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Wacker Builds New Facility in Michigan

The Wacker Corporation is building a new facility for its ground heater operation in Norton Shore, MI. The new 151,000-square-foot building is part of a 34-acre property.

Ground was broken in August of 2007 with completion scheduled for the second half of this year.

The expansion will produce climate control products including hydronic heaters, air heaters and dehumidifiers. Wacker light towers will also be assembled in the new facility.

Atlas Copco Signs Alliance

Atlas Copco signed an agreement with Casagrande USA during the recent CONEXPO to become the exclusive distributor of the Casagrande line in the Midwestern states. Products from the Italian manufacturer's line will be supported from the Milwaukee, WI store.

Powermate Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

Powermate Corporation has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and plans to close its Kearney, NE facilities according to a recent report in Forbes magazine. The decision will eliminate up to 200 jobs.

The Aurora, IL -based maker of generators, air compressors and pressure washers also has a plant in Springfield, MN.

ABC Supply Repeats as 'Great Workplace' Award Winner

For the second consecutive year, ABC Supply Co. Inc., Beloit, WI has been honored with a Gallup Great Workplace Award. The company is one of only 20 worldwide to receive the 2008 award.

The Gallup Great Workplace Awards recognize the best-performing workforces in the world and are based on the most rigorous workplace research ever conducted. Companies considered for the award were evaluated by a panel of workplace experts, who compared each company's results to those of thousands of work teams all over the world, using Gallup's massive data base.

ABC Supply is among the award winners because its results demonstrate that it has one of the most productive and engaged workforces in the world.
"This award belongs to our 5,800 associates across the United States. They make ABC Supply a great place to work. They come in every day committed to helping our customers succeed by treating them with respect and making it easy for them to do their jobs," say David Luck, chief executive officer and president of ABC Supply.

"It was always Ken Hendricks' dream that ABC Supply would become the best company in America to work for," Luck continues, referring to ABC Supply's founder, who died in December 2007. "He was so proud to receive this award last year and would have been thrilled to be recognized again. We will accept this award in his honor and celebrate collectively this milestone on the road to achieving his goal."

ISEA Marks 75th Anniversary

Since its founding in 1933, the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and the industry it represents have been making work safer for men and women in the United States and around the world.

Throughout the year, it will be telling the story of its progress of the industry and its contribution to advancing occupational safety and health, and making a better life for millions of workers.

Dur-A-Flex expands Training Plans

In 2008 Dur-A-Flex will be extending its traditional road show format of previous years to include a greater training curriculum that will be offered in module format. The program will focus on comprehensive issues like strategic job costing, close-outs, sales training, market development, strategic planning, product information and financial training.

"Today's contractors expect more from their supplier," says Alex Dittenhoffer, Dur-A-Flex, Inc.'s national sales manager. "After all, just about anyone can pour epoxy into a bucket and stick a label on it.

"Dur-A-Flex is continually seeking ways to strengthen the local floor coating contractor's business model — to ensure that their business is a success. Since success is often defined as your quality of life, it only makes sense for Dur-A-Flex to help the local contractor to become a strong member of the community by avoiding the traditional pitfalls of business failure.

"The goal of Dur-A-Flex is to help its customers become successful and to create the platform for a professional industry that brings clear value to the end-user customer," he concludes.