R.I. LAMPUS COMPANY NEWS

 

Doren Inc acquires Parkway Block and Supply Doren Inc, an affiliate of the R.I. Lampus Co. acquires Parkway Block and Supply
Growing Manufacturer Purchases Second Company in 2008

Springdale, PA – R.I. Lampus Company, a leading regional manufacturer of hardscaping and concrete block products headquartered in Springdale, PA, has acquired the exclusive rights to market, sell and distribute all the products of Parkway Block and Supply Company, located in Aliquippa, PA. This agreement establishes new territories and products for the expanding R.I. Lampus Company. Doren finalized the purchase on March 31, 2008.

“Parkway Block and Supply will operate with the same employees, maintaining its same dedication to quality products and customer service. We are very pleased to have the Parkway Block and Supply team in place,” says Don Lampus Jr., President of R.I. Lampus Company. “Our block demand has greatly increased over the last year and this acquisition will help us keep up with the consumer and commercial demands.”

This is the second acquisition for R.I. Lampus Company and its affiliates in 2008. In January, Lampus purchased Rennekamp Supply Company, also a concrete block manufacturer.

“R.I. Lampus Company’s previous purchase of the Rennekamp Supply Company in January created capacity needs that Parkway Block and Supply Company will fulfill,” says Bill Stevens, Executive Vice President and CFO of R.I. Lampus Company. “These acquisitions are building our company in a strategic, sustainable way.”

- Press Release May 2008 - Contact Bill Stevens Phone: 412.362.3800 -         BACK TO TOP

 

Local Manufacturer Plans Significant Growth
New Hires Abundant At R.I. Lampus Company

Springdale, PA – R.I. Lampus Company, a leading manufacturer and distributor of hardscaping, landscaping, concrete masonry products, silicon carbide and ferro alloys based in Springdale, PA, recently announced that Don Lampus, Jr. has been named President of the R.I. Lampus Company. Don Lampus, Jr. is the third generation of the Lampus family to lead the company. He holds an engineering degree from The Pennsylvania State University and has 20 years experience in business, including serving as President for five years at Doren Inc., the sole manufacturer of landscape products for R.I. Lampus Company.

Also joining R.I. Lampus Company is Bill Stevens. He will serve as Executive VP and CFO. In this position, Stevens is responsible for all corporate administration and strategic planning, as well as sales strategy for the Concrete Products Division. Stevens brings over 30 years of senior management experience in family-owned businesses to the R.I. Lampus Company.

Other new hires and promotions within the R.I. Lampus Company include:

Bob Welling was named Vice President of the Concrete Products Division, which includes both landscape products and concrete block products. Welling has over 35 years with the R.I. Lampus Company, most recently as Vice President of the Landscape Division.

Tom Dudley was named Key Account Manager, specializing in sales of grey and architectural block to major masonry customers. Dudley has over 30 years experience in the block business, ten of which have been with the R.I. Lampus Company.

Joe Dufour has been hired as Manager of Customers Service. Dufour has over 35 years experience in the concrete block industry. He most recently was General Manager of Rennekamp Supply. He also ran Rennekamp Trucking.

Rich Wild has been hired as Block Plant Supervisor. Wild brings 20 years experience in production management and predictive maintenance experience to the company. He most recently was Maintenance Manager of Reinhold Ice Cream.

Neil Christopher has been hired as Inside Sales Supervisor of the Concrete Products Division. Christopher brings 15 years experience to the company, including many years with Rennekamp and Angelo Lane. He will coordinate both block and landscape sales support.

- Press Release March 2008 -         BACK TO TOP

 

A compact fluorescent light bulb Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The Cream Of The Green
By Kevin Kirkland

Everyone is keen on "green," meaning environmentally friendly, energy-efficient and just plain kind to the Earth. Though green materials and products are generally more expensive up front than their counterparts, they often use less energy and save money in the long run. Even if they don't, you can rest easier knowing you're doing your part for the environment.

Here are our top 10 green products used in home building and remodeling, starting with the least expensive:

1: Compact fluorescent lights use about one-quarter the electricity of incandescents and last five times longer. The knock on them used to be higher prices and that cold glow. Prices have come down and the light quality is closer to sunlight. But we still prefer the warm yellow glow of incandescents in living and dining rooms.

2: Low- or no-VOC paints are latex-based and have fewer volatile organic compounds, which compromise indoor air quality and contribute to smog in the atmosphere. Your nose will notice the difference immediately indoors. Some painters gripe that low-VOC isn't as durable, especially outdoors. Then again, they said the same thing about latex vs. oil-based paint. The new formulas are better inside and out.

3: Storm windows or high-performance wood replacement windows. Don't be so quick to tear out your old windows! An old house's original windows almost always look better than replacements and new tight-fitting storms will cut drafts and save on energy bills.

If you really need to replace them, thermal wood windows generally require less energy and create less pollution during manufacture than vinyl, fiberglass or aluminum. Also, low-e coatings and gas between the double or triple panes saves even more money on your energy bill.

4: Energy Star appliances. If you've bought an air conditioner, washing machine, refrigerator or computer over the past five years, you've probably noticed the EPA's Energy Star logo and a yellow sticker showing how much it costs to operate. Likewise, low-flow or dual-flush toilets use less water than the original throne, and, if you have lots of boys, waterless urinals are the stingiest of all.

5: Rain barrels, porous pavement and living roofs. Rain barrels keep rainwater out of the storm sewer and put it to use in the garden. The other two go them one better, watering lawns and landscapes where nothing used to grow.

Geoblocks and Grassy Pavers are two types of plastic grids that can support both cars and grass. Locally, R.I. Lampus Co. makes Eco-Tek, a concrete paver with gaps to let water drain through. Living roofs naturally insulate and use rainwater to support low-maintenance plants.

6: Architectural antiques such as doors, fireplace mantels and other old house parts not only add character but are generally better made and cheaper than new ones. Reusing or finding a new purpose for building materials keeps them out of the landfills and always costs less than making new stuff. Construction Junction in Point Breeze has lots of neat old parts plus surplus paint, tiles and other items.

7: Bamboo, cork and real linoleum flooring are darlings underfoot because they're sustainable and give off less pollution during and after manufacture. Bamboo is a renewable grass that matures in about five years, cork is harvested without killing the tree and true linoleum is made from linseed oil and other natural materials. The downside is that they all cost more than vinyl. Also, bamboo and cork are imported, and fossil-fuel transportation pollutes.

8: Radiant floor heat, tankless water heaters and passive heating. Radiant floors warm a room from the bottom up with hot water or, in small spaces, electrical wiring. The cost-saver is that if your feet are warm, you might turn down the thermostat a few degrees. Tankless units save money by heating water as you use it rather than storing it. And passive heating can be as easy as leaving the curtains open on a bright winter day, letting the sun warm your home free. (Don't forget to close them at night).

9: Icynene insulation and weatherizing. Adding insulation of any kind and sealing up gaps around windows, doors and the foundation will make any home more comfortable and save on heating and air conditioning costs. Although icynene is usually more expensive than fiberglass, cellulose and other types of insulation, it's a water-based foam that fills spaces better than batts or loose material, without any airborne pollutants.

10: Metal or recycled rubber roofing and fiber cement siding. Asphalt shingles and vinyl siding are most homeowners' choices because they're cheap and fairly durable. But metal and recycled rubber roofs last longer, create fewer toxins during manufacture and can be recycled.

Fiber cement siding by James Hardie and others comes in almost as many colors as vinyl and is more durable than wood. If you paint, it holds paint better than both of the alternatives. Of course, it also costs more than wood or vinyl. But if you're planning to stay in your house for a while, you and the Earth will be better off.

- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette January 5, 2008 -         BACK TO TOP

 

Don Lampus Jr. & Bill Rennekamp R. I. Lampus Company buys assets of Rennekamp Supply Company (December 1, 2007):

PITTSBURGH - One of Pittsburgh's oldest family businesses is acquiring another as the R. I. Lampus Company has purchased the assets of Rennekamp Supply Company.

Started in 1924 by brothers Ralph and Harry Lampus, the R. I. Lampus Company has played an integral role in the growth of Pittsburgh and surrounding cities by manufacturing and distributing concrete masonry products as well as landscaping and hardscaping items. They've also helped the steel industry grow by supplying the foundries of Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, and Northern West Virginia with silicon carbide and Ferro alloys.

One of the R. I. Lampus Company's biggest competitors over the years has been Rennekamp Supply Company, which got its start in 1929. Like the R. I. Lampus Company, Rennekamp Supply Company has remained privately-held and run by family members since its' inception 80 years ago.

"We’ve been friendly rivals with Bill Rennekamp and his company for years and when the opportunity presented itself for us to acquire their assets, we jumped at the chance," said Don Lampus Jr., the third-generation president of R. I. Lampus Company. "We view this as a very positive move that will enable us to expand our product line and territory. Ultimately, well be able to service our existing customers, the former customers of Rennekamp Supply Company, and any clients we gain in the future more efficiently than ever before. Whatever our customers' need, we'll be able to handle their demands."

The R. I. Lampus Company offers a complete line of interlocking concrete paving stones and segmental retaining walls. Their Omni-stone interlocking paving system and Versa-Lok segmental retaining wall system have become the products of choice for landscaping and hardscaping professionals across the greater Pittsburgh area.

The construction products division offers a full line of concrete masonry units with an almost limitless variety of concrete construction blocks. The division offers architectural masonry units, sound absorbing blocks, and insulated concrete masonry units. It also has a full line of masonry building supplies and new veneer products with all the accessories to serve as a one-stop shop for contractors.

Earlier this year, Lampus Jr. took over the Springdale-based company from his father, Don Lampus Sr., who gained control of the organization from his father, Ralph Lampus, in 1970. The company has posted impressive growth numbers in each of its eight-plus decades of existence.

"We've improved our production capacity exponentially in the last few years as we look toward our future growth," Lampus Jr. said. "It's an exciting time for our company and this acquisition of Rennekamp Supply Company only strengthens our position in the marketplace."

- Press Release February 2008 - Contact Don Lampus Jr. Phone: 412.362.3800 -         BACK TO TOP