Ames (R) strengthens 70 years of commitment to training professional finishing contractors

Ames Taping Tools has appointed Mark Wilson, a finishing industry veteran, as its new director of education.

“Ames was founded on the principle that quality workmanship starts with quality tools and training,” said Andrew Reed, President and CEO of Ames Taping Tools.

Duluth, GA (PRWEB)
June 09, 2011

Ames Taping Tools today announced the appointment of Mark Wilson as the new Corporate Director of Education, who, according to Andrew Reed, President and CEO, is responsible for product training and industry responsibility.

Wilson, a 14-year-old Ames veteran, has more than three decades of industry expertise, including being a professional finishing contractor, product specialist, and various sales and regional leadership roles.

Reed notes that the creation of this new role underscores Ames’ continued commitment to market development, product innovation and technical leadership, as well as the company’s heritage in contractor training and support.

“Ames was founded on the principle that quality workmanship starts with quality tools and training,” explains Reed. “Mark’s in-depth industry knowledge is a real resource for our customers and he has been instrumental in helping thousands of contractors become more productive in their dealings.”

In addition, Reed envisages that Ames will use Wilson’s contractor feedback to inform and refine the product development process.

“Mark will report to Tim Beran, vice president of operations and R&D, to ensure a close relationship between contractor and end user with our engineering team for next-generation product design and applications,” said Reed.

Growing demand for training: Reed describes its economic outlook as “optimistic but subdued” and expects a slight recovery in 2012 as the housing industry continues to recover slowly. The economy has breathed new life into apartment buildings, and there are signs of growth in the commercial sector that should help increase the number of jobs available for completion by contractors, he says. However, this surge in activity has in turn sparked a new demand for trade education.

“The economy really has forced our industry to reset,” explains Reed. “Many building contractors and traders who led the industry during the real estate boom from 2005 to 2007 have left the industry. As a result, drywall companies face an urgent need to train new finishers and use efficient tools and procedures to make them more productive. ”

Leader in Finishing: Ames is known as the nation’s leading provider of tools, consumables, service and training for automatic taping and finishing (ATF). The company’s main business is the rental and service of ATF tools through a network of more than 180 branches and franchise locations in the USA and Canada. In addition to renting out finishing tools, Ames also sells ATF tools under the TapeTech® brand through more than 300 independent distributors and dealers.

In 1939, Ames invented ATF tool technology and further refined the process with the introduction of BAZOOKA® in the 1950s. In 2011, the company launched the latest generation of this flagship product, the BAZOOKA Continuous Flow System (CFS), a revolutionary drywall finishing device that increases productivity by up to 40 percent over automatic taping tools. Designed for high volume drywall finishers, the BAZOOKA CFS incorporates the latest advances in cone technology and pump design to improve the speed, quality and efficiency of the professional contractor. The heart of the system is the high-performance BAZOOKA pump, which was specially developed and built by Graco® for dry construction work.

Commitment to Education: According to Reed, education in the industry has been a cornerstone for Ames since its inception more than 70 years ago when Bob and Stan Ames traveled to construction sites to help contractors understand the time, quality and efficiency benefits that the automatic taping technology.

Wilson’s new role will expand Ames’ existing team of field product specialists who provide contractors with professional education and certification programs through in-store demonstrations, classroom training and on-site instruction.

“Ames has grown to be a trusted industry leader and preferred business partner by helping others get better through better tools, techniques and processes,” concludes Reed. “Contractors have a high level of confidence in Ames’ products and services because we have linked our success so closely with that of our customers for more than 70 years.”

Information on Ames Taping Tools

Headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, Ames Taping is the industry leader in drywall finishing tools, accessories and training. Ames pioneered the development of automatic taping and finishing tool technology in the 1930s, greatly improving the speed, quality and efficiency of the professional finisher. Ames delivers, supports and services interior decoration applications for residential and commercial buildings through a network of owned and franchised companies in over 180 locations in the United States and Canada. For more information, please contact Ames at https://www.amestools.com or call 800-408-2801. or explore TapeTech at https://www.tapetech.com or call 800-426-6256.

Product demonstrations and informational videos are available online at https://www.youtube.com/user/AmesTapingTools.

For editorial assistance, contact Joel Williams of O’Reilly / DePalma at (815) 469-9100; Email: Joel (dot) Williams (at) oreilly-depalma (dot) com.

High-resolution versions of the photography that accompany this version can be downloaded immediately from the following link: https://ames.oreilly-depalma.com/2011/education-initiative.shtml

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