CAKE BOSS Carlos Bake Shop Toilet Cake 100th Anniversary General Plumbing Supply Bayonne NJ

The CAKE BOSS Buddy Valstro of the Carlos Bake Shop, 95 Washington Street in the heart of Hoboken, New Jersey, baked a 150 pound cake the shape and size of a 1950s-style toilet complete with running water in bowl in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of General Plumbing Supply. The CAKE BOSS episode was recently aired on TLC Discovery Channel network television. According to Scott Mann of Supply Plumbing Warehouse www.supplyplumbing.com “in this day and age with an uncertain economy and shifting tides of current events it is refreshing to have the plumbing industry leader General Plumbing Supply Bayonne NJ celebrate one hundred years of service to the community.” Buddy Valstro is an accomplished fourth generation baker born into the business owned and operated by his parents. Buddy grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey in an old-fashioned Italian family. He showed a flair for cake decorating at an early age. According to reliable sources, Buddy has a big personality and an even bigger heart. He is the glue that keeps the family together. Scott Mann continued “the birthday celebration was a perfect recipe to bring some local New Jersey hometown businesses to national attention with Buddy Valstro appearing on the NBC Television JAY LENO Show with the General Plumbing Supply Toilet Cake.” Since 1910, homeowners and contractors have come to GPS for the best plumbing, heating and cooling, and home-design products. Think quality and style from top brands. Superior performance. And best of all, smart, friendly experts who can help you find the right supplies for any project. When you’re looking for the right plumbing supplier, you need more than product – you need service you can trust. For more than 100 years, General Plumbing Supply has been growing its customer base in New Jersey by providing great products, competitive prices, and the resources you need to get the job done right. With ten locations and six showrooms, and a truck fleet of more than 30, GPS understands what your demanding clients expect – and we’ll make sure they like what they see both in the store and on the job. General Plumbing Supply has been a leading resource to contractors for top-of-the-line plumbing, heating, HVAC, and industrial supplies for over 100 years. In 1910, Charles S. Goldberg started what came to be known as Goldberg Plumbing Supply in Bayonne, NJ, and since then grown over three generations to become one of the largest distributors on the East Coast, with 11 locations serving NJ and Staten Island. President Bruce Tucker learned the business from his father, Herb, and has a lifetime of experience in this industry. With VP/GM Joe Novak assisting Bruce and with fourth generation family within the GPS family, by relying on good, old-fashioned service…not to mention the best products on the market delivered to your job site, the goal is simple: to deliver quality products that make it that much easier to satisfy your most demanding clients. In concert with the airing of recent CAKE BOSS Toilet Cake 100th Anniversary General Plumbing Supply, on Valentine’s Day 11 February 2011 Buddy and Lisa Valastro welcomed Carlo Salvatore to the world. Baby Carlo was at 5:11 p.m., weighing 7 lbs. 3 oz. and 20 inches long, a celebration of celebration.

News Courtesy A-1 Plumbing Newswire www.a1ly.com/news/

IBS 2011: Luxury Fixtures from Porcher Solutions™ Collection Bring Ease and Flexibility of a Modular System to Modern Bathroom

During the recent International Builders Show 2011 American Standard Brands announced Luxury Fixtures from the Porcher Solutions™ Collection Bring the Ease and Flexibility of a Modular System to the Modern Bathroom. Infinite Design Possibilities Offered with High-Style, Mix-and-Match Products. Creating a unique and stylish contemporary bathroom just became effortless with the introduction of the Porcher Solutions™ Collection, a dazzling group of modular fixtures and furnishings that can be mixed or matched in an endless array of sophisticated configurations. The comprehensive collection includes pedestal, wall-mounted, and countertop lavatories; floor-standing and wall-mounted toilets; floor-standing and wall-mounted vanities and cabinets; and even a mirror. Each piece has a unique style, yet is designed to coordinate with every other piece for a beautifully integrated bathroom aesthetic. And because the collection is a modular system, it all fits and functions together perfectly. Created with the designer and style-savvy homeowner in mind, the collection is a single source that offers infinite bathroom solutions. The Porcher Solutions Collection is also highly versatile. Fixtures and furnishings can be configured and combined in so many ways, and are available in such an array of sizes, finishes, and installation options, that the collection is just as suitable for small, tight spaces like powder rooms, as it is for the most expansive master bathroom. The Corner Pedestal Lavatory, for example, fits comfortably in the smallest powder room, while the 24-inch Rectangle Lavatory is available for wall, pedestal, or countertop mounting, making it appropriate for most sizes of bathroom. The Porcher Solutions Collection features superior materials and finishes. Lavatories are the highest quality fire clay, and toilets are vitreous china. Cabinets and vanities feature premium hardwood construction, selected veneers, cast-metal pulls, and seven-step hand-applied finishes. The collection’s high-style good looks — European elegance infused with modern restraint — are never achieved at the expense of performance. The sleek One-Piece Compact Elongated Toilet, for instance, includes the EverClean® permanent glaze that inhibits stain and odor causing bacteria, mold and mildew on the surface. In addition to offering the comfort of elongated styling yet efficiently occupying the small space of a round front model, the One-Piece is available in a 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) model, as well as an environmentally friendly 1.28 gpf high efficiency model. Also in the collection is a wall-mounted Dual Flush Toilet, which allows the choice of 1.6 or 0.8 gpf and features a Geberit in-wall tank system for the ultimate in space-saving design.  For more information about the Porcher Solutions Collection and other Porcher luxury bath products, please visit www.porcher-us.com or call 800-359-3261. ABOUT AMERICAN STANDARD BRANDS –  American Standard Brands is a leading North American manufacturer of a wide range of high-quality building products, including faucets, fixtures, furniture, vitreous china fixtures, cast iron sinks, whirlpool tubs and other wellness products for the bath and kitchen as well as decorative panels. The company currently offers total project solutions for residential and commercial customers; employs more than 5,000 people in the United States, Canada and Mexico; and markets products under well known and respected brands, such as American Standard®, Jado®, Porcher®, Safety Tubs®, Crane®, Eljer®, Fiat® and Decorative Panels International®. American Standard Brands is an affiliated portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners. For more information, visit www.americanstandard.com.

News Courtesy A-1 Plumbing Newswire http://a1ly.com/news/

KOHLER ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CAMPAIGN

Kohler announces winners of National Collegiate Campaign. Public Relations Student Society of America and American Marketing Association student chapters competed to develop a water conservation campaign to educate homeowners. Kohler Co., 2008 and 2009 WaterSense Partner of the Year, recently announced the winners of its national collegiate competition, for which student chapters competed to develop a water conservation educational campaign to help homeowners learn how to save water. The students were tasked with developing a local initiative to promote SaveWaterAmerica – a viral online campaign dedicated to educate homeowners how easy it is to save water. More than 700 Habitat for Humanity homes have been built with KOHLER water-saving products as a result of this campaign, and the company has pledged to donate a total of $2 million worth of product to the non-profit organization. Student groups from the Public Relations Student Society of America and the American Marketing. Association were selected to develop an educational campaign that would raise the awareness of water conservation in their communities – for homeowners and students on campus. Students were judged on the creativity of their campaigns, such as research on the water issues in their respective communities, developing partnerships with local water utilities and like-minded organizations, along with promotional activities and events to engage the public. Kohler selected three universities from each student organization. The winners were: PRSSA: • Syracuse University • University of Cincinnati • Ohio State University. AMA: • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater • Penn State University • University of Pennsylvania. More than 20 universities participated in the competition. The winning chapters were awarded with water-saving products to help their campuses significantly reduce water use. Students also received showerheads that use 30 percent less water than standard showerheads. Some of the creative entries to help build awareness of SaveWaterAmerica included partnerships with UNICEF, campus-wide events to sell discounted Kohler plumbing products, and social media campaigns aimed at students to get involved with the world’s looming freshwater crisis. Kohler, along with help from the students, is encouraging water-savvy homeowners to log on to SaveWaterAmerica.com and help Habitat for Humanity reach the $2 million mark. Nearly every state has participated in the program, and those interested in supporting the program can view videos, become a fan on Facebook, and follow Twitter updates on the site. As a global design and technology leader of products for the kitchen and bath, Kohler Co. offers plumbing products under its KOHLER and STERLING brands that are designed to conserve natural resources while remaining true to a singular level of quality for performance and design. Whether specifying plumbing products that help buildings earn LEED® water-efficiency points, reducing facility operating costs or accommodating the preferences of homeowners, environmentally conscious KOHLER fixtures and faucets address the challenging demands of customers and preserve one of our most precious natural resources. Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wis., Kohler Co. is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies. Kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products, engines and power generation systems, cabinetry, tile and home interiors, and an international host to award-winning hospitality and world-class golf destinations.

News Courtesy A-1 Plumbing News http://a1ly.com/news/

American Standard Brands Recognizes Outstanding Sales Performance

American Standard Brands Recognizes Outstanding Sales Performance. American Standard Brands honored three sales representatives for outstanding achievement and execution in its first annual sales awards. The awards, presented by Chris Capone, trade vice president and general manager, and Tom Santer, vice president, trade distribution strategy, recognize Greg Cole, American Standard; Oklahoma-based Pannell Associates Sales Co. (PASCO Reps); and Colorado-based Contact Sales Company, Inc.  Recipients of the annual awards were evaluated on continuous growth, sales and performance. Attention to on-time/every time delivery, high fill rates, innovations in marketing and merchandising and sales strength all contributed to the success of American Standard Brands, notes Capone.  “Our growth is a direct result of the ongoing support from our trade partners, sales reps, end-users and employees”. Outstanding Sales Achievement: The manufacturer honored American Standard sales representative Greg Cole with its 2009 Outstanding Sales Achievement Award, which recognizes the highest total sales performance throughout the country. The Ohio-based sales rep has worked for American Standard since 2000, but traces his relationship to the manufacturer back to 1974 through various wholesale and sales management roles. The 36-year industry veteran was also honored by the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association of Ohio with its 2007 Rep of the Year Award. “American Standard is an iconic brand that has been trusted for many generations,” says Cole.  “The architects and engineers that I encounter appreciate the full-range of top-performing products, water conserving fixtures and industry support programs that American Standard offers.” Cole points to one customer who purchased more than 7,000 Cadet® 3 toilets in the last 18 months.  “This customer is totally sold on our product’s quality, performance and the customer support he receives from American Standard and his wholesaler.  Our product’s top industry performance ratings have helped me convert several plumbing contractors to American Standard.” Top Sales Performance – Overall: American Standard presented Pannell Associates Sales Co. (PASCO Reps) with its 2009 Top Sales Performance Award, which recognizes the manufacturer’s rep agency that most exceeded its sales target throughout the country.  Martin Cranke, president of PASCO Reps, accepted the award for the agency. Although PASCO Reps has only represented American Standard Brands since 2008, the agency outpaced other manufacturer rep firms with the largest sales increase in 2009. “The mixture of performance, style, warranty, and price make American Standard products easy to sell,” explains Cranke, who notes the agency has represented the Crane Plumbing brand since 1989.  “We pair great products with value-added services such as product training, design consultation, new product introduction, and field technical services. We initiate pull-through sales from architects, designers, showrooms, builders, and plumbing contractors.  Our sales-with-integrity philosophy has proved that ‘doing the right thing’ is also good for business.” Top Sales Performance – Territory: American Standard presentedContact SalesCompany, Inc. with its 2009 Top Sales Performance Territory Award, which recognizes the manufacturer’s rep agency with the highest gross margin / product mix in its territory.  “The depth and breadth of the American Standard Brands product line has helped us make great inroads in the Rocky Mountain Region,” explains Bill Smith, president ofContact Sales.  “In fact, we were able to convert one local engineering firm’s entire base specification to American Standard fixtures, faucets, flush valves, molded stone and terrazzo. American Standard has given us the tools to succeed.” ABOUT AMERICAN STANDARD BRANDS – American Standard Brands is a leading North American manufacturer of a wide range of high-quality kitchen and bath products, including faucets, fixtures, furniture, vitreous china fixtures, cast iron sinks, whirlpool tubs and other related products. The company currently serves both the residential and commercial markets; employs more than 5,000 people in the United States, Canada and Mexico; and markets products under the American Standard®, Jado®, Porcher®, Safety Tubs®, Crane®, Eljer® and Fiat® brands. American Standard Brands is an affiliated portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners.
NEWS COURTESY A1LY Plumbing Newswire http://a1ly.com/news/

Paladin Radiators A New Household Brand Name For Cast Iron Radiators

Paladin Radiators A New Household Brand Name For Cast Iron Radiators. Paladin revived the cast iron radiator 7 years ago and has built a reputation feeding a growing designer market for this product. Some of the main outlets for plumbing supplies scoffed 7 years ago at the idea of offering the old style cast iron radiator to the public, yet today almost every plumbing supplier is selling them. Paladin Radiators, a family run company, based in Lincolnshire, has become a leading specialist and supplier offering an extensive range of cast iron radiators and related accessories. The secret has been Paladin’s affordability and service as well as a beautifully stunning product line. Architects, Interior Designers, Building Contractors along with the general public have all begun to favour the cast iron radiator as opposed to its rival the “paint it and hide it” modern steel radiator, for both modern and period refurbishments. With the advent of popular TV programmes such as Grand Designs and Changing Rooms etc the public have learned to be more adventurous with interior design and barn/church/warehouse conversions have become fashionable, all helping to promote the choice of the cast iron radiator. Paladin also offer a wide range of finishes including antique paint effects and hand polishing to give that extra touch of excellence and individuality to the finished product. Managing Director, Helen Proctor began Paladin Radiators 7 years ago. The idea grew out of her passion for renovating period properties and she made it a personal mission to supply the market with the option of cast iron radiators at the right price. Helen has taken great pride in winning contracts to supply radiators for many privately and publically owned eminent properties such as the Tate Library, Somerset House and Government House Nova Scotia. Paladin has also captured the market beyond our shores exporting to America, Europe, New Zealand and Russia. From small beginnings Paladin Radiators has grown into a market leader and will shortly be introducing new and exciting designs into the already extensive range. For more information visit the Paladin web site www.paladinradiators.com

News Courtesy A1LY PLUMBING NEWS http://a1ly.com/news/

American Standard Expands Water Efficiency Options – New Toilet Designs to Complement Popular Collections

American Standard Expands Water Efficiency Options – New Toilet Designs to Complement Popular Collections. New high performance, high efficiency toilets (HETs) are now available as part of three complete bathroom collections from American Standard Brands, including the Studio®, Tropic® and Evolution®series, which offer styles that range from traditional to contemporary. Homeowners can now have it all: style, conservation, and toilets that really work, explains James Walsh, director of chinaware for American Standard.  “Savvy shoppers can focus on finding the ideal bathroom fixtures and coordinating design accessories, knowing that water efficient technology and top-rated flushing performance are built in,” says Walsh. The top-rated flushing platforms used in these three bathroom collections, including the new high efficiency toilet additions, are capable of flushing more than 2.2 pounds of solids without double flushing or clogging, according to Walsh.  The HET fixtures have the added benefit of using 20 percent less water than standard 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) toilets, which can save 2,300 gallons per year per person. “From Studio’s modern, bold designs to Tropic’s casual contemporary themes, homeowners have a full range of styles to accentuate their home’s beauty and style,” continues Walsh.  “Moreover, designers can select fixtures from multiple collections for increased versatility.  For example, Studio designs also complement the Boulevard® collection of bathroom sinks, as well as the Moment’s™ line of bath faucets.  In fact, we’ve gone so far as to match the design of the Tropic toilet trip lever to the Tropic faucet.” High Performance And Water Efficient – The Studio and Tropic toilets – also available as standard 1.6 gpf toilets – feature an oversized chemical-resistant flapper to prevent warping that can cause a toilet to run continually. The generous three-inch flush valve is designed to drive more water through the bowl faster for greater flushing power.  Both collections also offer the American Standard® EverClean® antimicrobial surface, which inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew on the surface, even after years of use. That means you spend less time cleaning.The Studio and Tropic Bath Collections include toilets, sinks, faucets and coordinating furniture and accessories. Suggested retail prices for Studio and Tropic Collection toilets range from $289 to $351. The Evolution 2™ toilet leverages PowerWash™ technology under the rim to remove paper and waste, while its fully glazed trapway eliminates choke points for a quiet, but powerful flush every time.  In addition to the new 1.28 gpf high efficiency toilet, the Evolution 2 is also available as a standard 1.6 gpf. The Evolution Collection includes toilets, tubs and whirlpools. Suggested retail prices for Evolution 2 toilets range from $184 to $261. For more information on American Standard high efficiency toilets and bathroom collections, visit www.americanstandard.com or call (800) 899-2614.

ABOUT AMERICAN STANDARD BRANDS – American Standard Brands is a leading North American manufacturer of a wide range of high-quality kitchen and bath products, including faucets, fixtures, furniture, vitreous china fixtures, cast iron sinks, whirlpool tubs and other related products. The company currently serves both the residential and commercial markets; employs more than 5,000 people in the United States, Canada and Mexico; and markets products under the American Standard®, Crane®, Eljer®, Porcher®, Jado®, and Fiat® brands. American Standard Brands is an affiliated portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners.

News Courtesy A-1 Plumbing Newswire http://a1ly.com/news/

A-1 Plumbing Supply Warehouse Hot Summer Day Water Saving Tips

A-1 Plumbing Supply Warehouse, a1ly.com, New York NY a global leader in plumbing, environmental plumbing and plumbing news, today announced Hot Summer Day Water Saving Tips. The A-1 Plumbing Supply Warehouse goal is to promote a healthy environment and a peaceful, sustainable world by spreading environmental awareness. We must continue our work to ensure that each new dawn, the sun shines through clear skies and upon clean waters and all our families enjoy the blessings of good health.  In a recent statement, American Standard Brands Water Conservation Tour Ambassador Greg K. Irish said ‘Water is getting scarce, water is becoming the new oil; It’s a natural resource that is not replenishing as fast as we’re making it dirty. A water-efficient bathroom faucet can save a family of four an average of 8,200 gallons of water per year, and a water efficient shower head can save 11,900 gallons of water per year.’

In accord with water conservation and summer drought water ban’s in some communities, Scott Mann of A-1 Plumbing Supply Warehouse provides Hot Summer Day Water Saving Tips which may be used thru the year. Mann recommends ‘Fix leaky faucets and plumbing joints. This task will save 20 gallons of water per day for every leak that is stopped. Don’t run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket of water while cleaning and rinse the car with the hose. This method saves 150 gallons of water. Install water flow restrictors on showerheads or elsewhere in your home. These gadgets and thingamajigs will save between 500 and 800 gallons per month. Wash clothes and dishes with full loads only in the dishwasher and washing machine. These steps will save between 300 and 800 gallons of water per month. Shorten your time while showering. A one or two minute reduction of time while showering can save up to 700 gallons of water each month. Use a broom to clean the driveway and sidewalk instead of a hose. The brush will save 150 gallons of water or more each time it is used. Don’t use your toilet as an ashtray or a wastebasket.’  Mann continued, ‘Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Running the water needlessly sends an extra three gallons down the drain. Turn off the water while shaving and fill the bottom of your sink with a few inches of water to rinse your razor. This method will save three gallons of water each day. Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap until the water is cool. Keeping bottled water in the refrigerator can save between 200 and 300 gallons of water every month. Don’t defrost frozen foods with running water. Place frozen items in refrigerator for overnight thaw or use microwave. These habits can save up between 50 and 150 gallons of water per month. Don’t let the faucet run while cleaning vegetables. Rinse the food in a water-filled sink or pan. This habit will save between 150 and 250 gallons of water each month. Use the garbage disposal less. Garbage can be used for compost. Residents can save between 50 and 150 gallons of water each month. Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Chunks of bark, peat moss, or gravel slow down water evaporation and can save 750 to 1,500 gallons a month. Set lawn mower blades one notch higher. Longer grass means less water evaporation and less watering for a beautiful lawn. Homeowners can save 500 to 1,500 gallons each month by setting the blade higher.’ A-1 Plumbing Supply Warehouse maintains that homes with high-efficiency plumbing fixtures save indoor water use and yield substantial savings on water, sewer, and energy bills. The smart consumer will consider repairing all plumbing leaks and conserve water. A-1 Plumbing Supply Warehouse offers an entire line of products and information to conserve water. Keep America Beautiful. Be Environment Friendly. Save our treasured resource, water. # # #
News Courtesy A1LY Plumbing News http://a1ly.com/news/

American Standard Brands Acquires Safety Tubs

American Standard Brands, a leading North American manufacturer of kitchen and bath products serving both the residential and commercial markets, today announced it has acquired Safety Tubs, LLC, a privately held U.S. business specializing in the design and manufacturing of walk-in bathtubs for those with limited mobility, including the elderly, obese and disabled.  Safety Tubs will operate independently as a subsidiary of American Standard Brands called Safety Tubs Company, LLC, and will be part of a dedicated division for Assisted Living. Safety Tubs CEO, Rob Buete, will become vice president and general manager of Safety Tubs and Assisted Living.  Buete will report to Don Devine, President and CEO of American Standard Brands, an affiliate of private investment firm Sun Capital Partners, Inc.   The Safety Tubs business, based in Grand Prairie, TX, will remain in its current location. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed. Safety Tubs is the second–largest manufacturer and supplier of walk-in bathtubs, which is one of the fastest growing segments of the North American plumbing market. “This acquisition represents an exciting opportunity for American Standard Brands to expand our capabilities and technology in an attractive segment where we see high demand from both consumers and commercial businesses,” said Donald C. Devine, president and CEO of American Standard Brands. “American Standard and Safety Tubs have been partners for several years, with American Standard marketing Safety Tubs products under the American Standard brand to various channels. Andre Neidich, Safety Tubs owner, Rob Buete and I felt that the best way to expand the success of Safety Tubs would be to fully integrate the company into American Standard and take full advantage of American Standard’s engineering, sales, marketing and distribution capabilities.”  Known for the quality of its products and innovative design and engineering, Safety Tubs is focused on improving the bathing experience for individuals that have difficulty getting in and out of the bathtub. Its products have been featured on national television shows including Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and HGTV, and have received several prestigious awards including the “Award for Design Excellence” by Design Journal for three consecutive years, “Most Valuable Product for Building Industry Professionals” by Building Products Magazine and the “Innovative Product Award” from Kitchen and Bath Business Magazine. Having successfully completed the merger of Crane Plumbing, Eljer Plumbing and American Standard in 2008, American Standard Brands is focused on expanding its value share of the market. “We’ll do this by delivering on our brand promise, ‘Style That Works Better,’ with great products and strategic acquisitions that bring market-leading technology to benefit the consumer and trades,” said Devine. “Safety Tubs fits our investment criteria and we are excited by the growth potential this category brings to American Standard.  We will continue to actively seek other acquisitions which fit our growth strategy.” About American Standard Brands – American Standard Brands is a leading North American manufacturer of a wide range of high-quality kitchen and bath products, including faucets, fixtures, furniture, vitreous china fixtures, cast iron sinks, whirlpool tubs and other related products. The company currently serves both the residential and commercial markets; employs more than 5,000 people in the United States, Canada and Mexico; and markets products under the American Standard®, Crane Plumbing®, Eljer®, Porcher®, Jado®, and Fiat® brands. American Standard Brands is an affiliated portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners. About Safety Tubs – Safety Tubs, LLC specializes in the design and manufacturing of walk-in bathtubs for those with limited mobility, including the elderly, obese and disabled. Founded in 2003 and based in Grand Prairie, TX, our award-winning walk-in tubs – including both acrylic and gelcoat models with molded chair height seats – are the premier bathtub for a safer, healthier and more comfortable bathing experience.  Safety Tubs® offers many features and options unique only to Safety Tubs®, including the patented T5™ Door System, the patent pending Minute Drain™ Water Removal System, Aromatherapy and Chromatherapy Systems, and Deluxe Back and The Legs Only Massage Systems. About Sun Capital Partners, Inc. – Sun Capital Partners, Inc. is a leading private investment firm focused on leveraged buyouts, equity, debt, and other investments in companies that can benefit from its in–house operating professionals and experience. Sun Capital affiliates have invested in more than 225 companies worldwide with combined sales in excess of $40 billion since Sun Capital’s inception in 1995. Sun Capital has offices in Boca Raton, Los Angeles, and New York, as well as affiliates with offices in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

News Courtesy A1LY Plumbing News http://a1ly.com/news/

A-1 Plumbing Supply Warehouse Introduces Mini-link Internet Service

The  A-1 Plumbing Supply Warehouse, A1LY.COM, New York NY a global leader in plumbing wholesale distribution, environmental plumbing and plumbing news, today introduced the 2A1.US mini-link internet service which shortens those nasty long internet URL links into sweet simple links which are simple to use, easy to remember. Scott Mann of A-1 Plumbing Supply said in a recent press conference ‘Simple is better and our mini-link service provides a wonderful branding opportunity for our company and ensures our readers that they will safely wind up on the site recommended in our reference links. Mann continued the best things in life are free and this service is available for our customers; turn a long URL unsightly address into a beautiful awesome easier to read address.’ In this day and age of the collapse of time features such as security, branding and a more meaningful safe intelligence experience, A-1 Plumbing Supply publishers of Plumbing News and other social media properties has discovered an immediate need for a reliable link shorten and forward service for news articles, magazine articles and journals, in particular text mobile applications of 140 words or less. The service provides a simple dashboard that tracks clicks and conversions from any traffic source to any number of destination locations, screens for undesirable forwards, search and organization capabilities, a link tagging feature, and an auto-created affiliate referral system all focused on making the internet information journey a nice experience while improving marketing exposure optimization and organization. Concerning the techie-talk, 2A1.US link search and filter capabilities enable customers and staff to find the exact link or links in their cabinet that they are looking for by searching three different categories; campaign names can be searched if a user wants to find or compare specific campaigns. Destination URL searching allows users to filter every destination URL in their profile through a specific term. This can be very useful if a marketer is using an id tag for a network, or if they wish to compare traffic being sent to a specific website. The ultimate level of searching comes through the Tag feature which allows users to associate any type of tag to their destination link, in addition to the every popular annotations.
 
Scott Mann concluded the interview ‘The A-1 Plumbing Supply Warehouse goal is to promote a healthy environment and a peaceful, sustainable world by spreading environmental awareness. We must continue our work to ensure that each new dawn, the sun shines through clear skies and upon clean waters and all our families enjoy the blessings of good health.’ A-1 Plumbing Supply Warehouse maintains that homes and institutions with high-efficiency plumbing fixtures save about 30 percent of indoor water use and yield substantial savings on water, sewer, and energy bills. Consider repairing all leaks. Dripping faucets and leaky toilets can waste 200 gallons of water per day. A-1 Plumbing Supply Warehouse offers an entire line of products and information to conserve water and has been busy this summer giving water conservation tips from the extensive list of major vendors and utilize the 2A1.US service for reliable information distribution. # # #

TOTO’s Small Package Shipments Now Carbon Neutral

TOTO’s Small Package Shipments Now Carbon Neutral. TOTO USA, a recognized leader in premium high-efficiency plumbing products and green manufacturing practices, has announced that it has further expanded its sustainable logistics initiatives by adding UPS’s new carbon neutral shipping program to its energy-efficient supply chain.  Globally, TOTO is the first major company to do so. Adding UPS’s carbon neutral shipping program to its robust sustainability practices enables TOTO to offset the carbon dioxide emissions generated by the transport of its small package shipments within the U.S.  A deciding factor in TOTO’s decision to adopt UPS’s new initiative is the fact that UPS’s carbon neutral shipping program is verified and certified by independent third-party testing companies, a process that TOTO employs to validate its own high-efficiency products and environmental sustainability programs. TOTO expects to ship 75,000 carbon neutral packages in the first year. Conservation minded, cost competitive, and focused on delivering unsurpassed value to its customers, TOTO continually strives to reduce its carbon footprint.  The company exceeds many standards for green manufacturing in its five North American plants – as well as in the more than 80 TOTO manufacturing facilities around the world.  Not only are these plants approaching ‘Water Neutral’ status, they have reduced all waste streams to nearly zero. Imperfect and damaged china is crushed for roadbed and construction. Post-industrial gray water is recycled to reduce potable water consumption. Kilns use pulse fire technology and reuse exhaust heat from the firing process. Green electricity from a gas-fired generator uses methane produced at a local landfill. Biodegradable soybean-based oils reduce reliance on carbon-based lubricants in all hydraulic systems. Plastics, aluminum, glass, cardboard, brass, pallets, and computer equipment are recycled. Water and electricity use is reduced to the minimum. Employees are encouraged to bring their recyclables to the plant if the city where they live does not provide recycling service. All TOTO facilities are ISO 14001:2004 certified. “TOTO’s passionate commitment to environmental stewardship began with its incorporation in Japan nearly one hundred years ago: it is part of our DNA,” reports Lenora Campos, Ph.D., company spokesperson.  “Our dedication to protecting the planet’s natural resources is at the heart of everything we do, from product design to manufacturing to logistics.  We use less and recycle more than any other plumbing manufacturer.  TOTO is proud to be the first company worldwide to incorporate UPS’s carbon neutral initiative into our small package supply chain.” The new UPS program buys offsets on TOTO’s behalf, which financially support environmentally responsible projects.  These projects include reforestation, wastewater treatment, methane destruction, and landfill gas destruction, among others, and help mitigate the effect of TOTO’s shipping on the environment. “We’ve heard from our customers that they wanted a way to reduce the climate impact of their supply chains and UPS carbon neutral shipping does just that,” said Bob Stoffel, the UPS senior vice president who is responsible for sustainability.  “TOTO has been a long-time UPS customer and is known for their innovation and commitment to sustainable design.  This was a perfect match with our expertise and their sustainability objectives.” To highlight this aspect of their partnership, TOTO and UPS have collaborated on a multimedia case study, which explores the TOTO’s history of sustainability and the new collaboration between the long-time partners on carbon neutral shipping with UPS’s new program. 

About UPS: UPS (NYSE:UPS – News) pursues a wide range of socially responsible and sustainable business practices designed to reduce impact on the environment and improve communities around the world.  UPS is included in the Dow Jones and FTSE4Good Sustainability Indexes, which evaluate corporations based on economic, environmental and social criteria. 

About TOTO: TOTO is the largest plumbing manufacturer in the world with 80 affiliated production facilities globally.  Since 1917, TOTO Ltd., Japan, has been a pioneer in high-performance plumbing systems that bring consumers superbly designed water and energy efficient products.  In 1989, TOTO entered the US market with a driving commitment to enhance the human experience by innovating water technologies of the highest order, while passionately protecting the planet’s natural resources.  The winner of numerous domestics and international awards and recognitions, TOTO USA is certified by ISO 14004:2004 and ISO 9001:2000.  The only plumbing manufacturer to be honored as Water Efficiency Leader by the Environmental Protection Agency, TOTO seeks perfection by design as it continuously innovates sustainable water technologies that enhance the lives of its customers and the environment.  TOTO USA continues to raise industry standards and consumer expectations as to what is possible in the bath space, as its name is synonymous with beauty, performance, and craftsmanship.
News Courtesy A1LY Plumbing Newswire http://a1ly.com/news/