For information about SIGMA ZINC Fittings, please contact Stuart Box at SB2@sigmaco.com/423-645-5638 or Dennis Wilson at DWilson@sigmaco.com/205-937-0456. 

SIGMA Corporation is proud to announce our involvement in the development of the Nation's largest pipe restraint installation in Edmond, Oklahoma. This $171 million water resource recovery facility (WRRF) project broke ground in September of 2017 and expanded the overall capacity of the facility to twelve million gallons per day, and was completed in October 2020.

A video of the project can be viewed here:

SIGMA's large-sized pipe restraint products were selected by the City as part of a three-year construction project to expand their existing WRRF, preparing for the future growth of the area. For the construction of the project, Oscar Renda Contracting (a Southland Holdings Company) was selected by the City as the General Contractor, and worked collaboratively with SIGMA and the City on this unique installation

As the leading supplier of pipe restraint products to the U.S. waterworks industry, SIGMA provided a broad selection of pipe restraints for both PVC and ductile iron from 8" to the very largest 54 and 60" for mechanical joint assemblies and pipe to pipe connections.  READ MORE

It’s an old expression that has been used to describe loyalty in everything from dating to sports to politics, and it resonates in today’s business world, particularly with regard to suppliers.

From the global procurement perspective, 2021 will likely be another year to stay put with existing supplier partners. Forming these relationships requires significant investments of resources, time and energy. For this reason, the relationships should be respected and maintained on both sides. The value of a long-standing supplier partnership is invaluable when the inevitable “brush fire” occurs; trust, familiarity, and history enable suppliers and customers to work together collaboratively to address various bumps in the road. Addressing these unavoidable issues can be far more challenging with a new supplier, because trust and shared experience are not yet established. This can lead to further disruptions. READ MORE

It’s been said before, but it bears repeating: the past year has been like no other. However, with vaccine numbers increasing and infection rates slowing, we are beginning to see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. The big question, both personally and professionally, is, “will things really go back to the way they were pre-pandemic?”. The view on that from my sales desk, which is still the dining room table as both my wife Annie and I continue to work from home, is “yes and no.”

I’ve been on a few road trips as restrictions have begun to loosen and I am finding that about 50% of our customers are ok with in-person visits and 50% are not. Hopefully, with improvements in vaccine distribution and eventual herd immunity, we will be able to meet in person more regularly. But, as always, SIGMA’s top concern is the customer, so we will continue to honor individual preferences regarding virtual vs in-person meetings. READ MORE

The SIGMA/Raven High Density Polyethylene Product Division has seen significant growth nationwide, and South Florida has been a particularly active region. Territory Sales Manager Danny Feregrino explains, “South Florida is growing like crazy—and that is a good thing for our industry. Municipalities are seeing a need for HDPE products, and SIGMA has been successful in getting specified in several key areas.”

In addition to Broward County, which began to specify SIGMA’s meter boxes in 2018, the cities of Jupiter and Pembroke Pines have recently specified SIGMA’s HDPE product line. READ MORE

“We kind of grew up together,” says Birmingham Fastener Sales Manager Rodney Holmes of his firm and SIGMA. Both companies have long histories in the industry—Birmingham Fastener is turning 40, and SIGMA is 36 this year. Like SIGMA, Birmingham Fastener has become an industry leader in the products they provide—their focus on domestically manufactured waterworks fasteners of the highest quality has set them apart and enabled them to establish a nationwide distribution network. And as a prominent supplier for SIGMA, this sizeable footprint has benefitted SIGMA’s customer base.

BF started supplying SIGMA with Mechanical Joint fasteners in the early 1990s, and their offering has grown to include a wide range of T-bolts and nuts with various coatings, forging processes, and applications. Holmes continues: “This has been a mutually beneficial partnership based on open, honest communication and loyalty.” SIGMA’s Executive Vice President Mitchell Rona comments, “SIGMA and BF have grown up in the waterworks industry together, and we have strengthened our relationship more and more with each passing year. Their sales and service teams have always treated us with true ‘southern hospitality’ for all of our business needs. People do business with people. There are no finer people than those at BF, and it has been a privilege to have been associated with them for nearly 30 years--especially this past year, which was quite challenging.”

Holmes adds, “Through the pandemic, our industry was identified as an essential business so we stayed open, but our leadership placed tremendous emphasis on the safety of our team. The unofficial company motto, which our President and Owner Brad Tinney really embraces, is ‘one team, one goal, no excuses, we will do whatever it takes’, and BF held to this through the pandemic. We incurred higher costs with extra cleaning and other protocols, but prioritizing the safety of our 450 team members enabled us to take care of customers--like SIGMA--effectively. That is a success story.”

SIGMA congratulates Birmingham Fastener on their 40^th Anniversary and thanks them for being a long-standing strategic partner. Here’s to 40 more years!

Answer:  SIGMA Flange Universal is a product designed to connect plain-end pipes (ductile iron, steel, C900 PVC, IPS 2241 PVC, HDPE & C909 PVC) to a flanged fitting or flanged appurtenance. Proper compression and sealing is achieved with an O-ring gasket on the face of our adapter middle ring.

Answer:   Corrsafe is SIGMA's terminology for "corrosion safe", an exterior coating available with our restrained joint products for highly aggressive and corrosive soils. The ductile iron components undergo a 7-step process of cleansing to ensure the finest surface and then we apply a cationic epoxy base coating that permeates into the granular surface of the iron which prevents damage, cracking and chipping that is common with baked-on epoxies. We then top coat our products for additional corrosion protection

Answer:   No and we strongly advise that the gland be removed and be reinstalled using our One-Lok Model SLCE that is designed specifically for PVC pipes. The One-Lok for ductile iron pipe requires a much higher torque on the break-off top actuating bolts that Model SLCE which could create undue stress against the pipe wall. Also, the One-Lok SLDE wedge insert has a frontal lip/tooth that is designed to dive into the ductile iron pipe wall under pressure which could be damaging to a PVC pipe surface.

For information about SIGMA’s Pipe Restraint Products, please contact Steve at smd@sigmaco.com.

As part of SIGMA OEM’s Fabrications offering, we have been supplying twin bed frames for homeless shelters and women’s shelters. A long-standing customer recently requested a new bunk bed model, sent a drawing, and SIGMA OEM’s design team got to work. Melissa Perrine, Business Development, explains: “We had been providing this customer with twin beds for some time, and they recently sent a sketch asking for bunk beds. Our design team made drawings, worked with both the customer and supplier to refine and tweak the specifications, produced a prototype, and received approval. It all went very smoothly.” READ MORE

Tomeka Frazier arrived at SIGMA in March, 2020 and hit the ground running. She started as an inside sales representative, and her broad-based experience in customer service proved to be an asset to both SIGMA and our customers. Jeff Fox, Branch Manager, explains, “When we posted the job, we had a really strong applicant pool, but Tomeka, despite her relative youth, had a confidence and an eagerness to learn that really stood out. She arrived at SIGMA, jumped right in, and when the additional opportunity for Plant Work opened, Tomeka was willing to take on the job. It has worked out really well!” READ MORE

Congratulations to Accounts Payable Associate Victoria Ruffino, who welcomed her grandson Theodore Stephen (Teddy) on February 20. Teddy is Victoria’s fourth grandchild (“and counting” according to the proud grandma). He is pictured here with his big sister Ella.

Territory Sales Manager Scott Marlow thanks SIGMA for its Champions Level Sponsorship of his son Chapman’s Varsity Soccer Team at Auburn High School. Chapman, a sophomore, plays right outside back on the defensive side for the Auburn Tigers and the team is ranked #11 in the state. Scott comments: “Chapman has grown up a part of the SIGMA family—way back when, his babysitters were my coworkers’ children, and we live in a close-knit community, so we were not surprised when SIGMA stepped up to sponsor the team, but we were very grateful! SIGMA’s support enables the team to purchase much-needed equipment and supplies, and covers travel expenses.” SIGMA wishes the Auburn High School Tigers a winning season!

It is with great sadness that SIGMA mourns the passing of Toni Cerda. Toni was a member of the SIGMA family for 20 years; she served as the receptionist in the Houston office, where she was affectionately known as the “voice of SIGMA.” Known for her cheerful and kind nature, she was a pillar of the community, loved by many, and will be sorely missed. SIGMA extends our deepest condolences to Toni’s family and friends.

Memorial donations can be made in Toni’s honor to support her family and cover her medical bills here:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/toni-cerdas-memorial-fund.