PLUMBING | SUPPLIERS IN ACTION | Bemis Manufacturing: BY JOHN MESENBRINK EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
eading up Interstate 43 parallel to the shores of Lake Michigan, we reached the relatively quiet
94
town of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. Little did Dave Schulte, publisher of Phc News, and I know it, but we were heading into the heart of enemy territory for Chicago Bears fans. It was the 2011 NFL kickoff in Lambeau Field — an hour’s drive to the north — and the Packers were set to do battle with the New Orleans Saints. But Dave and I had business on our minds that day; we were set to visit
and fastening systems make thorough cleaning easier than ever, while speeding installations and eliminating loose seats. Designed specifically to meet the needs of housekeepers in the
• Bemis’ new proprietary hinge
Bringing value to its customers H
Bemis Manufacturing, the world’s largest manufacturer
of toilet seats, and meet with Bob Davis, director of marketing and business development, and Randy Grebel, director sales, Plumbing Wholesale. When we entered Bemis corporate headquarters, we couldn’t help but notice the green-and-gold clad employees, proud of their Super Bowl champion Pack. Being from the Chicago area, we had to lay low and keep our allegiance to the Bears under wraps. This was an impressive facility and
operation. We were overwhelmed with how content the employees seemed in
The products
loose seats and enable the separate removal of the child seat for cleaning or when no longer needed. The revolutionary two-in-one
their jobs, smiling and saying a quick
system installs up to 33 percent faster than conventional fasteners and allows installers to quickly achieve the exact amount of
“Hello” as we passed. Bob Davis addressed each employee by name; there was a level of communication and comfort that I feel is essential to any successful organization. That “comfort” may, perhaps, come from the fact that Bemis Mfg. has gone through this long recession without laying off a single full-time employee. “Back in 1983, we developed what we refer to today as our casual workforce strategy, and we continue with the strategy today. It has allowed us to weather tough economic times without having to resort to reductions in force. Basically, it provides a means for people who don’t want full-time positions to work on a part-time and as-needed basis,” said Davis.
Local loyalties One thing that is noticeable
healthcare and hospitality industries, the Bemis JUST•LIFT® hinge enables the seat to be pulled straight up from the open position. The lifted seat creates a 1.5-inch gap between the seat and bowl that enables easier and more thorough cleaning than traditional hinges allow. After cleaning, the seat is just pushed down, making the hinge flush with the bowl once more.
innovative NextStep® • Bemis has improved its Child/Adult
Potty Seat™ by adding design features that eliminate slamming lids, allow child and adult seats to be easily removed for cleaning, eliminate the need to tighten
toilet seat accommodates both adult and child users equally. When not in use, the stain-resistant, solid plastic potty seat automatically secures by magnet into a recess in the molded wood seat cover, eliminating the need for adult users to manually lift the child seat. Commercial
Fastening System™ delivers faster installation speeds, while eliminating the need for labor- intensive retightening of loose seats. Utilizing a single-piece fastener that includes a glass- filled nylon nut and integrated washer, the STA-TITE fastening
• STA-TITE®
torque needed to keep seats securely fastened longer than conventional systems. The unique design of the STA-TITE system also eliminates labor-intensive callbacks to retighten loose seats.
X • For the homeowner, the CITE! design makes installing the
seat easier as well as providing an exceptionally secure mount to the toilet. Where traditional hinges use two individual mounting points, the XCITE! hinge provides enhanced stability by its continuous connection between mounting points. ;
about Wisconsinites is that they are loyal and proud of their own, and Bemis continues to manufacture as a “Made in the USA” company. “We do very well selling our brands to our retail trade partners in Wisconsin,” said Davis. “Wisconsin is proud to be home to Bemis Mfg. , and it does offer an additional selling point here. Just as Made in America is important to many people, Made in Wisconsin is value-added in a state that prides itself on quality manufacturing. “Made in America is a point of great pride for Bemis
e Continued on p 96
phc phc december 2011
www.phcnews.com
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