Gamma Named To Engineering News Record’s (ENR) 2011 Lists Of Top Speciality Contractors And Top Glazing And Curtain Wall Companies

Gamma U.S.A, Inc. – – a division of the Far East Global Group Limited and one of the largest curtain wall, window wall and recladding companies in North America and the world – – was named for the first time both to ENR’s annual listing of specialty construction contractors and top 20 glazing and curtain wall companies in the field for the year 2010. ENR published the lists and story in its issue of October 17, 2011.

Gamma was listed as the number 5 glazing and curtain wall company and number 257 among specialty contractors.

According to Elliot Kracko, Gamma Chairman, “we are proud and delighted to be included in these ENR prestigious listings of leading companies. It reflects our momentum of the last 12 months.”

About Gamma
Today, the company has 200 employees in operations located in New York City, Miami, Quebec City and Montreal. Gamma’s fabrication facilities are located at its North American, state-of-the-art plants – – the 160,000 sf fabrication plant in Miami and the 85,000 sf plant facility in Quebec City, Canada. Gamma also offers fabrication, at customers’ choice, at one of Far East Global’s three major plants in China.

Gamma has a 40-plus year track record in aluminum and glass products, curtain wall, recladding and window wall. Kracko and his 25-year management team have installed curtain wall on notable buildings for the most respected commercial and residential high rise owners, developers, general contractors, construction managers and public entities along the eastern seaboard from Canada to New York City and South Florida.

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Acoustiblok Named “Best Practices” Customer by Hubspot Internet Marketing

Eighteen months after adopting Hubspot’s all-in-one marketing platform, Tampa, Florida-based Acoustiblok has increased website traffic by 210 percent, increased organic search leads by 307 percent, and increased customer transactions by 40 percent, contributing to Acoustiblok’s record sales increases in 2011.

Hubspot named Acoustiblok a “Best Practices” customer based on its application of Hubspot marketing tools for website management, blogging, search engine optimization (SEO), lead management, marketing analytics, social media monitoring, and website analysis.

“Being recognized by an industry leader as a “best practices” customer is a real accomplishment, and one we’ve worked hard to achieve,” said Liz Ernst, director of public relations for Acoustiblok, Inc. “We have a small marketing and PR team, and we had been trying different approaches to increasing traffic and drawing attention to our Acoustiblok soundproofing product line, and our Thermablok aerogel insulating strips.

“Hubspot gave us some serious one-on-one attention and guidance to understand where to best devote our efforts for the greatest return on our marketing and PR campaigns.”

Acoustiblok President and Founder Lahnie Johnson says that Hubspot provided the traffic building tools he had been looking for in order to achieve the huge growth goals the company had set for itself.

“We knew we had to get more web traffic, and that more traffic would equate to more leads,” Johnson said. “We were able to use the HubSpot software to help us with our traffic building initiatives, and our leads increased dramatically as our traffic increased.”

HubSpot, Inc., based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, provides an all-in-one marketing software platform used by more than 5000 companies in 34 countries. HubSpot is also the developer of WebsiteGrader.com, a website analysis tool with more than 3 million users. HubSpot, Inc. was founded in 2006.

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San Diego Interior Design Studio, Inside Story Gets Published on Design Shuffle Blog

The residential interior design studio of Inside Story adds to its list of completed projects the Goldklang Residence located in Fairbanks Ranch, an upscale gated community in the heart of Rancho Santa fe.

Re-pleat with custom furnishings, fittings and case pieces this home was painstakingly remodeled over a 9 month period in order to create the homeowner’s desire for a contemporary residence with a nod to an Asian aesthetic.

Take a look at the blog posting on Design Shuffle, www.designshuffle.com/blog/inside-story-presents-a-contemporary-zen-home-2/ Originally built as a spec house, the current homeowner purchased this residence from the original owner. While the footprint of the circa 1980 home was not altered, every surface and finish throughout was meticulously chosen with its bearing on the Zen Contemporary design concept. Rich Brazilian cherry hardwoods, espresso and coffee finishes, eucalyptus veneer and exotic stones enrich the interior of this home. Every surface that was touched had to speak to the smoothly updated Eastern inspired concept.

Homeowners, builders and those interested in the world of interior design should contact Sy John Iverson at Inside Story, (858)610-0624 or visit
www.insidestoryonline.com.

Inside Story is a San Diego based residential and commercial interior design studio with 25 years experience developing and implementing interior design projects including single family residences, restaurants, resorts, corporate headquarters and executive offices.

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Acoustifence Installed at Coca-Cola Plant To Reduce Industrial Noise Pollution

Coca-Cola has completed installation of Acoustifence® noise barrier fencing along the west perimeter of its Bay City plant, bringing to an abrupt halt those noise issues that had been plaguing neighbors in the surrounding community and attracting local news organizations as the outcry from area residents grew.

Architect Jack Zelazny of Dearborn, Michigan, acting as a consultant to Coca Cola’s contractor Kirco Manix, chose Acoustifence noise barrier fencing for the core of the 300 foot wide noise barrier project designed to alleviate noise from idling delivery trucks at the plant that had been plaguing neighbors in the South End Community.

Zelazny said the initial plan was to construct a 30 foot acoustical metal fence along the perimeter roadway to address the problem, but he nixed the idea in favor of something significantly less expensive and more aesthetically pleasing to the community’s residents.

“I didn’t think it was appropriate for the neighbors to have to stare at a 30 foot industrial metal fence from their small residential yards,” Zelazny said. “I really wanted to find something more organic and natural.”

After researching sound barrier fencing options, he found Acoustifence, a product of Acoustiblok, Inc. in Tampa Florida, and discussed his options with acoustical consultant Paul Getts of Acoustiblok. After conferring with Getts, Zelazny moved ahead with construction of a grass covered, 300 foot wide berm that incorporated a nine foot high Acoustifence barrier and landscaping for an attractive roadside aesthetic. The project was completed in the final weeks of December, and both company officials and neighbors rang in the New Year with their new found peace and quiet.

“The Acoustifence went up flawlessly, and it’s not unpleasant to look at,” Zelazny said. “When we covered it with the dark green acoustical fabric covering it looked natural and organic, as we had hoped.

“But the real surprise was the immediate impact it had on the noise.”

Zelazny said the plant noise measured at 89 decibels before installation of the Acoustifence began, and registered at 68 decibels immediately after the Acoustifence went up. His hope was to lower the noise by 20 decibels, a figure that was exceeded at the plant, and more than doubled at the neighboring residence as soon as the Acoustifence was put in place. A reading taken at the adjacent residential property registered in the low to mid 40 decibel range.

“It exceeded my expectations, I think it exceeded everyone’s expectations,” he said.“The people at Coca Cola are happy with it, and most importantly the neighbors in the surrounding community are happy with it.

“I couldn’t speak more highly of it.”

Lahnie Johnson, president and founder of Acoustiblok, Inc., said that the application of Acoustifence in the bottling plant’s noise barrier berm was the soft drink company’s best alternative for significantly reducing noise, and respecting the surrounding community’s call for peace and quiet.

“I think Coca Cola acted quickly and responded to the area’s residents as a good corporate neighbor should,” Johnson said. “It’s particularly important that they sought out a serious noise blocking option while respecting the fact that neighboring residents would be living with whatever solution they chose, and viewing it every day – some from their own back yards.”

Acoustifence was designed to address outdoor noise pollution in residential communities, or any community that cares about its appearance.”

ABOUT ACOUSTIFENCE:
Originally developed as a noise barrier on loud offshore oil rigs, Acoustifence is a simple and economical first-step noise abatement solution for both residential and commercial usage.

A 1/8-inch (3mm) thick unique sound deadening material measuring 6 feet (1.82 meters) high by 30 feet (9.14 meters) long with black anodized brass eyelets along the top and bottom edge for easy attachment to any existing fence or structure. Heavy-duty nylon ties are included with each roll. Easily installed or removed in less than one hour, impervious to mold, mildew, and UV, Acoustifence is virtually indestructible. The soundproofing material in Acoustifence is a proprietary formula of the Acoustiblok Corporation, developed and refined over a 10-year period.

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Force 8 commits to innovation with launch of arched composite doors

UK composite door specialist Force 8 has signalled its intention to remain at the cutting edge of the UK’s window and door industry by continuing to release new, innovative products.

The Stockport-based company has just unveiled its new line of arched composite doors, designed to provide customers and suppliers with an even greater range of options when it comes to choosing doors for homes and business premises.

For more than 20 years Force 8 has been a major player in the replacement windows and doors sector, known across the UK for its seamless one-piece arched door frames. The company is also famous for its wide range of composite doors, capable of providing homeowners with an entrance that not only looks fantastic, is incredibly durable and has amazing insulating properties, but can keep a property safe thanks to its heavy-duty build.

Every member of the team at Force 8 has now drawn on their knowledge and experience to create the latest range of arched composite doors.

“This was a natural progression for the company, after we have pioneered the arched frame within the industry, along with the composite door, it was just something we had to do,” said Dennis Sumner, managing director at Force 8.

“The new door design now enables the use of an arched frame in some areas without compromise on the design, and will give a far cleaner look to the finished project.

I believe this is another first for the industry by Force 8 and demonstrates our commitment to innovation, even in the present economic climate.”

The new range of doors from Force 8 is now available online, along with the company’s established ranges of composite front doors, fire doors and windows.

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Gamma Adds New Senior Curtain Wall Construction Executives In U.S. and Canada

Gamma U.S.A., Inc. and Gamma Windows and Walls International Inc. (Canada) – – divisions of the Far East Global Group Limited and ranking among the largest curtain wall, window wall and recladding companies in North America and the world – – announced today the appointment of two new executives as the company continues its development and expansion in North America – – a new Canadian President and a new Director of Operations.

According to Elliot Kracko, Gamma Chairman, “To help manage our expansion and momentum, I am absolutely delighted to announce the appointment of James G. Mitchell as President of Gamma Canadian Operations. Jim will be headquartered in Toronto and report to me.” Jim Mitchell succeeds Gamma’s Louis Fortin, who will now lead engineering and production for Gamma in Canada.

Jim Mitchell is a respected senior executive with over 30 years leadership experience in international markets, Canada and North America in the specialty construction, curtain wall, window wall and recladding industries. Combining experience in leading corporate development, sales and manufacturing, Mitchell previously was Executive Vice President of Oldcastle Building Envelope, Executive Vice President/Owner of Anatamex International (which was purchased by Old Castle) and Director of Sales and Marketing Canada for the Kawneer Aluminum Building Products Division of Alcoa.

“I could not be happier to be with Gamma as it continues to build on its record of ‘Performance Assured’ for clients in North America and now around the world. With this record and with Gamma’s global flexibility in fabrication options and its world-class cost-competitiveness, I am eager to help Gamma extend its leadership,” notes Jim Mitchell.

Gamma also is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark I. Ospala as Director of Operations, headquartered in Gamma’s office in New York City, according to Kracko.

“Mark brings more than 33 years of U.S. and international construction and program/project management experience, having managed the lifecycle of projects from the conceptual stage, design management, construction and closeout. Mark has helped manage the construction of noted projects in both the private and public sectors – – including for the last three years the World Trade Center Project in New York City and previously such projects as Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport, Ritz-Carlton Hotel in New York and Tiffany’s Customer Fullfillment Center in New Jersey, to name a few,” says Kracko.

“It’s a professional pleasure to be working with Gamma, an industry leader. It is exciting to be a member of the team as we expand in North America across the U.S. and Canada,” states Ospala.

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