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2013 Gold Key of Excellence Award

May 9, 2013 – 11:13 am

On May 9th, 2013 readers of Rural Builder Magazine had selected Sno Gem, Inc. as top supplier in the industry.  Their readers said that Sno Gem, Inc. was voted #1 in the roofing accessories / snow retention category and is thought to have:

  • Quality Products
  • Excellent Service
  • Dependable Delivery
  • Competitive Prices

Congratulations! Rural Builder readers have selected Sno Gem, Inc. as one of the best in our industry. You have won a Gold Key of Excellence Award for 2013 — your 2nd Gold Key!

Additional Information on the Gold Key Award:

Rural Builder established the Gold Key tradition in 1983 as a prestigious salute to the industry’s strongest and finest companies. Your customers (our readers) recognize quality, excellence, dependability and service when they find it. This award says a lot about those qualities and how your company exemplifies them.

Those who have won before in the award’s 31-year history know that the award offers many benefits, including:

  • Rural Builder magazine editorial section listing the winning companies and offering a matching advertising and editorial section in the July issue.
  • A Gold Key logo you can use on your website or in your advertising.
  • A Gold Key plaque for companies featured in the ad/editorial package.
  • Recognition in the 2014 Frame Building Expo Guide. 

Winning the award starts with a special Gold Key editorial section in the July 2013 issue of Rural Builder that will announce your award to the industry. Rural Builder reaches over 30,000 builders in the “town & country” construction market doing commercial, residential and agricultural construction.

Again, congratulations on receiving the Gold Key of Excellence.

By rock | Posted in Metal Roofing, News Releases, Products | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Obituary: George C. Smeja, Co-Founder

March 1, 2013 – 4:17 pm

George C. Smeja, Co-Founder of Sno Gem, Inc.

In Celebration Of Life.

George Charles Smeja, 80, of McHenry passed away peacefully on February 27, 2013 at Mayo Clinic-Saint Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

He was born July 11, 1932 in Brownsville, Texas to George and Corrine (Wilson) Smeja. In 1964, he married Gloria Spensieri in Western Springs.

He was a co-founder of Metalmaster Roofmaster, Inc. and Sno Gem, Inc. both located in McHenry, Illinois. He was a member of Sheet Metal Local Union #73 and #265 for many years. He was a proud member of Life Changers International Church and was passionate about his church, family, and business.

He is survived by his children, Steve (Ruth) Smeja, Sharon LaBoy, and their children; his sons, Michael (Rochelle) Smeja and Daniel (Sharon) Smeja; his grandchildren, Rock, Lexie, Noah, Zion, and Grace; and his siblings, John (Diane) Smeja, Corrine Reiger, Merrette Nixon, and Phillip (Donna) Smeja.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Gloria Smeja; his parents; his daughter, Robin Burlak; and his brother, Vernon Smeja.

The visitation will be from 3:30pm to 9pm on Monday, March 4, 2013, at Life Changers International Church, 2500 Beverly Rd., Hoffman Estates, Illinois. George would encourage you to stay for the celebration of his life at 7:30pm led by Pastor Gregory Dickow who will be speaking words of encouragement, faith, and everlasting life.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Life Changers International Church – Operation Hope.

Arrangements were entrusted to Querhammer & Flagg Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.querhammerandflagg.com. For more information, call the funeral home at 815-459-1760 or click the link to go to the online Memorial and Guest Book page: http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=George-Smeja&lc=1581&pid=163367205&mid=5442403.

By rock | Posted in News Releases | Tagged , | Comments Off

2013 Metal of Honor Award

February 11, 2013 – 4:31 pm

Jim Austin, Senior Editor

Metal Roofing Magazine

Congratulations! The readers of Metal Roofing Magazine have told us that you’re doing a good job for them. That makes Sno Gem a winner in our ninth annual Metal of Honor program.

Our readers were asked to vote for their favorite suppliers in the metal roofing industry. They told us who they felt had the best products, provided the best service, competitive prices and dependable delivery. Just more than 300 companies were mentioned on ballots received and Sno Gem was among the companies ranked in the top 10 percent.

As a Metal of Honor winner, chosen by the 26,000-plus readers of Metal Roofing Magazine, Sno Gem will receive a Metal of Honor plaque with the opportunity for free matching editorial coverage with your minimum half-page ad in our upcoming April-May 2013 issue.

So congratulations! You’re doing a good job! Soon, you’ll be receiving more information about winning the Metal of Honor.

By rock | Posted in Metal Roofing, News Releases | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

Snow Guards added to Wings of Vintage Airplane

September 7, 2012 – 12:45 pm

September 7, 2012

By BOB FRITTO – Partner, Design and Build with Metal

Kansas City, MO – Snow Guards on a building…expected. Snow Guards on an airplane…now that’s something you don’t find every day. But then, it’s not often you see a full-sized passenger plane mounted to the roof of a downtown building either.The plane—a restored 1943 DC-3—was hoisted by crane on the morning of September 11, 2012, to its new steel-framed perch atop the new Roasterie Coffee production facility in downtown Kansas City, MO. It was as part of the plane’s restoration and preparation for its new permanent moorings that approximately 50 Sno Gem Original Metal snow guards, manufactured by McHenry, IL-based Sno Gem Inc., were attached to its wings. The 76’-long aircraft has a 100’ wingspan. The number of snow guards chosen and the method used to determine placement were the same as if the wings were roof segments. The guards were manufactured out of stainless steel and installed by Missouri Builders Service.

Aviation is a branding theme used by Roasterie Coffee and the use of the iconic plane on the company’s production facility—which also houses a new Roasterie Café location—is expected to boost the company’s visibility and make the facility a popular attraction. The company offers tours of the facility and offers its themed Bean Hangar space for parties, banquets and more.

Besides stainless, the Sno Gem Original Metal snow guard is available in a variety of metals, including copper, painted metal, aluminum, Galvalume-coated steel and more. The guard is 3-1/2” wide x 3-1/2” inches deep x 2-1/2” tall. To learn more about the product, click here.

YouTube link of the installation steaming live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3waCe3qgy8&feature=plcp.

The Roasterie Coffee Plant specializes in air-roasted coffee, green coffee beans, custom coffee blends, teas and much more. To learn more about the company and their capabilities, visit their website: http://www.theroasterie.com

By rock | Posted in Case Study, Metal Snow Guards, Products, Snow Guards | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

2012 Gold Key of Excellence Award

June 8, 2012 – 10:04 am

On May 16th, 2012 readers of Rural Builder Magazine had selected Sno Gem, Inc. as top supplier in the industry.  Their readers said that Sno Gem, Inc. is thought to have:

 

  • Quality Products
  • Excellent Service
  • Dependable Delivery
  • Competitive Prices

As a Gold Key winner, Sno Gem, Inc. will be featured in the July issue of Rural Builder.

Additional Information on the Gold Key Award:

Rural Builder established the Gold Key tradition in 1983 as a prestigious salute to the industry’s strongest and finest companies. Your customers (our readers) recognize quality, excellence, dependability and service when they find it. This award says a lot about those qualities and how your company exemplifies them.

Those who have won before in the award’s 30-year history know that the award offers many benefits, including:

  • Rural Builder magazine editorial section listing the winning companies and offering a matching advertising and editorial section in the July issue.
  • A Gold Key logo you can use on your website or in your advertising.
  • A Gold Key plaque for companies featured in the ad/editorial package.
  • Recognition in the 2013 Frame Building Expo Guide. 

Winning the award starts with a special Gold Key editorial section in the July 2012 issue of Rural Builder that will announce your award to the industry.  Rural Builder reaches over 30,000 builders in the “town & country” construction market doing commercial, residential and agricultural construction.

By rock | Posted in Metal Snow Guards, News Releases, Polycarbonate Snow Guards, Products, Sno Barricade, Snow Guards | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Great Neck Middle School

May 30, 2012 – 2:49 pm

Sno Gem Original Polycarbonate Snow GuardsIn January 2012, the 1,200 students of Virginia Beach’s Great Neck Middle came back from winter break to receive one last gift – a new school.

Completed in December 2011, the over $35 million dollar project consists of a three-story building employing sustainable materials, the newest technologies, and an aesthetically appealing structural design. A more than substantial upgrade from the original 50-year-old building, the new school features an assortment of additions – from visual improvements, such as updated color schemes, natural woods and fabrics, to up-to-date technology like touch screen monitors and Smartboards in each room, and snow guards.

Developed by architectural sheet metal professionals, Sno Gem’s Original Polycarbonate offers 25 square inches of bonding surface – the larger the base, the greater the holding power. The Original Polycarbonate has the largest base available anywhere! Manufactured from clear UV-stabilized polycarbonate material, or in a color that is injected throughout the product and matched to any standard roof panel. Apply using 3M VHB Tape, tube adhesive, or a mechanical fastening application. Diagonal installation creates a 7″ barrier for more coverage per unit on wider panels.

Manufactured from UV-stabalized polycarbonate, the unique design of these crystal-like guards suspends the field of snow until the snow and ice gradually melt under the sun’s rays.

CUT: Sno Gem snow guard’s prismatic design was developed by architectural sheet metal professionals with over 50 years of on-the-roof experience.

CLARITY: Sno Gem offers a clear prismatic snow guard which retains its crisp, clean good looks. There’s no metal to rust or stain. Sno Gem snow guards are unaffected by climate extremes.

COLOR: Sno Gem snow guards can be matched to all industry standard metal roof colors. Sno Gem also offers an unlimited amount of custom colors to meet architectural requirements. The color is injected throughout the product.

CARAT: The true measure of a gem’s worth. At the heart of each Sno Gem is an engineered, multi-directional, multipurpose drain opening for melting snow and ice to flow freely, plus cables can be easily routed through the opening.

By rock | Posted in Polycarbonate Snow Guards, Products, Snow Guards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Best of Metalcon International 2011

November 30, 2011 – 6:13 pm
Sno Gem Snow Guards

Best of Metalcon International 2011

Metal Roofing Magazine and Rural Builder Magazine has brought you the “Best of Metalcon International 2011″ and featured Sno Gem Snow Guards!

By rock | Posted in Metal Roofing, Metal Snow Guards, News Releases, Polycarbonate Snow Guards, Products, Sno Barricade, Snow Guards | Comments (0)

Grandstand Roof Gets Snow Retention

November 1, 2011 – 6:06 pm
November 1, 2011
By KIM FUNDINGSLAND – Staff Writer (kfundingsland@minotdailynews.com), Minot Daily News

Up high and with a view of the city, tethered workers took advantage of nice Halloween weather Monday atop the roof of the North Dakota State Fair Grandstand.

They are doing work that should prove beneficial this winter and next spring.

“They are putting up a snow retention system,” said Renae Korslien, State Fair manager. “Last year snow came off the roof and hit the Pub. We want to make sure that won’t happen again.”

Snow and ice that tumbled off the roof last winter resulted in considerable damage to the roof of the Pub below. The Pub roof has since been fixed, but the source of the problem remained. The retention system is designed to allow snow and ice to fall from the grandstand roof, but in much smaller and less dangerous amounts than what damaged the Pub roof.

“We want to make sure we go across the whole rest of the roof, too, for safety purposes,” explained Korslien.

The retention system should insure that no further damage occurs due to snow and ice falling from the grandstand roof, hopefully eliminating any future repairs to the Pub roof or anything else below the slope of the grandstand roof.

“The Pub roof is fixed and we want it to stay like that,” said Korslien.

The 2011 North Dakota State Fair was canceled due to flood damage at the fairgrounds. The 2012 State Fair is scheduled for July 20-28.

By rock | Posted in Metal Roofing, News Releases, Products, Sno Barricade | Comments (0)

Sno Gem, Inc. Announces the Promotion of James T. Carpenter to Vice President of Operations

October 5, 2011 – 4:13 pm
Jim Carpenter

Crystal Lake native is promoted by McHenry-based Corporation

On Tuesday, October 4th, 2011, Sno Gem, Inc., a McHenry based corporation that specializes in the manufacturing and distribution of innovative snow retention systems for metal, slate, shingle and
membrane roof systems around the world, announced the promotion of James T. Carpenter of Crystal Lake, Illinois, to Vice President of Operations.

Jim has been instrumental in the growth and development of Sno Gem. Upon joining the company Read More »

By rock | Posted in News Releases | Comments (0)

Project of the Week: Sno Gem’s Sno Barricade Clamp-On Bar System for Standing Seam Metal Roofs

September 14, 2011 – 3:55 pm

PROJECT OF THE WEEK: Training Support Complex, Building #3441 at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska. They chose the Sno Barricade Clamp-On Bar System for Standing Seam Metal Roofs with (3) Barricade Plates per Panel. Now that will hold back a lot of snow!


By rock | Posted in Sno Barricade, Snow Guards | Tagged , , | Comments (0)