Speakman & Sensorflo: Changing The Restroom Experience

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The foundation of Speakman was built in 1869 on an extensive portfolio of durable, high-performance commercial fixtures. It was that underpinning of superior quality, thoughtful innovation, and unrivaled performance that allowed Speakman to invent timeless designs (like the AnyStream Shower Head, introduced in 1927), well-curated collections (like the simple stylings of our Lucid collection), and reliable emergency equipment (like our EyeSaver emergency eye wash, celebrating its 21st anniversary). For 150 years, Speakman products have elevated the design and performance of hotels and commercial projects around the globe. Commercial plumbing is in the DNA of Speakman.

Speakman continues our tradition of commercial excellence with our SENSORFLO® Faucets, Soap Dispensers, and Flush Valves, sensor-operated fixtures that are designed and engineered in accordance with the highest quality and performance standards. Created to meet the needs of customers looking for touchless, hands-free, germ-free restroom experiences. Upgrade health standards and redefine the entire restroom experience in public restrooms, medical buildings, government facilities, hospitality settings, and more.

SENSORFLO® Faucets

Day to day, faucets are handled more than any other fixture on any property. With faucets, longevity is key, which is why it’s incredibly important to select items that will stand the test of time. Our SENSORFLO® line of commercial faucets is known as the workhorse of our entire selection. These products have been devised and engineered to the highest standard for efficiency and ability to repel vandalism. Each shell has been constructed from brass and metal materials to provide unrivaled durability. This is SENSORFLO®, a better faucet, inside and out.

On top of that, Water savings of up to 85% are possible with the use of a sensor faucet due to the quick automatic shut-off functionality.

SENSORFLO® Flush Valves

SENSORFLO® flush valves offer a hands-free automatic flush that helps provide a clean, sanitary environment to help make patrons feel safe about the hygiene of the facility.

Available for water closets and urinals, Sensorflo Flush Valves offer easy installation and require minimal maintenance over the lifespan of the product. Built using Speakman’s proven sensor technology, the valves deliver long-lasting performance. Once installed, the valves’ vandal-proof features and built-to-last, chloramine-resistant components make the upkeep worry-free and keep high-traffic bathrooms clean.

Various configurations meet a range of application needs, including full battery operation or a hardwired setup with a battery backup. Battery-powered models are ideal for installation where power outlets are not accessible. They feature a low battery indicator light to notify the maintenance staff that the battery needs to be replaced. It flashes once per second when the battery is low, twice per second when it’s critically low. A backup battery is also included. Hardwired installation models provide no-hassle, reliable operation flush after flush without the need to replace batteries. Manual override buttons are located on the side of all units.

Durable, dependable, and long-lasting: SENSORFLO® flush valves from Speakman deliver the commercial-grade performance you can count on.

SENSORFLO® Soap Dispensers

A completely touch-free bathroom can easily be created by combining Speakman SENSORFLO® faucets and flush valves with SENSORFLO® soap dispensers. In fact, Speakman now features combination units, designed to retrofit into a 4” center, that have the faucet, soap dispenser, and deck plate.

SENSORFLO® soap dispensers are hygienic, sensor-operated fixtures utilizing the most up-to-date laser technology, providing efficiency in activation and shut off while requiring minimal sensor area. You can expect reliable operation as our solenoid has been tested up to 2.7 million cycles.

Speakman has always been perfect for commercial as Speakman fixtures are designed to endure the demands of everyday life and then some.

Happy Birthday, EyeSaver

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This year marks the 21st anniversary of Speakman’s patented dual waterway EyeSaver eyewash.

The Speakman Eyesaver is the original patented eyewash and faucet combination with dual waterways that easily installs on an existing sink. It incorporates two separate water channels in the faucet body, one for the eyewash and the other for the faucet. When combined with a thermostatic mixing valve, this dual design ensures that the integrated eyewash delivers a consistently safe, tepid water temperature when flushing the eyes while Speakman’s signature Optimus aerated spray creates a gentle cleansing experience for the affected eye area.

In honor of the EyeSaver’s 21st birthday, we spoke with Chris Miedzius, Engineer and Director of New Product Development at Speakman, to discuss what went into creating the dual waterway EyeSaver.

“At the time we developed this,” Chris says, “there was no comparable product out there in the market. We had to be creative in the engineering to develop the features and have it operate as we wanted.  There were challenges in the material selection, fabrication and testing to assure consistent production runs.”

Chris goes on to say the engineering process involved a lot of machining, soldering, and pipe bending.

“Got wet a lot too,” he says, “Had the cleanest hands and face around.”

But engineering emergency equipment is about more than just being creative. It’s about meeting industry standards. The issue was, the EyeSaver was so new that there were no industry standards.

“Plumbing products,” Chris says, “including safety products, are third party certified. That means that an outfit like IAPMO [The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials] will test our product against required industry standards to assure they meet certain regulated requirements. This product was very new and there was not one standard that covered this… IAPMO had to create a document to cover this type of product. This was IGC 272 which this product is certified to.”

As IAPMO says, sometimes new products or technologies surge ahead far faster than most standards can keep pace. Speakman’s dual waterway EyeSaver was one of those.

“We were really [the] first to market with this type of product and ended up patenting it,” Chris explains, “The patent goes back over 20 years [now] and [they] are only good for roughly that long. With the patent expired, we are now seeing competitors bringing to market similar products.”

How did Chris feel knowing other companies were using his original design in their newer products?

“As they say, imitation is the best form of flattery.”

With tens of thousands of people experiencing work-related eye injuries every year, emergency eyewash stations play a critical role in any work facility where chemicals are handled or stored.

Understanding that workplace safety is more paramount than ever, Speakman expanded its lineup last November with the SEF-1880 EyeSaver.

“Providing employees emergency eyewash stations is critical in environments that involve hazardous substances,” says Cathy Gutkowski, Speakman’s director of Commercial Plumbing. “In the ever-changing landscape of fluctuation demand and production, our EyeSaver products make it easy to maintain or scale up the safety equipment if needed.”

PPG Is Conserving Water

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Last Thursday we celebrated Earth Day, a day where we recognize the importance of our earth’s environment and take measures to combat the issues that threaten it. This Friday will mark Arbor Day, a celebration of trees, usually observed by the planting of one.

In honor of these days and in honor of Spring, a season where we revel in the beauty of nature, we’d like to talk about the work PPG is doing to help keep the environment safe and make a positive impact on our earth. Specifically, being a good steward for water conservation.

Water Conservation

We take our role in the professional plumbing industry seriously and have devoted our focus on environmental stewardship to water conservation, making it a core focus of our products.

The increased human demand for water coupled with growing environmental concerns means that the future of the human water supply is not secure. All over the world, more than 2 billion people are without safe drinking water. Without water efficiency and water conservation efforts to sustainably manage fresh water and protect the hydrosphere, that number is set to double in the next four years.

This is why PPG utilizes its unique position in the plumbing industry to ensure water conservation is as easy as screwing on a new shower head.

For instance, Professional Plumbing Group brands like PlumbMaster and Speakman follow low lead regulations to ensure fresh water remains potable for generations to come.

Both brands also manufacture and sell WaterSense certified products. WaterSense is a program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency designed to encourage water efficiency in the United States through the use of specific water-efficient products.

Together these products help to preserve water and leave us with a “greener” environment.

Conserving Water Through Improved Design

For the Professional Plumbing Group and its Speakman brand, water conservation isn’t just about following current specifications and regulations, it’s also about improving design to deliver the same level of performance while enhancing a product’s water-saving capabilities. We believe that to change behavior, to really inspire actual change in the shower, the shower itself needs to deliver incredible performance from start to finish.

Today, every plumbing manufacturer offers water-saving products, but they are not all the same. Speakman reviewed the existing low-flow showerheads on the market and found that while they saved water, they sacrificed performance. So Speakman developed a unique spray engine intended to deliver a more compelling shower experience while still remaining water efficient. As water enters the impeller-powered shower engine, the device activates, infusing energy and velocity into every spray. The result is a powerful, intense experience that is statistically proven to outperform competitor models in both force, thermal retention, and spray coverage.

Case Studies For Conservation

Acutely aware of mother nature’s precious and limited resources, the Professional Plumbing Group and Speakman work to conserve water in other business places as well.

Understanding the value of protecting good, clean water, the owners of the Dogfish Inn, located in Delaware, wanted to minimize their impact as much as possible, so they sought to actively limit their waste stream. Efforts include wastewater irrigation systems, repurposing large ingredient containers to make rain barrels, and partnering with the local chapter of the Nature Conservancy to plant a native coastal forest that dramatically cuts storm water runoff, prevents evaporation, encourages soil stabilization, and helps clean water before it makes it to local streams and rivers. Switching over to low-flow showers, provided by Speakman, allowed them to still deliver a great guest experience while continuing to conserve water, a natural extension of their water conservation philosophy.

Death Valley averages less than two inches of rainfall each year. Furnace Creek Resort, situated in a lush oasis surrounded by the vast and arid desert of Death Valley National Park, California, hosts two hotels. With a commitment to legendary hospitality and a dedication to a softer environmental footprint, Furnace Creek operates with sustainability at the heart of its business. Water is a scarce and precious resource both in Death Valley and throughout the State Of California. This left them with the challenge of delivering a superb guest experience while saving water in one of the harshest environments in the country. Reigning in water usage comes in many forms including linen reuse programs, serving water upon request only in dining areas, refraining from aqua-thawing during food preparation, and reducing water use for the upkeep of grounds and gardens through drip irrigation and planting of native drought-tolerant species. But with 367 shower heads on the property, installing updated low flow models, provided by Speakman, was a great opportunity for Furnace Creek to showcase their environmental commitment and provide a superb guest experience, all while helping reach their conservation goals. These showerheads actively save 1.5 gallons per minute, adding up to well over 738,000 gallons per year.

Make Your Shower Count

Speakman understands that shower time is the time to relax and enjoy yourself. For many people, the shower is the only time alone they get. Speakman doesn’t want to interrupt your me time. But everything that happens on land ultimately affects the ocean.

At the moment, the average showerhead consumes roughly 25 gallons of water per shower. However, in less than five minutes, you can change out your average water-wasting shower head for a Speakman showerhead and make your shower easy on the earth.

Speakman showerheads save up to 20% of water per shower. This adds up to billions of gallons conserved every year.

Watch the video below to see how easy it is to change your shower head and make a difference:

PPG Is Speakman

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In 1869, Allen and Joseph Speakman opened a small plumbing workshop in Wilmington, Delaware. Devoted to their craft, they would go on to create the world’s first adjustable shower head, the Anystream Shower Head, introduced in 1927.

With the turn of a lever, the Anystream Shower Head effortlessly allows users to change the shower head’s spray settings to the stream of their choice, thus the name. Whether that be an invigorating massage spray to wake you up in the morning, a gentle rinse created to replicate a relaxing rain shower, or a heavy soak designed to drench every inch of your existence.

The Anystream Shower Head, advertised in a series of National Geographic ads run in the 1930s, helped to change the way America thought of showers, popularizing the “shower bath”, as it was called, over the traditional soak in the bathtub.

As showers and Speakman shower heads became more popular in the home, the Anystream shower head became a regular fixture in hotels around the globe, due in large part to its self-cleaning capabilities. To this day, Speakman shower heads continue to be utilized and beloved by resorts all over the world. If you’ve taken a shower in a hotel, you’ve most likely already used a Speakman shower head.

With patents for more than a hundred designs, Speakman continues to pioneer innovations not just for showers but faucets, emergency safety equipment, and more.

Though Speakman isn’t only about performance. Architects and designers have used and worked with Speakman to create simple, beautiful, elegant designs that stand out in any bathroom.

Award-winning designer, Clodagh, joined forces with Speakman to create the Lura Collection, an assortment of classic bathroom fixtures featuring a modern twist. Minimal and industrial design comes together to create crisp lines and pronounced curves that are ideal for traditional home bathrooms and contemporary commercial restrooms alike.

Renowned hotel and resort designer, Roger Thomas, teamed up with Speakman to produce the Vector Collection, an assemblage of modern bathroom fixtures that guide the eye throughout the lavatory to create a visual experience that’s enticing at every angle.

With more than a century and a half under its belt, the Speakman Company continues to build upon its expertise in showering while releasing new products for the entire bathroom, including new eco-friendly products, as well as the kitchen.

Only recently, Speakman adapted its touchless technology utilized in commercial bathrooms for the home with the release of the Speakman Sensor Kitchen Faucets. In today’s world, hygiene and safety are more important than ever. Touchless sensor faucets are an easy way to add some peace of mind when it comes to preventing the spread of germs.

However, this is not Speakman’s first foray into safety and peace of mind. Since 1869, Speakman has been designing emergency equipment that delivers superior performance, ensuring a safe facility as well as 100% ANSI and OSHA compliance.

Like Speakman’s emergency showers, rigorously tested to deliver a drenching barrage of water in the event of a crisis.

Or Speakman’s patented dual waterway EyeSaver eyewash, celebrating its 21st anniversary this year. With tens of thousands of people experiencing work-related eye injuries every year, emergency eyewash stations play a critical role in any work facility where chemicals are handled or stored. The Speakman Eyesaver is the original patented eyewash and faucet combination with dual waterways that easily installs on an existing sink. It incorporates two separate water channels in the faucet body, one for the eyewash and the other for the faucet. When combined with a thermostatic mixing valve, this dual design ensures that the integrated eyewash delivers a consistently safe, tepid water temperature when flushing the eyes while Speakman’s signature Optimus aerated spray creates a gentle cleansing experience for the affected eye area.

Whether it’s lifesaving emergency equipment, beautiful bathroom products built to last, or the best-in-class shower head, Speakman invites you to explore our diverse assortment of fixtures and products perfectly engineered for performance and style.

PPG Is Wolverine Brass

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In 1896, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a company was founded inside a small two-story wood-frame building. It began by engineering and producing the highest quality brass fittings, made largely by hand, and selling them directly from the factory to the plumbers and contractors, a business model it still follows to this day.

125 years later, that tradition of excellence continues with the Professional Plumbing Group’s proprietary brand, Wolverine Brass. Bringing to market high-quality, professional-grade plumbing products that are built to last. Wolverine Brass takes pride in their workmanship and is known for their superior faucets, toilets, valves, and other specialty products. The entire Wolverine Brass line is exclusively available from PlumbMaster.

By making PlumbMaster the exclusive distributor of Wolverine Brass, they can guarantee a better price than what can be bought in the retail market, ensuring the professional plumber gets only top-quality material at an affordable cost.

In addition to placing orders on PlumbMaster.com, Wolverine Brass employs district managers located throughout the United States to provide service to its contract customers.

PPG Is PlumbMaster

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In 1924, industry leaders P&M Manufacturing and the Creed Company came together to form PlumbMaster, a plumbing parts distributor with expert professional plumbing insight. PlumbMaster strives to be a source of information for the industry while featuring more than 25,000 products sold on www.PlumbMaster.com.

Distributing professional products from the brands trusted by plumbers and contractors alike, PlumbMaster brands include the iconic restroom products of American Standard,  Moen, and the traditional Delta products that homeowners have come to rely upon. Touchless technology staples can be found with Bobrick, Halsey Taylor, Chicago Faucets, Sloan, Speakman, and more.  We also connect industry professionals with modern accessibility technology like Honeywell HVAC products, Rinnai tankless water heaters, and Milwaukee tools.

Along with these brands, PlumbMaster is also the exclusive distributor of Wolverine Brass. Trusted by professional plumbers since 1896, Wolverine Brass specializes in the highest quality of products for plumbing professionals, such as the Wolverine Brass Essence kitchen faucet, Wolverine Brass sillcock, Wolverine Brass elongated toilet, and other specialty products.

With our PlumbMaster Pro Pricing Program, we work with plumbers and trade professionals to ensure they get the best prices possible on these products, meaning bigger profits for small businesses. PlumbMaster has also begun working with a revolutionary artificial intelligence platform to help identify the products businesses use and need most. Once identified, PlumbMaster helps businesses save time by automatically re-ordering the needed products before businesses even realize they need them.

Our commitment to serving businesses of all sizes leads the efforts behind our Professional Inventory Program and our much-loved Rewards On Tap Program.

With PlumbMaster’s Professional Inventory Program (Pro-IP), we partner with companies to assist in increasing productivity and helping businesses grow. This includes reduced costs on PlumbMaster products as well as exclusive product promotions, free ground shipping and handling, stock room organization, and free customized branding.

Pro-IP also features the Pro-Tech Program which is ideal for those businesses looking for a consultative approach to plumbing enterprises that are truck and technician based. The Pro-Tech Program assists with ordering products, organizing trucks, and better business branding.

All members of our Professional Inventory Program earn points for their purchases with our Rewards On Tap Program. These points can be redeemed for sporting events, concerts, theater, travel expenses, gift cards, gear, and more. PlumbMaster even has a Name Your Own Reward feature, allowing you to submit a quote for anything not listed in the Rewards on Tap catalog.

Aside from our featured products and rewards, PlumbMaster’s Special Services department helps businesses save valuable time and money by assisting in locating hard-to-find parts that aren’t widely stocked but that are sometimes necessary to finish a job. Simply send a picture of the part, measurements, and information of how the part is used and Special Services will email you with the product description and pricing within 48 hours, allowing you to immediately place an order.

Serving contractors in residential plumbing, healthcare, education, and hospitality, PlumbMaster is built on the promise of expert service to supply all the repair parts and replacement products for you to serve your customer. With our best quality products and fast and friendly customer support, it isn’t hard to see why PlumbMaster is the professional plumber’s choice.

PPG Is 370 Years Combined Experience

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In 1869, Allen and Joseph Speakman opened a small plumbing workshop in Wilmington, Delaware. Devoted to their craft, they would go on to create the world’s first adjustable shower head, changing the way America thought of showers, and earning more than a hundred patents for the design and innovation of showerheads, faucets, emergency equipment, and more. With more than a century and a half under its belt, the Speakman Company continues to build upon its expertise in showering while releasing new products for the entire bathroom, including new eco-friendly products, all while remaining one of the most trusted brands by hotels, architects, designers, and homeowners around the globe.

In 1896, only 27 years later, Wolverine Brass was founded inside a small two-story wood-frame building in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Wolverine Brass began by engineering and producing the highest quality brass fittings, made largely by hand, sold direct from the factory to plumbers. To this day, 125 years later, Wolverine Brass works to produce superior faucets, toilets, valves, and other specialty products for its exclusive distributor, PlumbMaster.

In 1924, industry leaders P&M Manufacturing and the Creed Company came together to form PlumbMaster, a plumbing parts distributor with expert professional plumbing insight. PlumbMaster features more than 25,000 products sold on PlumbMaster.com and strives to be a source of information for the professional plumbing industry. With our proven plumbing proficiency, inventory program, competitive pricing, and expertise in locating hard-to-find parts, PlumbMaster has been able to deliver unmatched service for all the brands you trust and rely upon for the past 97 years.

While each of our brands is distinct in its customer base and service offering, all three are housed under the umbrella of the Professional Plumbing Group (PPG).  PPG designs, engineers, markets, and distributes plumbing products across every channel of the professional plumbing industry.

PPG is the Professional Plumbing Group.

And PPG is the Speakman Company, offering the best-in-class shower head and Speakman safety products for 152 years.

PPG is 125 years of Wolverine Brass shower valves, Wolverine Brass kitchen faucets, and hundreds of other top-quality Wolverine Brass parts.

And PPG is the many PlumbMaster catalogs and products of the past 97 years.

PPG is over 370 years of combined experience in plumbing.

And PPG is so much more.

International Day Of Women And Girls In Science: Barbara Lloyd

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According to a study conducted by the United Nations, only 30% of scientific researchers worldwide are women with only 35% of all students enrolled in STEM-related fields being women.

The purpose of the International Day Of Women And Girls In Science is to recognize the critical role women and girls play in science and technology as well as to inspire future generations of women and girls to STEM fields while promoting full and equal access to the sciences for women and girls worldwide.

The Professional Plumbing Group (PPG) is dedicated to promoting equality and diversity in our workspaces as well as workspaces worldwide. This is why we mark this day by celebrating the amazing women utilizing the sciences in the PPG workspace.

We spoke with Senior CAD Technician, Barbara Lloyd, about her work at the Professional Plumbing Group and her relationship with the sciences:

What is your role at PPG?

My title is Senior CAD Technician. CAD is an abbreviation for Computer-Aided Drafting.

Working with the Sustaining and NPD [New Product Development] Engineers, I create and revise the product drawings for Speakman and Wolverine Brass using the SolidWorks 3D CAD program.  Also, in my duties, I train new employees on certain engineering processes pertaining to drawing standards, naming standardization, product data management, and drawing releases.

Most of my time is spent working on drawings or creating 3D models. But there is a bit of research and data entry involved in a normal workday.

How does your job involve the sciences?

Technology plays a big part in my day. All the models and drawings are created on computers. You must have a good understanding of engineering to create the models and drawings, and mathematics to verify they are correct.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Creativity. I can take an object, measure it, [and] from those measurements create it as a 3D model through the SolidWorks program. It’s almost like playing a video game, you become so involved everything else is tuned out.

How did you get into this line of work? Is this something you always knew you wanted to do?

After 13 years working in a factory and getting nowhere, I took the advice of my husband and went back to trade school.  CADD, Computer Aided Drafting and Design, was the most intriguing option the school offered.  Never would I have thought I would be working in an Engineering Department as a Drafter.

Did you always have an interest in the sciences?

My interest in the sciences grew during my high school years with the growth of the space program. It was like watching science fiction. The thought of traveling to other planets, exploring for other signs of life. Just amazing.

Who are the women who inspired you?

My mother. She used to tell me, “You can be anything you want. But be a strong, independent woman, that can take care of herself.”

Sally Ride comes to mind.  She wasn’t the first female astronaut but the first one I saw travel to space.

Sally Ride was the youngest American astronaut to travel to space and the first American woman in space. Ride became a champion of science and education, especially for young girls, inspiring young people to study science and imagine themselves in science and technology careers.

What advice would you give to women and girls considering a career in your career path or the sciences in general?

It will help to have strong math skills and a good understanding of computers. It is not hard and does not take a long time to become a CAD Operator/Technician. It can be completed in as little as 6 months. If you wish to go further with your education and become an Engineer, the skills taught in any CADD class will be a big plus and show in your skills as an Engineer.

Good luck and remember, “You can be anything you want. But be a strong, independent young woman, that can take care of herself.”

The Professional Plumbing Group is an equal opportunity employer that strives to promote diversity and equality throughout their workspaces. Engineers and drafters at The Professional Plumbing Group work hard to bring innovative new plumbing products to market. Visit us at ppg-inc.com to apply for jobs in Engineering, Operations, Sales, and more.