CMX 2004 - Plumbing & HVAC

Ridge Tool Expands Innovative
RAPIDGRIP TM Wrench Product
Line With Three New Sizes
Ridge Tool Company has recently
added three new sizes to expand its
RAPIDGRIP TM wrench product line.
The RAPIDGRIP wrench is an innovative,
heavy-duty, self-adjusting pipe
wrench that is designed for one-handed
operation with a rapid ratcheting action.
The company has added a 10", 14"
and 18" size to replace its original 12"
offering.
The wrench’s spring-loaded hook jaw
design quickly adjusts to any size work
piece and its aggressive, patented tooth
design ensures a secure grip. A unique
thumb trigger allows users easy
application and removal from the work
piece. The wrench’s V-groove hook
design enables the ratcheting action to
be performed quickly and effortlessly.
Faster and More Efficient
Unlike traditional pipe wrenches, there
is no need to tighten an adjustment nut
with the RAPIDGRIP wrench, making
it faster and more efficient than standard
wrenches.
“The overwhelming response we
received after launching the 12
RAPIDGRIP wrench led us to develop
RAPIDGRIP in other sizes,” said David
Schramm, product manager, hand tools,
at Ridge Tool.
The RAPIDGRIP wrench can be used
on any type of pipe. The 10" model has
a jaw capacity of 1-1/2"; the 14" model
has a jaw capacity of 2"; and the 18"
model has a jaw capacity of 2-1/2".
Constructed of a forged steel jaw and
a cast handle for durability and strength,
the RAPIDGRIP wrench is backed by
a lifetime warranty from Ridge Tool
Company.
Ridge Tool – Leading the
Way in Product Innovation
The innovative RAPIDGRIP wrench is
just one example of Ridge Tool’s innovative
spirit. The company has been
manufacturing and selling quality tools
to the pipeworking and contracting
industry since 1923 when it was founded
in North Ridgeville, Ohio to manufacture
a revolutionary style of heavy-duty
pipe wrench. Since then, Ridge Tool has
developed into the largest supplier of
tools to the professional pipeworking
and allied industries in the world.
As time passed, the company continued
to expand its product line to include
many other tools for the pipeworking
industry. By 1943, growth was such
that the company had to move its headquarters
to a larger facility in Elyria,
Ohio where it is located today.
10"14"18"
Ridge Tool manufactures over 300 different
tools in more than 4,000 models
and sizes ranging from the original
RIDGID pipe wrench to hand threaders,
pipe cutters, threading machines, power
drives, and tubing tools of many different
types and sizes.
Ridge Tool also designs, develops and
manufactures a large and comprehensive
range of pipe and drain cleaning equipment,
from hand-held tools to sectional
machines, water jetters, and the latest
diagnostic tools that use electronic
cameras to examine drains for blockages
and damage of all types.
Ridge Tool products are now sold in
over 140 countries and a key part of
the company’s marketing strategy is the
positioning of its manufacturing and
warehousing operations throughout
the world. For example, Ridge Tool has
manufacturing facilities in the United
States, Ireland, Brazil, Germany and
China. These facilities are complemented
by representatives, sales offices,
and warehousing throughout the world,
including North America, Europe,
Latin America, the Middle East, India,
Australia and the Pacific Rim.
For additional information on RIDGID
RAPIDGRIP wrenches, please contact
Ridge Tool Company, 400 Clark Street,
Elyria, OH 44036 U.S.A. Or, call toll
free: 1-800-769-7743. www.ridgid.com
Circle Number 148 for More Info
tekmar
tekmar moves into
new facilities
The new tekmar building features ground source heating/cooling.
most efficient means of heating with the roof structure overhangs and shades
electricity is through ground source office windows from direct sunlight. In
In the spring of 2003, tekmar Control plifies tekmar’s commitment to working
together with the environment. ing heat, rather than by converting indirect daylight, but minimal solar
heat pumps. Heat pumps work by mov-
the manufacturing area of the building,
Systems moved into its newest facility.
This facility is approximately
chemical energy to heat through combustion—as
heating load, is provided through
60,000 square feet and is located on 10 Geothermal heat
occurs in a furnace or boil-
north-facing windows. The flat roof can
acres in the city of Vernon, British The main source of heating and cooling er. In heating mode, the heat pump also be flooded with water to create a
Columbia, Canada.
for the building are geothermal heat extracts heat from the water in the large evaporative cooling system.
The property allows for expansion of pumps. During construction, a heat ground source field and distributes the Since most electricity used for lighting
the building as the company continues to pump field and a storm water field were heat to the building through the radiant
ends up as heat and part of the cool-
grow. This new facility houses the installed under the parking lot of the floor system and air ducts.
ing load, each office has three levels of
Research and Development, Administration,
building. These fields play a key role in In the cooling mode, the process is efficient lighting. In practice, it is the
Production and Sales and the operation of the heating and cool-
reversed. Heat is extracted by the heat lower lighting levels that are normally
Marketing departments of the company. ing system of the building.
pump from the air in the building, and used by tekmar’s employees.
The new building is located near several
Hydroelectricity is the primary ener-
dumped into the ground source field. The on-site rain water disposal and
residential areas and is designed to gy source for the tekmar building. The Natural gas fired boilers supplement ground source fields are under the park-
fit in with the surrounds. Special attention
the heat pumps during peak loads, and ing lot. The storm water field percolates
was paid to the landscaping in Natural gas-fired boilers supplement provide heat for snow melting. Heat is the water through the ground source
order to enhance the overall look of the the heat pumps.
distributed throughout the building by field. By keeping the soil moist, transfer
area. Several employees either bike or
an efficient and comfortable radiant of heat into the surrounding soil and
walk to work on a regular basis.
floor heating system. This system can efficiency of the heat pump is improved.
In order to develop quality solutions
also provide some cooling.
Storage of rainwater on the flat roof
for today’s HVAC control applications,
Cooling and ventilation air for each allows water to be added to the storm
tekmar has always had local HVAC systems
room has a high efficiency filter system water field at a slow rate after a storm
(applications) in which to test and
and variable speed fans for reduced event instead of all at once during the
refine its product developments. The
energy consumption. The building has storm. Vegetated swales collect and filter
latest test site is the new tekmar facility
three types of air distribution systems: runoff from the parking lot before it
which incorporates many features that
variable air volume (VAV) with hydronic
enters the storm water field.
allow development of products for
reheat, dual duct VAV, and constant Lastly, the rainwater replenishes the
energy efficiency, reliability, ease of
volume displacement.
aquifer and creek as it did before the
installation and servicing. It also exem-
In order to reduce the cooling load, building was constructed.
Circle Number 149 for More Information
46 Plumbing & HVAC Product News – March/April 2004 www.plumbingandhvac.ca