USGlass -2009 August

Volume 44, Issue 8 - August 2009

Distribution & Hardware

EFCO Expands Product Accessibility with Three New Distribution Centers

EFCO Corp., headquartered in Monett, Mo., will be opening three new distribution centers.

“EFCO knows how important it is for today’s glazing contractors to obtain materials quickly, consistently and cost-competitively,” says Mike Farquhar, president and chief operating officer. To expand accessibility to its products, EFCO will lease space from Pella® Window & Door distributors in the Phoenix and Salt Lake City areas, and open a new EFCO distribution center in Denver.

“As a Pella Co., EFCO is excited about leveraging the strategic physical locations of the Pella system across the nation, selling products through the industry’s most talented independent sales representatives to meet the needs of glazing contractor customers,” Farquhar adds.

EFCO will inventory products at each location, and provide estimating and customer service through the independent sales representative serving area customers. “Our new distribution centers will provide regional access to stock lengths, fabricated materials, entrance doors and selected curtainwall accessories, helping reduce time and freight expenses for EFCO customers seeking quality aluminum fenestration materials,” Farquhar says.
www.efcocorp.com

Zeledyne Installs Cutting System at Tulsa Plant
Zeledyne LLC has purchased a new Hegla glass cutting system for its Tulsa, Okla., plant that, according to the announcement, can process up to 40 million square feet per year. Installation is underway and completion is expected early this month.

“This $4 million investment at our Tulsa plant represents a significant commitment to this plant and our manufacturing capability in general,” says Michael McCarney, Zeledyne chief executive officer. “This system will provide greater flexibility and responsiveness to our customers’ needs, while enhancing efficiency within the plant.”

McCarney adds, “This installation gives us greater capability, just as we are starting to see some stabilization in the architectural glass market. This positions Zeledyne well for the anticipated recovery in this segment later this year.”

This marks the second major investment at Zeledyne’s Tulsa plant in less than two years. The plant’s T-2 glass float line resumed production last May after an extensive $30 million rebuild.
www.zeledyne.com

3M and National Glass Service Group Form an Alliance
The 3M company and National Glass Service Group (NGSG) have formed an exclusive alliance to market window film solutions to large national retail chains. Through this agreement, NGSG will use 3M products and dealers exclusively while 3M will concurrently pursue all national retail accounts exclusively through NGSG. Details of the final agreement were not disclosed.
www.nationalglassservicegroup.com

Guardian Products
Now Available From Kingsburg, Calif., Plant
Auburn Hills, Mich.-based Guardian has announced that four of its SunGuard architectural glass coatings are now available from the Kingsburg, Calif., plant. These coatings were previously made only at the Carleton, Mich., plant. According to the company, the coatings—SunGuard AG 43, AG 50, Neutral 40 and Neutral 50 low-E—offer a variety of reflectivity and performance options for vision and spandrel glass. They are suitable for many different types of commercial glass applications and contribute towards LEED certification.
www.sunguardglass.com

The JEB Fleet Goes Green
J.E. Berkowitz LP (JEB) in Pedricktown, N.J., has partnered with the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) on the SmartWay™ Transport Partnership program to provide eco-friendly shipping and lessen its environmental footprint.

The SmartWay™ initiative was created in 2004 as a collaborative voluntary program between the EPA and the freight industry to address greenhouse gas emissions, fuel consumption, criteria pollutants and operating costs associated with ground freight transportations.

According to the EPA website, “Freight vehicles use approximately 20 percent of energy consumed by the U.S. transportation sector.” The site further notes, “Ground freight accounts for 40 percent of the oxides of nitrogen emissions and 31 percent of the particulate matter emissions from transportation sources.”

In order to become a SmartWay™ Transport Partner, a FLEET model must be submitted that meets a series of criteria including emissions, engine idling, aerodynamics, tires, low friction lubricants and average speed. Once deemed a partner, a SmartWay™ company commits itself to improve its total point score by 15 percent per year over a three-year period.

JEB is further looking to implement: adding eco flaps to the trucks (a rain/mud flap for vehicles that increases miles per gallon); using only SmartWay™ approved tires on trucks; reducing driving speeds by 5 mph, which will lower emissions by 7 percent; and decreasing truck idling while cranes are in use.
www.jeberkowitz.