INDUSTRY NEWS
Zurn Water Solutions and Elkay Mfg. to combine
Zurn Water Solutions Corp. and Elkay Mfg. Co. announced they have reached a definitive agreement to combine the businesses in an all-stock transaction. Upon completion of the transaction, Zurn Water Solutions shareholders will own about 71% and Elkay shareholders will own about 29% of the combined and newly named company — Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corp.
“This transaction is a true game-changer as we create an even stronger pure-play water company by combining with the iconic brand, Elkay,” said Todd A. Adams, chairman and CEO of Zurn Water Solutions. “The combination puts us well on our way to doubling the size of the business over the next couple years while enhancing our competitive advantage within specified water solutions. We also add the high-growth, and increasingly essential, drinking water sector in our portfolio, and have a clear path to capitalize on the significant synergies the combination will generate.
“Elkay is viewed as the ‘gold standard’ in providing clean drinking water within institutional and commercial buildings. What makes the combination so compelling is the alignment of our shared values and cultures, commitment to serving our customers and what we can accomplish together by providing an even more comprehensive package of innovative, specified water solutions that provide water safety, water quality and water conservation to critical verticals like education and healthcare.”
Adams continued: “I want to thank Ron Katz, senior member of the founding family, and Tim Jahnke, chairman of Elkay, for believing in the power of the combination and the entire Elkay family for their confidence and commitment to work together to create something special. It’s our intent to preserve the strong culture and values at Elkay, and we are excited to build upon the incredible legacies of both businesses as we come together to create an even brighter future as Zurn Elkay Water Solutions.”
“We knew we could increase our long-term competitive position by combining with another complementary brand,” Katz stated. “We were pleased to find a well-respected partner in Zurn Water Solutions, with its strong, people-centric Midwestern values and deep commitment to quality, ethics and customer satisfaction that mirrors our own.”
“This combination clearly creates a unique and dynamic set of competitive advantages for our customers to capitalize on the unrivaled product solution breadth and depth we’ll bring to the marketplace,” Adams said. “Together, Zurn and Elkay will also provide our customers the capability to advance their ESG initiatives while reducing their overall initial and operating costs while providing a safe, clean environment for students, patients, patrons and people within the public and private spaces they operate. Finally, we believe this combination creates an attractive platform to provide superior shareholder value as the combination allows for increased growth, margin expansion, higher free cash flow and improved leverage, all while providing ample room for continued investments in growth.”
Upon closing, the combined company will continue to be led by the existing Zurn Water Solutions Board of Directors with the addition of two new directors who currently serve on the Elkay Board of Directors. Adams will remain chairman and CEO, Craig Wehr will remain president of Zurn Water Solutions and Ted Hamilton will remain president of Elkay Plumbing.
ASPE partners with IAPMO on upcoming webinars
ASPE announced it has partnered with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) to provide three new webinars.
Net Zero Plumbing: Addressing the Water, Energy, Carbon, and Nutrient Crises
April 1 | Instructor: John Lansing, CPD, LEED Green Associate, Plumbing Designer, PAE
As water stress is projected to continue increasing globally in the coming decades, an assessment is necessary on the role buildings play in mitigating this crisis. Recycled water and rainwater harvesting systems are becoming standard in a growing number of cities and are helping to build more resilient plumbing systems, protecting public health and sanitation in the built environment. Cities seeking to decarbonize the building sector are phasing out natural gas in new construction, which currently represents a majority of direct emissions from buildings. Electric heat pump technology has taken the lead as the primary technology for building heating systems and requires a shift in design approach for domestic hot water systems to reduce strain on electrical power grids. Phosphorus and other soil nutrients are being depleted from agricultural soils while flowing abundantly from the sanitary drainage systems in buildings with each water closet flush. How can these four crises be addressed while moving towards more holistic plumbing systems for the 21st century? In this hour, we’ll discuss the impact of water stress, decarbonization, and nutrient deficits and focus on solutions that enable buildings to integrate into the local ecology.
Water Quality 101: Theory and Practice
April 14 | Instructor: Vanessa Speight, PhD, P.E., Professor of Integrated Water Systems
Water distribution systems are complex reactors affected simultaneously by chemical, microbiological, and hydraulic conditions. Understanding how these factors interact is the key to managing water quality, in both water utility distribution systems as well as plumbing systems. This presentation will cover the fundamental reactions taking place as well as recent research into management strategies from the UK, U.S., and beyond.
New Perspectives on Water Quality: Is Water Hammer and Air in Domestic Water Pipe Causing Corrosion?
May 2 | Instructor: Phil Woolhouse, Director, Phil Woolhouse Hydraulics Pty. Ltd.
In the 1990s, Western Australia (WA) used copper in circulated hot water systems, but it was having issues with failure from pitting and corrosion. When polypropylene random copolymer (PPR) entered the WA market, engineers changed their specifications from copper to PPR. Ten years later, PPR encountered some issues, and many engineers went back to specifying copper. Instructor Phil Woolhouse asked why copper would not fail again, and nobody could provide an answer. In 2012, he began studying hot water pipe failure, and discovered issues of which many in the industry were unaware or had forgotten about due to changing technology. Phil discovered that plumbing systems have never been thoroughly measured and that when you measure something, you quickly understand that what is happening is quite often not what you think is happening.
The cost is $39 each. To register, click here.
Uponor earns top workplace honor
Uponor North America recently was named to the Top Workplace USA 2022 list for companies with 500-999 employees.
This award is based entirely on feedback from an employee engagement survey conducted by an independent, third-party research company, Energage, and celebrates companies that prioritize creating a people-centered culture and giving employees a voice.
This honor marks the first time Uponor has been recognized as a Top Workplace in the U.S., and the eighth time the company has been recognized as a Top Workplace in Minnesota since 2012.
The survey asked employees to rate Uponor on 15 drivers related to engaged work environment, company culture, leadership and overall job satisfaction. Rankings for Top Workplaces lists are based on companies meeting criteria built upon more than 15 years of engagement survey data from more than 70,000 global companies.
“We are so humbled that our employees’ anonymous feedback resulted in Uponor being recognized as a top workplace in the U.S.,” Interim Uponor North America President and Vice President Finance John Reutter said. “We pride ourselves on having a very distinct employee-driven culture, and strongly believe that if we take care of our employees, they, in turn, will ensure positive experiences for our customers. The fact that we’ve been recognized by employees as a top workplace in our state, and now in the U.S., indicates we’re on the right track.”
Of the Uponor employees surveyed, 84% said they would recommend the company to their family or friends looking for work; 84% believed the company is headed in the right direction; nearly 75% said their work meets or exceeds their expectations, and more than 80% said Uponor motivates them to give their best each day.
“The culture we’ve maintained over time – not just during this tumultuous period of the pandemic – is a direct reflection of the people who work at Uponor,” added Jen Hauschildt, vice president, human resources, Uponor North America. “We’re so proud that our flexible, yet accountable and collaborative work environment continues to hold our company up as an employer of choice in Minnesota, and across North America.”
To learn more about Top Workplaces USA 2022, click here.
T&S Brass completes first expansion phase
T&S Brass and Bronze Works has completed phase one of the two-part expansion and renovation of its headquarters and plant in Travelers Rest, South Carolina.
The project’s initial phase, which kicked off in late 2020, added 53,000 square feet of space to the facility, creating new distribution space, as well as a training room, additional offices and other facility enhancements.
Phase two of the project, which is currently ongoing, will convert the former shipping and receiving dock area into additional manufacturing space to increase capacity, as well as adding new signage, fencing and campus wayfinding markers.
“These projects enable T&S Brass to meet the growing needs of our customers in the U.S. and around the world,” said Michael Williams, operations manager for T&S. “We’re very excited about the changes and improvements that will enhance the work environment for our team while supporting the success of T&S.”
The projects are part of a $10.3 million improvement project, first announced in September 2019. The construction project’s start was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but is expected to meet its original completion date of fall 2024.
Aliaxis announces Virginia acquisition
Aliaxis SA, a global manufacturer and distributor of advanced piping systems, announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Harco, a producer of fittings located in Virginia.
This move is part of Aliaxis’ “Growth with Purpose” strategy. Through this acquisition, Aliaxis further expands its presence in the United States. Harco, a U.S. manufacturer of gasketed fittings, brings more than 55 years of industry expertise. Harco’s annual revenues were roughly $75 million in 2021, Aliaxis noted. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approval.
“Harco is a well-established brand in municipal, irrigation and agriculture end-markets," Aliaxis CEO Eric Olsen said. "With this acquisition, we will continue to strengthen our presence in the US. Harco will be part of IPEX, Aliaxis’ leading brand in the region, and will result in an expanded product portfolio to a broader customer base. We are pleased to welcome Harco to the Aliaxis family.”
ICC creates a new International Green Construction Code certification
The International Code Council, with a sponsorship from ASHRAE, a global HVACR membership society, released its new International Green Construction Code (IgCC) certification, Commercial Green Construction Professional.
The Commercial Green Construction Professional certification was created to assist in developing new standards for building construction in order to address the problem of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to help reinforce societal health, life and safety benefits. Professionals who hold this certification will lead the way in helping to conserve resources and regenerate sites while providing expertise in offering solutions to resilience through natural disasters, a changing climate, resource consumption/management, and service interruptions due to unforeseen events.
“As the focus to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency within our communities continues to grow, the demand for green building design, construction, and operational techniques has become essential,” said Cindy Davis, CBO, president of the ICC board of directors. “A certified Commercial Green Construction Professional will play an important role as an industry leader in helping communities establish sustainable, resilient, high-performance buildings.”
The Code Council is the preeminent certification body for credentialing code professionals. Code Council certifications are often prerequisites for those seeking positions that review building plans and inspect homes and buildings for compliance with applicable codes and standards. ICC certification exams are developed and maintained to the highest standards, which include continuous peer review by committees of experienced, practicing professionals.
The certified Commercial Green Construction Professional certification verifies competence in plan review and project inspection performance for commercial buildings as it pertains to the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), in coordination with ASHRAE Standard 189.1. Standard 189.1 provides guidance for designing, building, and operating high-performance green buildings and sets the foundation for total building sustainability through site sustainability, water and energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and the building’s impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources.
“ASHRAE congratulates the Code Council on this new certification,” said Mick Schwedler, P.E., LEED AP, 2021-2022 ASHRAE president. “ICC’s contributions to the built environment and a sustainable future are appreciated.”
For more information, visit www.iccsafe.org/professional-development/assessment-center.
