Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/446918
C o n s t r u c t i o n M a r k e t p l a c e 3 3 Tu e s d a y, J a n u a r y 2 0 , 2 0 1 5 GET A TASTE OF WEST VIRGINIA CONSTRUCTION WITH FIVE-COMPANY BOOTH Located in the middle of the Appalachians, West Virginia is home to a great number of companies involved in the lumber and wood products industry. However, the state's construction-related business reaches wider than this one sec- tor. The West Virginia Development Office brings five interesting and varied companies to IBS as part of its program to expand the state's exports. "The building sector is an important sector in West Virginia," explained Enybe Diaz, International Trade Representative with the West Virginia Development Office. "In addition to lum- ber and wood products, we also have companies that manufacture unique machinery, produce construction coat- ings, as well as other types of construc- tion-related products." The West Virginia Export Promotion Program coordinates international events such as trade missions and involvement in trade shows, bringing West Virginia companies into contact with potential business partners. The successful pro- gram is in its 17th year. "Exporters, not only in West Virginia but all over the United States, tend to sell to one or two countries or markets only," explained Diaz. "Ninety-six percent of potential customers are in other coun- tries, so there is a lot of potential to increase business. That is why programs like ours are very important. We not only help companies that have never exported but have the potential to export, but we also help experienced exporters penetrate additional markets." The West Virginia Development Office works with many construction- related companies in the state, but has selected five very unique companies to bring to IBS. Terramite, celebrating it's 50th year in business, is a leading manu- facturer of compact tractor backhoes. The West Virginia contingent also includes a wide-plank hardwood flooring company, Mountain Craft Wide Plank, that produces interesting products. "Their planks are up to 10 inches wide, and they have more design to them, they're more rustic," explained Diaz. "This is not something you can buy at a retail shop." EZEBREAK makes rock and con- crete removal more efficient with its invention, the Micro-Blaster, a piece of equipment that uses microblasts to help contractors, excavators and other field workers clear worksites. Appalachian Log Structures is a quintessentially West Virginia company that manufactures log home building components and log home kits. Another company, Multicoat, offers concrete restoration, waterproofing, seal- ers and other coatings for both new con- struction and renovation work. "These are just examples of West Virginia companies that offer products of interest to the home building sector," explained Diaz. "Visitors to our booth will get to experience a wide range of products." After bringing West Virginia compa- nies to some 70 interna- tional trade shows and trade missions, the West Virginia Development Office has had much success helping the state's construction- related companies. "Just in terms of hardwoods and wood products, there's a high demand for American products around the world," explained Diaz, "particularly in countries like China, Vietnam and European countries, where there is sig- nificant housing construction and furni- ture manufacturing taking place. But building products in general, like mold- ing and other products, do very well. The companies that work with us have gener- ated a lot of new business. What happens after these shows is, companies enter into distributorship agreements, or they start a relationship with an agent who will rep- resent them in a particular country, and the program helps companies make these connections." For more information, visit booth #S1467, go to www.worldtradewv.com, call 304.957.2018 or email Ms. Diaz at enybe.diaz@wv.gov. YOUR FLOOR IS IN GOOD HANDS WITH HACKER Often, the true measure of product quali- ty lies in the details found beneath the surface. At Hacker Industries Inc., those details – the highest quality cementitious floor underlayment and sound attenuat- ing products – have been the sole focus of the business since 1983. With the launch of the original FIRM-FILL ® Gypsum Concrete, Hacker Industries introduced an innovative underlayment product to the construction market. The ensuing full line of Hacker Floor Underlayments addresses the spe- cific needs of virtually any project speci- fication, with products designed for use over concrete or wood subfloors, radiant heating systems and damaged or cracked surfaces. The FIRM-FILL line also includes underlayments developed for projects with deep-fill or commercial- grade strength requirements. This innovation is what has set Hacker Industries, Inc. apart from the competition for more than 30 years, but its commitment to product improvement is what keeps the company on the fore- front of underlayment technology. In 2014, it took one of its bestselling prod- ucts, FIRM-FILL 2010, through a major reformulation, increasing its minimum compressive strength to 2000 psi in con- formance with ASTM F2419 and the rec- ommendations of the Tile Council of North America. Renamed FIRM-FILL 2010+, the underlayment provides an extremely hard, exceedingly flat surface. FIRM-FILL 2010+ achieves a "Heavy Duty" rating when used at 1" (25 mm) over a 0.25" (6 mm) FIRM-FILL SCM- 250 mat. Its compressive strength devel- ops quickly, making it ideal for fast track construction and for use under thin, hard vinyls, which have increased exponentially in popularity in recent years. To complement the suc- cessful FIRM-FILL Underlayments, Hacker Industries Inc. has also brought to market its high-performance answer to sound control: a full line of FIRM-FILL SCM sound attenuating mats, superior in user- friendliness and value. FIRM-FILL SCM mats are composed of more than 90 per- cent virgin polypropylene, reducing the potential for brittleness and product degradation that can occur over time with traditional mats constructed with exces- sive recycled fillers. When used in a variety of systems in conjunction with FIRM-FILL Gypsum Concretes, FIRM-FILL SCM mats can provide effective low-profile sound con- trol systems, achieve a minimum "Light Commercial" rating when tested per ASTM C627, efficiently limit sound transmission in multi-family housing, and create sound resistant floors with high IIC and STC levels. Using a pro- prietary color-coding system designed to mirror the line of FIRM-FILL Gypsum Concretes, FIRM-FILL SCM is easily identified at the jobsite and offers nearly foolproof assurance of order integrity. Hacker Industries Inc. stands proud- ly as a leading supplier of cementitious underlayment and sound control prod- ucts. With more than two billion feet installed nationwide, and listings in more than 100 UL floor/ceiling assemblies, if a Hacker Floor Underlayment or sound attenuating product lies beneath the sur- face of your construction project, then it is safe to say your floor is in good hands. Visit Hacker Industries at booth #C8516. For more information, go to www.hacker industries.com or call 800.642.3455. MAKE A LASTING IMPRESSION WITH GORAVE BY LEVVEN If the walls of your model homes could talk, what would they say? What do prospective home buyers remember from your model home that's different from the others they've visited? What would the difference be to your bottom line and brand momentum if you improved your model home "shop- per-to-buyer" conversion rate by more than 10 percent? Brick and mortar stores have to com- pete against online retailers. They recog- nize that their store locations are much more than a sales channel. Their store is the physical manifestation of their brand. It is their only opportunity to engage all five of their customers' senses (sight, sound, smell, taste and touch). Effectively engaging multiple senses maximizes profits. Playing audio in model homes is no longer just "background music." GoRave makes audio a fun, interactive sales tool. GoRave is installed multi-room wireless audio. GoRave plays audio from any app on your smartphone, tablet or computer. Connect a small GoRave Audio Sender to your device and instant- ly play wireless audio throughout the home. Imagine this sales interaction: you ask a prospective client to take their phone out of their pocket. You give them a GoRave Audio Sender. He plugs it into his phone and presses 'play' in one of his favorite entertainment apps. Instantly, his audio is playing on the GoRave loud- speakers installed in the home. He is completely surprised at how easy it was and how good it sounded. No matter what else he sees that day, he will remember the audio he played in your home. You gave him a new, unique experience, and now you're in a better position to sign a deal. GoRave is the perfect audio platform for first- and second-time homebuyers. This generation is living a very device-cen- tric lifestyle. They use their smartphones to listen to music, play games and watch videos. They use their tablets and comput- ers to do the same. They love YouTube and Netflix. They love simplicity. No one wants to be told that they can't do something. Especially when it's a function they want from a system they paid good money to get. WiFi audio sys- tems can't play from any video or game apps. That is a frustrating limitation for customers. Their answer is to buy GoRave and play from any app in the world: all Apple iOS and MacOS apps, all Android apps, all Windows apps. GoRave is a step beyond WiFi wireless audio. Offer GoRave multi-room wireless audio to your cus- tomers. Surprise buyers when they play audio from their apps to the speakers installed in your model home. Amaze customers when they are able to enjoy their audio the moment they move into their new home. Experience the word-of- mouth benefits when your customer's friends and family are invited to play audio from their devices in the home you built. Experience GoRave audio at booth #C8819. Visit www.gorave.com for more information.