At a ceremony to mark the opening of its new sales and service office in the Chicago area, Englert Inc. also gave away a panel-forming machine and announced a new alliance with RAS Systems LLC.

Englert's newest facility-15,000 square feet of warehousing and service facilities and 1,500 square feet of office space-is located in Romeoville, Ill., and serves Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska. "The opening of this new facility is a reflection of our growth in the Midwest market," notes Deborah Harnett, president and chief executive officer of the company. Harnett also announced the appointment of Richard Welton as branch manager of the new facility.

On hand at the ceremony was metal roofing contractor Dan Perkins of Dan Perkins Construction, Ishpeming, Mich., winner of Englert's Metalman Machine Sweepstakes. Perkins was presented with a new Metalman Multi-Panel Machine. Perkins has been providing metal roofing products to homeowners and businesses in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and eastern Wisconsin for eight years. He began his career as a home remodeler, growing more interested in metal roofing when he attended a local builder show. "We had a piece of metal roof over our booth and a lot of visitors kept asking me about that roof," he relates. "That got me curious about the metal roofing business and I realized there could be a real market for residential metal roofing in the Upper Peninsula." Today, Perkins provides a variety of different metal roof profiles, including shingle and standing seam. His new machine will be a welcome addition to his business.

Englert also announced plans to provide a line of computerized metal roofing shears and folders manufactured by RAS Systems LLC, Peachtree City, Ga. Under the agreement, Englert will serve as a distributor for the TURBObend metal folding system and the SMARTcut Shear. Says Justin Zimmerman of RAS: "RAS Systems is very proud to join forces with Englert. It is a perfect match to team with another industry leader."