WAXIE Dedicates New Facility in Salt Lake City

WAXIE Sanitary Supply, the largest family-owned distributor of jan-san supplies in the U.S., recently hosted a building dedication ceremony at its new LEED Silver Certified distribution facility in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“With sustainability in mind, we built this new facility, a LEED Certified Silver (pending) project, using a design that provides low impact on the environment and an enhanced working environment for our employees,” said Charles Wax, president, WAXIE.

The event opened with a ceremonial rising of the American, State and Company flags by members of the U.S. Marine Corps and the Boy Scouts of America. In attendance were Utah Gov. Gary Herbert; Bob Farrington, Deputy Director of Community and Economic Development, Salt Lake City; Jim Alexy, Chairman of the Board, Network Services Co., and John Garfinkel, Executive Director ISSA.

Speakers referenced the rich history of WAXIE Sanitary Supply and the connection it has with the State of Utah dating back to 1914 when Charles Wax’s grandfather, Isaac Wax operated three general stores in Loa, Salina and Aurora, Utah. They also spoke of opportunity, commitment, servicing the customer and how this new facility will sustain WAXIE for many years serving the Intermountain Region.

“I am extremely proud of the positive impact WAXIE has had on the Intermountain communities for so many years” stated Clint Hunter, executive vice president/Intermountain Region, WAXIE. “This new, modern facility allows us to expand and sets us up to serve the community for many years to come.”

After speeches were made, the Wax family participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony and officially welcomed in their invited guests who were treated to a tour of the building and lunch. The next day, WAXIE opened their doors to over 1200 customers who came by to view WAXIE’s new facility and attend their trade show.

WAXIE distributes cleaning chemicals, equipment, disposables and accessories to the building service contractor, school, hospitality, healthcare, military, government, industrial and retail markets. Based in San Diego, the company consists of over 800 dedicated professionals working out of Inventory Centers servicing the western United States.

K-C Pro Earnings Rise 41%

The acquisition of Jackson Safety in April helped Kimberly-Clark Professional keep its third quarter sales decline below five percent, though the company on a whole posted an earnings increase of 41 percent.

 Kimberly-Clark Corp. reports third quarter income of $611 million, or $1.40 per share, on sales of $4.913 billion, compared to income of $448 million, or 99 cents a share, on sales of $4.998 billion in the same period last year.

The company said the effect of weaker foreign currency exchange rates more than offset organic sales growth of about 3 percent.

The growth in organic sales was driven by higher net selling prices, which increased approximately three percent, while overall sales volumes were essentially even with year-ago levels. Sales volumes continue to reflect challenging economic conditions, particularly affecting the company’s K-C Professional and Consumer Tissue businesses in North America and Europe, along with the company’s focus on improving net realized revenue.

Meanwhile, sales volumes rose approximately 18 percent for K-C’s global Health Care business and about 3 percent for the company’s operations in developing and emerging markets.

Sales of K-C Professional (KCP) & other products decreased 4.5 percent compared with the third quarter of 2008. Overall sales volumes fell 4 percent, net of an approximate 3 percent benefit from the acquisition of Jackson Safety that occurred in April 2009.

In North America, sales declined about 1 percent. Overall sales volumes declined 4 percent, net of an approximate 6 percent benefit from the Jackson Safety acquisition. In addition, changes in product mix and negative currency effects each reduced sales by about 1 percent, while net selling prices rose approximately 5 percent in the quarter. In Europe, KCP’s sales declined 20 percent in the third quarter, including negative currency effects of 9 percent.

Sales of health care products increased 15.8 percent in the third quarter. The business continues to benefit from strong results in nitrile gloves, including the new Lavender offering introduced late last year. In addition, approximately 40 percent of the total gain in health care volumes in the quarter was attributable to increased global demand for face masks as a result of the H1N1 flu virus.

The company has assets of $18.5 billion, and liabilities of $13 billion.

Earth Friendly Products Expands to New HQ

Earth Friendly Products, a pioneer of plant-based cleaning technology, has moved its corporate headquarters into an expanded 104,000-square-foot, eco-friendly manufacturing facility in Addison, Ill.

Equipped with advanced environmentally preferred technologies, the new facility allows the company to more than double its current production to keep up with increasing demand for its distinctive line of 100 percent sustainable, plant-based cleaning products.

“Our new facility illustrates our dedication to environmental concerns that goes beyond the plant-based cleaning products we manufacture,” said John Vlahakis, president of Earth Friendly Products. “We have a truly unique corporate culture and it’s illustrated in this new facility.”

The new Earth Friendly Products facility boasts energy-star appliances, ecofriendly furniture, natural or eco-friendly fluorescent lighting, low-flush toilets, high-efficiency faucets, recycled hard flooring, bamboo wood flooring, and green label carpeting. Walls were painted with zero-VOC paint and the roof will soon be completed with solar panels, which will eventually power the entire facility. The new corporate headquarters is located at 111 S. Rohlwing Road in Addison, Ill., 60601.

Recognized as a Champion Partner of the EPA’s DfE Safer Detergent Stewardship Initiative (SDSI) program, Earth Friendly Products Proline is the newest of the company’s three divisions, joining its well-known retail and pet care divisions.

Ecolab Profits Up 15% in 3Q

Though sales were down, third quarter profits went up 15 percent for Ecolab, due largely to reduced costs and demand for sanitizers spurred by the H1N1 flu outbreak.

The maker of cleaning, sanitizing, food-safety and infection-prevention products reports a third quarter profit of $145 million, or 60 cents a share, on sales of $1.54 billion, compared to a profit of $126 million, or 50 cents a share, on sales of $1.6 billion in last year’s third quarter.

Sales for Ecolab’s U.S. Cleaning & Sanitizing operations were $693 million, roughly even with last year, but operating income rose 17 percent to $141 million.

U.S. Other Services sales declined 6 percent to $118 million in the third quarter. Operating income increased 3 percent to $18 million. International operations, when measured at fixed currency rates, rose 1 percent to $692 million in the third quarter, but when measured at public currency rates, International sales declined 9 percent and operating income declined 8 percent.

Despite the decline in revenue for the quarter, Ecolab CEO, Chairman and President Douglas Baker Jr. said the company saw “steady demand” in its food, beverage and health care markets. It’s also seen demand for its hand sanitizer products grow, due to the H1N1 virus.

Cost-cutting efforts also helped lift Ecolab’s profit. The company’s selling, general and administrative expenses fell 4 percent to $554 million during the quarter compared to the year-ago period.

The company has assets of $5 billion, and liabilities of $3 billion.