Trade News
Armstrong and Spacekit Partner to Offer Modular, Acoustical Wall Art Online
Armstrong World Industries Inc. announced a partnership with Spacekit, allowing Spacekit to offer its unique modular, acoustical wall art for sale on Armstrong’s direct-to-customer digital sales platform, KanopibyArmstrong.com. Spacekit products broaden Kanopi’s assortment of high design, customizable solutions with acoustic benefits for office, retail, dining, hospitality and other commercial settings.
Manufactured in Lititz, Pa., Spacekit products are constructed with thoughtfully sourced materials and production processes. All panels are made of U.S.-harvested and formaldehyde-free sustainable wood products, and the framing system is produced with a zero-waste manufacturing process. The products were launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Spacekit’s parent company, ATOMIC, pivoted from working on modular set-design solutions for live events and started designing and manufacturing acoustical wall art for the home, where noise control was a growing issue.
“We are excited to be working with Spacekit to bring another high value solution to our Kanopi customers,” said Jill Crager, sales operations senior vice president of Armstrong. “As two Lancaster County-based businesses, we share a commitment to offering unique, innovative products to the marketplace. These great-looking, sustainable products offer a practical function almost every space needs—sound absorption. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to install. It checks all the boxes for a modern building material.”
ACI Publishes Code Requirements for Glass Fiber-reinforced Polymer Bars
The American Concrete Institute, through the work of ACI Committee 440, has released ACI CODE-440.11-22: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete Reinforced with Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bars. The code was developed by an ANSI-approved consensus process and addresses structural systems, members and connections, including cast-in-place, precast, non-prestressed and composite construction.
This is the first comprehensive building code covering the use of nonmetallic, GFRP reinforcing bars in structural concrete applications. GFRP reinforcement has been in use for decades as an alternative to steel reinforcement because of its non-corrosive, non-magnetic and lightweight properties. This code represents a milestone for this technology and mirrors ACI 318-19 with provisions for designing GFRP reinforced concrete beams, one-way and two-way slabs, columns, walls, connections and foundations. Other model codes and standards can directly reference ACI CODE-440.11-22 to allow for widespread, responsible use of this important technology.
JLG Receives Industry Recognition
Aerial work platform manufacturer JLG Industries Inc. received 12 industry awards in 2022, highlighting the company’s most recent innovative product introductions and equipment with high long-term resale value.
RER magazine honored JLG with two Innovative Product Awards. A Technology Enhancements award for the company’s suite of telehandler accessory offerings and a Miscellaneous award for JLG’s “Access Your World” virtual experience.
Manitou Group Acquires Majority Stake in easyLi
Manitou Group has announced the acquisition of an 82 percent stake in easyLi, a specialist in the design and production of lithium-ion batteries. This strategic transaction gives the Group specific skills in the context of its energy transition.
Founded in 2011, easyLi manufactures and maintains lithium-ion battery systems for electric mobility and stationary energy storage solutions.
As a result of this acquisition, Manitou Group is extending its competence with business lines dedicated to R&D and the production and reconditioning of these batteries. Michel Denis, president and CEO of the Group, said: “easyLi’s expertise adds substantial value to our organization. By internalizing this expertise, we are going to be able to study machine-battery interactions in depth and thus continue to reduce total cost of ownership for our users. This operation is in keeping with our research and development plan to accelerate our energy transition.”
OSHA Seeks Nominations for Committee on Construction Safety and Health
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration seeks nominations for membership on the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health, as reported by the SWACCA. The ACCSH advises the Secretary of Labor and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA on the formulation of standards affecting the construction industry and on policy matters arising in the administration of the safety and health provisions of the Construction Safety Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
The 15 membership slots on the ACCSH include: five employer representatives, five employee representatives, two representatives from state safety and health agencies, two representatives from the general public, and one representative designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and appointed by the Secretary of Labor. Per this notice, OSHA is seeking nominations for all membership slots, with the exception of the representative designated by HHS.
Festool Launches Shop for Products
Tool manufacturer Festool has created a fan shop for the company’s apparels and accessories. The Festool Fan Shop is the all-in-one place for enthusiasts. The company is launching the site to make it easy for their costumers to view and purchase Festool-branded merchandise—from stylish clothing to tumblers and stickers.
Merchandise found on the site will continually be updated with new gear every few months. The shop currently only ships to locations in the U.S. and Canada. For those who want to wear the company’s apparel on the job site or on the street, the Fan Shop is their one-stop shop.
AD Associates Partner With Ryan’s Case for Smiles
AD associates participated in a giving back event supporting Ryan’s Case for Smiles, a volunteer organization dedicated to helping children and their families manage the stress and emotional impact of illness.
AD associates from the U.S., Canada and Mexico came together for a volunteer event at AD’s headquarters in Wayne, Pa., to sew 125 colorful pillowcases that improve the quality of life and bring comfort to young patients and their families. The pillowcases assembled by AD will be distributed to children in local hospitals in the Philadelphia area to improve spirits and give children and their families an emotional boost.
Spackle by Dave Coverly
People News
KAI announced the promotion of H. John Vetter II, PE to principal, Electrical Engineering at its Dallas-Fort Worth office.
The Farnsworth Group announced Dave King has joined the firm to serve as the vice president of Insights at The Farnsworth Group and as the executive director of The Home Improvement Research Institute.
January 2023 | Volume 86 | Issue 1
The Voice of the Industry since 1938
