Associations

NBMDA names new president, board

Len Kopec, president and CEO of the Wolf Organization in York, Pa., is the new president of the North American Building Material Distribution Assn.

NBMDA represents wholesale distributors of specialty building products and woodworking materials. The

Kopec is a 35-year veteran of the distribution industry.

“I am honored to serve as NBMDA president. I hope to continue to build on the momentum of past president Roger Debnam and further NBMDA's mission of providing top quality education and networking to our members,” Kopec says.

Kopec will serve as president through the group's 2008 annual convention, slated for November in National Harbor, Md.

NBMDA also announced its 2008 board of directors, comprised of both distributor and associate members within the industry.

Duane Lambrecht of Shelter Products Inc., New Ulm, Minn., is the president-elect. Joining him on the board will be Bill Delaney of Distributor Service Inc., Carnegie, Pa. (vice president); Mark Kasper of Amerhart Ltd., Green Bay, Wis. (treasurer); and immediate past president Roger Debnam of the Wurth Wood Group, Charlotte.

Serving three-year terms as NBMDA distributor directors are Carl Liliequist of Honolulu Wood Treating Co., Kapolei, Hawaii; Tom Mauss of Louis and Co., Brea, Calif.; Brian Schell of Parksite Plunkett-Webster, Apex, N.C.; Harold Tiemstra of Can Cell Industries, Edmonton, Alberta; Marty Wojick of Atlantic Plywood Corp., Woburn, Mass.; and Ken Harris of A&M Supply, Pinellas Park, Fla.

For more information, go to: www.nbmda.org

Three associations to sponsor Gasket/Converting Expo '08

When the Gasketing/Converting Expo '08 is held this April in Orlando, it will have three sponsoring associations.

The Gasket Fabricators Assn. will join the International Sealing Distribution Assn. and the International Assn. of Diecutting and Diemaking in sponsoring the event, set for Orlando's Caribe Royal resort.

Exhibitors will include gasket distributors and manufacturers, as well as providers of human resource, software and merger and acquisition services.

Scheduled business sessions will cover topics such as “Winning the Sales Line of Scrimmage” and “Doing Business in China–Pitfalls & Opportunities.”

For information, go to: www.gfa.org www.isd.org www.iadd.org

NEMA publishes latest applications guide

The National Electrical Manufacturers Assn. has published the “NEMA Application Guide for AC Adjustable Speed Drive Systems.”

The latest of NEMA's guides was produced by the 1IS Industrial Automation Control Products and Systems Section, SC7 Subcommittee on Adjustable Speed Drives.

“This document is intended to facilitate the design, selection of components and installation of AC electrical drive systems, particularly where an induction motor is used in conjunction with an adjustable speed drive,” says James Armes, section chairman.

The version includes updated information on motor terminal voltage transients as well as overload capability for motor selection.

An electronic copy of the guide is available for downloading free of charge at NEMA's Web site. Information on purchasing a hard copy is also available.

For more information, go to: www.nema.org/stds/acadjustable.cfm