Latest Articles in Retail Glass
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January 1, 2006Like many industries in today’s global business environment, competitors in the domestic glass market have felt the pinch of overseas manufacturing. With lower labor costs, overseas manufacturers can produce more for significantly less. As a result, the price of glass has been driven down, leaving many suppliers struggling to survive. How do companies based in the United States, such as...
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Yet after a year of shortages and price hikes, 2006 looks healthyJanuary 1, 2006Without a catastrophic event, the U.S. commercial construction industry and its participants should see healthy returns in 2006, with overall market growth averaging 4-to-6 percent. At Kawneer North America in Norcross, Ga., company executives see an upbeat economic outlook and have been working with managers of its international parent, Alcoa Inc. of Pittsburgh, to make sure that supplies will...
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Short term, residential down; commercial, upJanuary 1, 2006Before looking forward, let’s look back. In our forecast a year ago, Ducker, along with most every other forecaster, underestimated the strength of the U.S. residential construction market. It continued to drive flat-glass demand in 2005 to another strong year.Despite projections of softening in the housing market, starts in 2005 are likely to end up at around 2.15 million, 3.5 percent...
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Traditional economic indicators do not give a clear pictureJanuary 1, 2006Economists, politicians and pontificators have been trying to figure out where the economy will go. My job is to translate their views into a crisp, clear forecast for the glass and related industries. Undaunted by this year’s uncertainty and abreast on various expert opinions, what follows is my best attempt.Storm surge or low tide? The key underlying factor for the 2006 economy will be...
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Bathroom sink idea bookDecember 1, 2005Click here to view PDF format. (630KB, Adobe Acrobat)
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Asian imports take tollDecember 1, 2005Aluminum extruders in the United States represent one segment of the bath-enclosure industry that has seen dramatic changes as a result of imports, said Richard S. James, vice president and general manager of the Aluminum Group at Loxcreen Co. in Roxboro, N.C., during a frank and well-documented presentation at the Bath Enclosure Manufacturers Association annual meeting during GlassBuild America...
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Software works only with supplier’s cutting tablesDecember 1, 2005Recently patented, the optimization program BatchBan by Billco Manufacturing Inc. of Zelienople, Pa., might eliminate some of the bottlenecks fabricators face on automated production lines and improve yields, says Kevin Lear, Billco software engineer.The software was tested at Cardinal Insulating Glass’ Spring Green, Wis., plant and has subsequently been introduced at other Cardinal IG...
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Two groups, two approachesDecember 1, 2005Officials at the Standards Subcommittee of the Bath Enclosure Manufacturers Association of Topeka, Kan., are working to finish the first draft of the Voluntary Specifications for Shower Enclosures by early spring. The specifications will eventually determine how shower enclosures are constructed and installed, says Chris Birch, BEMA executive director. “The need for meaningful consensus...
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Fabricators demand faster, cheaper, betterDecember 1, 2005European equipment manufacturers continue to hone tradition, reserving the biennial Vitrum to announce innovations. Executives of many major companies proudly brought forth and exclaimed over faster and more highly automated machinery during the 60,000-square-meter show Oct. 5-8 in Milan. Most of their lines now feature tightly aligned functions that almost entirely eliminate manpower....
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December 1, 2005Architects tout green buildings and sustainable design; fabricators trumpet low-emissivity and insulating glass products, all in the spirit of creating energy-efficient buildings. What about energy-saving manufacturing and production, though? Each year, the U.S. glass industry uses more than 250 trillion British Thermal Units to produce 21 million tons of glass, according to the U.S....
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Great Glazing: Custom interior officeThis commercial office space in Tulsa, Okla., features a 42-foot-long, custom, continuous art mural that spans 14 glass panels suspended from the ceiling. Created by Tulsa artist May Yang, the mural is based on local Oklahoma themes, transitioning from rural landscape to the Tulsa skyline. Great Glazing: Joliet Junior College Campus...
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Building on the success of the Top Glass Fabricators rankings introduced last year, Glass Magazine is expanding its coverage to include the Top Metal Companies, featuring the leading manufacturers and fabricators of metal products in the United States and Canada. The Top Metal Companies include those that manufacture, fabricate and sell curtain wall, storefront and entrance, commercial interior...
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In an effort to spotlight the people who make the Glass Magazine Award-winning products and projects possible, this year’s program included people-centric categories, for which the industry submitted their picks for best installer, production supervisor, project manager and sales rep.After narrowing down the nominations to three finalists in each category, the Glass Magazine editors asked the...
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