Press Releases
The Stanley Works Enters America’s Professional Plumbing Segment with State-Of-The-Art Stanley VIRAX Pressing Machines
Company Introduces New Products, New Division at Southern California PHC Industry Trade Show
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Stanley® VIRAX®, a division within the Stanley Industrial Tools Group, today launched two innovative professional-grade pressing machines – the M20+ and the P20+ – at the 33rd annual Southern California Plumbing, Heating and Cooling (PHC) Industry Trade Show, Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, Calif. With this introduction, Stanley marks its official debut into the U.S. plumbing and mechanical contracting marketplace.
"The plumbing infrastructure of commercial, industrial and institutional construction represents a vertical market Stanley has always targeted for penetration, yet never had the expertise or product line to enter," stated Don McIlnay, president of Stanley Industrial Tools Group and vice president, The Stanley Works. "However, that changed with our 2006 acquisition of European tools manufacturer, Facom, and through it, VIRAX – a well-established international specialty plumbing tools manufacturer. VIRAX possesses the market and end user knowledge we were lacking, as well as a proven track record in bringing solid plumbing products to market in Europe."
He continued, "Through our new Stanley VIRAX division and initial pressing machine offerings, we have combined the Blue Chip equity of the Stanley brand with the 88-year European legacy of VIRAX tools. Our two new hand-held machines represent just the first of what will become a comprehensive line of reliable, efficient, world-class industrial plumbing and pipe trades products.
According to Alan English, product manager for the brand launch, the M20+ and P20+ are intended to serve as a highly innovative and differentiated alternative to the market’s traditional joining methods of soldering and brazing. A primary benefit of the machines is their innate leak prevention capabilities.
Explaining that most leaks are caused by improper soldering of copper pipe and fittings, English noted, "Leaks can prove exceptionally costly to the contractor and facility manager. With copper pressing technology, however, plumbers and pipe fitters can achieve a strong, consistent and watertight joint. The high-strength connection can be accomplished in just four seconds, with residual water in the pipes.
"For maintenance and emergency repair jobs, pressing is the most cost effective and efficient solution," he added.
Additional attributes of the new Stanley VIRAX machines include increased productivity, time savings, cost efficiencies, and ease of job execution. McIlnay concluded, "Our new pressing products set the stage for Stanley to become a powerful player in the North American plumbing market. Adding a business and a brand into a vertical market that is a near neighbor to our core business, and complements it so thoroughly, represents a very logical growth strategy for the Stanley Industrial Tools Group."
About Stanley® VIRAX®
Stanley VIRAX manufactures, sells and services differentiated professional-grade tools to provide productivity enhancing solutions to mechanical contractors, plumbers and pipe tradesmen worldwide. Part of the Industrial Tools Group of The Stanley Works, the company was formed in 2006 following Stanley’s acquisition of VIRAX, Epernay, France. Founded in 1920, VIRAX is a global manufacturer of professional plumbing tools sold in more than 70 countries. North American offices of Stanley VIRAX are based in New Britain, Conn. For more information about Stanley VIRAX, visit www.stanleyvirax.com.
About The Stanley Works
The Stanley Works, an S&P 500 company with 2007 revenues of $4.5 billion, is a diversified worldwide supplier of tools and engineered solutions for professional, industrial, construction and do-it-yourself use, and access security solutions for commercial applications. For over 165 years, the Stanley® brand has been synonymous with quality, reliable products. Its well-known tool and storage brands include Stanley® as well as FatMax®, Facom®, Bostitch®, Jensen®, Mac®, Proto®, La Bounty®, Vidmar®, InnerSpace®, CST®, David White® and ZAG®. Security Solutions brands include Stanley®, Best®, National®, HSM®, Blick® and Frisco Bay®. The company employs approximately 20,000 associates. Additional information about The Stanley Works can be found at http://www.stanleyworks.com.