BELOIT, Wisconsin – Five new training centers from roofing systems and products manufacturer
Mule-Hide Products Co. Inc. will give the company’s contractors, distributor partners and
associates easy, nationwide access to the ongoing, hands-on education they need.
The Mule-Hide Training Centers are part of a significant
expansion and enhancement of the company’s longstanding training program. Now called the RISE Program
(an acronym for “Roofing Installation and Systems
Education”), it encompasses in-depth, customizable
training on all the commercial roofing products and
systems the company offers.
The company’s training facility on the ABC Supply
headquarters campus in Beloit, Wisconsin has reopened
as a Mule-Hide Training Center following a top-to-bottom
renovation. A new center also recently opened at an ABC
Supply branch in Orlando. A location at an ABC Supply
branch in Avenel, New Jersey will open during the first
half of 2023. Centers in Texas and Arizona will round out
the network.
The Mule-Hide Training Centers and RISE Program
accommodate Mule-Hide Products’ growth and
expanding product offering.
“Our training programs have always been one of the things that sets Mule-Hide apart, with our
territory managers providing programs at our distributors’ and contractors’ facilities,” said
Managing Director Dan Williams. “The RISE Program and new Mule-Hide Training Centers will
allow us to serve far more people and offer a broader range of classes in modern, well-equipped
facilities designed specifically for that purpose.”
The enhanced training opportunities will meet the needs of professionals in all areas of
commercial roofing and at all career stages.
“Training isn’t just for people who are new to the industry,” said National Training Manager Kyle
Stavish. “Commercial roofing is constantly changing, with new products, technology and
regulations being introduced. To keep up, everyone involved needs continuing, hands-on
education. That includes contractors, distributors and our own associates, whether they’re just
getting started in roofing or have decades of experience.”
Expanding Training Opportunities:
The facilities will quadruple the number of people that Mule-Hide Products can accommodate
for in-house training each year. And with the locations spread out across the country, accessing
that training will be more convenient for the company’s growing nationwide network of
contractors, distributors and associates.
The centers also will allow Mule-Hide Products to provide more in-depth training across all the
products and systems it offers, including TPO, EPDM, PVC, modified bitumen, coatings, asphalt,
and tapered insulation. In addition to introductory courses, follow-up classes that provide more
advanced instruction on key systems will be offered.
Customized, Hands-On Training: The centers are designed to facilitate programs customized to meet the needs, interests and
schedules of each group using it.
“There are spaces and tools to accommodate all stages of the learning process,” Stavish said.
“Participants can begin with classroom-style instruction to get a foundational understanding of
the topic, then watch the instructor put that knowledge to work in a demonstration, and finally
get hands-on experience doing it themselves.”
Each facility has a classroom equipped to comfortably host video presentations, discussions and
team meetings.
The majority of each center is devoted to thoughtfully designed, user-friendly areas where
participants can get essential hands-on experience. Each facility includes the following:
- A 16’ x 32’ mock multi-height parapet roof on which the correct way to complete any detail
can be demonstrated or practiced.
- Ergonomic 4’ x 8’ standing training tables where participants can practice completing
details, such as corners, drains, pipes and scuppers, without bending and stooping.
- Custom-designed roll racks that neatly dispense roof membrane for use in training.
- A layout that follows lean manufacturing principles to keep the space clean and organized.
In keeping with the 5S System, tools, equipment and other materials all have designated
homes, marked by tape or signs, to help keep everything in its proper place.
The facilities are equipped with cameras and audio equipment to capture presenters, video and
slide presentations, and demonstrations, enabling classes to be livestreamed for remote
participants and recorded for later online viewing.
“We’re proud to provide these new resources to ensure everyone in the Mule-Hide family has
easy access to the in-person, hands-on training they need,” Stavish said.