Technology

As part of a series of technology upgrades, Orangeburg, S.C.-based Cox Industries unveiled a new customer portal to log in and view, download, and upload account specific information. 

Today, when customers access the Cox website, their recent account activity and order literature will be displayed. Customers also get the benefit of direct access to the entire Cox team who are available to assist with orders, literature requests and questions, according to the company.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued updated “remediation protocol” on March 18 to consumers and contractors dealing with problem drywall. 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada announced a voluntary recall of "Garden Treasures Living" steel outdoor fireplaces made by Sunjoy Industries Group.

A Menards store planned near The Heartlands subdivision of Owensboro,  Ky., would be the first Menards store to open in Kentucky.

Representatives from Eau Claire, Wis.-based Menards met with home owners this week, according to the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer. Tom O'Neil, from Menards real estate division, told the newspaper: "As the overall plan evolves, we'll be able to submit the development plan, and at that point we can show the site plan to the homeowners."

Minneapolis-based paint and coatings giant Valspar posted first-quarter sales of $842.4 million, up 25.3% compared with the same quarter last year.

Net income for the quarter ended Jan. 28 was $33.4 million, down 1.5% from $33.9 million last year.

“Results for the quarter were in line with our expectations,” said William L. Mansfield, Valspar chairman and CEO. “Our Australian paints acquisition and the continued success of our pricing and new business efforts drove our double-digit top line growth." 

The issue of anti-dumping has faced the home channel marketplace before, most recently with the import of steel nails. Now it is hardwood flooring’s turn at the epicenter of an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation.


Members of the American Hardware Manufacturers Association (AHMA) anticipate a more business friendly atmosphere in Washington.

That's one of the findings of the association's monthly hot topic survey, which is administered along with its Industry Confidence Index.

CertainTeed has announced the launch of a new website, designed in partnership with ARCAT Inc., that offers architects, contractors, spec writers and building engineers a comprehensive line of Building Information Modeling (BIM) objects for use in project design and specification.

The objects, 3-D models with embedded data, enable a project to be shown in a three-dimensional model and include all the additional properties that go along with it -- including specification documents, technical data sheets and relevant product websites.