Maith thú! (Well done!) Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, the following five entrants in the Q1 Cornerstone newsletter’s “Brain Strain” will receive autographed copies of Robin Bullock’s Rosewood Castle CD:   Paul Fisher David Leech Dominic Marrara Ben McClellan Brian Yanok   The reviewer for Sing Out! magazine called the Celtic music on Rosewood Castle “as eloquent as the poets Yeats and Kavanagh.” Many thanks to Robin for signing these CDs for our winners.   Also, judge Chris Golden says excellent responses were received from these three previous winners:   Phil Anderson Fred Friar James McDonald   If you would like to see your name in lights here in Corporate News (not to mention, receive a neat prize), we urge all water treaters to match wits with Chris when the next issue of The Cornerstone arrives. His brain teasers are fiendishly clever!   Professional Journal Spotlights Cabinet Pollution Equipment News, the journal for water, wastewater, air pollution, and hazardous waste management professionals, selected Taylor’s Wall-Mount Cabinet for Water Testing (K-9780) to feature in its February 2010 review of water quality instruments. The lockable, lighted cabinet will provide dedicated testing space at your sampling site. Constructed of 20-gauge steel with a white, baked enamel finish, it can hold four buret titration setups plus three shelves’ worth of reagents and test equipment (purchase separately). Exterior dimensions are 30" w x 20" h x 10" d; fold down the lower door to gain an additional 2+ square feet of work surface. February Prize Winner Steve Miller, facility manager for a hospital in Shattuck, Oklahoma, won the February drawing for a free SpeedStir ™ and SampleSizer ™. Congratulations, Steve!   To celebrate Taylor’s 80th anniversary, throughout the remainder of 2010 the name of one Cornerstone newsletter reader will be drawn monthly to receive these testing tools worth $50+.   To be eligible, you must be involved in water testing and receiving The Cornerstone at your business address. (If your organization is not presently receiving this newsletter for commercial/industrial water treatment professionals, here is the link to the sign-up screen.) Then e-mail your name, business name, street address, and CSZ to Marketing. Enter once to be eligible all year. Swim Coaches Endorse Taylor Test Kits VP of Marketing Pat Fitzgerald says the American Swimming Coaches Association and its sister organization, SwimAmerica, have again designated Taylor Technologies their preferred provider of pool and spa water-testing supplies. 2010 is the tenth year in a row ASCA has chosen to partner with Taylor. "The ASCA's endorsement means a lot to us," Pat says, "since maintaining water quality for swimmers is a key concern of their coaches." The American Swimming Coaches Association is a professional service organization whose membership includes age-group coaches, high school and college coaches, learn-to-swim professionals at YMCAs and the like, master swimmers, and every former Olympic coach since 1956. All are dedicated to building a stronger swimming community through leadership, education, certification, and cooperation. Its affiliate, SwimAmerica, is the nation's leading learn-to-swim school. Please Consider Lending Your Support Every 15 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease somewhere in the world. Water For People is a leading NGO (non-governmental organization) working hard to eradicate the conditions behind this awful statistic. They help people in developing countries improve their quality of life by partnering with them to provide locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities, and health and hygiene education programs. Safe Water International Ministries operates on a much smaller scale out of Washington, Iowa, with no paid staff. SWIM volunteers visit remote villages in Central America and southern Africa spreading the Gospel and delivering a simple lightweight device that generates chlorine for disinfecting potable water by the electrolysis of common table salt. Taylor shares these charities' vision:  a world where all people have access to safe drinking water and sanitation, a world where no one suffers or dies from a water- or sanitation-related disease. In 2010 we are pleased to continue our financial support of their missions. To learn more about them and how you too could help, visit http://www.waterforpeople.org/ and http://www.swimforhim.net/. New Look Coming for Test Strips in 2010 A new look for Taylor's sureTRACK® test strips was unveiled at the 2009 International Pool/Spa/Patio Expo. See examples in photo. The new shaker dispensers for consumers each contain 50 strips and will now ship in packs of 12, instead of 25. Resealable foil pouches contain 10 strips and still ship in packs of 25. sureTRACK test strips give water analysis results that compare favorably with Taylor wet-chemistry tests. We also use a more expensive process than ordinary four-color printing to produce our color standards. Spot printing results in consistent hues throughout every production run, so there can be no confusion when matching the colors that develop on the strip with the color chart on the product label. The new dispenser prevents spoilage due to wet fingers by limiting how many strips can pop out at one time. The rest stay protected inside the container where an extra-large desiccant pillow absorbs intrusive moisture. Our resealable foil pouch version is ideal for checking the water quality at your local pool or fitness center, or the hotel pool when traveling. Click on these links for more information: 4-way in shaker:  K-1302-12 4-way in foil pouch:  K-1305-25 6-way in shaker:  K-1312-12 6-way in foil pouch:  K-1315-25 Faster, More Complete Mixing If you perform many drop-count titrations in a day that involve our 9198 sample tube, you should consider adding a new tool to your testing arsenal:  the SpeedStirTM (9265). This palmsize, portable magnetic stirrer will thoroughly incorporate each addition of reagent in a fraction of a second. Place the water sample on the mixing platform, gently drop in the Teflon®-coated stir bar, turn the unit on, and dispense reagent. No more manual swirl­ing! When ambient light is poor, six LEDs below the mixing platform can be lit up to make color changes in the test sample easy to see. The SpeedStir runs on four AA alkaline batteries at 600 rpm. The start-up pack, product number 9265, includes the stirrer, the stir bar, the 9198 sample tube, and batteries. To read the product flier, click here. For pricing, click here. Taylor Gets in the Christmas Spirit On Saturday, November 21, nearly 250 volunteers from local businesses, churches, and a Girl Scout troop joined employees of Taylor Technologies to fill 4,200 gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child 2009. Many companies donated or gave us greatly reduced pricing on school supplies, toiletries, candy, stuffed animals, other toys, and T-shirts. Because of their generosity, we had enough items to fill every box to the brim. After the cartons were packed and loaded into two tractor trailers, they were sent on their way to Charlotte, North Carolina, for processing. There they will join 4 million other goodie boxes to be sent to needy children around the world by this ministry of Samaritan's Purse (http://www.samaritanspurse.org). This was our ninth year of participation in the OCC charity, and we're pleased to report we more than doubled our previous high of 2,000 boxes! Bulk Order Options Changing for 4 Reagents Effective November 16, 2009, the three-quarter-ounce "A" size of reagents R-0001 (DPD #1), R-0002 (DPD #2), R-0003 (DPD #3), and R-0004 (Phenol Red pH Indicator, used for pool/spa tests employing a 2000 SeriesTM comparator) will no longer be sold in quantities of 144 bottles packed in display cartons. Instead, we will be packaging these reagents in shrink-wrapped cardboard flats of 264 bottles, minus display cartons. Also, the two-ounce "C" size of these same four reagents will now be offered in a flat containing 144 pieces. The dimensions of a cardboard flat are 11-½" (W) x 24-½" (L) x 2-½" (H). See accompanying photo. Increasing the number of bottles in a bulk purchase and eliminating the full-color display cartons will enable us to give buyers 15% off the per-piece price. Alternatively, you can still purchase 24-packs of the "A" size and 12-packs of the "C" size, and the reagents will come packed in the colorful display cartons you are familiar with. These multipacks offer a 10% savings over the per-piece price. Please call Customer Service at 800-TEST KIT (837-8548) if you have questions about the new flats. Success Meeting ISO 9001:2008 William J. Erikson, Taylor's Director of Quality & Compliance, says the firm has received notification from registrar Intertek Testing Services NA that our Quality Management System has been certified to the newest ISO standard, ISO 9001:2008. An independent auditor from Intertek visited Taylor in mid-September to determine whether the quality program governing our product development, manufacturing, and customer service processes complies with the latest standards promulgated by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). To become certified, employees at every level must show their dedication to optimizing organizational performance and the company must specify the metrics it uses to track progress. Because of this, customers of certified businesses can use ISO conformance as demonstration of the company's commitment to continually improving the quality of its goods and services. At Taylor, we're committed to providing our customers with: - accurate and timely service, - consistent product performance, - a staff motivated to excel, - assured regulatory compliance, and - innovative business solutions. Try us and see! Attention Commercial Pools! The ANSI/APSP-11 2009 Standard for Water Quality in Public Pools and Spas drafted by the Recreational Water Quality Committee of The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP) was approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in June 2009. APSP has now released the standard and it is available for purchase from them by calling 703-838-0083. APSP calls the standard "the first comprehensive, data-driven and knowledge-based standard for pool and spa water quality and chemistry." In years past, the organization's recommendations for water maintenance parameters such as chlorine sanitizer, pH, and water hardness have informed many city, county, and state public health codes governing commercial pools and spas. With APSP's permission, over the years we have reprinted their basic recommendations in our testing and treatment guides. As our guides come up for reprinting we will incorporate the changes seen in the 2009 standard. Meanwhile, a summary from Appendix A of ANSI/APSP-11 2009 can be viewed here. SampleSizer Measuring Tool Debuts Many Taylor specialty tests are done with either a 25-mL or 10-mL water sample in our 9198 sample tube, for instance the FAS-DPD chlorine test, the EDTA chelant test, and the saltwater test for pools. Using this new tool, you won't need to flick off the excess water to get the meniscus of the sample water to rest precisely on the fill line. Simply lower the SampleSizerTM into the 9198 test vial filled with the water to be tested. It will displace exactly the right amount to leave the correct volume to perform the test:  either 25 mL or 10 mL, depending on which end of the tool goes in first. The SampleSizer is removed once the extra water is splashed out. Order singly (6190), or in the 12-pack (6190-12) for a 10% savings. Click here to view an on-line demo of the SampleSizer in action. The SampleSizer was one of a handful of innovations selected by Pool & Spa News for their feature "2010 New Products." Taylor "Goes Hollywood" Our reps just got back from Hollywood, Florida, where they participated in the annual convention and expo of the Association of Water Technologies. There was lots to see in our booth including a working cooling tower for test kit demos; an advance look at two soon-to-debut products, the SampleSizerTM measuring tool and the SpeedStirTM portable magnetic stirrer; and the bold new look of our most popular kits for industrial water treatment...we've color-coded the reagent caps to the test instructions and provided picture guides to the color transitions you can expect in your treated water sample. Click here for a flier describing the new color-coded kits. Click here for a flier describing the SampleSizer and SpeedStir. Five Sources of Error in Water Testing A three-page article on water testing appeared in this summer's Edge, a quarterly publication of the Northeast Spa & Pool Association with a circulation of 5,000. Written by VP of Marketing Pat Fitzgerald and illustrated by Art Director Shawn Sutphen, the tutorial focuses on the sampling location, the operator, the lighting, the water chemistry, and the testing tool as potential sources of error. To read the article in its entirety and match wits with our wily illustrator, click here. New Water Balance Calculators For less than the cost of a burger and fries you can skip the arduous Saturation Index calculation when you're poolside. Plug your test values into one of our Watergram® Water Balance Calculators and learn immediately whether the water is trending towards scaling or corrosive conditions. The improved 6026 has become a three-disk slide rule, thus eliminating the manual subtraction step in the original version. This circular Watergram makes it easy to play with different treatment scenarios to see which of the water balance parameters makes the most sense to adjust. You'll find it in 2000 SeriesTM combination test kits and our countertop labs. We've also developed an electronic version that's as small as a credit-card-size pocket calculator (6028). Indeed, it can be used to perform basic mathematical operations besides the water balance calculation. The programming automatically takes into account the effect cyanuric acid has on total alkalinity and allows a user to override the default value for total dissolved solids with a specific TDS level. "What if" adjustment scenarios are a snap to perform with this solar-powered version, as only the changed value(s) needs to be reentered. The 6028 is included in all Professional SeriesTM test kits. Note:  both models offer a temperature choice of degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Celsius. To read more about the advances made in the Watergram, click here. Updated Testing Guide Now in English and Spanish Taylor's Pool & Spa Water Chemistry has been updated to reflect current practices and standards of care. The waterproof guide now offers five fact-filled chapters on all aspects of water quality maintenance, FAQs about water testing, a glossary, the latest water chemistry guidelines from industry experts, and dosage charts in both U.S. gallons and liters. The English version is sold singly (2004B) and in quantities of 25 (2004B-25). So is the just-released International Spanish version (2004B-S and 2004B-S-25). This translation is intended for global consumption and will be understandable to most readers, whatever dialect is spoken. The new booklets are packed in a number of combination kits, as well. These include the Complete-High Range (K-2005 or K-2005S), Service Complete-High Range (K-2005C or K-2005CS), and Professional Complete-Chlorine (K-1741C) kits. Note: S denotes Spanish case label, instructions, and 2004B. No Vehicle Graphics? A Cure for Plain Panels If you are a pool/spa retailer, installer, builder, or service company and can't afford custom lettering and graphics for your whole fleet, here's a way to promote your business on every company vehicle! Simply attach a pair of these colorful magnetic signs to the side panels of your plain vans, trucks, and cars so potential customers can see how to hire you. Just under 11" by 17", the eye-catching magnets adhere to any smooth, clean, metal surface. The white area of the sign (2 or 3 lines, as shown) is available for customization. Black lettering is standard. Choose your business name plus location, phone number, or website address. Cost is $49.45 per pair, including shipping. Call 800-TEST KIT to order. (Not available for purchase on our website.) Cornerstone Newsletter Circulation Nears 15,500 The Cornerstone's subscriber base now numbers nearly 15,500. This quarterly newsletter offers timely and profitable information for those who test water in boilers and cooling systems in commercial, industrial, and institutional settings. If you're not already receiving this publication, some of the topics you've missed include tests for cycle monitoring in steam boilers, measuring nitrite in cooling systems, new tests for polymer in boiler and cooling waters, a tutorial on analyzing alkalinity, the finer points of chloride testing, summaries of our hardness and sulfite test choices, chlorine tests for the food industry, and a review of testing techniques. To sign up for a complimentary subscription, click here. Don't miss another issue!  Entertain & Educate Customers with the Pool Investigotter! Nature's premier aquatic detective, the Pool Investigotter™, makes a colorful pitchman for Taylor's testing products. Retailers are invited to take the survey now running on our website. In return, you'll receive a vinyl banner, poster, counter mat, door decal, and take-one pad of testing tips starring our intrepid “PI.”