VT Launches Ugly Countertop Photo Contest Multi

Vol. 8, Issue 1 • Summer 2012
VT Launches Ugly Countertop Photo Contest
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Design Trends
VT Extends Edge Profile POP
Display Promotion....Page 2
Prespective
continued on....Page 2
Have a project with an ugly countertop? VT Industries invites you
to participate in the Ugly Countertop Contest running now through
the end of the year. The contest encourages kitchen and bath transformations using VT’s postformed laminate countertops and rewards
winners with a 4 day, 3 night all-expenses-paid trip to Marco Island,
Florida!
Visit VT’s Facebook page to upload
your before and after photos along
In the News
Kitchen & Bath Design News
Seminars....Page 3
LEED v.4 Set for Release in
November....Page 3
Maryland Govenor O’Malley Visits
VTI of Maryland Facility....Page 3
VT Green Fact....Page 4
with a 50-word or less description
explaining the project challenge
and how you overcame it.
To enter, visit VT’s Facebook page to upload your before and after
photos along with a 50-word or less description explaining the project challenge and how you overcame it. Don’t delay, the sooner you
enter your projects, the better!
VT’s Ugly Countertop Photo Contest Ad.
Multi-Family Favorite VT Fine Laminate Countertops
Fabricator’s Forum....Page 4
Faces of VT....Page 4
VT’s Fine Laminate Countertop product has long been a favorite surfacing option for multi-family applications including, apartments, condos, townhomes, mixed-use applications, university
housing, and more. Here are a few reasons why VT’s postformed
laminate countertops are such a great fit:
• VT Fine Laminate Countertops are easy to fabricate and install.
• Great surfacing option for both new construction and
retrofit applications
• Hassle-free maintenance - they do not require sealing or
heavy polishing.
• The laminate is wrapped from the backsplash to the nose of
the countertop, which means there are no seams to collect
dirt and grime.
PERSPECTIVES
• Customizable in any laminate pattern from any major laminate
manufacturer.
• VT’s premium edge profiles provide an upscale aesthetic
that elevates the look of laminate countertops.
By Trisha Clausen-Schmitt
Vice President of Corporate Marketing
I am pleased to announce that VT has updated and
revamped the popular Edge Profile POP Display. It now
features all nine of VT’s edge profiles including the
latest premium edge, Marbella. The display has been
further enhanced with photography and features either
Pionite’s Louise or Viola laminate with the Stone-X finish.
• Durability is built-in to each countertop with 45-lb. industrial
particleboard (meets HUD specifications; ANSI approved) as the
standard substrate material and PVA glue that provides the
strongest possible bond between the substrate and the laminate.
Also available with high-wear laminates.
• VT’s environmentally conscious option, EQcountertops are not only
made with recycled content, but are low-emitting and meet the
stringent emission standards set forth to achieve GREENGUARD
Children and Schools Certification.
Holly Garden Condominiums
Fabricator was VT PRO Team member, Sawdust, LLC
of Kansas City, KS
Here are a few photos of VT Fine Laminate Countertops in
multi-family settings.
Ugly Countertop Contest
Another exciting contest VT will be running is the Ugly
Countertop before & after photo contest. This contest will
be hosted on our Facebook page- www.facebook.com/
vt.industries and will run through the end of the year.
The contest encourages fabricators, kitchen & bath
specialists, builders, and remodelers to submit before
and after photos of and ugly countertop turned beautiful
by replacing it with a new VT laminate countertop. Four
winners will be named, winning an all-expense-paid trip
to Marco Island, Florida ($5,000 value).
We encourage you to share the Ugly Countertop
Contest with your Facebook followers as the contest is
open to any fabricator, kitchen & bath specialist, builder,
or remodeler who replaces a countertop with a VT
postformed laminate countertop, is a U.S. resident, and
is 21 years of age at the time of entry. For a complete set
of rules, visit Facebook.com/vt.industries.
continued on page 2
University of Kentucky Apartments
Fabricator was VT PRO Team member, Top Service, LLC
of Nicholasville, KY
Broadmoor at Jordan Creek Apartments
Fabricator was VT PRO Team member, Tops Plus
of Des Moines, IA
PERSPECTIVES
cont.
VT’s 2012 Comparison Ad.
VT’s 2012 Leaf Ad.
2012 Ad Campaign
In 2012, VT introduced four new print ads that promote
VT’s Fine Laminate Countertops product. These print ads will
be featured in national publications such as Kitchen & Bath
Design News that were selected to target specific groups
including kitchen & bath professionals.
The first ad takes the imagery from VT’s 2011 Laminate vs.
Granite challenge and compares VT’s Marbella edge profile
to a slab of granite. The messaging drives home the fact that
“The line between laminate and granite just got even thinner.”
VT’s EQcountertops are the focus of a second ad that features
the image of a leaf. Upon closer inspection the leaf is comprised
of VT’s edge profiles. The ads message presents the thought
to “Cultivate a sustainable business edge with EQcountertops.”
VT’s 2012 Fan Ad.
VT’s 2012 Build Your Own Countertop Ad.
A third ad proclaims “Cautiva Con Estilo” which translates
to “Captivates with Style”. The ad was designed to play up the
Spanish origin of the Marbella name with imagery depicting
a Spanish fan.
Multi-Family Executive
February
August
April
September
May
October
June
December
The final ad in the series shows one of the kitchens featured
in VT’s new build your own countertop tool. This ad discusses
the capabilities and benefits of the tool to visualize laminates
paired with VT’s proprietary edge profiles in a setting similar
to their own kitchen.
NKBA Magazine
April/May/
July/August/
June
September
Be on the look out for VT’s ads in the following publications:
Remodeling Magazine
March
August
May
October
Professional Remodeler
January
June
March
August
April
October
Hotel Business Design
March/April
Sept./Oct.
May/June
Nov./Dec.
July/August
Kitchen & Bath Design News
January
July
February
August
March
September
April
October
May
November
June
December
Healthcare Design
May/June
August
VT Extends Edge Profile POP Display Promotion
This spring, VT Industries offered customers a chance to
“Spring in the New” with a free POP Display. One of VT’s
hottest promotional items, the Edge Profile POP display,
was redesigned and refreshed! It now features the new
Marbella edge profile, beautiful new photography, and is
available in two of Pionite’s hottest laminates, Viola (AT
191-V) or Louise (MR 120-V).
VT’s stylish edge profiles are not only seamless and
durable, but they elevate the look of laminate. And
with nine unique edge profiles to choose from, there
isn’t a better way to show them off than with VT’s POP
Edge Profile display. VT has extended the promotion,
giving fabricator and installer customers additional time
to either purchase a POP display or receive a free pop
with a qualifying installation of a display top. For more
information about purchasing a POP or installing a display
top, please contact your Territory Sales Manager.
spring in
the new
with a FREE POP display.
Install a laminated countertop with a premium VT edge
and a Pionite surface—get a FREE POP display.
Be sure to check out Fabricator’s Forum on page 4 to see
photos of installed display tops with the new POP display!
DESIGN TRENDS
®
Spring in the New Edge Profile POP Promotion.
VT Brings Pionite Into Stock Offering
AG041 Shooting Star
MR120 Louise
Shooting
Star - AG 041-V
MT390
Hazel
MG130 Abraham
AG011 Estella
AT181 Agatha
VT Industries is pleased to announce the addition of eight
Pionite brand laminates to the Stocking Laminate offering.
These eight laminates feature realistic stone patterns and
achieve a natural stone look with Pionite’s Stone X finish.
“These new stone-like laminate patterns from Pionite
complement our current laminate offering and offer
customers additional laminate options that are in-line with
today’s surfacing trends,” explains Trisha Schmitt, Vice
President Corporate Marketing.
These eight laminates feature
realistic stone patterns and
AT191 Viola
Estella - AG 011-V
achieve a natural stone look
Louise - MR 120-V
Agatha - AT 181-V
MT310 Frederick
with Pionite’s Stone X finish.
These eight laminates will be stocked in all six VT
manufacturing facilities. Additional laminates from Pionite
are also available through VT’s JIT or Just In Time program.
To view laminate swatches, and the new Stock and JIT lists,
pleas e visit our laminate options webpage http://www.
vtindustries.com/laminate-countertops/laminate-options.
Viola - AT 191-V
Hazel - MT 390-V
2
Abraham - MG130-V
Frederick - MT310-V
In the news
VT Industries extends an invitation to attend the seminars
free of charge to all customers and their kitchen and bath
design colleagues. For more information about the seminars
contact Jenn Witzke at 800.827.1615 ext. 363.
September 2012
Denver, CO
Thursday, September 20th
October 2012
Stamford, CT
Thursday, October 18th
November 2012
San Diego, CA
Thursday, November 15th
All-American Promotion
Seminar Dates & Locations
For the 6th year, VT Industries is sponsoring Kitchen
& Bath Design Seminars across the United States in
major metropolitan areas. Led by design authority Ellen
Cheever, CMKBD, ASID, this unique seminar provides
in-depth strategies for generating additional revenue and
increasing profits in today’s demanding, recession-altered
marketplace. Ellen will guide attendees through trend
analysis, creative design techniques, product applications
and visual merchandising to enhance ones skills and profit
margin.
Seminar Dates & Locations
Kitchen & Bath Design News Seminars
PROTeam member, American Cabinets & Flooring
located in Denver, Colorado recently launched a photo
contest on their Facebook page. The Hitting Home Photo
Contest encourages fans to take a photo of themselves in
their kitchen wearing their favorite baseball team gear.
The winning photo will be determined by a public vote.
The winner will then receive a countertop from VT with
the Valencia edge with Formica 180fx laminate.
facebook.com/AmericanCabinetAndFlooring
LEED v.4 Set for Release in November
New versions of USGBC’s green building rating systems,
referenced as LEED v4, are currently in draft. The fourth draft
was released in May and open for public comment until May
28th. Most recently, USGBC has announced they will delay
voting on the new version, which was set for this June with a
release date in November 2012.
This new standard proposes changes
for every credit relating to laminate
countertops that could have a
substantial impact the industry.
As part of this version, LEED for New Construction has
changes for every credit relating to architectural wood
doors that could have considerable impact on the industry.
VT Industries has been monitoring the new rating systems
through each draft. WDMA submitted comments on the
third draft to the USGBC after consulting with VT and other
members. These comments and other informational links
can be found on our website at www.vtindustries.com/
architectural-wood-doors/leedv4. Also, you can view the 4th
draft with marked revisions of the Material & Resource (MR)
and Indoor Air Quality (EQ) credits here.
Currently, VT is in the process of collecting information on
how to meet these new credit requirements, researching
This push back was due of the “feedback” received from material availability, and investigating new certification
the building community in the most recent public comment. options. This data will be carefully analyzed to make an
Along with the ballot date change, there will now be a fifth informed decision on what options will provide the most
public comment period, October 2, 2012 through December worth to LEED projects while maintaining the quality and
10, 2012. Once completed, the final version will be voted on value you expect from VT.
by its members June 1, 2013.
U.S. Green Building Council LEED logo.
When the new LEED building systems are released, VT as an
environmental leader in the industry, will be positioned to
provide architectural wood doors best suited to meet your
LEED v4 requirements, as well as fulfill your documentation
and training needs. Stay tuned for more details from VT.
Maryland Governor O’Malley Visits VTI of MD Facility
Maryland Governor, Martin O’Malley, recognized the VTI of Maryland team on Monday, April 23rd by taking the time to meet with
them and tour their facility. The Maryland plant was on an itinerary,
which included visiting local businesses and participating in regional
events. The Hagerstown family was honored to be chosen as one of
his stops. Governor O’Malley selected the Maryland plant to help
showcase a thriving manufacturing operation, and new area business
that has generated 60 new jobs for the region.
The Governor was able to observe
each automated machine and watch
countertops being manufactured
in real time.
sion, handshakes and photograph opportunities with the Governor.
In December 2011, the Herald Mail newspaper in Hagerstown published an article detailing the downward sloping trend in the local
employment rate. Featured in the article was Jamie Harbaugh, which
outlined his two-year job search following a lay-off from his former
position as a machinist. Governor O’Malley recalled reading the
news article and requested to meet with Jamie during his visit. Jamie
expressed his sincere gratitude for his job and towards State funded
programs that help place candidates with viable employers. The One
Stop Job Center is one such agency, which assisted Mr. Harbaugh in
locating a full-time position with VT Industries. Jamie is currently a
Cove Machine Operator and also serves on the Plant Safety Committee.
Also in attendance were representatives from Senator Mikulski’s office and Dominick Murray, Deputy Secretary of the Maryland DepartJohn Tomlinson, CI and Safety Manager, led a tour of the manufac- ment of Business and Economic Development.
turing facility and explained the production process to the Governor
and other VIPs. The Governor was able to observe each automated
machine and watch countertops being manufactured in real time. He
was able to witness several sheets of raw particleboard transform
into fine laminate countertops as he walked the line. The Governor
remarked that, “There is a lot more that goes into the making of a
countertop than I realized”. The visit concluded with a brief discus-
Governor O’Malley and Jamie Harbaugh
Futura Edge with Travertine Silver 3458-77, Formica 180fx Laminate
Governor O’Malley and Jamie Harbaugh
(LtoR)Brian Ettinger, Production Supervisor; Jamie Harbaugh, Cove Machine Operator; Governor O’Malley, Christina Mallow, HR and
Office Assistant; John Tomlinson CI and Safety Manager; Kevin Mentzer, Production Manager; Bucky Price Production Supervisor; Jason
Brown, Materials Manager.
3
?
VT Industries INc.
1000 Industrial Park
P.O. Box 490
Holstein, IA 51025
CounterTopics
Trivia Question
VT GREEN
FACT
Congratulations to Kelly Schultzs, a Customer Service
Representative at Rynone Manufacturing in Sayre, PA.
She answered last Issue’s question correctly. It was True
that VT Industries was seeking FSC Certification for all
six manufacturing facilities.
VT Industries has incorporated the use of nontoxic water
based adhesives into the manufacturing processes at all
of its facilities. Water base adhesives have only negligible
amounts of volatile organic compounds, VOCs. Vocs are
associated with air pollutants. Traditionally, woodworking
industries would use contact cements, instead of adhesives,
to join two surfaces together. Contact cements contain
relatively large amounts of solvents. This means that
most contact cements give off a lot of air pollutants.
Some of the pollutants might be toxic. Almost all contact
cements are highly flammable. This adds a safety risks to
our employees, as well. The switch from contact cement
(solvent base) to adhesives (water base) has required an
investment and change in process inputs and equipment.
But the payoff has been; a safer workplace along with a
dramatic drop in emissions.
true or false?
VT Industries’ new 2011
ad campaign will run in several national
publications?
Answer this question based on this issue of CounterTopics
for a chance to win a VT prize. View the newsletter on
VT’s Web site at www.vtindustries.com/trivia and
submit the correct answer by filling in your contact
information electronically by August 17, 2012. Limit one
entry per person, and one winning per year.
VT employees and sales representatives are excluded from this promotion.
Vol. 8. Issue 1 • Summer 2012
countertopics
Fabricator’s Forum
Faces of VT
Check out a couple Pionite display top & POP displays
our customers have installed! VT customer, Green Street
Wholesale, Inc. placed this display in Contractors Building
Supply’s Showroom. The display top features the Geneva
edge profile paired with Pionite’s Estella Laminate with
the StoneX finish (AG011-V)
VT Industries is pleased to
announce that Wayne Paulk
has joined VT Industries as
the General Manager for
the laminate countertop
manufacturing
facility
located in Rome, GA. Wayne
has a wealth of experience
having worked in plant and
general management for
many years.
Green Street Wholesale, Inc. is located in Marietta,
Ohio. They are one of VT’s newest customers. They
fabricate VT Fine Laminate Countertops in Southeast
Ohio and Northern West Virginia and service Kitchen &
Bath dealers as well as home centers.
PRO Team member, OK Tops recently placed display
tops in their showroom. They selected Pionite’s Frederick
(MT 310-V) laminate paired with the Valencia edge
profile. OK Tops is located in Brooklyn, Iowa and have
been a loyal PRO Team member since 2006.
Pierce Laminated Products, a PRO Team member since
2009. They have installed Pionite’s Frederick (MT 310-V)
laminate paired with the Valencia edge profile. Pierce
Laminated Products is located in Rockford, IL.
Wayne Paulk
VT Fabricator - Green Street Wholesalers
Showroom - Contractors Building Supply
Both located in Marietta, OH
Geneva Edge Profile with Pionite’s AG011-V Laminate (Estella)
Wayne also brings Continuous Improvement experience
to his position and a strong desire to exceed customer
expectation through exceptional customer service.
Introducing Greg Hunnicutt
as VTI of Georgia’s new FLC
Production Manager & Lean CI.
Greg attended Tennessee
Tech University with a B.S. in
Business Management. He
Greg Hunnicutt
VT Fabricator - Pierce Laminated Products
Located in Rockford, IL
Geneva Edge Profile with Pionite’s AG011-V Laminate
(Estella)
comes to us from Shaw Industries where he had 2 years
experience in safety management, 3 years of shift manager
experience, and 1 year as a
team manager.
Greg and his wife Marcie reside in Cartersville GA., where
she is studying to be an RN. Greg played football in college,
and enjoys watching football, playing golf, and spending time
with his wife and two boxer dogs. (Sadie and Tux).
VT Fabricator - OK Tops
Located in Brooklyn, IA
Valencia Edge Profile with Pionite’s MT 310-V Laminate
(Frederick)
Belanger President, Dennis Ravary Retires
After 27 years in the laminate business Dennis Ravary is in
the final stages of retirment as President of Belanger. He first
started his career working in a renovation center located in
Corwall, Ontario. His 12 years of experience brought him to
Belanger in 1985 performing as a sales representative. Then,
in 1997, Dennis was promoted to President of Belanger ready
to face a new challenge and always keeping in mind that providing a quality product to our customers is the key to Belanger’s growth.
Congratulations Dennis and thank you for being an important
member of the VT team!
Dennis Ravary (front row center) and part of his team at Belanger.
VTI President & CEO Doug Clausen and Dennis Ravary.
1.800.827.1615 EXT. 512
F 712.368.4111
www.vtindustries.com/laminate-countertops