Tag: glass

Fostering Technical Expertise in the Next Generation

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One of the biggest issues facing the glass industry is whether or not we are doing enough to address technical challenges. It’s an interesting and important question to consider.

Performance demands in commercial glass and glazing continue rising, and architectural designs grow increasingly bold in major projects. Meanwhile, highly glazed buildings must continue to prove themselves sustainable and resilient over the long term. Meeting these needs requires deep technical knowledge, manufacturing and glazing expertise, and high service levels throughout the value chain.

Do we have what it takes to deliver?

I believe the answer is yes. For as long as I’ve been a part of this industry—nearly 30 years—I’ve had the opportunity to work with countless incredibly talented people at every turn. I know firsthand that we can deliver on the needs of both today and tomorrow.

But “tomorrow” may be the most important part of that last sentence. I think the biggest challenge we face regarding technical knowledge and expertise is how we foster the next generation of experts and get new blood into the industry. We all know that recruiting is a challenge—whether on the production side or the installation side—and I think it’s incumbent upon all of us in the industry to showcase that fenestration is an industry where you can build a fulfilling career.

I wrote a bit about this subject earlier in the year. As the glass industry moves forward, we must do everything possible to cultivate a new generation of professionals to help our businesses succeed. Some of this will involve getting more familiar with younger workers—what interests them, motivates them, and more.

Because there are good jobs and opportunities in every corner of the fenestration industry, and we need to get young people to see the potential. Glass can—and should—be exciting. Whether it’s using drones for surveying purposes, new machinery for installing glass, testing visual mock-ups, or evaluating next-generation technologies like building-integrated photovoltaics or electrochromic glass, our industry is deploying first-class technology in every part of what we do.

On the factory side, there’s also an opportunity to change the stigma about what people associate with factories or manufacturing in general. Today’s glass plants are safe, clean and filled with advanced technology. Advanced automated processing lines are a wonder of modern technology—but they won’t be able to accomplish much without an educated new generation of production workers who can successfully operate and maintain such equipment.

Connecting with younger workers and recruits and advocating for our industry will be some of the most important things we do in the coming years. It will take proactive outreach, investment in good training/mentoring programs, and a truly collective effort from today’s glass professionals.

Joe Erb is a national account manager for Quanex.

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