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Some people, and organizations too, have a knack for seeing the future. Good business fortune is rarely pure luck. Often it’s the result of strategies that anticipate and respond to emerging market trends. Over the past decade, a commitment to working with architectural zinc has helped some forward-thinking contractors, panel fabricators, and metal distributors grow their business.

Due to higher initial cost, building and home owners sometimes don’t consider materials like copper or zinc for their rainwater systems. In this article, the author explains that copper and zinc rainwater systems are actually more affordable and cost-effective, in part because of their inherent durability and sustainability.

Design and construction professionals have the opportunity to meet with their customers face to face every day. But how often are they presented with the opportunity to personally meet the people who create the products they use and recommend? For those who specify or construct with metal, METALCON provides that chance.

After Hurricane Rita devastated Cameron Parish, LA in September 2005, the community turned tragedy into opportunity by contracting six new sustainable civic facilities, complete with Metal Sales Manufacturing Corporation products. Metal Sales supplied roofing and soffit panels for the Cameron Parish School Board office building, two fire stations, and the parish’s East Annex.

Rowing has long been regarded a traditional pastime for Ivy Leaguers and the elites. Today a new boathouse complex is opening up both the sport of crew and innovative architectural ideas along this stately river with the help of Wilson® Premier Bi-Fold aluminum frame.

Breathable underlayments for metal roofing, which have been used successfully in Europe, are now available in North America. David Nemes of Nemco Industries shares some of his views on the advantages of breathable underlayments, while describing the Dry-Tech product that his company offers.

When federal and international sanitary inspections mandated flying insect infiltration reductions at a California pharmaceutical manufacturing plant’s four shipping doors, project engineers started thinking far outside the box to save the Walnut Creek, CA facility more than $75,000 in necessary door retrofit costs.

There are plenty of unique features packed into the newly constructed 40' x 30' retreat on Martha's Vineyard. Among them is an aluminum-framed, polycarbonate and glass-skinned hydraulic door by Schweiss doors. Occupying virtually the entire west wall, the door opens onto a deck that offers panoramic views.

The idea of starting a blueberry farming business does not usually conjure up images of photovoltaic arrays. But for an entrepreneur in Slatington, PA, one thing led to the other.

When it comes to solar electric expertise, companies in Colorado have plenty to offer. One Denver area school discovered as much first-hand when it began exploring opportunities to use solar electric as a means of meeting a significant portion of its energy demands. Among the firms enlisted to help make the project a reality was S-5!.

Back in 1980, Marty Kiehm, 20 years old at the time, built his first structure. It was a 70’ x 100’ hangar in Delavan, MN, that featured a 48’ bifold door. Today, Kiehm Construction employees 35 people and is on the grow, thanks in part to the company's experience with insulated metal panel systems.

As metal roofing manufacturers continually improve the appearance and performance of their products, they are also modifying the way they educate and market to their audiences. For some products, such as specialty roofing, education is a bit more complicated.

Although metal buildings have been around for more than 50 years, not every potential buyer knows what to look for when evaluating building options. So we asked the experts who work with metal buildings to share their insights on what customers may want and how manufacturers can meet those needs.

In the last 10 to 15 years, significant changes have enhanced the ability of metal buildings to meet new energy standards. These improvements in roofing, insulation, coatings, and solar systems have also created more opportunity in the green building market for these resilient structures.

Pre-engineered metal buildings were sustainable before that was trendy. Their efficient use of resources has offered a multitude of benefits for builders, owners – and the environment – for more than 50 years.

Trying to compare thin film amorphous silicon PV laminates with crystalline solar panels for a standing seam metal roof application is like asking who plays better baseball—the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox.

Recently-completed testing shows that Roof Hugger structural sub-purlins, a popular choice for metal-over-metal reroof applications, enhance the strength of the existing metal building purlins. Roof Hugger’s Mark James examines the test results.

Building owners and developers face difficult challenges when it comes to reducing energy consumption, waste and CO2 emissions. One way forward thinking owners have found to reduce their carbon footprint is by topping their buildings with solar metal roof systems.

The Central Coast of California is well known for producing some of America's finest wines. The region’s wineries also are becoming known for using the unbeatable combination of renewable and sustainable resources – solar systems and metal buildings.

In general, the market challenges for metal wall panels are similar to what they have always been – stay a step ahead of the competition, educate buyers and code officials, and support industry research and product testing. But different needs and opportunities lie ahead for specific wall panel segments, say our experts.