UBA LIST

The European four Member States (Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Holland) formalized an initiative in 2011 aimed at the convergence of the legislations of their own countries into one to ensure the hygienic safety of drinking water.

In addition, Portugal is now a Candidate Member, since planning to introduce a similar scheme following the 4MS Common approach. 

The 4MS intends to adopt common, or directly comparable, practices for:

- The acceptance of the constituents used in materials in contact with drinking water

- The testing of materials

- The use of common test methods and setting acceptance levels

- The specification of tests to be applied to products

- Review of factory production control and setting audit testing requirements

- Assessment of the capabilities of certification and testing bodies

A Joint Management Committee has been created to coordinate the activities of the representatives of the adhering countries in support of the initiative.

Tasks have been assigned to each state so that each is working on a specific type of materials: 

• Germany responsible for metallic materials. 

• Holland responsible for organic materials. 

• France responsible for cement materials.

• UK responsible for standards regarding microbiological and material growth and non-metallic materials. 

Metallic Materials - What’s UBA? What’s UBA list?

The Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA) is Germany’s central environmental authority. Established in 1974,  the Federal Environment Agency is a partner and point of contact in Germany for a number of international institutions, for instance the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Environment Agency . 

Pursuant to the amended German Drinking Water Ordinance, since December 2012 UBA has been tasked with specifying mandatory evaluation criteria for materials and substances that come into contact with drinking water. The guidelines and recommendations issued previously by UBA were less legally binding. The new guidelines and recommendations will be implemented in the mandatory evaluation criteria in the coming years. 

Finally all the work of 4MS common approach was included in the last Revision (4th revision dated Jan. 20TH, 2015) of the document ‘ACCEPTANCE OF METALLIC MATERIAL USED FOR PRODUCTS IN CONTACT WITH DRINKING WATER, see: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/topics/water/drinking-water/distributing-drinking-water/approval-harmonization-4ms-initiative. 

The document is divided into: 

Part A – with procedure for acceptance: The 4 MS have adopted Part A of this document as a common basis for implementing the concept of accepting metallic materials in their national regulations. This document is subject to revisions agreed by the 4MS.

Part B – 4MS   with Common Composition Lists  (https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/374/dokumente/150120_4ms_scheme_for_metallic_materials_part_b.pdf): this document includes a list of metallic material accepted in all of the 4MS following the procedure described in part A.

Which are the products affected by the UBA list:

Any product in contact with drinking water (wetted surface) including all products and components used in the water facilities for reservoir, treatment and distribution of the potable waters for human consumption.

Additional products include sanitary faucet products, valves, joints, tubes, pumps, water meters, filters, electrical and gas water heaters, solar boilers, heat pumps for the production of hot sanitary water, equipment for water treatment, etc.

Where does UBA list apply:

The adhering countries of the 4MS Group are responsible for the technical details of the work but it is important to stress the new regulations will become binding only after their implementation in the national legislative body of the individual adhering countries.    This process of integration has separate timelines in each of the adhering countries which are undetermined and difficult to predict at this time.

The UBA list is currently in force in Germany.

RuB is – to the best to its knowledge - strictly following all regulations and rules in all countries and will continue to monitor situations as they develop in different countries.  RuB is offering products made of brass alloys that are UBA list compliant.

Please contact us for any additional info.

RuB PRODUCT LINE WITH SPRING RETURN

Avoiding spillage of wastes and other substances that are harmful to the environment has become an integral way of thinking of all of us.
RuB shares these views and cares deeply about the environment, and is pleased to remind all its valued customers about the RuB product line with spring return handle.

READ ALL ON OUR WEBSITE!

ISO 9001 QUALITY CERTIFICATION

RuB has successfully passed the periodic inspection by Lloyd’s Register for the three-year renewal of the ISO 9001 Quality Certification.

During this year, we revised our Quality Management System to transition from a system based on roles (functions) to a system based on processes.

READ ALL ON OUR WEBSITE

RuB Inc. Grand Opening Celebration

On the 6^th of August, after 20 years in Minnesota, RuB, Inc. held a Grand Opening ceremony in its new 50,000ft² distribution warehouse and corporate office.
The celebration took place with all RuB, Inc. employees, a small Italian delegation of RuB employees, members of Shakopee Chamber of Commerce and City Council, the Bonomi family and many guests among which customers, friends, former RuB employees and valued suppliers.

The celebration was opened by speeches of RuB, Inc. VPs John Shelander and Andres Rodriguez, followed by the company President Sandro Bonomi and Mayor of the City of Shakopee, Brad Tabke.

Silvio Bonomi, founder of RuB, received a proclamation from Mayor Brad Tabke stating that the 6^th of August, 2015 is SILVIO BONOMI DAY in the City of Shakopee. Great honor indeed for Silvio and he has been really touched by this important recognition of his personal contribution not only to his company, but to an entire community.

After an emotional ribbon-cutting event by Silvio Bonomi surrounded by his family and RuB staff, the party started.

An amusing atmosphere created by good music, delicious Italian food and Italian wine, games for the youngest and a fun-to-do Green Screen picture all immersed in a friendly and happy environment where everyone met old and new friends alike. Nice people gathered together to celebrate RuB, Inc. success in the US market and wishing good luck for the future of the company.

The Bonomi family sincerely thanks all the guests and staff for making this event so memorable.

As we would say in Italian……Grazie di cuore a tutti! 

READ ALL ON OUR WEBSITE!

featured in television show “Enterprises TV” with host Terry Bradshaw

RuB Valves & Actuators 

featured in television show “Enterprises TV” with host Terry Bradshaw

RuB is featured in the television show Enterprises TV hosted by Terry Bradshaw in their “Key Equipment Solutions Driving Industry Efficiency”.  Enterprise TV is an American television show with nationwide exposure showing in several networks like Fox and ABC and over 200 of their affiliated stations across the United States and Canada reaching over 98% of American households. It is hosted by celebrity Terry Bradshaw and it features interviews with entrepreneurs, CEOs and industry professionals across North America and throughout the world. 

RuB Inc. has chosen this media to promote its excellence in servicing North America with top of the class products and services. Enjoy this video and please give us your feedback.

ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS

RuB is now able to offer aluminum as an optional material.

RuB has traditionally focused its manufacturing capabilities to brass products. Recently our R&D, Engineering Center and Production have developed know-how and skills to manufacture aluminum products. With the addition, RuB is strengthening its longstanding ability to offer custom solutions.

Aluminum offers many interesting benefits including being lighter in weight which is crucial for some specific applications such as overhead compressed air, airplane or automotive installations and others.

This is the result of RuB relentless commitment towards innovation and continued improvement. Aluminum is available on demand with a variety of different surface finishes such as anodized or galvanic plating. 

Here are a few examples:

Please do not hesitate to contact your RuB representative with questions and enquiries.

NEW TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

New technical regulations (TR TC) came into effect this year in the EurAsEC Custom Union, which are mandatory for exporting goods to Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.  In response to this requirement, RuB has obtained the renewal of its GOST Certification for all RuB branded products.

GOST is a mark of conformity assessing that products bound for ex-USSR states are tested and certified by an approval institute approved by Gost standard and it furthermore allows companies fast access to these markets.

In addition to GOST, the renewal of the Hygienic certification has also been obtained. The certificate is issued by the government body of sanitary-epidemiological service of Russian Federation (dept. of Ministry of Health) Rospotrebnadzor (formerly Gossanepidnadzor), and witness that all RuB branded products are suitable for use with residential water supply and potable water.

We trust these certifications will prove to be an effective marketing support for this vast territory that despite the current crisis, it still offers great opportunities.