Industry News

Arlington, VA - Construction employment exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 32 states in March, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the government should support more career opportunities to enable people to work in the industry.

Washington, DC - Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reports that its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 8.3 months in March 2022, according to an ABC member survey conducted March 22 to April 5. The reading is up 0.5 months from March 2021.

Washington, DC - The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released its NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the first quarter of 2022, posting a reading of 86, which remained unchanged compared to the first quarter of 2021. The finding is a signal of residential remodelers’ confidence in their markets, for projects of all sizes.

Arlington, VA - Construction employment climbed by 19,000 jobs between February and March, while spending on construction projects rose for the 12th month in a row in February, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of recently released government data. Association leaders warned that further gains may stall unless the supply of workers and materials improves. They urged officials to end tariffs on key materials and broaden training and education opportunities for construction careers.

Green Bay, WI - Bay Insulation Systems, a leading supplier of metal building insulation products and systems, has been named a Platinum Winner of the 2021 Safety Excellence Award by the National Insulation Association (NIA). Bay Insulation Systems received Platinum Award Winner honors in the Distributor/Fabricator and Metal Building Laminator categories.

Allentown, PA - ATAS International has added Omawall PL with EVO™, a new aluminum plate system, which joins their ever-expanding, concealed-fastener wall panel product lineup.

Kansas City, MO - BlueScope announces that it has entered into a binding agreement to acquire the Coil Coatings business from Cornerstone Building Brands Inc. for $500 million (U.S.), subject to customary adjustments. Coil Coatings (including the Metal Coaters and Metal Prep brands) is the second largest metal coater in the U.S.

Atlanta, GA –SAF, a global metals distributor, fabricator, and finisher recently invested in a new double bending machine to augment its fabrication capabilities and enhance speed of service for customers. The Jorns JDB-200 is a fully automatic, double beam architectural metal forming machine that specializes in the bending of complex metal profiles. The new machine has been incorporated into the production operation at SAF’s Villa Rica, GA, location.

Minneapolis, MN – With the debut of its latest Color Trends Forecast for the coil and extrusion metal coatings market, Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings is helping architects and designers to be color visionaries in the architectural design sector. Sherwin-Williams color experts developed these color trends through close collaboration with coil and extrusions technical teams.

Los Angeles, CA — C.R. Laurence (CRL), the leading full-service provider of architectural metals, glass fittings and professional-grade glazing supplies, has announced the new 8010 Adjustable Series Single Blade Sunshade — offering a versatile and effective solution for reducing solar heat gain.

Washington, DC - The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Standards Council has selected four winning research proposals for its 2022 Small Project/Fellowship Program. Launched in 2014, AISI’s Small Project/Fellowship Program identifies and provides funding for research projects that will significantly impact the reliability, performance and cost-competitiveness of cold-formed steel in construction.

Portland, OR - This Spring, a tight supply chain and the search for better performing options that can deliver strong return on the investment have homeowners weighing their choices and pursuing work-arounds more than ever before. According to the Metal Roofing Alliance, a leading residential metal roofing expert, that search for alternatives extends to roofs.

Atlanta, GA - Polyvision Corporation, a global leader in the innovation and manufacture of CeramicSteel products, has announced Michael Allen as the new sales manager for Polyvision Ohio.

Oklahoma City, OK - Amanda Pulley, an architectural marketing and sales representative, has joined the Flex-Ability Concepts team as a product representative for Texas. Pulley is the owner of AJI Architectural Marketing, a company that works with manufacturers to present their portfolio of products to architects, engineers, contractors and distributors.

Arlington, VA - Construction employment increased in nearly three out of four U.S. metro areas in January compared to a year ago, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials welcomed the widespread job gains but cautioned that contractors in many areas are having trouble finding enough qualified workers to return to pre-pandemic levels amid tight labor market conditions.

Washington, DC - The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reports that despite production bottlenecks and rising construction costs, total housing starts led by a strong multifamily reading posted a solid gain in February as demand stays strong and existing inventory remains at low levels.

New Haven, CT - The BILCO Company, in following the lead of its corporate parent AmesburyTruth™, has taken bold steps to prioritize environmental sustainability by improving processes at facilities.

Chesapeake, VA – Mitsubishi Chemical America’s ALPOLIC® Division, a leader in metal composite material (MCM) manufacturing, has announced its passage of the rigorous Canadian S-134 full-scale wall-assembly test designed to measure the fire spread and burning characteristics of an exterior wall with controlled fire exposure.

Washington, DC – Demand for design services in February grew slightly since January, according to a new report from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for February was 51.3, up from a score of 51.0 in January. Any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings.

Oakland, CA – Feeney Inc., a leading manufacturer of stainless steel and aluminum railing systems and related architectural products, has debuted ColorEasy™, a new powder coating program for its DesignRail® Aluminum Railing System and Awning Kits. ColorEasy™ features 18 colors, including a mix of 15 trend-forward and classic colors along with three realistic wood grain finishes, for optimal design versatility.