RWC

HoldRite produces industry-leading plumbing products for commercial and residential job sites including pipe supports, firestopping solutions and acoustic noise and vibration solutions 

HoldRite, an industry-leading brand of engineered plumbing and mechanical solutions within the Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC) portfolio, is celebrating its 40^th anniversary of plumbing innovation this year. From its inception four decades ago, the brand has spent each day in the field engaging customers and solving common job-site challenges to create efficient, safe solutions for the construction industry, including pipe supports, in-slab stub-ups and supports, cast-in-place firestop sleeves, acoustic noise and vibration solutions, DWV testing systems and no-hub fitting restraints.

“For us, innovation starts at the job site,” said Chris Carrier, Senior Director of Product Management for RWC. “Our HoldRite solutions come directly from conversations with contractors and specifiers in the field, so we can incorporate our customers’ input into our products and help them overcome challenges they are facing on the job site.”

This approach has led HoldRite to improve job site safety and product efficiencies throughout its 40-year history, becoming one of RWC’s leading brands. Since the brand’s start, hundreds of millions of HoldRite products have been installed in a wide variety of construction projects, including single- and multi-family residential and commercial buildings, healthcare, hospitality and education.

“Through decades of successful installations, HoldRite has become integral in driving RWC’s business forward with its continued development of innovative plumbing solutions,” Carrier continued.

HoldRite’s first product was the catalyst for the brand’s commitment to solving job site challenges with efficient, safe products. In 1982, master plumber George Hubbard experienced a challenge in his daily work that needed to be solved. At his job sites, he had to cut blocks of wood to make supports for piping, a time-consuming and labor-intensive method. That’s when Hubbard created the first-ever HoldRite 101-18 bracket, the first step in reimagining pipe supports to better serve plumbing pros. By solving a daily challenge that he and his plumbers personally experienced, Hubbard set the foundation for HoldRite and its guiding mission: Innovation starts at the job site and results in solutions by plumbers, for plumbers.

To learn more about HoldRite’s 40 years of innovation, visit www.holdrite.com.

A female plumber’s tale sheds light on the fulfilling career to be had in the trades 

As Careers in Construction Month draws to a close, Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC) is committed to continuing its investment in the national initiative, which recognizes talent and career development opportunities throughout the building trades. Designed to engage prospective skilled laborers as well as current professionals, RWC remains focused on inspiring others to seek a career in the trades.

With a well-documented passion for this initiative – including its national partnership with the Home Builders Institute (HBI) which was announced at IBS 2021 – RWC has a continuous drive to learn as much as possible to help increase the talent pool. After recent participation in HBI’s Industry Workforce Roundtable, the biggest takeaway was clear: an undeniable need for increased industry diversity.

In a category with unfulfilled positions and untapped opportunities, RWC is doing its part to help by identifying and showcasing diverse talent, sharing their stories to inform and inspire others to start their career in plumbing. And through the partnership with HBI, RWC met Starr Delgado, a certified plumber and plumbing instructor at HBI’s Job Corps Plumbing Program.

Overcoming personal and professional challenges – including dropping out of school – led Delgado to pursue a career that could help to support her family. After researching career paths and identifying plumbing as the ultimate solution, Delgado began taking plumbing courses at HBI and was inspired by her plumbing instructor to come back years later to teach. Today, she owns her own home, her own car and supports her family through her plumbing career.

“The most rewarding thing for me is the students,” said Delgado. “You get to give back…the hardest of the hardest kids come through these doors, and they turn out to be something amazing.”

When asked about her experiences as an industry-leading woman and the advice she would give to others, she stated, “There’s always going to be challenges for women in the field. People are always going to say you can’t or you shouldn’t or don’t. But if you say I’m going to, I can and I will, you can do it. You just have to have some thick skin.”

By breaking through the stereotypes associated with plumbers, Delgado was able to achieve all that she wanted: the ability to support her family and a career she could be proud of. RWC plans to continue sharing similar stories to reach the younger generation, as well as diverse groups, in the hopes that they begin seeing the opportunities that could be had by pursuing a career in the trades.

Organizations will work together to emphasize career opportunities in the trades

Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC), a leading manufacturer of premium branded push-to-connect plumbing products, valves, secondary pipe supports, firestopping solutions and fluid control technologies, is partnering with Home Builders Institute (HBI), a national leader in career training for the building and construction industry, as the exclusive Trade Sponsor for its 22 plumbing programs across the U.S., primarily serving Job Corps students and justice-involved individuals.

These HBI programs provide students with the skills, experience and placement services they need to have a successful career while helping the trade address labor shortages.

“We are thrilled to engage with HBI and believe this is the beginning of an important, long-lasting partnership,” said Chris Carrier, Marketing Director, Americas at RWC. “HBI’s ability to connect, train and place potential new talent into the trade makes them an ideal partner. Not only do we see this as an opportunity to help our trade, but also an opportunity to help the local communities that these programs are in.”

This partnership was a natural opportunity for RWC to double down on its commitment to promote and further the plumbing trade after its Careers in Construction Month efforts, through its SharkBite® and HoldRite® brands, in October.

“Our diverse product portfolio enables us to produce solutions that are designed to help plumbing contractors work more efficiently in the field,” Carrier continued. “In our conversations with them, we’ve recognized the need to help the trade address its labor challenge.”

HBI’s programs help approximately 10,000 students each year receive real life, hands-on training and find meaningful careers in the trades. HBI also provides them with job placement and transition assistance, and qualified graduates are able to enter advanced training programs to expand their education and experience.

“Home Builders Institute is proud to welcome our new partner, Reliance Worldwide Corporation,” said HBI President and CEO Ed Brady. “Together, we are training the next generation of skilled labor for the building industry. As HBI’s exclusive Trade Sponsor of our plumbing programs, RWC will provide its excellent products to help train our students in 22 locations nationwide. In the process, they will develop customers for life as our graduates enter the industry. I look forward to working with RWC and to seeing how the many resources they bring to the table will help enhance our training programs and ensure the future success of our students.”

To further discuss this partnership during IBSx – the 2021 International Builders Show – please visit RWC or HBI’s exhibits. Learn more about RWC and its family of brands.