RIDGID

RIDGID®, a part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, announced their participation in the WWETT Show, Jan. 25 – 27, in Indianapolis. This year’s in-booth experience will include demos of their latest underground and pressing technology solutions, the opportunity to network with other pros during an exclusive show meetup and the first chance to enter to win a spot at the 2024 RIDGID Experience.

“RIDGID is taking cleaning, inspecting and patching to the next level and our team can’t wait to meet with the plumbers and drain cleaning professionals at WWETT to share our latest solutions,” said Jeff Albertini, marketing director, plumbing and mechanical, RIDGID. “We also can’t wait to host an exclusive in-booth meet up for industry pros to connect with each other and to offer the possibility of winning a new K9-204+ FlexShaft Machine.”

RIDGID invited tradespeople to stop by the RIDGID booth to experience their innovative drain cleaning, inspection, pipe rehabilitation, and pressing tools, including these latest solutions:

• NEW: FlexShaft® KM-1004 Milling Machine – This new innovative milling machine provides heavy-duty milling and a wall-to-wall clean on 1 ¼ to 4-inch pipe up to 80 feet with unmatched efficiency. With cordless freedom, plug-in capability, first ever cable counter, and best-in-class durability, the FlexShaft KM-1004 Milling Machine allows users to adapt to tough jobsite conditions and makes in-field serviceability effortless.
• NEW: K9-204+ FlexShaft Machine – This upgraded version of the K9-204 FlexShaft Drain Cleaning Machine has latches around the perimeter to provide easy access to the inside of the machine, an improved cable clamp for increased cable protection, and on-board hex key storage. The K9-204+ can be used on 2 to 4-inch pipe and includes 70 feet of 5/16-inch cable. A full range of chain knockers and accessories are available.
• RIDGID Pipe Patching System – An all-inclusive, start-to-finish solution for faster and simpler trenchless repairs, the Pipe Patching System is the most versatile system on the market, offering more types of repairs with less materials and equipment. Featuring a durable fiberglass patch, it is ideal for repairing small sections of damaged pipe in residential, commercial, and industrial settings.
• SeeSnake® Mini Pro Inspection Camera with TruSense Technology – The first reel of its kind to provide digital self-leveling without mechanical rotation, the small, yet rugged Mini Pro is designed to inspect up to 200 feet of 1 ½ to 8-inch pipe with its mid-flex push cable that can navigate hard 90-degree bends. Its innovative 25 mm digital self-leveling camera head always keeps the in-pipe image upright and, when
  paired with a TruSense enabled monitor, the Mini Pro delivers the industry’s best in-pipe image with superior clarity, detail and fewer blown-out areas and sections of the pipe that are too dark to see.
• K-4310 FXP™ Drum Machine – The K-4310 features an industry-first cable counter that provides real-time, in-pipe cable distance in 3 to 10-inch lines for faster locating and diagnostics. Ideal for residential and commercial plumbing and drain cleaning projects, its powerful brushless DC motor spins at 230 RPM allowing you to tackle tough jobs with less required maintenance. The battery-powered K-4310 is also the newest addition to the FXP Technology Platform, delivering cordless freedom and powerful performance.

Other RIDGID drain cleaning, diagnostic, and press tools will also be available for demo including sectional machines, drum machines, jetters, SeeSnake® camera systems and locators.

Along with product demos, RIDGID had several other booth experiences, including hosting a booth meetup where they will gave away a K9-204+ FlexShaft Machine. Additionally, the first day of the show kicked off the RIDGID Experience 2024 and the RIDGID WWETT booth was the first opportunity for attendees to enter for their chance to win a spot on the seventh annual, all-expenses-paid trip to RIDGID headquarters. Throughout the show, attendees scanned their badge to enter to win one of three K9-102 FlexShaft Machines.

RIDGID also took their social followers to WWETT virtually on their social channels and with drain cleaning professionals Evan Berns (@re.plumb) and Nick Parlet (@plumbingsk8r) who will shared their WWETT show experience on their social media channels too.

To learn more about RIDGID purpose-built tools they had at WWETT, contact your local distributor or visit RIDGID.com.

The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation is proud to announce the winners of our 2023 scholarships program. Fifty-seven students were selected to receive scholarship awards totaling $139,000. Applicants must be plumbing or HVAC apprentices or trade school students, or college students pursuing studies directly related to the plumbing-heating-cooling industry.

The Foundation extends our congratulations to all our winners and our thanks to the contractor donors and corporate sponsors who make these awards possible. Sponsorships are provided by A.O. Smith, Bradford White Corporation, Delta Faucet Company, InSinkErator, RIDGID, Scorpion Home Services Marketing, State Water Heaters, Sterling (a Kohler brand), SupplyHouse.com, Viega, the Texas and Massachusetts PHCC Auxiliaries, the PHCC Past National Officers, Bill Jones, and Gerry Kennedy, with additional funding from the generous donations made by PHCC contractors.

The 2024 PHCC Educational Foundation scholarship program will open for applications in January, with all submission materials due by May 1st. Information on the scholarship program can be found at https://phccfoundation.org/scholarships.

2023 PHCC Educational Foundation Scholarship Winners

• Thomas Langer of McKean, Pa. is studying Business Management at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by A.O. Smith.
• Ryan Welte of Roscoe, Ill. is studying HVACR Installation, Service and Repair at Blackhawk Technical College and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by A.O. Smith.
• Noah Gonzales of Beaumont, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair in the PHCC-ORSB Plumbing Apprenticeship Program and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by Bradford White.
• Justin Hendrix of Reno, Nev. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at PHCC of Nevada and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by Bradford White.
• Nathaniel Sanchez of Allentown, Pa. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at PHCC of Lehigh Valley LCTI and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by Bradford White.
• Matthew Toohey of San Diego, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at the PHCC of San Diego Academy and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by Bradford White.
• Sarosh Ahmed of Sylvania, OH is studying Mechanical Engineering at The University of Toledo and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by Delta Faucet Company.
• Cameron Barton of Amarillo, Texas is studying Construction Engineering at Texas Tech University and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by Delta Faucet Company.
• Todd Daskalov of Costa Mesa, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair in the PHCC-ORSB Plumbing Apprenticeship Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by Delta Faucet Company.
• Kyle Girard of Westford, Mass. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at The Peterson School and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by Delta Faucet Company.
• Lane Prindle of Navarre, Fla. is studying HVACR Installation, Service and Repair at Locklin Technical College and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by Delta Faucet Company.
• Andrew Shields of Bryan, Texas is studying Mechanical Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by Delta Faucet Company.
• Grant Styers of Gastonia, N.C. is studying Business Management at NC State and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by InSinkErator.
• Matthew Dineen of Glendale, Wis. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at Waukesha County Technical School and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship plus $1,500 in tools sponsored by RIDGID.
• Andrew Jacobs of Cypress, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair in the PHCC-ORSB Plumbing Apprenticeship Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship plus $1,500 in tools sponsored by RIDGID.
• Eliuth Perez Gonzalez of San Jose, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at the PHCC-GSA Plumbers UAC Apprenticeship Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship plus $1,500 in tools sponsored by RIDGID.
• Cameron White of Trabuco Canyon, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair in the PHCC-ORSB Plumbing Apprenticeship Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship plus $1,500 in tools sponsored by RIDGID.
• Ricardo Amezquita of Lynwood, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair in the PHCC-ORSB Plumbing Apprenticeship Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by Scorpion Home Services Marketing.
• Chase Fenner of Granger, Ind. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at JATC Local 172 Apprentice Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by Scorpion Home Services Marketing.
• Ashley Trester of New Orleans, La. is studying Business Management at Tulane University and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by Scorpion Home Services Marketing.
• Sadiq Evans of Atlanta, Ga. is studying Mechanical Engineering at Alabama A&M and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by State Water Heaters.
• Garrett Crabb of Cameron Park, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at the PHCC-GSA Plumbers UAC Apprenticeship Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by Sterling, a Kohler Brand.
• Matthew Emig of Springville, Iowa is studying HVACR Installation, Service and Repair in the PHCC of Iowa Online Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by Sterling, a Kohler Brand.
• Jacob Mellen of Leeds, Maine is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at Central Maine Community College and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by Sterling, a Kohler Brand.
• Tatiana Sicard of Mansfield, Mass. is studying Construction Management at Wentworth Institute of Technology and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by Sterling, a Kohler Brand.
• Mario Alvarado Jr. of Moreno Valley, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair in the PHCC-ORSB Plumbing Apprenticeship Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by SupplyHouse.com.
• Joseph Brehm of El Dorado, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair in the PHCC-GSA Plumbers UAC Apprenticeship Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by SupplyHouse.com.
• Hannah Keller of St. Petersburg, Fla. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair with PHCC of Florida and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by SupplyHouse.com.
• Anna Kurtz of Bethlehem, Pa. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at PHCC Academy and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by SupplyHouse.com.
• James Mantsch of Sacramento, Calif. is studying HVACR Installation, Service and Repair in the Sacramento City College Mechanical Electrical Technology Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by SupplyHouse.com.
• Lamonte Wright of Murrieta, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at PHCC Academy of San Diego and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by SupplyHouse.com.
• William Broas of Oxford, Conn. is studying HVACR Installation, Service and Repair at Lincoln Technical Institute and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by Viega, LLC.
• Aubree Carr of Stanwood, Wash. is studying Business Management at George Fox University and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by Viega, LLC.
• Chase Carrico of Lakeville, Ind. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at JATC Local 172 Apprentice Program and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by Viega, LLC.
• Joseph Christensen of Lathrop, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at PHCC-GSA Plumbers UAC Apprenticeship Program and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by Viega, LLC.
• Samuel Gutierrez of Fullerton, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair in the PHCC-ORSB Plumbing Apprenticeship Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by Viega, LLC.
• Erik Licona Perez of San Bernardino, Calif. is studying HVACR Installation, Service and Repair at San Joaquin Valley College and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by Viega, LLC.
• Elijah Patterson of Coxs Creek, Ky. is studying HVACR Installation, Service and Repair at Bluegrass Community and Technical College and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by Viega, LLC.
• Erin Perez of Richmond, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair with PHCC of Alameda & Contra Costa Counties and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by Viega, LLC.
• Helen Tallulah King of Tallahassee, Fla. is studying Business Management at University of Alabama and was awarded a $10,000 Charles Hiley Memorial Scholarship sponsored by PHCC Educational Foundation.
• Anthony Cacciotti of Millstone Township, N.J. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair in the PHCC of New Jersey Academy and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by PHCC Educational Foundation.
• Kadyn Campeau of New Richmond, Wis. is studying HVACR Installation, Service and Repair at Chippewa Valley Technical College and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by PHCC Educational Foundation.
• Luke Ciaffaglione of Plantsville, Conn. is studying Construction Management at Central Connecticut State University and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by PHCC Educational Foundation.
• Marley Colville of Coats, N.C. is studying Business Management at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by PHCC Educational Foundation.
• Peter Diaz of Pomona, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair in the PHCC-ORSB Plumbing Apprenticeship Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by PHCC Educational Foundation.
• Aiden Divelbiss of Youngstown, Ohio is studying HVACR Installation, Service and Repair at University of Northwestern Ohio and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by PHCC Educational Foundation.
• Jake Dunlap of San Antonio, Texas is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at PHCC of San Antonio Apprentice Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by PHCC Educational Foundation.
• Zachary Hulin of Huntington Beach, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair in the PHCC-ORSB Plumbing Apprenticeship Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by PHCC Educational Foundation.
• Nathan Telander of San Antonio, Texas is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at PHCC of San Antonio Apprentice Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by PHCC Educational Foundation.
• Cole Trautman of San Luis Obispo, Calif. is studying Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by PHCC Educational Foundation.
• Cody McManus of Dedham, Mass. is studying Business Management at Williams College and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship sponsored by PHCC of Massachusetts Auxiliary.
• Nicholas Graves of San Antonio, Texas is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at PHCC of San Antonio Apprentice Program and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by PHCC of Texas Auxiliary.
• Joshua Fletcher of Knox, Ind. is studying HVACR Installation, Service and Repair at JATC Local 172 Apprentice Program and was awarded a $3,000 Need-Based scholarship sponsored by PHCC Past National Officers.
• Jason Fornito of Springfield, Pa. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair in the PHCC of Philadelphia Suburban Apprentice Program and was awarded a $3,000 Need-Based scholarship sponsored by PHCC Past National Officers.
• Victor Pacheco of Whittier, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair in the PHCC-ORSB Plumbing Apprenticeship Program and was awarded a $3,000 Need-Based scholarship sponsored by PHCC Past National Officers.
• Timothy Portnoy of Vista, Calif. is studying Plumbing Installation, Service & Repair at PHCC of San Diego Academy and was awarded a $3,000 Patty Jones Memorial Scholarship sponsored by William Jones.
• Hunter Styers of Gastonia, N.C. is studying Construction Management at University of Alabama and was awarded a $3,000 Gerry Kennedy Memorial Scholarship sponsored by Gerry Kennedy.

2023 PHCC Educational Foundation Scholarships Corporate Sponsors

About PHCC Educational Foundation

The PHCC Educational Foundation, a partnership of contractors, manufacturers, and wholesalers, was founded in 1987 to serve the plumbing-heating-cooling industry by preparing contractors and their employees to meet the challenges of a constantly changing marketplace. Students interested in pursuing a career in the plumbing or HVACR professions are invited to visit phccfoundation.org/scholarships for information on 2024 scholarships.

RIDGID®, a part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, is celebrating a major milestone this year: 100 years of designing and building innovative tools trusted on jobsites around the world and handed down from generation to generation. On Saturday, July 29, the company commemoratedthe occasion by inviting employees past and present, along with their families, to an open house event filled with food, music, entertainment, children’s activities, plant tours, and more. Nearly 1,000 employees, retirees, and their family members attended the festivities.

“All year we have been celebrating our anniversary alongside our customers and tradespeople around the world,” said Craig Sumner, president, professional tools for Emerson.“Bringing the celebration home to our Elyria headquarters was a great way for us to gather with the people who made our 100 year milestone possible: our employees, retirees, and their families. These are the people who built and continue to build the products that set us apart.”

The festivities included a beer tent where adult guests could sample “RIDGID Wrenched 100 IPA,” a specialty beer developed in collaboration with Unplugged Brewing Company in Elyria. Families spentthe day playing carnival games, inflatable darts, inflatable golf and taking rides on giant trikes while listening to live music. A highlight of the open house included plant tours, where attendees learned about the company’s plans for expansion and their continued commitment to growth.

“We made this a family affair because we wanted to treat our employees and retirees to a full day of fun andcelebration,” said Jordan Weber, employee engagement manager for RIDGID. “Inviting our retirees back made this occasion extra special. Seeing their faces while witnessing the innovative changes we’ve made to our manufacturing facility and hearing about their experiences over the years was an important way to recognize how far we’ve come throughout our 100 years in business.”

RIDGID has had a manufacturing presence in Ohio since the company was founded in 1923. The 27-acre complex in Elyria is the world headquarters for the brand’s operation and considered a hub for innovation with a recently renovated state-of-the-art shipping and receiving area that helps the company deliver products faster and more efficiently. Over the next several years, the company has plans for additional investments in the area, transforming the southeast corner of Elyria into a vertically integrated, automated manufacturing center of excellence.

To learn more about RIDGID, visit RIDGID.com.

Oatey Co. to sponsor PHCC Connect 2023 Cleveland, offering tours of its local manufacturing and training facility and sponsoring Women in Industry Luncheon

Oatey Co. is proud to announce its sponsorship and participation in PHCC Connect 2023 Cleveland, the premier national conference for plumbing, heating, and cooling professionals in the United States. The event will take place on October 23-26, 2023, in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Huntington Convention Center.

As a Cleveland-based company and one of the oldest and most respected names in the plumbing industry, Oatey Co. will be a part of a showcase of Cleveland hometown brands, joining forces with Ridge Tool Company (RIDGID), Moen, and Merit Brass. These companies will be positioned in a central area of the Exhibit Hall and some will also be offering plant tours to celebrate and showcase Cleveland manufacturing.

“Oatey Co. is incredibly proud to sponsor and participate in PHCC Connect 2023 Cleveland, an excellent opportunity for industry leaders and plumbing experts to come together, learn, and share ideas,” says Patrick Aquino, Oatey’s Vice President of Wholesale Sales.

Katherine Lehtinen, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Oatey, added: “We look forward to giving attendees and media an insider’s look at the world of Cleveland manufacturing as well as Oatey’s many innovations and contributions to the industry since its founding more than a century ago.”

“We are excited to welcome these industry leaders to Cleveland and to showcase our region’s position as a hub for advanced manufacturing,” says Gordon Taylor III, Chief Sales Officer at Destination Cleveland, the destination marketing and management organization for the region. “While exploring our city and touring the innovative local businesses, conference attendees will see firsthand that Cleveland is The Land of building meaningful connections.”

As a Cleveland-based sponsor, Oatey will offer tours of its 160th Street manufacturing operations, providing an opportunity for attendees to gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of the company’s world-class facility, learning about the chemical and mechanical processes that bring the highest-quality plumbing products to life.

Then, attendees will enjoy a hands-on experience at Oatey University, a best-in-class training center for industry tradespeople, inspiring innovative new products and advancing the state of the art in the plumbing industry. Oatey social media ambassadors Nick Parlet (@plumbingsk8r), Colin Luttrel (@colintheplumberllc), Rob Broccolo (@prodrains) and Evan Berns (@re.plumb) will be on hand at Oatey University to welcome facility visitors. They are looking forward to connecting with fellow industry members, sharing their knowledge and personal stories about promoting the plumbing trade.

Once registered for the PHCC Connect Conference, attendees can sign up to participate in this tour, which will take place on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, from 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM ET.

That same day, Oatey is proud to sponsor a Women in Industry Luncheon hosted by the PHCC National Auxiliary and Women in Piping and Plumbing. Oatey’s Lehtinen will open the event, which will include an interactive panel discussion, featuring women who work in the plumbing and HVAC industries. Panelists will share their personal stories, challenges faced, and thought-provoking ideas for how the trades can become even more welcoming and inclusive.

Lehtinen will also highlight The House That She Built, an organization whose mission is to help generate awareness of the skilled trades. A new children’s book, also titled The House That She Built, educates young readers about the people and skills that go into building a home, telling the true story of a home built by all female tradespeople. Each luncheon attendee will receive a copy of the book and be asked to read it to a child in their life or a local elementary school classroom. Lehtinen sits on The House That She Built Executive Leadership Council.

After registering for the conference, attendees can sign up to attend the Women in Industry Luncheon, which will take place on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, from 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM ET. Each luncheon attendee will receive a copy of The House That She Built.