RainSoft taps marketing services manager
RainSoft Water Conditioning Co. has named Eric Webb marketing services manager. He will manage the public relations and advertising agencies and internal communications.
Webb was previously creative director for a computer peripherals firm and a research writer. His expertise includes creative writing, research and art direction and the use of computer technology to enhance the advertising process.
RainSoft, located in Elk Grove Village, IL, manufactures a complete line of residential, commercial and institutional water treatment equipment.
Touch-Flo opens plant in Mexico
In a continuing expansion that began with the opening of a distribution center in the United Kingdom in 1989, Touch-Flo Manufacturing Co. of Burbank, CA has begun assembling products at a new plant in Mexico.
Displaying a “Made in Mexico” label, products assembled at the new plant will conform to established Touch-Flo standards.
Touch-Flo manufactures and distributes faucets for use in the water treatment industry.
W.E.T. signs RO contracts
Water Equipment Technologies, Inc. has agreed to provide two industrial reverse osmosis (RO) systems. The first system is a 245,000 gpd RO unit to be used by a U.S. auto company as part of a complete water treatment system to provide the rinse water needed in the auto body/parts paint finishing line.
In addition, a 330,000 gpd RO unit for a major producer of vegetable cooking oil products will provide the purified process water needed by the company for daily manufacturing operations.
W.E.T. of Palm Beach, FL manufactures systems and components used in water purification for residential, commercial, medical and industrial applications.
Major joins Kinetico legal department
James L. Major has joined the Newbury, OH-based Kinetico Incorporated’s in-house legal department. On the corporate level, Major is responsible for handling legal matters ranging from antitrust violations and territorial protection to patent applications and personnel law. He will also act as legal advisor to the dealer organization and will participate in dealer training programs through the Kinetico Institute.
Major holds a law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, OH. Major’s previous experience with a Cleveland law firm included incorporations, partnerships, real estate, antitrust, commercial collections and intellectual property.
Kinetico designs and manufactures water processing equipment.
HOH signs marketing agreements
HOH Water Technology Corp. of Newbury Park, CA has an agreement to supply its commercial and residential water purification systems and components to the Builders Emporium Home Centers.
Specialty Systems merges with FloCovery
Jack B. DeMarre, formerly of Specialty Equipment Company, Inc., has announced the spin-off and merger of Specialty Systems Division with FloCovery Systems, Inc., a Plymouth, MN-based water treatment equipment manufacturer.
DeMarre will assume the role of president and direct operations of the company, while Glenn E. Johnson will be Chairman of the Board and focus on long-term planning and technical issues.
The company, which will retain the identity and corporate headquarters of FloCovery Systems Inc., will consist of three product groups: filtration and ion exchange, membrance systems, and support products.
Stinger forms technical writing group
John Stinger, vice president and publisher of the Water Treatment Report and the RO Report, has formed Tanner Associates, a professional group specializing in technical writing and editing for the water treatment industry.
A group of experienced water industry writers will assist engineering and technical managers in organizing and preparing effective presentations and papers to present at water industry conferences.
The confidential writing service also includes assisting managers in writing and placement of articles for industry magazines and in providing editorial support for textbooks, technical manuals, special reports and newsletters.
Sparkling Clear changes name
Sparkling Clear Water, Inc. of Houston, TX has changed its name to Sparkling Clear Industries as a reflection of its expansion in the air, water and liquid filtration markets.
Sparkling Clear Industries provides service and supplies to the industrial, commercial and residential markets, primarily in Southeast Texas.
ResinTech expands facility, names J.H. Gottlieb operations manager
Jeffrey H. Gottlieb has joined ResinTech Inc. as operations manager. He is responsible for production, inventory and financial management.
Gottlieb holds a BBA degree in finance from George Washington University and was formerly a lending officer for middle markets at Mellon Bank.
ResinTech has moved to a new 10,000 sq. ft. facility located at 615 Deer Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ. The company’s phone number is (609) 354-1152, and the FAX is 609/354-6165. The headquarters will house the consolidated production facilities, incorporate additional office and warehousing space, and expand laboratory facilities.
RainSoft commissions survey on hard water problems
Ring-around-the-collar is a bigger problem than bathtub ring in the eyes of most Americans, according to a recent national survey conducted for the RainSoft Water Conditioning Co. by Joseph Ramos, Inc., the New York-based polling firm.
In reporting Ramos survey results, RainSoft President John Grayson credits soap manufacturers whose “new formulas don’t leave residue after a bath and some that make cleaning easier in some areas.”
According to the Ramos report, 83% of Americans surveyed feel they have a household problem caused by hard water. And a majority (53%) of those point specifically to laundry-related problems.
Only 8% of those surveyed report severe problems in the bathroom. Interestingly, when Ramos conducted a study on water softeners among Woman’s Day magazine readers in August, 1987, 18% expressed bathroom problems.
Included in Ramos’ earlier survey was a measure of RainSoft brand awareness which led RainSoft to change its advertising mix. The new research, aimed at 5,000 households, was intended to determine whether or not the change had any impact on RainSoft awareness.
Some 35% list shampooing as a major hard water problem; 31%, the dishwasher; and 25% say beverage preparation is a leading victim of hard water.
At the same time, Grayson notes that the survey revealed a drop in the number of households purchasing bottled water. In 1987, the study found that 44% of participants drank bottled water, but by 1990 the figure had dropped to 39%. The biggest drop in bottled water consumption was experienced by younger households (18 to 34).
Davies elected president of AWT
John E. Davies of San Francisco, CA has been elected president of the Association of Water Technologies (AWT). AWT is an international association of 250 small and medium industrial water treatment chemical companies in Canada and the U.S.
Davies, a University of British Columbia chemistry graduate, is a mem-ber of the American Chemical Society, American Water Works Association, National Association of Power Engineers, National Association of Corrosion Engineers, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Eco Expo consumer/trade shows to debut in April
Eco Expo, a series of major environmental consumer/trade shows, is set to debut in Los Angeles, CA April 12-14. Fifty thousand people are expected to visit Eco Expo during its run at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
In addition, three other shows have been booked for 1991: New York, Sept. 6-8 at the Javits Convention Center; Denver, June 28-30 at the Colorado Convention Center; and Atlanta, Dec. 6-8 at the World Congress Center.
Five themed pavilions will emphasize Eco Expo’s positioning as “The National Marketplace for the Environment”: Home and Garden, Recycling, Energy, Transportation, and Natural and Green Products.
Of interest to the water quality improvement industry is the Home and Garden Pavilion which will feature air and water purification systems, non-toxic construction materials, and water conserving household fixtures among others.
Eco Expo attendees will also have access to environmental workshops and nationally known environmental speakers. Workshops are planned to further public knowledge of what the key environmental issues are and how individuals can help. All attendees will receive a Resource Directory of companies at the show listing their environmentally-related products and services.
According to Marc Merson, Eco Expo president, the existence of the shows is expected to stimulate further product development in the environment-conscious 1990’s. Exhibitors range from Fortune 500 companies to small, innovative start-up entrepreneurs.
For further information about Eco Expo and booth space, contact Eco Expo, 14260 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 20l, Sherman Oaks, CA 9l423. (818) 906-2700 or FAX 818/906-0367.
AWQA to hold Spring Conference
The Arizona Water Quality Association will hold its Spring Conference April 5-7, 1991 at the Holiday Inn in Lake Havasu City, AZ.
Seminar topics will include Water Treatment for Pools and Spas and Water Treatment for Evaporative Coolers.
For more information, contact the AWQA, 6819 E. Diamond St., Scottsdale, AZ 85257, (602) 947-9850.
Hydranautics to provide RO desalination system
Hydranautics of San Diego, CA will provide a reverse osmosis system and membrane element for South Carolina’s first major desalination project. Located in the greater Charleston area, the project encompasses three RO plants offering a combined permeate capacity of 4.5 MGD.
The system includes RO trains containing the company’s thin film composite polyamide CPA2 membrane elements, pressure tubes and piping headers; pre and post treatment equipment; computer control; and instrumentation. Hydranautics is also responsible for startup and operator training.
Hydranautics manufactures reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration membrane elements and custom-designed RO plants.
AWWA sets membrane technology conference
The American Water Works Association will host a conference, “Membrane Technologies and Their Applications in the Water Industry” March 10-13, 1991 at the Twin Towers Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando, FL.
Seminars and technical sessions during the four-day event will address every aspect of membrane technology, from costs and implementation to fouling and flux considerations with both American and international applications.
Further information may be obtained from the AWWA, 6666 W. Quincy Ave., Denver, CO 80235. (303) 794-7711 or FAX 303/794-7310.
NWWA offers brochure for homeowners
A brochure from the National Water Well Association seeks to help homeowners with the issues to be considered when selecting a water source for their home.
Single copies are available by sending a self-addressed 9″x 12″ envelope with $1 for postage to: Water Supply Selection, c/o NWWA, 6375 Riverside Drive, Dublin, OH 43017.
Kurita to distribute Ionpure products
Kurita Water Industries of Tokyo, Japan has signed a three-year agreement to distribute water treatment products manu-factured by Ionpure Technologies Corp.
Kurita will incorporate the Continuous Deionization products into its “Pure
Conti” line. Also included are the Ionpure RO equipment and membranes and its ultrafiltration equipment and membranes.
Headquartered in Lowell, MA, Ionpure Technologies is a supplier of water treatment products and services to the pharmaceutical, medical, electronics and general industrial markets.