Industry News

Arlington, VA - Despite signs the overall economy may be slowing, most construction firms expect demand for their services and hiring will expand in 2020, yet even more firms are worried about their ability to find qualified workers to hire, according to survey results released on December 18 by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and Sage Construction and Real Estate.

Colorado Springs, CO - S-5!, a recognized authority on metal roof attachment solutions, has been awarded the 2019 Gold Level Industry Advocate Award for outstanding service, participation and support of the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA).

Washington, DC – Demand for design services in November increased at a modest pace for the second month in a row, according to the latest report from The American Institute of Architects (AIA). AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score was 51.9 for November (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings).

Washington, DC – The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation has released the December 2019 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI). Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 56.2, an increase from the November index of 54.9.

Portland, OR - The Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), a leading nonprofit trade group representing the metal roofing industry in the U.S. and Canada, is welcoming the addition of two new regional manufacturer members for 2020.

Charlotte, NC - Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) has announced that it is acquiring TrueCore, LLC, an insulated metal panel manufacturing company with a facility in Laurens, SC. TrueCore produces insulated metal panels serving the cold storage market, with future plans for additional commercial and industrial applications.

Washington, DC - Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes increased five points to 76 in December off an upwardly revised November reading, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released on December 16. This is the highest reading since June of 1999.

Cleveland, OH - The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) released its latest continuing education course titled “Creative Design Alternatives Using Metal Building Systems.”

Washington, DC - Construction input prices decreased 0.5% in November 2019 and are down 1.1% year over year, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released on December 12. Nonresidential construction input prices decreased 0.4% for the month and are down 1.0% since November 2018.

Deland, FL – Kingspan announces a new addition to its lineup of industry-leading insulated metal panels. The company’s new KS UniQuad integrated translucent panel system allows its UniQuad daylighting panels to be used with its KS Series insulated metal panels.

Walker, MI - Tubelite Inc. has promoted Mary Avery to vice president of sales and marketing, and Tom Mifflin to director of marketing.

Glenside, PA - Ventco®, supplier of ridge ventilation for metal roofing, has relaunched its website at www.ProvileVent.com with a fresh, uncluttered design, improved navigation and greater accessibility.

Portland, OR - With many areas of the country experiencing a series of early winter storms this year, the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) reminds homeowners to pay close attention to their roofs, especially as winter weather continues to get rough.

Hopkins, MN - EDCO Products - supplier of steel roofing, siding and related products - announces the introduction of Generations Slate, which combines the company's ArrowLine Slate Roofing panel with its HD coating technology to produce an authentic slate appearance.

Bossier City, LA - After completing successful solar panel installations with roof recovers at plants in Peachtree City, GA, and Adelanto, CA, McElroy Metal recently completed a third solar conversion with its plant in Clinton, IL. Inovateus Solar installed 1,116 Hanwha Q-Plus L-G42 350W panels on the facility in Clinton. The system is rated at 390.6 kW DC, has five inverters and is designed for an annual output of 829,289 kWh.

Cleveland, OH - The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) elected its 2020 Board of Directors at the association’s annual meeting held December 3-4, 2019 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Steve Browning of Vulcan Steel Structures is the incoming chair of the group.

Washington, DC - The Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) will host a webinar on “Steel Deck on Cold-Formed Steel Framing” on Thursday, December 19, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. EST. The webinar is designed for architects, engineers, building officials and contractors. Participants are eligible for 1.5 PDHs.

Walker, MI - Tubelite Inc. introduces its client development manager trainee program. The program is designed to train aspiring sales professionals to successfully promote Tubelite's storefront, curtainwall, entrances and daylight control systems to glazing contractors and architectural teams.

Kingscourt, Ireland - Global building industry leader Kingspan has announced the launch of a major 10-year strategy to play its part in reducing the world’s carbon emissions by 45% by 2030, as determined in the Paris Agreement, and contribute towards the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

WASHINGTON - Following a two month decline in demand for design services, architecture billings got a bounce in October, according to a new report released from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score in October is 52.0, up from the September score of 49.7.