The 2006 editions of the Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Mechanical Code are now available. Other codes and guides published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) will be completed and ready for use shortly, including the 2006 Solar Energy Code and the 2006 Swimming Pool, Spa & Hot Tub Code. Spanish editions of the 2006 UPC and UMC are in the works.
As manufacturer A.Y. McDonald celebrates 150 years in business, the company remembers its roots. Its namesake and founder, Andrew Young (AY) McDonald was orphaned as a child in Glasgow, Scotland, then emigrated to the United States with an aunt when he was 20 years old. He started his own plumbing business in Dubuque, IA, left to fight in the Civil War, was wounded twice and returned home to Dubuque to grow his business.
First Supply (Madison, WI) hosted more than 400 customers, vendors and employees for a seven-day trip to Puerto Rico in mid-January as part of its 2005 World of Opportunity program. Customers participate in the program by buying products from First Supply and receive extra bonus incentives for purchases of participating vendors' products.
Grainger, a distributor of facilities maintenance supplies, said it planned to add more than 39,000 products to its 2006 catalog that was scheduled to launch April 3. This brings the number of products offered through its catalog from 82,000 to more than 115,000. The expanded offering consists of about 30,000 different fasteners such as screws, bolts and nuts and an additional 10,000 products spread across diverse product categories including electrical, cleaning, material handling, plumbing and ventilation.
Herbert “Larry” Wallace, 74, former president of D&C Plumbing & Heating, a southeastern Michigan wholesaler, died Feb. 25 in Hamburg, MI. He joined the wholesale firm in 1962 as a counterman after spending four years in the U.S. Navy and another three years working for the Nelson Co.
Wolseley plc (Reading, England) announced that in its North American Plumbing & Heating Distribution segment, Ferguson (Newport News, VA) acquired Central Georgia Supply Co., which does business as Dixie Plumbing Supply Co., based in Macon, GA, in February. The plumbing and waterworks wholesaler was purchased from Ricky Hulett and Kent Procter. For the year ended Dec. 31, 2004, the company had sales of $15.8 million and had a strong marketing position for its one location, Wolseley said.
The National Association of Electrical Distributors said that 78.2% of respondents to its most recent Quarterly Sales Change Expectation forecast sales growth for the first quarter of 2006, and 21.8% expect sales to rise by 10% or more. Another 20% project flat or negative sales during this period.
In its unaudited interim results for the half year ended Jan. 31, Wolseley plc, Reading, England, said group revenue was up 26.3%, including organic growth of 12.2%.
Closely following the announcement of its planned acquisition by The Home Depot, Orlando, FL-based Hughes Supply reported its highest-ever organic growth rate - 19% - for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, with double-digit growth reported in six of its seven business segments. The wholesaler released its unaudited results of operations for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2006 in early March.
MIFAB Inc. is building a 60,000-sq.-ft. distribution center and headquarters office on the south side of Chicago (see artist's rendering below). It will have 52,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space and 8,000 sq. ft. allocated for the headquarters office. The facility, being constructed on a six-acre piece of land, is expected to be completed by May 31, 2006.
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