Industry News

Washington, DC - Construction input prices fell 0.6% in September and are down 1.7% year-over-year, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released recently. Nonresidential construction input prices fell 0.7% for the month of September and are down 1.4% compared to the same time last year.

Lewisville, TX – Metl-Span has compiled its annual list of Projects of the Month and is featuring them in its 2020 calendar. Gracing the calendar's cover is the Project of the Year: 54 Middlesex office building renovation in Bedford, Mass. Metl-Span provided approximately 16,000 square feet of 3-inch CF Architectural insulated metal panels in 24-inch and 36-inch widths.

Arlington, VA - Construction employment increased by 7,000 jobs in September and by 156,000, or 2.1 percent, over the past 12 months, while the number of unemployed jobseekers with construction experience reached a record low for September, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Cleveland, OH - The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) has released a new series of video vignettes highlighting careers in the metal building systems industry. These 12 videos range from 40 seconds to just under two minutes and are now available on MBMA’s YouTube channel.

Newton, MA - METALCON - the metal construction industry’s largest international event for metal construction products, technologies and solutions announces the retirement of Claire Kilcoyne, its vice president of tradeshows, after decades of dedicated service to the metal construction industry.

West Conshohocken, PA - The ASTM International roofing and waterproofing committee (D08) is sponsoring the Ninth Symposium on Roofing Research and Standards Development, December 8, 2019, at the Marriott Marquis Houston, in Houston, TX. The symposium will take place in conjunction with the December standards development meetings of the committee.

Pittsburgh, PA - PPG (NYSE: PPG) announces that it will unveil a new series of colors for its PPG Duranar™ MXL and PPG Durabrite™ metal coatings at METALCON 2019 in Pittsburgh, October 16-18, and also serve as one of the event’s two premier sponsors. The new Mineral Series color line offers architects new design options that blend seamlessly into urban landscapes with semi-transparent earth tones that subtly shimmer when exposed to sunlight.

Chicago, IL – The Metal Construction Association (MCA) has released a new standard for testing the performance of metal flashings used with metal roofing systems. The standard, ANSI/MCA FTS-1-2019, “Test Method for Wind Load Resistance of Flashings Used with Metal Roof Systems” is available now on MCA’s website.

Lutz, FL - Roof Hugger, LLC has published the fourth edition of its Metal-over-Metal Retrofit Solutions brochure, offering a wealth of product and design information. The new 12-page brochure will be formally unveiled at METALCON in Pittsburgh, October 16 - 18, in Roof Hugger's booth #846.

Woburn, MA – RHEINZINK America, Inc., has named Michael Dell’Olio as its regional sales manager serving architects, contractors and other building team members seeking architectural-grade zinc materials for their commercial and residential projects. Dell’Olio transitioned into the position under the guidance of his long-time colleague, Charles (Chuck) Bell, who recently retired from the role.

Lewisville, TX – Metl-Span’s proven ThermalSafe® insulated metal panel is now available with a Striated exterior profile, in addition to the already existing Ultra-Light Mesa and Santa Fe exterior options. “The demand for more fire-resistant options led us to produce ThermalSafe with a striated exterior profile,” says Jennifer Franz, Metl-Span product manager. “Striations offer an aesthetic customers are familiar with and asking for.”

Pittsburgh, PA – United States Steel Corporation announced on October 1 a joint venture partnership agreement under which it has taken the first step towards acquiring Big River Steel through the purchase of a 49.9% ownership interest at a purchase price of approximately $700 million in cash, with a call option to acquire the remaining 50.1% within the next four years.

Elkhart Lake, WI - Plyco Corporation - supplier of products to the post frame, metal building and commercial construction industries - has named Tom Granitz as its new national sales & marketing director.

New York, NY - UK-based SAS International, manufacturer of metal ceiling solutions, has announced the opening of an office in New York City. The result of international growth, the office will provide design assistance to architects and specifiers along with sales and technical support across North America for the company’s range of metal ceilings and architectural metalwork.

Washington, DC - The Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) will host a webinar on “Fire and Cold-Formed Steel Design: Fire Resistance of Wall, Floor and Ceiling Systems” on Thursday, October 10, 2019 at 3:00 pm EDT. The webinar is designed for architects, engineers, building officials and contractors. Participants are eligible for 1.5 PDHs.

Newton, MA - METALCON 2019, the metal construction industry’s largest international event for metal construction products, technologies and solutions, is featuring an interactive panel presentation by leading women in the metal and roofing industries on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 1.00 p.m., at Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Pittsburgh, PA - EXTECH/Exterior Technologies Inc. expands its skylight product offering with a new SKYGARD® 2500 Series aluminum-framed, monumental glass skylight system. Available in pyramid, single slope and ridge configurations, EXTECH’s new skylight complements commercial, institutional and industrial building designs.

Washington, DC - Led by a surge in multifamily production, total housing starts rose 12.3 percent in August 2019 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.36 million units from an upwardly revised reading in July, according to a report from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and Commerce Department. This is the highest level since May 2007.

Washington, DC - U.S. construction industry leaders’ confidence diminished somewhat in July 2019, yet they remain optimistic regarding nonresidential construction’s near-term prospects, according to the Construction Confidence Index (CCI) released by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).

Cleveland, OH - The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) announces Reed’s Metals LLC and its parent company, Union Corrugating Company, as new members. Both companies join MBMA in the Building Systems category.