June 2005

Volume 6 Issue 5 June 2005

WHAT'S NEWS

STANDARDS, GUIDELINES AND ACCREDITATIONS

AAMA Updates Lead Content Standards
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has added requirements to the governing specifications of its Profile Certification Program to ensure no lead has been added to vinyl profiles that are certified. Recent revisions to the AAMA 300 series specifications now require anyone claiming conformance to these standards to meet the defined lead content requirements, which are restricted levels AAMA believes are appropriate to protect customers of the industry.

The eight materials standards have been updated by AAMA’s Vinyl Material Council to include the new lead content requirements and reference updates. According to the association, key provisions prohibit the addition of lead to the compounds, requiring that the lead content of all profiles be less than 0.02 percent by weight. The updated AAMA documents include: 303-04; 304-04; 305-04; 306-04; 307-04; 308-04; 309-04; and 310-04.

BHMA and SDI Publishes Standard for Windstorm Resistant Components
The Builders Hardware Manu-facturers Association (BHMA) and the Steel Door Institute (SDI) has announced publication of a national severe windstorm resistance compound standard, ANSI/ SDI/BHMA A250.13 Testing and Rating of Severe Windstorm Resistant Components for Swinging Door Assemblies.

The standard provides a component rating that relates directly to the component’s ability to withstand the conditions that occur in a full assembly test. According to BHMA, the benefits of the standard include flexibility of choice for architects and consumers, and ease of verification for code authorities.

“The component standards give builders and consumers the opportunity to customize entry systems and at the same time be assured that all components are tested and certified to withstand windstorm conditions. We are currently seeking formal recognition by the Florida Building Code, International Building Code and International Residential Code,” said Mike Tierney, standards coordinator for BHMA.

First Accreditation Program Started for Building Departments
A new accreditation program offered by the International Accreditation Service (IAS) will help building departments to assess its strengths and weaknesses. An IAS team of independent evaluators will assess all aspects of a building department’s service to determine if the codes the community has adopted are being effectively enforced to provide public safety and protect property.

“IAS is the first to offer nationally recognized accreditation for code enforcement agencies. The IAS accreditation provides building departments a tool to document strengths, identify areas in need of improvement and implement solutions that result in safer communities and happier citizens,” said James Lee Witt, chief executive officer of the International Code Council.

STUDIES

Report on Chinese Building Materials Market is Forthcoming
Research and Markets has announced the addition of Chinese Markets for Building Materials 2005 to its offering.

China’s demand for building materials has grown at a fast pace in the past decade. In the next five years, both production and demand will continue to grow. This new study examines China’s economic trends, investment environment, industry development, supply and demand, industry capacity, industry structure, marketing channels and major industry participants.

Historical data (1994, 1999 and 2004) and long-term forecasts through 2009 and 2014 are presented. Top Chinese building materials producers are listed in the producer directory section.

The study is available at http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c14339

COMPANY NEWS

Focus Acquires Four Quebec Companies
Focus Doors & Windows has announced the acquisition of four Quebec companies: Melco, Plastimont, Vimat and Vimat-Lavaltrie. The acquired companies complement Focus’existing operations in Montreal and Quebec.

Plastimont manufactures windows, Melco produces doors and Vimat consists of a vast distribution network. The companies, which serve both the residential and commercial markets, will continue to operate from their existing locations. The current management teams of the respective companies will oversee operations and report to Focus president and chief executive officer Robert Doyon.

“We are very excited to add their capabilities to ours and believe that Focus will be able to better serve the needs of its customers by providing them with an extensive and innovative line of products,” said Doyon.

After the acquisition, Focus will operate seven manufacturing plants and employ approximately 1,000 employees in Quebec, according to the company.

Tempco Chooses Friedman Frontier Integrated ERP
Friedman Corp. of Deerfield, Ill., has announced that Tempco Products Co. of Robinson, Ill., has selected Frontier® configuration-based enterprise solution to meet its window manufacturing and customer service initiatives. Updating its technology with IBM iSeries® and Frontier software will enable Tempco to improve inventory control for shorter lead times and forecasting accuracy, according to the company.

“One of Frontier’s advantages is its comprehensive functionality. The Frontier system has everything we need, and more,” said Larry Quick, MIS director of Tempco Products Co.

Frontier is targeted to mid- to large-sized window manufacturers. It is designed to streamline activities associated with the order fulfillment process including dealer quotes, sales orders, production scheduling, material optimization, product tracking, truck loading and performance measurement after sales service. It represents a fully integrated suite of application software modules, built upon the foundation of a table-based, dimensional product configuration module.

“The system manages Tempco’s customer service issues by providing accurate order status and order promise dates for customers. It comprehensively addresses overall cost details to identify the window products earning Tempco the best margins. Frontier’s extensive inventory control capabilities will result in reduced inventory due to better lead time and inventory costing information,” said Craig Yamauchi, president and chief executive officer of Friedman Corp.

VEKA Announces Construction of VEKA South
VEKA Holdings Inc. of Fombell, Pa., has announced that construction of a new extrusion facility in Terrell, Texas will begin in the second quarter of 2005. The VEKA south site will serve Texas and other southern states such as Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, as well as cities in Mexico and other portions of South America. Presently, these customers are serviced from the company’s Fombell, Pa. location.

“The construction of this new facility is a perfect example of our commitment to the vinyl products industry and the commitment we have to our customers. Texas is a rapidly growing market for new construction and retrofit windows and vinyl is gaining acceptance as a viable product in both commercial and residential applications,” said Walter Stucky, president of VEKA.

Winstrom Windows Adds Edgetech Line
Earlier this month, Winstrom Windows of Toluca, Ill., turned on its new automated Edgetech glass line, doubling Winstrom’s capacity for glass production, according to company officials.

“We were one of the first U.S. companies to introduce Super Spacer in vinyl windows in the early 1990s, and now we have committed to using the warm-edge spacer system in our architectural-rated aluminum commercial products, in addition to our vinyl window products,” said Jay Hedges, owner and president of Winstrom Windows.

One year ago Winstrom consolidated facilities, moving commercial production from Chicago into its company-owned facility in Toluca. The move offered synergy opportunities in glass production, screen production and logistics.

“In addition to partnering with Edgetech for glass production equipment, we continue our close relationship with Deceuninck N.A. for vinyl extrusions and with [the company’s] assistance have implemented numerous process improvements in vinyl fabrication,” Hedges added.

ASSOCIATIONS

New Program Assists ASTM Technical Committees
ASTM International board of directors has established the Interlaboratory Studies (ILS) program to aid technical committees in producing valid data for creating strong precision and bias statements. The board has committed four million dollars to the ILS program over the next five years.

The program is designed to help ASTM technical committees with its round-robin testing programs by removing administrative burdens from the committees. The program will provide staff support and financial resources to the committees by assisting with identification of participating laboratories and generating precision and bias statements and research reports. It will also collect data and oversee the generation and distribution of samples, according to the organization.

“The decision demonstrates the board’s commitment to enhancing ASTM standards and supporting the committees. I am very pleased the board is willing to take such bold steps,” said N. David Smith, ASTM International chairperson of the board.

NFRC Develops New Strategic Plan
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) presented its new vision statement, mission statement, core values and goals to members at its spring member meeting in Waikola Beach, Hawaii. The board also began approving a new plan that will provide direction for the next three to five years to NFRC staff and leadership.

“As NFRC grows in terms of both membership and products/services offered, now is the right time to establish a thoughtful forward-looking document to lead us through the organization’s next chapter. It was also important to everyone working on this plan that it be open, inclusive and reflect different voices within the industry,” said Jim Benney, NFRC executive director.

The new strategic plan includes a vision statement, core values and goals. It also incorporates a new mission statement: “NFRC develops and administers comparative energy and related rating programs that serve the public and satisfy the needs of its private sector partners by NFRC providing fair, accurate and credible, user-friendly information on fenestration product performance.”

During the meeting, NFRC also approved new disclaimer language to be included on all labels and a new registered trademark symbol on its logo.

KUDOS

Republic Wins Website Design Awards
Republic Windows & Doors of Chicago, Ill., has been the recipient of two website design awards for its new product website, www.enhancementwindows.com. Webmaster Awards and Canadian Web Awards issued the honors. The site was designed by the company’s multimedia designer, Eric Cohen, and graphic designer, Jason Soto. The company used in-house software to make the site educational and entertaining, using 3-D animation, video, slide shows, walkthroughs and games.

FEATURED ON TV

Semco Products Appear on Extreme Makeover Home Edition
Semco, a manufacturing company in Merrill, Wis., received exposure when its casement windows and sliding patio doors were used in a recent episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. In the human interest reality show, a troubled family was given a larger, energy-efficient home. The show used Semco’s casement windows with simulated divided lite and French sliding patio doors.

“Semco’s products play an important role in the home because they are extremely energy-efficient windows and doors. They’re top of the line products in terms of air infiltration, low-E glass and overall high performance. They fit the builders’ goals of beauty, energy efficiency and low maintenance,” said Rich McKenzie, western regional sales manager.

As a result of the windows, doors, and other efficient measures, the first Zero Energy Home was built on the show. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Homes program acknowledges homes that achieve energy savings of 50 percent or more.

briefly
Medieval Glass Industries of Delta, B.C., has announced the opening of its Burlington, Ont., sales and distribution facility. The opening by a North American decorative door glass company completes a continent-wide sales and distribution system ... Fry Consultants will conduct and publish a North American Window and Patio Door Multi-Client Study. Designed to examine critically important issues such as Asian imports and industry consolidation, it is also aimed to provide a market forecast to 2009. The research will begin in June and be completed by the end of October 2005. www.dwmmag.com/infocenter … DSM Engineering Plastics has made plans for a new site to expand its Engineering Plastics’ compounding capacity in China. The project includes new compounding lines and the relocation of existing facilities in Zhouzhuang in Jiangyin, Jiangsu province in China to a new plant in Jiangyin Hitech Development Zone in Jiangyin, according to the company. www.dwmmag.com/infocenter.