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For decades, tools from Swenson Shear have been used by metal roofing contractors to improve the quality of their workmanship, while saving time and labor costs. Today's metal roofers are finding that Swenson Shear's SnapTable tools can take their businesses and projects to new levels.

Back in the mid-1970s, a bunch of very clever people got together and tried to define procedures for exchanging information among Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems in the aerospace industry. The intention was to reduce costs by defining something once and reusing the design data all the way along the design, testing, manufacturing, distribution and repair life-cycle of that product. It worked, with the same approach ultimately making its way to building design and construction.

There's no denying that solar collecting systems installed on metal roofs are gaining a great deal of popularity. Not surprisingly, safety is an ongoing concern for solar panel installers. Wood's Powr-Grip® addresses that concern by offering a variety of vacuum-lifting tools designed to improve worker safety, avoid property damage, and also increase productivity.

As the world becomes more and more eco-conscious, thoughts come to focus on a building’s ability to save energy, water, building materials, and money. The idea points to LEED certification, a stamp of approval that tells everyone that you, as a building owner, have considered all the above mentioned factors and you are one of the good guys of the world. A noble move, right? It is, but it’s much more than a righteous pat on the back. From this movement you get a lifetime of returns including lower energy bills, tax rebates, and possibly higher property values.

The 25th annual METALCON returns to Tampa in October with a lineup of new products, industry experts and activities that highlight the excitement of metal and spark the imagination.

Installing snow retention systems is about one thing: simply to save your customer money. Sliding ice and snow can become the cause of expensive damage.

Winemaking is more than a business. It's a cherished and celebrated art, from the nurturing and harvesting of the grapes, to the fermentation and aging that turn the lush fruit into liquid luxury. The precision required to produce consistent, quality wines extends to the buildings where they are made and stored. That's one of the reasons why insulated panels from Kingspan Insulated Panels are so frequently used in the construction of those structures.

“A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” The words are those of former U.S. Army officer, statesman and Secretary of State Colin Powell, but they can be applied to so many people who have displayed sweat, determination and hard work to make their dreams a reality. Take for instance five pilots who took the extra step to fulfill what many had dreamed of for years. They are but a few of the many Schweiss Doors customers who have used the company's bifold and hydraulic doors on projects others could hardly imagine.

When board members of the Bucks County Audubon Society in New Hope, PA were looking for help with a leaking roof on their historic building, they only had to search as far as Dick Carroll, founder and former owner of Drexel Metals.

For both architectural professionals and students alike, there's no better way to connect with the individuals and groups that can benefit your career and educational endeavors, along with learning and mentoring opportunities, than KINetic™. Created by Kingspan Panels—North America, KINetic is the only social media platform designed to bring together students, architects, designers and Kingspan professionals to collaborate, discuss, and share architectural ideas.

During the past few years, more and more companies have found the solution for keeping the desired temperature inside their buildings while keeping energy cost down. The solution is reflective insulation products. Reflective insulation products are gaining popularity for their energy savings benefits, ease of installation and competitive pricing.

There are acres and acres of metal roofing systems, many up to 50 years old, which have recently become in need of some maintenance. Building owners looking for quick fixes have some inexpensive and temporary options. But now, thanks to the innovative minds at McElroy Metal, there are now some long-term options that allow metal roofing installers to compete with roofers who can only offer short-term, non-metal systems.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada - To succeed in today’s competitive world, those who conduct “business as usual” may be left behind. Samco Machinery, a manufacturer of rollforming equipment for multiple industries, completed the transition into its new plant in 2014 as well as a new way of doing business. Diversification is clearly a key to Samco's success.

An iconic landmark known worldwide since its opening in 1937 is the 4,200 foot-long main span Golden Gate Bridge, connecting Fort Point in San Francisco to Marin County. The Golden Gate Bridge was originally painted and has been continuously painted ever since, racking up huge costs. But what if all the structural steel used to erect the bridge had been hot-dip galvanized? Would that even be practical given the scope of the project?

According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 50,000 hotels in the United States, with more added every year. Due to concerns about rising maintenance costs, sustainability and branding, a lot of the new ones will wind up having metal roofs.

Commercial energy codes for metal buildings are frequently misunderstood by many people, including industry veterans. In this article, Bill Beals of Therm-All Inc. shares some of his many years of experience with energy codes, focusing on four specific tips to make energy codes easier to understand.

Atlanta, GA - Since completing the Helene S. Mills Multipurpose Facility in Atlanta in early 2013, Ideal Building Solutions has become much more active in the commercial metal roofing market. A trip to the annual METALCON show, in their home city of Atlanta in 2013, has been a key to their success that has followed.

Chicago, IL – The nation’s largest energy user, the Department of Defense (DoD), is learning how to transform some of its 577,500 buildings and structures into state-of-art energy-saving powerhouses, by retrofitting old buildings with new high-tech roofing systems. In partnership with the Metal Construction Association (MCA) and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the DoD is host to a demonstration project for reducing a building’s carbon footprint and lowering demand for energy and water. The demonstration project was part of the DoD’s Strategic Environmental Research and DevelopmentProgram (ESTCP) at Goodfellow Air Force Base (GAFB) in San Angelo, Texas. The model will be replicated at potentially thousands of DoD buildings throughout the country.

Minneapolis, MN - With its high durability and large color palette, Valspar’s Fluropon® exterior coatings have become an industry standard for both metal coil coating and aluminum extrusion applications. These field-proven, high-performance, 70 percent polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) coatings are offered in two- to four-coat systems in nearly any formulation, including low gloss, low sheen, solar reflective and ENERGY STAR. A wide variety of colors also are available, from neutral to bright colors, micas, metallic, pearlescent and Kameleon® color shifting coatings.

When it comes to cavity wall products, it’s all about the wall assembly. That fact was a driving force when Firestone Building Products developed and introduced its new line of Enverge™ Cavity Wall Products, which benefits everyone involved in a given commercial building project: from architects to contractors to owners.