Category: Uncategorized

Miller Electric Illustrates Benefits of Induction for Welding Preheating

Welding preheating is used to ensure weld quality and reduce the chance of cracking and other defects that can result in costly rework. Preheating is commonly used in field and shop applications when welding steel or steel alloy pipes or plates that are 1” thick or more. Applications that often use preheating include power plant and structural construction, as well as pipe fabrication. Here, Miller Electric outlines four common methods for welding preheating and how to choose the best option for your application.

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Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Learn Essential Strategies for Keeping Your Workers Safe from Heat Illness in MCAA & Tyfoom’s Webinar

Heat Illness poses a serious concern for worker safety and health in the mechanical construction and service industries. Join MCAA and Tyfoom as we review strategies to keep workers safe against heat illness during a 30-minute webinar on Thursday, July 27, at 3:00 PM EDT. The webinar will emphasize the importance of awareness, best practices, and effective communication in ensuring worker safety. It will also address strategies for doing so, including planning awareness and training, best practices, and consistent communication into the daily work routine. Register today!

The webinar, which will be led by Tyfoom’s Jason Cuskelly and facilitated by MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas, will provide attendees with an understanding of:

  • The urgency of implementing these strategies
  • The importance of planning to ensure employees are safe from heat illness
  • How intentional communication helps to educate employees about the risks associated with heat and best practices for staying safe
  • The role of microlearning techniques as an effective method for knowledge retention, enabling employees to stay informed and vigilant

By implementing these best practices, MCAA members can mitigate the risks of heat-illness, safeguard their workforces, and promote an overall culture of safety.

Register

Josam Company’s Lightweight Drain System Makes Installation a Snap for Egan Company

Egan Company selected Josam Company’s drain system to ensure that LeafLine Labs, the premium medical cannabis cultivator in Minnesota, had the right drainage systems to meet their unique needs. Josam Company’s PRO-PLUS® Trench Drain System was a welcome change from other labor-intensive drain systems that Egan Company had used, saving time and streamlining installation.

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Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Safety and Productivity: Does Improving One Increase the Other?

Reduced costs are just one benefit that a company realizes when it establishes a comprehensive safety program. A company’s productivity and business also improve. MCAA’s Safety and Productivity: Does Improving One Increase the Other? uses case studies to highlight the key ingredients for success: a commitment from top management and a clear plan of action that involves all employees. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • The link between safety and productivity
  • Case studies showcasing the common factors of success
DOWNLOAD

For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

2024 Safety & Health Conference: Call for Proposals – Submissions Are Due July 14th

Calling all Safety Professionals. Have you ever wanted to present at a national Safety & Health Conference?

Now is your chance to share your knowledge and expertise with hundreds of attendees from all over the country at the 2024 Safety & Health Conference in Tucson, AZ, January 16-18, 2024.

Submissions are due July 14th, 2023. Proposals must be submitted using the link below.

Please email raffi@mcaa.org for any questions about presenting.

SUBMIT PROPOSAL

Celebrate MCAA’s 20 Years of Safety Excellence Each Month of 2023 With a Safety Resource Kit

To celebrate MCAA’s 20 Years of Safety Excellence, MCAA is offering monthly safety kits to benefit our contractors around the country and the mechanical industry workers they support. Each kit will include videos, webinars, trainings, and additional resources on each monthly topic.

July 2023: Heat Stress

Each year, thousands of workers suffer from heat illness while working in high temperatures, direct sun, and humid conditions; dozens even die. Many mechanical contractors spend part of their working day in hot environments, both indoors and outdoors. Workers performing physical labor are often exposed to hazardous heat conditions that can have severe safety and health outcomes. This month’s kit includes information and posters from MCAA, OSHA, CNA and Milwaukee Tool. We will also be partnering with Tyfoom on a free heat stress webinar on July 27th at 3:00 pm ET.

CNA Resources

Milwaukee Tool Resources

MCAA Toolbox Talks

Tyfoom Webinar

DOWNLOAD RESOURCE SUMMARY

Find the Latest from Morris Group International and Craftmark Pipe Markers in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

Morris Group International
The ConTrols® Hi-Low Master Mixing Valve mixes hot water from the heater with cold water to the right temperature for the distribution system. ConTrols is a member of Morris Group International.

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Craftmark Pipe Markers
CraftMark DuraMark Self-Stick Pipe Markers Durable indoor/outdoor pipe marking system meets ASME/ANSI A13.1 2020 Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems. MCAA members receive a 30% discount and free shipping on all pipe markers!

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Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

Visit Smart Solutions

A. O. Smith Water Heaters Provide Reliable Hot Water at Any Hour for Hotel Guests

A hospitality industry veteran opted for A.O. Smith for a dependable water heating solution for a new four-story Hampton Inn in Ashland City, TN. “Hampton Inns thrive on being local,” said hotel general manager Sammy Naquin, “so it made sense to turn to A. O. Smith, who is right here in Ashland City, for a solution.” Naquin worked closely with A. O. Smith, which specified two 750,000 Btu/hr Cyclone® XL commercial gas water heaters, recommended for the hotel’s size and water heating demands.

LEARN MORE

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Learn Essential Strategies for Keeping Your Workers Safe from Heat Illness in MCAA & Tyfoom’s Webinar

Heat Illness poses a serious concern for worker safety and health in the mechanical construction and service industries. Join MCAA and Tyfoom as we review strategies to keep workers safe against heat illness during a 30-minute webinar on Thursday, July 27, at 3:00 PM EDT. The webinar will emphasize the importance of awareness, best practices, and effective communication in ensuring worker safety. It will also address strategies for doing so, including planning awareness and training, best practices, and consistent communication into the daily work routine. Register today!

The webinar, which will be led by Tyfoom’s Jason Cuskelly and facilitated by MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas, will provide attendees with an understanding of:

  • The urgency of implementing these strategies
  • The importance of planning to ensure employees are safe from heat illness
  • How intentional communication helps to educate employees about the risks associated with heat and best practices for staying safe
  • The role of microlearning techniques as an effective method for knowledge retention, enabling employees to stay informed and vigilant

By implementing these best practices, MCAA members can mitigate the risks of heat-illness, safeguard their workforces, and promote an overall culture of safety.

Register

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Five S’s: The Road to Improvement

Seeking to improve shop productivity, Kinetics adopted the 5 S’s, a variation of lean thinking. By applying these actions, Kinetics’ employees were able to reduce wasted time, materials and information, thereby increasing their productivity. MCAA’s Five S’s: The Road to Improvement shares the process and the results the company was able to achieve. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • What the 5S’s are and how they work
  • Kinetics’ 5S’s implementation guidelines
  • The results
DOWNLOAD

For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

2024 Safety & Health Conference: Call for Proposals – Submissions Are Due July 14th

Calling all Safety Professionals. Have you ever wanted to present at a national Safety & Health Conference?

Now is your chance to share your knowledge and expertise with hundreds of attendees from all over the country at the 2024 Safety & Health Conference in Tucson, AZ, January 16-18, 2024.

Submissions are due July 14th, 2023. Proposals must be submitted using the link below.

Please email raffi@mcaa.org for any questions about presenting.

SUBMIT PROPOSAL

Silicon Valley Mechanical Improves Productivity, Efficiency With PypeServer Enterprise Software

Silicon Valley Mechanical, a full-service mechanical contractor in San Jose, CA, rapidly improved productivity and increased efficiency by putting PypeServer software into place. Here, Jamie Garza, detail manager, and Dean Garza, piping shop general foreman at Silicon Valley Mechanical, describe how they achieved those gains.

LEARN MORE

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Business Transition Options for the Mechanical Contractor

One of the classic mistakes that owners of mechanical contracting firms often make when transferring ownership of their company is not fully exploring all their options. MCAA’s Business Transition Options for the Mechanical Contractor reviews the various options for transferring ownership of a company and showcases the advance planning and analysis needed for a successful transfer. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • How owner motives drive decisions
  • Understanding the tradeoffs necessary to meet the owner’s objectives
  • Transfer channels available
  • The valuation and liquidity issues associated with external vs. internal transfers
DOWNLOAD
WEBBOOK

In the related podcast, host Bob Lindbloom and co-host Rob Armistead discuss Exit Strategy Planning with Mario Vicari, business advisor to privately-held companies at Kreisher Miller. Play the podcast directly from the WebBook, or listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Google Play.

For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

Find the Latest from Morris Group International and Autodesk, Inc. in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

Morris Group International
Meet the Maintenance Advantage® key tool from Murdock Mfg., a division of MGI. This all-in-one tool unlocks all the maintenance features on the Water Cooler and Bottle Filler with EZ Door™ filter.

Learn More

Autodesk, Inc.
Success in a changing market comes from your ability to adapt while doing more with less. With improved collaboration throughout the project lifecycle, savings in time and money, and new capabilities like precision prefabrication, BIM makes the difference between surviving and thriving. Learn how the integrated tools in the AEC Collection can help you achieve better business outcomes.

Learn More

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

Visit Smart Solutions

IMI TA’s Support Center Cuts Energy Costs at Oklahoma Public Safety Facility

In recent years, the power needed to heat or cool buildings has fallen dramatically with the focus on reducing energy consumption and minimizing the environmental impact of HVAC installations. The flow rates in our installations are much lower now than in the past, especially if we use modulating controls on the terminal units. Here, IMI Hydronic Engineering explains the issues around low flow rates in boilers, cooling units, and pumps; solutions to guarantee the minimum flow rate; and effective ways to control low flow rates.

LEARN MORE

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

MCAA President Robert Beck Rolls Out MCAA’s 2023-2024 Initiatives

MCAA President Robert Beck rolled out the association’s 2023-2024 initiatives in a series of conference calls with MCAA committee chairs, local association executives, and MCAA staff. MCAA has been working towards these goals already, and now we are going to show how it all ties together and is being supported by MCAA leadership.

The initiatives are:

Member Engagement – We are a member-driven organization. We are going to motivate more of you, our world-class members, to engage by getting involved with local and national committees and boards.

  • Energize committees & boards
  • Align staff, chairs and Local Association Execs
  • Recruit and motivate member participation
  • Formalize the mission, time commitment expectations, and term expectations for each committee

Resource Awareness – We will find more avenues to connect our member companies with our vast resources available to assist with every aspect of business. Our mission is to be a partner, and help our member companies to improve, reduce risk, and maximize profitability.

Industry Improvement – We must work together to find new and better ways to stay ahead of the curve by reinventing how we provide value and conduct business in an industry that no longer looks like it did yesterday – and that will undoubtedly look very different tomorrow.

Watch for changes as MCAA implements these initiatives. We look forward to your continued involvement.

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Developing Improved Labor-Management Relations

Intense competition requires the parties to the collective bargaining process to jointly find a path to create wealth and build relationships that allow them to be more competitive in their markets. MCAA’s Developing Improved Labor-Management Relations provides a look back at past practices as well as a road map for improving your company’s relationship with labor. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • Inherited collective bargaining characteristics
  • An alternative to the traditional distributive negotiation model
  • Lessons learned from the past
  • Cornerstones for change
DOWNLOAD

For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, including several on the topic of purchasing, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

Ridge Tool Company Offers Tips for Selecting Ergonomic Tools to Minimize Strain, Increase Productivity

Not long ago, the impact of a tool on its user was not given much thought when it came to tool design. Today, thanks to advancements in technology and a better awareness of how repetitive use of a tool can contribute to injury, ergonomic tool design is becoming the norm. To help ensure you are making the best equipment investment for your team, here are basic ergonomic tool features to look for.

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Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Guidelines to Using Social Media in Your Business

Social media allows people to communicate with one another like never before, creating new opportunities for businesses to reach their target audiences. MCAA’s Guidelines to Using Social Media in Your Business offers advice and insight to help your business establish or benchmark social media and manage its social media presence. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • Social media platforms
  • What to do with social media
  • Engagement
  • How to make your business easy to find
  • Creating your social media team
  • Social media as an employment tool
  • Social media policies for employees
DOWNLOAD

For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

Find the Latest from SLOAN and Delta Cooling Towers, Inc. in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

SLOAN
As more businesses strive to reduce their environmental impact, they are partnering with companies that can provide carbon-neutral products. Sloan offers hundreds of products that are carbon neutral. Learn more about this certification.

Learn More
Delta Cooling Towers - TM Series

Delta Cooling Towers, Inc.
TM Series – capacity from 250 to 2000 cooling tons – Engineered plastic tower provides longer life – Low Maintenance – CTI Certified.

Learn More

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

Visit Smart Solutions