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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

The bar business

What is it about your favorite bar that keeps you coming back? Is it the friendly service, the clientele, the drink specials? Or, is it the look and feel of the physical bar itself? More bars and restaurants are installing glass bar tops and accents to set their design apart from the competition, and here at Glass Magazine, we want to see them. Backlit, laminated, kiln-cast, large and small, tell us about the coolest glass bars you’ve worked on recently. Fabricators, retailers, installers, we’d like to hear from all of you. So, please email high resolution photos and descriptions to jchase@glass.org and tell us why your bar project belongs in Glass Magazine’s upcoming “Best Glass Bar” feature.

For the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C., UltraGlas created this all-glass, illuminated bar of ¾-inch-thick low-iron glass with a translucent frit-based coloration and UltraGlas “Linen” kiln-formed texture. The glass frit-based, fired-on colors were heat processed to fuse to the No. 2 surface of a lite of low-iron Diamant glass by Saint Gobain.
19 comments
Monday, August 13, 2012

From the fabricator: A change of heart

You know, it was like it was meant to be. Just last week, I mentioned that I was pessimistic about all of these forecasts promoting improvements in our sector of the world. So, what happens this week? The Associated General Contractors of America announces that things are now growing consistently, and that construction spending had its the best month in 2 1/2 years. You know, I have always been good at NOT picking sports teams (though my baseball picks for this year are looking good). Maybe I need to use the same theory with these construction forecasts and reports? Maybe just keep taking the opposite view? In any case, it is welcome news, but we’re still a week away from the next ABI that I have a feeling will be down again….

Elsewhere…

  • I have noted Bill Coady of Guardian on the blog here before for being an excellent man. Well, I guess I am not alone im thinking that as Bill just was honored as the “Product Representative of the Year” by the Seattle chapter of CSI. Congrats Bill, that is an honor that is surely deserved!
  • The weekly reminder on GlassBuild America: this year, the “Best in Show” award is coming back, recognizing the best exhibits! Winners leave with the knowledge that their efforts were appreciated and they get an awesome glass plaque from M3 Glass Technologies. Like last year, the judges are the attendees. So, those of you going (which should be everyone who reads this blog!), keep your eyes peeled for the best booths and enter your ballot. Random judges (you) will be eligible to win prizes too.
  • Did anyone happen to see The Washington Post's continuing coverage of the Solyndra mess? Am I the only one wondering why there hasn’t been a full-scale clean up of the DOE? I guess some people/organizations just keep falling “upwards” no matter what.
  • I just recently checked out the schedule of events for the IGMA meeting that will be held in Las Vegas at virtually the same time as GlassBuild. So coming out there, you can continue to add even more value to your trip. This is truly a heavy duty technical seminar. The meeting agenda looks fantastic. Anytime you can see Dr. Tom Culp talking on codes, you NEED to do it. Plus, I met Bill Briese of GED last year at GlassBuild, and he was extremely impressive. He’ll have a presentation that probably won’t disappoint. Kudos to Dave Cooper of Guardian, current president of IGMA, and Marg Webb for a well-done plan! Look at it this way. For a few days in Vegas, between GlassBuild America, the Glazing Executives Forum, and IGMA, you will actually leave RICH…. with knowledge!! (and maybe with money if you go opposite of my advice!)
  • Gas is now above $4; does anyone care? Isn’t it amazing that, as a society, we’ve settled on gas prices that high and have no desire to fight or do anything about it?
  • Did anyone see this glass-bottomed swimming pool in China? 24 stories off the ground… Ummmm, I’d be worried about nickel sulfide…LOL.

Read on for links and video of the week...

The author is founder of Sole Source Consultants, a consulting firm for the building products industry that specializes in marketing, branding, communication strategy and overall reputation management, as well as website and social media, and codes and specifications. E-mail him at MaxP@SoleSourceConsultants.com.

The opinions expressed here are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Glass Association, Glass Magazine editors, or other glassblog contributors.

27 comments
Monday, August 6, 2012

California's ground-breaking requirement for window films

It’s been more than four years since NFRC began to certify applied film products. Since then, the number of NFRC-certified films has grown to more than 200.

 The window film industry turned to NFRC because they wanted independent verification of their products’ energy performance to demonstrate to consumers, architects, contractors, facility managers, and others that their products would perform as advertised.

Now, the window film industry has another reason to certify its products – the California Energy Commission included window film requirements in its 2013 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, more commonly known as “Title 24.” Starting in January 2014, the CEC will require that applied films be NFRC-certified for alterations in existing residential and nonresidential buildings. The International Window Film Association hailed it as a ‘landmark’ decision. 

The decision is good news for customers who want to make an “apples-to-apples” comparison of applied film products’ energy performance values. NFRC uses a different label than the temporary residential label to distinguish applied film ratings from window ratings. Unlike the familiar rectangular label for residential windows, the applied film label is oval in shape and features six columns of ratings, listing U-Factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient and Visible Transmittance values with film and without film. The manufacturer attaches the NFRC label to the package containing the window film, rather than the film itself, so that clients and customers can easily see the ratings.

NFRC designed its applied film rating and certification program, governed by NFRC standards 100 and 200, to mirror the third-party process used for fenestration products. Manufacturers sign a license agreement, choose an NFRC-accredited simulation laboratory (or test laboratory if testing is required), select an NFRC-licensed certification and inspection agency to authorize the certification and inspect the manufacturing facility annually, and recertify the product every four years.

With the change in California energy code, NFRC expects more window film manufacturers to rate their products. Even without this change, window film manufacturers benefit from rating their products through NFRC. Certified ratings provide a level playing field, and manufacturers can increase their credibility because they’ve made the effort to have a third-party confirm the energy performance of their products.

Jim Benney is the National Fenestration Rating Council’s chief executive officer. He has been involved in developing product and performance standards for the window and glass industry for more than 25 years. He can be reached at jbenney@nfrc.org. To learn more about Title 24 and applied films, contact Nelson Peña at Nelson.Pena@energy.ca.gov.

27 comments
Monday, August 6, 2012

From the fabricator: The letter to the editor

 

While I was digging through the latest Glass Magazine this week, I got totally immersed in the “Letters to the Editor” page.  Usually, that page offers some great insights, and this month was no different.  In fact, this edition had an interesting rebuttal from John D’Amario of Yuanda USA Corp. on the whole adventure of tariffs on Chinese aluminum.  It was a very colorful letter defending the rights of Chinese manufacturers to sell in North America.  Part of his approach relied on the “welcome to the evolution” argument: the world continues to lean towards China in so many other categories, it’s not a surprise that it continues its dive into building products.  He also basically said don’t blame China for your lack of competitiveness, and so on.
However, the one item he did not mention in his letter was the fact that many, if not all, of the Chinese manufacturers get government subsidies.  That fact takes out any notion of a “level” playing field.  I have gone on the record before about other aspects of this situation that make it incredibly frustrating and unfair.  At the end of the day though, it is not going away. This debate will continue, but I think it’s important to note that North American producers are at a distinct disadvantage.
Elsewhere…
  • By the way, the rest of the magazine this month was strong, as always.  If you are not getting it, you need to make that happen, so sign up or get it via the app. 
  • One of Glass Magazine's big focuses this month was GlassBuild America, and I was blown away at the layout of some of the products that will be on display.  I know I have been promoting it relentlessly, but my gosh, seeing it in the magazine really hit home.  You have everything from one-man glass lifters to glass flooring to tons of new hardware options, and so on.  Hundreds and hundreds of new and diverse products will be on display. In any case, the time is now. By the way, the hotel block was extended after so many folks read my blog last Tuesday and must have swamped the system.  So, you now have til August 10 to get the great rates.  Ya gotta be there…
  • Did you see the rankings of the “happiest places in the world” that came out the end of last week?  The US of A came in at #11.  My good friends in Canada checked in at #5 (though if they ever do “best dressed country,” Canada wins hands down because of Walker Glass). The top four were Denmark, Finland, Norway and the Netherlands. By the way, the U.S. has had the same score and percentages since 1992, which is really funny because I am sure a lot of people think our world and country have changed pretty dramatically since then. 
  • For the most part, I have been very positive and optimistic about our industry economic trends.  I have been cheerleading like crazy.  More recently, however, I have been struggling to remain positive and have turned towards the pessimistic. Even the positive news from AIA last week that 2013 will bring some decent growth to our world did not impress me.  I'm just not feeling it; I have been built up and let down so many times…
  • There have been tons of amazing moments at the Olympics so far, but one of my favorites was the vault by McKayla Moroney in the gymnastics team competition.  She is a vault specialist I guess, and her main reason for being there was to come through with a jaw-dropping performance… and she did… and then some.  When I saw it, I was blown away: pure, amazing perfection.  Also, if you had the chance to see NBC’s look back at the 1996 gymnastic team (Kerri Strug and the Magnificent 7), that was excellent TV.
  • The NFL has kicked off their pre-season. Schools will be back in session soon. Seriously, is summer over?  Is it me, or did it just fly by?

Read on for links and video of the week...

 

The author is founder of Sole Source Consultants, a consulting firm for the building products industry that specializes in marketing, branding, communication strategy and overall reputation management, as well as website and social media, and codes and specifications. E-mail him at MaxP@SoleSourceConsultants.com.

The opinions expressed here are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Glass Association, Glass Magazine editors, or other glassblog contributors.

20 comments
Tuesday, July 31, 2012

From the fabricator: Working through the dog days of summer

News of big price increases hit the industry the last few weeks. There’s no question that costs have gone up on everything, not only in our industry, but in our lives as a whole. Whether it’s groceries or building supplies, the cost to produce, handle and ship has been rising pretty consistently in recent times. In most industries, a price increase is what it is; but in this one, nothing is easy or as it seems. Will this be an increase that sticks, or will this just be another footnote in our crazy past of handling costs? There’s a ton of dynamics at play here, and it sure will be something to watch.

Elsewhere….

  • The Olympics kicked off this past Friday and I had two main thoughts:The lack of a moment of silence for the athletes murdered in 1972 continues to be a major stain on the Olympic movement. While small and private memorials have been held, the Olympic organizers absolutely refuse to recognize or honor the victims of that heinous time on a legitimate, world stage. So my message to the organizers: keep avoiding facing it head on and the drumbeat for the need to honor the victims will just keep growing. Why doing the right thing is so hard here is beyond me. Also beyond me, most of that opening ceremony! Weird and bizarre are two words that sum up most of it. Plus, who woulda thunk The Pet Shop Boys would have a song played during an Olympic opening… crazy.
  • Congrats to the National Glass Association for an Olympic-sized victory this week. The NGA was one of the groups behind the HR 4078 legislation that will streamline the time-consuming permitting process, bring transparency to rules issued by agencies as a result of an out-of-court agreement, and prohibit agencies from issuing a cascade of regulations when a change of administration occurs. Basically, this bill reduces the massive red tape that small business owners have to face when building their business. Nice to see the National Glass Association really getting into it, and let’s hope the Senate now does the right thing and continues this momentum.
  • The update on GlassBuild America: Tuesday, July 31, is the last day for the awesome rates at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel. So jump off this blog now by clicking here, and book before the rates go up. The actual hotel block is still available through August 21, but you know you’re going to the show, so why wait? Book now!
  • Last this week... a good friend of mine called me this week and took me to task about my blog. It’s boring and the same stuff over and over again he excitedly told me. He mentioned that he still reads it weekly but it's just not cutting it lately. I heard him out and agreed with a lot of it, as this summer has been very slow for news and opinion, and it does seem like some subjects have been more prominent than others. We are in the dog days, and I have found myself caught up in it. In any case, I am aware of it and will keep grinding along to try to bring you the blog you expect and have been supporting since 2005. I appreciate everyone who reads, comments, e-mails, etc., so keep it coming.

Read on for links and video of the week...

The author is founder of Sole Source Consultants, a consulting firm for the building products industry that specializes in marketing, branding, communication strategy and overall reputation management, as well as website and social media, and codes and specifications. E-mail him at MaxP@SoleSourceConsultants.com.

The opinions expressed here are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Glass Association, Glass Magazine editors, or other glassblog contributors.

4 comments
Monday, July 23, 2012

Fenestration hallucination:Creating new markets through product development

"The best way to predict the future is to create it." -Peter Drucker

Most economic forecasters are predicting the construction industry in the United States will likely grow at a very slow rate over the next few years. Our fenestration industry sales are expected to limp along as well. However, I believe sales could improve dramatically with some active technological and production developments, coupled with appropriate pricing.

Fenestration and glass already offer many static features at reasonable price points. Combining multiple, active technologies with existing, static products could conceivably take fenestration and glass beyond the architectural envelope and transform them into multi-functioning devices that completely change the way they are viewed. Consumer awareness and demand is there. People are ready to buy now if mass production exists, the products work well and the prices are right.

Imagine combining these technologies with residential and commercial fenestration:

  • Interactive touch screens
  • Video
  • Signage
  • Variable privacy film
  • Variable tinting film 
  • Changing decoration
  • Solar energy collection
  • Sensor-activated functions
  • Power controls
  • Lighting and lighting control

I’m no scientist or industrial engineer, just a consumer. I’m impatient for the future shown in Corning’s ‘A Day Made of Glass’ video. Curtain wall as active signage like that in the classic film Blade Runner has always been an intriguing vision. It’s exciting to imagine what the world will be like when those products are out there and in common use. I’m also impatient to become a dealer for new and exciting products.

While some of these new product features currently exist, they’re either not being combined into multi-function consumer products, they’re not effectively mass-produced and/or their price point isn’t right. Manufacturers that can reliably and economically produce more of the new, active technologies in combination with existing, static glass and fenestration products will tend to profit and grow faster over time than those who don’t.

"We are called to be architects of the future, not its victims." - R. Buckminster Fuller

Rod Van Buskirk is the third-generation owner of Bacon & Van Buskirk Glass Co., with locations in Champaign and Springfield, Ill. A past NGA Chairman, Rod looks quarterly at the industry from the middle of nowhere, steals ideas from anyone he can and pretends to know what he’s talking about. Rod invites your comments as you are certainly smarter than he is.

48 comments
Monday, July 23, 2012

From the fabricator: Uh oh, the ABI stays negative

That awful sound you might be hearing is the Architecture Billings Index gasping for air. Can it really be happening again? Once you think you have made it out of the woods, you realize you’re still lost. In any case, the news last week that the ABI is still trending in negative territory was brutal. And considering that the graph of the ABI from year to year looks eerily similar, 2013 could take the same shape as 2012. Part of me believes the ABI and its ilk are just educated guesses anyway, but even if that's true, people believe and follow them. Bottom line is we are still in tenuous territory. That said, does any of this matter? The election in November is going to move the needle one way or another, and all of the future research is basically worthless because of that. So we wait…

Elsewhere…

  • I got great insight and reaction to my post last week about SAM saving the day.  The best was the education I received from people who have dealt with spontaneous breakage due to nickel sulfide, and how hard it is to find. These folks pretty much shot down SAM’s effectiveness. So, now I am curious to see how this program will actually work, as the experts I talked with were pretty adamant that this is wishful thinking.
  • Anyone else having trouble picking their winners for the Glass Magazine Awards? Man, it is brutal; so many great candidates. I am betting these elections are going to be insanely close, so please vote. Best of all, this is a great and fair way to recognize talent. Even being nominated is huge. There are no politics in the selection process, which is really refreshing.
  • Great tweet from the account of ICD last week with a story on “green” being old news and “zero impact” being the future. Totally dead on. The zero impact approach really is the next frontier. The story is here, and if you want to follow a person who is constantly linking to interesting and need-to-know stuff, follow ICD and my pal the glass pundit, Kris Vockler.
  • Speaking of “green”… Last Wednesday, a new group was announced that brings together a lot of building and construction associations. The American High-Performance Buildings Coalition is going to do something that I have been preaching here for a long time: get into the real crux of the green movement and ensure that the development of all green standards makes sense. This group will be ANSI accredited, which is a positive too. Hopefully, it can be fair and transparent--not biased or political--and make these programs truly effective.
  • In my weekly look at GlassBuild America news:  the Innovative Product Pavilion has sold out. That is awesome news; it proves that the technological advancements in our industry are not a fable, but true blue. So, on the floor in Las Vegas will be the technology that will take our industry into the future, and that is extremely exciting. I am not sure how anyone in business can choose to miss this… So there ya go, my weekly plug for the show; be there!
  • Last this week, back in December 2010, I ran this story about an online eyeglass seller who let bad reviews drive his business and then bullied people who purchased from him. Basically, he did the opposite of what we all try to do, but it was working… until the guy eventually went too far with his threats and was arrested. Now, an update comes that his bail has been revoked, and he is still in business. Amazing.

Read on for links and video of the week...

The author is founder of Sole Source Consultants, a consulting firm for the building products industry that specializes in marketing, branding, communication strategy and overall reputation management, as well as website and social media, and codes and specifications. E-mail him at MaxP@SoleSourceConsultants.com.

The opinions expressed here are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Glass Association, Glass Magazine editors, or other glassblog contributors.

24 comments
Monday, July 16, 2012

Investing despite uncertainty: A look inside two glass industry factories

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of touring two glass industry plants in Minnesota: the Cardinal CG location in Northfield and the Erdman Automation facility in Princeton. The plants provide very different services to the industry: Cardinal offers coating, high-volume cutting and tempering services; and Erdman produces a variety of machines for window manufacturers and IG fabricators. However, they are similarly impressive in their skill, service level and ability to address the challenges of a still-lackluster economy through investment and diversification.

Vern Volkert, plant superintendent, served as tour guide for the Cardinal CG plant, held as part of the Window and Door Manufacturers Association Technical Conference, June 26-28, in Bloomington, Minn. (We couldn’t take photos during the tour, but Cardinal has a nice video of the plant on their web site—click “Cardinal Plant Tours” in the menu; the CG plant tour begins at 6:57.)

While the facility is not operating at full capacity—it employs between 150 and 160 at its max, and currently has about 90 to 100 workers—the company has taken strides to improve and update its equipment, and ready itself for an evolving industry. An impressive recent addition is the company’s new coater. After two years of preparation, Cardinal recently brought online a second coating machine that was designed specifically for the solar market, allowing it to diversify into a new business segment. As the company waits for solar to pick up, it is running residential products on the state-of-the-art line.

In an additional move to face economic challenges with innovation, Cardinal has started making its own equipment. The Northfield plant is already using some Cardinal washers.

North 90 miles, officials at the Erdman Automation facility are also relying on innovation and diversification to thrive and even grow in the current economy. The company, which primarily served the window and door market in 2006, is now serving the curtain wall, insulating glass and solar industries as well. Erdman is also expanding geographically. “In the early years, we were just in the United States,” says Jim Tibesar, sales manager. “Now we’re in Canada, South America, China and Europe. We recently started working with a customer in Barbados.” Tibesar led the tour, along with Paul VanKempen, general manager; Michael Schmidt, IG sales specialist; and Jessica Erdman, marketing manager.

The company has made investments in its own machinery, including the purchase of an advanced bridge mill machine. And, Erdman has made investments in its product line to serve advancements in the industry, such as its secondary sealant applicator for triple-glazed IGUs, and its machinery products for solar. Below is a video from Erdman demonstrating its Solar Frame Assembly Station.

Devlin is senior editor for Glass Magazine. Write her at kdevlin@glass.org.

27 comments
Monday, July 16, 2012

From the fabricator: SAM to the rescue

When I saw the news come across GlassMagazine.com about a robot that could help inspect glass on Toronto condos, I immediately clicked on it. I assume you are aware of the whole “glass falling from the condo” issue in Toronto (and elsewhere, but mostly Toronto). Now with this news, there could be a whole new angle. The robot SAM could scan the building and find the areas of need and distress. If this robot actually  works--and I am sure there are experts out there who believe it won’t--it could be a major player in the downtown high-rise markets for skittish developers worried about glass falling out. I still believe at the end of the day all balcony material should go to laminated, but that would only be new buildings. The thousands of current structures are here to stay, and now maybe we can get a glimpse into the future.

Elsewhere…

  • Speaking of glass breakage, I saw the story a few weeks back that glass at the new World Trade Center was damaged after being struck by a load of steel moved by a huge gust of wind. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and all is still supposedly on schedule. If true, I have to assume that the glass was made in the U.S. and did not consist of materials that came from overseas. I would have been curious to see how badly it would have turned out if it had been the overseas stuff. It could’ve been a great lesson for the Port Authority. Then again, they could probably care less.
  • This week’s note on GlassBuild America focuses on the networking aspect. Plain and simple: no other event brings the amount of people--quality, connected people--to one place like the show does. Add in the awesome reception (always the night of the first day of the show) sponsored by the fine folks at Quanex, and you have the recipe to not only network to the best of your ability but have a great night too. GBA is less than 60 days away!
  • Gotta say that last week’s post surely had legs. This blog was the first place that the info on Serious Energy appeared, including the ousting of Kevin Surace. Soon after, a San Francisco paper followed suit, as did others. Then the video of the week on the amazing 3D printing ended up as a front-section story in USA Today. And yes, I am sure it was all coincidence, but it sure was nice to be ahead of the curve!
  • Are you all as conflicted as me on who to vote for in the Glass Magazine Awards? Some amazing candidates! A massive congratulations is due to everyone nominated and the great companies that employ them.
  • Last this week… This link brings big news: The end of the world is not coming on December 21, 2012, as the Mayans supposedly predicted. New evidence and research is showing that 12/21/12 was just the end of the Mayan calendar. So, we have to still keep working…

Read on for links and video of the week...

The author is founder of Sole Source Consultants, a consulting firm for the building products industry that specializes in marketing, branding, communication strategy and overall reputation management, as well as website and social media, and codes and specifications. E-mail him at MaxP@SoleSourceConsultants.com.

The opinions expressed here are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Glass Association, Glass Magazine editors, or other glassblog contributors.

3 comments
Wednesday, July 11, 2012

How do we defeat fear?

Every day, business owners/managers face tough situations. Maybe a competitor hires one of your key people. An employee rolls a company vehicle down an embankment, totaling the vehicle and knocking down an electricity pole. Or, you leave costs out of an estimate and realize the job will incur a loss. Sound familiar? What is your initial reaction? I suspect we fear the worst will happen.

People believe the extremes are the truth. The extreme causes us to fear. Our fear is of the unknown, not the known. Once we have knowledge, we begin to deal with fear. When we act based upon knowledge, we begin to defeat fear. When we complete the action, we defeat fear and build confidence.

Positive realism is analyzing what is the worst that will happen and what is the best that will happen. The final result will be somewhere between the extremes.

Will we lose business because the salesperson went to a competitor? Possibly. Can the salesperson be replaced? Probably. Replace the salesperson and mitigate the damage.

Will the accident cause our insurance premium to rise? Probably. Can the vehicle be replaced? Yes. Is the employee alright? Thankfully, yes. Buy a more fuel-efficient replacement vehicle, and lower long-term costs.

Will a loss on this job bankrupt the company? Probably not. When we complete the job, even at a loss, will our customer be satisfied? Probably. Is there a way we can reduce the loss and possibly break even or create a small profit? Possibly. Will we have a chance to recoup some of the loss with this customer in the future? Yes.

In each of these cases, I knew how to handle the situation. I did not go to the extreme and dwell on the worst case scenario. However, just having knowledge is not enough. I acted on my knowledge and my fear of the outcome evaporated.

Two rules: Knowledge overcomes fear. Action cures fear. 

The author is president of Evans Glass Co., and chairman-elect of the National Glass Association. Write him at bevans@evansglasscompany.com.

The opinions expressed here are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Glass Association, Glass Magazine editors, or other glassblog contributors.

6 comments
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