Industry News

Arlington, VA - Total construction spending declined by 0.7 percent in August as spending on new houses turned sharply lower, while public and private nonresidential construction posted mixed results, according to federal spending data analyzed by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that rising interest rates were hurting demand for housing and many private-sector projects while the impacts of new federal funding for infrastructure, semiconductor plants and green energy facilities have yet to fully kick in.

Columbus, OH - Coil and extruded metal manufacturers concerned about challenges in the PVDF supply chain can achieve a comparable finish and performance using non-PVDF alternatives in most applications, advises a new whitepaper from AkzoNobel, a leading coatings and paints manufacturer.

Madison, WI – Metal roofing expert Rob Haddock will present Metal Roofing Systems at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Engineering on Dec. 1-2, 2022. This year the university is offering an early bird discount of $150.

Nashville, TN - Holcim Building Envelope has completed the next step in its brand journey as it transitions from the Firestone Building Products name to fully integrate into Holcim Group as part of its Solutions & Products Business Unit. For marketing and branding purposes the division will be known as Holcim Building Envelope. As of October 3, 2022, for all uses that refer to a legal entity in the U.S. only, such as warranties, copyrights, and other legal and operation documents, Holcim has officially transitioned from Firestone Building Products Company, LLC to Holcim Solutions and Products US, LLC.

Lewisville, TX – Metl-Span, a recognized leader in the advancement of insulated metal panel technology, is proud to announce that it recently achieved an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for CF wall and roof panels. EPDs are based on International Standard of Organization (ISO)-compliant Life Cycle Assessments (LCA). The EPD supports Metl-Span’s continued commitment to a cleaner, energy-efficient environment as a leader in the industry.

Newton, MA - METALCON, the metal construction industry's only global event dedicated exclusively to the application of metal in design and construction, offers a host of networking opportunities in Indiana.

Schaumburg, IL – The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) is pleased to announce the release of an updated and modernized version of the Association's popular Fundamentals of Fenestration education program. Fundamentals of Fenestration, originally released in 2016, is now available as a more dynamic and engaging online education offering.

Chicago, IL – The Metal Construction Association (MCA) has announced the launch of the 2022-2023 Metal Architecture Academy. Part of Architectural Record’s Continuing Education Center, the new academy is comprised of eight courses including an on-demand webinar, a multi-media course and six written courses. A total of eight continuing education credits are available in a variety of categories including AIA/HSW, GBCI, IIBEC and others. Those who complete all eight courses are eligible to earn a badge.

Columbus, OH - Metal coatings experts from AkzoNobel Coil & Extrusion Coatings will be sharing the latest product insights and innovative application techniques at METALCON 2022, in Indianapolis, October 12-14.

Colorado Springs, CO – S-5!, one of the world's leading develpers of engineered, manufactured, metal roof attachments, announces Salem, OR-based Taylor Metal Products as its newest authorized distributor. Taylor will offer the complete range of S-5! snow retention solutions throughout the West.

Washington, DC – The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) has released its September 2022 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 $900 billion equipment finance sector. Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 48.7, a decrease from the August index of 50.

Muskegon, MI - Lorin Industries, Inc., a global industry leader in the innovation and production of coil anodized aluminum, highlights its AnoGrip anodized aluminum product that accepts all types of adhesives without the need for primer or pre-treatment. This finish is ideal for manufacturing applications where adhesion or lamination come into play, including insulated metal panels (IMPs).

Vancouver, British Columbia - Aplus Energy Co., a Taiwan-based developer with North American sales and support offices in Vancouver, will be introducing its unique solar-integrated steel roof panels to attendees at the upcoming METALCON trade show, being held October 12-14 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.

Washington, DC – Demand for design services from U.S. architecture firms grew at an accelerated pace in August, according to a new report from The American Institute of Architects (AIA). AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for August rose to 53.3 compared to 51.0 in July (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings).

Waukesha, WI — MTL Holdings has expanded its family of brands with the acquisition of Citadel Architectural Products, a leading producer of composite panels and systems for the commercial cladding industry.

Beloit, WI - Six Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) roofing systems from Mule-Hide Products Co. Inc. are now available nationwide. Previously only offered in Southwestern states, the systems have been rolled out nationally for roof restorations.

Washington, DC - The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has published Supplement No. 3 to AISI S100-16 (Reaffirmed 2020), North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members, 2022 Edition.

Winsted, CT - East Coast Lightning Equipment Inc. (ECLE), the premier lightning protection manufacturer in North America, has relaunched its website. The new site still features ECLE’s popular NFPA780 Lightning Risk Calculator, plus a much-expanded “Understanding Lightning Protection” section.

Cleveland, OH - The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) is known for their education focus. The association’s Architectural Significance in Metal Buildings series for undergraduate and graduate architecture programs is one example. This series’ newest addition is a 24-page folio on the recently opened Michelle & Barack Obama Sports Complex in Los Angeles.

Allentown, PA - ATAS International has added another profile to their concealed-fastener wall panel offering. Design Wall™ Reveal is a modular wall panel series designed as a drained and back ventilated (D/BV) assembly. This puts an air gap and drainage plane between the panel system and structural wall, allowing wind-driven rain or moisture to escape the building envelope without entering the building.