Ductmate 45 Industrial Duct Connector On The Fast Track In LA!

Posted on by Ductmate Industries

Contractors Turn to Ductmate’s Industrial Duct Connector for City of L.A. Transit Station Project.

The Los Angeles County California Metro is amongst the nation’s largest and premier transportation agencies, and it serves as transportation planner, coordinator, designer, builder, and operator for one of the country’s largest, most densely populated and developed counties. More than 9.6 million people – nearly one-third of California’s residents – live, work, and play within their 1,433-square-mile service area. Beginning in 2014, the LA Metro began an ambitious project to extend their existing Crenshaw/LAX transit line to better serve the cities of Los Angeles, Inglewood, El Segundo, and portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County.  This would extend the existing Metro E Line at Crenshaw and Exposition Boulevards in Los Angeles and merge it with the Metro C (Green) Line at the Aviation/LAX Station on Aviation Boulevard and Interstate 105 in the City of El Segundo.

The new state of the art Metro Rail extension would offer an alternative transportation option to congested roadways and provide significant environmental benefits, economic development, and employment opportunities throughout Los Angeles County. Riders will be able to make easy connections within the entire Metro Rail system, municipal bus lines, and other regional transportation services. Equally important, it will dramatically reduce travel times, inefficiencies, and lower transportation costs while improving the quality of life for commuters and residents as well as benefiting the surrounding environment. The ability to foresee such an innovative concept, let alone engineer such a monumental and technically complex project that would ultimately result in such a vast number of socioeconomic solutions, is hard to put into words.

It was the underground stations where Metro had a particularly challenging objective. Tunneling under countless buildings and congested streets overhead in a seismically active area, engineers and contractors had to bring in fresh air for the passengers waiting to board. At this point, the HVAC Contracting Companies of Limbach and Superior Duct were tasked with sourcing and installing the critical air systems needed. With ductwork exceeding 45 square feet in 20’ sections, the contractors had to be extremely selective in the connection system they would use on the job. It would be imperative they complete their work in a timely fashion to ensure the project kept moving and on schedule. Because of the unique belowground operation, the HVAC system has to withstand very rigorous operating standards, as well as meet the engineering standards for catastrophic events such as an earthquake. The ductwork would have to tolerate up to 14” positive and negative pressure and operating temperatures exceeding 480 degrees.

“Because we have so many types of construction, it requires so many types of specialties. The construction managers all have to have different types of training, and coordinating that to make sure we have the right resources at the project at the right time based on what’s going on – that’s a complexity for us, and something we have to manage.”

– Stephanie Leslie | Deputy Executive Officer, Construction

One of the key points the contractors have stressed as a primary reason for turning to Ductmate Industries, and making the switch from companion angle frames to Ductmate 45 Industrial Rectangular Duct Connector System on this project, is the universal acceptance of the Ductmate Brand, the product’s performance, and the engineering and technical support behind the product.

The Ductmate 35 and Ductmate 45 Rectangular Duct Connector Systems both were designed and engineered to increase the overall performance (airtight and structural integrity) of commercial and industrial HVAC systems, and are the most independently tested and widely used connector systems in the world. Ductmate Industries’ engineering department built industrial sections of duct using the DM 45 connector system and tested it well beyond the performance requirements of the LA Metro project to confirm and support testing completed to achieve approval for this project. The Ductmate Connection system has been through rigorous shaker testing and simulations specifically for critical projects in earthquake prone regions. Also, because of the extremely high temperature requirements of this project, a specialized silicone sealant was used between the flange faces at each 20’ duct joint. The silicone sealant worked perfectly with the Ductmate 45 System and achieved optimal results for this high temperature application.

In addition to the high-performance characteristics of the Ductmate system, possibly the most compelling reason the product was selected was the inherent cost savings associated with the Ductmate 45 system versus companion angle flanges. The fabrication of connections for HVAC systems utilizing companion angle is an egregiously labor-intensive process. Although project specifications can vary from project to project, in general companion angle is hard to cut, requires countless number of holes to be drilled, must be painted to prevent rust, requires certified welders to join angle together and to attach to the duct wall, and then attached with equally countless number of nuts and bolts.  Ductmate 45 is a self-sealing slide-on connector system where no welding is needed to achieve an airtight seal. Its 4 -bolt design with optional bolt-on or snap-on cleat (which replaces countless nuts and bolts) makes ease of installation and airtight integrity simple, thus it has become the clear choice over labor-intensive companion angle.

Learn How To Install The Ductmate Flange Connector System

Ductmate Industries has always been viewed as the industry leader within the commercial and industrial HVAC industry. Needless to say, due to the performance characteristics and being vastly more labor-saving, the Ductmate 45 System was approved and used over the initially specified companion angle. Once approved, the contractor drew upon Bay Insulation/CWCI for just-in-time delivery and service to ensure a seamless supply of Ductmate 45 components.

It is a unique project like the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Stations where the versatility and quality of Ductmate products and its engineering staff truly shine. For over 40 years, Ductmate has been partnering with companies in the commercial and industrial HVAC space to solve challenging and unique mechanical problems in every conceivable alloy. Ductmate products have been installed in virtually every type of commercial and industrial HVAC system imaginable including transportation hubs,  data centers, waste-water treatment plants, processing plants, and countless other project types for companies such as Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Disney, to name a few.  Upon the project’s expected completion in 2021, the LA Transit line will be one of the most advanced, efficient, safest, and environmentally friendly transit systems in the world, consisting of 3 underground terminal stations and miles of below and above grade track.  Ductmate Industries is proud to assist in making this project a success.

Crenshaw/LAX Metro Update Video | The Ductmate 45 Flange Connection System Can Be Seen Throughout

Sources:
Crenshaw/LAX Metro Website

Want a copy of this article? Download it.

DOWNLOAD

Smacna Edge Conference 2020

Posted on by Ductmate Industries

The SMACNA Edge Conference

A Virtual Education Forum
October 13-15, 2020

The SMACNA Edge Conference: A Virtual Education Forum is our industry’s premier digital event offering attendees the opportunity to learn, network and interact with service providers and suppliers.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • More than four hours of educational sessions per day.
  • A virtual product show filled with demos, presentations and representatives ready to answer your questions.
  • The opportunity to catch up with peers, friends and colleagues.

The SMACNA Edge Conference is open to everyone, members and non-members alike. Members have the option to attend individually for $100 per seat, or you can choose to buy All-Company Access for $250 and all your employees can attend as well.

Ductmate will have a virtual booth that you can visit for some general product and company information.

Register Now

Clean HVAC Preventative Measures, And Ductmate Solutions You Can Clearly See

Posted on by Ductmate Industries

The Fight For Indoor Air Quality Has Never Been More Critical – And Ductmate Products Offer A Clear Advantage

Originally designed for use in hospitals, Ductmate’s Observation doors allow you to be vigilant over your air filtration system. Now more than ever, we must ensure our work environments are protected against harmful, air-born substances. The Sandwich® Observation Doors are constructed from precision stamped steel and high impact safety glass to be used in all pressure classes, including high-pressure duct systems. The patented Ductmate Sandwich® Observation Access Door design eliminates bending metal tabs, leaking frames, and worrying about scratched or worn glass; therefore, leaving you with the peace of mind all preventative measures have been considered.

Typical In-Duct UV Light System With Ductmate Sandwich Observation Doors

“As facilities are beginning to reopen, many companies are looking to add UV technology to help address concerns over air quality, reassuring building occupants they are doing the most they can to ensure safety in the workplace.”

– Aaron Engel, VP For Business Development, Fresh-Air UV

Below is a breakdown on all the advanced feature that Ductmate Sandwich Observation Doors offer over a basic viewport door.

Please visit the specific product page for more detailed information on each door.

16×12 Observation Door

AHU Observation Door

Single Pane Observation Door

Promotional pricing for all our Observation Doors is currently available please contact us today for more information or click here to find a Ductmate Distributor near you.

Click the button below If you would like a digital version of this information.

Download

Congratulations To Make-A-Wish. Ductmate Is Proud To Celebrate 40 Years Of Granting Wishes.

Posted on by Ductmate Industries

Ductmate Industries is proud to join Make-A-Wish in its 40th year of granting wishes. Our logo’s blue star represents our mutual commitment to delivering hope and joy to children with critical illnesses in our community.

DMI Companies and Ductmate have been working with Make-A-Wish to grant a wish to a child in need every year since 1990.

For more information on the Make-A-Wish Organization, please visit their website at https://wish.org/

Our 2019 Sustainability Report Is Now Available

Posted on by Ductmate Industries

The Year’s Overview – Presented by Ray Yeager (President/CEO)

Dear stakeholder,

In previous years, I indicated how our success breeds more success in a multitude of ways. The Annual Report follows the same outline of DMI Sustainability efforts and the benefit to our stakeholders.

DMI Companies aspires to be a leader of sustainable efforts throughout the United States. We focus on sustainability in our corporate strategy through innovative products, operations, and employee engagement (i.e. culture change). A sustainable environment requires culture change. At DMI, all of our employees make a difference. From the board room to the shop floor, everyone is a contributor, and everyone is an environmental steward.

Our business performance has the commitment to environmental, social and community stewardship by:

  • Reducing the environmental footprint
    • Continually increasing our reduce, recycle and reuse efforts;
    • Implementing projects for waste minimization, and energy and water savings;
    • Working within the supply chain – building owners, engineers, contractors, distributors and vendors to create energy and labor-saving products.
  • Engaging in sustainability issues
    • Speaking to stakeholders such as employees, industry groups, universities, legislators, community leaders, various administrative agencies, and our board of directors to promote sustainability;
    • Increasing transparency and disclosure of our sustainable performance through our Annual Sustainability Report.
  • Supporting sustainable development
    • Collaborating with stakeholders to grow sustainably while considering the social, economic and environmental impact of our decisions;
    • Creating an innovative infrastructure to support our product development, our operational lean enterprise and our corporate sustainability culture.

DMI Companies began our sustainable journey from day one. We like to say, “Sustainability is in our DNA.”

Our most recent (2019) accomplishment – Zero Waste to Landfill Silver certification through the U.S Green Building Council’s TRUE certification process at our Monongahela Facility – was years in the making. It was made possible by our employees who dedicated their efforts to such a worthwhile endeavor. And remember, just around the corner will be other zero waste to landfill facilities at DMI.

We commit ourselves to integrating sustainability as a core value for DMI – protecting the health and well-being of our employees and our communities. We actively participate in every community in which we operate. We want these communities to thrive.

By thinking and acting sustainably, we will continue to deliver excellent customer service and produce strong financial results and position the company for a strong future. The future is here! If you have any questions or comments about this subject or others, please feel free to correspond with me at RYeager@DMICompanies.com

Sustainability Strategy – Presented by Paxton Bucheral (Sustainability & Environmental Compliance Manager)

ZERO WASTE STRATEGY

In last year’s annual report, we made the commitment to have our Monongahela facility certified through the Total Resource Use & Efficiency (TRUE) program, administered by GBCI. The TRUE Zero Waste certification program is an assessor-based program that rates how well facilities perform in minimizing their non-hazardous, solid wastes and maximizing their efficiency in the use of resources by awarding credits when certain milestones are achieved. I am pleased to announce that as of March 2019, our Monongahela facility has been awarded the TRUE Silver Zero-Waste certification, reaching a waste diversion rate of 94.49%.

We aim to improve our diversion rate to over 97% over the next few years as we expand our recycling, reduction and reuse opportunities across all DMI Companies’ sites. The TRUE program will be used to help us define, pursue and maximize our zero-waste goals while reducing our carbon footprint and supporting community health. Our focus will expand beyond diversion rates and look towards upstream policies and practices to put our goals within reach. Continued implementation of this program offers a platform for perpetual improvement that leads to advanced certification levels and aligns with DMI’s sustainable core concepts: people, planet, and profit.

In 2018, a Green Procurement policy was enacted to support DMI’s sustainability program with initiatives to minimize potential environmental impact. As of 2019. DMI’s Procurement Department has received training on environmentally-preferred purchasing standards set forth by the U.S EPA. The procurement team supports our reduce-recycle-reuse efforts by minimizing the creation of waste through reduced packaging, and by buying green products containing recycled content where possible.

Our current waste program is providing a sustained benefit to the bottom line as we were able to avoid $87,000 worth of expenses in 2019. The list below summarizes some of our recycling and reduction efforts during the calendar year:

  • 2,469 tons of metal recycled
  • 79 tons of wood recycled
  • 44 tons (combined) of cardboard & plastic film recycled
  • 9 tons of totes and drums recycled
  • 59 tons of pallets reused
  • 55 tons of steel pallets returned to vendor
  • 5 tons of plastic steel coil spacers returned to vendor

Although 2019’s recycling markets proved volatile, our Monongahela location was able to divert 2,751 total tons of waste from landfill – a 95.76% diversion rate. We are committed to increasing this quantity year over year and incorporating our sustainability program throughout every single DMI facility across the country.

ENERGY & WATER CONSERVATION

Energy conservation continues to be a top priority at all DMI facilities. In 2019, we took advantage of multiple energy rebates to improve our infrastructure while simultaneously reducing energy consumption and costs. Solar panels, LED lighting, skylights and energy-efficient air compressors are a few examples of our continued initiatives. Continued on the next page are our combined energy statistics in 2019:

  • Electricity consumption: +5.11%
  • Water consumption: -26.28%
  • Natural Gas consumption: -9.85%

We remedied our excessive natural gas usage (2018) by installing air curtains and repairing gas leaks. The addition of ultra-low-flow toilets and water-efficient coffee systems at our Monongahela and Charleroi facilities have assisted in our continued reduction of water usage. Although we missed the mark on electricity consumption, we are addressing our current use of occupancy sensors and LED lighting to help us get back on track in 2020.

We continue to maximize our impact on the community’s energy conservation efforts, as well. By taking advantage of energy rebates, we installed two electric vehicle charging stations at our Monongahela facility, available for public use. At our annual Manufacturing Day with local school students, we participated in Energy Efficiency Day alongside representatives from the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance (KEEA).

Workforce Development – Presented by Katie Hager (Workforce Development Manager)

As you probably know, DMI Companies has been investing greatly in upgrading and updating our systems, equipment and processes as part of our journey towards building the Factory of the Future. While these efforts will result in numerous improvements across DMI, the most significant benefits will directly affect our people – employees and customers.

Equipment upgrades such as fiber lasers, robotics arms and other automation features have reduced much of the labor-intensive work, improved safety and provided opportunities for employees to increase their skills and knowledge to advance on their career pathways. Instead of performing heavy lifting and rigorous manual work, these employees have been trained to operate and maintain the new automated systems that will do this work for them. Many repetitive jobs have been replaced with more exciting, higher-skilled advanced technology roles. This has resulted in many new opportunities for employees throughout DMI Companies. Just one example of this are the two Monongahela employees who are currently being trained as Maintenance Technicians so they can ensure overall machine and system efficiency around our new advanced manufacturing systems.

Implementations including DMIOne, MES, CPQ, VPI and more will integrate and optimize aging manual and automated processes to fill gaps, reduce errors, improve communication and drive process improvement. In preparation for these advancements, we have been conducting extensive training to prepare those who will be using the new systems. The result will be an improved employee and customer experience from ordering to production planning, and shipping.

In addition, automation and data analytic capabilities provided by these upgrades can help identify, control and optimize energy resources which will further our sustainability goals and provide cost-saving opportunities. The combination of these changes will better enable us to respond to change, meet customer needs, protect our environment and keep up with industry advancements. This will not only contribute to our continued profitable growth, but it will also further our position as an employer of choice and an industry leader.

Our People – Presented by Melissa Lourimore (Human Resources Manager)

Former Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr was quoted as saying, “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions”.  As we step into the next phase of the Industrial Revolution, Industry 4.0, we as a Company will be stretched in ways we’ve never before experienced or imagined when DMI Companies began over 40 years ago.  As a company that is more broad than deep, it is those very experiences that allow all of our employees to grow and thrive professionally and personally.

In our home city of Pittsburgh, PA, Heinz 57 is a shortened form of a historical advertising slogan “57 Varieties”, by the H. J. Heinz Company. It has come to mean anything that is comprised or mixed from a lot of parts or origins.  That is an excellent way to describe all of the employees of DMI Companies.  We are a group of individuals diverse in education, training and work experience.  Each of us brings things to the table others do not have and makes the sum greater than all the parts.

DMI is rich in history and looks forward to blazing trails as we step into this new decade. We will continue to adapt to changes in the industry, economy and compliance requirements.  There is no doubt we will pull together as a team to face each challenge and overcome it to allow us to continue to meet the needs of our customers and achieve the goals we have set for ourselves.

It continues to be a challenge to find and retain great people for openings for all companies in the United States due to record low unemployment rates and high demands. DMI works hard to show the world that a career in manufacturing is a path to great personal success by providing a stable and safe workplace with a fair compensation package that includes generous health and retirement benefits.

Our Ownership, Board of Directors and Senior Management are proud of the team we have built and feel confident that we will go into the future with the utmost integrity and professionalism that will allow us to continue to be the world leader in HVAC products, service and design for many, many years to come.

Financial Growth & Stability – Presented by Dan Bruno (Chief Financial Officer)

DMI Companies takes pride in being a socially responsible corporate citizen and recognizes the importance of sustainability in that role. We believe that there can most often be great harmony between environmental, ecological and economical sustainability, and we always strive to act in ways that ensure those harmonies. Our continued growth and financial success will never compromise our commitment to the sustainability of future generations!

To download a PDF version of this report Click Here.

We Are Pleased To Announce The Launch Of The All New Ductmate.com

Posted on by Ductmate Industries

We are very excited to announce the launch of our newly designed website. After a lot hard work and dedication, we are pleased to officially announce the launch of the all new website at Ductmate.com!  We wanted to make the new website faster, easier to navigate, and more user-friendly.

As an HVAC accessories manufacturer and innovation leader, it’s important for us to make information regarding our products and services easily accessible for our current and prospective end users and customers. We strive to provide the most accurate, up-to-date information, and share our knowledge and expertise with the HVAC Industry.

Our goal with this new website is to provide our visitors an easier way to learn about Ductmate’s products and services, and to browse information based on their own choice. The new website gives better access to Ductmate product information, services, technical resources, distribution info, as well as company news, information, and announcements.

Visitors to the website will find useful information about our products in our new Technical Resources section.  This section now serves as a general repository for all our spec sheets, SDS documents, how to’s, and more.

For any questions, suggestions, feedback or comments, please contact us.

Ductmate’s First Employee Honored In SNIPS Magazine

Posted on by Ductmate Industries

How Bill Bradford became a legend at Ductmate Industries Inc.

Bill Bradford’s sheet metal career is the embodiment of the phrase “standing on the shoulders of giants.” Only, in this story, Bradford is one of the giants.

Bill Bradford is a veteran of the sheet metal industry in more ways than most.

Born and raised in North Side Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during the city’s “Steel City” renaissance, Bradford graduated from high school June 1955 and immediately joined the Air Force that July. “I was 17 so my parents had to sign documents to get me in,” he remembers. His dad, a truck driver, was gone on the road a lot while his mom worked different jobs to make ends meet. “Upbringing was normal in that we did not have a lot but did not want for anything,” he says, the oldest of two brothers and two sisters. The service was his chance to fight for his country while learning skills to build a future.

“College was not for me,” Bradford says, simply. Around age 23, a job repairing fighter jets for the National Guard became his ticket into the sheet metal industry, and soon he signed up for his first apprenticeship. “I did not want to go to college with that experience from the Guard,” he explains, “so I joined the Pittsburgh Local 12 Sheet Metal Apprenticeship program.” He adds, “Where else can you start a career and make a great living right out of the gate?”

Now at 82 years old and retired, Bradford is celebrated as part of the early generation of tin knockers who made making a living in the sheet metal industry possible. “I miss the great trade, the great people that I worked with over the many years,” he says. “Right now, we cannot hire enough sheet metal workers as there is so much work to be done across the country.” The bulk of Bradford’s part in that work began in the ’70s.

On a scale of 1 to 10, “Sheet metal work was a 10 back then,” Bradford says. “What made it difficult was all electric corded tools; we had to build scaffolding; there were no GLG lifts, heavy wooden ladders, no Tek screws, all pan head screws that had to be screwed in with flat blade screw driver, a lot of heavy manual lifting of ductwork,” the list goes on. However, that never stopped Bradford from getting the job done, and the downtown Pittsburgh skyline flaunts his resume. Installing the U.S. Steel Tower’s large HVAC system, “We also installed very large drop ceilings that were part of our scope of work,” he explains. “They were approximately 5 feet by 3 feet and 3 inches thick. No Ductmate-type connectors at that time.” Today’s PNC Park and Heinz Field stadiums are also at the location of another Bradford assisted project, the former Three Rivers Stadium (built in 1970 and demolished in 2000). “The coldest job ever,” he remembers. “Heavy ladders were hard to move around and the weather conditions were horrible.”

In 1978, Bradford made the career jump from field metalwork to manufacturing duct products as the first employee for a little-known company at the time called Ductmate Industries (now DMI Companies) under founder Peter Arnoldt. At 40 years old, Bradford welcomed the “lucky opportunity” to give his body a break from the everyday grunt work and extend his career.

“I received a call from one of the Ductmate owners about the possibility of a job. I talked it over with the foreman at my current company and he told me that Ductmate was a new company and he did not know much about it,” he remembers. “The good thing was, he told me to give it a shot and if it does not work out you can come back.” After a month, Bradford knew the company would be a success, he says. “I thought the company would be a success because of the type of connection they were going to introduce to the industry.”

The Ductmate 35 Flange was the first product line. “Peter (Arnoldt) chose that as the first one. I helped him set up the first roll former to get the 35 out the door. We were on a shoestring budget getting that first roll former up and running. We spent many nights and weekends working overtime to get that very first piece of equipment running properly,” says Bradford, and he wore more than a few hats in the process as general superintendent and national service manager. “I ran the shop, ran the roll former and did the purchasing. If we had field installation problems, Peter would send me to troubleshoot and fix the problem.”

The most common problem with field installations at the time was that contractors were not reading the installation instructions, he explains. “When they read the installation documentation, the installs went well. We made automated equipment to help contractors install Ductmate Flange better and faster. Some of these were the Ductmater, Autosealer and Super Welder. Peter invented all of these pieces of equipment.”

As the company took off and started to expand in the late ’80s, Bradford took on a role that most people today know him for: mentor.

“My first meeting with Bill Bradford, who supervised me at the time, sticks out in mind,” says Doug Gudenburr, now chief operating officer at DMI Companies. “We were young, snot-nosed, knew everything, and he would chase us around and shake his head sometimes. But at the end of the day, I think we really appreciated him and he appreciated us. At that time the general concept and mentality of the folks was whatever it took to get the job done. We played hard but we certainly worked hard, and that’s something I will always remember about Bill.”

Under Bradford’s whatever-it-takes-to-get-the-job-done style, future leaders were made that could efficiently manage the company’s operations into success. The William Bradford Training Center at DMI’s headquarters in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, pays homage to that success.

“I decided to retire as I had the proper people in place to take over my responsibilities,” says Bradford. “We had good people at Ductmate so I was not worried that the success we had would continue.” And it has.

“The generations of workers that Bill has trained, it could be countless. From his early days of running the facility to being on the road and working with contractors and users and distributors, different sales forces that have come and gone over the time. Many people at this point are either retired or frankly not with us any longer,” says Gudenburr. “It’s just a whole new group of people Bill has touched as time has gone on with his tenure in the company.”

Original Article On SnipsMag.com

Supporting America And Union Sheet Metal Workers For Over 40 Years

Posted on by Ductmate Industries

All three Ductmate Industries Manufacturing Facilities Are Proud Members Of SMART

Monongahela, PA – SMART Local 12

Wagoner, OK – SMART Local 270

Lodi, CA – SMART Local 104

For over 40 years, Ductmate Industries has been manufacturing HVAC components and accessories that are crucial to the efficiency and longevity of the entire HVAC system. Whether you need our industry leading DM 25/35/45® connectors, our formulated for performance duct sealants, or practically any other component for the HVAC system, you can count on Ductmate to deliver the best – every time.

Products engineered for performance and manufactured with union level quality is what makes Ductmate Industries the unsurpassed leader in HVAC components and accessories manufacturing.

DMI Achieves Zero Waste to Landfill, First of its Kind for a PA Manufacturing Facility

Posted on by Ductmate Industries

DMI Companies is proud to announce that their main manufacturing facility, located in Monongahela PA, is now classified as a zero waste to landfill facility.

Spearheaded by an overall corporate vision of a sustainable future and innovative energy efficient product design, DMI is the first manufacturing facility to achieve the TRUE Silver zero waste to landfill certification in the state of Pennsylvania.  Zero waste to landfill certifications are also a relatively new concept in the HVAC Parts and Accessories Manufacturing Industry.  Typically manufacturing processes are large waste producers, but DMI is among the first in their industry to cease sending waste to landfills through training, audits, and hard work from their employees.  Landfill waste diversion through the TRUE system is a whole systems approach aimed at changing how materials flow through society, and promotes processes that consider the entire lifecycle of products used within a facility with an end goal of zero waste.  The idea of becoming a zero waste facility started for DMI in 2011, and after years of hard work, led by Sustainability & Environmental Compliance Manager Lisa Pavan, we made the final push for the classification beginning in November of 2018,

“We started with a goal that if something could not be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled, or composted – then it should be restricted, re-designed, or removed from our production pipeline.  Most of our production lines can go through many different metal alloys and other materials on a daily basis, so we saw initial hurdles eliminating recycling contamination.  However, we worked hard to overcome those hurdles through training, audits, and employee buy in from the factory floor all the way to the corporate office.” – Lisa Pavan, Sustainability & Environmental Compliance Manager

In 2018, DMI diverted 94.49% of their waste from incineration/landfill through recycle, reuse and reduction programs and plans to improve that diversion rate by 1% annually.  DMI sought out to obtain 38 credits on the TRUE Silver scale, but exceeded that by receiving 41 out of the maximum 45 on March 15th, 2019.  TRUE- certified projects are environmentally responsible and achieve a minimum of 90 percent waste diversion. The program helps facilities turn waste into savings, cut greenhouse gas emissions, manage risk, reinvest resources and create jobs.

This certification is one of many accomplishments in sustainability DMI has achieved in their 40 year history of manufacturing HVAC Duct Systems and Accessories.  DMI was founded on the idea that their products should increase the efficiency of the whole HVAC system.  This practice carries on today as DMI continues to design and manufacture energy efficient products and pursues sustainable business practices.

“We focus on Sustainability in our corporate strategy through innovative products, operations, and employee engagement (i.e. culture change).  We were introduced to this model many years ago and have continually embraced the concept.  It’s time to bring it back to the forefront of our discerning employees at DMI.  We commit ourselves to integrating sustainability as a core value for DMI; protecting the health and well-being of our employees and our communities.  We actively participate in every community in which we operate.  We want these communities to thrive.” – Raymond Yeager, President/CEO of DMI

To read DMI’s full TRUE Silver evaluation report, CLICK HERE.

For more information about TRUE and GBCI, we encourage you to learn more at HTTP://TRUE.GBCI.ORG.

Spiralmate® Round Ductwork System Is Working Well in South Dakota

Spiralmate Round Duct Connector

Posted on by Ductmate Industries

The Prairie Lakes Wellness Center in Watertown, S.D., a modern community center conveniently located in the fastest growing area of Watertown, opened in April 2017 and has 104,000 square feet of space. The $24 million multi-level facility features multiple basketball courts, racquetball courts, a running track, a sauna and whirlpool, a large fitness area, and a state of the art pool area that includes a leisure pool as well as a competition pool.

Choosing the Right System for Aesthetics and Performance

For areas that are not exposed, rectangular, medium-pressure ductwork was chosen. For exposed areas, the Spiralmate® Round Duct Connection System was used. All the spiral connections were manufactured by Ductmate Industries, Inc.

Gary Chappell, Ductmate Regional Channel Manager, said the spiral ductwork is exposed and visible from multiple perspectives. On the second floor, where the ceiling for downstairs is positioned at eye level, it was even more important to have an attractive product. Chappel said, “The project is aesthetically pleasing both close up and from a distance. From a performance standpoint, the system is airtight, efficient and doesn’t require any additional sealing.”

Jon Burri, Vice President at Creative Metal Solutions, the specifier and fabricator for this project, said everything went very smoothly on the job site. “We made custom lengths in the shop and delivered them to the jobsite, ranging in size from as large as 42” in diameter to as small as 10” in diameter. Large amounts of 28-32” ductwork were installed above the track, and 18-20” inch segments were installed in the workout areas.”

The ductwork in the pool area was double-walled aluminum to reduce the sound of the airflow from spectators and to prevent corrosion from the harsh pool environment. Galvanized steel was used on all the ductwork in other areas.

MacArthur Co. was the distributor for this project. According to Chappell, “They have been a great asset and long-standing Ductmate distributor in Sioux Falls.”

Burri said a couple of trailers of product a week were sent to the jobsite on and off for about six months. “We delivered in phases so that a lot of room wasn’t needed to store product during the entire job,” he said.

The company always recommends the Spiralmate® system because, Burri said, “The cost is always justified with savings in field installation time and cost, and it allows for an air-tight system that looks great.”

Faster Installation, Big Labor Savings
Active Heating, Inc., based in Watertown, S.D., was the HVAC contractor. Jason Roehrich, Vice President at the company, said the installation of the Spiralmate® system is usually fast, but this project went even faster than normal.

“The finished job features a wide-open, exposed look with neat, straight long runs,” he said. “In one area, we had a run of 100-150 feet with a 90-degree turn into another long run of about 300 feet, and it looks great.”

Roehrich added, “Our installers in the field really like the Spiralmate® system because it quickly snaps in place, provides a great seal, installs faster than other products, and it provides a straight, clean look when it’s finished.”

Another advantage of the system is that when a piece of ductwork is cut down in size, the flange can be removed and re-used—unlike with other systems. This saves even more time and money.

The end result was a successful project for Ductmate and everyone else involved. The state-of-the-art Prairie Lakes Wellness Center has an HVAC system to match that’s pleasing to the eye, energy efficient and will perform well for many years to come.