Industry News

Alexandria, VA - Construction employment was unchanged from March to April as nonresidential contractors and homebuilders alike struggled to obtain materials and find enough workers, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of recently released government data. Association officials said the industry’s recovery was being hampered by problems getting stable prices and reliable deliveries of key materials, while the pandemic and federal policies were making it harder for firms to find workers to hire.

Cleveland, OH - Garland was recently named The ESOP Association Company of the Year for the Ohio/Kentucky Chapter, recognizing the company’s strong commitment to employee ownership. Garland is now qualified for the National ESOP Company of the Year competition, which will be held June 21 in Washington, D.C.

Cleveland, OH - The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) announces its inaugural collegiate Student Design Competition. The contest is intended to challenge undergraduate and graduate architecture students to create an innovative metal building design for a one- or two-story elementary school. A total of $15,000 in awards will be made to students and faculty sponsors.

Deland, FL – Kingspan Insulated Panels North America announces new sustainability initiatives as part of the company’s global Planet Passionate program, an ambitious, decade-long commitment to cutting carbon emissions between 2020 and 2030. Through upcycling, renewable energy and a PV solar roof, a large investment in Kingspan’s plant in Modesto, California, puts Kingspan a step closer to meeting its global target.

Allentown, PA - At the recent ATAS International employee appreciation and awards dinner, David Willard, CSI, CDT®, and John Fenstermacher, CDT®, were announced as the recipients of the annual Malan S. Parker Award, which recognizes the top sales team each year.

Youngstown, OH - Spectrum Metal Finishing announces that Neil Chrisman IV has succeeded his father, Neil Chrisman III, as president of the company the elder Chrisman founded in 1993.

Washington, DC – The National Association of Manufacturers announced that David Cox, Chief Executive Officer, The Bradbury Group, has been named to the NAM Board of Directors. Cox will join the NAM Board to bolster the association’s leadership in policy advocacy, workforce solutions, legal action, operational excellence, news, and insights. He will help the industry advance an agenda that promotes growth and prosperity for all Americans.

Washington, DC - National nonresidential construction spending declined 1.1% in March, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $778.5 billion for the month.

Washington, DC Strengthening to a score not seen since pre-Great Recession, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) logged its second positive mark since the beginning of the pandemic, according to a new report from The American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Irving, TX – The International Roofing Expo (IRE), the premier conference and trade show for the roofing and exterior construction industries, has announced that its call for presentations for the 2022 event is now open. IRE 2022 will take place February 1-3, 2022, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA.

Atlanta, GA – SAF, a global metals distributor, fabricator, and finisher, is enhancing its column cover fabrication capabilities to produce longer, taller covers, giving customers additional design options when selecting covers manufactured by SAF.

Cleveland, OH - The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) will once again be hosting their annual Architecture Faculty Workshop for college and university professors nationwide. The half-day, virtual event takes place August 4, 2021, 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. ET.

Grayslake, IL — Sheet Metal Supply Ltd., a leading fabricator/supplier of custom perimeter edge systems, has introduced the MegaLock 2 Radius System for curved perimeter edges. MegaLock 2, the company’s most popular ES-1 rated perimeter edge system because of its ease of installation, is now available custom fabricated and curved to almost any radius, concave or convex.

Chicago, IL - Registration is now open for the Metal Construction Association's (MCA) 2021 Virtual Summer Meeting, scheduled for June 14-16. Important and timely content is planned for each session as MCA builds upon the high attendance and positive feedback from the 2020 Virtual Summer Meeting and 2021 Virtual Winter Meeting.

Washington, DC - The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation has released its April 2021 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry. Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market now stands at 76.1, an all-time high and an increase from the March index of 67.7.

Newton, MA - METALCON, the metal construction industry’s only global event for metal construction and design products, technologies and solutions, announces its new Top Products Award.

Lancashire, UK - Proteus Facades, a UK supplier of rainscreen cladding systems, announces that it has entered the U.S. market.

Cleveland, OH - The National Coil Coating Association (NCCA) launched a new mobile-friendly website that includes new images, expanded educational material and improved navigation tools.

Allentown, PA - Standing Seam Shingle and Monarch Batten Seam, metal panels manufactured by ATAS International, have long been used for metal roofing. Recently, they have been adopted for use as metal wall cladding.

Washington, DC - The Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) will host the CFSEI Virtual Expo 2021 on May 18-20. The Expo will include 12 live webinars as well as announcements of the CFSEI Design Excellence and Creative Detail Award winners and the John P. Matsen Distinguished Service Award winner.