Industry News

Arlington, VA - Construction sector employment increased by 4,000 positions in May as rising wages enabled the industry to add workers more rapidly than other sectors, according to an analysis of new government data the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Association officials noted that the industry has been adding jobs each month for over a year, but the increases have slowed amid recent market uncertainty.

Schofield, WI – Airolite has expanded its line of architectural equipment screens with the addition of Louver Type SV5375, an inverted, vertical-blade, 5.375-inch-deep louver screen designed for applications requiring cost-effective sight barriers.

Wilmington, DE - DuPont and U.S. Steel have announced the addition of five new colors available for COASTALUME™, a specialized steel designed for use in coastal environments.

Lithia Springs – Southern Aluminum Finishing (SAF), a global leader in metals distribution, fabrication, and finishing, is proud to announce the promotion of a longtime team member and share several organizational updates following a historic year for the company. Among the year’s highlights, SAF celebrated the grand opening of a new manufacturing facility in November, reinforcing its commitment to growth and innovation.

Auburn, WA - The Bryer Company is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025. A growing component panel manufacturer serving the architectural, commercial and residential metal roof, wall and soffit panel markets, Bryer continues to focus on the ever-changing demands of customers discovering the value of metal.

Allentown, PA - ATAS International, Inc., a third-generation leading manufacturer of metal panels and building envelope solutions, proudly announces that it sources 100% of the aluminum and steel used in its metal panels from domestic suppliers.

Newton, MA, — METALCON is honored to welcome Clinton “Clint” Romesha, retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and Medal of Honor Recipient, as the featured keynote speaker for its 2025 event. Romesha will take the stage on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 9:00 am at the Las Vegas Convention Center to deliver a compelling presentation entitled, “Always Forward – Lessons in Leadership and Resilience.”

Berlin, Germany - Beckers Group, a global supplier of coil coatings and industrial coatings, has announced the appointment of Dr. Susanne Goldammer as Chief Operations Officer, based in the Berlin head office.

Vacaville, CA — All Weather Insulated Panels (AWIP) is proud to announce the addition of three key team members: Mike Schuil as Director of Customer Experience, Chris Snell as Senior Manager of Logistics and Fulfillment and Bo Bently as Quality Service Manager. These strategic roles are integral as AWIP continues to advance its “Customer First” service and support objectives.

Atlanta, GA — Kingspan Insulation North America has introduced its most advanced insulation product yet: Kooltherm® K100 foam plastic insulation. The product is engineered for exceptional thermal efficiency, advanced fire resistance and increased design flexibility and, according to the company, "sets a new benchmark for high-performance building envelope solutions in commercial and residential applications."

Walker, MI – FALK is celebrating the addition of four new Kenworth W990 52” sleeper trucks to the company's privately owned delivery fleet. These new trucks nearly double the company's existing fleet, which now includes nine total FALK trucks. This fleet expansion represents an important investment in the company's logistics and delivery teams.

Cleveland, OH - Safety awards for 2024 were presented during the 2025 Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) Spring Meeting held May 7 – 9 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Each year MBMA honors member companies that demonstrate exceptional performance in maintaining workplace safety. These awards are given to Building Systems members as well as Associate members for their performance during the previous calendar year.

West Chester, Ohio - In response to customer requests for a vertical cladding support system, ClarkDietrich has launched ProChannel Ci – Vertical, a new variation of its ProChannel Ci™ Cladding Support with Grip-Deck TubeSeal Technology.

Bethlehem, PA - The Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association (MBCEA) is pleased to announce that Sasha Demyan, MBCEA Executive Director, has been elected to the Metal Construction Hall of Fame. She was presented with her award at the 56th Annual MBCEA Conference and MBMA Spring Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 7, 2025.

Washington, DC – The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) dropped to 43.2 in April, down from 44.1 in March. This decline reflects an accelerated decrease in billing activity.

Washington, DC – The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) has released the May 2025 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI). Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 44.5, up from the April index of 41.9, and the second lowest index since December 2023. The index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and future expectations as reported by key executives from the $1.3 trillion equipment finance sector.

Charlotte, NC - American Buildings has announced the winners of its 2025 Excellence in Design Awards. The competition is designed to highlight the diverse application and expanding boundaries of the metal buildings industry. Through this competition, Authorized Builders are offered an outlet to exhibit their creativity and workmanship and illustrate how metal building systems meet the diverse needs of their customers.

Green Bay, WI - Bay Insulation Systems announces that 24 of its facilities have been recognized with the 2024 Superior Safety Award from the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA).

Newton, MA — METALCON announces show highlights for this year’s anticipated annual conference and tradeshow, taking place Tuesday, Oct. 21 through Thursday, Oct. 23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Registration is now open!

Beloit, WI – Drew Buchanan has joined low-slope roofing manufacturer MuleHide as Blue Ridge territory manager. He is the company’s lead contact with customers in the territory, which spans western North Carolina, southwestern Virginia, eastern Tennessee and western South Carolina.