HOUSTON — RectorSeal Corp., a leading manufacturer of quality plumbing and HVAC/R products, acquired selected assets and the SureSeal brand from SureSeal Manufacturing (SSM), Tacoma, Wash., on January 2. SSM manufactures and distributes SureSeal, the leading brand of waterless floor drain trap seals.

“SureSeal is established as the premier brand in this category, therefore it’s a natural fit that provides RectorSeal with an outstanding growth opportunity.” said David Smith, president of RectorSeal Houston.

The SSM product line consists of ASSE-1072-certified SureSeal floor drain trap seals (aka waterless trap primers) and two upcoming products.

“We are excited to expand our relationship with RectorSeal, because they have the industry connections, distribution network, and organizational resources that are key to taking SureSeal to the next level and beyond,” said Kevin Huber, senior vice-president of business development of the surviving company renamed Specialty Plumbing Products Manufacturing LLC (SPP).

The SureSeal acquisition is the second transaction between RectorSeal and the team responsible for creating SureSeal, Don Huber, vice president of manufacturing & product development, and Al Stakset (retired). Huber and Stakset co-invented the Hubsett product line of test couplings that was sold to RectorSeal in 2001.

While SureSeal started as a retrofit product, its use is now approved by two of the three national model plumbing codes for use as an alternative to trap primers for blocking sewer gas backflow though floor drains into occupied spaces. Sewer gas is a dangerous threat to public health and believed to cause and spread deadly diseases, such as SARS and Legionnaires’ Disease.

SPP will continue manufacturing the product line for RectorSeal from its Tacoma production facilities. SureSeal’s former national sales manager, Rick Ensley will administer the brand from RectorSeal’s Houston headquarters as its product line manager. The acquisition also contracts both Hubers and Jorge Duque, CFO, to remain in three-year-long advisory roles for a seamless transition.

RectorSeal, which is a portfolio company of investment group Capital Southwest Corp., Dallas, Texas, has actively acquired other companies and brands in the last four years. Acquisitions include:

• Airtec, a conglomerate of brands that include Aspen Pumps, Fortress and Big Foot Systems
• AquaGuard condensate management float switch product line, and Goliath and Titan brands of plastic condensate overflow pans from Resource Conservation Technologies (RCT)
• Glue-On- Nozzle (G-O-N) a nickel-bronze downspout product line for commercial building roof drains
• Recently Australian-based Evolve Group’s Evo-Crete and PolySlab brands

The www.thesureseal.com website will continue to operate. SureSeal will continue to be sold through traditional wholesalers serving the PHC and HVAC/R markets and is now supported by RectorSeal customer and technical support departments at 800-231-3345.

Visit www.rectorseal.com