Archives: News Items

Modern Piping Provides a Look Inside Their Fabrication Facilities & Processes December 10, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. EST – Register Today!

When site restrictions were enforced this past March, many contractors turned towards their fabrication facilities to keep their projects on track. Fabrication not only allows for a controlled environment with greater safety and oversight, it also allows companies like Modern Piping in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to leverage their productivity gains at a higher rate and even work two shifts to keep their work on pace with their schedule.

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, MCAA has decided to postpone their 2020 Fabrication Conference to 2021. In lieu of an in-person conference in 2020, the MCAA Fabrication Committee is working to provide MCAA members with a virtual sneak peek inside some of the most innovative fabrication facilities.

Over the last ten years, Modern Piping has been pushing the leading edge of fabrication by applying lean manufacturing concepts, developing software that digitizes their process and automates not only their digital workflow, but also their actual production. This has resulted in a dramatic productivity gain seen throughout their entire construction process.

On Thursday, December 10, Modern Piping’s Fabrication Shop Manager, Jim Tedow will be joined by MCAA’s Director of Innovative Technologies, Sean McGuire, and MSUITE’s CEO, Britton Langdon, to discuss their processes, tools and techniques in fabrication. This interactive session will include videos from Modern Piping’s fabrication facilities and a discussion on manufacturing concepts utilized at Modern. Attendees will see how they have streamlined their processes from design to the field. Registration for the MCAA Fabrication Virtual Mini – Modern Piping session is complimentary and limited to MCAA members only.

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OSHA Provides New COVID-19 Guidance Regarding Workplace Ventilation

OSHA recently issued new guidance on how to use workplace ventilation systems to reduce exposures to the coronavirus, including efficiency targets for air filters and recommendations for fan use. The guidance calls for employers to install HVAC filters with minimum efficiency reporting value ratings of “13 or higher, where feasible,” and to “consider using” high-efficiency particulate air fan and filtration systems, “especially in higher-risk areas.”

It also urges several stems to increase the flow of outdoor air into indoor areas, including increasing HVAC systems’ outdoor air intake; taking steps to verify that exhaust air is not being pulled back into a building, such as by traveling through open windows or nearby intakes; ensuring exhaust fans in restrooms specifically are “fully functional, operating at maximum capacity, and are set to remain on”; and opening windows and “other sources of fresh air” when possible.

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CNA Shares Risk Control e-Talks on Business Resiliency

MCAA member CNA, MCAA’s long-time partner in workplace safety, loss control, and risk control, is sharing its Risk Control e-Talks series on Business Resiliency with MCAA members. The series addresses how natural and manmade catastrophes, pandemics, and civil unrest create uncertainty, complexity, and challenges that unfold in real time. The talks provide tips and resources that will help your business thrive during these environments.

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Find the Latest from Lochinvar, LLC and Josam Company in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

Lochinvar, LLC
Lochinvar’s glass-lined, jacketed and insulated storage tanks are specifically engineered to provide a high volume supply of hot water at a constant outlet temperature.

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Josam Company
Josam Company’s comprehensive line of drainage products offer labor saving features and benefits with the installer in mind. In addition to ease of installation, we also offer customized solutions for the most difficult applications.

Quality Engineered Drainage Products.

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Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

WiMI Mentors and Mentees Share Their Experiences and Advice In Encouraging Panel Discussion–Watch Now!

Yesterday, Women in the Mechanical Industry (WiMI) Chair, Kori Gormley-Huppert led a lively discussion with mentor and mentees who are currently participating in the initiative’s Mentor/Mentee Program. Pattie Krippendorf, Vice President of the Service Division at Helm Group and a mentor in the program, shared her industry and life experiences, as well as offered her best advice to those newly navigating the industry. Mentees, Ali Brown, a student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Madelyn Conway, a project engineer at BMWC Constructors, Inc. and Michelle Mays, a Sales Operations Coordinator at Crockett Facilities Services, spoke to the value of being involved in this program, and how invaluable they have found the assistance from their mentors, women with years of experience in the mechanical industry, in career planning, networking and goal setting.

The WiMI initiative was created to enable women in the mechanical industry to further enrich their careers through networking, educational, mentoring and career development opportunities. Interested and want to get involved?

WiMI Mentee Questionnaire

WiMI Mentor Questionnaire

MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight Episode Two: Rich Simons, LAARS, a Bradford White Company

In the second episode of MCAA’s Sponsor Spotlight series, MCAA President-Elect, Armand Kilijian, welcomes Rich Simons, Vice President and General Manager, Laars Heating Systems for LAARS, a Bradford White Company. The Sponsor Spotlight Series is a new way for MCAA contractor members to learn more about the Manufacturer/Supplier Council (M/SC) Governing Board members, their products, their relationship with MCAA, and what being a member means to them.

Rich Simons is the General Manager of Laars Heating Systems, a subsidiary of Bradford White Corporation. He is also a Vice President on the Bradford White Corporation Senior Staff. In his role he is responsible for all aspects of the Laars Heating Systems business. Before joining the Laars team, Rich spent 21 years with Honeywell in in roles of increasing responsibilities from Director of Engineering to Director of Marketing with roles in channel, product, and applications management. Generally spending his focus to the boiler controls business, Rich saw through the definition, development, and release of several generations of oil and gas combustion controls and boiler controls. Rich is named on six U.S. patents and been engaged in both U.S. and European markets.

Recorded: Friday, November 6

With eSUB Software, Braconier Cuts Payroll Processing Down to Minutes

Braconier adopted eSUB’s comprehensive software platform to standardize project management and operations, cutting processes such as timecard inputting and payroll processing from a full day down to minutes. The platform also helps Braconier document every aspect of their projects, which helps keep things running smoothly.

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Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Next Week is the Finale of MCAA’s GreatFutures Virtual Fall Program

The GreatFutures Virtual Fall Program has completed the eighth week of presentations. Next week’s finale is your last opportunity to listen and learn from students who have previously participated in the competition. Tune in for Does your student chapter have questions as you finalize your project for MCAA’s Annual Student Competition? on the LIVE GreatFutures Virtual Fall Program panel presentation on Tuesday, November 17^th at 3:00pm EST.

Five $50 Gift Cards will be raffled off during the LIVE presentation.

Register for access to any of these upcoming sessions or to check out any of the previous presentations in the GreatFutures Virtual Fall Program. View the full schedule and register today!

REGISTER NOW

Those who are already registered can visit the GreatFutures Fall Virtual Program website to catch up on any programs they may have missed.

DON’T FORGET Monday, December 7^th, all student chapter competition projects are due in Procore. All student chapters will be provided with their project results on Friday, January 15^th. MCAA will then work with each of the Final Four teams to prepare for the Final Four presentations, including a technology requirement review and a thorough rehearsal. Final Four presentations will follow the standard time, twelve minutes per presentation, with ten minutes for Q&A. These presentations will be recorded then released to MCAA’s membership on Monday, March 22^nd to kick-off MCAA’s Virtual Education Conference.

We understand this is new, but MCAA’s Career Development Committee will be there every step of the way. Stay tuned for more information and registration details. If you have any questions, please reach out to MCAA’s Director of Career Development, Megan Walsh at mwalsh@mcaa.org.

PCA Wraps Up Their Virtual Education Series on Plumbing Service with a Discussion on Heavy Equipment

The final episode of the series, hosted by JPG Plumbing & Mechanical Services, focused on the heavy equipment required for vac services.

Plumbing service has emerged as a profitable business line for many MCAA and PCA members seeking to balance their operations with services that provide higher profit margins. From the outside, it might appear to be a difficult set of operations to get into but seeing how a leading contractor runs it can make it much more achievable.

In September of 2020, JPG Plumbing and Mechanical Services opened their doors (virtually) as part of the seven-week PCA Virtual Education Series on Plumbing Service. With the help of the PCA, JPG showcased seven parts of their operation from standard drain cleaning and truck tools all the way to complicated aspects like robotic pipe inspection and vac services. Each module in the series included a 15-minute video, taken onsite from their operations, a workbook with parts and prices and a 45-minute discussion on the individual section.

In the final episode of series, JPG President John Geiling, showcased how far their company has taken plumbing service – into heavy equipment purchases. JPG’s Vac Services Division Manager, John Davis, detailed the company’s progression from low-profile pump trucks that they had custom made to the investment-heavy Vac-Con Titan vactor truck. The Titan can be used to hydro-excavate, vacuum larger volumes and objects as well as hydro-jet. These vehicles frequently work in conjunction with their robotic pipe inspection truck that can certify and repair pipes with a robotic crawler, avoiding expensive excavation.

Attendees that were not able to participate in the live events have the ability to go back to watch the recorded presentation and handouts for weeks after the original presentation. Although the innovative conference was performed in a virtual setting in 2020, plans are underway to host the conference in person in the fall of 2021.

MCAA’s 2020-2021 Tool & Equipment Rental Guide is Now Available

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H.L. Moe Company, Inc. Recognized for Safety Excellence

MCAA and CNA are pleased to announce that H.L. Moe Company, Inc. earned the association’s top safety award for 2019 in Size Category 2, 100,001 – 250,000 work hours. H.L. Moe Company’s successful “Cart Mounted Vise” program to address ergonomics set the company apart.

The program outfits each worker with a “Cart Mounted Vise.” The vise eliminates the need to bend down to perform the work. Instead, the vise lifts the work up to the employees. With the implementation of the cart vises, which include a fire extinguisher mounted on each of them, the company virtually eliminated one-handed cutting of pipe, bending over, soldering on unsecured surfaces, and performing hot work without a fire extinguisher nearby.

The MCAA/CNA Safety Excellence Awards Program began in the 1990s when MCAA partnered with CNA Insurance. It is a fiercely competitive program in which only the best of the best compete for the awards.

Participants are required to describe their safety programs in detail, including how they achieved safety excellence and why they believe they deserve the award. The Safety Awards Selection Taskforce, which is led by CNA, carefully evaluates each submission looking for safety leadership, an advanced safety culture, effective leading indicators of safety performance, and innovative safety initiatives that helped the company achieve an exceptionally high degree of safety excellence.

MCAA and CNA congratulate H.L. Moe Company, Inc. for earning such a high degree of safety excellence in 2019.

Kori Gormley-Huppert Featured in Maker Month Profile

Kori Gormley-Huppert, president of MCAA member Gormley Plumbing + Mechanical and chair of MCAA’s Women in the Mechanical Industry Steering Committee, is among those profiled as part of Stanley Black & Decker’s Maker Month Campaign. The campaign is designed to empower makers and tradespeople around the world. Stanley Black & Decker is the parent company of DEWALT and LENOX, both MCAA members.

In the interview-style profile, Kori talks about her company, her career and the mechanical industry. She also offers advice to those who are just getting started thanks to perspective gained from her own experience and her work on MCAA’s Career Development Committee.

In addition to profiles spotlighting a diverse range of makers and creators from tradespeople and engineers to philanthropists and innovators throughout the industry, the campaign shines a light on the trade skills gap, which is one of the biggest issues facing the workforce today.

“To help solve for the vast skills gap today, an issue made worse by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, businesses need to showcase and celebrate the wide variety of opportunities people can pursue across the skilled trades,” said Jim Loree, President & CEO of Stanley Black & Decker. He added “Maker Month is our contribution to this effort, helping to highlight the vast potential these careers offer.”

MCAA Staff Supports Convoy of Hope with Packing Party

For ten years MSCA has been partnering with Convoy of Hope, a faith-based, nonprofit organization that provides disaster relief around the world. Our popular Packing Party is normally held every fall during the MSCA Education Conference. With the current pandemic keeping us from holding this year’s conference, MCAA staff decided to bring the party to our National office. In just a few hours, our staff packed more than 1,500 hygiene kits that Convoy of Hope will provide to disaster relief victims in need all across the country.

We hope you will join us in supporting Convoy of Hope’s efforts by making a donation at www.convoyofhope.org/msca.

Find the Latest from Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.® and iBusiness Technologies in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.® a Member of Morris Group International
When you think of the Trap-Defender™, think of the number 3. This patented pressure-drop trap primer is activated by a pressure drop as low as 3 PSI and has a 3-year warranty. Learn more about the Trap-Defender and the entire line of Smith Fluid Controls™ Trap Primers and Distribution Units.

Learn More

iBusiness Technologies
Reduce costs and get paid faster with MobiliForms. Your identical, familiar forms now on iPad with signature and image capture. MCAA & MSCA members love MobiliForms because it pays for itself!

Learn More

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Get Precise, Consistent Joints with Laser Welding

Many types of welding have been proven performers for a long time. Welding is, at its core, simply a way of joining two materials. While there are other ways to join metal (e.g., riveting, brazing, or soldering), welding has become the method of choice for its availability, high performance, and high strength. NIBCO INC. highlights the benefits of laser welding, including strength and efficiency. NIBCO INC. is an MCAA major sponsor.

LEARN MORE

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Learn About Optimizing Water Safety & Mitigating Legionella Risk from Watts Water Technologies

Watts Water Technologies, an MCAA member, has shared information about Watts Healthcare Live, the 3rd Annual Watts Healthcare Symposium. Starting Tuesday, November 3 at 10 am ET, they will offer six weekly panel discussions with the industry’s leading experts in healthcare design and water safety. A highly-interactive environment will encourage contractors, facility managers, engineers, and infection control professionals to discuss challenges and opportunities in healthcare design.

For additional information, including session dates and speaker lineup, see the Symposium flier.

To register, visit https://webapp.spotme.com/login/watts.

Related Resource:

Watts also offers a recorded webinar on “Guidelines for Recommissioning Plumbing Equipment.” (Press play to see the video.)

Beyond the Classroom Video Series: The Power of Networking

In this month’s Beyond the Classroom video, hear about the power of networking from former Wentworth Institute of Technology student, Nolan Rochler.

Nolan is now a Project Engineer at J.C. Higgins and credits his learning and growth in the industry to those he had met at networking events through his student chapter. Upon graduating, he found this network to be quite useful. “You have people who are there to help you. They help you find endless opportunities. By coming to these events, you are able to build such a strong network and basically go anywhere,” Nolan shared.

Participating in MCAA’s Annual Student Chapter Competition was also an invaluable experience for Nolan. He says really learning, understanding and dissecting a real-life project, is unlike any other learning process. Nolan reminds current students to take these learning and networking opportunities and “make it whatever you want to make it.” People in this industry welcome you in, respect you, and give you the opportunity to learn and grow. Use them to help set you up for success–Nolan certainly has!

Upcoming Beyond the Classroom videos will continue to showcase opportunities available to MCAA student chapter members and MCAA members alike who choose careers in the mechanical industry.

WiMI Mentors and Mentees Share Their Experiences and Advice In Encouraging Panel Discussion–Watch Now!

WiMI Mentee Questionnaire

WiMI Mentor Questionnaire

JPG Plumbing and Mechanical Uses Vac Services to Open Up Larger Service Opportunities

What might have been seen as a niche market opportunity for JPG was actually a continuation of their service business operations.

Outlaying the money for an expenditure like a Vac-Con Titan vactor truck might have been seen as a risky purchase for a service contractor like JPG Plumbing and Mechanical. They had no existing business in that line of operations, but hated giving up work when the job called for bigger equipment. Many contractors use a variety of equipment to clean and pump areas.

In the upcoming seventh module of the PCA’s Virtual Education Series on Plumbing Service, attendees will get a first-hand look at how the host company, JPG Plumbing and Mechanical Services, use a variety of heavy trucks together to coordinate the inspection, cleaning, pumping and removal of waste in large projects. A video, taken from their headquarters will showcase their low profile pumper trucks, their liquid vacuum pump trucks, their motorized inspection crawler camera trucks and their Vac Con Titan vactor trucks.

Following the video, the PCA’s Sean McGuire will lead a virtual discussion with JPG’s John Geiling, Marc Gluck and John Davis on how JPG approaches pumping, cleaning, hydro excavation and inspection around commercial vac service.

With the webinar, attendees will receive a handout that contains information and links to all of the products that JPG uses in their operations for vac services. This will include pricing so that contractors can help determine through their own business analysis the potential for their company.

The PCA Virtual Education Series is a seven-module case study with weekly sessions focusing on JPG Plumbing & Mechanical Services. Each module includes a video, an online discussion and handouts. The series is limited to MCAA, PCA and MSCA members and costs $400. Prior sessions can still be accessed after their live broadcast.

For more information, contact Sean McGuire.

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Xcel Mechanical Systems, Inc. Recognized for Safety Excellence

MCAA and CNA are pleased to announce that Xcel Mechanical Systems, Inc. earned the association’s top safety award for 2019 in Size Category 3, 250,001 – 450,000 work hours. Xcel Mechanical’s successful “Safety Champion” recognition award for company foremen set the company apart.

The “Safety Champion” recognition award provides superintendents and/or company executives with an avenue for recognizing foremen who go “above and beyond” in establishing and managing a safe jobsite. It further recognizes those who take personal responsibility for the safety of their project partners and field teams, especially new hires.

When a new craftsman joins the company, they move through a mandatory new-hire orientation. Following orientation, they are outfitted in a bright green vest and a matching strap that wraps around their hardhat. Once they are assigned to a foreman’s field team, it becomes that foreman’s responsibility to partner the new hire with a more experienced craftsman, and to monitor their acclimation onto the team. Company superintendents visit jobsites and observe how the foremen are doing then complete and submit report cards to the company’s Safety Director and VP of Operations.

MCAA and CNA congratulate Xcel Mechanical Systems, Inc. for earning such a high degree of safety excellence in 2019.