Tag: insulating glass

Being Thankful for Progress

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We’re approaching the end of November, and that means Thanksgiving and the holiday season is right around the corner. I hope that after the challenges our industry has been through this year, you’ll be able to find at least a bit of time to rest and reflect over the next month or so.

With all of this in mind, I got to thinking about what we—the fenestration industry—can or should be thankful for this year. On first thought, it might seem a bit difficult to identify those things as we continue to navigate the ongoing supply chain crunch, labor issues, and additional challenges that arrived with the pandemic and don’t seem to have subsided.

But I was struck by a couple of recent news items in this magazine. A new report from Key Media & Research suggests that commercial glass-related construction is approaching a full rebound. Elsewhere, a panel of commercial construction industry experts recently noted that construction pipelines are full and expect that the market is headed toward a period of sustained growth. You’ve probably been seeing and hearing similar chatter in the past few months.

This is all good news we can be thankful for, and it’s also worth thinking about a little more deeply. It’s evidence not just of the resiliency of our industry, but of commercial glass and glazing’s vital role in the modern built environment. The benefits are real, and they’re in high demand in new construction. Outstanding efficiency and occupancy comfort. Daylighting and views. Long-term performance.

We’ve helped sustain the demand for these benefits by working with building code communities to demonstrate glass’s ability to meet desirable performance targets in large-format glazing and curtainwall applications. We’ve also done it by utilizing proven technologies such as warm-edge spacer systems, low-E coatings, new kinds of framing, and other solutions. Glass today is an essential part of modern facades—and it’s because of the tremendous effort and innovation our industry has delivered over the past few decades. I’m thankful for the progress we’ve made toward the realization of more efficient, modern commercial construction.

It’s worth thinking about this collective hard work and collaboration as we begin to look toward next year and the future beyond. And while for many in the industry it’s been difficult to forecast too far beyond the day-to-day, it’s important that commercial glass professionals don’t let today’s challenges cause us to rest on our laurels. Make no mistake—it’s rough in the world of commercial glass fabrication and installation right now. But demand for what we can bring to modern buildings is higher than it’s ever been, and it will take our continued efforts and innovation to keep driving that demand higher.

Toward the end of a year filled with challenges, I hope you can find some things to be thankful for in the commercial fenestration space. And I’d love to hear what they are—let me know at Joe.Erb@Quanex.com.

Working Toward Continued Excellence

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It’s been a busy few weeks. Fresh from attending the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Annual Conference in Orlando, I headed to Naples, Florida, for a meeting of the Insulating Glass Certification Council (IGCC). And those two events had something in common.

Glass, in all its forms, has become quite the versatile tool for architects to use in bold new designs throughout recent years. Whether it’s massive curtainwalls, structural glass, oversized panels, or other features, architects have taken to the material to create boundary-breaking new structures.

These trends were apparent at the AIA conference, and insulating glass (IG) plays a significant role in the equation. Take, for instance, glass building facades—high performance is an absolute necessity, and glass suppliers and fabricators have risen to the challenge with new innovations and technology. At AIA, I took note that warm-edge spacer technology for IG units and advanced framing design and materials grabbed the attention of architects for the workability and performance benefits they can bring to many of the most forward-thinking projects.

Meanwhile, the meeting of IGCC was concerned with something related: Beyond just thermal performance, how can the IG community help ensure the long-term durability and performance of insulating glass? What can we do to certify high-quality products in a meaningful way that benefits both the end consumer and our industry?

Durability Matters

The standards for long-term durability have proven to be an enduring topic in commercial fenestration, and not without reason. Perhaps more than anything, building and property owners taking on new architectural projects want some form of assurance that their new asset will last. The last thing an owner wants to see are performance issues occurring so soon after installation.

As such, we’ve seen increasing discussion on long-term performance for building material including glazing.  This is especially true for larger commercial buildings which are expected to have extended useful lifespan and replacement costs can be significant. Simultaneously, cost-effectiveness remains an ever-present concern for all stakeholders. These needs were echoed at the AIA conference, and for IG suppliers, it means providing robust, durable and high-performing solutions, all within a reasonable budget.

These are some of the challenges that the IGCC wrestles with, and are part of the reason why our organization plays an important role in the advancement of our industry. Certifications programs were developed to provide a mark of quality on which IG suppliers can base claims and that builders can trust. So, we must consider these market demands when formalizing the performance standards necessary for certification, ensuring both stringency and attainability.

Moving Forward with Confidence

It’s been promising to see that industry engagement and involvement around durability and performance standards are on the rise. This past IGCC meeting in Naples drew the largest attendance in my recent memory.

It speaks to the level of interest and desire of IG professionals to stay in front of the needs of the glass industry as they relate to certification programs that offer proof of performance. It shows that we are willing, able and driven to meet the demands of new trends hitting the market.

Joe Erb is a commercial sales specialist at Quanex Building Products.

 

 

This Side of Uncertainty: Tackling 2017’s Challenges

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Lacking a working crystal ball, nobody truly knows what 2017 has in store for the commercial glazing industry. As the new presidential administration begins its term, there is a good amount of uncertainty in terms of investment in the building and construction space that may or may not be made, along with policy changes that may or may not come to pass.

The Labor Shortage. For one, the building and construction industry overall continues to grapple with a labor shortage that threatens efficiency and margins, with many players competing for a shrinking pool of skilled labor. Whether you’re a glazier, an IG fabricator or a window manufacturer, finding and retaining the right people continues to pose a significant challenge.But while we forge into the new year with a bit of “wait and see,” there are a few things we do know for sure—and there are a few ways we’re beginning to see the industry address them.

But over recent months, I’ve sensed a rising effort in our industry to invest in our workers as we figure out how to potentially operate with fewer of them. Consider the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Association (IGMA’s) ongoing IG workshops, two-day seminars providing hands-on training on the technical ins and outs of IG manufacturing. USGlass magazine’s Nick St. Denis attended the IGMA workshop late last year and reported back on his findings. In short, the workshops offer detailed, exhaustive information for IG fabricators and others in the industry.

It’s this kind of investment and education that will continue to help our industry deliver high-quality, high-performance solutions that our customers demand. If we, as an industry, continue building and incentivizing high levels of skill and expertise in a new generation of workers, we can bolster the skill levels we need to continue succeeding and innovating well into the future.

Seizing Opportunity with New Technologies. It seems like commercial IG fabricators have been talking about automated technology for a little while now—and with good reason. High-speed automated lines have helped fabricators realize significantly larger volumes (and larger units) while reducing labor. Processes that once required 12 line workers may now require three or four, enabling organizations to allocate their most skilled workers to high-value tasks throughout their plant.

But as more fabricators continue to invest in high-speed automation, it’s becoming increasingly clear that to maintain a competitive edge, fabricators need to begin thinking differently about the overall operations of their plant. When more companies can deliver high-quality IG units at increasingly high volumes, what’s setting your business apart?

As 2017 gets underway, I believe we’ll begin seeing these efforts take shape by innovative manufacturers and fabricators in the commercial glass space. Whether it’s a focus on high-margin, high-value products, new ways of thinking about plant layout, and beyond, anticipate moves from fabricators looking to sharpen their competitive edge.

And I’ll be here to offer my thoughts and insight on these movements along the way. I’m excited with the opportunity to author this blog for USGNN.com™; watch this space for my thoughts on glass technology, industry trends and ways in which fabricators can move forward confidently in a changing industry.

Joe Erb is a commercial sales specialist at Quanex Building Products.