Now that December is in full swing, we’re getting excited for the holidays! Here are some of the Induron Family’s favorite holiday traditions:

“Once the grandchildren were all old enough that money was the gift they cherished the most, my mother-in-law felt they should work for it. She rolled up $50 bills as tightly as possible and then hid one for each grandchild in the Christmas tree. Now that she’s in her 80’s, she has a few son-in law elves to assist with the process. While hiding the money, the elves assure themselves that the location of the $50 bills will not be forgotten, but each year there is always one that takes multiple parties to find.  Last year, it was a full day and a half before the last bill was discovered!” –Dick Belliveau, Induron Sales Rep

“I have three favorite Christmas traditions: I love lighting our Christmas tree with as many different styles and colors of lights as is humanly possible. I also love hiding our ‘Elf-on-the-Shelf’ in different locations throughout the house and having my two elementary school age daughters search for ‘Sizzle’ every December morning. And as a child, I loved visiting the Santa Claus that always stopped by my grandfather’s house on Christmas Eve and letting him know exactly what I wanted the next morning.” –Davies Hood, Induron President

“Santa’s gifts under the tree always arrived unwrapped, in a big burlap sack that Santa had left there.  It sure added to the excitement on Christmas morning for my three daughters! Now, with the kids grown, nostalgia has set in. For the past five years, all our decorations have been ‘vintage,’ including the aluminum Christmas tree with the color wheel.” –John Anspach, Induron Technical Director

“We attend the Christmas Eve Candlelight service at our church every year to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We also have freshly baked sausage balls and pigs-in-a-blanket for breakfast every Christmas morning and watch the all-day marathon of  ‘A Christmas Story’ and quote all of Ralphie’s lines.” –Jeff White, Induron Sales Manager

“I love having both our children, who have their own families now,  at our house on Christmas morning. It was especially nice two years ago when we all witnessed beautiful snow falling on Christmas morning.” –Donna Poe, Induron Receptionist

“I simply love ham sandwiches made with the left overs!” –Mike Nelms, Induron Production Manager

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By Kendall Smith, Induron Sales Rep

Let’s face it: when you’re trying to overcoat aged, failing coatings, badly weathered galvanized steel or even rusted carbon steel, linseed oil as a barrier coating needs all the fortification it can get.

Granted, modified linseed oil provides maximum wetting and penetration properties, as well as minimum curing stresses and disruption of the existing coating. But by itself, as a barrier coating, it would not hold out long against the elements (wind, rain, salt fog, sun, etc.).

So how do you get maximum barrier protection out of one high-build coat of modified linseed oil? Ask for it in the specification!

One purpose of a coatings specification is to be specific about what you want. High-build, properly pigmented linseed oil coatings have been providing excellent corrosion protection for 50 years when pigmented with functional pigments that provide an effective shield or barrier. Historically, once lead pigments were removed, those barrier properties have been best achieved with combinations of metallic zinc dust and other lamellar pigments, such as micaceous iron oxide and leafing aluminum.

When zinc is not used as galvanic protection (and at any concentration below 83 percent, it does NOT), it is best supplemented with platy-type pigments that orient themselves parallel with the substrate and overlap. These lamellar pigments align themselves much like mica. This lamellar formation creates a difficult pathway for the elements of corrosion to migrate through the system, and stops them from camping out on the vulnerable substrate, where corrosion cells will form and develop into pitting corrosion if moisture, salts and other corrosion inducers are left for any time at all. 

So how do you write a specification and get maximum wetting, thickness, labyrinth-effect and corrosion protection in one coat of paint? It might be easier to first list a few ways NOT to specify an overcoating material for weathered galvanized steel:

1) Contractor shall use a good tower paint.

2) Contractor shall use a linseed oil high-build paint.

3) Contractor shall use a zinc dust linseed oil paint.

4) Contractor shall use a modified linseed oil zinc dust/ MIO tower paint.

Each of these four specifications get increasingly specific, but just aren’t specific enough. We suggest you go even further to get the exact material that has maximized its protective barrier properties:

5) Contractor shall use a modified linseed oil coating pigmented with metallic zinc dust and a lamellar type pigment such as micaceous iron oxide. The percentage of the combined zinc/MIO shall be a minimum of 35-40% by weight of the coating. When specifying micaceous iron oxide, the percentage shall be 20-25% hematite micaceous iron oxide, Grade I, which requires the highest degree of quality, specific composition, particle size range, particle shape and how the pigment is produced.

This gives you the maximum percentage of thin, flake-like particles, which form overlapping layers that lie roughly parallel to the substrate, and helps impede the corrosion promoters. It also strengthens the coating film. Get the most for your money by asking for it specifically! Ask your Induron rep to help you reference ISO 10601:2007 to get maximum barrier protection for your next transmission tower painting or overcoating job!

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At Induron, we are very proud to be an American company. We’ve been here a long time, and we plan to continue to be here for a lot longer. We have sales representatives who are spread out all over this great country, and we all love the Fourth of July holiday and celebrate it in different ways wherever we are.

“The 4^th of July commemorates the signing of the documents which define us. We read the entire Declaration every year on the fourth to remind us of the great ideas on which our country was founded.” David Hood, Induron CEO

“For me, it’s all about spending time with family, eating BBQ and enjoying homemade ice cream.” Jeff White, Induron Director of Technical Services

“My favorite thing about the 4th has always been its ability to be a non-holiday. You can choose to do the normal mass fireworks displays, cookouts, lake or river trips or in the spirit of the holiday, you have the freedom to do nothing other than hang the flag and sit and watch the colors against a summer sky with family.” Barry Peters, Induron Customer Service

“The Fourth of July is all about family for me. We have our annual family golf outing which brings between 60 to 100 brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles together. This is followed by our annual Fawn Lake Meeting which is a planning meeting for a log cabin built by my grandfather situated on a private lake. Last but not least, we watch the parade and fireworks with family and friends.” Richard Belliveau, Upper-Mid West Sales Representative

“If you haven’t seen the John Adams miniseries, and you like history, you should. John Adams, who assisted in drafting the Declaration of Independence, said in a letter to his wife, ‘It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.’ My family and I are thankful for the freedoms we enjoy in this country, and look forward to celebrating just as was expected years ago.” Donna Poe

“The most important part of July 4^th is bringing family together. Now that our family has grown, it is even more important. Which leads directly into my favorite thing about the holiday: allowing me to spend more time with my new family, especially daughters, makes the holiday special.” Brian Wolfe, Induron Sales Rep

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By Kendall Smith, Induron Sales Representative

Goals are very important to a small company like Induron. In our previous two blogs, you can read Linc York’s thoughts on making SMART goals and celebrating successes as well as how goal-setting has fueled Tex Enoch’s career.  Today, I’ll discuss how goal-setting can help your company compete with others.

In my opinion, the key to beating big companies that tend to have rigid goals (quotas) for sales is to aim high and have “the long game” in mind. 

The small companies I’ve worked for do well by keeping good people for decades while the bigger companies tend to “churn through” people to reach corporate short-term goals. For instance, I know a guy who was “salesman of the year” for one of the big companies, and the next year he was forced out because his sales were “flat.” Small companies can beat the Goliaths in this area by staying focused, but flexible.

Small companies can’t afford to make strategic mistakes, like trying to compete against the big guys where they can’t be easily defeated. For example, a small company trying to sell bridges by “giving product away” may make the top line look good, while making no money at all.

Additionally, I think salespeople should aim to cultivate “back-up markets” and customers just in case the market they rely on goes soft for a few years. These backup markets may not be the same for each sales area.  In small companies, it’s OK to aim high.

Here are a few quotes that inspire my goal-making: 

“We aim above the mark to hit the mark.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Goals help you channel your energy into action.” Les Brown

“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.” J. P. Morgan

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By: Tex Enoch, Induron Sales Representative

Living in this increasingly litigious world, we sometimes forget (or are too young to remember) what it was like in the days when everything didn’t have to be notarized or written in triplicate.

Early in my career, which currently spans about 45 years, I was required to visit a job site and certify that the blasted areas of the exterior surface of a water tank were cleared to be primed and that the previously-primed areas had the required film thickness stated in the specifications. 

The painting crew was on-site and on-hold pending my determinations.  The owner and his engineer were also present and waiting for my OK before allowing the painting contractor’s crew to proceed.

Because GPS’s weren’t around back then to eliminate the problem of getting lost, I was late to the site. Once I arrived and opened the trunk to retrieve my dry-film thickness gauge, I discovered that it wasn’t there. To solve this dilemma, I simply placed my hand on the primed surface and slowly ran my hand over it before reporting to the owner and engineer that there was plenty of paint on the surface.  Certifying the degree of blasting was simple because the contractor had done an adequate job and the blast easily met the required degree of cleanliness.

It wasn’t all magic.  The primer was a high-solids product, and it would have been almost impossible to apply it without achieving the minimum required dry film thickness. Everyone was happy, and the contractor immediately resumed work with complete trust in my verdict.

Somehow I doubt that this situation would be tolerated in today’s world of doubt and mistrust.  I miss these “good old days,” but am very grateful for my GPS.

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By: Ben Rowland, Induron Sales Representative

In its January 2016 issue, Water and Wastes Digest featured Induron’s premium 100% Solids Ceramic Epoxy, PermaClean 100. Specifically, the article highlighted the use of this high-build, NSF Approved Ceramic Epoxy as the standardized potable water tank liner for the Aqua Pennsylvania system, which is one of the leading water suppliers in the United States. The publication  was so impressed by the reference photo we provided for the product that they chose to use as the issue’s cover photo.  

The acclaimed photo was taken at the Blue Springs 5 Million-Gallon water storage tank in Huntsville, Alabama. This tank is one of more than 30 large tanks owned by Huntsville Utilities. Like Aqua Pennsylvania, Huntsville Utilities prides itself on being one of the most competent and progressive utility systems around. Also like Aqua Pennsylvania, Huntsville Utilities has specified PermaClean 100 Ceramic Epoxy as its standardized potable water tank lining for more than five years now. Over the years, multiple large tanks within the system have been successfully coated with this product.

To acknowledge the continued success between Huntsville Utilities and Induron Coatings in protecting these assets, Induron President Davies Hood presented Huntsville Utilities’ CEO Jay Stowe with a plaque of the publication’s cover photo.

Induron is proud to have worked with Aqua Pennslyvania and Huntsville Utilties, and we hope PermaClean 100 continues to positively impact the water and wastewater industry.

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Induron is proud to be the newest Associate Member of the Georgia Mining Association, and we look forward to supporting the mining industry in the state of Georgia. Carl Moye, our Sales Representative for the state of Georgia, has devoted more than 15 years to the mining industry and will continue to support the industry through his involvement with GMA. Before joining Induron’s team, Carl worked in a purchasing role in the Georgia mining industry. He’s also has been on the Georgia Mining Association’s Membership Committee for five years. 

Founded in 1972, the Georgia Mining Association is a Georgia trade association dedicated to helping mining companies and allied trade members succeed, understand, comply and function in a complex business and regulatory world. The Georgia Mining Association strives to protect and promote the mining industry in the state by monitoring legislative issues relevant to the mining industry, providing information and education to its members, and distributing information to the public about how minerals and mining impact our economy and wellbeing.

Across the state of Georgia, there are numerous mineral processing plants. Each of these is made up of storage tanks, buildings and processing equipment, which need fresh layers of industrial coatings from year to year. Some of the more weathered tanks, buildings and equipment that have been in operation for years require an especially dependable industrial coating to keep them in good condition. At Induron, we manufacture Ceramic Epoxies that can get the job done and keep these plants operating.

As a privately-owned manufacturer of industrial coatings, Induron offers a diverse product line that protects assets from corrosion while maintaining their aesthetically pleasing appearance, whether the project is water tower painting, electrical tower maintenance, general corrosion protection or industrial floor coatings.

Carl will be the primary contact for all the mining locations throughout Georgia. He will provide technical backup and sales support from our Birmingham locations, as necessary. Induron will also have the opportunity attend the GMA Annual Convention and exhibit as a supporting supplier of the Georgia mining industry.

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By: Russell Hicks, Induron Sales Representative

Recently, Induron provided materials to help Sardis Water Authority with a much-needed facelift.  For nine years, the water and sewage utilities company located in Clayton, Oklahoma had two finish filters working double duty, and they were beginning to show signs of wear and tear.

Sardis Water had two major problems. First, a new and larger clarifier needed to be built so that the two existing clarifiers could be converted into finish filters. Second, the water system needed a coating solution that could meet several demands. Sardis Water Authority needed the filter back in service quickly due to water usage demands. Additionally, the Sardis Water’s new coating system needed to be applied in a single coat while offering excellent abrasion resistance.

Greg Vaughn of Vaughn Engineering turned to Induron for a solution, and we delivered. Our solution was PermaClean 100 Ceramic Epoxy applied to 10.0 to 15.0 Mils DFT. This product offers absolute minimal undercutting, unrivaled Film Build (NSF approved up to 50 Mils DFT), ultra-low permeability and a non-ablative surface.

Because of PermaClean 100’s fast cure time (72 hours), Vaughn Engineering was able to proceed with rebuilding the aeration filters and returning Sardis Water Authority to service. In the end, Sardis Water Authority received much-needed maintenance on its water filtration system while maintaining its customers’ water demands.

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By: Carl Moye, Induron Sales Representative

Before joining Induron’s team as a sales representative, I spent more than 20 years in a purchasing role in the mining industry. From the other side of the desk, I learned a few key principles that I believe we, as protective coatings salespeople, should all keep in mind.

Build trust. If the people you are trying to sell to don’t trust you, you’re NOT going to sell them anything. When interacting with clients, it’s essential to form a trusting relationship.

Be honest. Always be honest. Even if you lose the sell, the customer will respect you for your honesty.

Be timely. If you promise someone you’ll do something by a certain date, then be sure you get them what they need by that date. If for some reason you can’t get them what they’ve requested or you’ve promised by that date, ALWAYS let them know in advance. Hopefully, this will allow both of you to agree on a different date or deadline. Remember, getting the person what he or she requested earlier than expected is always a good thing.

Provide good service. In our case, providing good service is more related to product delivery, but it remains necessary for success. Though I believe Barry and Ricky (Induron’s Customer Service Representatives) are the best in the industry, it’s important to do anything we can to help them out.

Offer solutions. Many times our customers turn to us to help them solve their problems. Even if it doesn’t involve Induron’s products, if you can offer an effective solution, they’ll usually remember you for helping them out in a crisis.

For example, while working as the purchasing director, my team decided to switch suppliers. We opted to contract with an overseas chemical supplier. This supplier ensured us that they kept plenty of inventory in Savannah, GA, and we verified this fact following a physical visit and inventory review. However, three months into the contract, the supplier started being late on deliveries. After a few more months, they couldn’t deliver product at all. This caused us to return to our previous supplier to avoid shutting down our entire production process. This exemplifies a situation in which a supplier failed to be honest about inventory quantity, failed to build trust and failed to provide adequate service.

Consequently, while working as a purchasing director, I realized just how much I appreciated these values in a salesperson. And, now as a sales representative, I strive to demonstrate each of these qualities when working with customers. At Induron, we’re not all about making the sale. We invest ourselves in your success, and work with you to find the right solution to meet your project’s needs.

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This Q&A was originally published in Water Industry News for the American Water Works Association’s Annual Conference & Exposition. 

CEO of Induron Protective Coatings, Davies Hood, understands the importance of not only supplying the water and wastewater market with state-of-the-art technology, but also providing customers with exceptional support and service. 

Q: Tell us about your company. What’s your focus?

A: Founded in 1947, Induron Protective Coatings is a privately-held industrial coatings manufacturer. Specializing in water and wastewater applications, Induron produces unique coatings solutions that protect a variety of assets and infrastructures. From our industry standard ductile iron wastewater pipe lining, Protecto 401, to our unique and proven line of ceramic epoxies, such as PermaClean 100 and Ceramasafe 90, Induron’s high-performance coatings protect nearly any immersion surface for water and wastewater treatment.
Q: What would you say makes your business unique?

A: Three generations of family ownership and management results in a company that treats its employees, customers and suppliers as true partners and family members.  We stand with our customers and behind our products in times of trouble. When the chips are down, nobody wants to go to a jobsite where everyone is pointing at the guy next to him. As the owner of the company, I realize it’s a lot better in the long run to stand with, not against, our best customers.
Q: What are your greatest challenges in this industry?

A: In many cases, our real competition is status quo. Many people are resistant to change, even if they are offered a “better mouse-trap.” As a result, we are constantly competing with the old adage, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”
Q: Are you introducing any new products at the show?

A: We are excited to promote our new AquaClean Epoxy, a NSF Std. 61 approved epoxy for lining potable water storage tanks. We produced AquaClean by slightly tweaking our tried and true PermaClean II Epoxy to make it applicable to the potable water market. Using the state-of-the-art technology, AquaClean is uniquely user friendly, good looking and long lasting, which will make it the go-to choice for professional painters and specifiers.
Q: What makes your company different from the competition?

A: Our innovative line of Ceramic Epoxies sets us apart and, in my opinion, ahead of others in the industrial coatings business. This line of Ceramic Epoxies, which includes Protecto 401, PermaClean and PermaSafe 100, Ceramapure, Ceramsafe 90 and TL-70, is proven to provide decades of corrosion protection in the ultra-corrosive water and wastewater markets. Applications include gravity sewer pipe lining, potable water tank lining, and lining for steel and concrete basins in the wastewater treatment industry. These Ceramic Epoxies contain ceramic beads which offer a range of benefits, including unrivaled film build, ultra-low permeability, non-ablative surface and absolute minimal undercutting.

Q: Who are your end users?

A: We deal exclusively with professional paint contractors, specifically contractors that specialize in lining pipe, painting storage tanks, maintaining industrial facilities or painting treatment plants. However, because they are the engineers directly responsible for the assets that our products protect, we also spend a significant amount of time and energy selling to engineers and water system owners/operators.

Q: To what do you attribute your company’s success?

A: It may sound corny, but we really do live by our mission statement, “Reliable Protection through Innovative Coatings.” When everyone on the team marches to this mission and lives by our core values of integrity, respect, reliability and innovation, we create a corporate culture that provides the best products AND service in the protective coatings industry.
Q: How can our readers find out more about your company?

A: Visit our website at www.induron.com, like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter, OR contact one of our local sales reps.

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By: Davies Hood, Induron CEO

Recently, Alabama Football Coach Nick Saban told USA Today that complacency is his biggest rival. He said: “The human condition is to survive. It’s not to win the championship. It’s not to be the best you can be. It’s to survive…So when you tell me I’ve got to sell this many cars this month and that’s my quota — well, when I sell that many cars I’m ready for a couple of days off and go sit in my chair and, you know, eat Tostitos and cheese. I’m not trying to set the world record. That’s the human condition. So it’s actually special to be the other way, to be somebody that wants to win a championship, to be somebody that wants to be the best they can be.”

Saban’s comments really hit home with me. It doesn’t matter what your role is in life. Complacency is everyone’s biggest rival. At Induron, we battle with complacency every day, but I strive to encourage our team to be the best they can be.

We aim to provide our clients with exemplary service and top-performing products. Like I recently told Water Industry News, one of our greatest challenges is competing with the old adage, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” Instead of settling for the same products year after year, we are constantly developing new products that provide more reliable protection through innovative coatings (actually that’s our Mission Statement). We don’t want to settle with survival. We want to truly succeed.

Likewise, Saban told USA Today, “People think success is a continuum. Success is momentary. And to be really successful you have to have consistency in performance, so you have to do it over the long term.”

Consistency in performance is equally important at Induron. Our customers depend on us to provide them with a quality coating system to get the job done right every time. It only takes one screw up to ruin a relationship with a customer and our reputation. We try to live our Core Values of Integrity, Respect, RELIABILITY and Innovation every day. At Induron, we consider our customers and suppliers as partners and treat them like family.

Not only do I respect the way Nick Saban leads his team, but I also appreciate him for continuing to inspire me as a leader of this company.

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We’re excited to welcome Andy Odorzynski to the Induron team! Prior to joining our team, Andy worked as a Project Manager for F.D. Thomas, Inc. rehabilitating the United States Capitol Building. Andy also worked at Caldwell Tanks as a Quality Assurance Inspector, Sales Manager and the Director of Operations.

In addition to receiving his B.S. in finance and MBA from the University of Louisville, Andy is a SSPC Protective Coating Specialist and NACE Level 3-certified Coatings Inspector. Andy not only brings extensive experience and knowledge to our team, but he also exhibits Induron’s core values.

“I was impressed with Andy from the first time I met him,” said Davies Hood, Induron CEO. “We were on opposite sides of a hard negotiation, and I could see that Andy tried to listen to my point of view and negotiate a mutually beneficial compromise. He also has a very impressive work ethic, an open and honest disposition, and he treats others with respect, even when he has the upper hand. In short, I have personally witnessed Andy living the Induron Core Values of Integrity, Respect, Reliability and Innovation.”

As Induron’s newest Regional Sales and Service Manager, Andy aims to increase the specification presence of Induron and the use of Induron products. To learn a little more about Andy, check out this Q&A.

Q: How did you get your start in the protective coatings industry?

A: After high school, I moved out and the bills started rolling in. The painter’s union was taking on apprentices, so I went and signed up. I chose to focus on industrial coatings rather than commercial or residential painting. I spent the next 7 years traveling all over the country blasting and painting industrial structures.

Q: What made you want to work for Induron?

A: The people. During my time at Caldwell, I had a lot of interaction with Induron as one of their clients.  Davies, Jeff, Tex and Russell are all people I consider friends. I believe in the way they are working to grow the company, and I wanted to be a part of it.

Q: What are you most excited about/looking forward to in your new position?

A: I am a competitive person. This position comes with some pretty well established competitors who have done well in the area for quite a while.  I am looking forward to working hard and getting after them. I am looking forward to winning.

Q: What’s the most challenging part about working in the protective coatings industry?

A: The protective coatings themselves are the most challenging part. I say that somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but consider this: A paint applicator is commonly asked to apply our products within tolerances of 1/1,000^th of an inch using hand tools. Humans are not robots. It’s very hard to be perfect when you are talking about a film thinner than a piece of printer paper.

For Induron, the quality of our products must be such that the rheology, spray characteristics, appearance, and long-term performance all meet our client’s expectations. Simultaneously, we have competitors, state and federal government entities, and industry standards, which change the required parameters of our products on a constant basis. It’s not an easy business to be in.

Q: Are you seeing any new trends in the protective coatings industry?

A: Constantly and everywhere. One trend that I find both vitally important and exciting is the increased focus on applicator development. As the leaders in our industry sit around and develop complex products, application equipment, surface preparation methodology, standards and quality measures, it is vital that the community of applicators be trained to understand and execute these ideas. After all, they are the ones who have to go out into the field, in extremely tough conditions, and put all of this into practice. As SSPC, NACE and other organizations continue to develop applicator training and certifications programs, they create a mechanism through which a facility owner or specifier can ensure that the contracting partner they choose is up to the challenge presented by the project. We are all better off when that happens.

Q: What has been the highlight or proudest moment of your career so far?

A: While working on the Capitol Dome Project, there was some work to be done on the Statue of Freedom, and the scaffolding was extended all the way above her head.  When I climbed up there and put my hand on the cast iron words “e pluribus unum,” it really hit home where I was and what I was contributing to. From that view you can see the entire District of Columbia.  It made me immensely proud to be able to use my knowledge of management and protective coatings to help restore such a powerful symbol.

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?             

A: “Be who you are, and be that well.”  The Harvard Business Review rebranded this notion as Authentic Leadership.  But, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales taught me that quote in high school. I am constantly reminded of how useless it is to try and fit into a mold for any given role in your life (manager, father, husband, etc.). It’s far more important to understand who you really are and work to be the best version of that for the role you are called to play.

Q: What’s something most people would be surprised to learn about you?

A: The first day of my painting career involved painting a 200’ tall roller coaster at Cedar Point in Ohio.  I showed up bright-eyed and ready to go, barely knowing which end of the brush I was supposed to hold.  I introduced myself to the foreman, and he pointed at the handrail leading up the massive first hill.  He said: “Start at the top and work your way down.  If it takes you longer than I want it to, you’re fired.” It’s been a roller coaster every day since then.

Q: Anything you want to add about family, pets or hobbies?

A: I am a big Louisville Cardinal and Cleveland Browns fan. Between work and family, the little free time I get usually goes to those two organizations.

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By: Kent Kuehl, Induron Sales Representative

Make a change? Are you kidding . . . that might cost me money!

It is said that the only constant in life is change. So, why is it so difficult to get anyone to change their way of thinking or do something different?  Each day brings us new challenges and opportunities.

It’s easy to come up with a number of reasons why we avoid change.  A favorite of mine is “Well, that’s the way we’ve always done it.”  Simple enough, but can you imagine still doing a task the way you did it 50+ years ago? Think back to when a contractor would have to pick up his alkyd resins, linseed oil, solvents, lead paste, colorants and other additives, and mix them at the job site.  The typical application method would be by brush or the use of a hand-held mitt.

The change in technology and application of coatings has clearly made our lives much easier. Coatings products are delivered ready-for-use and the spray application of paint makes for quick work, which allows more projects to be completed in a timely manner.

A recent discussion with a painting contractor who has been in the tank painting business for more than 40 years expressed it the following manner: “We like to keep it simple for our painters in the field.  Not being familiar with a new product can slow us down.”  The contractor continued by saying, “The simpler we can make it for our guys in the field, the more efficient they are, which ultimately results in fewer mistakes.”

This week the same contractor took the opportunity to “change” and used Induron’s TL-70 Ceramic Epoxy, a 70% volume solids NSF epoxy, on the interior of a water tank.  The painters’ comments were all positive, including responses such as “thumbs up,” “easy to mix,” “no clumps,” “liked the viscosity of both the A and B components,” and “it had excellent film building properties.”  We also heard: “Our crew didn’t have a run nor a sag and they were able to complete the job one day early.”

These are clearly WINS for everyone!  Induron’s TL 70 Ceramic Epoxy has been used to coat and protect the interior of potable water tanks for decades. Its unique combination of ceramic pigment and state-of-the-art epoxy resin combines to provide a dense, relatively impermeable protective coating that mitigates corrosion and has unmatched abrasion and impact resistance.  Its high-film build provides more protection in fewer coats, which saves time, money, and adds years of service life.

This brings me to the 3 “P’s”:

1. Passion – to believe in your product.
2. Patience – to believe in your customer.
3. Persistence – to stay positive.

Change your approach, change your attitude, and possibly change the outcome for the better.  Look Beneath the Surface of your next project, as change is on the horizon!

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The post Painting Contractors 101: The 3 “P’s” Approach appeared first on High Quality Industrial Coatings.

As Induron’s Customer Service Technician, David Gilliland is a vital part of the Induron family, and we thought it’d be nice to share a little bit about what makes David who he is. Customer Service Department Manager, Barry Peters said it was evident from the start of David’s employment that he’d be an integral part of Induron’s customer service department.

“David came to us understanding the importance of relationship between a supplier and a customer,” Barry said. “His work ethic and attitude lent itself to exactly what we work towards, total service to our customers. David typifies the key components of our mission statement, ‘Integrity, Respect and Reliability.’”

To learn more about David, check out the Q&A with him below!

Q: What are your responsibilities?

A: As the Customer Service Technician, I ship and tint Induron’s finished products and maintain the warehouse on a daily basis.

Q: Tell us about your background and how you came to work for Induron.

A: I fabricated and installed counter tops for 15 years. I jumped at the chance to work at Induron and do something totally different.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working for Induron so far?

A: I enjoy being a part of such a unique company that is deeply rooted and has stood the test of time—just like our products do.

Q: What’s the most challenging part about your job?

A: Ensuring that the customer receives EXACTLY what was ordered.

Q: What’s your favorite part about what you do?

A: I enjoy assembling large orders and seeing them shipped out of our doors in bulk.

Q: Tell us about a project you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of.

A: Still working on it (AKA: Project Me J)

Q: Are you seeing any new trends in the protective coatings industry?

A: Among many others, Induron’s Ceramapure PL 90 Epoxy is an especially innovative product.

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

A: Always treat others the way you like to be treated.

Q: If you could have dinner with any person living or dead, who would it be and why?

A: Definitely my Mother—just so I could speak to her again.

Q: What person has had the biggest influence on your life and why?

A: My Grandmother and my Mother. They raised me and did their best to give me the tools for life.

Q: What is your favorite quote?

A: “Thank you God”

Q: Tell us a little about your family, pets and/or hobbies.

A: I have a beautiful wife and three daughters, for which I am very thankful for and proud of. We have one pet—a German Shepard rescue dog. My hobby is busting my knuckles working on my race car.

Q: Where is your favorite place to be?

A: Church, home, work…repeat!

Q: If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?

A: I can’t think of anything else workwise. I am truly blessed to be where I am.

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We’re excited to welcome Paul Powers to the Induron Sales team! With more than 30 years of experience in the St. Louis industrial coatings market, Paul brings valuable experience and a respectable formula for success to our team. Prior to joining the Induron team, Paul worked for Sherwin Williams, Carboline, Devoe Coatings and was the National Sales Manager for Watson Coating’s bridge division.

As the newest Sales Representative covering the Missouri and Illinois markets, Paul looks forward to solving the worst problems that customers and contractors present. He says, “If I can solve your worst, then imagine how well we will perform on your day-to-day requirements.” To learn a little more about Paul, check out this Q&A:

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working for Induron so far?

A: From a salesman’s point of view it has been about the products.  The lineup of materials in our “tool bag” fits this markets and the needs of my customer base perfectly. Personally, I have really enjoyed the people that I have interacted with.  Davies and Linc were not kidding when they described the sense of community that exists in this company. I have really felt a great deal of comfort during my interactions with everyone that I have met to this point.

Q: What’s the most challenging part about your job?

A: Linc has done an excellent job developing the customer base—especially with the end user/specifier target accounts.  From here, the greatest challenge is to continue that work and to expand the contractor-based sales in the market.

Q: Tell us about a project you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of.

A: I have been fortunate to work on several high-profile projects throughout my career.  My first “biggy” gave me the drive to want more in the years to come. I did a re-tool of a Chrysler Plant that finished up at around 70,000 gallons of materials in 90-120 days. I took the job away from a competitor because of honesty, performance and execution.  This has pretty much been my formula since.

Q: Are you seeing any new trends in the protective coatings industry?

Absolutely! The evolution of product development, which is driven by environmental concerns, will continue to change the way we go to market. The 100% solids technology and the upscale performance of water borne resins is remarkable.

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

“There are two kinds of salesman; one recklessly runs though the orchard grasping at any fruit that he can throw into his basket. The other walks through the orchard and selects the best of the orchard’s yield and fills many baskets.” (Author unknown, LOL)

Q: If you could have dinner with any person living or dead, who would it be and why?

A: The obvious answer is Jesus. I have a lot of unanswered questions there, LOL! But, I think my simple answer would be my Dad, Paul, Jr. He passed away when I was a senior in high school. I wouldn’t mind asking him if he thought I “Did it right.” He was a great, compassionate man, who also covered 5 states as a sales engineer.

Q: What person has had the biggest influence on your life and why?

A: Both of those mentioned above.

Q: What is your favorite quote?

A: “Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?” Besides being from a funny movie, it reminds me to keep my attitude on the light side and to not take everything so seriously. Cracked myself up just typing it!

Q: Tell us a little about your family, pets and/or hobbies.

A: Widower, two children, plus two bonus children. My oldest gave our family our first grandbaby just a couple of years ago. I’m a really big fan of baseball. I also enjoy trout fishing and golfing with my buds and my girlfriend. I only have one pet left of several, a Pomeranian, who is in charge of “noise.”

Q: Where is your favorite place to be?

A: Gulf Shores, Alabama or Bull Shoals, Arkansas.

Q: If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?

A: Pitcher, game #7 of the World Series.

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By: Davies Hood, Induron President

Induron is proud to sponsor and excited to attend the MDA Toast to Strength Gala. The purpose of the Gala is to raise awareness of and to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s cause.

Through finding research breakthroughs, providing care and empowering families with services and support, MDA fights to free individuals and their families from the harmful effects of muscular dystrophy, ALS and related life-threatening diseases so they can live longer and grow stronger. After losing a valued teammate, MDA’s cause became especially important to the Induron family. We’re proud to play a part in the fight against muscular diseases in honor of Induron teammate, Steve Watts (1954-2010). 

Steve worked for Induron from July ‘79 until July ‘09 in a number of different positions, including Customer Service and Purchasing Manager. He died as a result of Lou Gehrig’s disease in August of 2010. We still miss him, but are blessed to have the opportunity to remember him in this way…a cause that might help make the struggle a little less for others.

Presented by Medical Properties Trust, the inaugural MDA Toast to Strength Gala will occur on Thursday, Oct. 13 at Regions Field in Birmingham, AL. The gala will feature fine food and beverages, live and silent auctions, enjoyable entertainment and meaningful moments with local MDA families, friends and Birmingham business leaders. Specifically, Induron is sponsoring the event’s Wine Pull attraction. Every guest who participates in the Wine Pull will receive a bottle of wine along with a commemorative MDA Toast to Strength Bottle Stopper!

To learn more about MDA and how you can help champion its cause, visit their website. We hope to see you at the MDA Toast to Strength Gala!

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By: David Hood, Induron CEO

My mother was a Virginian. Her parents lived in Roanoke, and we visited them many times when I was young and my mother was still alive. Because they were very proud Virginians, I was exposed to the history of that state at every opportunity. I, of course, was fascinated by the 18^th-century life that was so revered and displayed around Virginia in the 1940’s and 1950’s. If you asked Virginians, Virginia was THE founding State of The United States of America. And in many ways, they were correct.

I remember a trip to Williamsburg when I was about 10 years old. The colonial houses, costumes, food, military parades, furniture making and everytihng just completely captured my imagination. I absolutely loved it and still do. On this trip, we also went up the James River and visited a few of the old plantations. The tour guides fascinated me, and I remember asking how they managed to get their crops to market and how they got paid. I vividly remember how they explained business was done in the 18^th century.

This is the process the tour guides described: In the fall, after harvest, a barge would come by and the entire year’s production would be loaded. The barge captain signed a note and went off to Richmond where the crops would be auctioned. In the Spring of the next year, the barge would come back down the river and deliver the sale proceeds and supplies for the planting season. In other words, business (and the entire family income) was dependent on the integrity of the barge captain. If he “took off with the goods,” it would have been very difficult to find him again. Just think—business built on trust!

What I did not know then was that Induron’s founders and other Birmingham business people were thinking about the same kind of issues at that time. In 1955, my father, William E. Hood, and his business partner, Louis A. Prosch, Jr. joined with others to form the Better Business Bureau of Birmingham. The volunteer members of this organization pledged to do business as the colonials did—with honor and integrity. Induron (by a different name at the time) was an original member.  Consumers can trust that members of the BBB are committed to “doing it right” and, in the event of a dispute, they can turn to the BBB for an unbiased arbitration to settle. This organization has thrived for the past 61 years and, I believe it will thrive for years to come.

I am proud of Induron and its reputation of treating customers, vendors and employees fairly with honor, integrity and respect. I am proud that our company was a founding member of an organization with the mission of assuring consumers that we along with other members of The Better Business Bureau will continue to do so.

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By: Davies Hood, Induron President

Last week I had the pleasure of hosting the Induron Sales Team at our annual Sales Meeting. This year’s event was held at the beautiful Pursell Farms near Childersburg, AL. Our Team spent two nights together under one roof at the “Man’s World-esque” Parker Lodge. I describe this lodge as ‘Man’s World’ because of the Mountain Lodge décor, which includes a Moose-Head above the mantel, a game room complete with billiard, ping-pong and foosball tables, a patio with a fire pit and cigar ashtray overlooking the 17^th green, a large dining area where we enjoyed a filet mignon prepared in-house, AND a modern meeting room featuring leather chairs and two entire walls of windows as well as modern A/V!

Though the meetings were long (all-day), the presenters and presentations varied throughout the day. Some were group discussions and others were video presentations. We even had one old-school Power Point! Each was led by a valued member of our Sales Team, so we not only ‘practiced our pitch,’ but we also kept the day interesting and eventful. Likewise, the one-off conversations that occurred on early morning walks, over late-night beers and/or while watching playoff baseball (Go Cubs!) were invaluable.

The next day we headed to our corporate offices where we discussed new, innovative products, ongoing marketing efforts and successes, and demoed (both spray and roll) several of our new and/or key products. To properly conclude the meeting, I hosted the entire crew at my house for a relaxing outdoor dinner where my father, David Hood (second-generation owner of a family business) shared the history of our company…first hand. The energy and ‘effusive’ attitudes of this group was really cool. Check out the feedback I received from a few salesmen and some photos below!

 “It was great to see our team, a mix of veterans and some newcomers, sharing ideas on how to grow our company with a high level of energy and excitement similar to the level on an SEC football Saturday. Just not quite as loud.” –Jeff White

“This sales meeting fell on the eve of my 10th anniversary with Induron, which prompted me to reflect on my tenure. I can honestly say we’ve never been more efficient in production, competent in service, and as experienced and talented in our sales team. As Induron approaches its 70th anniversary as a company, I can’t help but feel as if we are still in our infancy and bound for greater things. I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years have in store!” –Ben Rowland

“As someone new to the sales-side of the industrial coatings business, it was fantastic for me to interact with so many veterans of this process and get their advice on how best to build meaningful relationships to support our clients. The meeting struck a balance that very few do: it was as fun as it was informative.” –Andy Odorzynski

“I have been in coating sales for 47 years and found this meeting to be one of the most informative and efficiently managed. I was delighted to see the vast scope of products and technology that is available to our sales department. It is a small but talented group of salesmen. Induron is positioning itself for significant growth in the near future. I am thrilled to be on the team.” –George Shannon

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By: Davies Hood, Induron President

Can you believe we’re already approaching the holiday season? It seems like just yesterday I was writing about the opportunities that 2016 presented for Induron. This holiday season we have many, many things to be thankful for. For instance, this year, Induron was featured in Water & Wastes Digest, recognized for our blogging efforts, launched a new product and hired three new team members (Andy Odorzynski, Paul Powers and David Barnell)—and those are just a few of the highpoints! We are so thankful to everyone we work with for helping make 2016 a fantastic year for Induron. We couldn’t have done it without you!

To share our gratitude and spread holiday cheer, Induron hand delivers a “paint can” of pecans to many of our customers. Over the years, we’ve learned that our customers are almost as appreciative of the pecans as we are for their business. Check out what a few customers have told us below!

“Prior to joining the Induron team, I was a customer.  I always looked forward to the Pecans! They are a great sign of the holiday season and a delicious treat. The Induron paint can is always an eye-catching place to keep your snacks!” –Andy Odorzynski

“An engineer from a Midwest utility told me, ‘Every Christmas my wife and I wait for the can of pecans from Induron so we can make our Christmas Pecan Pie! Best ever!’” –Dick Belliveau

“After many years of delivering the traditional Induron Christmas Pecans, it’s nice to see how many of our customers and clients remember and appreciate them. Whether they are taken home to be a part of a larger tradition, or simply a lingering treat around the office over the holidays.” –Ben Rowland

“I have several customers who look forward to the Induron pecans every year. They all agree they are the best and freshest they have ever tasted.” –Linc York

“An engineer from South GA who had never been given Induron Christmas Pecans said, ‘I thought you were giving me a paint sample’” –Carl Moye

“If I walk into the offices of certain customers this time of year without the ‘Pecan Paint Cans.’ I am almost asked to leave.  They have become such a hit.  The secretary at Corrosion Control simply can’t wait for my Christmas visit. The same applies to the Stoltzfus office. It is amazing how such a small, but thoughtful, holiday gift can do so much to further a relationship.  I don’t think we can come up with a better way to sincerely thank our customers for the business we do with them.” –Tex Enoch

We hope everyone enjoys the holiday pecans and has a blessed Thanksgiving and holiday season!

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We’re excited to welcome David Parnell to the Induron team! With 22 years of experience building sales territories for coatings companies and his passion for growing smaller companies into larger companies, David makes an excellent addition to the Induron family.

“David exemplifies Induron’s core values of integrity, reliability, innovation and respect,” said Davies Hood, Induron President. “He also fits the culture of our whole team while bringing 2+ decades of experience selling into a new but related market for Induron. I’m excited about David joining our team mostly because I believe that good companies are built by great people and he fits that bill.”

As Induron’s new National Business Development and Distribution Manager, David will develop and grow sales in new markets while building a distributor network that will support the new industrial finishes division of Induron. To learn a little more about David, check out this Q&A.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working for Induron so far?

A: The great team environment and a willingness to go after new markets and to hear new ideas.

Q: What’s your favorite part about what you do?

A: Introducing a new company and building a great brand, but most of all helping our customers.

Q: Are you seeing any new trends in the protective coatings industry?

A: Low VOC and LOW HAPS products, as well as  Polysiloxane and Polyaspartic products for OEM applications.

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?  

A: Zig Ziglar said, “If you want to be successful, help someone else become successful.”

Q: If you could have dinner with any person living or dead, who would it be and why?

A: On this side of eternity, I would have to say that the young  John Wayne would be a fun evening of dining.  I would like to see if he would be anything like his movies.

Q: What person has had the biggest influence on your life and why?

A: Jesus , after living most of my life without Him, once I trusted in Him, He changed me dramatically.  I am a new man after meeting the King of Glory!

Q: What is your favorite quote?

A: “IF you can dream it, you can do it” –Zig Ziglar

Q: Tell us a little about your family, pets and/or hobbies.

A: My wife Kathy and I have three beautiful sons that we are very proud of.  Reyn is 13, Noah is 18 and Madison is 23.  Our family is very close, and we spend as much time as we can together.   Kathy is a great wife and mother and the love of my life .  We met at church 14 years ago and married after knowing each other just 3 weeks.

Q: Where is your favorite place to be?

A: Walking along the beach in Pensacola Florida with all my family just before sunset.

Q: If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?

A: I would like to be a Cruise Ship Captain and sail to a beautiful destination.

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