Consolidated Supply Co. is a fourth-generation family business serving the Pacific Northwest since 1928. They have 21 locations with over 500 employees. Consolidated Supply’s corporate mission is to provide their customers with friendly & high-quality customer service that mirrors their penchant for high quality products. JRT and Consolidated have been working together for several years.
JRT Mechanical, Inc. started out as a local plumbing company in 1992 in Battle Ground, Washington. Today, they are a leading mechanical company with over 160 employees and two
locations. JRT’s services include plumbing, HVAC, mechanical insulation, gas and hydronics & service.
Reser’s Fine Foods is the country’s largest family-owned and operated prepared foods business. Their business started out with Mrs. Mildred Reser selling her salads to local stores; and since then, they have been in business for 75 years.
Reser’s has experienced steady growth. As a result, they were looking to grow in areas heavily focused on agriculture; and where they didn’t have to transport their potatoes far. The plant for this project was both a hot fill plant and a salad plant. JRT met Reser’s job requirements because they had experience with food grade, water and chemical piping systems.
The stakeholders were looking for a product that did not have a harborage point where the pipe meets the fitting, which could allow for bacterial growth. They were also looking for a specific style of fitting coupled with a product that was readily available; and as a result, they opted for press fittings and press valves.
The engineers, architects and Reser management were looking to reduce labor costs for small bore piping, execute the project on schedule and reduce hot work permits.
"We needed a solution that balanced efficiency, safety, and availability without compromising on quality. The collaboration between JRT, Consolidated, and Merit Brass gave us confidence that the stainless press fittings would meet our rigorous standards for this food-grade facility," said Dan, Reser’s Fine Foods project manager.
Since the project did not require hot work permits, the contractor did not have to worry about PPE for hot work as is in the case when welding is involved. No hot work also eliminated the need for fire watch.
In addition, the vendor, Merit Brass, worked with the design team to ensure that the installation of the stainless press fittings & valves, known as StainlessPress® would work for the intended application.
JRT Mechanical’s commitment to quality and innovation is what drove them to work closely with Consolidated and Merit. The 3 companies are committed to delivering innovative solutions to projects. JRT worked with Consolidated to get training from Merit Brass prior to the product installation. This set up their team for success and a safe, timely product installation. Training such as this is key for any contractor as it ensures a smooth, safe project completion.
JRT’s Project Manager, Matt Massie offered this advice to contractors on the job, “Be sure to work with a wholesaler who understands the scope of your project and who partners with their manufacturer/master distributor as it will help the project run smoothly.”
As mentioned, the design team was focused on reducing labor, enhancing safety, exceeding the project deadline and having access to the piping product to ensure timely completion.
The team chose stainless press fittings and valves (StainlessPress® by Merit Brass Co.). This product did not have any harborage point issues. All team members approved StainlessPress® because they preferred the style of the StainlessPress® fitting which houses a “M” Profile and has a Visual Indicator Press Ring® (VIPR®).
This next generation of press fittings where the VIPR® technology is present is an industry-leading advancement that provides an external visual confirmation of a pressed fitting. This VIPR® technology, featuring a thin, green (EPDM), yellow (HNBR) or white (FKM) band around the fitting, breaks once the fitting is pressed which eliminates the uncertainty that often arises with traditional press systems. Merit Brass developed this technology because they understood the challenges contractors faced with a missed press. Through Merit Brass’ innovative solution, JRT was able to confidently complete the installation; and avoided project derailment as a result of a missed pressed fittings (which is a common issue).
“The VIPR® technology was a game-changer for us. It took the guesswork out of the installation process, allowing our team to work faster and with greater precision," noted Nathan, JRT Mechanical installation Supervisor.
When working on your next project, follow this simple checklist for project success and a smooth installation:
√ Partner with a wholesaler/manufacturer who offers you training and on the job support to avoid project delays
√ Choose a partner who is committed to product quality for ease of installation
√ Choose a team who is experienced with your type of application and has team members also knowledgeable in the field
√ Look for a partner who is focused on advancements in technology and offers innovative solutions that will help you drive down costs and give you back time in your day
For more information, please contact us.
4/29/2025 8:27:39 AM
