Industry News

Allentown, PA - Five projects on which ATAS International products were installed were selected as winners of the 2024 Metal Construction Association (MCA) Design Awards, which were previously announced. The MCA Design Awards are among the most prestigious awards in the metal construction industry and recognize member companies involved in the construction of outstanding building projects that use metal in significant and innovative ways.

Arlington, VA - The construction sector added 34,000 jobs in August while the industry’s unemployment rate fell to 3.2 percent, the lowest August rate in the 25-year history of the data, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the unemployment rate and the results of a recently released workforce survey conducted by the association and Arcoro indicate that firms would likely have hired more workers if only they could find qualified people.

Auburn, WA - The Bryer Company has updated its equipment by commissioning a new 21-foot double folder from Evobend. In addition to expanded flashing capabilities, including automatic tapering of 21-foot pieces, the Evobend will greatly improve Bryer’s competitive advantage with its existing Axis and Vector metal wall panels.

Newton, MA - METALCON is offering an up-close course in metal composite material (MCM) during the 2024 show in Atlanta. Architects and designers are invited to sign up for a 90-minute walking tour of the city’s Centennial Park District that will visit several high-profile projects showcasing some of the best uses of MCM.

Muskegon, MI - Lorin Industries Inc., a global industry leader in the innovation and production of coil anodized aluminum, has increased its warranty coverage for Architectural Class I and II exterior products. Lorin now offers one of the best warranties in the industry, ensuring that its customers get the most value out of their investment in Lorin’s innovative products.

Washington, DC – The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) has released its August 2024 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI). Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 58.4, an increase from the July index of 50.7, and the highest level since February 2022. 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.

Oklahoma City, OK - An international force with a less-is-more design philosophy who focuses on cultural influences, kindness and hospitality is entering the realm of architecture. Flex-Ability Concepts is proud to be an advocate of this force—Tathiana Volpe-Ruiz—via its University of Oklahoma (OU) scholarship program. This is the 24th year Flex-Ability Concepts has offered a scholarship to OU architectural students like Volpe-Ruiz.

Washington, DC – July marked the eighteenth consecutive month of declining billings for architecture firms, according to the latest data from the AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI). While the ABI score of 48.2 indicates that fewer firms reported declines in billings compared to June, over half of the responding firms continue to navigate challenging business conditions.

Vacaville, CA – All Weather Insulated Panels (AWIP) has announced the promotion of Jackie Rizzatti and Chaz Schafer to Regional Sales Manager. Their new positions coincide with AWIP’s nationwide restructuring of its sales team to serve customers nationwide.

Chicago, IL – The Metal Construction Association (MCA) is proud to announce the 2024 MCA Design Awards winners. The MCA Design Awards are among the most prestigious awards in the metal construction industry and recognize member companies involved in the construction of outstanding building projects that use metal in significant and innovative ways. The winners will be displayed on the showroom floor at METALCON, which will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center on Oct. 30th - Nov. 1st.

Cleveland, OH - The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) has added to its library of free, downloadable resources for architectural students and their professors with its newest publication, “The Milne Center for Ocean Science and Conservation.” This 20-page folio explores the design and construction of a unique metal building that serves an integral role with the world-renowned Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut.

Deer Park, WA - Knight Wall Systems announces the launch of ANKIT™, a new proprietary fastener to be used in conjunction with Knight’s CI® and HCI systems to further aid in overcoming the challenges of thermal bridging and wind-driven rain.

Elk Grove Village, IL - Petersen has updated its color palette to feature new stocked colors and gauge availability for its PAC-CLAD architectural metal cladding systems, coil and flat sheets. Changes made reflect its commitment to providing a diverse selection of colors while maintaining inventory of the most frequently requested metal gauges to better support the needs of its customers.

Newton, MA — The Design District at METALCON offers exclusive programming and unmatched opportunities for design professionals and engineers to immerse themselves in the world of metal design and construction at this year’s show in Atlanta from Wednesday, Oct. 30 to Friday, Nov. 1. Featuring specialized education sessions, focused networking opportunities and a showcase of cutting-edge innovations, these tailored offerings are designed to elevate expertise and ignite innovative approaches to architectural design with metal.

Coshocton, Ohio – MFM Building Products, a manufacturer of a full envelope of waterproofing and weather barrier products for the building industry, broke ground on a new warehouse expansion project on August 8, which will lead to further expansion in 2025.

West Chester, OH - ClarkDietrich, manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing products, has published an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Optimization Report for its low embodied carbon (LEC) cold-formed steel products.

Portland, OR — Following an announcement in early August that a Florida multi-residential family project had been named the Metal Roofing Alliance's (MRA) Best Residential Metal Roofing project of Q2, 2024, MRA has announced a second winner as well: a striking reroofing project located in Banks, OR. Receiving the award was Mountaintop Metal Roofing, the Vancouver, WA-based metal roofing installer.

Whiting, IN - East Lake Metals is excited to announce the launch of a new quoting service that allows customers to tailor their Za•Breze metal forming machines to their exact specifications. This innovative service offers a wide range of customization options, from detailed configurations of individual machines to complete machine designs tailored to specific production needs.

Allentown, PA - Kyle Ferenc, CSI, of ATAS International, Inc. was presented the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Chicago Chapter President’s Award. The award is given to a chapter member who has rendered distinguished service to the chapter and was instrumental in advancement of the chapter’s mission, activities, and/or administration.

Dallas, TX – Overhead Door™ Brand, a leading manufacturer in residential and commercial door solutions, now offers Mechanical Pit Leveler models with dimensions that service the majority of the industry, alongside the new Sectional Warehouse Steel 400 Series. This expansion is part of Overhead Door™ Brand’s broader initiative to provide comprehensive dock and door solutions under one trusted brand.