Industry News

Arlington, VA — The construction industry added 23,000 jobs in February—the most since August—as a strong gain in employment at nonresidential contractors offset a small decline at residential firms, according to an analysis of latest government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that new figures on the number of job openings in the industry underscore the challenges firms are having finding enough qualified people to hire amid strong demand.

Newton, MA - METALCON, the metal construction industry’s only global event dedicated to the application of metal in construction and design, returns to Atlanta for its 2024 tradeshow and conference. It will be the seventh time Atlanta has been chosen as the host city. Below are some of the initial show details, released by PSMJ Resources Inc.

Rosemont, IL —The National Roofing Contractors Association announced its new slate of officers during its 137th Annual Convention Feb. 6-8 in Las Vegas.

Washington, DC – The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) has released the February 2024 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI). The index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $1 trillion equipment finance sector. Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 51.7, an increase from the January index of 48.6.

Allentown, PA - Long known for their vast array of profiles for metal wall cladding and roofing, ATAS has now expanded their product offering for ceiling applications. All products in the new Lineair Ceiling series are manufactured in over 40 stock 70% PVDF colors, with custom colors and finishes available.

Bossier City, LA — McElroy Metal recently announced the release of the Nostalgia Board & Batten panel, a durable and low-maintenance alternative to wood siding. Made of 24-gauge Galvalume®, this panel mimics the classic wooden board and batten look without the hassle of continuous upkeep.

Cleveland, OH - The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) presented Dr. James Fisher with the 2024 Dr. Duane S. Ellifritt Research Award. Named after MBMA’s original director of research and engineering, this honor is given to a researcher annually for contributions to the advancement of metal building systems. Dr. Fisher accepted the award at the 2024 MBMA Research Symposium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Las Vegas, NV / ACCESSWIRE — The International Roofing Expo (IRE) in Las Vegas achieved "unprecedented success and solidified its position as the premier platform for advancements in the roofing and exteriors industries," said the IRE's official post-show release. "With 15,000 industry professionals in attendance, the three-day event showcased the strength and unity of the industry, surpassing all expectations."

Laurel, MT - Wood’s Powr-Grip (WPG), a leading U.S. manufacturer of tools and equipment for handling insulated metal panels, glass and other materials, is marking its 60th year in business in 2024.

Minneapolis, MN – The Coil Coatings division of Sherwin-Williams has released a collection of printed metal coatings colorways, Emulate, for product and design professionals. The collection derives inspiration from mimicking the beauty of nature and aims to bring an enhanced look of natural building materials in wood, stone and metal to enable architects and product manufacturers to complete their vision in a new way.

Cleveland, OH - The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) creates free, downloadable resources for architectural students and their professors. The newest resource is an 18-page folio that explores the design and construction of Austin FC soccer club’s St. David’s Performance Center in Austin, Texas.

Nashville, TN – Holcim Building Envelope has named Lauren Pagano as Senior Vice President of the Adhesives, Coatings, and Sealants (ACS) business unit, which encompasses Gaco and a portfolio of recognized brands for commercial, industrial and residential applications. Pagano will provide leadership for the business unit, including responsibility for strategy, marketing, sales, operations and technology, supply chain, customer service and planning.

Washington, DC - Expectations that mortgage rates will continue to moderate in the coming months, the prospect of future rate cuts by the Federal Reserve later this year, and a protracted lack of existing inventory helped provide a boost to builder sentiment for the third straight month in February.

Washington, DC – Architecture firm billings remained soft entering into 2024, with an AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score of 46.2 in January. Any score below 50.0 indicates decreasing business conditions.

Washington, DC - Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) announces that it has released an artificial intelligence (AI) technology guide for the construction community, which includes definitions, construction use cases and considerations. The purpose of the guide is to provide a level of knowledge to ensure contractors can be active participants in the construction AI conversation.

Norcross, GA - IMETCO (Innovative Metals Company, Inc.), a leading manufacturer of premier metal products for the building envelope, recently introduced Batten‑Tite™ architectural metal roof panels, designed for slopes of 3 inches or more and for vertical wall applications. The system’s batten-style ribs are 1-7/8-inches high and are available in custom widths up to 44-½ inches.

Chicago, IL – The Metal Construction Association (MCA) is proud to welcome three new members to its Board of Directors. The new members are D.J. Highnote, product advisor/vice president at Roof Hugger; RC Antal, director of insulated metal panels at ATAS International; and Jules Dekovics, national sales manager at Exceptional Metals.

Arlington, VA — The construction industry added 11,000 jobs in January despite bouts of exceptionally cold or stormy weather that delayed projects in numerous regions, according to an analysis of new government data the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that firms are boosting wages and taking other steps to attract more workers as firms try to keep pace with relatively strong demand.

Rochester, NY AND Calgary, Alberta — Renoworks Software Inc. (TSXV: RW) (“Renoworks”), a leading end-to-end visualization platform for the home remodeling and new home construction industry, announces a new integration with EagleView, a leading geospatial data, analytics, and intelligence company who utilizes proprietary aerial imagery.

Tontitown, AR - Central States introduces Central States Board & Batten siding for residential and light commercial structures, available in 15 painted and three wood grain finishes.