Tag: glass

Maximizing the Value in Multifamily Development

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Multifamily construction had a good year in 2022. As noted in this recent report from Dodge Data & Analytics:

Nationally, commercial and multifamily construction starts increased by 25%. Commercial and multifamily construction made impressive gains in 2022, largely driven by rising demand for apartments and condos. Not to be outdone, commercial starts also posted strong gains fueled by increased demand for hotel, data center, and retail projects.

The New York metropolitan area was the top market for commercial and multifamily starts in 2022 at $37.1 billion, an increase of 37% from 2021. The Dallas metropolitan area was in second place, totaling $16.7 billion in 2022, a 51% gain. The Washington, D.C., metro area ranked third during 2022 with $11.4 billion in starts—a 38% gain over 2021.

Is it reasonable to expect such numbers to keep growing in 2023? Well, probably not. Another report from the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), published in January, reasonably predicts that multifamily starts will likely fall in 2023, following 2022’s “unsustainable” high production level.

When a specific market sector—in this case, multifamily housing—may be anticipating slower growth, we can calibrate how to best support and serve that market. For example, NAHB cites slowing rent growth and tightening commercial real estate financing conditions as reasons that may contribute to a potential slowdown.

With this kind of climate, it’s reasonable that developers may look at ways to control their costs more carefully regarding new projects. As this happens, I believe it’s important for our industry to continuously—no matter the forecasted economic conditions—advocate for the value that high-performance commercial glass and related products can bring to any project.

The benefits of multifamily applications are numerous and are well worth the continued investment for any developer interested in making high-performance buildings and comfortable living spaces. And the enabling technologies are likewise worth continued investment for glass professionals serving the multifamily market. Some of those benefits include:

  • Thermal Efficiency: Energy efficiency has been the name of the game in commercial construction for some time now, especially as highly glazed buildings have become popular around the world. Insulating glass technologies like warm-edge spacer systems, which can help optimize thermal efficiency by lowering thermal conductivity, make for a good choice to improve occupancy comfort and optimize energy savings. Meanwhile, multifamily construction is a ripe opportunity to use high-performance commercial vinyl technology that can further enhance thermal efficiency. Commercial vinyl framing is well suited for punched-opening applications, which are numerous in multifamily projects. And if maximized thermal efficiency is the goal, vinyl can be cost-effective; metallic systems typically must incorporate thermal breaks or other measures to match vinyl’s thermal numbers, driving up complexity and cost.
  • Sound Control: In noisy metropolitan environments, where multifamily high-rise buildings can be commonly found, acoustic performance is an important consideration for complete occupancy comfort. Commercial vinyl framing offers benefits here, too. Multi-chamber commercial vinyl extrusions can help mitigate noise, especially when compared with a metallic frame that reverberates more readily. Metallic framing can be designed to eliminate noise by incorporating dampening technology, too, but as noted earlier, such measures can make the design and manufacturing process more complex. A vinyl profile that helps lessen noise ingress from the busy streets below can be an attractive feature.
  • Color Options: Modern color options in vinyl framing have been popular in single-family residential spaces. But condominium and apartment dwellers have desires too. Commercial vinyl technology pairs well with modern color technology. For example, coextruded color technology incorporates color as an integral part of the vinyl profile. Such technologies can deliver outstanding color durability, enhanced scratch resistance versus painting or laminates, and the ability to withstand harsh weather conditions commercial windows face. For manufacturers, they also eliminate any labor involved with paint or laminates.

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Investing in high performance makes good business sense for developers and property owners. It’s been shown that people simply like living in buildings that have been thoughtfully designed to maximize occupancy comfort. And for commercial glass professionals, delivering on those demands is essential. No matter what the rest of the year has in store for multifamily construction, there’s no room for compromise regarding glass and window performance.

Joe Erb is the national account manager for Quanex.

What To Do When Your New Equipment Arrives

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In last month’s blog, I highlighted the importance of seeking supplier support when bringing new automated equipment online. Indeed, successful automation doesn’t happen by accident.

An ideal scenario sees your automated machines whirring away as your technicians work with software to ensure that all processes flow as they should. Logistics and shipping are optimized at every level. Many of today’s commercial glass manufacturers may not be quite at this level of sophistication, but we’re getting closer every day. You may have invested in new automated equipment over the winter and are awaiting installation from the OEM in the coming months—just in time for summer.

In my work with customers who’ve implemented today’s top technology for commercial glass fabrication, I’ve seen some things they all have in common. Drawn from that experience, here’s a checklist with some tips on how you can get the most from your new equipment:

Don’t assume “business as usual” – New equipment will likely require adjustments to your typical processes. Floor staff will require some training on how to best work with the new machinery. If you’re adding capacity, raw materials ordering and fulfillment will need adjusting, too. Work with your vendors to ensure you have what you need to maximize your new capabilities.

More than anything, keep an open mind. Advanced new equipment may open doors to new opportunities for glass manufacturers—be open to where those doors might lead once you’re up and running.

Don’t neglect your older equipment – Not many commercial glass producers are completely overhauling all equipment at once. While it can be easy to become preoccupied with ensuring new equipment is up and running as you intended, priority must still be placed on numerous older and reliable machines and equipment that help you make quality commercial glass. Be sure that you don’t let maintenance lapses happen.

Optimize production flow – Vertical high-speed lines deliver great quality and consistency by efficiently assembling units in a straight line, allowing production managers great visibility into the product. Because supervisors can see straight down the line, they’ll know exactly what is happening with in-production units at all times, allowing them to spot any deficiencies easily.

The installation of new equipment provides a great opportunity for you to rethink plant flows and processes—indeed, a straight-line approach can and should be applied across your plant, where possible. Doing so will help to minimize the number of touchpoints and the distance your units need to travel from point to point. You’ll also have greater visibility into the product, wherever it is in production.

Prepare your sales teams – The benefits of new equipment extend beyond just the shop floor; high-tech machinery can sometimes help you make a higher-performing product. That means your sales teams must have the knowledge to convey those benefits to your customers. An example: A new high-speed line has enabled you to switch from a metallic spacer system to warm-edge spacer technology. Your sales teams must be armed with the right information and knowledge to communicate the benefit of your improved product to discerning customers.

New machinery brings new opportunities. Make the most of them by properly preparing yourself for installation and ongoing operation.

Joe Erb is a national account manager for Quanex

The Role of Commercial Glass and Glazing, Today and Tomorrow

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The year is coming to a close rapidly, and it’s a time that I find valuable to reflect on where our industry stands today, and where we have to go in the future.

Anyone reading this will be closely familiar with the collective challenges we’ve faced around supply chains, labor and more over the past few years. Despite these issues, we’ve largely been able to make the best of it — and I’m confident we’ll be able to successfully navigate any choppy waters that may be ahead of us.

According to the Architecture Billings Index (ABI), an economic indicator for nonresidential construction activity published each month by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), October marked the first decline in billings since January 2021. This tells us two things: That 2022 has largely been a good year for the architectural industry, and that we’ll need to remain watchful headed into 2023.

“Economic headwinds have been mounting and finally led to weakening demand for new projects,” the AIA writes. “While one month of weak business conditions is not enough to indicate an emerging trend, it is worth keeping a close eye on firm billings in the coming months.”

Commercial glass and glazing professionals should do just that. But no matter the economic conditions we’re faced with — ideal or not — it’s worth remembering the critical role we play in the modern world. The glass and glazing technologies we help bring to bear are an integral part of modern architectural marvels around the world. But we’re also a critical part of more modest commercial buildings that people around the world depend on. Grocery stores. Schools. Banks. Office buildings. And so many more.

As we look toward 2023 my message is this: Stay focused on the fundamentals. The modern world depends on our ability to deliver uncompromising quality and reliability in critical applications, whether the construction market is booming or otherwise.

I’ve detailed a few of those fundamentals in a couple of my favorite posts for this blog over the past year. They include:

Quality. There are a number of ways we can ensure the quality of completed glass products. Whether it’s following established best practices for commercial glass fabrication or going the extra mile via testing to ensure long-term performance, continuing to explore how we can make quality improvements is an essential part of our industry’s future.

Read: Three Tips to Ensure High-Quality Commercial Insulating Glass

Read: The Increasing Importance of Mock-up Testing

Efficiency. Buildings are responsible for about 40% of global energy consumption and about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, modern construction can and must be more efficient than ever before. We have the potential to make meaningful contributions with innovative new glass technologies. Seizing that potential will require incorporating those technologies into our finished products.

Read: Today’s Decisions Impact Long-Term Success

Read: Meeting New Demands without Compromise

Let’s remember the essential role we play and commit to always delivering quality, innovative work for commercial applications everywhere.

Joe Erb is national account manager for Quanex.