The A. O. Smith Foundation, has donated a total of $300,000 to two organizations in Milwaukee and Nashville in honor of the company’s 150th anniversary.
PM Engineer Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke and Supply House Times Editor Natalie Forster sat down with several industry manufacturers to discuss their efforts, including Andres Caballero, president of Uponor North America, Mark Hudoba, vice president of building solutions division for REHAU, and Marki Huston, COO of Viega.
Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke had the chance to sit down with Tina Gullickson and discuss her goals and strategies in leading Caleffi North America through this next chapter.
In the 1930s, John Robertson transitioned from installing to wholesaling furnaces, then added plumbing in 1947. The first headquarters was built in 1953, and branches were opened in the 1960s. In 1984, the company made its first acquisition, expanding into Pennsylvania.
A. O. Smith, celebrating 150 years in 2024, began in 1874 as a metal components supplier for baby carriages and bicycles. Arthur O. Smith designed a lightweight pressed steel car frame and became a major supplier to car manufacturers like Packard, Cadillac, and Ford.
Established in 2002 by industry veterans Steve Sutter and Dan Hodes, Hodes & Sutter is a team of 11 representing 22 manufacturers in Kansas, Missouri, and Southern Illinois. The company's resilience and determination have driven its success from the start to the present day.
The 2024 Premier 150 Distributor Survey reports a drop in sales amongst PHCP-PVF wholesaler-distributors. In 2023, only 66% of companies reported an increase in sales, while 25% experienced a decrease and 9% reported no change.
Pacific Plumbing Supply invested in green, high-efficiency products in 2009. They repurposed their main facility in Seattle to showcase their best products. It was popular and led to three locations.