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MARMOMACC: BEST COMMUNICATOR AWARD FOR THE BEST EXHIBIT SET-UPS

September 30, 2016

Verona, 30 September 2016 – Stands that become full-scale works of art and design to narrate the materials and technologies involved in the world of natural stone. The 10th Best Communicator Award sees Marmomacc once again this year reward research efforts and originality applied to exhibits by companies attending the Veronafiere event, open until tomorrow, Saturday 1 October. The jury comprising Marco Romanelli, architect and President, Laura Andreini, Deputy Director of Area, Alberto Biagetti, designer, Giovanni De Sandre, photographer, and Silvia Robertazzi, founder and curator of the Milan Design Film Festival, surveyed the stands set up by more than 1,650 exhibitors from 53 countries attending Marmomacc. The award in the Design Category went to Piba Marmi (Italy) and Stoneasy (Belgium), with a special mention for Laminam (Italy). In the Stone Category, first prize was made to Marmo Elite (Italy) and Graniti Tecnica (South Africa), with a special mention for Kamen Pazin (Croatia). The Machinery Category saw Barsanti Macchine (Italy) and Koenig (Germany) take awards, with a special mention for Prometec (Italy). Lastly, Sorma (Italy) and Sanka Kemna (Japan) took first place and a special mention in the Tools Category.
Stone Category First prize for an Italian company Marmo Elite First prize for an International company Graniti Tecnica Special mention Kamen Pazin
Machinery Category First prize for an Italian company Barsanti Macchine First prize for an International company Koenig Special mention Prometec
Tools Category First prize for an Italian company Sorma Special mention Sanwa Kenma
Design Category First prize for an Italian company Piba Marmi First prize for an International company Stoneasy Special mention Laminam
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EXCEL DRYER ANNOUNCES PUBLICATION OF FIRST DRY TIME AND ENERGY USE RESULTS TO GLOBAL PRODUCT CATEGORY RULE (PCR) GUIDELINES PUBLISHED BY UL ENVIRONMENT

September 29, 2016

Testing Performed by SGS Proves Superior Performance of High-Speed, Energy-Efficient XLERATOR® Hand Dryer EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. – Excel Dryer, Inc., creator of the high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryer category that revolutionized the industry, today announced the publication of the industry’s first dry time and energy use results in compliance with the first global Product Category Rule (PCR) published by UL Environment (a business division of Underwriters’ Laboratories). SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company was selected by Excel Dryer to test the XLERATOR Hand Dryer models. The original, patented, high-speed, energy-efficient XLERATOR® Hand Dryer recorded an 8 second* dry time and 3.7 Wh* of energy per use while the XLERATOReco® Hand Dryer recorded 10 seconds*, 1.7 Wh*, respectively, making them the first-published in the industry. PCRs are the first step toward the development of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), type III, independently verified ecolabels that govern one or more product categories. A PCR is a set of rules, requirements and guidelines following internationally established standards that make it easier to consistently evaluate products’ environmental impacts. The publication of the global hand dryer PCR is the culmination of more than a year long, data-driven and science-backed process and is the first testing method for hand dryers established through industry consensus. Standardized evaluation guidelines and reporting allow for the specifying community and buyers to conduct a more ‘apples-to-apples’ comparison of hand dryers, and ultimately make a more informed decision, based on credible third-party testing and not false claims. “We are proud to have initiated the development of the first-ever global PCR published by UL Environment,” said Vice President of Marketing at Excel Dryer, William Gagnon, who also served as Chairman of the PCR Project. “Excel Dryer recognized the need to standardize the way products are evaluated by the hand dryer industry on a global scale. This PCR includes testing guidelines established through industry consensus that specify how a hand dryer’s performance is tested for energy use and dry times, both key components to properly reporting their environmental impact. Third-party testing to these guidelines levels the playing field and ushers the hand dryer industry into a new ‘age of transparency.’” “If we say something, we can back it up,” said Excel Dryer President, Denis Gagnon. “I’m proud to be an American manufacturer of quality products people enjoy using and can depend on. The publication of the first-ever global PCR allows companies to create EPDs which help people compare hand dryers accurately to make a better decision. We make the best hand dryers in the industry and these results prove it.” The hand dryer market, like so many others, is inundated with knockoff products and manufacturers making unsubstantiated claims. Architects and specifiers may approve ‘or equal’ products that are not true equivalents. The same is true for buyers looking to compare and purchase the best product for their facilities. All products need to be evaluated by the same set of rules and reporting guidelines — for hand dryers, that rule is the new, global PCR from UL Environment. For more information about Excel Dryer or its product line, visit exceldryer.com. To learn more about the new, global PCR visit exceldryer.com/pcr.
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Mortar Net Solutions Announces Steven Fechino National Masonry Instructors Association Hall of Fame Induction

September 28, 2016

BURNS HARBOR, Ind. - September 2016 - Mortar Net Solutions, the leading supplier of innovative moisture management solutions for masonry walls, is proud to announce that Steven Fechino, engineering and construction manager at Mortar Net Solutions, was inducted into the National Masonry Instructors Association (NMIA) Hall of Fame as the Industry Member. Robert Campbell was inducted as the Instructor Member. The NMIA works to promote the professionalism of the masonry trade and help provide quality masonry programs and training for anyone interested in becoming a mason. It helps in the unification of masonry programs and works to improve curriculums and training methods. It seeks to help recruit new masons and to provide them with the high quality training they need to work in the trades as respected craftspeople. Steven Fechino has been involved in the masonry industry for over 30 years. He is dedicated to bringing young people into the masonry industry and to helping train them to become expert masons. "Steven's long-term commitment to masonry and specifically his work as an educator, mentor and example is well known and makes him very deserving of this honor," said Gary Johnson, president at Mortar Net Solutions. "His induction into the NMIA Hall of Fame is a testament to his influence in the masonry industry and the respect he has earned as a result of sharing his expertise with others." About Mortar Net Solutions Mortar Net Solutions develops, distributes and supports innovative moisture management solutions for masonry construction. Mortar Net Solutions was founded in 1992 with the invention of its flagship product, MortarNetR, a mortar collection solution developed to prevent water damage to masonry walls. Mortar Net Solutions also developed new proprietary solutions for masonry construction, including TotalFlashR, BlockFlashR, BlockNetR, HouseNetR, CompleteFlashT, WallNetT, WeepVentT, CellVentT and LathNetT. Mortar Net Solutions is a partner company in CavityCompleteT Wall Systems, the only tested, code-compliant and warrantied wall systems for masonry cavity walls using completely compatible components. For more information, visit MortarNet.com.
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Vectorworks, Inc. Announces English Version of Vectorworks 2017 BIM Software for AEC, Landscape and Entertainment Design Industries

September 14, 2016

New offerings include robust Resource Manager, intelligent door and window styles, a suite of irrigation tools and virtual reality Columbia, MD (September 14, 2016)—Global design and BIM software developer Vectorworks, Inc. announces the 2017 release of its Vectorworks product line, which includes Vectorworks® Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, Designer and Fundamentals. The English version is now available with 10 additional language releases planned during the worldwide rollout in the coming months. “Vectorworks software is unique compared to other competing products because of our company’s dedication to pushing the programming of the products to maintain flexibility while offering state-of-the art technology,” said Vectorworks CEO Dr. Biplab Sarkar. “Our continued commitment to reengineering parts of the code base enables Vectorworks products to constantly evolve with the demands of designers resulting in improved software performance, reliability and functionality.” With more than 100-plus updates, some of the key features from the Vectorworks 2017 software line include the following: • The new Resource Manager enables designers to create, find, edit and apply desired resources to their projects. Offering direct browsing of resources from multiple content locations, the new feature also includes all Vectorworks Service Select libraries for subscription users. Designers can now easily find what’s needed with powerful search and filtering, attach metadata tags and access resources directly with Vectorworks’ parametric tools. • With advanced door and window object styles, architects have improved flexibility in their design processes when modifying the style, data and geometry of the doors and windows in their models and producing accurate worksheets in a few quick clicks. These improvements simplify BIM workflows and management of sweeping model changes. • New irrigation tools streamline the site’s irrigation planning process, including considerations and calculations related to both its physical features and resource availability. The irrigation tool allows designers to create zones of similar watering needs with the new Hydrozone tool and then use built-in worksheets to analyze for water efficiency, making satisfying a site’s water budget allowance simple. Whether specifying lateral and main piping, sprinkler heads, drip systems, valves, controllers or other system components, the automated and manual placement methods meet industry standards while providing the flexibility to design, document and estimate proposed and as-built systems efficiently. • Professionals can easily share designs with clients and collaborators using Vectorworks software’s immersive web view and virtual reality features. The feature generates a link that allows anyone, anywhere, to view and experience models in 3D on any device without any additional hardware. • The Vectorworks Graphics Module has been reengineered to enable smoother navigation and multi-threaded drawing for complex scenes. • With the new cable tools created by Sam Jones of AutoPlot, designers can plan how cables will run and keep an accurate count of the number and types of cables for improved documentation and efficiency, making onsite setup easier. • The Slab Drainage tool allows designers to create sloped slabs and flat roofs featuring tapered components. This feature will help inform design decisions, document all essential data and allow for easy change management across a given BIM design. • In Vectorworks 2017, project sharing enhancements integrates customer feedback from its initial release in Vectorworks 2016 and frees designers to work anywhere at any time with cloud integration that allows them to save project files in Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive and Box. It also offers more options to customize multi-user workflows with the ability to check out individual objects or layers. • New capabilities to data visualization in viewports bring together unparalleled graphic abilities with enhanced information modeling capabilities. It allows control of smart objects’ graphic attributes based upon data and parametric values, giving designers the ability to visually differentiate between objects based upon the data attached to an object. • All Vectorworks software products now include Renderworks features powered by the Cinema 4D render engine to better visualize a model throughout the design process while producing clear and accurate illustrations and renderings. • With a unified symbol library, the addition of fixture modes, enhanced Vision Data Export Mapping and a new Send to Vision command, designers will enjoy the benefits of a reduction in repetitive design tasks for previsualization workflows with Spotlight and Vision 2017 software. • Previously only available to Vectorworks Service Select subscribers, Cloud Services is open for everyone, offering the ability to easily share files between team members and provide a simple interface for collaborators and clients to tour models using the mobile app, Vectorworks Nomad. In line with Vectorworks’ customer-centric philosophy, once again over 70 percent of the version’s updates and features stemmed from direct designer feedback. Here are just a few testimonials about Vectorworks 2017 from designers who have already experienced the latest release. “The new Resource Selector in the tool bar for the door, window, walls, Plant and many other tools is absolutely fantastic.” –Peter Neufeld of Limelight Lighting Design Pty Ltd, Sydney “Irrigation tools in Vectorworks 2017 offer the easiest, fastest, most accurate system I have worked with, giving us a MASSIVE competitive advantage in the market. How could a firm consider any other software!” –Bryan Goff, Director of Design + Sciences at Grey Leaf Design “I’m REALLY eager to put virtual reality in the hands of clients to enable them to experience design in a way not possible with static images.” –C. Andrew Dunning, Owner of Landru Design “We’ve been very impressed by the increased speed of navigation using the improved Graphic Module in Vectorworks 2017, especially when designing and moving around in larger models. It's a big BIM improvement for larger projects.” –Chad Hamilton, AIA, LEED, AP, Principal Architect at Hamilton Aitken Architects The English-language version of Vectorworks 2017 software is available to Vectorworks Service Select customers today by download. Shipping of the English-language version to all other customers begins on September 19, 2016. Visit vectorworks.net/2017 to learn more and be sure to share your excitement on social media using #Vectorworks2017. Designers can tune in to the upcoming “What’s New” webinars for insight regarding Architect on September 20, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. ET, Landmark on September 21, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. ET or Spotlight and Vision on September 22 at 2:00 p.m. ET. Registrants will receive the webinar recording on demand after the airing. Press interested in learning more about this release can view feature videos, download high-resolution images and explore other materials by visiting the Vectorworks 2017 press kit here: vectorworks.net/2017/press. Additionally, press members can request interviews, a copy of the software or a demo by contacting Communications Manager Lauren Burke Meyer at Lmeyer@vectorworks.net. About Vectorworks, Inc. Vectorworks, Inc. is a global design and BIM software developer serving over 650,000 professionals in the architecture, landscape and entertainment industries. Since 1985, we’ve been committed to helping designers capture inspiration, nurture innovation, communicate effectively and bring their visions to life. With our cross-platform software, designers can build data-rich, visual models without sacrificing the design process, while collaborating efficiently throughout the project life-cycle. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Vectorworks is a part of the Nemetschek Group. Learn how we empower designers to create experiences that transform the world at vectorworks.net.
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