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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.

The changing perception of metal panels among decision makers has also been influenced by manufacturers’ promotional efforts. These include educating decision makers about metal and delivering messages through the standard methods of advertising, public relations, trade shows, sales calls, lunch-and-learn sessions, and more recently, electronic media.

Metal wall panels have helped build structures and commerce for more than 40 years. The first designs were basic, and communication between suppliers and designers was fairly simple, with education being a key part of the sale. Today the entire process and the end result are much more sophisticated.

To a growing number of architects, artisans and building owners, weathered steel is a wonderful thing. Steel IQ, Inc. of Phoenix markets a line of weathered steel roofing and siding called Bare Naked Steel™. The company’s products are featured on a pair of recently renovated buildings in the heart of Phoenix’s Arts District.

North Star Imaging Inc., a Rogers, Minnesota manufacturer of industrial x-ray systems, needed special doors for its new line of radiation shielding cabinets. It found what it was looking for through Schweiss BiFold Door, whose door systems are typically used in aviation and ag industries.

From countertops and gutters to rooftops and façade cladding, RHEINZINK® is finding itself right at home these days in a wide range of residential applications.