Nov. 29 -- One of the best things about being in trade publishing is attending the various industry events and talking with all of the friendly, extremely helpful and knowledgeable people that make up the backbone of the metal construction industry.
In attending this year’s METALCON in Las Vegas and Greenbuild in Chicago, I had the opportunity to speak with many of the experts in the various market segments and get a feel for what they are seeing and hearing in the industry. For the most part, it seems that the metal construction industry is rebounding from the recession, albeit slowly and possibly in pockets -- either by region or by market segment.
That information is encouraging, but certainly cannot be considered “fact.” It’s more based on broad observations and non-specific, secondhand knowledge. But there is some more concrete data that would support that notion.
The Metal Building Manufacturer’s monthly report for October asked its member for their expectations with regard to general business conditions in the next three months, and the results show cause for optimism. For November, 4 percent expected increased business, 75 percent expected the same level of business and 21 percent expected business to be down. For December, 8 percent said business should be up, 67 said the same, and 25 percent said business would be down. For January, 12 percent expected business to increase, 67 percent expected it to remain the same, and 21 percent expected it do decrease.
The bottom line is that for each month, November through January, more and more MBMA members expect their business to increase. While it’s just a survey, it describes a very positive trend.
Ken Simonson, chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America, provided a little more detail on the economic situation in an October newsletter focused on metropolitan areas, and his outlook was a bit more sobering.
Reports from the 12 Federal Reserve Districts suggest that, on balance, national economic activity continued to rise, albeit at a modest pace, during the reporting period from September to early October, the Fed stated in its October 20 “Beige Book,” a summary of informal soundings of regional business conditions. Districts are referred to by the name of their headquarters cities.
"The recession may have ended for the overall economy, but not for construction in most metro areas," said Simonson. "Despite tremendous short-term help from the stimulus, this industry is a long way from experiencing a recovery."
With regard to manufacturing, the Fed reported that demand for construction-related products remained weak and future capital spending plans were limited, except in the St. Louis District where several manufacturers reported plans to build new plants or expand. There were some reports from architectural firms that activity had picked up, according to the AGC newsletter.
There were also some reports that tighter credit standards for buyers and small builders, along with general economic uncertainty, were stalling activity.
What I take from all of this information is simple: within the construction industry there are pockets of recovery, and that recovery will be slow and steady. But other areas are still stagnant, and may remain so until the banks can increase lending.
For more projections and analysis, look for our 2011 State of the Industry Report in the January issue of Metal Construction News.
Follow us on Twitter @MetalConstruct
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
METALCON is here!
Finally, it’s time for the year’s biggest metal construction trade show--METALCON. In the October issue, sandwiched between pages 16 and 17 are 84 pages of valuable METALCON information that can help any visitor walk the aisles, attend the educational sessions and visit the demonstration areas.
Heading back to Las Vegas Oct. 20-22, METALCON International 2010 will feature a keynote address by former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales whose presentation is titled ‘The American Dream: Reach it. Build it. Share it.’ Gonzales’ message is that ‘The American Dream’ is exciting and available to anyone who wants to pursue it, despite background and circumstances. He also believes that those who reach their goal can help others by creating opportunities for jobs and better business conditions.
Our METALCON Show Issue section highlights the keynote, all educational sessions and special programs offered at the show, and of course every exhibitor is listed with booth number and a map of the show floor for ease of navigation.
Also of note in the October issue, Paramount Metal Systems recently completed a unique retrofit project on an experimental building on the campus of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. With the help of industry-leading suppliers, Paramount’s project has posted amazing results in thermal performance. Our Special Report looks up to The Great White North where Vicwest opened a new manufacturing facility in British Columbia that will help the component manufacturer increase its business throughout North America.
Send your comments to: boneill@moderntrade.com
Heading back to Las Vegas Oct. 20-22, METALCON International 2010 will feature a keynote address by former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales whose presentation is titled ‘The American Dream: Reach it. Build it. Share it.’ Gonzales’ message is that ‘The American Dream’ is exciting and available to anyone who wants to pursue it, despite background and circumstances. He also believes that those who reach their goal can help others by creating opportunities for jobs and better business conditions.
Our METALCON Show Issue section highlights the keynote, all educational sessions and special programs offered at the show, and of course every exhibitor is listed with booth number and a map of the show floor for ease of navigation.
Also of note in the October issue, Paramount Metal Systems recently completed a unique retrofit project on an experimental building on the campus of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. With the help of industry-leading suppliers, Paramount’s project has posted amazing results in thermal performance. Our Special Report looks up to The Great White North where Vicwest opened a new manufacturing facility in British Columbia that will help the component manufacturer increase its business throughout North America.
Send your comments to: boneill@moderntrade.com
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Core of the Industry
August 23, 2010--Metal building systems are one of the three core segments of the metal construction industry, along with metal roofing and metal walls, and therefore, one of the core market segments for our magazine.
One of the areas of emphasis for Metal Construction News going forward is a refocusing on our core markets, and metal building systems will play a major role in our editorial plans. To kick-start that focus, we plant the spotlight firmly on metals building systems in two features in our upcoming September issue.
Our cover story looks at metal buildings that feature exterior textured finishes that help open markets that might otherwise be closed to metal buildings. Also, our Snapshot feature takes a glimpse at the unique and innovative designs of today’s metal buildings that are far from the antiquated designs from generations past. We showcase just some of the possibilities for modern metal building systems.
METALCON is around the corner
The September issue of Metal Construction News is a special one, as it features our 2010 METALCON Preshow Guide, providing you with your first look at the educational sessions, exhibitors, products and services available at the 20th annual conference and exhibition. Look for it to hit your desk in early September.
This year’s METALCON will see the metal construction community descend on Las Vegas this October 20-22, and our Preshow Guide offers you a great opportunity to begin planning your time at the show. Our Special Section includes travel information, show highlights, a schedule-at-a-glance and detailed information about the educational sessions. In addition, you’ll find a show floor map, a listing of exhibitors and the products and services they provide, along with a brief guide to Las Vegas with some tips on popular restaurants and entertainment.
In October we’ll provide additional details and updated information in our METALCON Show Issue, while at the event attendees can utilize our METALCON Show Guide--the ONLY official show guide of METALCON.
See you in Sin City!
Follow us on Twitter @MetalConstruct
Send your comments to: boneill@moderntrade.com
One of the areas of emphasis for Metal Construction News going forward is a refocusing on our core markets, and metal building systems will play a major role in our editorial plans. To kick-start that focus, we plant the spotlight firmly on metals building systems in two features in our upcoming September issue.
Our cover story looks at metal buildings that feature exterior textured finishes that help open markets that might otherwise be closed to metal buildings. Also, our Snapshot feature takes a glimpse at the unique and innovative designs of today’s metal buildings that are far from the antiquated designs from generations past. We showcase just some of the possibilities for modern metal building systems.
METALCON is around the corner
The September issue of Metal Construction News is a special one, as it features our 2010 METALCON Preshow Guide, providing you with your first look at the educational sessions, exhibitors, products and services available at the 20th annual conference and exhibition. Look for it to hit your desk in early September.
This year’s METALCON will see the metal construction community descend on Las Vegas this October 20-22, and our Preshow Guide offers you a great opportunity to begin planning your time at the show. Our Special Section includes travel information, show highlights, a schedule-at-a-glance and detailed information about the educational sessions. In addition, you’ll find a show floor map, a listing of exhibitors and the products and services they provide, along with a brief guide to Las Vegas with some tips on popular restaurants and entertainment.
In October we’ll provide additional details and updated information in our METALCON Show Issue, while at the event attendees can utilize our METALCON Show Guide--the ONLY official show guide of METALCON.
See you in Sin City!
Follow us on Twitter @MetalConstruct
Send your comments to: boneill@moderntrade.com
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Opportunities Opening for Metal
Finally, the leaking pipe causing the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico appears to have been effectively capped. During the past three months while the oil poured into the Gulf, alternative energy experts have been cropping up everywhere you look, from television to newspapers and magazines and numerous online outlets.
The consensus seems to be that this recent oil tragedy is just the latest--and possibly largest--reminder that we need alternative sources of energy in place now, not five, 10 or 20 years from now. One of the possibilities is wind energy, illustrated on every news program with giant wind turbines grouped in expansive wind farms. But that requires great resources--chief among them, land and money.
The other popular alternative is solar power. This is where metal construction comes in. Over the years it has become obvious that metal roofing is the perfect place for photovoltaics. Large solar panels, flexible films and even PV paint are all in use on metal roofs across the country, and with a relatively small capital investment, these quick-and-easy installations are recouping their costs quicker than ever before. As solar power grows in popularity, so too will metal construction components.
In one example, a 7,500-square-foot solar panel array installed on the headquarters of a company in New Jersey consisted of 392 panels for a 81.5 kW system. The $700,000 investment generated 124,034 kWh of energy in the first full year of operation, ending in June 2010. The system generates 305 kWh of electricity per day, representing approximately 99 percent of the company’s current power needs.
To date, the solar panels have prevented 227,011 pounds of emissions of CO2, NOx and SO2 into the atmosphere -- more than an average passenger car emits during a 20 year period. Also of note, the company has recouped 75 percent of the cost of the installation already, thanks to utility savings and various state a federal programs.
While this is a large PV system, the positive benefits and savings are on par (proportionally) with arrays of other sizes.
The integration of such energy systems into metal construction components like roofs, the expansion into other areas such as wall panels, and the development of new technologies including PV paints and coatings, should all help the metal construction industry propel itself into the future as the best, most effective construction method for an increasingly green and sustainable society.
Send comments to: boneill@moderntrade.com.
The consensus seems to be that this recent oil tragedy is just the latest--and possibly largest--reminder that we need alternative sources of energy in place now, not five, 10 or 20 years from now. One of the possibilities is wind energy, illustrated on every news program with giant wind turbines grouped in expansive wind farms. But that requires great resources--chief among them, land and money.
The other popular alternative is solar power. This is where metal construction comes in. Over the years it has become obvious that metal roofing is the perfect place for photovoltaics. Large solar panels, flexible films and even PV paint are all in use on metal roofs across the country, and with a relatively small capital investment, these quick-and-easy installations are recouping their costs quicker than ever before. As solar power grows in popularity, so too will metal construction components.
In one example, a 7,500-square-foot solar panel array installed on the headquarters of a company in New Jersey consisted of 392 panels for a 81.5 kW system. The $700,000 investment generated 124,034 kWh of energy in the first full year of operation, ending in June 2010. The system generates 305 kWh of electricity per day, representing approximately 99 percent of the company’s current power needs.
To date, the solar panels have prevented 227,011 pounds of emissions of CO2, NOx and SO2 into the atmosphere -- more than an average passenger car emits during a 20 year period. Also of note, the company has recouped 75 percent of the cost of the installation already, thanks to utility savings and various state a federal programs.
While this is a large PV system, the positive benefits and savings are on par (proportionally) with arrays of other sizes.
The integration of such energy systems into metal construction components like roofs, the expansion into other areas such as wall panels, and the development of new technologies including PV paints and coatings, should all help the metal construction industry propel itself into the future as the best, most effective construction method for an increasingly green and sustainable society.
Send comments to: boneill@moderntrade.com.
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Metal Industry is Giving Back
One of the things I’m interested in when I read about top industry people or companies, is how they respond once they’ve achieved a certain level of success. There’s an old adage about how your character is not defined by how you treat people when you’re at the bottom, but rather, how you treat people when you’re at the top. It seems to me, the best people and companies are equally, if not more, respectful and generous once they’ve reached lofty levels of success.
A recent example of this concept crossed my desk recently, and I had to share. Greg Sharp is the president of Corner Solutions Inc., a company specializing in custom metal corners and column wraps. The company is based out of Auburn, Washington, but five years ago on a road trip with a brief stop in his family’s ancestral roots in southern Iowa, Sharp was struck by the special connection he felt to this small town.
After years of planning and purchasing real estate in Tingley, Iowa, boasting a population of 172, Sharp is roughly 120 days away from the grand opening of his new manufacturing facility in the town.
Sharp bought his old family farm and has a residence there, but also the lot where the new plant will be located, as well as adjoining property to clear out some very old dilapidated houses and turn the several block area into something that would attract tourists to the area. He also purchased additional property in the town to restore an orchard and an old schoolhouse, all in an effort to help revive this dying town.
The only other business of note in the town is a small café, and Sharp said he will tell his employees that on any day they are working in his facility, they can eat lunch at the café on his dime so that the town will see the increased cash flow.
This is an amazing story, one that Metal Construction News will follow as it develops, bringing our readers the in-depth reporting that stories like this demand.
Speaking of grand openings, our Special Report on page 22 features the new insulated metal panel manufacturing facility that NCI Group opened in Jackson, Miss., creating new jobs and providing much-needed stimulation to the local economy.
Follow us on Twitter @MetalConstruct
A recent example of this concept crossed my desk recently, and I had to share. Greg Sharp is the president of Corner Solutions Inc., a company specializing in custom metal corners and column wraps. The company is based out of Auburn, Washington, but five years ago on a road trip with a brief stop in his family’s ancestral roots in southern Iowa, Sharp was struck by the special connection he felt to this small town.
After years of planning and purchasing real estate in Tingley, Iowa, boasting a population of 172, Sharp is roughly 120 days away from the grand opening of his new manufacturing facility in the town.
Sharp bought his old family farm and has a residence there, but also the lot where the new plant will be located, as well as adjoining property to clear out some very old dilapidated houses and turn the several block area into something that would attract tourists to the area. He also purchased additional property in the town to restore an orchard and an old schoolhouse, all in an effort to help revive this dying town.
The only other business of note in the town is a small café, and Sharp said he will tell his employees that on any day they are working in his facility, they can eat lunch at the café on his dime so that the town will see the increased cash flow.
This is an amazing story, one that Metal Construction News will follow as it develops, bringing our readers the in-depth reporting that stories like this demand.
Speaking of grand openings, our Special Report on page 22 features the new insulated metal panel manufacturing facility that NCI Group opened in Jackson, Miss., creating new jobs and providing much-needed stimulation to the local economy.
Follow us on Twitter @MetalConstruct
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Innovative Outlook for Composite Materials
Materials are very important in metal construction, obviously. Steel is the most ubiquitous metal, found in virtually every aspect of the metal building envelope. But composite materials are found more and more, especially in wall panels, and this is an area that looks ripe for additional innovation.
Composite materials are just that, a composite of more than one type of material. Today composite wall panels are often found utilizing aluminum, steel and zinc. Titanium is also being used for these applications, and I expect to see some new metals finding their way into this category.
For me, one of the more interesting aspects of these composite material panels is the ability to combine these metals with other non-metal materials to create panels that have additional functionality. For example, sandwiching a mineral-based core material between two sheets of composite metal can create a fire-resistant panel. Of course, using different core materials like plastics and foams can result in an insulated metal panel.
I'm very interested to see how the metal panel market makes use of composite material panels in the future. Is it possible that a composite material panel becomes more "green" than its steel or aluminum counterpart? What other types of materials will find their way into a composite material panel, and how big will the role of actual metal be in these panels in the future?
Want to comment, e-mail boneill@moderntrade.com
Follow us on Twitter @ MetalConstruct
Composite materials are just that, a composite of more than one type of material. Today composite wall panels are often found utilizing aluminum, steel and zinc. Titanium is also being used for these applications, and I expect to see some new metals finding their way into this category.
For me, one of the more interesting aspects of these composite material panels is the ability to combine these metals with other non-metal materials to create panels that have additional functionality. For example, sandwiching a mineral-based core material between two sheets of composite metal can create a fire-resistant panel. Of course, using different core materials like plastics and foams can result in an insulated metal panel.
I'm very interested to see how the metal panel market makes use of composite material panels in the future. Is it possible that a composite material panel becomes more "green" than its steel or aluminum counterpart? What other types of materials will find their way into a composite material panel, and how big will the role of actual metal be in these panels in the future?
Want to comment, e-mail boneill@moderntrade.com
Follow us on Twitter @ MetalConstruct
Friday, April 30, 2010
Future Looks Bright for Metal Building Systems
Metal buildings; pre-engineered buildings; metal building systems. Whatever you call them, they’ve been popping up all over North America in recent years with new, innovative designs and are becoming more and more affordable. Encompassing all aspects of the building envelope from the roof to the walls and framing, metal building systems appear poised to make a leap in market share once the economy and construction market truly recover.
Often when I’m paging through various publications and websites looking for interesting metal components or metal buildings, I find myself having to do a double-take, as many of today’s metal buildings aren’t easily identifiable upon first glance, thanks to the innovative coatings, paints and exterior insulating finishing systems (EIFS). Metal building systems have come a long way, and I think with some strategic education and marketing efforts directed at builders and end users, the growth of this market could outpace other segments in the immediate future.
The May issue of Metal Construction News is packed with great metal building information, starting with our cover story.
Top 100 Metal Builders
This is the 20th year we’ve provided rankings of the Top 100 Metal Builders based on tonnage and square footage, and on page 16 you can find out where your favorite builder ranks. Leading the way in tonnage for 2009 was Keller, Inc., based in Kaukana, Wisc., with more than 7,000 tons, and square footage leader was Ocala, Fla.-based Florida Metal Building Services with more than 2,600,000 square feet of metal buildings.
Profile on BlueScope Buildings
In our Profile story on page 38, we spotlight BlueScope Buildings North America, a leading metal building manufacturer that is utilizing this down economy to improve its efficiency and fully-integrate its multiple brands. The company’s strategic moves have put it in great position to grab market share once the economic pendulum swings back in a positive direction.
Follow us on Twitter @MetalConstruct
Send comments to: boneill@moderntrade.com
Often when I’m paging through various publications and websites looking for interesting metal components or metal buildings, I find myself having to do a double-take, as many of today’s metal buildings aren’t easily identifiable upon first glance, thanks to the innovative coatings, paints and exterior insulating finishing systems (EIFS). Metal building systems have come a long way, and I think with some strategic education and marketing efforts directed at builders and end users, the growth of this market could outpace other segments in the immediate future.
The May issue of Metal Construction News is packed with great metal building information, starting with our cover story.
Top 100 Metal Builders
This is the 20th year we’ve provided rankings of the Top 100 Metal Builders based on tonnage and square footage, and on page 16 you can find out where your favorite builder ranks. Leading the way in tonnage for 2009 was Keller, Inc., based in Kaukana, Wisc., with more than 7,000 tons, and square footage leader was Ocala, Fla.-based Florida Metal Building Services with more than 2,600,000 square feet of metal buildings.
Profile on BlueScope Buildings
In our Profile story on page 38, we spotlight BlueScope Buildings North America, a leading metal building manufacturer that is utilizing this down economy to improve its efficiency and fully-integrate its multiple brands. The company’s strategic moves have put it in great position to grab market share once the economic pendulum swings back in a positive direction.
Follow us on Twitter @MetalConstruct
Send comments to: boneill@moderntrade.com
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