Noritz America, a leader in tankless water heating systems for over six decades, proudly introduces its newly reinvigorated, bilingual, self-paced training courses through its online Noritz University. The recently updated curriculum replaces the previous slide-and-voiceover presentation with succinct, self-paced video lessons in a modernized format designed to empower professional contractors with the knowledge needed to Read more
Industry News
Noritz America, a leader in tankless water heating systems for over six decades, proudly introduces its newly reinvigorated, bilingual, self-paced training courses through its online Noritz University. The recently updated curriculum replaces the previous slide-and-voiceover presentation with succinct, self-paced video lessons in a modernized format designed to empower professional contractors with the knowledge needed to size, select, install, and maintain Noritz products confidently for their customers.
As part of Noritz’s commitment to ongoing innovation, the new online courses will be available free of charge and on-demand, allowing learners to progress at their own pace, anytime and anywhere. These courses are easily accessible through the Noritz University website from the comfort of a student’s home, workplace, or job site. Historically, the lessons have been available only in English; however, the new online courses will begin to expand Noritz’s Spanish library as part of their continuing emphasis on inclusion.
“At Noritz America, we believe that knowledge is the key to success,” says Noritz Executive Vice President-Sales and Marketing Jason Fleming. “We are introducing our online training courses as a powerful resource for our growing community of tankless water heating professionals.
“Our goal is to democratize access to information and education and equip our community with the skills and confidence they need to use our products effectively,” he continues. “By harnessing the power of online education in a modern video format configured to fit into a working tradesperson’s schedule, Noritz can make valuable training accessible to a wider professional audience than ever before.”
Featuring first-of-its-kind technology in the U.S., the combined investment is over $16m for new equipment’ Viega is continuing its investments in North American manufacturing, installing equipment that is a first in North America for Viega. Viega is installing new MegaPress® Laser Welding and Smart Connect® machining in McPherson, Kansas that welds components together to make Read more
Featuring first-of-its-kind technology in the U.S., the combined investment is over $16m for new equipment’
Viega is continuing its investments in North American manufacturing, installing equipment that is a first in North America for Viega. Viega is installing new MegaPress® Laser Welding and Smart Connect® machining in McPherson, Kansas that welds components together to make complete fittings. Representing an investment of $4.1 million, the equipment is undergoing machine certification before being put into production in early summer 2024.
“We have only ever used this technology in Germany,” said Viega COO, Marki Huston. “We sent employees to Germany to train for more than six months on how to run the equipment. The demand for MegaPress products continues to grow and having this new equipment enables us to supply our customers more quickly.”
The company also announced it will be manufacturing MegaPress fittings in sizes 2-1/2″ to 4″ in McPherson, Kansas. The equipment needed to manufacture these products represents an additional $12.5 million investment in the McPherson facility. “With the continued growth of MegaPress products used in North America, we will be able to manufacture them here in the U.S. sustainably and get them toour customers faster,” said Huston. Both sets of equipment are currently being installed and tested. Production is scheduled to start on July 1, 2024.
Viega has sold over 22 million MegaPress fittings since introducing the product in 2012. “MegaPress is one of the lines that is projected to grow the most in the U.S.,” said Nathan Berkowitz, VP of Field Sales for Viega. “Just last year, we invested $14 million in our ProPress® equipment for our McPherson facility. The demand for both products speaks to their quality and the number of contractors and service professionals now using press technology.”
Falls Church, Va. — “Use the Tools You Have” was a theme of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation’s popular Essentials of Project Management class last week. Twenty-two attendees engaged in the highly interactive and intense four-day class conducted March 13- 16. The event was held at the Viega Training Facility in Nashua, New Read more
Falls Church, Va. — “Use the Tools You Have” was a theme of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation’s popular Essentials of Project Management class last week. Twenty-two attendees engaged in the highly interactive and intense four-day class conducted March 13- 16. The event was held at the Viega Training Facility in Nashua, New Hampshire, with lead instruction from Purdue University Professor Emeritus Kirk Alter.
Several of the attendees in this session were newly promoted to project management from positions in the field. “As project managers, you still must work with tools to get your job done,” said Alter. “But those tools are the software we use to document, analyze and report job information.”
Attendees of the 2024 PHCC Essentials of Project Management class conducted March 13-16, 2024. Sponsored and hosted by Viega at their Training Facility in Nashua, New Hampshire.
During class, the attendees were tasked one evening with using spreadsheets to analyze the status of a construction project just from a single monthly work in progress (WIP) report. The following morning, Alter guided attendees through how they could pull an incredible amount of detail out of the software about cash flow, profitability, the competence of management on the project, the relationship with the customer, areas of strength and exactly where things went wrong.
“This is just a spreadsheet program. It has been around for decades and every single one of you have it on your computer – but have any of you used it this way?” asked Alter. The attendees also learned how to quickly use software to build a project schedule to submit with their proposal and how artificial intelligence could simplify processes. “Now that you have seen what you can do, use the tools you have and look for others that can help you become an even better project manager!”
Viega sponsored and hosted the project management class at their New Hampshire Training Facility, providing the training room, A/V, meals for the attendees and more.
“We are very grateful to have the support from Viega for this class,” said John Zink, Vice President of Development and Communications, PHCC Educational Foundation. “Their generous hosting creates a great experience for our attendees and makes our program more accessible than other similar industry training programs.”
The Foundation will be conducting a two-day Creating Super Foremen workshop at Viega’s Training Facility May 3-4, with Kirk Alter again providing instruction. Visit https://phccfoundation.org/essentials for more information and to register.
In celebration of International Data Center Day, Watts has announced the ‘Chill and Skill Data Center Cooling eLearning Challenge.’ This 6-week, eLearning campaign, running from March 20 to April 30, is specifically designed to educate industry professionals about Watts’ family of solutions designed for data center hydronic cooling systems. Participants will have free access to Read more
In celebration of International Data Center Day, Watts has announced the ‘Chill and Skill Data Center Cooling eLearning Challenge.’ This 6-week, eLearning campaign, running from March 20 to April 30, is specifically designed to educate industry professionals about Watts’ family of solutions designed for data center hydronic cooling systems.
Participants will have free access to a wide selection of eLearning modules, averaging just 8 minutes each, across seven key categories:
- Hydronic Cooling
- Fire Protection
- Intelligent Monitoring
- Plumbing, Hot Water, & HVAC
- Drainage
- Water Quality
- Continuing Education
Upon completing modules, learners earn tokens and tickets. Tokens are accrued and redeemed for a wide variety of Free lifestyle merchandise through the Watts Learn & Earn program. Tickets serve as entries into the 150th Anniversary Sweepstake Drawings. As an extra bonus, upon completing 12 of the 147 available modules in this campaign, learners will receive a bonus: a 14 oz. 4-in-1 tumbler/cooler.
To participate, please register for your free Watts Works Online account at training.watts.com. Access is immediate and so are the benefits.
Strategic Investment Future-Proofs Manufacturing A long-awaited expansion to Taco’s Fall River, MA, plant is underway. The $20+ million project greatly enhances and expands the manufacturer’s ability to build larger tanks, heat exchangers and a wide range of other products – while also enabling them to add capacity and reduce lead times. Taco Comfort Solutions, based Read more
Strategic Investment Future-Proofs Manufacturing
A long-awaited expansion to Taco’s Fall River, MA, plant is underway. The $20+ million project greatly enhances and expands the manufacturer’s ability to build larger tanks, heat exchangers and a wide range of other products – while also enabling them to add capacity and reduce lead times.
Taco Comfort Solutions, based in Cranston, RI, began making plans for the plant expansion more than a decade ago. Groundbreaking began in early September ’23 and the project is expected to take about 18 months to complete.
“The expansion of Taco’s Fall River facility is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Taco team and our commitment to our customers,” said Cheryl Merchant, President and CEO, Taco Family of Companies. “The need for ASME certified fabricated products has grown tremendously as well as many facets of our market. When our customers asked us to increase our capacity to fulfill their demand, we said YES! Our ability to innovate and grow with our customers and partners has been, and will continue to be, a key reason Taco has remained strong and innovative for 104 years,” noted Cheryl.
The Fall River plant’s previous footprint was 60,000 square feet. With the expansion, Taco is adding 52,000 square feet.
“After overcoming COVID and supply line setbacks, countless questions about details of the project, and through economic ups and downs, we determined that the time is right for this project,” said Anthony DeMoura, VP – Taco Fabricated Products Division & PIFA Foundry Operations. “The project is finally underway.”
For more than 100 years, Taco has been committed to designing and manufacturing innovative and dependable HVAC, plumbing and industrial solutions. Taco’s Fall River plant manufactures ASME Section VIII pressure vessels used in commercial and industrial heating and cooling systems.
“At Taco Fall River we design, fabricate and test both custom and standard plate heat exchangers, shell and tube heat exchangers, expansion tanks, air and dirt separators, hydraulic balancers and other specialized pressure vessels,” added DeMoura.
According to DeMoura, the plant was previously capable of constructing vessels up to capacities of 12,000 gallons (about 10’ w x 20’ h). Taco’s plant expansion will enable the fabrication of vessels up to 40,000 gallons, more than tripling current tank sizes. “We’ll have lifting capacity within the plant capable of lifting 60 tons. In many respects, we’re building the new facility around a massive crane system.”
World class custom engineering
Taco has grown to become a premier custom fabrication provider among global manufacturers. Their veteran team of engineers, welders, assemblers and customer support personnel carry an extensive wealth of industry knowledge, design logic and technical experience.
Customized variations of all standard designs are available. Some examples of custom projects include:
- Flash tanks
- Thermal energy storage tanks
- De-aerator tanks
- Clean steam generation
- Fully custom ASME Section VIII rated pressure vessels
According to DeMoura, the expanded plant will offer these capabilities as well:
- Plate rolling (up to 1 ¼” thick)
- Steel cutting (up to 5” thick)
- Stainless steel cutting (up to 2 ½” thick)
- Robotic welding of tank heads up to 60” in diameter
- Fabrication of vessels up to 12’ in diameter
- Unmatched welding precision and quality with over 50 ASME certified pressure vessel welders
Engineering capabilities
The engineering capabilities of Taco’s ASME design team extend even further, fulfilling custom requests to meet unique requirements. All phases of fabrication are handled by Taco. Their skill and expertise stem from a culture of pride and close attention to detail, resulting in industry-leading quality and customer satisfaction.
With ASME certified welders, certified testers and a National Board Authorized Inspector in-house, Taco offers the team and equipment needed to provide fast, flexible lead times and the ability to accommodate quick turnaround and emergency requests.
“This is exciting. Our exceptional welders, fabricators, machinists, and assemblers build some impressive products already. When this project is completed, we will be able to build even bigger and more complicated products for the global marketplace, and we are doing it right here in Fall River, MA, with some of the best tradespeople in the industry,” concluded DeMoura.