CinciMedia and the e-sense Group because we have a proven worldwide track record of developing innovative web site marketing solutions for residential and commercial real-estate," said CinciMedia CEO Karl Treier.

Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) February 12, 2008 -- CinciMedia is pleased to announce that is has completed its latest real estate marketing web site project for New York, NY developer Tuhsur, LLC. "Tuhsur and the architects Isaac and Stern chose CinciMedia and the e-sense Group because we have a proven worldwide track record of developing innovative web site marketing solutions for residential and commercial real-estate," said CinciMedia CEO Karl Treier.

The new web site (http://www.millennium99.com) created for the luxurious Millennium99 development in New York combines CinciMedia's extensive capabilities in Flash development and photo-realistic 3D exterior and interior rendering to give prospective tenants an engaging experience and a real sense for the lifestyle that the Millennium99 development will offer before construction even begins. The innovative floor plan browser within the site represents the type of intuitive and engaging navigation experience possible with Web 2.0 and Rich Internet Application technologies that customers are now demanding in best of breed web sites. The site also features the easy to use JustPageIt Content Management System now in use by over 1,000 sites worldwide. JustPageIt allows the client to manage site content and updates with little or no experience of web technologies.

About Cincimedia

CinciMedia is the latest member of the e-sense Group of companies and is dedicated to providing high quality web site design and development, Flash development and 3D rendering and animation services to the US market. CinciMedia parent company the e-sense Group based in Lithuania has provided these services to marquee clients in Europe including Subaru, Brother, MTV International, and major real-estate development companies including Eika and the Ranga Group. The e-sense Group was also selected to provide web site design services for Vilnius - European Capital of Culture 2009.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:30 AM | Comments (0)

Rayne Water Dealers Receive 'Industrial Facility of the Year' Award

On February 25, 2008, Rayne Corporation and two of its Dealers, Rayne of Covina and Rayne of Santa Clarita, will receive the 'Industrial Facility of the Year' award at the CWEA 35th Annual P3S Conference and Exhibition in Long Beach, CA. Each year, the CWEA's Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention, and Stormwater (P3S) Committee recognizes leaders in multi-media water management. Standing out from thousands of potential nominees, Rayne and its Santa Clarita and Covina dealers are honored with this 'Industrial Facility of the Year' award because of the extraordinary feats they made to improve wastewater deposited into the Santa Clara River.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) February 12, 2008 -- On February 25, 2008, Rayne Corporation and two of its Dealers, Rayne of Covina and Rayne of Santa Clarita, will receive the 'Industrial Facility of the Year' award at the CWEA 35th Annual P3S Conference and Exhibition in Long Beach, CA.

Since 1928, Rayne Corporation and their authorized dealers across the U.S. and Mexico have been committed to using eco-friendly, and waste-saving products to supply clean, healthy and conditioned water to their customers. This year, Rayne will receive recognition for its cooperation, commitment and dedication. Rayne Corporation, Rayne of Santa Clarita and Rayne of Covina will be presented with the coveted 2007 'Industrial Facility of the Year' award later this month from the California Water Environment Association (CWEA).

"Rayne's pledge to better our communities prompted Rayne to create innovative, cutting-edge technologies that respect the environment--and they have been doing so for nearly 80 years," says Mr. H. Martin Jessen, Vice President of Rayne Corporation.

Each year, the CWEA's Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention, and Stormwater (P3S) Committee recognizes leaders in multi-media water management. Standing out from thousands of potential nominees, Rayne and its Santa Clarita and Covina dealers are honored with this 'Industrial Facility of the Year' award because of the extraordinary feats they made to improve wastewater deposited into the Santa Clara River.

In September of 2007, Rayne Corporation was the very first water treatment company in Santa Clarita to voluntarily remove all automatic water softener rental units in order to reduce chloride discharge in the Santa Clara River. In their place, customers are offered Rayne Portable Exchange Tank Service. Rayne of Covina then regenerates the exchange tanks at their regeneration facility. Publicly praised as a "breakthrough move," Rayne's voluntary decision reduces the total number of regenerative water softeners left in Santa Clarita by nearly 10 percent and the total number of rental units by nearly 40%.

Rayne's Soft Water Exchange Service provides the same benefits of a water softener but uses no salt in the home. This service boasts using 40% less salt and 70% less water than a typical softener; uses no electricity and needs no drain because a Rayne technician simply exchanges the tank when needed.

"Our Portable Soft Water Exchange Tank Service provides environmentally smart solutions for every family and every community. We are honored to be receiving this award from CWEA and the P3S Committee and we are proud of our commitment to our customers and environment in helping create a better, healthier place to live," states Mr. Jessen.

Rayne and their Santa Clarita and Covina dealers will receive the 'Industrial Facility of the Year' award February 25, 2008 at the CWEA 35th Annual P3S Conference and Exhibition in Long Beach, CA.

About Rayne Corporation
Rayne has been a leader in water conditioning equipment since 1928 offering the best in water softeners and drinking water systems. Today Rayne's 60 Authorized Dealers in the U.S. and Mexico uphold the highest principles of honesty, integrity, and professionalism.

Rayne products all receive the Water Quality Association (WQA) Gold Seal ensuring that we are held to the highest standards of the industry. This allows us to offer our customers the best warranties in the industry. Our superior products are serviced by only highly-trained and experienced technicians.

Rayne's commitment to the environment is as strong as our commitment to our customers. Our drinking water systems offer bottled water quality but don't require bottles that end up in landfills. Our water softeners are some of the most efficient in the industry using less water and salt in regeneration.

Rayne Corporation is proud of our products and services. Rayne is a privately-owned company. If you have any questions about Rayne, please call 1-866-900-RAYNE or visit us on the web at www.RayneWater.com.

About California Water Environmental Association
CWEA is a not-for-profit association of 8,000-plus professionals in the wastewater industry. CWEA is committed to keeping California's water clean by training and certifying wastewater professionals, disseminating technical information, and promoting sound policies to benefit society through protection and enhancement of our water environment. Services offered are at the state level and locally through 17 geographical local sections.

CWEA's Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention and Stormwater (P3S) Committee promotes professional and technical excellence in the field of water pollution source control through education and training.

CWEA is located in Oakland, California. For more information, please visit CWEA at www.cwea.org or the P3S Committee at www.cwea.org/p3s.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:29 AM | Comments (0)

HireStrategy Moves into Award-Winning 'Green' Office Building in Downtown Washington

Reston-based staffing firm expands presence in Washington, D.C.

Reston, VA (PRWEB) February 12, 2008 -- HireStrategy, the Reston, Virginia-based staffing firm, has moved its Washington, D.C. offices into new, expanded “green” space at 1121 – 14th Street, N.W.

The building has received gold certification from for environmentally responsible design from the green building ratings system of the U.S. Green Building Council. The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable-built environment within a generation. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies and other nonprofit organizations.

HireStrategy CEO Paul Villella said that his firm required new, expanded space because of its continuing growth and its commitment to serving the entire Washington area. “We wanted to find new space in a building that had been designed and built with the environment in mind,” Villella said.

Tom Whitehead, managing director of the Washington office, says 15 recruiters are working in the new space, but that he expects that number to double by the summer.

HireStrategy’s new space is constructed from many sustainable building materials, including those that are recycled, locally manufactured and rapidly renewable. “A full 22 percent of building material and furniture is made with recycled material. Carpets, flooring, upholstered wall panels, ceiling tiles, wallboards and cabinetry are all partly recycled,” Whitehead says.

Drawing on the creativity of the architects at Falls Church, Virginia-based Environ Design, the plan for the utilities for HireStrategy’s new offices curbed excessive use of energy and water. Clean and renewable wind power provides the energy needs for the entire building. Motion sensors in offices, common areas and storage rooms ensure that fluorescent lights are off when those spaces are unoccupied.

Whitehead notes that similar efforts were made to conserve water in the form of automatic faucets and flush devices in the restrooms. The installation of a filtered tap in favor of water coolers helps the building us 22 percent less water.

HireStrategy provides consulting services and executive search solutions in the technology, sales, human resources, and accounting professions. HireStrategy, an Inc. 500 company, is ranked by The Washington Business Journal as the #1 regional staffing firm in the Greater Washington area, and recognized by Washingtonian magazine, as one of Washington's "Great Places to Work."

News Contact:
Stephen Johnson
HireStrategy
703.547.6754
sjohnson @ hirestrategy.com
www.hirestrategy.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:28 AM | Comments (0)

Americas Watchdog Blasts The US Congress for Not Requiring Banks & Mortgage Bankers To Disclose A Huge Mortgage Kickback Called A Yield Spread Premium

As Congress considers mortgage reform, Americas Watchdog and its National Mortgage Complaint Center are demanding that mortgage bankers and banks be required by Congress to disclose a huge mortgage kick back called a "yield spread premium". The problem: the biggest campaign donations to the US House of Representatives and the US Senate Banking Committees, come from banks, mortgage bankers and home builders acting as mortgage lenders. What is a yield spread premium? A yield spread premium is a kick back banks and mortgage bankers get for inflating a consumers interest rate/monthly mortgage payment. Banks and mortgage bankers do not have to disclose these kick backs even though they get them. Mortgage brokers do have to disclose this fee.

(PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- As Congress considers mortgage reforms, Americas Watchdog's National Mortgage Complaint Center are demanding that the US Congress & the United States Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) require banks, mortgage bankers and home builders acting as mortgage lenders to disclose a little known mortgage kick back in the mortgage industry called a "yield spread premium". Mortgage brokers must disclose the yield spread premium kick back. Banks or mortgage bankers get the same kick back, but they have no federal disclosure requirement.

While most US consumers have never heard of a "yield spread premium", the vast majority of US homeowners pay a higher monthly mortgage payment because of it. The National Mortgage Complaint Center estimates that 9 out of 10 US homeowners were either over-charged on a mortgage, or they received a much higher interest rate than was available. The National Mortgage Complaint Center (Http://NationalMortgageComplaintCenter.Com) is on record as calling the "yield spread premium the worst case of fraud in US history".

So what has Congress done about this issue? According to the National Mortgage Complaint Center, "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi clearly does not understand the issue of mortgage transparency applying to banks, mortgage bankers, or home builders, when it comes to protecting homeowners, and full disclosure of the yield spread premium (kick back). Either she and her colleagues in the House & the Senate have been influenced by special interest groups, in order to continue giving banks and mortgage bankers a free pass on non disclosure, or they simply do not understand the current US mortgage/real estate disaster."

According to the Americas Watchdog's National Mortgage Complaint Center, real US mortgage reform should include the following:

1. All lenders to include, banks, mortgage bankers, home builders acting as mortgage lenders, and mortgage brokers must clearly disclose to the consumer all fees they receive in connection in originating a mortgage. This includes the yield spread premium kick back for inflating a borrowers interest rate/monthly mortgage payment.

2. The Yield Spread Premium kick back must be disclosed on the HUD-1 Settlement Statement and on the Good Faith Estimate given to the borrower before closing; by banks, mortgage bankers, home builders acting as a lender and mortgage brokers. (only mortgage brokers are currently required to disclose this kick back----banks or mortgage bankers have no such obligation--even though they get the kick back too) (costing average homeowners thousands of dollars on each loan)

3. At the mortgage closing, the lender (bank, mortgage banker, home builder, mortgage broker) should be required to give the borrower a simple form that says the following: "we have raised your interest rate above the best rates available in order to get a kick back called a yield spread premium by (Amount). As a result of inflating your interest rate you will pay (amount) more per month as part of your monthly mortgage payment".

On the third point, Americas Watchdog and its National Mortgage Complaint Center are convinced if borrowers actually saw what the "yield spread premium" cost them, they would have never had agreed to do the mortgage in the first place. The group emphasizes, "its time for this absolutely ridiculous mortgage double standard to go away". Of the approximately 74 million US homeowners, how many got stuck with a inflated interest rate, or a higher monthly mortgage payment because of a poorly disclosed or not disclosed yield spread premium? According to the National Mortgage Complaint Center about 90%. How many US consumers understand what a yield spread premium kick back is, or how it affects their monthly mortgage payment? According to the group, less than 5% of all US homeowners.

Before an attorney working for HUD resigned, he told Americas Watchdog, "in law school I was taught that bribing a cop was a crime. What banks do with members of the US House and Senate is no different, when it comes to mortgage transparency for consumers."

So how can consumer protect themselves?

Visit the Homeowners Consumer Center's Resource page and read the free mortgage guide. The free mortgage guide was created as a way to protect homeowners from being cheated on a mortgage. The Homeowners Consumer Center web site is located at Http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com

Homeowners should stay away from "no point-no cost mortgages". According to the National Mortgage Complaint Center, "no point, no cost mortgages are a scam". The lender simply raises the interest rate, the consumer gets a much higher monthly mortgage payment, and the bank or mortgage banker makes thousands of dollars with no requirement to disclose what they made.

If a homeowner or consumer is about to get a mortgage or refinance on a home, they should have the mortgage inspected before closing by the National Mortgage Complaint Center in order to avoid being cheated or over charged. The National Mortgage Complaint Center is the premier consumer mortgage inspection service in the US. Their web site is located at Http://NationalMortgageComplaintCenter.Com

The National Mortgage Complaint Center is saying, "2008 is the year the US Congress needs to start acting like the peoples Congress as opposed to the Congress paid for by big business and special interest groups." 2008 will also be a year that millions of US homeowners will lose their homes to foreclosure, because a bank, mortgage banker or a home builder sold them a bill of goods. According to the group; "the mortgage process needs to be transparent, and double standards in US home lending need to go away. Millions & millions of Americans have been cheated or over charged by their mortgage lender. Its time for change."

Americas Watchdog & its National Mortgage Complaint Center is all about consumer protection & corporate fair play.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:27 AM | Comments (0)

New Product for Repair and Sealing of Penetrations to a Certified Landfill Cap

AquaBlok Bentonite coated aggregate material maintains low permeability while providing ease of installation for vertical well casings and structural support as a pipe bedding for gas piping.

Toledo, Ohio (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- AquaBlok, Ltd., manufacturers of innovative composite particle materials, announce the approval of a product formulation that has been used successfully for the repair and sealing of certified landfill caps in various applications.

Re-establishment of the low permeability soil barrier is required when a certified landfill cap is breached, whether as a result of disturbance by a pipe trench, vertical gas pipe borehole installation configuration or joining FMLs to sheet pile walls or other unique areas of landfill. The current standard process to replace disturbed soil barriers in tight areas is very time consuming and cumbersome.

A photo of AquaBlok applied in such a horizontal pipe section is shown. AquaBlok material can simply be poured into the trench or annular opening in a manner similar to gravel or other bulk backfill material.

"AquaBlok Sealant Materials Self Compact for Low Permeability and Conform to Complex Shapes such as Pipe Bedding, Methane Gas Wells and Sheet Pile Walls - without the Use of Geotextiles or Liner Materials"

Current construction practices to re-establish low-permeability conditions, which are dictated by existing and relevant regulations, commonly involve the following general procedure: digging trenches of various depths or drilling a boring (up to three feet in diameter) through each of the surficial protective layer, the low-permeability cap (including the FML component, if present) and finally down into the landfill material. In the case of a vertical pipe section with a 6-12-inch diameter perforated well casing in the boring, screened at the appropriate interval, the annular space would be backfilled above the screened interval with low permeability soils in a "step-cut" fashion to provide good bonding which results in a much larger repair area than the actual perforation.

The use of an AquaBlok sealant material for landfill trenching, gas-well construction or other general purposes eliminates the need to use compacted clay material or step cut a trench or borehole to accommodate appropriate compaction. A similar approach is used where AquaBlok is applied as a pipe bedding and sealant for installation of horizontal pipe, where the landfill soil cap component has been breached.

Use of AquaBlok for cap penetrations and as a pipe sealant has a number of technical, economic, and regulatory based advantages over current construction methods, including:

Formulations of the product are comprised of sodium bentonite clay, and the low-permeability (10-9 cm/s) and resiliency, or re-sealing ability, of such material is well known to the environmental and regulatory community.

The product self-compacts when wetted and hydrated. Consequently, the material can be placed as a single dry lift, with water added afterwards. The material's self-compacting ability precludes the need for additional excavation and therefore use of clay and protective material, as well as compaction-driven backfilling. In the case of a gas well, it can be constructed exclusively within the confines of the existing borehole.

In its dry form, the product handles easily, like aggregate. Thus, it can be delivered to a site in packages varying from 50-lb sacks to two-ton super sacks and either poured or shoveled by hand.

The amount of water needed to initially hydrate the product, once placed into the annular space, is not critical, thus precluding the need for neutron probe testing during well construction.

The product's demonstrated abilities to act as a low-permeability, air-tight seal greatly increases the potential for successful re-certification of the landfill cap upon re-inspection.

About AquaBlok, Ltd.
AquaBlok, Ltd. is a manufacturer of composite materials utilizing its patented coating and amendment approach. The company has a long history in the environmental industry and a range of products utilized in sediment remediation technologies. AquaBlok utilizes its delivery system in a range of products including, pond and industrial impoundment sealing, as seep collars on piping, to construct cut-off walls in porous soil conditions, flood control applications (i.e. levee and dam protection), and to deliver organoclay-based materials. In addition, AquaBlok is a licensee of Halliburton's Bariod Division for the BARACLEAR® algae treatment product.

Please contact AquaBlok for pricing and/or distributor inquires.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:26 AM | Comments (0)

SnowBlowersDirect.com Launches Snowblower Recommendations

Online Snowblower Superstore Recommends 18 Snowblowers in 6 Categories It's hard to get an honest, straight-forward product recommendation anymore -- especially when it comes to electric, single stage and two stage snowblowers. Most snowblower retailers are loyal to the single brand on their shelves, according to Jon Hoch, founder of SnowBlowersDirect.com. SnowBlowersDirect.com just launched "SBD Recommends" to help shoppers compare the top snow blower brands in 6 different categories.

Bolingbrook, IL (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- It's hard to get an honest, straight-forward product recommendation anymore -- especially when it comes to electric, single stage and two stage snowblowers.

Most snowblower retailers are loyal to the single brand on their shelves, according to Jon Hoch, founder of SnowBlowersDirect.com.

"Guess what? The Ariens dealer is going to recommend Ariens. The MTD dealer is going to recommend MTD. Surprise!" jokes Hoch.

So, how do you truly know how each snowblower model stacks up?

SnowBlowersDirect.com just launched "SBD Recommends" to help shoppers compare the top snow blower brands in 6 different categories:

Electric Snowblowers
Single Stage Snow Blowers
Two Stage Consumer Grade Snow Blowers
Two Stage Prosumer Grade Snow Blowers
Two Stage Professional Grade Snowblowers
Two Stage Professional Grade Snowblowers with Tracks

The recommendations are more than simply ranking snowblowers into electric, single stage and two stage. Everyone already does that, says Hoch.

In addition, they're not just a list of best sellers. Just because it's a best seller doesn't give it "Best-in-Class" status.

The e-tailer combined the sales history, customer reviews and some personal insight to generate their final recommendations.

"We've been selling power equipment online since 2002. We know what's great. We know what's junk. And, we're not afraid to say so," says Hoch.

Once the dust and data settled, only 18 of snow blowers sold by SnowBlowersDirect.com were given the prestigious "SBD Recommends" status.

Click Here to See the Snowblower Recommendations

In addition, Hoch personally wrote online reviews for each snow blower, explaining why the company recommended it.

By providing the recommendations and reviews, SnowBlowersDirect.com hopes to arm shoppers with enough ammunition to pick the perfect snow blower for their needs.

"We're loyal to our customers - not our suppliers," says Hoch. "Our intention is to make the shopping experience as simple as possible. We hope they appreciate our honesty."

Power Equipment Direct operates four niche online superstores. In addition to SnowBlowersDirect.com, the Bolingbrook, IL-based company operates AirCompressorsDirect.com, ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com and PressureWashersDirect.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:25 AM | Comments (0)

Exeter Property Company Reporting Strong Activity at Hamilton Square in Downtown Jersey City

Activity remains strong at Hamilton Square, the new mixed-use landmark community being developed on the former site of the St. Francis hospital in downtown Jersey City. Sales have continued at a steady pace with nearly 20% of the residences already sold at the exclusive new neighborhood of 300 condominium, loft, and townhome residences fronting historic Hamilton Park.

Jersey City, NJ, (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- Activity remains strong at Hamilton Square, the new mixed-use landmark community being developed on the former site of the St. Francis hospital in downtown Jersey City.

Sales have continued at a steady pace with nearly 20% of the available studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences already sold at the exclusive new neighborhood of 300 condominium, loft, and townhome residences fronting historic Hamilton Park, according to developer Exeter Property Company.

Much of the recent interest is coming from young couples who are delighted to discover the larger homes at Hamilton Square which are ideal for growing families, notes Eric Silverman, a principal of locally-based Exeter Property Company. So much so, the developer is also now allowing buyers to combine and customize residences to further accommodate their needs.

In addition to the sales pace, nearly 100% of the 28,000 square feet of ground floor retail space at Hamilton Square is now leased. Tenants include a wide array of boutique shops and services, such as an Equinox style gym, restaurant and bar, noodle shop, bakery, wine shop, ice cream parlor, bike store, pharmacy and a bank branch.

"We're enjoying tremendous interest from both buyers and retailers who are excited about being a part of one of downtown Jersey City's most desirable new-home communities," says Mr. Silverman. "For buyers, Hamilton Square offers a unique opportunity of residing in exceptionally-designed living spaces within a development that embodies the values and quality of life that have long characterized the Hamilton Park neighborhood."

Designed by Charles Jordan of Manhattan-based H. Thomas O'Hara Architect, PLLC, Hamilton Square incorporates several elements of the property's prior use.

"When completed, Hamilton Square will consist of both an adaptive re-use of existing buildings as well as new construction," Mr. Silverman points out. "For example, we're restoring a 1920's seven-story former office building on the corner of Erie and Ninth Streets and an 11-story building on McWilliams Place and Pavonia Avenue which are being converted to condominiums and retail space in our initial housing phase."

Residences in the first offering of 126 homes at Hamilton Square boast all the attributes that make living in this historic urban neighborhood so unique. Soaring 10-to-15 foot ceilings create open and airy interiors full of natural light, while radiant heated stone bathrooms and custom kitchens enhance the grace and charm of the residences. Homes are priced from the $270,000s to more than $1.3 million.

"Some of the residences also offer private balconies or terraces," indicates Mr. Silverman. "Most apartments boast unobstructed views of the Jersey City or Manhattan Skylines or Hamilton Park."

Five-star amenities will be abundant at Hamilton Square. These include rooftop terraces, outdoor balconies, indoor 60-foot lap pool, courtyards, private lounge, and private membership gym, 24-hour doorman and concierge service, onsite parking and shuttle service to the PATH and ferry terminals.

Hamilton Square is being developed under the guidelines of "green" building practices, an environmentally-sensitive approach to sustainable and responsible new construction development.

The new community will blend in harmoniously with the character and charm of the neighborhood's historic brownstones, classic row houses and stunning park. Part of the plan for the first phase of construction calls for Pavonia Avenue - closed since 1970 - to be reopened as a cobblestone street for pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The new street will also lead to the lobby entrance of one of the residential buildings.

Residents will also appreciate living in the Hamilton Park neighborhood, where a scenic residential ambiance rich in history and urban charm rivals those found in Greenwich Village or the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Mr. Silverman points out. In contrast to many up-and-coming urban centers where new buildings are rising block after block, Hamilton Park has successfully maintained its 'old world' character by carefully blending new construction and modern amenities with the surrounding architecture.

At the heart of it all is the historic two-acre Hamilton Park, an urban oasis which is scheduled to undergo a major multi-million dollar renovation. The recreation and social epicenter offers a gathering place for residents to play tennis and basketball, frolic in the playground, relax in the gazebo, or attend a farmer markets, plays and concerts.

The neighborhood is also just minutes from the delights of downtown Jersey City and Manhattan. The community is easily accessible to a variety of transportation options, including the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, PATH trains, ferries and express buses into New York City via the nearby Holland Tunnel.

For additional information on Hamilton Square, please call 201-434-1000 or visit www.livingonthepark.com.

About the developer:
Exeter Property Company stands at the heart of Jersey City's revitalization. For more than 25 years, the company has been responsible for rehabilitating historic buildings and sensitively constructing newly designed structures. Brothers, Eric and Paul Silverman, attribute their success to their commitment to the community and their ability to craft projects that significantly enhance the community-at-large and mesh with the needs of neighborhoods.

Contact:
Robert Kelly
CAHN Communications
rkelly @ cahncomm.com
201-876-3100

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:24 AM | Comments (0)

‘The Wild Center’ is First New York Museum to Achieve Benchmark Green Building Certification

HOK-Designed Museum earns LEED® Silver from U.S. Green Building Council.

Tupper Lake, N.Y. (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 11, 2008 -- The Wild Center/Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks, a new museum complex in Tupper Lake, New York, has earned distinction as the first LEED certified museum in the State of New York. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) system is the recognized international benchmark in green building design and construction.

Through a series of integrated sustainable strategies that are expected to save between 20 percent and 30 percent of its normal operating costs, The Wild Center exceeded the base LEED certification to earn a Silver distinction. The LEED system provides a roadmap for measuring and documenting sustainability across six categories: sustainable site including construction activity pollution prevention; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; indoor environmental quality; and innovation and design process.

“We looked really hard at every choice that LEED defined,” said Wild Center Executive Director Stephanie Ratcliffe. “It became clear to our team that through every choice, we could get more by using less. That means that we can spend more of our future budget on building the museum experience and less on the museum building itself.”

The Wild Center collaborated with the architectural firm HOK to address many of the LEED criteria in the museum’s original main building and campus design. While planning its new solar-powered BioBuilding, which houses administrative offices, the museum employed the same LEED priorities with assistance from HOK, the Office of Charles P. Reay, and Phinney Design Group.

The Wild Center also represents the first LEED certified project in the entire 6-million-acre Adirondack Park. Larger than the state of Massachusetts, the park is unique in its bio-diverse ecological composition, epic natural events, glacial formations, and as a sociopolitical model that showcases how humans and nature can coexist.

“The Adirondacks are a great model for how people can live with the natural world, and it’s exciting to see the future of sustainable building breaking new ground in the Adirondacks,” Radcliffe said.

Visitors to the 54,000-square-foot museum experience the building through a journey that alternates seamlessly between the indoor and outdoor environment as they proceed through a well-choreographed progression of engaging spaces.
Donated by Tupper Lake school district voters, the 31-acre site had previously consisted of an open cut sand quarry, enabling the team to minimize disturbance of the existing natural habitat.

A three-acre pond provides a backdrop to the building and creates an indigenous wetland that attracts birds, amphibians, small mammals and insects that can be viewed within close range. The pond also manages the site's stormwater and exhibit water discharge.

About 10 percent of the museum's power comes from a 40kW photovoltaic array on the roof of the Bio Building. The rest of the electrical power is generated by Niagara Falls.

Stormwater from the roof is collected and channeled into the pond next to the building. Composting toilets help reduce water consumption.

A well-insulated building envelope, low VOC materials, efficient air filtration, air quality monitoring, staff and visitor surveys and a digitally controlled building management system combine to create a productive, healthy indoor environment.

The museum is designed in an indigenous Adirondacks style with locally available materials. White pine exterior siding was harvested and milled in Tupper Lake; Red Garnet and Champlain stone come from quarries in the park. The metal roofing, concrete and structural steel were supplied and fabricated in local plants. GreenSeal certified finish materials provide a healthy indoor environment.

The museum is developing exhibit-style labels to help visitors learn about its environmental strategies and materials.

The Wild Center represents HOK’s 23nd project to earn LEED recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council.

HOK is a global architectural firm that specializes in planning, design and delivery solutions for buildings and communities. Through its collaborative network of 26 offices worldwide, the firm serves diverse clients within the corporate, commercial, public and institutional markets. HOK is committed to developing resources and expertise to help lead the world toward sustainable communities and building environments. Founded in 1955, the firm’s expertise includes architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, lighting, graphics, facilities planning and assessment and construction services.

Note: Images of The Wild Center are available for download at: www.wildcenter.org/index.php?sub=29

Contact:
Mike Plotnick
314.754.4315

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:21 AM | Comments (0)

New Greener Heat Doormats Melt Snow and Ice for Safer Footing

Martinson-Nicholls' new Greener Heat™ doormats melt snow and ice at your door, on porches, decks, and around hot tubs. Measuring 36 x 39 inches, the heated doormat produces a 40 to 50 degree Fahrenheit rise in surface temperature over the ambient temperature, melting snow and ice 24/7.

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- Martinson-Nicholls new Greener Heat™ Heated Door Mats prevent snow and ice accumulation without shoveling, chemicals or embedded melting systems.

Developed in conjunction with Indus Tool, the Martinson-Nicholls heated door mat is energy-efficient, using only 240 watts. The 15-foot power cord includes a G.F.C.I., and the mat is E.T.L. approved.

Martinson-Nicholls found that thousands of home accidents occur each year due to snow and ice build up at doorways. "Many home owners are concerned for delivery people when it comes to ice at the front door, but our snow and ice melting mat alleviates that concern" stated Dan Ruminski, president of Martinson-Nicholls.

The Greener Heat electric doormat provides homeowners a way to prevent potentially slippery areas around the house from snow and ice. Designed with an aggressive anti slip surface and beveled edges, this mat is designed with safety in mind. The mat can be used in front of most doors, but also can be used to create ice-free areas in front of outdoor grills, melt snow off hot tub covers or be used as a heated mat in garages to dry wet shoes and boots.

The molded rubber mat features heavy-duty construction that is made to last for years. Weighing over 14 lbs, most winds will not move it. The Greener Heat heated mat will help prevent thick ice build up when properly used. Designed to stay on all winter, the mat may also be used without power in warmer periods, making a very nice entrance mat all year round.

Tested in the snow country of Colorado, the Greener Heat heated mat has saved many wooden decks from damage due to excessive snow build up. Home using the mat often have absentee owners who took great comfort in knowing that their deck was protected even when they were not there.

About Martinson-Nicholls
Martinson-Nicholls, has established itself as a leader in custom floor matting, heated floor mats, and safety solutions over the last 25 years.

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. For more information, please visit www.floormat.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:21 AM | Comments (0)

Coaction Group Develops New Invoice Payment and Tracking System for Private Estate Management

Collaborative solution improves operational efficiencies, document management and makes information available on demand.

Wilton, CONN. (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- Coaction Group has developed an invoice payment and tracking solution to compliment existing business modules installed on a private extranet solution for an estate management client. The invoice module was designed to help process and pay invoices faster, resulting in all current and future vendors receiving payments in significantly shorter times (reduced from 30 days to 15 days).

"The increased number of active projects, along with the challenges of dealing with paper invoices from a variety of sources, makes it very challenging for our client to quickly track and process invoices through accounts payable," says Coaction Group Founder and Managing Partner, Geoff Holman.

This invoice module integrates with the existing Coaction Group collaborative extranet solution implemented in 2007. The web-based platform provides project management tools, document management with version control, file upload capability, collaborative forums, calendaring and reporting. The fully integrated invoice module will allow the client to further streamline business processes, as well as save time and money. "Our client's business has truly taken a positive step toward improving operational efficiencies, and making pertinent information available on demand," says Holman. "Additionally, we have helped our client significantly reduce paper in their offices, supporting their ongoing efforts for conservation of our natural resources."

The collaborative extranet is permission based, with users requiring authentication and access only to specified projects and related information. It has become a key tool for the client's management team to monitor and manage the many diverse projects ongoing throughout their vast holdings worldwide.

About Coaction Group

Coaction Group specializes in providing technology and consulting services to businesses. Established in 2001, Coaction Group provides world class solutions that help businesses leverage technology to support their business strategy and goals to improve customer service, increase productivity, streamline business procedures, reduce operating costs and increase profits. The company is headquartered in Wilton, CT and can be reached by email at info@coactiongroup.com or by phone at 888-573-2120. Visit us on the Web at www.coactiongroup.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:23 AM | Comments (0)

U.S. CAD™ Named Southern California's and Hawaii's Exclusive Reseller of Sustainable Design Software for Use With Autodesk® Revit®

Integrated Environmental Solutions' Virtual Environment is Advanced Tool for Green Building Design

Costa Mesa, Calif. (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- U.S. CAD, Inc. (formerly L.A. CAD), the Western U.S.'s largest provider of computer-aided design (CAD) consulting, training and support services, and its largest Autodesk® solutions reseller, has been named Southern California's and Hawaii's exclusive reseller of Integrated Environmental Solutions' (IES's) building performance modeling software − a powerful tool in the green building design movement. Offering both performance analysis and building information management (BIM) capabilities within the same platform, IES's software links directly to Autodesk Revit Architecture 2008 and Revit MEP 2008 to provide powerful new functionality for sustainable building design.

"U.S. CAD and our customers are at the forefront of the building information modeling and sustainable design movements, and we're pleased to be the only Autodesk reseller in Southern California and Hawaii to offer the IES Virtual Environment tools," said Daniel Hebert, U.S. CAD's vice president of building solutions. "Autodesk Revit and IES Virtual Environment enable building professionals to accurately model and visualize their facility, and thereby have more reliable information for design decision-making, energy consumption, construction planning and, eventually, the facility's management and operation."

Powerful 'Plug-in' for Revit Architecture

IES has developed a toolbar that "plugs in" to Autodesk's Revit Architecture 2008, providing a direct link to the Virtual Environment software and IES's new architect-orientated Virtual Environment Toolkits. The Toolkits are designed to allow architects to undertake top-level building simulation analysis, facilitating sustainable design with a few clicks. This development enables the Revit Architecture BIM model to be easily imported into IES's unique system of integrated building performance analysis tools. Core aspects of a building's performance can be assessed without any special simulation knowledge or the need to re-input geometry data. The user doesn't even need to leave the Revit environment to use the core analysis tools in the VE Toolkits.

Added Capabilities for Revit MEP

Autodesk Revit MEP 2008 provides an interface where the user can assign construction and room-type properties for the building. New, built-in features calculate ASHRAE heating and cooling loads for the building, and these loads are used to size the HVAC plant and ductwork sizes in the proposed design. IES provides the core engine for these calculations. IES also provides additional tools that can make use of the extra detail in the model. By clicking the VE button within the MEP interface, the model is transferred and the VE Toolkits are displayed.

The reports and movies that the VEToolkits can produce expose a level of insight and understanding of performance that was previously unavailable. This allows architects and engineers to make informed decisions about orientation, layout, form and construction. Generating such high-quality building performance information at the early stage of the design process makes it easier to design sustainable, low-energy buildings.

The VE Toolkits are exclusive to Autodesk Revit, uniquely levering sustainability and LEED compliance into BIM projects.

U.S. CAD will host free informational seminars on IES's Virtual Environment software in Southern California and Hawaii during the first week of March. The seminars will be held March 3 in Los Angeles; March 4 in Costa Mesa; March 5 in San Diego; and March 7 in Honolulu. For more details, visit www.uscad.com.

About IES

Headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) Ltd. is an innovative company at the forefront of the use and development of powerful software simulation tools which help architects, engineers, facilities managers, and all those involved in the development and management of building design and maintain truly sustainable properties. The company's services and products aid significantly in the provision of healthier and more energy efficient built environments. For more information, visit www.iesve.com.

About U.S. CAD

Based in Costa Mesa, Calif., U.S. CAD, Inc. is a major provider of computer-aided design (CAD) consulting, training and support services, and Autodesk software solutions. Specializing in the civil, mechanical and architectural design, building-engineering and geospatial industries, the company provides technical expertise and customized training to deliver superior customer solutions. Customers value U.S. CAD's quality instruction from Autodesk Approved Instructors, and its flexible training options, including modular mobile training labs. With Autodesk Authorized Training Centers at its Costa Mesa, Los Angeles, San Diego and Honolulu, Hawaii locations, U.S. CAD has become the Autodesk provider of choice for many of the West's leading CAD-related companies. For more information, visit www.uscad.com.

U.S. CAD and L.A. CAD are trademarks of U.S. CAD, Inc.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:21 AM | Comments (0)

Green Trade Show Exhibit Line Now Offered by E&E Exhibit Solutions

Phoenix Trade Show Display Company Joins Green Marketing Trend with Exclusive Rights to Resell Eco-Systems Sustainable Exhibits in Arizona

TEMPE, Ariz. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 11, 2008 -- E&E Exhibit Solutions today announced its exclusive reseller relationship with Eco-Systems, a Michigan-based manufacturer of the first green-built portable-modular trade show exhibit system in the nation developed with environmentally and socially responsible materials. Eco-Systems Sustainable Exhibit line is benchmarked to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council.

“E&E Exhibit Solutions recognizes the growing need—and in some cases requirements—of our clients to seek out green marketing ideas, such as eco-friendly manufactured products, in the production of their exhibit materials,” said President Daniel Chaddock. “Our relationship with Eco-Systems is the first step in our goals to partner with eco-friendly manufacturers to offer our clients a variety of quality, green exhibit products.”

Eco-Systems Sustainable Exhibits are built using a variety of materials including rapidly renewable materials, materials derived from recycled content, and recyclable materials with a legitimate after-market application. These include aluminum, bamboo plywood, sorghum board, cork and PET board (created from 100-percent recycled post-consumer soda bottles). Eco-Systems Sustainable Exhibits feature bamboo cabinets, recyclable aluminum extrusion, LED lighting systems, eco-graphics, and recycled plastic shipping cases.

About E&E Exhibit Solutions

Founded in 1995, E&E Exhibit Solutions is a trade show display company that provides complete solutions for exhibits, events and environments. The company specializes in custom portable and modular displays, including large island exhibits and double-deck booths, trade show booth graphics, trade show rentals, display storage, shipping and show-site installation services. For more information, visit www.exhibitsusa.com.

About Eco-Systems

Exhibit Design Consultants, Inc. (the parent of Eco-Systems), established in 1989, is a leading display designer and producer committed to the advancement of sustainable principles. Eco-Systems Sustainable Exhibits won the “Buyer's Choice” Award at EXHIBITOR 2007 and 1st Place “Best of the Best” Award at 2007’s TS2 Show. For more information, visit www.ecosystemsdisplays.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:20 AM | Comments (0)

Chesapeake Homes North Carolina Hires Construction Manager for Bedford at Falls River Community

Chesapeake Homes North Carolina today announced the hiring of Ryan Suman as Construction Manager for the Greenbriar Collection at Wakefield Development Company's award-winning master-planned community, Bedford at Falls River.

Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- Chesapeake Homes North Carolina today announced the hiring of Ryan Suman as Construction Manager for the Greenbriar Collection at Wakefield Development Company's award-winning master-planned community, Bedford at Falls River.

Suman will oversee and manage the construction of 29 single-family, ENERGY STAR® qualified homes. Priced from the mid-$300s, the Greenbriar Collection offers six different home styles with square footage ranging from 2,300 to 3,000. The first homes will be completed in late spring 2008.

Prior to joining Chesapeake Homes North Carolina, Suman worked as an Assistant Project Manager / Superintendent for Cleveland Construction, Inc. and Assistant Superintendent for Bluepoint Homes, Inc., where he had three award-winning 2007 Parade of Homes entries. Suman also supervised the construction of three Wal-Mart Supercenters in West Chester, Ohio; North Miami Beach, Florida; and Greenwood, Mississippi.

"We are thrilled to welcome Ryan to our team of professionals," said Paul Luck, North Carolina Division Manager for Chesapeake Homes. "I believe he will set and deliver agreed upon expectations with our customers."

For more information about Chesapeake Homes North Carolina, please call 919-256-3060 or visit www.ChesHomesNC. For more information about Bedford at Falls River's Greenbriar Collection, please contact the Welcome Center at 919.792.0100 or visit www.bedfordtradition.com.

About Chesapeake Homes North Carolina:
Chesapeake Homes North Carolina, an ENERGY STAR® qualified homebuilder, is owned by Virginia-based L.M. Sandler & Sons, Inc., the largest privately owned developer of master-planned communities in the United States and sister company to Wakefield Development Company, North Carolina's largest developer of residential communities. Due to the success in the Hampton Roads' area, Chesapeake Homes expanded into the North Carolina market with its first area projects, 12 Oaks, Wakefield Development Company's newest, high-end master-planned community in Holly Springs and Renaissance Park, a new Wakefield Development Company master-planned community located just minutes from downtown Raleigh. Sales and marketing provided by Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston Builder Services.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:19 AM | Comments (0)

Tuff-Seal Interlocking Floor Tile featured on NBC's Today Show

Tuff-Seal Interlocking Floor Tile by Flooring Adventures was featured on the February 8 NBC Today Show in a segment on creating home gyms. Amy Matthews, a contractor and host of DIY Network's Sweat Equity program, demonstrated Tuff-Seal's simple glue-less "overlap and tap" installation and its use as a durable, cushioned, slip and water-resistant floorcovering for home fitness and other applications. Placed directly over any flat surface including existing flooring, Tuff-Seal is particularly effective in moisture-prone areas.

Richmond, VA (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- Tuff-Seal Interlocking Floor Tile by Flooring Adventures was featured on the February 8 NBC Today Show in a segment on creating home gyms.

Amy Matthews, a contractor and host of DIY Network's Sweat Equity program, demonstrated Tuff-Seal's simple glue-less "overlap and tap" installation and its use as a durable, cushioned, slip and water-resistant floorcovering for home fitness and other applications. Placed directly over any flat surface including existing flooring, Tuff-Seal is particularly effective in moisture-prone areas.

Its patented design permits tiles to be securely zippered together, but hides the interlocks, resulting in a seamless look. Tuff-Seal can be used anywhere in any facility, including homes, basements, garages, offices, schools and plants. It's available in 12 colors and four surface profiles at www.tuffsealtile.com and through flooring dealers and contractors throughout North America.

Flooring Adventures LLC, 7453 Whitepine Road, Richmond, VA 23237, 877-779-2454, www.tuffsealtile.com

Link to Tuff-Seal Flooring Today Show segment: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23067866#23067866

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:18 AM | Comments (0)

ToolmanDepot.com Announces Re-Launch of Visitor-Friendly Website

ToolmanDepot.com is a unique online community site bringing consumers and contractors together in a very visitor-friendly website. Visitors can find a contractor within seconds - no lengthy forms to complete, no questions to answer, just enter a zip code and press a button. Visitors will never be solicited by unwanted email or phone calls. They initiate the search - they initiate the contact.

Lockport, IL (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 - Building Contractor website ToolmanDepot.com announced its launch today, providing homeowners a source for thousands of Home Improvement Contractors throughout the United States. Through ToolmanDepot.com, consumers will be able to find the right contractor for virtually any home improvement job.

ToolmanDepot.com is a unique online community site bringing consumers and contractors together in a very visitor-friendly website. Visitors can find a contractor within seconds - no lengthy forms to complete, no questions to answer, just enter a zip code and press a button. Visitors will never be solicited by unwanted email or phone calls. They initiate the search - they initiate the contact.

Visitors can also take advantage of additional useful features such as the personal myToolman Depot account space to keep track of their favorite contractors, the ability to keep and publish ratings on contractors, a home improvement article library, and the ability to request a ToolmanDepot.com newsletter with home improvement tips and research all for free.

To learn more about this new and easy to use online site visit ToolmanDepot.com.

About ToolmanDepot.com

ToolmanDepot.com is a unique online community consisting of homeowners, contractors, and manufacturers and suppliers and we offer something for each of them.

Our site allows visitors to keep ratings and contact information of their favorite contractors in their myToolman Depot account. We also offer visitors a free monthly newsletter and access to our library of home improvement articles that is updated on a frequent basis.

For more information contact Richard Labus, 815-603-1822 at ToolmanDepot.

www.toolmandepot.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:18 AM | Comments (0)

American Tire Corporation Decides Not to Increase OTR Tire Price

U.S. Department of Commerce will collect anti-dumping customs duties against Chinese OTR tires. ATC and all other US tire manufacturers will benefit from these measures. US OTR tire users will experience even more acute supply shortages than 2007. While other US tire manufacturers have increased or are planning to increase their prices from the beginning of 2008, American Tire Corporation (ATC) has decided to maintain its OTR tire prices at current levels.

Chino, California (PRWEB) February 10, 2008 -- American Tire Corporation (ATC) has decided to maintain its OTR tire prices at current levels while other US tire manufacturers have increased or are planning to increase their prices from the beginning of 2008.

ATC expresses its support of the announcement of the U.S. Department of Commerce that it will collect anti-dumping customs duties against Chinese OTR tires. ATC and all the US tire manufacturers will benefit from these measures.

Meanwhile, due to the recent rapid changes of the exchange rate between the Chinese currency and US dollars, the actual costs of Chinese OTR tires have increased dramatically. This increased tire cost is not justified by the performance of most to Chinese OTR tires. Accordingly, Chinese OTR tires are becoming increasingly non-competitive - not only in the USA, but also throughout the world.

It is foreseeable that Chinese OTR tires will lose market, sooner or later, in the USA as US OTR tire dealers and users will veer away from most Chinese OTR tires, which had flooded the market in 2007 and before.

As a consequence of the above-mentioned factors and limited tire availability in the US market, the following will most likely occur:
1. Increasing numbers of Chinese companies will have stopped OTR tire production and try to sell their production lines (equipment). They will exit the OTR tire business permanently.
2. Most US OTR tire manufacturers will increase their price by a large percentage and will definitely continue to increase prices in the near future to take advantage of the decreased competitiveness of Chinese tires.
3. US OTR tire users will experience even more acute supply shortages than 2007.

As a response to the above changes, ATC, a reliable US OTR tire manufacturer, is doing something different from others - no price increase will take place this year.

Meanwhile, ATC is working to ensure it maintains sufficient supplies and on-time deliveries as usual. It is also working to reduce its manufacturing cost by improving its tire's design, construction and performance to keep its OTR tires more competitive than ever before. In addition, ATC also provides users onsite engineering service, free of charge, to help users attain maximum performance and usage from their tires.

With its stated objective to become the largest and best manufacturer for 63" and 57" tires, American Tire Corporation is a well-established US OTR tire manufacturer which has had several "firsts" in the OTR tire industry. For more information, please check its website http://www.americantire.us.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:17 AM | Comments (0)

Construction Software Selection is Easier, Less Risky with Free Shortlist Advice from CTS

CTS' 15-Minute Smart Shortlist Consult offers free advice to contractors that download the Construction Software Selection Kit.

Rockville, MD (PRWEB) February 9, 2008 -- CTS Guides, a leading publisher of construction software reviews and ratings, now offers free software selection advice through its Smart Shortlist Consult service. The 15-minute phone consultation with CTS President Sheldon Needle, a leading authority on construction software selection, is designed to help companies instantly create their evaluation shortlist.

The Smart Shortlist Consult is considered a construction software selection best practice because it saves time and reduces the risk of choosing the wrong solution. During the 15-minute consultation, Needle uses his 25 years of in-depth industry experience and insider knowledge to understand a contractor's technology needs, answer specific questions and provide targeted software recommendations based on individual requirements.

"Implementing new construction software is a complex process that requires a significant investment of time and money. It just makes sense to get advice from an expert so you don't go down the wrong road," stated Needle. "I talk with construction company owners and managers every day that are frustrated by conflicting software information and sales hype. In just 15 minutes, I steer them in the right direction and it doesn't cost them a dime."

The Smart Shortlist Consult is available to Web site visitors that register to download CTS' free Construction Software Selection Kit at www.ctsguides.com/construction.asp. Free registration provides instant access to the Kit download area and initiates eligibility for the shortlist consultation.

The Consult comes with a software selection kit that reviews the following top construction software:: AccuBuild, American Contractor, Budgetrac, BIS, ComputerEase, Computer Guidance,e-Builder, Deneb Winjob, Dexter + Chaney Forefront, Explorer Software, Foundation for Windows, JOBPOWER, Jonas, Maxwell Management Suite, Meridian Systems Prolog, Penta, Sage Master Builder, Sage Timberline Office, Solomon IV, Toolbox Software, Viewpoint Software.

ABOUT CTS GUIDES
Established in 1983, CTS was the first company to perform hands-on, independent evaluations of software for the middle market. Since then CTS has helped over 21,000 companies select new software and technology. CTS is also widely used by CPAs, consultants and software resellers to assist their clients.

For more information about CTS, contact Sheldon Needle, President and Founder, 6108 Stonehenge Place, Rockville, MD, 20852, 800-433-8015, www.ctsguides.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:09 AM | Comments (0)

Get Ready for Spring with a New Selection of Dump Trailers, Equipment Trailers And Landscape Trailers at All Pro West

All Pro's new 2008 Model Dump, Equipment and Landscape Trailers have now arrived at their Trailer Superstore located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Mechanicsburg, PA (PRWEB) February 9, 2008 -- All Pro Trailer Superstore offers a broad range of trailers for sale to fit everyone's vehicle and budget. With their new spring line of dump trailers, equipment trailers and landscape trailers just in, All Pro is gearing up for season and offering pre-spring discount pricing on trailers and trailer financing with deferred payments until Spring 2008.

All Pro carries a full line of Cam Superline and Diamond C equipment trailers, gooseneck equipment trailers and heavy duty construction trailers for sale ranging from deck between and deck over trailers to deck between styles including full-tilt and split-tilt equipment trailers.

Hydraulic dump trailers are available in light duty and heavy duty capacities and include low profile, heavy duty, gooseneck and deck over dump trailers by Cam Superline and light duty 5 x 8 to 6 x 12 dump trailers by Tilman.

All Pro stocks a variety of trailers in different colors than the usual black, white or silver. "Our customers enjoy having a selection of trailers to choose from in colors such as Kubota Orange, Ford Blue, CAT Yellow, International Red and many more." remarks Ty Wagner, General Manager for All Pro "The Cam Superline Kubota Orange and Ford Blue equipment and dump trailers are very impressive and certainly make a statement rolling down the road."

If your in the market for a multi-use landscape utility trailer, All Pro also stocks a variety of Diamond C utility trailers and Carry-On landscaping trailers for sale with options such as high sides, split gate functions and their best selling multi-functional ATV utility trailers with bi-fold rear and side ramps at affordable prices. Diamond C landscape utility trailers are a more heavy duty type trailer available with bi-fold, mesh or steel ramps, rear and side gates and come in a variety of colors with their trademark "Texas Flare."

"We also offer a full line of aluminum utility trailers with removable sides, aluminum ramps, aluminum rails and floors or pressure treated wood decking." states Wagner "As well as galvanized tilt utility trailers and ATV utility carts."

All Pro Trailer Superstore stocks a full line of trailer accessories for open and enclosed trailers. "With our Rack'Em trailer organizing rack systems, your trailer can become the safe, clean organized space it should be." replies Wagner "We can customize your landscape, dump or equipment trailer with trailer tongue boxes, floor tie down systems, trailer jacks and spare tires while you wait or trailer delivery is available right to your home or business."

To find out more about All Pro West you can visit them online at www.allprowest.com or call 800-622-7003 for more information on Pre-Spring Pricing or Trailer Financing on all Landscape, Equipment and Dump Trailers at their Trailer Superstore.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:09 AM | Comments (0)

February 08, 2008

Ansell "U Challenge" Interactive Safety Game Educates, Entertains

Hardcore gaming enthusiasts and amateurs alike will want to take the Ansell U Challenge, an interactive cut protection selection game available to play for free at www.ansellu.com. During the month of February, safety industry professionals who register and play the Ansell U Challenge online are eligible to win a free Nintendo® Wii* gaming system in March.

Red Bank, NJ (PRWEB) February 8, 2008 -- Hardcore gaming enthusiasts and amateurs alike will want to take the Ansell U Challenge, an interactive cut protection selection game available to play for free at AnsellU.com During the month of February, safety industry professionals who register and play the Ansell U Challenge online are eligible to win a free Nintendo® Wii* gaming system in March.

U Challenge advances players through an automotive plant scenario where the user must select a glove and then see how many pieces of metal the virtual worker can stamp without experiencing an injury. Players may select from a variety of gloves and have the option to use bare hands. Each glove option is accompanied by cut protection levels and ratings indicating dexterity, abrasion and puncture resistance, and dry and oil grip.

"The U Challenge employs the hottest gaming technology to help players understand the importance of selecting the proper cut protection for every situation," said Keitha Kessler, Marketing Manager, Ergo Products. "Players will find the game challenging and interesting as they work through the scenario."

Ansell introduced the U Challenge during the National Safety Congress & Expo (NSC) in Chicago in October 2007, with hundreds trying their hand at achieving the top score and vying to win a Wii* gaming system.

"While we want players to enjoy the U Challenge, we also want them to realize the serious threat posed by cut hazards," Kessler said. "It's a great way to underscore how selecting the right gloves can contribute to worker productivity."

In addition to launching the U Challenge game at NSC, Ansell recently introduced three new innovative hand protection products, including Vantage® glove series with Ansell Cut Protection Technology, HyFlex® 11-920 gloves for optimal control in slippery situations, and HyFlex 11-624 gloves for exceptional comfort and ANSI Level 2 cut protection.

For more information about Ansell's line of protective gloves and apparel, visit Ansell online or call Customer Service at 800.800.0444.

About Ansell:
Celebrating more than 100 years, Ansell Limited has long been recognized for the innovations and leadership it has provided the hand protection and safety apparel industry. Besides high quality products, the company offers a comprehensive business solutions approach to help manufacturers achieve their cost reduction mandates. Ansell personal protective clothing (PPC) specialists work directly with corporate and plant representatives to develop highly effective programs with quantifiable results.

With its regional headquarters for its operations in the Americas located in Red Bank, New Jersey and with operations in Canada, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Australia, Ansell serves a wide range of industries, including chemical manufacturing and refining, automotive, food processing, general industrial, pharmaceutical, paper, white goods, semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, and primary metals.

Vantage® and HyFlex® are registered trademarks owned by Ansell Limited, or one of its affiliates. ©2007 Ansell Limited All Rights Reserved.

Nintendo® and Nintendo® Wii are trademarks owned by Nintendo Co., Ltd. based in Kyoto, Japan. Reference to such in connection with this contest does not imply any endorsement or sponsorship.

For more information, contact:
Lara Kretler
Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations for Ansell
614.825.1762

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:40 AM | Comments (0)

Venue Services Group Meets Goals of the Tennis Channel's New HD Television Production Studio

The cutting edge production and operations facility is completed in time for New Year's broadcast

Culver City, CA (PRWEB) February 8, 2008 -- With innovative engineering solutions by Venue Services Group (VSG), the Tennis Channel christened their new production studio with the live broadcast of the Hopman Cup Tournament in Australia on January 1, 2008, followed by the Australian Open coverage which began January 14th. The Tennis Channel also made its first HD broadcast over DIRECTV, the start of a major launch for the channel this year.

The new multiple-studio, master control and post production facility is the home to the only 24-hour channel dedicated to the sport of Tennis. Formally utilizing the facilities of FOX Sports since 2003, the Tennis Channel's growth and in-depth programming called for a home of their own. The new high-end facility in Culver City is now the Tennis Channel's new production and operational home for the future.

Venue Services Group was brought in to deliver a turn-key solution including: design, engineering, construction, installation and integration, along with custom-built consoles. The three-story facility includes a 5000-ft. production stage, an insert stage, a green room, an HD master control room, a satellite feed room, two control and edit rooms, an audio room and a voiceover booth, all having to meet California's earthquake specifications.

"The Tennis Channel group has been a great partner during this ambitious project," said Dave Shaw, president of VSG. "It was a pleasure to deliver a soup-to-nuts solution that included design engineering, installation and our own custom consoles to fit nicely into the Tennis Channel's project scope and budget."

With a looming deadline for the inaugural broadcast, VSG employed unique solutions to make it all happen. With limited elevator access to the second floor, booths and furniture had to be designed in sections for assembly on-site. VSG also pre-configured the five-rack router and patch-bay system so that it could be delivered as one complete unit, typically unheard of for this type of installation. This allowed VSG to greatly speed up the install and cabling time and maintain clean and orderly cable runs.

"Sometimes you make unconventional decisions to have the job done professionally while meeting the client's needs," said Shaw, "and our engineering and fabrication teams delivered on this one."

"Because of the enormous amount of detail and extensive wiring necessary to launch our new operations facility by the end of 2007, we needed someone with a proven track record in these types of projects," said Keith Manasco, Tennis Channel's Vice President of Operations. "VSG's design and installation more than met our expectations. Their quick turnaround helped us to bring Tennis Channel in high definition to millions of fans around the U.S."

In addition to their design and integration expertise, VSG added an on-site engineering staff to insure the Tennis Channel's initial broadcasts went off without a hitch.

"The ability to supply staffing to the Tennis Channel facility sets us apart from most systems integration firms," said Shaw. "Combine this with our ability to provide back up support from National Mobile Television, the parent company, gives a comfort level unmatched in this industry."

For more information please visit: www.vsg.tv/TTCpressrelease.asp

Venue Services Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Mobile Television, one of the largest sports mobile and venue production services company in the nation. For more information on Venue Services Group, please visit www.vsg.tv or contact:

Craig Taylor
Venue Services Group (VSG)
Phone: 888-700-HDTV (4388)

James Knapp
Nista, Hancock & Knapp (NHaK)
Phone: 562-624-0100

Dave Shaw
Venue Services Group (VSG)
Phone: 888-700-HDTV (4388)

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:39 AM | Comments (0)

Garage Door Company Offers Tips on Choosing a Good Garage Door Repair Service

America's Garage Door Service offers some tips to help consumers choose a company to keep their garages in top shape.

Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) February 8, 2008 -- In most houses, garage doors are the largest moving piece of equipment. If they're not working properly, then they can be inconvenient at best and dangerous at worst. A malfunctioning garage door can pose a risk not only to cars, but to kids and pets as well.

"If you have substandard repair, you're putting a lot at risk. For most homes, the garage door is the biggest moving piece of machinery," said Richard Brown, manager of America's Garage Door Service (http://www.americasgaragedoorservice.com). "Many people use a garage door as the primary way of entering their home, so quality of repair is absolutely vital."

Brown offers some tips to help consumers choose a company to keep their garages in top shape.

"If you're not careful in choosing a garage door repair service, you could end up with somebody who will do the job incorrectly or will overcharge you," said Brown. "We've been called out several times to fix the work other companies have done."

Brown suggests finding a company that has been in business for a number of years. In the garage door repair industry, there's a high turnover rate, so many smaller companies may not be in business for very long. Even if they've given their customers warranties, if they're out of business they won't be able to follow through on them.

"You don't want to hire the guy who just started up the business this year and works out of his home," Brown said. "If a company's been around for a few years, then they must be doing something right. They have an established name."

Brown also advises consumers to get multiple estimates on a garage door repair, three at the very least. Of those three, people should choose the one in the middle, rather than the least or most expensive options. He also suggests checking with the Better Business Bureau to see how they rank the garage door repair services.

"It is possible to find a reputable company that will do the job correctly and won't overcharge you," said Brown. "Garage door repair isn't something you should skimp on. A faulty repair will end up costing you a lot more in the long run."

For more information about choosing a garage door repair service in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, visit America's Garage Door Services online at http://www.americasgaragedoorservices.com

About America's Garage Door Service
From service technicians to installers, from management to receptionist, our staff are trained to the highest standard and from time to time are evaluated on workmanship quality and courteous service. Whether it's a small problem or a large one, our staff are always standing by to offer you prompt, worry-free service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No answering machine, no messages to leave. Just someone ready to help.

Press release provided by Xeal Inc. (http://www.xeal.com)

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:37 AM | Comments (0)

New Construction Options for Home Builders in a Soft Market

Builders looking for a different twist and a new outlook on this soft market are going modular. Modular building offers you the chance to purchase a high-quality home customized to fit your tastes, lifestyle, and budget.

Farmington, CT (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- Modular housing used to be associated with inferior construction quality, but this myth has changed over the past two decades. Now, there are several hundred modular (or systems built companies) blanketing the United States, offering extraordinary quality custom homes.

Builders looking for a different twist and a new outlook on this soft market are going modular. "Modular building offers you the chance to purchase a high-quality home customized to fit your tastes, lifestyle, and budget," says Chris Bailey, director of marketing and sales for HandCrafted Homes in Henderson, NC. Bailey also ads that "Showing builders the construction process is one approach, but showing them how the system actually goes together and looks once it is completed is awe-inspiring. We want builders to understand that modular homes can be custom-designed. This is an option that will save a lot of money and time… and who doesn't want that?"

"The word is getting out!" says Dave Wrocklage of Epoch Homes, Pembroke, NH. "Modular homes are in many ways superior to stick-built homes, and, once assembled, cannot be distinguished from their traditionally built counterpart." Wrocklage goes on to say, "Modular homes have been ahead of the green trend for years. Not only are they efficient on heating and cooling, but also there is less material waste, due to computer-aided cuts, that allow the homes to be much more environmentally friendly."

There are misconceptions that keep consumers and builders from considering this option as a form of building. In some towns and cities, city planners have added major regulations and boundaries to building codes restricting modulars, primarily due to the outdated belief that a modular home equals a mobile home. However, across the country, city planners in the know have embraced the concept because of the myriad of benefits that modular building provides.

Modular homes (also referred to as systems built housing) takes advantage of modern machinery, computer and factory technology to create a code-compliant home. These systems built homes use prefabricated materials, built in a climate-controlled environment and designed to work as a precise system, to complete the home.

When builders and consumers realize the benefits of systems built housing, they realize it's a no-brainer. Most building systems offer a reduced construction time, allowing for quicker completion and move-in. Systems building also offers more cost control during the construction process and a high degree of energy efficiency.

"Over the last twenty years, modular homes have come a long way from being cookie-cutter ranches. There are so many more options now,'' says Dave Wrocklage. "One of our builders recently completed a 6,000 sq. Ft. Waterfront home on exclusive Governor's -island on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. They can be custom-built to any size -- from the smallest little ranch to the hugest multimillion-dollar mansions.''

So, the next time you think modular, don't think mobile, think efficient, custom, environmentally and budget-friendly, and most importantly - just plain good-looking.

NAHB's Building Systems Councils, part of the National Association of Home Builders, represents the producers, builders, and vendors of the modular industry, as well as other systems built homes including concrete, log and panelized.

Contact info: Jeremy Bertrand
Executive Director, Building Systems Councils
National Association of Home Builders
1201 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Ph: 202-266-8353
Toll Free: 800-368-5242, ext. 8353

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:36 AM | Comments (0)

Software Link Forms Strategic Partnership with Deltek

Software Link Inc., Georgia's leading provider of ERP software and services, is pleased to announce the addition of Deltek® (NASDAQ: PROJ) Vision to their product portfolio.

Alpharetta, GA (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- Software Link Inc., Georgia's leading provider of ERP software and services, is pleased to announce the addition of Deltek® (NASDAQ: PROJ) Vision to their product portfolio.

Software Link is a leading provider of implementation, training and support services of automated business management solutions. With a wide range of product applications including accounting, project, distribution, manufacturing and e-commerce solutions, Software Link offers award-winning products and services that have revolutionized the way small and mid-sized companies do business in today's marketplace. In August 2007, Software Link was named to the first-ever Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies in the country.

Deltek's Vision is a best-in-class solution for project-oriented companies that want to improve performance, streamline operations and win more business. Designed especially for industries such as architects, engineers, contractors, PR and IT firms, Vision is built using state-of-the-art technology that ensure stability, scalability and compatibility.

"Deltek's deep commitment to serving vertical markets fits with our go-to-market strategy," said Stanley Kania, President of Software Link. "We look forward to offering project-oriented businesses a robust and scalable solution supported and implemented by our outstanding group of consultants."

About Software Link, Inc.
Software Link is Georgia's leading accounting and business management software advisor, reseller and trainer. Software Link offers solutions for a wide range of industries using products that are scalable to meet the needs of their clients during every stage in the life of their business. In 2007, Software Link was named to the first-ever Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies in the country. Information about Software Link can be found at www.software-link.com.

About Deltek
Deltek® (NASDAQ: PROJ) is the leading provider of enterprise applications software designed specifically for project-focused businesses. For more than two decades, our software applications have enabled organizations to automate mission-critical business processes around the engagement, execution and delivery of projects. More than 12,000 customers worldwide rely on Deltek to measure business results, optimize performance, streamline operations and win new business. Visit www.deltek.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:35 AM | Comments (0)

IOTA's Top Design Tips for Garden Planters

IOTA's Top Design Tips for Garden Planters shows that garden pots and planters can be much more than just decorative. Used as design tools to define different areas, to signpost features and to lead the eye, planters can become an integral part of the plan for forming and sculpting an exterior or interior space.

Bristol, UK (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- Kate Hancock, Marketing Director recently released IOTA's Top Design Tips for Garden Planters. IOTA's stylish modern planters have featured in numerous schemes -- from designs for small private gardens, to landscaping plans for complex commercial developments. The creative possibilities are endless, but most design applications can be classified within five generic themes. These five themes are IOTA's Top Design Tips for Garden Planters:

1) Use Planters to Frame a Doorway. This is a tried and tested way to create a good first impression, and topiary and other formal planting always works well. In glass-fronted buildings, planters can also signpost the entrance, and protect an open glass door.

2) Multiply the Impact of Planters with 'Repeat Planting'. Linear repetition of the same pot/plant combination is commonly used in contemporary schemes, and is always effective. Repeat planting can also be used to unify the look across different areas within a scheme.

3) Define and Divide Space with Planters. Planters can be used to physically enclose an area - an alternative to walling and fencing. Planters can also create discrete areas within open spaces; and can be used to define and signpost key elements within a scheme.

4) Group Planters to Create a Design Focal Point. A group of planters looks best when unified by shape, colour, or common planting scheme. Alternatively, clusters of identical planters can work well with different, complementary planting -- perhaps changed seasonally, for enduring colour and interest.

5) Use Planters to Relieve Large Areas of Hard Landscaping. Sometimes, in an environment of hard surfaces and straight lines, planted containers can provide relief in the form of colour and softness. And, if maintenance allows, seasonal planting can give commercial projects a welcoming look.

Said Kate Hancock: "IOTA's Top Design Tips for Garden Planters shows that garden pots and planters can be much more than just decorative - we hope that gardeners everywhere will be inspired!" As 'pictures speak a thousand words', IOTA have illustrated their tips with images in the pdf version of this article.

About IOTA:
IOTA is a leading international designer and manufacturer of contemporary garden art and planters, and their products feature in numerous schemes worldwide for private residences, blue-chip corporations, public authorities and the hotel and leisure industry. Ranges include modern garden art, and exclusive ranges of contemporary garden pots, planters and water features. Their clients include high-profile designers, landscape architects, and garden centres - and IOTA's products are also available to the general public, via their website.

For more information, contact:
Kate Hancock, Marketing Director
mail @ iotagarden.com
+44 1934 522617
www.iotagarden.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:33 AM | Comments (0)

New Study Takes Aim At Federal Prevailing Wage Law; Inflated Wage Measures Cost Taxpayers $8.6 Billion Annually

A new study released today by the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University (BHI) finds that biases in the measurement of the federal "prevailing wage" add 22% to the cost of labor on public construction projects and 9.91% to overall construction costs. As a result, taxpayers pay $8.6 billion a year more for public construction projects than they would have to pay if unbiased measures were used.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- A new study released today by the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University (BHI) finds that biases in the measurement of the federal "prevailing wage" add 22% to the cost of labor on public construction projects and 9.91% to overall construction costs. As a result, taxpayers pay $8.6 billion a year more for public construction projects than they would have to pay if unbiased measures were used.

The federal government, 32 states and the District of Columbia require the payment of a prevailing wage for all workers employed directly on site for government-funded construction projects over a certain dollar threshold. Adopted by Congress in 1931, the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) enforces the prevailing wage at the federal level and serves as the basis for prevailing wages in the states.

Originally enacted to discourage poor Southern blacks from seeking construction jobs in the North, the prevailing wage law has always had the purpose of shielding local construction workers from competition from "outsiders." However implemented, the law is therefore anticompetitive and costly to taxpayers. As currently implemented the law also, however, does not accurately measure the prevailing wage. Rather, it is biased upward to reflect what the construction trades want to impose as a wage, rather than the wage that accurately prevails for a given trade in a given metropolitan area.

This is seen in the fact that the U.S. Department of Labor, which has the job of determining the prevailing wage, does not use the unbiased and statistically accurate data published by its Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Rather, it uses data published by its Wage and Hour Division (WHD), whose methods are generally unreliable and, if anything, biased upward.

In its study, BHI compared the estimates reported by the WHD to the estimates reported by the BLS for a sample of nine occupational categories accounting for 59% of all construction workers across 80 metropolitan areas.

BHI found that, on average the DBA prevailing wage is almost $4.43 per hour, or more than 22%, above the BLS average wage when wages are weighted according to the number of workers in each trade and each metropolitan area. In the Nassau-Suffolk, New York metropolitan area, brick masons and block masons make at least $24.17 per hour more than they would make if the prevailing wage were calculated using BLS methods. In Poughkeepsie-Middleton, New York, plumbers, pipe fitters and steamfitters get a premium of $26 per hour. Steel and metal workers in Bakersfield, California get a premium of $16.37.

Commenting on these results, David G. Tuerck, Executive Director of the Beacon Hill Institute and a coauthor of the study, observed that "the existing way of measuring the prevailing wage amounts to the maintenance of a costly and arcane welfare system for construction workers." Tuerck went on to say that "the whole purpose of a prevailing wage law is to deny employment opportunities to workers from outside the immediate area. On that basis alone, the best solution would be to repeal Davis-Bacon and to render unnecessary the whole problem of divining what the prevailing wage is. Next best would be to shut down the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division and take the simple step of getting the measurement of the prevailing wage right. That's easy enough to do, considering that the Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains a parallel and higher reputable office for measuring wages."

The study, which also outlines the institute's methodology, is available at www.beaconhill.org.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:32 AM | Comments (0)

Chaney Place Condominium Development Will Start Closing on Properties in Spring 2008

Huntsville's premier builder, David Nunn, has partnered with another well-known builder, Tommy Walker, in efforts to develop Huntsville's hot new residential development that everyone is talking about.

Huntsville, Alabama (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- David Nunn is a native of Madison County and a prominent General Contractor for the last 22 years specializing in remodeling and building quality custom homes. David is known for constructing quality homes from the $100,000's up to large multi-million dollar homes throughout Huntsville and Madison County. David is most known for his quality craftsmanship as Huntsville's premier builder from the beginning development of Hampton Cove in 1992. David is a 'hands on' builder who will assure the job is completed with perfection and has a reputation for quality leaving no small detail unnoticed.

Tommy Walker, another well established builder for over 24 years, has a successful history of building quality homes priced from $150,000 to $600,000. Some of Tommy's homes are featured in Edgewater (Madison), Woodfield, Hampton Cove, and Marina Park.

Kerry Renaud joined the project in the early planning as the designated REALTOR for all sales and marketing of the development. Kerry brings over 20 years of sales and business development to this incredible project. With Kerry's passion for perfection along with the quality of workmanship from both David and Tommy, you can rest assured your new condo is built with care, quality and attention to detail which is second to none.

CondosandResorts.com is the preferred online partner for condominium marketing. They rank for condos across the country. They were chosen for the excellent customer service, search engine position, marketing know how, and their overall ability to get the job done. The Condos and Resorts team have clientele in Myrtle Beach, Pigeon Forge TN real estate, Alabama, San Jose California and Las Vegas.

"This is a very unique opportunity for Huntsville Condos", stated Kerry Renaud. Chaney Place was constructed with the finest materials to offer sophisticated style without cumbersome yard maintenance! Customers' choice of four packages of decorator colors and numerous upgrades make these southeast Huntsville condominiums a must see!

Features include a galley style kitchen with granite countertops, stainless appliances, beautiful cabinetry, and gorgeous hardwoods in the kitchen and dining room. The downstairs also features a gas fireplace and gorgeous columns separating the living and dining as well as a powder bath for guests. Upstairs include 2 bedrooms with walk-in closets, 2 baths featured with granite countertops, tile shower walls and tile floors. All units have smooth ceiling and are equipped with High-speed Internet access, pre-wired cable TV and phone service. Chaney Place will also offer a limited number of 3 Bedroom 3 bath condos call now to reserve your special unit!

Chaney Place is conveniently located within walking distance to Challenger Elementary/Middle School, churches, shopping, and restaurants as well as Ditto Landing Marina, nearby parks and walking trails.

Huntsville Alabama Real Estate news provided by Legacy Group Real Estate Marketing.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:31 AM | Comments (0)

U.S. Green Building Council Doubles Local LEED for Homes Network

Growth Driven by Surging Interest in Green Homes

Washington, D.C. (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 7, 2008 -- Dramatically expanding local access to green homebuilding expertise, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has doubled its network of LEED for Homes Providers across the United States.

Launched by the nonprofit USGBC in December 2007, LEED for Homes is a national, third-party certification system for green homes. Green homes certified using LEED must complete a rigorous on-site inspection to verify performance in energy efficiency, water conservation, non-toxic materials, and other features. To date, more than 540 homes have been recognized at LEED certification levels of Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum; and an additional 12,940 have registered under the program and are currently under development.

Local LEED for Homes Providers help homebuilders, architects, and designers use LEED to build new homes, and offer the rating and verification inspections required by the program.

“We are not powerless against the enormous environmental issues we face today,” commented Michelle Moore, USGBC’s Senior Vice President of Policy and Market Development. “By choosing a green home, individual Americans can lower their utility bills, make a difference, and have a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle for themselves and for their families.”

Green homes, on average, save 30-50% on energy bills and reduce CO2 emissions by a similar amount. In the U.S., homes account for 21% of all CO2 emissions. Green homes also use less water, create less waste, and have dramatically better indoor environmental quality than conventionally built homes. For the people who live in a green home, the result is lower utility bills and a healthier, better place to live. Green home owners also cite fewer instances of mold and mildew, and fewer incidences of asthma.

According to McGraw-Hill, 85% of green homeowners are more satisfied with their new, green home than their old, conventional one.

Additional Media Resources:

High-resolution interior and exterior residential photos available for print
B-roll demonstrating all phases of green construction and green home building techniques and strategies available in high definition
Google maps of the local LEED for Homes Providers and LEED-certified and registered homes
Online LEED for Homes press kit: www.usgbc.org/press
Educational consumer Web site: www.thegreenhomeguide.org

About LEED for Homes
LEED for Homes is a national third-party certification system for leadership in green homebuilding. It was developed by USGBC through a consensus process that included leading building scientists, home builders, architect, and other diverse representation from the homebuilding community. LEED for Homes rates and certifies green homes based on six sets of criteria, including energy and atmosphere, water usage, sustainable sites, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and location and linkages. Additional consideration is given for extraordinary innovation. A comprehensive Reference Guide, instructor-led workshops, and online courses about LEED for Homes are available.

For more information visit www.thegreenhomeguide.org

About USGBC
The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. Since UGSBC’s founding in 1993, the Council has grown to include more than 13,500 member companies and organizations, a comprehensive family of LEED® green building rating systems, an expansive educational offering, the industry’s popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org), and a network of 72 local chapters, affiliates, and organizing groups. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.

Contact:
Taryn Holowka
Director of Communications, USGBC
202.828.1144
tholowka @ usgbc.org

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:30 AM | Comments (0)

FreePoolQuotes.com Unveils Innovative Service For Swimming Pool Builders During 2008 Florida Pool & Spa Show At Booth 1032

FreePoolQuotes.com, Florida's leading provider of free swimming pool quotes, announced today that the company will unveil their innovative service at the 2008 Florida Pool and Spa Show at the Orange County Convention Center, February 22-23. FreePoolQuotes.com will be at Booth #1032.

Palm Beach, FL (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- FreePoolQuotes.com, Florida's leading provider of free swimming pool quotes, announced today that the company will unveil their innovative service at the 2008 Florida Pool and Spa Show at the Orange County Convention Center, February 22-23. FreePoolQuotes.com will be at Booth #1032.

FreePoolQuotes.com connects homeowners with reliable, licensed and insured Florida pool contractors. Within 24 hours after filling out a quote request, homeowners will receive up to five free quotes from competing swimming pool builders.

"We provide florida pool builders an opportunity to connect with homeowners who are searching online for a reputable pool construction company. We are extremely excited to showcase our new service at the most important show of the year for pool builders in Florida, the FPSA annual show," said Gregg Weiss, President of FreePoolQuotes.com.

With the help of FreePoolQuotes.com, swimming pool contractors increase the number of qualified leads they receive, allowing them to build more pools and increase annual sales volume. "We understand that not all pool builders have the knowledge or experience to market their business effectively online, ensuring that their website shows up on the major search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN. In today's competitive market, if your website does not show up on the search engines, you are missing out on potential sales. We have a team of search marketing experts that know how to get high search rankings, driving traffic to our website, generating leads for our members." said Mr. Weiss.

Membership in the FreePoolQuotes.com Network is offered throughout the state of Florida. Every licensed and insured pool builder accepted in the Network has passed a rigorous screening process. A Florida Pool Builder can join FreePoolQuotes.com by completing a short online application in 3 easy steps.

To schedule a media interview or visit, please contact:
Gregg Weiss, 888-766-6821 or email support at freepoolquotes.com

About FreePoolQuotes.com
FreePoolQuotes.com is the leading provider of free swimming pool quotes. FreePoolQuotes.com provides homeowners with an easy online form to complete. Within 24 hours, homeowners will be contacted by up to 5 local, licensed and insured swimming pool builders, ready to answer any questions about your pool project and provide you with free pool estimates.

For Florida swimming pool builders, FreePoolQuotes.com offers an online marketing solution and an affordable alternative to squandering a budget on pay per click advertising. Our unique subscription based business model allows builders to join the network for a low, flat monthly fee entitling them to unlimited leads in the counties they service.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:26 AM | Comments (0)

Unique Valentine's Day Gift Ideas Available on Intromark Incorporated's Unseenontv.com

UnSeen On TV is a source for a vast array of products that people can't find in kiosks in every mall.

Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- Still looking for a Valentine's Day gift for your special someone? Check out Intromark Incorporated's www.unseenontv.com, a website that features a wide variety of new products. Unlike the items sold "as seen on TV", consumers can't get the majority of our innovative products through late-night infomercials or in most mass-market retailers.

From innovative health and beauty products to original automotive accessories, www.unseenontv.com has all types of new products in all sorts of categories. And, since most of our products are also available for individual purchase, www.unseenontv.com offers cutting-edge consumers a great place to look for unique devices, gadgets and tools that provide solutions to everyday problems. Below is a list of unique Valentine's Day gift ideas for him or her that one might find on our online "store shelves."

Photofold™ - display panels that can hold 12, 18 or 24 photographs, pictures or cards. Suggested retail: $11.95

The SleepPosture™ Pillow - a uniquely shaped pillow that supports the back and the neck and allows people to sleep on their side. Suggested retail: $59.95

Easy Gauge™ - a compact tool that accurately determines the diameter of a drill bit prior to its use. Suggested retail: Set of 5 - $4.95

The Towbar Safety Sock™ - a neoprene cover for a standard pickup truck hitch that protects a person from injury on an exposed hitch. Suggested retail: $14.95

Snap Jack™ - a device that makes cutting pancakes fun, fast and easy. Ideal for parents with small children, it cuts pancakes into equal shaped bite-sized pieces. Suggested retail: $4.95

Anyone can receive chocolates and flowers for Valentine's Day, but www.unseenontv.com houses unique and innovative products simply because they are not available in stores. Go to www.unseenontv.com and view more gift ideas from the various product categories available.

If you are a retailer, and are interested in selling some of our products, please contact UnSeen On TV -- we can search through our catalog to find products appropriate for your specific customer base. Intromark also offers companies access to an ongoing source of patented and unpatented inventions matched to specific areas of interest. Access to these inventions is free to companies that manufacture or market new products. For more information, contact Intromark Incorporated, by calling (800) 851-6030 or (412) 288-1368; fax (412) 338-0497. You can also visit their website at www.unseenontv.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:25 AM | Comments (0)

Leisure Woods Suggests Homeowners Make 2008 The Year They Add A Gazebo To Their Yard

Leisure Woods, premier manufacturer of gazebo kits, recommends that homeowners consider adding a gazebo to their yard in 2008 to take advantage of the huge advancements in this industry.

Genoa, IL (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- The gazebo has come a long way from the early days as a simple garden shade structure. Gazebos available in 2008 are option laden, luxurious detached screen rooms.

"Gazebos have been around for centuries, and typically were viewed as a detached porch where you could take refuge from the rain or sun," comments Charles Scordato from Leisure Woods. "However, in the last several years, there have been major advancements in gazebo design and accessories. Now, there are literally hundreds of ways to design, personalize and accessorize a gazebo," he continues.

Designs experts suggest that it is a sign of the times that gazebos have become so luxurious. With hectic and busy lives, people want their backyards to be a refuge where they can escape the chaos. "It's important for clients to really think about how they will use their gazebo because that impacts that design, size and options selected," Scordato suggests.

Not only has Leisure Woods kept with the times by continually providing new options like bench seating, window/screen packages and custom packages -- but also they have kept in touch with the past by continuing to offer heritage designs.

"When we went searching for gazebo kits last year, we were thrilled with the selection provided by Leisure Woods. We have an older, character home, so we wanted a gazebo that would look like it was always a part of our yard," mentions Alana McKenzie from North Carolina. "I was impressed with the terrific selection of both heritage and modern designs available from Leisure Woods."

Anyone interested in adding their own gazebo in 2008 is encouraged to browse the Leisure Woods website and to speak to one of their friendly professionals to choose the gazebo kit that best meets their needs.

About Leisure Woods
Leisure Woods, Inc., a family owned business, is a premier manufacturer of cedar gazebo kits. Leisure Woods Inc. has a variety of pre-engineered gazebos designed to compliment both the residential and commercial environments. They currently manufacture two gazebo series, the Lake Wood Gazebo and the Cedar Cove Gazebo and also offer select styles from each of these series in vinyl and treated.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:24 AM | Comments (0)

American Clay Inc. Sponsors Green Builder "Vision" House - Orlando '08, Marking Big Move Into Florida Market

All natural and mold-inhibiting clay plasters from award-winning American Clay, Inc., are used on the majority of the interior walls in the third house of the VISION Series produced by Green Builder Media. Entitled the Green Builder® VISION Series House-Orlando '08, the high-end, architect-designed custom home is built to demonstrate that building 'green' can be glamorous and sustainable by considering durability and life safety in an active hurricane zone such as Orlando, Florida. American Clay has been available in Florida, but in a limited fashion, and this use marks a decided focus on their expansion into a market that will directly benefit from the mold-inhibiting trait of clay plaster.

Albuquerque, NM (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- All natural and mold-inhibiting clay plasters from award-winning American Clay, Inc., are used on the majority of the interior walls in the third house of the VISION Series produced by Green Builder Media. Entitled the Green Builder® VISION Series House-Orlando '08, the high-end, architect-designed custom home is built to demonstrate that building 'green' can be glamorous and sustainable by considering durability and life safety in an active hurricane zone such as Orlando, Florida. American Clay has been available in Florida, but in a limited fashion, and this use marks a decided focus on their expansion into a market that will directly benefit from the mold-inhibiting trait of clay plaster. American Clay can also provide up to seven LEED credits for projects.

The 2008 Green Builder® VISION House is one of a group of homes built as learning platforms to demonstrate the NAHB's Model Green Building Guidelines. One of the guidelines' eight guiding principles is Indoor Environmental Living Quality. Says Rhys Stucker, Director of the Series, "We use American Clay extensively in our projects because, as a zero-VOC product that happens also to provide a beautiful wall finish, it perfectly exhibits how positive indoor air quality and good design go together. American Clay plasters are key to making this a healthy, as well as natural, home; and they offer many finish choices and flexibility." The house will be open to NAHB members and International Builders Show attendees Feb. 13 -16; to the public Feb. 16-17 and 23-24. (www.greenbuildervisionhouse.com).

American Clay is used on the walls of the master bedroom, as well as most of the main floor, including the living and breakfast rooms, the den and part of the dining room. Plaster style and color selections were made by longtime 'eco' designer Bernadette Upton of EcoDecor. The 2008 VISION House also provided American Clay with a real world test application of their new exterior stucco product to be released in the near future.

"We are excited to participate in a high profile project in such a challenging environment," states American Clay founder and CEO Croft Elsaesser. "This allows us to showcase the benefits of using clay in modern construction. It will be a true asset to the project and provide a basis of benefit throughout Florida." American Clay is displayed by Real Finishes at the Arch showroom in the Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA), and is being used in projects in Tampa, Vero Beach and Boca Raton.

American Clay Earth Plasters focus on the inherent qualities of clay--longevity, temperature moderating, dirt repelling, humidity controlling, sound attenuating, flexibility, reparability containing
zero VOCs and, of course, mold inhibiting. Their mold test results - announced in February 2007 - showed that their base formulation combined with their Mud Glue™ exhibited no signs of mold growth. The tests - ASTM 3273-00 and ASTM G21-96 -- were conducted by an independent lab that utilizes ASTM standards, one of the most universally-accepted testing parameters.

American Clay's mission is to better the planet, through their commitment to healthy solutions for beautiful, calm, and healthy environments. To that end:

Their products qualify for up to 7 LEED credits on LEED certification projects
Their manufacturing uses low inherent energy to produce their products. i.e. 250 tons of material costs $45 in electricity.
They use no water in manufacturing.
Plaster is shipped dry to save shipping energy and cost. (Additional 20 pounds of water if sent premixed.)

ABOUT AMERICAN CLAY:
American Clay Earth Plaster products are a unique combination of clays, aggregates and natural pigments that offer builders and consumers a natural and elegant option. American Clay is uniquely manufactured in and made of materials found in the U.S. American Clay Enterprises, Inc., is based in Albuquerque, NM, and its product is patent pending. The product and various workshops are available through their New Mexico office or through one of the growing number of retailers and distributors across the U.S. The website, www.americanclay.com, offers information on additional products, ordering, technical specifications, product application and additional resources and links.

American Clay has been featured on CNN, CBS The Early Show, and HGTV and 'green building' shows. The company and their products have appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, INC. Magazine (The Green 50), House & Garden, Domino, eco-structure, Environmental Home +Design, ecoLogical Home, Treehugger.com, Custom Home, Fine Homebuilding, Remodeling, BUILDERnews, Green Builder® Magazine, and most building, shelter and environmental magazines, as well as numerous dailies and regionals.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:23 AM | Comments (0)

Quinn Satterfield Ranked in Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Companies in the Southeast

Greenville, South Carolina home builder named number 351 in list of Inc. Magazine's 500 Fastest Growing Companies in the Southeast.

Greenville, SC (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- Inc. Magazine has ranked Quinn Satterfield Incorporated, a Greenville, South Carolina residential home builder, number 351 on its list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in the Southeast.

"As one of the Southeast 500, Quinn Satterfield Builders is not only a part of the larger entrepreneurial engine driving the U.S. economy but also a key force - as an employer, as a corporate citizen, and as a paradigm of success - in shaping the future of our community," said Jane Berentson, Editor of Inc. Magazine.

"We are very pleased to have been selected for this notable award," commented Rick Quinn, President of Quinn Satterfield Inc. "We attribute our success to the passionate and dedicated manner in which we undertake each project, never settling for anything less than our personal best."

Founded in 1996, Quinn Satterfield Inc. has built and remodeled hundreds of homes in the upstate. Their work can be found in historic districts throughout downtown Greenville as well as in newer subdivisions throughout the upstate of South Carolina. Partners Rick Quinn and Joe Satterfield are both natives of Greenville.

The 2007 Inc. 5000, as reported online at www.inc.com, showed median revenue for Quinn Satterfield Incorporated as $10.6 million and a median three-year growth of 183.7%.

For more information on Quinn Satterfield and the communities in which they are building, please visit their website at www.quinnsatterfield.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:22 AM | Comments (0)

A Growing Number of Companies Move to Guided Selling and Configuration Software in 2007

TDCI, Inc. (TDCI), the leading provider of configurator-based software solutions, announced today that the company added 23 new customers for TDCI's BuyDesign Guided Selling and Configuration software in 2007.

Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- TDCI, Inc. (TDCI), the leading provider of configurator-based software solutions, announced today that the company added 23 new customers for TDCI's BuyDesign Guided Selling and Configuration software in 2007. Companies selecting and deploying BuyDesign in 2007 were manufacturers in a wide range of industries: from building products such as windows, commercial and residential doors, kitchen cabinets, partitions, and pre-built staircases; to custom furniture, recreational boats and yachts, custom vans, HVAC equipment, pumps, imprinted apparel, and various types of equipment and machinery.

BuyDesign is a comprehensive guided selling and configuration solution developed to streamline the sales process for customized products. BuyDesign helps companies that manufacture products with a wide range of features, options, and dimensions increase sales by becoming 'easy to do business with' while at the same time helping them improve profitability by reducing order processing time, cost, and errors.

"We're seeing a growing number of companies across many different industries adopting the concept of product configurator-based guided selling," said TDCI President Dan DeMuth. "With today's convergence of advanced software and Internet technologies, there are many different ways to leverage guided selling, from initial end-customer interest creation, to generation of intelligent design blocks for CAD designers, to guided product selection, configuration, and quoting for sales people. The same core technology can also be used to automate generation of configuration-specific drawings, documents, and manufacturing information. And as manufacturers add more and more product variety, these types of capabilities are becoming more and more important."

TDCI's BuyDesign solution suite includes configurator-based applications for direct sales quoting and ordering, multi-level dealer/distributor quoting and ordering, consumer-oriented website applications, configurable product catalogs for use by professional designers and architects within CAD applications, and more. BuyDesign solutions can provide dynamic 2D, 3D, or fully render photos of configured products, and most BuyDesign applications can be implemented online via the web, on distributed laptops and desktop PCs, in workgroups, or in any combination - all centrally managed and synchronized via the Internet. Examples of the variety of ways companies are using BuyDesign guided selling and configuration software include:

Kolbe & Kolbe Millworks, a leading manufacturer of high quality residential windows and patio doors is using BuyDesign Channel Sales to provide over 1600 sales people within their dealer network with fast, easy quoting and ordering of the company's highly customizable products.

Therma-Tru Doors, the nation's leading manufacturer of entry door systems, is using BuyDesign Build-Your-Own to enable homeowners to select, customize, and visualize various Therma-Tru door systems in a home much like their own, then find a local dealer who will use BuyDesign Channel Sales to quote and order their design.

Merillat, one of North America's largest kitchen and bathroom cabinet manufacturers, is using BuyDesign Spec-In to deliver a product catalog that enables designers to easily select and insert Merillat cabinets directly into their AutoCAD™ designs.

Four-Winns, one of America's most popular brands of recreational boats, is using BuyDesign Configurator to configure boat features, options, and colors as part of the order entry process within their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

The Gorman-Rupp Company, a leading manufacturer of pumps and pumping systems, is using BuyDesign to provide web-based selection and ordering of pumps and repair parts to the company's 1000+ world-wide distributors.

TDCI is currently working with customers to develop additional configurator-based solutions ranging from automated generation of product variant data for new product introductions, to collaborative design, quoting, and ordering of complex equipment among engineers, building contractors, manufacturers' reps, and the manufacturer.

"There's no question the world is continuing to move down the road to mass customization in just about all types of products. That's definitely changing the way companies do business, and therefore changing the types of tools they need. If TDCI's growth is any indication, we're going to be seeing even more companies adopt product configuration technology and configurator-based applications such as guided selling in order to manage both the complexity and opportunity of mass customization," summarized DeMuth.

About TDCI and BuyDesign
TDCI (www.tdci.com) is an enterprise solution provider that specializes in helping manufacturers and their distributors streamline the buying process for customized products. TDCI's BuyDesign® software is a comprehensive guided selling and configuration solution developed to help companies increase sales by becoming 'easy to do business with' while improving profitability by reducing order processing time, cost, and errors. BuyDesign provides modular components for guided product selection and configuration, product visualization, quoting and ordering, drawing generation, and status inquiry. It also includes applications for front-end specification capture from within popular design products such as AutoCAD and others.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:20 AM | Comments (0)

The End of Free Money: Credit Crunch Slams Commercial Real Estate Market

The falling yield on the 10-year Treasury since late spring 2007 has created a full-blown credit crunch for commercial real estate developers. Yet despite the volatility that comes in a market where coverages are up, spreads are at record levels, and the 10-year interest-only loan is gone, developers can still access the money they need to maximize new deals.

Richmond, VA (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- The falling yield on the 10-year Treasury since late spring 2007 has created a full-blown credit crunch for commercial real estate developers. Yet despite the volatility that comes in a market where coverages are up, spreads are at record levels, and the 10-year interest-only loan is gone, developers can still access the money they need to maximize new deals.

In a two-part podcast entitled "The End of Free Money," Richmond-based John B. Levy & Company explains the dynamics and history behind today's credit crunch and market volatility. Targeting borrowers who long for the early days of 2007 when money was cheap, the podcast aims to help developers keep projects on track by suggesting they secure financing from new sources. This analysis sets up the discussion initiated in the company's most recent podcast, a presentation broadcast in early January entitled "Deer in the Headlights: Commercial Real Estate Markets at a Standstill."

"The market has changed," says John Levy, principal of John B. Levy & Company, "and the reality is that we're not going back to the pricing and structure we enjoyed in late spring, early summer 2007. That was an aberration. So if you're a developer and you're waiting for the good old days of free money before striking a deal, plan on waiting a long time! Risk has been repriced, and it has moved just one way: higher."

In the minds of most analysts, what developers are seeing today is a much needed correction in the financial markets. And while it might not be any consolation to developers, this correction affects not only commercial real estate, but everything from corporate finance to long-term residential mortgages.

"The correlation between today and events in 1998 with Long Term Capital Management is uncanny," says Levy, "and it's also revealing. Anyone who thinks that all we have to do is wait six months and this will be over might want to think again. We reviewed a series of articles we wrote at that time on how the LTCM crisis affected the market, and we discovered that spreads widened out amazingly in the fixed-rate market, but Treasurys fell." Levy continues, "So six months after the LTCM debacle, rates had actually risen."

So where does the "new normal" of today's market leave developers who want to move forward with financing their deals? The credit crunch and volatility currently affecting the commercial real estate industry create the perfect opportunity for developers to explore and expand relationships with life insurance companies and other institutional investors. Their money is priced much more aggressively and efficiently than the Wall Street conduit market.

"What developers will find when using these new sources of financing is that their deals may take more time than when we were in the go-go days of free money," says Levy. "That means more time to negotiate documents and more time to close the deal." Levy continues, "If you're primarily a debt borrower, you'll find that you get less leverage. As a result, you may well need mezzanine debt, joint venture debt, or preferred equity. So while having to work with all these various partners and lenders might make your transaction take longer, you still have access to the resources you need to finance your deal."

Firm Background
John B. Levy & Company, Inc., is a real estate investment-banking firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The firm has structured over $3.5 billion in financing for developers and owners of commercial and multi-family projects nationwide, often investing its own proprietary funds into transactions with its clients. Mr. Levy is the originator and author of the Barron's/John B. Levy & Company National Mortgage Survey, which Barron's published for 23 years. This monthly survey tracks more than 30 of the country's largest institutional investors, as well as buyers and sellers of commercial mortgage-backed securities,. He is also co-creator of The Giliberto-Levy Commercial Mortgage Performance Index (sm), the first and pre-eminent index to measure and analyze the performance of investments in the commercial mortgage industry. Mr. Levy is also a member of the Board of Directors of Anthracite Capital Inc. (NYSE: AHR), a New York Stock Exchange REIT managed by BlackRock, Inc.

For more information about John B. Levy & Company, please visit the firm's website at www.jblevyco.com or call Andrew Little at 804-644-2000, extension 260.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:18 AM | Comments (0)

New Realty Trends Emerging In Inner Loop Houston Neighborhoods in 2008; Mortgage mess, Erratic Economy Change Buying & Selling Tactics

Luxury homes in Houston's Inner Loop (IH-610) should hold their prices in 2008, but risk of falling values, according to a study, is possible in 2009, says Steven Kleiman, CEO of Oakington Realty, Inc. The mortgage meltdown, uneasy stock markets, unsettled economy and declining prime interest rate are all radically reshaping the way brokers and their clients will market expensive homes, condos and lots, says the REaltor whose firm handled $40 million worth of high-end properties in 2007, up 25% over 2007. Home prices will increase at only 5% over the next two years, with buyers wanting upscale locations close to their places of work, as well as "suburbs in the city -- and more of them narrowing their choices online first. Sellers will have to sharpen their pencils and their properties -- from the curb and landscape to the interior and highly organized storage spaces. Those who venture into tear-downs or property flipping will have to proceed with caution.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- Despite the turmoil in much of the national housing market, one real estate veteran believes sales of existing homes in Houston's Inner Loop areas "will not lag too far behind" the "respectable" 2007 sales figures, "particularly luxury homes."

"Few if any U.S. markets will be able to match the record home sales of 2006," contends Steven Kleiman, Founder and CEO of Oakington Realty, Inc. of Houston. "But after one month, it's obvious 2008 will present both new challenges for sellers and buyers. Brokers and their clients need to recognize the emerging trends brought on by recent developments and adjust accordingly."

Oakington Realty, founded in 2004, handled more than $40 million worth of high-end property transactions in 2007, up from $30 million in 2006. The homes, ranging from $200,000 to more than $1 million, were in Houston's most prestigious Inner Loop (IH 610) neighborhoods -- Afton Oaks, Bellaire, Braes Heights, Memorial Park, Montrose, Museum District, River Oaks, Southgate, Southampton, Tanglewood, West University, et al

"While 2007 was largely a robust market for high end homes, the mortgage meltdown, the uncertain economy and recently falling interest rates are radically re-shaping buyers' expectations and our own selling tactics," observed Kleiman, a member of the National, Texas and Houston Association(s) of Realtors®.

According to David Jarvis, Houston Director of MetroStudy, a real estate research firm that analyzes all aspects of the real estate business coast to coast, Houston homeowners can expect to see homes prices increase 5% over the next two years. (Find more real estate market data at http://www.houstonfacts.org/ .)

"That should be neither daunting nor disappointing," Kleiman believes. "Considering that most home prices in this country are expected to turn downward, that is a big number. Look at job growth. Houston has added more than 75,000 jobs in the past 12 months. bringing in more than 100,000 new residents to Houston.

"These jobs are in such fields as energy and medical, which are high-paying jobs," noted the Houston native. "Those professionals typically seek more upscale residences and locations close-in to their offices - Downtown, along the Loop and in the burgeoning Texas Medical Center."

Oakington Realty, a boutique or niche real estate firm, takes a proactive approach to real estate, pairing both traditional and innovative marketing strategies with electronic communications technologies. Its six full and part-time sales associates work with buyers, sellers, investors and developers. Company hallmarks include high quality marketing campaigns plus realistic fee structures to the long-underserved, high-end real estate community.

Buyer, Seller Trends Emerge

"Home buyers are more quickly narrowing their choice of neighborhoods, home styles, amenities and brokers by first shopping online (Internet)," said Kleiman who is E-Pro Certified. "That doesn't mean they are less demanding, however. In addition to seeking a first class service and a 'work- with-me, work-for-me' attitude, many typically expect the broker to find desirable residences before they come to market."

The Houston native, who grew up in the Fondren Southwest area and resides in the Braes Heights neighborhood (between Bellaire and West University), also specializes in finding urban-in-fill properties - vacant land and potential housing tear-downs -- sought by buyers, developers and homebuilders.

"These consumers desire to be bona fide city dwellers, but with a 'neighborhood feel. That is one reason why we are seeing homes built as late as 1960 becoming tear-downs and infill residential re-development exhibiting some resurgence," he explained.

"Location and price are ultimately important, but like never before, families with children are clearly focused on safety and education," he noted. "In which school the home is zoned is of utmost importance. Single professionals also are more inclined to live, work and play in close proximity to one another.

"There also is a definite trend for families looking for the 'suburbs in the city.' They want to be close to where they work, yet within close distances to amenities such as parks, country clubs, day care, restaurants, and first-class shopping centers," he said.

The local industry has recognized Kleiman for his sales accomplishments in each of the past four years. In the second quarter of 2007, he was one of Houston's Top-Producing Buyer's agent in MLS sales transactions based on the number of buyer-size deals and on dollar volume. The University of Texas at Austin graduate has 11-year sales: CellularOne in Houston and Galveston and sales and management positions with Food.com and Worldwide Express, both Dallas firms. He previously directed sales and marketing for Millennium Patio Homes of Houston.

"The Inner Loop area will not be devastated by the sub prime mortgage mess," he emphasized. "But the banking and real estate industries' hangovers from that seminal event will definitely slow growth in home valuations and total sales and stretch out the time it takes to get a home sold. This could last a while.

"In this first quarter at least, both the asking and selling prices in the Inner Loop should remain fairly stable. The cooling housing and financial markets also mean that there will be more bargain hunters and possibly less buy-remodel-resale deals ("flipping). The caution lights are flashing for such investments."

Calculations by PMI Mortgage Insurance Company rank the Houston housing market among the lowest risk markets compared to cities nationwide, he added. http://www.houstonfacts.org/lowest_risk_markets.html

"Those same scores show risk of home values falling in 2009 in all U.S. metropolitan statistical areas and divisions. So, Houston's long-term immunity remains to be seen," Kleiman stated. "Sellers, whether they live in a suburban residence or a premier Inner Loop home, are going to have to sharpen their pencils and sharpen their properties - from the curb and landscape to the attic and the garage."

For more information or interviews:
Steven Kleiman, CEO, Oakington Realty, Inc., Houston, 713-875-9040; www.oakingtonrealty.com
Preston F. Kirk, APR, Kirk Public Relations, Austin TX, 830-693-4447

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:16 AM | Comments (0)

Point2 Technologies and Compass Internet Systems Announce Commercial Marketing Agreement

Compass integrates Point2 NLS Professional full year membership in new service package to deliver end-to-end real estate online presence and lead management solution to subscribers at no added cost.

Saskatoon, SK and Orinda, CA (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- Point2 Technologies Inc. ("Point2") and Compass Internet Systems ("Compass") today announced a two year marketing agreement that extends to new CompassSearch solution subscribers, full membership in Point2 NLS Professional, prepaid for 12 months and valued at USD $549.95, as part of a new annual subscription value service bundle offering by Compass.

The new value package is designed to give to real estate professionals who subscribe to Compass' search engine optimization (SEO) and placement service (SEP), a complete, end-to-end online presence, lead generation and conversion solution, at no added cost. The promotion is limited to the first 1000 subscribers.

"With 11 billion pages of content on the Internet today, it is paramount that real estate brokers and agents deploy smart search engine strategies and technology that can deliver increased visibility and revenues," said Sean Hogan, Chief Operating Officer, Compass Internet Systems. "SEO and marketing support are our core strengths. Through our partnership with Point2, we are now also making it easy for any CompassSearch customer to access and deploy all the critical services and technology tools they need to compete effectively online, at no added cost to them."

"Whether it's the Point2 world class website, listing syndication and distribution network, traffic reporting tools, a blog, virtual tours or, advanced lead conversion technology, real estate brokers and agents now have any or all of it at their disposal as part of their subscription to CompassSearch," added Hogan.

"This is about giving the real estate broker or agent, including existing Point2 customers, a solid advantage in their market," said Carey Tufts, Director of Marketing, Point2 Technologies Inc. "We are excited to partner with Compass on this initiative and we look forward to helping make it a great success."

The CompassSearch value bundle also applies to existing Point2 NLS members, as follows:

- Point2 NLS Standard users; automatic upgrade to Point NLS Professional for one year, renewable for a second year with equal service extension with CompassSearch. Value: USD $549.95 ($1099 if renewal is utilized);
- Point2 NLS Professional users; automatic extension of CompassSearch services for an additional three months, for a total of 15 months. Value: USD $719.85;
- Point2 NLS Premium users; automatic extension of CompassSearch services for an additional three months, for a total of 15 months. Value: USD $719.85.

Subscribers to the new CompassSearch offering can enjoy the company's guarantee of a minimum of one property sale resulting from the member's subscription to its new service, or receive an extra year service extension, from Compass, completely free of charge.

Real estate professionals can get more facts about this program at http://compass1.onelanding.com, or by visiting www.CompassInternetSystems.com.

About Compass Internet Systems:
Compass Internet Systems (Compass) provides online marketing services for realtors and real estate professionals throughout the real estate world. Through their affiliates, The Blackwater Consulting Group www.theBlackwaterCG.com and Web Reporter Tool www.webreportertool.com, the company is a recognized leader in Organic Search Engine placement, internet marketing services, coaching and reporting systems for real estate professionals. With hundreds of agents and brokers from virtually every franchise and independent organization, Compass and its affiliates make it possible for internet buyers to find their clients when they are looking for homes online, by placing their clients on the first pages of the major search engines for the markets those clients serve. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay area with offices and representatives throughout North America, Compass is growing at an annualized rate of 300% in clients, sales, and profits. The company is privately held. More information can be obtained by emailing info@CompassInternetSystems.com.
About Point2 Technologies Inc.

Point2 Technologies provides online marketing and eBusiness software solutions for the real estate and heavy equipment industries. Leveraging Point2 proprietary and patented technology, Point2 develops and markets software solutions that enable organizations to conduct business over the Internet more easily and more profitably. Point2 is the largest provider of online marketing and lead management software for real estate professionals, with over 172,000 brokers and agents subscribing to the company's flagship real estate platform, Point2 NLS (National Listing Service), in 85 countries. Membership in Point2 NLS continues to grow by over 1000 additional members each week. Point2 is also one of the largest providers of e-commerce solutions to the heavy equipment industry, powers Caterpillar Inc.'s global heavy equipment dealer network, and owns and operates UsedIron.com, one of the largest used equipment venues online.

Founded in 1996, Point2 Technologies is privately held and employs a staff of 100 at its headquarters in Saskatoon, SK and its Vancouver, BC offices. More information can be obtained at www.Point2.com.

Point2® is a trademark of Point2 Technologies Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

Media contact:
Roger Noujeim
Vice President, Public Relations
Point2 Technologies Inc.
Toll Free: 1-888-955-7900 (U.S. and Canada)
Tel. 1-604-675-9393 Ext. 224
rnoujeim @ point2.com

Blackwater/Compass
Sean Hogan, Chief Operating Officer
Compass Internet Systems
1-925-376-8300
shogan @ compassinternetsystems.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:15 AM | Comments (0)

Thomas Equipment Wins Best Booth Award for Skid Steer Loaders At International Show

Thomas Equipment won the Best Booth Award for Skid Steer Loaders in the competitive heavy equipment category at Toronto's International Landscape Ontario Show. Thomas Equipment is a company of Osiris Corporation.

Centreville, New Brunswick (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- Thomas Equipment, Inc., a company of Osiris Corporation (OSRS.PK), announced it won the acclaimed "Best Booth Award" in the highly competitive "heavy equipment category" at the International Landscape Ontario Congress, held in Toronto.

Thomas Equipment, online at www.thomasloaders.com, was selected for its Thomas Skid Steer Loaders and attachments display at the show.

Petter Etholm, President of Osiris, said, "The top prize is a great credit to the entire Thomas team, which is dedicated to providing its customers with the best skid steer loaders in the industry. We are honored to have been chosen for the award." Osiris is online at www.osiriscorp.net.

The powerful, agile and rugged Thomas Skid Steer Loaders were showcased to over 12,500 equipment buyers and executives from Canada, United States, Europe and Far East. Designed to operate in demanding, tight rugged worksite conditions, the Thomas Skid Steer Loaders were a highlight of the trade show, which is one of the top horticultural shows in North America.

Ontario Congress organizer Paul Day, Certified Director of Expositions, said, "We are proud Thomas Equipment is an active supporter of our show and we congratulate the company for winning the award."

Gilbert Bedard, Thomas Equipment's Vice President of Global Sales, said, "The Award is a crowning achievement signifying Thomas Equipment's return to Skid Steer Loader industry leadership. With more than six decades of experience behind all our Thomas Skid Steers and attachments, Thomas Equipment is ready to provide customers with the best quality of product and service in the industry."

Bedard added, "Thomas has a long and proud tradition of providing the best in Skid Steer and related equipment to customers who need dependability to operate at peak performance under rugged work conditions. With our proven expertise skid steers and in pneumatic and hydraulic systems, Thomas is more prepared than ever before to service our customers."

Thomas Equipment's 65-year history of providing top quality Skid Steer Loaders to the horticultural business reflects its dedication to the industry. With its trademark bright yellow cab and the Thomas logo of a Polar Bear growling across the Thomas "T", the distinctive profile of the Thomas loaders stand out on construction sites. Thomas Equipment is a global manufacturer and marketer of industrial and construction equipment, including skid steer loaders, and is also expert in pneumatic and hydraulic systems.

About Thomas Equipment, Inc.
Thomas Equipment, Inc. is a unit of Osiris Corporation (OSRS.PK), online at www.osiriscorp.net, which provides a variety of branded and other products to industrial markets through subsidiaries including: Thomas Equipment 2004, Inc.; Thomas Equipment Asia Co. Ltd.; Thomas Ventures, Inc., and Pneutech, Inc. The operating subsidiaries, located in Canada, Europe, and Asia, manufacture and market industrial and construction equipment, distribute pneumatic and hydraulic systems and design wireless devices for the telecommunications industry, among other activities. For more information, visit the company's website at www.thomasloaders.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
Under the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 - This press release discusses forward-looking statements with risks and uncertainties. OSRS results could differ materially due to various factors, including inability to finance operations or expansion and hire or retain personnel, economy and interest rate changes, and events such as terrorism. OSRS believes statements to be reasonable, but neither OSRS nor any other person can represent they will be achieved. OSRS is not obligated to update statements due to new information, events or otherwise. Please see the risk factors associated with our Company and review our SEC filings.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:13 AM | Comments (0)

Lower Interest Rates -- Not All Good News, According to The Interface Financial Group

Lower interest rates seem to be universally embraced; however, they are not always the panacea they appear to be. In the world of small business, lower interest rates do not automatically translate to more credit. If you cannot get the required credit from your lending institution then the rate is academic.

Irvine, CA (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- "This is a syndrome we see regularly" reports David Banfield the President of The Interface Financial Group (IFG). "Our clients always seem to get excited when rates drop only to find that it did nothing to help their particular situation".

IFG has been meeting this challenge for over 35 years and meeting it head-on with a financing program specifically geared to the needs of small companies in their early development stage. Banfield goes on to say, "Without the contribution that small business makes to the national economy, our tax base and employment numbers would be severely impaired. Providing cash to help business grow is what we are about; through our clients we create jobs and improve the overall tax base."

IFG empowers small businesses to grow by providing the all-important 'availability' to working capital. Interface has a network of more than 100 independently owned and operated offices throughout the US and Canada, serving the needs of small business owners through an invoice discounting program that is quick, easy, cost-effective and not totally balance-sheet dependent.

If you would like to learn more about specific services or opportunities, call 800-387-0860 or visit the websites: www.interfacefinancial.com or www.ifgnetwork.com

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

Sparta, NJ High School Engineering Students Build Submarine that Astounds Teachers and Race Judges Alike

Engineering students from Sussex County Technical School win 1st Place in ‘Innovation' at Int'l. Submarine Races in Maryland, with help from corporate sponsors like Control Products of East Hanover, NJ.

East Hanover, NJ (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 – The challenge for these teenage engineering students? Design and build a human-powered submarine from scratch, and then race it in a 22-foot deep, 100-meter long waterway against other submarines, most of which were built by students in college-level engineering programs.

“A high school is not supposed to be able to do this!” beamed Chris Land, teacher at Sussex County Technical School in Sparta, NJ. But a group of his engineering students did just that at the ninth International Submarine Races in Bethesda, MD last year, and went on to win first place in the Innovation category. Many other schools competed against them, including teams from Virginia Tech, the University of Michigan and even the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Now, those students (seniors on the team) have moved on to some of the top university engineering programs in the country.

"The reason we won in the Innovation category was because we were the first team ever to incorporate both the upper body strength and lower body strength of a single person," says Land, who was also the faculty project manager for the Sussex County Tech team. The students, Land says, always prove to be remarkably innovative and since 2003 have been entering the biannual race. Furthermore, they have won awards in various categories each and every time they have entered.

Several corporate sponsors donated parts for the Sussex County Tech submarine, dubbed UmptySquatch 3.2. Control Products, Inc. (CPI) of East Hanover, NJ, a manufacturer of high-quality waterproof and thermal switches, donated waterproof switches that proved to be critical for the submarine's success. CPI, which has plans to provide important components to additional submarine teams from other schools in the 2009 competition, intends to continue its support of engineering education through equipment donations.

"The International Submarine Race is a fantastic event that motivates young people to explore the field of engineering," says Mac Stuhler, vice president of CPI. "Being able to take part in something that helps to develop the engineers of the future means a great deal to us."

The engineering students at Sussex County Tech spent a whirlwind year designing, building and preparing UmptySquatch 3.2 for the contest, which also requires pilots to obtain SCUBA certification.

"I make the students take three to four weeks to convince me that they want to compete again, because it's not the kind of project I can drag them through," Land says. But Sussex County Tech students always rise to the challenge with enthusiasm and dedication. One of this year's submarine pilots, sophomore Chelsea Shupe, gave up her school softball career in order to obtain her SCUBA certification, help design and build the sub and, ultimately, compete in the race.

While most of the submarine designs used in the race have a bicycle pedal or rotary system that utilizes only the pilot's leg power, the Sparta students decided it was important to increase the power to the propeller, prompting them to study exercise machines that work the entire body. The result was their own invention of a novel propulsion system unlike anything conceived previously for a similar submarine project.

To compensate for the constant motion of the pilot's arms and legs, which compromises steering and depth control, the students designed a computer-controlled system based on sonar inputs. They also needed a manual override since they wouldn't be able to test the complex computerized system until the race. Waterproof switches from CPI, two for the rudder and two for the depth planes, were mounted on the handles that the pilot used to power the sub. If the switches, which had to withstand completely submerged conditions and constant use, proved too difficult to use or undependable, a reliable test run would not have been possible. As it turned out, the CPI waterproof switches worked flawlessly.

The total cost of building UmptySquatch 3.2 would have exceeded $62,000 had the school been required to foot the entire bill. As a result of corporate sponsors like CPI, the final cost to the school was barely more than $3,000.

School and race officials say that a project like this encourages students to consider engineering as a profession, which is always in the best interest of America's technological leadership and ingenuity. Almost every senior who has been a part of the Sussex Tech submarine team over the last few years has gone on to study engineering in college.

The International Submarine Races, sponsored by several regional and national companies and held at the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center's David Taylor Model Basin, is designed to give students a real world engineering experience. Safety is a key factor, especially since there is always an element of danger in underwater activities. With the availability of corporate sponsors, some competing teams have advantages over others. That, too, is part of the real-life experience, since many engineering companies, departments, teams and taskforces have certain advantages over others, even when in pursuit of similar goals.

About Sussex County Technical School
The Sussex County Technical School (http://www.sussex.tec.nj.us/), a school of choice, in partnership with family, community, business, industry and institutions of higher learning, empowers secondary and adult students to become self-directed learners and active participants in their community by providing a competitive advantage to pursue any career opportunity.

About Control Products, Inc.
Control Products, Inc. (www.cpi-nj.com) has been manufacturing a broad line of high quality waterproof and thermal switches since 1946. The company, known for the Precision, Efficiency, Reliability and Safety of its products, specializes in addressing OEM-specific switching challenges. In effect, the company acts as an extension of its customers' engineering departments. CPI waterproof switches are designed to operate reliably when exposed to water, oil, humidity, sand, dirt, vibration, and shock. A building block system of basic switches, mounting brackets, and actuators provides a broad array of application solutions.

For a more comprehensive story on UmptySquatch 3.2, with photos, please visit: http://www.cpi-nj.com/umptysquatch. For more information on the International Submarine Race, visit: http://www.isrsubrace.org.

Media Contact:
973-887-9400
sales@cpi-nj.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:05 AM | Comments (0)

MiniCo Now Offers Self-Storage Property And Wind Coverage In Coastal States

MiniCo, Inc. has signed an agreement with Boulder, Colo.-based International Catastrophe Insurance Managers, LLC (ICAT), to begin offering property and wind coverage for coastal locations in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Delaware, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Additional filings are in progress for many other states with approvals expected in coming weeks. MiniCo currently has capacity available in designated areas within these states.

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 -- MiniCo, Inc. has signed an agreement with Boulder, Colo.-based International Catastrophe Insurance Managers, LLC (ICAT), to begin offering property and wind coverage for coastal locations in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Delaware, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Additional filings are in progress for many other states with approvals expected in coming weeks. MiniCo currently has capacity available in designated areas within these states.

Commenting on the partnership, Mike Schofield, President, MiniCo Insurance, said, "We are excited to be able to offer an insurance solution for self-storage properties in high-risk coastal locations." He continued, "Working with ICAT will enable MiniCo to offer independent agents a one-stop resource for writing single locations as well as multi-location policies that include properties in high-risk coastal areas."

ICAT's available policy coverages include property, wind, and business interruption. MiniCo can also provide a general liability quote with limits for customers goods legal liability and sale and disposal liability coverage.

MiniCo provides the leading specialty insurance coverage for self-storage operations nationwide. For more information, contact MiniCo's Customer Care department at 800-447-8383 or MiniCo Customer Care.

Since 1974, Phoenix-based MiniCo, Inc. has been a self-storage leader providing superior specialty insurance programs, informative publications and valuable products and services created expressly for the self-storage industry.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:04 AM | Comments (0)

Phoenix Polymer Compounding LLC Announces the Launch of their New Website

Provides easy navigation and comprehensive information by market and product type for nearly every existing family of thermoplastic resin.

Brighton, MI (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 -- Phoenix Polymer Compounding LLC today announced the launch of their new interactive website www.phoenixpoly.com which provides easy navigation and comprehensive information by market and product type for nearly every existing family of thermoplastic resin.

Phoenix Polymer Compounding has over 70 combined years of the industries finest expertise. With our 50,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility, we compound nearly every existing family of thermoplastic resin; from value conscious commodity polymers to high performance engineering polymers, with our environmentally responsible Resurgens® line of recycled material containing counterparts for many also available.

Our equipment, facility configuration and quality control system has been developed to support high quality, low to medium volume compounds.

By incorporating an extensive range of reinforcements, additives, modifiers and synergistic polymer alloys, a vast combination of properties can be achieved to provide our customers with a limitless range of solutions. With the large selection of polymer, reinforcement, additive and modifier families at our disposal, our engineers independently make choices in their recommendations based on your unique performance criteria, rather than trying to fit a solution into a limited range of options.

Phoenix Polymer Compounding provides the highest and most consistent quality at competitive prices to a wide variety of market applications.

GNA Marketing Group a renowned brand identity and target marketing firm www.gnamg.com is responsible for conceptualizing, designing and marketing the Phoenix Polymer Compounding website.

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

Say It with Fire: Outdoor Fireplaces Spark Valentine Romance

When Sharon and Charlie Goldstein toast their forty-second anniversary in front of a crackling fire this Valentines Day, they'll cozy up in the place they love best: their backyard. That's because they're among the many homeowners who've recently added a romantic outdoor fireplace to their landscape.

Canoga Park, CA (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 -- When Sharon and Charlie Goldstein toast their forty-second anniversary in front of a crackling fire this Valentines Day, they'll cozy up in the place they love best: their backyard. That's because they're among the many homeowners who've recently added a romantic outdoor fireplace to their landscape.

According to award-winning garden artisan, Scott Cohen, the Goldsteins represent a booming trend in outdoor living. "More homeowners today recognize how much the addition of an outdoor fireplace can enhance their quality of life," says Cohen, supervising designer for The Green Scene, a California-based outdoor design and construction firm.

An outdoor fireplace provides an attractive gathering space for conversation with family and friends. But for couples, the rosy light and soft warmth of a backyard fire creates a quiet, intimate setting where two people can take a break from the world to enjoy each other.

An outdoor fireplace was a natural choice for the Goldsteins, who've spent much of their married life outside working and playing in their half-acre Chatsworth, California yard. "We live outdoors," says Sharon Goldstein. "We like to entertain in our yard and we're avid gardeners. After working in the garden all day, we love having a place outside to sit down and relax together."

The Goldsteins chose Cohen and The Green Scene team to design and install their new fireplace after seeing several examples of his work on Home and Garden Television. Cohen incorporated a variety of design elements from their existing house and yard to create a brand new space that looks like it was there from the home's beginning.

The fireplace features a stacked stone hearth and chimney of locally quarried Bouquet Canyon rock. A built-in bench with back and cushions extends from the hearth providing comfortable seating on one side while leaving room for additional furniture in front. The soft glow of votives in a niche above the mantle adds another element of romance to the setting.

A patio cover of open beams and shade bars creates a feeling of shelter over the space. Climbing roses and wisteria, which Cohen carefully saved from the Goldsteins' garden, will soon provide shade and soft fragrance to the open air room.

Design details and architectural elements like this are what make an outdoor living room and fireplace an integral part of the home. According to Cohen, homeowners are catching on to the fact that fireplaces and other outdoor enhancements are a great way to add perceived value to a home even though the actual cost for these upscale-looking extras is often lower than most people think. This is good news in today's competitive housing market where these extras can help hook buyers.

"Outdoor fireplaces are quickly becoming a backyard must have for the well-to-do," says Cohen. "But many homeowners don't realize that there are actually affordable fireplace options to suit any budget, from custom designed masonry fireplaces, to masonry kits or pre-cast units, to freestanding chimineas."

No matter what type you choose, Cohen suggests these tips for getting the most out of your backyard fireplace.

Don't block the view. Locate a fireplace where you can enjoy the scenery while watching the flames
If you're creating a large fireplace, position it where it can help screen prevailing winds.
Remember, any large structure will alter the flow of your backyard. Locate fireplaces accordingly.
If possible, place the fire where it can be seen and enjoyed from indoors too. A view from indoor entertaining spaces will enhance any get together
Pay attention to local ordinances when considering fireplace design, placement, and fuel type.
Leave ample room around the fire to accommodate today's deep seating outdoor furniture styles and plants and flowers to finish off the space.

For the Goldsteins, the new fireplace is a sweet reward for the twenty-five years they've spent creating a piece of paradise in their large backyard. "When we moved here, there was a house, a pool, and lots of weeds and dirt," says Charlie. "Since then, our yard has become our hobby." Now their outdoor haven of thriving gardens, soothing water features, and cozy gathering spots gives testimony to what two people can do with some hard work and a lot of love.

About Scott Cohen and The Green Scene:
Scott Cohen offers outdoor design consultation nationwide and design/construction services through his award-winning Los Angeles area firm, The Green Scene. As HGTV's favorite garden artisan, Cohen is frequently featured on programs like, Get Out Way Out, Sizzling Outdoor Kitchens, and Landscapers Challenge. His work has can also be seen in numerous national magazines and books.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:02 AM | Comments (0)

vLender.Com Supports Higher Mortgage Industry Standards - Partners as Platinum Affiliate of NAMP

Through this partnership, vLender.Com shows support for higher industry standards that promote the public's confidence in Mortgage Lending.

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 -- As more Americans are facing tougher decisions with the slowing real estate economy and mortgage market meltdown, the mortgage industry has reached a turning point which challenges both the way mortgages are originated and the professionals who are doing the origination.

Now more than ever, the need for reconciliation with proper ethics and market dynamics has forced the issue into the limelight. The partnership between NAMP and vLender.Com exemplifies the integrity that proven industry technology combined with the NAMP "Gold Standard of Professional Conduct" can bring to both the mortgage professional and American consumer.

"I am very impressed with direction and goals of NAMP. Their commitment and approach to establish a broader reach within our industry and their focus on setting a higher standard for individuals in the mortgage industry is something that is greatly needed," said David R Werner, president & CEO of vLender.Com. "The 'M' concept is unique and would provide a flexible approach to industry standards nationwide".

In a recent statement Michael Lefevre, President of NAMP & the Mortgage M™ said, "We are excited about the leadership that vLender.Com brings to the industry and our association. Their hands on experience deploying web technologies with thousands of loan originators and mortgage companies nationwide is a testimony as to their commitment to the success of the industry and we look forward to having them as a partner in our future initiatives".

vLender.Com is a 10 year mortgage industry software development company founded in 1997, providing nationwide web based point of sale mortgage website design solutions, online mortgage marketing, and process flow management solutions to thousands of mortgage companies and loan originators nationwide. The company's proprietary flagship technology is called the Virtual Lender®. The Virtual Lender® completely automates the process of creating a full service online loan origination web site and business process management system for both the mortgage company and the mortgage loan originator.

The National Association of Mortgage Professionals is a trade association that helps promote the policies that make mortgage lending a national priority. NAMPs' mission is to set a Higher Standard for Individuals in the Mortgage Industry to the Benefit of the Consumer. Specifically, the National Association of Mortgage Professionals' undertaking is to promote the public's confidence in the Mortgage Professional, including abilities, ethics, and professionalism as identified by NAMP's MORTGAGE M™.

If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with David R. Werner, please call 888-505-6688 ext 101 or e-mail David at dwerner @ vlender.com. For more information, or to schedule an interview with Michael Lefevre, please call 800-680-4071 or e-mail mlefevre @ namp.org.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 08:01 AM | Comments (0)

Charleston's Residential and Commercial Outdoor Lighting Designers to Meet with Homeowners at Home and Outdoor Living Show

NiteLites, Charleston's outdoor lighting experts, features high quality outdoor lighting products at the Home and Outdoor Living Show February 22 to 24 at the Charleston Area Convention Center.

(PRWEB) February 5, 2008 -- NiteLites Outdoor Lighting, www.nitelites.com/outdoor_lighting_charleston, the Landscape Lighting Franchise, will demonstrate their latest developments in high quality outdoor lighting systems and discuss their full range of services at the Home and Outdoor Living Show. The show is scheduled for February 22 through 24 and will be held at the Charleston Area Convention Center. Hours for the show are 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the show is $6.00, children younger than 12 are admitted free. The Home and Outdoor Living Show offers free admission to teachers, military, police, fire and EMT personnel with a valid ID. Senior citizens (65 and older) will be admitted free of charge on Friday. For more information about the show, and for discount coupons, visit www.charlestonhomebuilders.org.

More than 150 vendors will be exhibiting and showcasing their products and services for outdoor living areas. Several educational seminars will also be offered throughout the conference. Four room makeovers worth $ 1,000 will be given away during the show. Details are available on the home show www.charlestonhomebuilders.org. While attending the show, please visit Randy Greenhill, lighting designer proprietor, and his staff at the NiteLites exhibit. They are featuring popular photos of their spectacular Charleston residential and commercial lighting projects.

NiteLites commercial lighting systems are designed for residential subdivision entrances, clubhouses, pools and walkways; residential, corporate, commercial and projects; municipalities, public facilities, and parks; and apartments, town homes and condominiums. NiteLites exterior lighting systems will also increase the safety and security of the commercial property, deterring crime and providing visitors with well-lit access areas.

For more information on a NiteLites Outdoor Lighting System, or to register for a lighting consultation, visit the NiteLites booth, or call 843-723-1660 or 1-866-NITELITES (1-866-648-3548). New homeowners may take advantage of the current special available to only to Charleston's "New to the Neighborhood" attendees. NiteLites Outdoor Lighting of Charleston is an active member of the Charleston Trident HBA (www.charlestonhomebuilders.org).

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:23 AM | Comments (0)

Fast Sales Pace for Tower Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas Conveys New Uptown Dallas Success Story

67% early sell-through of phase 2 Tower Residences at The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas follows August hotel opening and fall '07 groundbreaking for the unprecedented second luxury tower. Empty nesters, families and design/architecture buffs pre-purchase the Tower Residences, conveying one more success story for booming and eclectic Uptown Dallas.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 -- More than two thirds of The Tower Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas have sold, signifying robust market appeal for the new 4.9-acre Ritz-Carlton neighborhood in Uptown Dallas.

The Tower Residences broke ground in late 2007 following the sell-out and completion of the project's Phase I, concurrent with the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas hotel and Fearing's Restaurant. Prices for the 96-unit Tower Residences range from $700,000 to over $6 million, with remaining availability for 35 homes offering one-to three-bedroom and penthouse floor plans.

"The early sales success of The Tower Residences, in terms of both price and pace, demonstrates the appeal of the new Ritz-Carlton neighborhood to sophisticated and demanding home buyers," said Bill Mabus, Vice President, Development for project owner Crescent Real Estate Equities Company. "It is easily gratifying to see that our homebuyers are largely Dallasites, indicating that a branded, concierge-serviced lifestyle is appealing to local individuals, families and empty-nesters alike."

The Tower Residences will offer state-of-the-art features and coveted amenities including an outdoor resort-style swimming pool with lush landscaping and gardens, wine-tasting room, private fitness center, manicured grounds with private pet lawn, air-conditioned Residents' walkway into The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and legendary Ritz-Carlton service. Residence owners will enjoy the hotel's signature restaurant, Fearing's, rated America's 2007 new "Restaurant of the Year" by Esquire Magazine. Residents will also enjoy the hotel's opulent 12,000-square-foot spa, 24-hour valet and concierge service, private underground parking and 24-hour in-room dining and housekeeping. Completion of the 23-story Tower Residences is scheduled for summer 2009.

On the heels of the current Tower Residences release, the neighborhood's final sales introduction scheduled for later this year will offer stunningly unique Regency Row manor homes. The comfort and privacy offered by these free-standing brownstone-style manor homes -- along with The Ritz-Carlton brand's legendary standard of service -- will make Regency Row the most desirable address in Dallas.

With spectacular views of either downtown or The Crescent mixed-use development complex with its array of fine restaurants, clubs, galleries and shops, The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas are located at the heart of the city's vibrant Uptown district. Residence owners live 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 Residences also offer an easy walk to the city's 17-block Arts District, featuring the celebrated Dallas Museum of Art, Meyerson Symphony Center, Nasher Sculpture Center and such anticipated new venues as the Dallas Center of Performing Arts, Winspear Opera House and expanded quarters for the famed Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

Delivering a projected completed value of over $300 million in residential sales, the Regency-style Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas are the culmination of a massive creative effort uniting Crescent with such global talents as Robert A.M. Stern Architects, acclaimed Chef Dean Fearing, Hayslip Interior Design Company, HKS Architects, awarding-winning landscaper James D. Burnett and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. In addition to The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, the developer Crescent Real Estate Equities Company has been instrumental in the planning and management of the forthcoming Woodall Rodgers Park, a five-acre urban park that will connect Uptown, Downtown and the Arts District. For more information, please visit www.theresidencesdallas.com.

Editor's Note: Images available upon request.

Contact:
Bonnie Crail
Crail Communications
bcrail@crailcommunications.com
(702) 882-9722

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:22 AM | Comments (0)

Kolter Land Partners Completes Acquisition of Entire Luxury Residential Community

Kolter Land Partners has completed one of the largest acquisitions in the Port St. Lucie area, Vizcaya Falls, a luxury residential community of more than 500 developed homesites and luxury single-family homes, from Centerline Homes. The total purchase price for the property was approximately $20M.

West Palm Beach, FL (PRWEB) February 4, 2008 -- Kolter Land Partners has completed one of the largest acquisitions in the Port St. Lucie area, Vizcaya Falls, a luxury residential community of more than 500 developed homesites and luxury single-family homes, from Centerline Homes. The total purchase price for the property was approximately $20M.

The is the second large land acquisition Kolter Land Partners has announced in the past week, the first of which was the $45M acquisition of all of M/I Homes' Southeast Florida portfolio.

The purchase of Vizcaya Falls continues Kolter's aggressive acquisition strategy in Florida and the southeast United States.

The centerpiece of Vizcaya Falls is the lavish recreational complex anchored by a community clubhouse that is surrounded by a resort-style swimming pool and sand beach. Among the amenities within the clubhouse are a state-of-the-art fitness center, billiards room, card rooms, and a media center, augmented by a spacious covered veranda overlooking the pool, a poolside Tiki bar, and tennis courts. "This exceptional property is well-located with a complete array of amenities both onsite and at nearby PGA Village, the PGA of America's largest golf facility in South Florida, which features three championship level golf courses and the PGA Learning Center." says Jim Harvey, President of Kolter Land Partners.

"This purchase shows Kolter's financial strength, and its ability to purchase land in a difficult market. We believe the long term prospects for the southeast US are great for quality residential communities such as Vizcaya," says Harvey. "We look forward to future opportunities."

Kolter Land Partners (http://www.kolterlandpartners.com) is the land acquisition and development affiliate of Kolter Holdings LLC (www.kolter.com). Kolter Land Partners targets residential development projects in prime market locations in the Sunbelt. They are actively pursuing significant residential land positions in 2008 and have the capital resources to undertake any size transaction. Once the land is acquired, Kolter Land Partners focuses on providing a steady supply of finished lots at competitive prices to public and private homebuilders.

Kolter (http://www.kolter.com) is a private investment firm focused on real estate development, investment and construction. Since 1993, Kolter, as both sponsor and operator, has entered into over $9 billion of real estate transactions across multiple classes and geographies.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:20 AM | Comments (0)

SSOE Announces 25 Percent Growth and Over 200 New Hires for 2007

International architecture and engineering firm keeps growth momentum going announcing substantial growth of over 25 percent for the third year in a row.

Toledo, OH (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 4, 2008 - SSOE, Inc., one of the nations largest architecture and engineering firms is announcing revenue growth since 2003, posting upwards of 25 percent each of the last three years in a row. Our revenue grew 30 percent in 2006, 25 percent growth for 2007 and we are projecting nearly 20 percent for 2008.” said Tony Damon, CEO of SSOE.

Despite the struggles of the nations industrial base and unemployment rates on the rise, SSOE has also doubled its employees throughout the past few years to nearly 1,000, hiring over 200 new staff members since January 2007. Along with a 20 percent increase in staff, SSOE has 93 percent retention rate for its employees compared to a nearly 75 percent national average. SSOE is continuing this growth with current plans to hire at least 150 new staff members in 2008.

This is an exciting time to join SSOE,” said Tony Damon, CEO of SSOE. Our business continues to thrive, undeterred by the weak national economy. We are contributing notably in people and technology that will further position SSOE as one of the most formidable architecture, engineering and design firms in the country—and the world.”

In the past three years SSOE has opened five new offices across the country including a west coast hub in Phoenix and an eastern seaboard office in Durham, North Carolina. Most notably, SSOEs China office in Shanghai, which opened in 2005, has grown to be their third largest office. The resulting opportunities for skilled architects and engineers in the biofuels, health care, retail, science and technology, alternative energy and automotive segments are considerable.

In todays volatile economy in which many markets are struggling, SSOE offers an opportunity for stability and growth. In 2007, the company retained 93 percent of its employees and 85 percent of its client base. With an eye on maintaining their edge, each year SSOE invests in technology upgrades, including software, hardware, equipment and consulting services, spending $4.45 million alone in 2007.

About SSOE
Founded in 1948, SSOE, Inc. is an international design firm and ranks 8th among the nations largest engineering and architecture firms (Building Design and Construction, 2007). Demonstrating fast and consistent growth, 2007 marks the fourth consecutive year the company has grown its revenue more than 15 percent. SSOE has also been named one of nine Best AEC Firms to Work For (Building Design and Construction, 2007) and as one of the fastest-growing US architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms by ZweigWhite, Hot List 2007.

With 1000 employees and multi-disciplined LEED accredited professionals employed in 18 offices around the world the company has earned a solid reputation in facility design for the healthcare, retail, automotive and science and technology markets, as well as process engineering for the alternative energy, biofuels, chemical, food and beverage, glass and personal care industries. SSOE has completed projects in 48 states and 32 countries, and has achieved 60 years of excellence in engineering and architectural design. Visit www.ssoe.com for additional information and career opportunities.

Contact:
Danielle Benninger
SSOE, Inc.
Office: 419.255.3830
dbenninger@ssoe.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:19 AM | Comments (0)

E-Sense Group President Appoints Experienced Cincinnati Technology Executive to the Role of President and CEO of their New US Subsidiary CinciMedia

E-Sense Group President Andrius Bakutis appoints experienced Cincinnati technology executive and serial entrepreneur Karl Treier to the role of President and CEO of their new US subsidiary CinciMedia. Karl Treier joins CinciMedia from Vora Ventures and Bluespring Software, a successful Cincinnati based software company where he served for 7 years as CTO and now serves in an advisory capacity; he brings to CinciMedia 22 years of diverse experience in the technology industry including roles in executive management, sales, software development, and internet retail, technology consulting and training services.

Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) February 4, 2008 -- E-Sense Group President Andrius Bakutis appoints experienced Cincinnati technology executive and serial entrepreneur Karl Treier to the role of President and CEO of their new US subsidiary CinciMedia. Karl Treier joins CinciMedia from Bluespring Software, a successful Cincinnati based software company where he served for 7 years as CTO and now serves in an advisory capacity; he brings to CinciMedia 22 years of diverse experience in the technology industry including roles in executive management, sales, software development, and internet retail, technology consulting and training services.

"Karl's diverse experience, proven track record, and customer focused management style meant that he was an obvious choice to lead CinciMedia, and our expansion into the US market," said E-Sense Group President Andrius Bakutis.

"I was introduced to the E-Sense Group of companies in late 2007 when they worked on Bluespring's new web site. The more I learned about their capabilities, their talented staff and their corporate culture the more impressed I became and the more convinced I was that we could build a successful US presence here offering their innovative web site design and development, flash development, and 3D rendering and animation services. The E-Sense Group companies boast an international team of over 40 full time staff that specialize in using Internet technologies to support their clients business objectives, and 3D rendering and 3D animation services to support the real estate marketing, construction, architecture and interior design industries. My goal is to grow that team by 5-10 Cincinnati-based staff over the next 12 months," said new CinciMedia President and CEO Karl Treier.

About Cincimedia:
CinciMedia is a member of the e-sense Group of companies and is dedicated to providing high quality web site design and development, Flash development and 3D rendering and animation services to the US market. CinciMedia parent company the e-sense Group based in Lithuania has provided these services to hundreds of companies including marquee clients such as Subaru, Brother, MTV International, and major real-estate development companies including Eika and the Ranga Group. The e-sense Group was also selected to provide web site design services for Vilnius - European Capital of Culture 2009.

URL: http://www.cincimedia.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:19 AM | Comments (0)

Constellation's OnLocation-Schedule Wins Another Industry Award

Constellation HomeBuilder Systems, the largest software provider for the homebuilding industry, is pleased to announce that Constellation OnLocation-Schedule has won the Constructech Top Products 2008 award.

Markham, ON (PRWEB) February 4, 2008 -- Constellation HomeBuilder Systems, the largest provider of homebuilding software, is pleased to announce that Constellation OnLocation-Schedule has won the Constructech Top Products 2008 award.

Constructech selected Constellation OnLocation-Schedule for its ease of use and extremely powerful field scheduling functionality. Designed for both superintendents and construction managers, OnLocation-Schedule ensures that everyone is up-to-date and that building progress is closely monitored.

"We congratulate Constellation HomeBuilder Systems for winning a Constructech Top Products award," said Mike Carrozzo, editor, Constructech magazine. "Customers using this product have had great success managing construction schedules and payment processes from the field." This is yet another benefit that Constellation provides to its customers. With an unsurpassed dedication to the homebuilding industry and continued investment in new technologies, Constellation is positioned to lead the industry for many years to come.

As part of the OnLocation suite of mobile device applications, OnLocation-Schedule is one piece of the big picture. Coupled with NEWSTAR Enterprise and Constellation Focus, OnLocation is the basis for a powerful system of schedule management, supplier and trade performance measurement, and timely report generation and distribution. Many builders have used this system to achieve better supplier and trade relationships, while increasing customer satisfaction with fewer mistakes and improved cycle times. Using OnLocation-Schedule's "Complete with Exceptions" feature has allowed builders to withhold payments for work that was done incorrectly, while allowing the building schedule to proceed in many cases. In addition, the use of Constellation Focus allows suppliers to be given a statement that identifies all the tasks for which payment is being held, reducing the number of phone calls and providing a clear incentive for completing the work as soon as possible.

"We are very excited about OnLocation-Schedule being selected for another homebuilding industry award," exclaims Dexter Salna, President of Constellation HomeBuilder Systems. "Constellation listens to its customers and develops the solutions that will improve their businesses. We have a strong group of early adopter customers that deserve a lot of credit for helping us develop award winning applications. These relationships improve product quality and ultimately improve the solutions that we can offer to other homebuilders."

About Constructech
A division of Specialty Publishing Co., Constructech advises 40,000 unique builders and contractors in all trades within the homebuilding market on the technology, services, and automated home technology that help improve business and increase margins. With a specialized focused in the homebuilding space, Constructech uncovers the solutions that are shaping the way homes are built.

About Constellation HomeBuilder Systems
As the largest homebuilding software company in the industry, Constellation has helped more than 1,400 homebuilding companies manage their information technology costs with integrated software solutions to run their business from dirt to warranty. From planning to homeowner services, we have land development software, homebuilding sales and marketing software, production, purchasing, scheduling, accounting, warranty and vendor portal solutions designed exclusively for the homebuilding industry.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:17 AM | Comments (0)

New Martinson-Nicholls Anti-Vibration ViSpa Pads Reduces Vibration and Noise on Counter Tops

New ViSpa anti-vibration pads inhibit noise and vibration under centrifuges and industrial equipment. The Martinson-Nicholls pads also provide vibration isolation for items such as microscopes effected by the vibration of other nearby equipment.

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) February 4, 2008 -- Created by Martinson-Nicholls in conjunction with the 3M Company, the new ViSpa Anti Vibration Pad is specifically designed to control noise and vibration caused by all types of instrumentation operating on counter tops. Using ViSpa Pads to limit vibration of each instrument allows all instruments to perform more quietly and accurately. ViSpa Pads will eliminate movement of most instruments when they are in operation. When all instrumentation is used with ViSpa Pads, a much quieter environment results.

"Recently the ViSpa Pads were purchased by Eli Lily for movement with their shakers. Using our ViSpa Pads has solved their movement problem," reported Dan Ruminski, president.

ViSpa Pads may also be used under items that do not vibrate, such as microscopes, to help isolate them from vibrations and movement of other, nearby equipment. The pads are also reversible for use under very dirty industrial items such as bench top grinders.

ViSpa Pads are made to stand up to most chemicals found in a lab setting. They are resistant to fungus, mildew, acids, oils, and organic solvents. They also withstand bleach and other chemical bases such as sodium hydroxide and ammonia.

ViSpa Pads are easy to clean by shaking, vacuuming, washing or spraying with a hose. The ViSpa material has great memory, meaning that even after instruments have been on the pads for a long period of time, once removed, ViSpa will return to its original thickness. This property makes ViSpa more effective in controlling noise and vibration.

Martinson-Nicholls has developed two thicknesses for ViSpa. The 1/2" thickness is suitable for most applications, but a 1" thick version is offered for the most difficult problems.

Standard sizes are 12" X 12", 15" X 15" and 18" X 18" with custom sizing available. ViSpa is black in color and will last for years.

About Martinson-Nicholls
Martinson-Nicholls, has established itself as a leader in custom floor matting, heated floor mats, and safety solutions over the last 25 years.

Martinson-Nicholls provides the customer with the exact size 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.

Martinson-Nicholls concentrates on floor safety, noise reduction, and anti-fatigue and indoor and outdoor heated floor mat applications. They welcome the special applications that our customers present, as this has enabled them to satisfy come very unique and unusual problems for customers. For more information, please visit www.floormat.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:16 AM | Comments (0)

David Perecman Advises Construction Workers Not to Work in High Winds

New York Construction Accident Lawyer Reminds Construction Workers Not To Work In Unsafe Conditions.

(PRWEB) February 4, 2008 -- David H. Perecman, a veteran New York construction accident lawyer and co-founder of the personal injury law firm of Perecman & Fanning, reminds construction workers not to work in unsafe conditions including high winds. "Last year I posted a press release advising construction workers to avoid working in snow and wind conditions" he says. "Now look what happened" referring to the tragic death of a construction worker, Jose Palacios, who fell to his death several days ago.

"Fatalities from construction accidents have been on the rise in New York City and a one factor has been weather. Contractors lose money when they don't work and weather slows them down," says Mr. Perecman, who has successfully represented injured construction workers for nearly three decades and is past Treasurer and current Secretary of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) and a chair of its Construction Accident Law Committee. "Winter can bring high wind conditions increasing the danger for construction workers, and that is why I advise workers not to work in unsafe weather conditions," advocates Mr. Perecman, who points out that immigrant workers suffer the most from construction accidents and fatalities.

Never one to avoid his civic obligations, in addition to advocating on behalf of construction workers who are injured due to unsafe work sites, Mr. Perecman also works with legislators so that New York's construction and labor laws are strengthened and not weakened as some real estate developers and insurance companies are attempting. He has testified before the Standing Committee on Cities, the Standing Committee on Codes, and the Standing Committee on Housing of the New York State Assembly regarding this very important issue. Mr. Perecman told the Assembly that New York construction safety laws are currently outdated and need to be strengthened in order to be effective tools to protect construction workers.

"Every year there are efforts to repeal, modify or so entirely weaken or dilute the law so that it becomes ineffective in saving lives and protecting workers. We must continue to protect our workers and laws for everyone's safety," said Mr. Perecman.

The New York Times recently reported that construction injuries have almost doubled from 23 in November of 2006 to 42 the same time last year. The same article goes on to talk about building code violations increasing to 58 in 2007 from 38 in 2006.

About David Perecman and Perecman & Fanning:
For the past 25 years, Mr. Perecman of Perecman & Fanning has championed all types of personal injury cases, often concentrating his practice on complex construction accident legal issues. Mr. Perecman, a New York construction accident lawyer, has recovered millions of dollars for his clients over the course of his career, with $25 million in verdicts and settlements in the last year alone. Among his more recent victories, Mr. Perecman won a $15 million verdict* for an injured construction worker. Mr. Perecman's depth of expertise and breadth of knowledge have been recognized and published in the New York Times and New York Magazine. He has been selected by his peers as among the Best Lawyers in America, Lawdragons' Leading Attorneys in America and "Super Lawyers" as among the top 5% of lawyers in his field and has appeared on "Court TV".

*Subsequently settled on appeal for $7.94 million

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:14 AM | Comments (0)

Waterton Residential Turns to Mobile-Shop to Enhance Maintenance Operations

Waterton Residential is installing more than 100 Mobile-Shop tools and parts organization systems at its apartment communities in 17 major markets in 12 states, including at two high rise properties located in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood.

Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) February 4, 2008 -- As part of its ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional customer service to its residents, Waterton Residential (www.watertonresidential.com) has begun installing the Mobile-Shop® System in its 33 communities around the United States.

Waterton Residential manages over 16,000 apartment homes that are located in 17 major markets and 12 states. Over the next two years, the Chicago-based company plans to provide Mobile-Shop Systems for each of its properties and its 180 service technicians.

"I first saw the Mobile-Shop in 2006," said Gregory J. Lozinak, Waterton Residential's chief operating officer. "It quickly became apparent that the Mobile-Shop System was an essential component of our commitment to providing our associates with the best tools and training. Giving a tool like the Mobile-Shop to our service associates shows we are investing time and training to make their jobs more rewarding and, in turn, that creates value for our residents in the form of outstanding customer service."

Waterton has been using the Mobile-Shop System for several months at a few of its properties, including the spectacular One East Delaware high rise located in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, and at the garden style Gulf Stream Isles community in Fort Myers, Fla.

"The results have been significant," said Shane Nemmers, Waterton's national capital programs manager. "The Mobile-Shop has definitely improved time management. We've seen a difference of night and day in our productivity and the feedback from our residents has been excellent. They appreciate our efforts to improve our maintenance service and that goes a long way in making a case for the Mobile-Shop System."

As part of its two-year implementation, Waterton will have 55 Mobile-Shops in place by the end of February. They are also purchasing 29 golf cart bed accessories that will be used to transport and securely store the Mobile-Shop at the company's garden-style apartments.

"It's obvious to me that Waterton is committed to its vision to be THE leader in the multifamily industry," said Edward "Jerry" Guirlinger, Mobile-shop's president. "They've seen first-hand that the Mobile-Shop can have a major impact on customer service and employee satisfaction and they are making a significant investment to cement their position as the industry leader."

Mobile-Shop, LLC. (www.mobile-shop.com) is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The patented Mobile-Shop System organizes and includes 230 professional quality tools and 180 critical small parts (over 1,000 pieces). It is highly transportable and boasts an accountability system that allows every tool and part to be inventoried in less than 60 seconds.

Waterton Residential is the management group of Waterton Associates which was founded in 1995 to acquire multifamily properties and other property types to which they can add value through re-positioning and renovation. Waterton has completed over $2 billion in real estate investments through equity joint ventures with major financial institutions, Wall Street investment banks, and pension funds. Since its inception, Waterton Associates has acquired in excess of 32,000 apartments in 99 properties in most major metro areas in the United States and employs over 500 people nationwide.

Contact:
Mobile-Shop
Roger Morris
Chief Marketing Officer
614-394-0120

Waterton Residential
Shane Nemmers
National Capital Programs Manager
312-476-2360

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:13 AM | Comments (0)

Grosvenor and Vision Equities JV Reposition Two NJ Office Buildings with 213,000 SF

A joint venture of Grosvenor Investment Management (GIM) and Vision Equities, LLC has commenced a $5 million capital improvement plan to redevelop two Class A office assets in the Parsippany, New Jersey area about 30 miles west of Manhattan.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) February 4, 2008 -- A joint venture of Grosvenor Investment Management (GIM) and Vision Equities, LLC has commenced a $5 million capital improvement plan to redevelop two Class A office assets in the Parsippany, New Jersey area about 30 miles west of Manhattan.

The JV has committed about $4 million to redevelop Mountain Lakes Corporate Campus, part of an 18-acre office campus just across the street from Parsippany in the executive lake community of Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. The 49,477 SF Mountain Lakes I, which underwent a gut redevelopment in 2000, is 100 percent leased to Pinnacle Foods Corporation and Omnova Solutions, Inc. The 63,528 SF Mountain Lakes II, constructed in 1981, is being redeveloped and repositioned by the JV.

When completed by the end of this year, Mountain Lakes II will have an entirely new façade of brick, granite, and pre-cast with an extensive new window line, along with all new mechanical, electrical, and life safety systems, elevators, restrooms, and a new two-story atrium lobby with wood and granite finishes. In addition, the landscaping will be replaced to enhance curb appeal and complement the new exterior. The JV also is marketing a build-to-suit land site on the campus that is approved for a one- or two-story 65,000 SF building.

"The Mountain Lakes corporate campus serves the prestigious Parsippany market, but is located just outside of Parsippany in a tranquil, beautifully landscaped residential environment," said Sam Morreale, Managing Partner of Vision Equities. "Our newly renovated building is perfect for an expanding entrepreneurial firm or a business unit of a national company." (For leasing information, contact Vision Equities at 201/247-4300.)

The GIM-Vision Equities JV also is redeveloping another asset it owns nearby in Parsippany. 299 Jefferson Road is a three-story 150,000 SF institutional quality building designed by the New York architectural firm Gwathmey Siegel & Associates for a single tenant. Its timeless design features a three-story skylit atrium with maple paneling, precast exterior, full-service cafeteria, 2,500 SF data center, and an employee fitness center. Both surface and under-building parking is provided. The GIM/Vision Equities JV is investing approximately $1 million to update the common areas, mechanical equipment, elevator cabs, and life safety systems, while adding a custom water feature to the atrium lobby. The entire building is available for lease. (For leasing information, contact Geoffrey Schubert, Marc Trevisan or Craig Eisenhardt of CB Richard Ellis' Saddle Brook, New Jersey office at 201/712-5600).

"299 Jefferson Road provides a corporate user with build-to-suit quality at rates well below the cost of new ground-up construction," said Judy Wisniewski, Senior Director of GIM. "This capital improvement plan will significantly enhance the property's curb appeal and provide a corporate user prestigious identity in the center of Morris County, New Jersey's strongest suburban office market and home to the greatest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the state." 299 Jefferson Road is located near the intersection of Interstates 80 and 287. Corporate neighbors include HSBC, Realogy, ADP, Novartis, State Farm Insurance, Deloitte & Touche, AIG, Pfizer, Lexus and PNY Technologies.

About GIM:
Based in Philadelphia, GIM serves as Grosvenor's real estate investment management operation in North America. GIM is part of Grosvenor Fund Management, which was established in 2005 as a vehicle for third-party participation in Grosvenor-managed investments. As of June 30, 2007, Grosvenor Fund Management (including GIM) had total funds under management of approximately $6.1 billion internationally. GIM is currently seeking new investment and development opportunities in the U.S. and Canada, including providing joint venture capital, across all product types and risk profiles on behalf of its Fund and Separate Account clients.

Grosvenor is a privately owned group of international property businesses with total assets under management of $22.9 billion as of June 30, 2007. Grosvenor is active in the investment, development and asset management of real estate assets through its operating companies in the Americas, Britain & Ireland, Continental Europe and Australia Asia Pacific, while its fund management business operates across all of these markets.

About Vision Equities, LLC:
Vision Equities, LLC is a full-service real estate development and management firm with extensive real estate ownership and development experience in all asset classes, involving over 15 million SF of real estate product, with a particular emphasis in New Jersey and the Northeast. Based in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, Vision Equities, LLC has operated as an entrepreneurial owner and partnered with the largest institutional capital partners in the development and ownership of core, redevelopment, development, and land entitlement assets.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 07:12 AM | Comments (0)

American Tire Corporation Denies Involvement in Alpha Mining Systems' Trade Secret Case

American Tire Corporation (ATC) has denied any involvement or relationship with Alpha Mining Systems' trade secret case as reported in the Herald-Tribune newspaper on January 31, 2008.

Chino, Calif. (PRWEB) February 4, 2008 -- American Tire Corporation (ATC) has denied any involvement or relationship with Alpha Mining Systems' trade secret case as reported in the article "Tire maker wins trade secret case" published in the Herald-Tribune, a Sarasota, Florida newspaper, on January 31, 2008.

According to this article, "Sam Vance, Alpha's sales and marketing manager at the time, was found guilty by 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Robert W. McDonald Jr. of giving a pair of overseas competitors everything they needed to steal business away from the Sarasota company." "Alpha Mining Systems, a global manufacturer of industrial mining tires, has won a $19.7 million judgment against a former employee for handing out the company's trade secrets in 2005."

In this article, ATC is mentioned as follows: "For example, Del-Nat Tire Corp. and American Tire Corp. were buying a combined average of $1.9 million per month from Alpha until Ap