General News

American Standard, DXV, and GROHE Gain New Senior Leadership

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (April 28, 2016) ― With the goal of enhancing the customer experience and delivering optimum service in the marketplace, LIXIL Water Technology Americas has announced a series of changes to their sales leadership team. The newly appointed personnel will help integrate the processes within the American Standard, DXV and GROHE brands, to more adeptly meet the changing needs of target markets and lead customers on a path to sales growth and success.

Scott Stockham has been appointed vice president of U.S. trade sales for LIXIL Water Technology Americas. In this new role, he will lead the division’s commercial teams responsible for all sales activities of the American Standard, DXV and GROHE brands.

Mark Owens has been promoted to senior director, key strategic accounts, for LIXIL Water Technology Americas, supporting sales efforts for the business unit’s key customer accounts.

“These changes in the sales leadership team will help us to better serve our customers by aligning the synergies and talents within the GROHE, American Standard and DXV organizations,” said Mike Marchi, chief operating officer of LIXIL Water Technology Americas, American Standard, DXV and GROHE. “This restructuring will aid our team in further developing strong, positive relationships within each sales channel, building upon our growth momentum to continued success in the future.”

Stockham brings over 20 years of experience crafting marketing strategy and generating sales results across multiple industries. Prior to joining American Standard Brands in 2012 as vice president of product marketing for faucets, Stockham served as vice president of sales and strategic marketing for MASCO Bath. He also worked in sales and marketing positions with Pentair and General Electric. Stockham holds an MBA, with a concentration in finance and strategy, from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from the University of Cincinnati.

Owens most recently served as senior managing sales director at American Standard Brands, after initially joining the company in 2009 as a regional sales manager. During his 15-plus years in the plumbing industry, Owens also served in various sales positions at Jacuzzi, Toto USA and Ace Sales and Marketing. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in business and public administration from the University of Missouri.

2016 marks the 75th Anniversary for Little Giant®, a leading worldwide brand of plumbing, HVAC, dewatering, utility and a variety of other pumps. Little Giant, a Franklin Electric company, originated in 1941 when a plumber named R.M. “Doc” Wolfe found a solution to the quality challenges he faced with evaporative cooling pumps. The Little Giant Vaporizer was born and was considered the first electric motor-driven submersible pump of its kind on the market. Shortly thereafter, the Little Giant Vaporizer Company was created in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where 15 employees manufactured submersible vaporizers for evaporative coolers. “Little Giant products and people have been an important addition to the Franklin family,” said DeLancey Davis, Franklin Electric Vice President and President of North America Water Systems. “Little Giant has provided a terrific base business in the wastewater, HVAC and outdoor living channels, and holds strong brand recognition with key areas of distribution in each of these markets. Much of this can be attributed to consistent product introductions, innovations, and a loyal customer base that has continued to make Little Giant their brand of choice for 75 years. The Little Giant brand was built on dedication to quality and availability and is a testament to our loyal employees who put their craftsmanship into every Little Giant product to support our customers’ craft. We are truly grateful to our ideal collection of employees, customers, and business partners who have teamed together for 75 years to make Little Giant the leader it is today.” After World War II, Little Giant purchased an aluminum die-casting machine and started taking on die-casting contractor work in the 1940s to further increase sales and personnel expertise. By 1950, this expertise had grown so much that the company was able to develop and manufacture an upgraded Little Giant Vaporizer Pump that could be used anywhere water recirculation was a problem. This basic, self-contained electric motor-driven submersible pump was a small low-pressure, high-volume pump that was used specifically for the recirculation of water for evaporative coolers, minnow tanks, home garden pools and fountains, light coolant oils for machine tools, laboratory uses and many other water transfer applications. In 1954, the development of the Little Giant C2 and C3 pumps signaled the company’s true entrance into the condensate pump business. In 1960, the company reorganized and changed its name to Little Giant Corporation, expanding its focus to battery chargers and steam cleaning machines that were later sold so the company could focus completely on water pumping. Over the next 20 years, the company continued to build its name around innovation with: condensate removal pumps (1958), sump pumps (1963), magnetic drive pumps (1968), sump/sewage/effluent pumps (1980), Eliminator Series 8E, 9S, 10S pumps (1985), aquarium pumps (1990), WRS-5 and WRS-6 sewage basins (1990), pool cover pumps (1996), decorative outdoor living products for the landscape industry (1997), the VCMA condensate pump (1999), grinder pumps (2000), Pit+Plus® sewage basins (2003), and outdoor living LED lights (2004). Little Giant was purchased by Franklin Electric, a leading global manufacturer of pumps, motors, drives and controls for residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial and municipal applications, in 2006. With the combined Franklin engineering and manufacturing teams, the Little Giant brand has continued its focus on providing innovative products that solve contractor challenges in the pumping industry. Little Giant’s wastewater product expertise includes sump, sewage, effluent, dewatering, condensate, magnetic drive, and utility pumps, as well as low pressure sewer systems. The Little Giant Outdoor Living product line includes a variety of pumps and accessories for decorative water, hydroponics, aquarium, pool, and marine applications. For more information on Little Giant wastewater products, visit www.littlegiant.com. For more information on Little Giant Outdoor Living products, visit www.lg-outdoor.com.

Company to Resume Manufacture and Sale of PEX Pipe, and Resolves
Intellectual Property Litigation in Canada and the U.S.

HeatLink Group Inc. today announced that it has signed a technology licensing agreement with Uponor AB that allows the company to resume manufacture and sale of PEX piping and resolves ongoing intellectual property litigation in Canada and the U.S.

The Federal Court of Canada issued a ruling in March 2016 that halted HeatLink and its associated companies from manufacturing and selling PEX piping in Canada based on infringement of Uponor intellectual property. Following the ruling, the two companies came to a licensing agreement that allows HeatLink to resume its manufacturing and sales operations. The agreement also settles pending litigation in the U.S.

“We’re pleased that we were able to resolve this issue in a way that allows us to continue to meet the needs of our customers and our employees,” says Manfred Schmidt, CEO of HeatLink.

HeatLink Group Inc. is a leading supplier of PEX-a plumbing, potable water systems, and radiant heating and cooling systems for the residential and commercial building markets across North America. As a fully integrated plumbing and heating manufacturing company, they offer a complete system approach. HeatLink’s international reputation has been built on more than 25 years of experience, innovation and industry leadership.

Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical (Hiller), the region’s premier provider of residential and commercial service and repair, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Air Experts LLC, based out of Cookeville, Tennessee.

Air Experts has serviced over 2,000 homes in the Cookeville, Crossville, and Livingston areas in Tennessee over the past 30 years. This family-owned business was established in 1986 by Tom Ray and has operated under the leadership of his son, Jason Ray, for the past 14 years. Dedication to customer satisfaction, loyalty to its employees and community, and a strong sense of corporate ethics has grown Air Experts from a single-truck operation into one of the largest residential HVAC contractors in the Upper Cumberland area.

In order to support continued growth and to better service its existing customers, Air Experts will join the Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Electrical team.

“One thing that appealed to me about partnering with Hiller is that they provide the same great service that we do, they’ve grown their business the same way, and they take care of their customers the same way”, said Jason Ray, President of Air Experts. “The customer will have peace of mind knowing they they’re going to be taken care of the same way they always have been”, Ray continued, “but we will (now) offer plumbing and electrical services.”

Hiller, founded on the same values of high quality customer service, loyalty, honesty, and caring about its customers, shares a similar story of growth. Since 1990, Hiller has grown from a single employee with one truck to include 13 locations regionally. As a result, Hiller is capable of providing key resources in technology, continuing education and training, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee to customers to acquired partners.

“We are very excited about a partnership between Air Experts and Hiller”, stated Jimmy Hiller, owner and President of Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Electrical. “As we got to know Jason and his team, it became apparent that they do business the same way we do at Hiller. With this acquisition, we can serve even more customers in the Upper Cumberland area with the same exceptional service.”

Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical, provides residential and commercial service and repair throughout Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, and Northern Alabama. Hiller, recently named the fifth fastest-growing private company in Middle Tennessee, employs over 600 people across 13 locations, boasts a fleet of over 400 “happy face” trucks. For more information about Hiller, visit http://www.happyhiller.com or e-mail press@happyhiller.com.