Wm. T. Spaeder CFO, Mary Kay Reber, shares her thoughts from her experience at the Women in the Mechanical Industry Conference 2023.
News Articles
Company Newsletter Winter 2022
Check out the Wm. T. Spaeder Company Newsletter for the Winter of 2022. In this publication, we review the last half year in both the work and life of the company and employees. This time, our employee spotlight is our Warehouse Supervisor Chris Jones, and the Customer Showcase is Erie Events.
Spaeder Team Updates: New Hires
Spaeder welcomes three new hires to the workforce. We’re proud to have them a part of the Spaeder work family.
Home Fire Safety Checklist
It’s important to check over your home’s fire safety system to look for potential fire catalysts. We encourage you to go through this list and perform your own home evaluations.
Company Newsletter Summer 2021
Check out the Wm. T. Spaeder Company Newsletter for the Summer of 2021. In this publication, we review the last half year in both the work and life of the company and employees. This time, our employee spotlight is Tim Devine, and the Customer Showcase is the EDDC in Erie, PA.
Wm. T. Spaeder 2021 Golf Outing
We would like to thank the guests and volunteers that made the 2021 golf outing possible, helping us to create a truly memorable experience for all.
Have a Safe 4th of July!
The 4th of July is a day of celebration, commemorating U.S. Independence from England. It’s a time for reflection about the things that make us proud of the red, white, and blue. Fireworks, at least in Pennsylvania, are always part of the festivities, but if not handled with care, accidents can happen. Taking safety precautions to avoid injuries helps to ensure everyone has a safe holiday.
Fire Protection Service: Broken Water Main & Dry Pipe Value Replacement at Curtze Foods
Recently, one of our long-standing customers, Curtze Foods, was having some difficulties with a jockey pump running due to a possible water main break. Our Fire Protection Foreman Abe Bretz went out to investigate.
What is New with the Spaeder Team?
Fire Protection Service Manager Rob Senger just completed his Bachelor’s in Project and Supply Chain Management from Penn State Behrend. He did this...
HVAC Maintenance: Why Indoor Air Quality is Important for Staff Health
HVAC maintenance is one of the most important things you can do to support the health of your staff and employees. Good indoor air quality (IAQ) is important to both prevent negative health concerns and support a high-functioning workplace.
A Brief History of HVAC: Evolution of Modern Comfort
The history of HVAC is full of innovation. From ancient heating systems to modern comfort cooling systems, there’s a lot to explore.
Hospital HVAC Systems: What Makes Them Unique?
In an office or home environment, the HVAC system provides occupants with fresh air, reduces carbon dioxide levels, and sets the temperature and humidity at comfortable levels. Hospital HVAC systems do those same things plus much more.
9 Tips to Lower HVAC Energy Consumption in Commercial Buildings
HVAC energy consumption in a commercial building counts for a large portion of total annual costs. Find out what you can do to save on HVAC energy bills.
Company Newsletter January 2021
Check out the Wm. T. Spaeder Company Newsletter for January 2021. In this publication, we review the last half year in both the work and life of the company and employees. This time, our employee spotlight is Senior Project Manager Dave Ross, and the Customer Showcase is Haysite in Erie, PA.
Is it Time for a Commercial HVAC Upgrade?
Commercial HVAC systems are designed to last for many years, but they don’t last forever. Choosing the right time to upgrade your commercial HVAC system can allow you to take advantage of new technologies that save you money.
6 Benefits of Good Ventilation in the Workplace
We all spend 100% of our time breathing air. Indoor air quality usually isn’t the most pressing issue on everyone’s minds, but it plays a vital role in health, comfort, and productivity. Ventilation is one of the most important engineering controls in office and school environments, and good ventilation can save energy while improving indoor air quality.
Project Showcase: Donjon Dry Dock
At the Donjon Dry Dock in Erie, PA, we replaced the 20” and 48” discharge piping on four pumps as well as four valves. All of the piping was fabricated in the fab shop of the Wm. T. Spaeder Company.
Project Showcase: Hospital Plumbing Part 4
Plumbing foreman Eric Bowman walks us through the finishing stages of a new patient care tower in Erie, PA.
Cutting Massive Pipes with Wachs Cold Cutting Machine
This video demonstrates how we are using the Wachs cold cutting machine, also called an “air cutter,” to cut 48″ pipes. The Wachs cutter produces clean, accurate cuts that are ideal for welding. Steamfitters Apprentice Eric Holcomb talks about the overall process.
3D Scans Expedite Complex Tasks for the New Erie Insurance Office Building
The task of designing, fabricating, and installing the elaborate infrastructure for the new Erie Insurance Office Building fell to Wm. T. Spaeder Company, a family-owned and operated western Pennsylvania mechanical contractor.
FARO Laser Scanner Streamlines BIM Workflow
Wm. T. Spaeder Company used the FARO laser scanner to create point clouds which can be used for reference in the BIM modeling process. Laser scanning provides near perfect measurements and takes the guess work out of modeling.
Fall Protection Stand-down Week 2020
Fall Protection Stand-down Week sponsored by OSHA gives us an important reminder to implement fall protection standards every day.
Company Newsletter August 2020
Check out the Wm. T. Spaeder Company Newsletter. In this publication, we do a brief recap of this past half year and provide you with some sneak peaks at future events and projects.
Holiday Inn Plumbing Project
Plumbing foreman, Josh Estes, speaks about the work we are doing at the new Holiday Inn on Peach Street in Erie.
Wm. T. Spaeder Featured in Revizto’s “Hard Hat Huddle”
Sr. VDC Coordinator, Frankie Davis Jr., was invited to participate in Revizto’s “Hardhat Huddle” webinar series. In this webinar, Frankie discussed how Spaeder uses Revizto to help coordinate projects with different trades.
Podcast #6 – Safety, COVID-19 & Construction
In this podcast, Kassie Koser, our Safety Director, discusses how COVID-19 has affected our work at Wm. T. Spaeder, talking about specific precautions we implemented to ensure the safety of both ourselves and our customers.
Residential Fire Sprinklers: Safeguarding Your Home & Your Loved Ones
Often when we think of fire protection, we think of sprinkler systems for commercial buildings. At the same time, one of the most important places we should consider is our homes – the place where ourselves and our loved ones reside.
Steamfitters Apprenticeship Program
In the video above, we interview two Steamfitters apprentices working at Wm. T. Spaeder, Jared Szczesny and Mark Holcomb. Here they give us a firsthand look at both about the apprenticeship program as well as their goals for the future.
Our Response to COVID-19
At this time of unrest and new challenges, we wanted to take a minute to assure our employees, customers and the public that we are taking every precaution possible to respond appropriately to the COVID-19 pandemic while still adhering to our core values first and foremost.
Kevin Hedges Helms New Special Projects Group
We are pleased to announce that Kevin T. Hedges, P.E. has assumed the role of Special Projects Group Manager. This is a new position within Spaeder where Kevin will be utilizing his expertise to expand our presence in non-standard project markets that compliment Spaeder’s historical strengths.
The Plumbers Local Union No. 27 Apprenticeship Program
The Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee of Plumbers Local Union No. 27 will be accepting applications for its Apprenticeship Training Program.
Company Newsletter January 2020
Check out the Wm. T. Spaeder Company Newsletter. In this publication, we do a brief recap of this past half year and provide you with some sneak peaks at future events and projects.
WICU Channel 12 Interviews CEO Jay Spaeder
Paul Wagner from WICU Channel 12 visited our offices last week to do a segment on the Wm. T. Spaeder Company for “Giving You the Business.” He conducted interviews with our CEO, Jay Spaeder, as well as Frankie Davis, our VDC Coordinator, and Jay Roehrig, our Fire Protection Fabrication Foreman.
Podcast #4 – EksoBionics Construction Exoskeletons
In the latest Episode of Wm. T. Spaeder's “Leveling Up in Construction” Podcast, we interviewed Zach Haas, the head of business development at...
Congratulations, Tom Kaspick
We are pleased to announce that Thomas E. Kaspick was promoted to Sales Manager. Tom will be expanding his technical water treatment duties, to include soliciting our customers and educating them about our other products and services that we have to offer. Tom will report to Steve Eastbourn, Pre-Construction Manager and Tom will have two employees reporting to him.
Kicking off the 2019 NSC Congress & Expo with Mick Ebeling
Every year the National Safety Council puts on a Congress and Expo for safety and related professions to attend and enhance their efforts in their current job roles. For anyone who works in safety, like any job, there are many pros and cons. For many of us, one of the biggest positives about being a safety professional is that it enables us to influence many lives and aspects of the business.
A Safety Intern’s Perspective
My journey with Wm. T. Spaeder began two years ago when I contacted former Safety Director, Lee Zeigler. I spoke with him about working as a safety professional. He provided insight to what kind of responsibilities one might have in the safety profession. After talking with Lee, I took some time to decide if I wanted to pursue a career in safety. I then made the decision to register for classes at Slippery Rock University in January of 2018 and began working on my degree in Safety Management.
Podcast #3 – 3D Scanning in Construction
Episode #3 focuses on how construction companies can use 3D Scanning to help save time and money as well as work more efficiently.
Podcast #2 – LINQ
Jonathan Marsh interviews Kevin Soohoo about the LINQ, an innovative construction tool that makes everything in your project searchable. We're in...
2019 Mid-Year Company Newsletter
Check out the Wm. T. Spaeder Company Newsletter. In this publication, we do a brief recap of this past half year and provide you with some sneak peaks at future events and projects.
Is Your Tech Stack too Wicked to be Kind?
First is that construction projects, and in particular the jobsite, are extremely difficult to standardize. Goals, procedures, materials, standards, and even building methodology tend to be very different from project to project. The contractor, and even more the specialty trades, are often not in the position to set standards and must adjust their practices and standards to match those imposed upon them by the project requirements.
Podcast #1 – A/R & M/R in Construction
This is our flagship episode of the Wm. T. Spaeder podcast about advances in construction. Episode 101 focuses on how construction companies can use augmented and mixed reality on projects to save time and money as well as work more efficiently.
Wm. T. Spaeder Golf Outing
June 22nd was the perfect day for the Wm. T. Spaeder annual golf outing at Beechwood Golf Club. There was a fantastic turnout of both customers and employees enjoying the scenic views and friendly competition. Congratulations to all the winners that participated and we hope to see you next year!
Trench Safety Stand-Down
In the U.S., more than 800 construction workers die every year while on the job. One of the most dangerous types of construction work is trenching.
Wm. T. Spaeder Co. – Over One Hundred Years
The Wm. T. Spaeder Company has been a family run business since the early 1900’s. From this time, we’ve seen many changes in the economy and innovations in construction technology. We’ve continued to grow and expand, adapting, learning and thriving on the challenges that come with all the turns and twists of the industry within which we work.
Skid Design & Pre-Fabrication for Georgia Power Plant
In late 2018, Wm.T. Spaeder was contracted by a water treatment design firm to design and fabricate thirteen (13) unique equipment skids for a large power plant in Georgia. This power plant was in the process of decommissioning their settling ponds and replacing them with a new wastewater treatment system to treat flue gas desulfurization (FGD) waste as mandated by new EPA regulations and these skids will become part of that complex treatment process.
Wm. T. Spaeder Participates in the National Safety Stand-Down
After adding more than 50,000 jobs in January alone, the construction industry shows no signs of slowing down. As more people join the workforce, our commitment to worker safety is even more important. Although falls from heights decreased from 2016 to 2017 according to BLS data, falls are still the leading cause of death in the construction industry – they can and should be prevented.
Wm. T. Spaeder & New Health Industry Expansions in Erie, PA
With the upcoming health insurance split-up between Highmark and UPMC, both Allegheny Health Network and UPMC has taken steps to update their facilities. Our company was happy to contribute our services to the various plumbing, HVAC, and fire protection work at each facility including the Allegheny Health Network East Side Health & Wellness Pavilion, AHN St. Vincent Hospital and UPMC Hamot.
Fire Protection Group Helps Sponsor Race Car
One of the many things we enjoy doing as a company is sponsoring local businesses, events and people. One of these sponsorship activities this year involves Shawn Smith and his Wingless Sprint Car. Shawn travels all around the country “kicking up dirt” and doing what he loves, and in some ways, we’re right there with him.
The Binsky Kickoff and the Value of Questions
This last week I went to the MCAA annual conference and was able to see Brian Helm of The Helm Group/Mechanical Inc. take his place as president for the upcoming year. I think it would be obvious to anyone that has been reading my articles or knows me that I think that technology adoption and integration is the number one factor in deciding whether a company or even a group of companies, will be relevant in construction over the next decade.
Helm at the Helm
This last week I went to the MCAA annual conference and was able to see Brian Helm of The Helm Group/Mechanical Inc. take his place as president for the upcoming year. I think it would be obvious to anyone that has been reading my articles or knows me that I think that technology adoption and integration is the number one factor in deciding whether a company or even a group of companies, will be relevant in construction over the next decade.
The “Lean” Construction Technologist
About a year ago I asked Jake Olsen of LINQ to recommend a book to give me a better idea of how tech startups work, knowing that Jake had a...
Wm. T. Spaeder Expands into Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh office opened on June 2018. The need for the Pittsburgh office arose from the increasing opportunities we were starting to receive in the Pittsburgh area.