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 Read more
RIDGID
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.
The limited-edition craft beer celebrates trade professionals and the RIDGID legacy RIDGID®, a part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, is celebrating its 100th anniversary with RIDGID Wrenched 100 IPA, a limited-edition anniversary beer. The brew, created in collaboration with Unplugged Brewing Company, pays tribute to the expert tradespeople who work hard and know how to Read more
The limited-edition craft beer celebrates trade professionals and the RIDGID legacy
RIDGID®, a part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, is celebrating its 100th anniversary with RIDGID Wrenched 100 IPA, a limited-edition anniversary beer. The brew, created in collaboration with Unplugged Brewing Company, pays tribute to the expert tradespeople who work hard and know how to unplug.
Unplugged is an Elyria-based craft brewery and worked closely with the RIDGID team to create the bold and steady brew – just like the brand that inspired it. “Our goal was to say thank you to the trade professionals who over the past 100 years have put their trust in our tools every day on jobsites around the world,” said Becky Brotherton, director of brand and marketing, RIDGID for Emerson. “Having a small, hardworking brewery in our own backyard allowed us to create something that was truly special.”
The specialty craft beer is available for purchase in select Northeast Ohio stores and online for direct-to-home shipping in 41 states through December. To purchase online, visit: rivalrybrews.com/products/ridgid-wrenched-100. Enjoy responsibly.
“RIDGID is an iconic name, recognized around the world, and we’re proud to help them celebrate this milestone anniversary,” said Carlos Lopez, owner of Unplugged Brewery. “As a small business owner, it’s been an honor to create this brew for a company that celebrates its customers in this special way.”
In addition to the RIDGID Wrenched 100 IPA, a limited edition RIDGID beer tap is also available to purchase for use or display. The tap is manufactured at RIDGID global headquarters in Elyria, Ohio, on the same production lines used to produce the brand’s legendary wrenches. It fits a 3/8″-16 body thread or can sit upright for display in a home or shop. Commemorative pint glasses, t-shirts, signs, and hats are also available at ridgidgear.com.
In 1923, the Ridge Tool Company invented the modern straight pipe wrench, introducing it to the world under their brand, RIDGID. Since then, every step forward has been taken with the tradesperson in mind. Today, RIDGID’s pipe wrench design is the best-selling pipe wrench in the world, and many of the wrenches that were sold back in the 1920s and 30s are still in use today.
This year, RIDGID is celebrating 100 years of designing and building innovative tools trusted on jobsites around the world and handed down from generation to generation. To commemorate the occasion, RIDGID is spending 2023 celebrating the trades, their impact on our world, and the brand’s legacy.
To learn more about the 100th anniversary, individuals are invited to visit RIDGID.com/100 or their social channels – @RIDGIDTools on Facebook, @RIDGIDTools on Instagram, and @RIDGIDTools on TikTok.
Emerson’s professional tools business, which includes RIDGID as well as the Greenlee® and Klauke® brands, provides the industry’s broadest portfolio of advanced, reliable tools and technologies for the mechanical, electrical and plumbing trades globally. Visit emerson.com/professionaltools for more information.
RIDGID, part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, introduces the smallest and lightest press tool on the market, the RP 115 Mini Press Tool. Designed for residential and lightweight commercial plumbing use, it completes the majority of press connections installed in the market with ease, while getting professionals to their next job faster. Engineered with the Read more
RIDGID, part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, introduces the smallest and lightest press tool on the market, the RP 115 Mini Press Tool. Designed for residential and lightweight commercial plumbing use, it completes the majority of press connections installed in the market with ease, while getting professionals to their next job faster.
Engineered with the quality and technology that have kept RIDGID first in pressing for decades, the RP 115 can press 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch copper and stainless steel fittings. It is 14.6 inches long, 2.5 inches wide and weighs only 5.5 pounds with battery and jaws. The RP 115 has a SlimGrip handle and optimized trigger for balance and control; one-handed jaw opening and operation for reach and ease of use; and 210-degree head swivel for access to tight spaces.
Visit RIDGID.com for more info.
A part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, RIDGID employs 16 fathers and their children RIDGID®, a part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, celebrated Father’s Day by creating a tribute video recognizing how the work fathers do can inspire their children’s career choices. The inspiration behind the video came from RIDGID’s own workforce: currently sixteen RIDGID Read more
A part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, RIDGID employs 16 fathers and their children
RIDGID®, a part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, celebrated Father’s Day by creating a tribute video recognizing how the work fathers do can inspire their children’s career choices. The inspiration behind the video came from RIDGID’s own workforce: currently sixteen RIDGID employees are considered “legacies” – meaning they have dads that worked for the company’s manufacturing team before them. These “RIDGID Dads” and now their children build RIDGID tools in Elyria, OH, that are used by skilled trade professionals across the country, many by family-owned companies that also include fathers and their children.
“When we ask trade professionals how they got into the industry, learning from their fathers is a common response,” said Becky Brotherton, director of engagement marketing, RIDGID for Emerson. “Passing along their skills to the next generation is a legacy that lasts, not only in their children, but also in the infrastructure built and maintained through their challenging careers. Father’s Day seemed like the ideal time to celebrate the legacy that we see regularly on jobsites and in our manufacturing team.”
The video, shared last week on RIDGID social channels and viewed more than 2,000 times, features Russell and Josh Halstead, co-owners of Valu-Rooter® in Elyria, OH, and Jose and Bryan Gonzalez, RIDGID employees.
“I remember him having this determination and hard work to get the job done, but to do it right the first time,” said Josh Halstead, of his dad. “I started working in high school to make some money, but coming out of school I became more interested in this line of work. I wanted to be the best that I could be. I’ve always had the goal of being the best plumber. I want people to hear our name and think of quality.”
“The number of generations, including fathers and their children, working at our company is a unique aspect of our team,” said Danielle Hart, director of human resources, RIDGID for Emerson. “It’s a distinction that we’re proud of and one that we think contributes to a positive work environment.”
View the video on RIDGID social channels, including Instagram – @ridgidtools – and Facebook – @RIDGIDTools.
RIDGID has released Father’s Day videos the last several years, each a tribute to dads in the trades and the influence they have on their children. Previous videos can also be viewed on their YouTube channel.
RLS LLC, manufacturer of the Rapid Locking System line of flame-free press-to-connect fittings for HVAC and refrigeration systems, announces that Milwaukee® Tool, in partnership with RLS, has introduced RLS-compatible jaws for use with its popular M18™ FORCE LOGIC™ Press Tools. Available in sizes from 1/4″ – 1-3/8″, these new RLS ACR Press Jaws will allow Read more
RLS LLC, manufacturer of the Rapid Locking System line of flame-free press-to-connect fittings for HVAC and refrigeration systems, announces that Milwaukee® Tool, in partnership with RLS, has introduced RLS-compatible jaws for use with its popular M18™ FORCE LOGIC™ Press Tools.
Available in sizes from 1/4″ – 1-3/8″, these new RLS ACR Press Jaws will allow M18 tool users to take advantage of the time-saving and safety benefits of flame-free RLS press connections for HVAC/R, without needing to invest in a new press tool. These are the industry’s first jaws approved to press RLS fittings using 32 kN (kilonewton) tools.
In addition, the new Milwaukee jaws are also compatible with a wide range of other 32 kN tools on the market, including those from manufacturers such as RIDGID, Klauke, Viega, Dewalt, NovoPress and Rothenberger. Contractors who already own any of these tools will only need to purchase the Milwaukee jaws to begin installing RLS fittings.
Milwaukee’s RLS-compatible jaws will be sold exclusively through Milwaukee distributors. Contact Milwaukee or visit milwaukeetool.com for details. For more information on RLS press fittings, and a complete RLS Tool & Jaw Compatibility Matrix, visit rapidlockingsystem.com.
About RLS Fittings
RLS press fittings connect in 10 seconds using a battery-powered tool and jaws, replacing the time-consuming process of manually brazing HVAC/R joints. The fittings result in faster, more consistent connections that reduce total installed costs, while also increasing jobsite safety by eliminating the use of an open flame. More than 10 million RLS fittings have been successfully installed since their introduction in 2015