By TFM Editors
Published in the January/February 2013 issue of Today’s Facility Manager
Numerous companies offer products and services to members of the facility management (FM) profession. And each year, Today’s Facility Manager (TFM) asks its readers to vote for their preferred vendors in a variety of categories. For this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards, the survey included more than 40 categories, and FM professionals were asked to indicate what company they rated highest based on product aesthetics, product reliability, value, and customer service. The winners are presented here with information about each company.
Access Control
HID Corporation
HID Global’s iCLASS SE® platform is the company’s standard for highly adaptable, interoperable, and secure physical access control. iCLASS SE solutions future-proof access control infrastructures while simplifying how identities are created, used, and managed on smart cards, microprocessor based cards, NFC-enabled smartphones, and other mobile devices.
ADA & Ergonomic Productivity Tools
Wooster Products, Inc.
Make every step a safe one. Anti-slip stair nosings and treads help to prevent slips and falls and eliminate costly lawsuits. We offer nosings for new construction or treads for existing steps; both are useful indoors or outdoors for all types of steps. Photoluminescent NITEGLOW® nosings and treads are code compliant, long lasting, and high quality.
Building Automation Systems
Johnson Controls, Inc.
The Metasys® building automation system ensures all facility systems—comfort controls, lighting, fire safety, security, and equipment—operate together to optimize efficiency and reduce cost. With an IT-based infrastructure, software, and wireless capabilities, Metasys is the one integrated network that coordinates and organizes all the information logically, then delivers it where and when you need it.
Building Materials
Lowe’s
The Gatehouse Custom Access Ramp System improves accessibility without sacrificing style by combining the customizable style of a custom-built wood ramp with the easy installation of a traditional aluminum modular ramp. This new offering, created in-house by Lowe’s product designers, provides an affordable, do-it-yourself ramp product that’s available nationwide.
Cabling & Cable Management
Legrand®/Wiremold
As a provider of products that seamlessly integrate power, communications, and audio/video through specialized pathways, Legrand offers products like the Wiremold® Under Table Cable Management System and the Meeting Room Transition Channel that enhance aesthetics by keeping cords out of sight.
Carpet
Mannington Commercial
Facility professionals shouldn’t have to choose between design, performance, price, and sustainability, so Mannington offers choices that work for every project. The Connected Collection brings five modular patterns in complex layers of texture and color, for defining space in open floor plans.
Carpet Fibers/Treatments
Invista/ANTRON®
Antron® carpet fiber is constructed with type 6,6 Nylon polymer, exceptional fiber engineering, and treated with DuraTech™ soil resistance treatment. Carpet of Antron nylon is tested against the Antron Brand Performance Standards Program, the highest fiber performance standard for carpet durability.
Ceilings/Ceiling Tiles
Armstrong® World Industries
Armstrong offers a wide variety of ceiling clouds and canopies to improve acoustics in open plenum spaces and other acoustically challenged spaces without sacrificing aesthetics. Well suited for new construction and retrofit, the easy to install ceilings are available in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Cleaning/Maintenance Products
Diversey
A key part of Diversey’s mission is to provide solutions for customers that help them become more sustainable. The company designs products with technologies that help save water, conserve energy, and prevent waste. Additional information on our commitment to sustainability can be found in the company’s Global Responsibility Reports.
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
Sony
Sony Electronics’ Security Systems Division offers a full line of professional security and surveillance products and technologies that set industry standards for image quality and performance. The SSC-CM560R offers high resolution-650 TVL (normal mode), high sensitivity achieved by a 1/3 type EXview HAD™ CCD II sensor, and built-in infrared illuminators to assist capturing objects in the dark even under 0 lux up to 52′ away.
Conference Room Furniture And Equipment
Steelcase
Design must be smart, desirable, and viable. We solve problems. We observe explicit, emerging, and latent needs. We solve for them and express those solutions through appropriate means true to a relevant and consistent design vocabulary.
Data Center Management
Schneider Electric
StruxureWare™ for Data Centers is a management software suite designed to address all aspects of the data center physical infrastructure. Combining Data Center Facility Management (DCFM) software tools with StruxureWare Data Center Operations, a Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) offering, the suite provides: data gathering, IT power and utilization monitoring and automation, and planning and implementation functionalities that enable an integrated and multifaceted view of the data center.
Doors/Door Hardware
ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions
The A100 is a keyless entry control for Adams Rite deadbolts, deadlatches, and exit devices that are compatible with aluminum stile applications. The series offers all the benefits of keyless security, along with Aperio technology, providing an innovative new approach to online access control. With Aperio technology, facility managers can instantly upgrade a mechanical door to a fully functioning online door without the cost and inconvenience of wiring the door, greatly improving the monitoring and security level of the premises.
Elevators/Controls
ThyssenKrupp Elevator
Destination Dispatch from ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas is an advanced dispatching system that gets riders to their destination faster. By grouping people together by destination the building’s elevator traffic efficiency is improved.
Emergency Power Lighting
Philips Emergency Lighting
Philips Emergency Lighting delivers award-winning, solution driven products to the market. In line with the company’s focus on customer needs, we have upgraded the popular Philips Bodine B50 and B50ST Fluorescent Emergency Ballasts to universal input status, which reduces wiring errors in the field.
Employee ID/Badge Printers
Digital Identification Solutions
Built on our proven engine, the XID 8300 offers the solid reliability expected in our versatile EDIsecure® retransfer card printers. With options for multiple encoding technologies, in-line lamination and UV printing, it can meet all of your facilities’ card needs.
Energy Management & Energy Consultants
Johnson Controls, Inc.
The Panoptix™ building efficiency solution addresses the growing need to improve the performance of building systems to save energy, reduce costs, and enhance comfort. The most significant innovation in the building industry in 30 years, Panoptix combines cloud-based computing, data management, and analytics with Johnson Controls’ 125 years of expertise.
Facility Management Services
Staples Facility Solutions
With Brighton Professional, Staples deepened its commitment to facility solutions by creating high-quality products that help make it easy to maintain a clean, safe, and healthy facility at a great value. Brighton Professional products are laboratory tested for performance and reliability and come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. The company also offers a large selection of national brands that complement its Brighton Professional product assortment.
Facility Management Software
Autodesk®
Autodesk® Revit® products can help extend the value of building information modeling (BIM) into the operations phase of the building life cycle. Richly attributed data about building assets and the 3D geometry in a Revit model can be integrated with operations and maintenance solutions, thus supporting better handover and more efficient workflows for facility managers.
Fire/Life Safety Products
SimplexGrinnell
The fire and life safety products from SimplexGrinnell are built with facility managers and other users in mind. As a Tyco business, we advance safety and security with Internet-ready technologies that can improve serviceability and operational efficiency while reducing overall costs.
Flooring
Armstrong® World Industries
Armstrong provides facility managers with outstanding design options, durable performance, easy maintenance, and budget friendly solutions for every space with a broad portfolio of LVT, VCT, sheet, hardwood, laminate, linoleum, and BioBased tile products. Armstrong genuine linoleum and BioBased Tile® are made with non-PVC renewable materials and recycled content. These products deliver green benefits along with increased durability and easy maintenance.
Furniture: Refurbished
Davies Office Refurbishing
Our goal is to provide the highest quality, lowest cost furniture solutions consistently by enhancing and remanufacturing quality furnishings while focusing on maintaining the maximum inherent value of our clients’ existing furniture assets in an environmentally responsible way.
Furniture: Seating
Herman Miller, Inc.
Herman Miller designs to solve real problems and help people do great things. The SAYL chair offers great design at an affordable price. SAYL is a better, smarter chair that raised the bar in its class for performance, ergonomics, quality, and appearance.
HVAC/Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Trane
Trane offers the commercial marketplace a 100 year history of innovation and engineering in addressing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and indoor air quality needs. The Trane Catalytic Air Cleaning System, which integrates three separate air cleaning technologies in a single package to remove a broad range of airstream contaminants, is now available on a wide range of Trane solutions.
Lamps And Bulbs
OSRAM SYLVANIA
OCTRON® XP® XL ECOLOGIC3® lamps feature extended life up to 75,000 hours on instant start and up to 84,000 hours on programmed rapid start ballasts providing an additional eight years of maintenance-free lighting over XP lamps based on operating cycles of 4,000 hours per year.
Lighting Controls
GE Lighting
GE Lighting invents with the vigor of its founder Thomas Edison. For GE, lighting controls are more than a simple “on” or “off” proposition. Control means creating illumination exactly where and when it is needed, and conserving energy when it’s not. GE’s LightSweep™ is a comprehensive, advanced lighting control system that is ideal for office, education, and retail spaces.
Office Technology/Communications
AT&T
AT&T delivers innovative solutions for facilities management. ProntoForms from AT&T converts paper forms into mobile forms available on smartphones and tablets, and AT&T Enhanced Push-to-Talk allows facilities staff to communicate quickly across campuses at the touch of a button.
Paint (Exterior And Interior)
Sherwin-Williams®
Facility managers know that durability and lasting aesthetics are crucial in high traffic areas. Formulated especially for the demanding conditions of busy environments, Sherwin-Williams Pro Industrial products are a comprehensive line of high performance coatings for healthcare, hospitality, education, commercial, and institutional applications.
Paper Products (Cafeteria, Restroom)
Georgia-Pacific Professional
Taking care of a facility is a big job, but little things can often make the biggest difference. That’s why Georgia-Pacific Professional designs products like enMotion® touchless towel dispensers, SmartStock® cutlery dispensers, and EasyNap® napkin dispensers that work as hard and smart as facility managers do.
Pest/Bird Control/Deterrents
Bird-B-Gone
Bird-B-Gone’s Stainless Steel Bird Spikes™ are made out of stainless steel pins in a UV protected polycarbonate base. The spike strip can be glued, screwed, or tied down to most surfaces. When installed the spikes are virtually invisible, preserving the aesthetics of a facility.
Plumbing/Faucets/Fixtures
Sloan® Valve Company
Backed by research and a century of experience, Sloan’s BASYS™ faucets have features and components for any application. Accessibility and diagnostic features speed repairs, saving time and money. Modularity makes BASYS adaptable and efficient to maintain and upgrade over time.
Recycling Products
Air Cycle/Bulb Eater
Air Cycle designs innovative products that enable facility managers to solve everyday environmental challenges easily and efficiently. Crushing lamps for storage in the Bulb Eater® prior to recycling can save up to 20 hours in labor and 80% in storage requirements versus recycling lamps intact.
Restroom Dispensers/Accessories
Georgia-Pacific Professional
Restroom products from Georgia-Pacific Professional help project a top-notch facility image while keeping visitors, occupants, and facility managers happy through their reliability and efficiency. The company’s family of stainless steel dispensers for tissue, towel, soap, and sanitizer helps create restrooms with more style, better hygiene, and less waste.
Roofing
Duro-Last Roofing
Since 1978, Duro-Last Roofing, Inc. has manufactured a prefabricated single-ply roofing system that is ideal for any flat or low sloped application. Extremely durable and easily installed without disrupting daily operations, the Duro-Last roofing system is also leakproof, energy efficient, and virtually maintenance free.
Sealants & Coatings
3M Industrial Materials
3M’s sustainable products take into account product development from the raw materials used to end user disposal. The 3M Scotchgard™ Stone Floor Protector provides lasting shine with less maintenance than traditional finishes. This commercial stone floor protection system works well on many substrates including porous stone surfaces.
Security Alarm Systems & Consultants
SimplexGrinnell
SimplexGrinnell takes an integrated, multi-technology approach to meeting today’s security challenges. We help safeguard people and assets with customized, industry specific solutions. As a Tyco business, SimplexGrinnell offers a wide selection of best in class integrated security products.
Shredders
Cummins Allison Corp.
Cummins Allison Cross Cut paper shredders have a flexible footprint, delivering convenient and secure document shredding exactly where it’s needed. Like all Cummins Allison shredders, they feature top quality design, components, and craftsmanship to ensure ease of use and unsurpassed reliability—backed by local factory direct installation and service.
Signage
APCO Signs
APCO has been designing sign systems since 1966, with a focus on solutions that not only look good but are easy and cost-effective for facility managers to maintain. Our award-winning FullView system with SignWord laser-printed inserts is just one example.
Sound Masking Systems
Dynasound, Inc.
Dynasound’s networked sound masking provides control over each and every speaker individually. Other systems cluster multiple speakers in small zones which do not allow precise control on a per-speaker basis. Dynasound systems may be installed above suspended ceilings, under access floors, and in open structure facilities.
Transportation/Fleet
Cushman
The Cushman Hauler 1500X features a 16 hp, 480cc V-Twin engine, a 9.6 cubic foot cargo bed, and has a total load capacity of 800 pounds. It comes with a manually locking rear differential and bucket seats that allow driver and passenger to complete the day’s work in comfort.
Wall Coverings/Panel Fabrics/Textiles
Carnegie Fabrics
Carnegie’s philosophy embodies simple, yet spirited, goals including (but not limited to): developing and manufacturing products that exceed the demand of today’s facility managers, offering a broad and high quality product palette, and exceeding legally required standards in regards to ecology and social issues. Xorel is an innovative and industry leading finish solution. Technologically advanced and environmentally sound, this material is widely trusted by facility managers for projects.
Water Treatment/Purification
GE Water & Process Technologies
GE Power & Water is a global supplier of water treatment, wastewater treatment, water reuse, and process systems solutions, along with water treatment chemicals and process chemicals. GE provides proven technologies and solutions for its customers around the globe.
Window Films
Solar Gard
Solar Gard positively impacts lives with products that protect, save, and renew. This innovative spirit is pervasive throughout every aspect of our business, and a deep rooted commitment to research and development is the creative breeding ground for the commercialization of new technologies.
Windows
EFCO®, A Pella Company
EFCO, a Pella company, manufactures architectural windows, curtain walls, storefronts, and entry systems designed for commercial construction sold through independent sales representatives. Since introducing thermally improved framing and accessories in the 1970s, energy efficient products help set EFCO apart from other fenestration manufacturers.