From the fabricator: A big win, for now

 

When the U.S. Department of Commerce leveled an anti-dumping duty on Chinese aluminum extrusion products back in 2011, it did have a significant effect on many companies. Importers had to take a step back, and some companies that brought in Chinese product had to scramble for new suppliers. Now, the DOC has ruled that curtain-wall units and other parts of a curtain-wall system are subject to the duties as well, and I fully expect some consequential fallout. The debate was fierce leading up to this decision, and I have a feeling that the folks who lost are not going away quietly.  I just don’t think this is over.  In the meantime, however, I have to give props to the folks from Architectural Aluminum & Glass, Bagatelos Architectural and Walters & Wolf.  They stepped up to the plate and put themselves in the battle. Believe me, I have been in the middle of these issues in the past, and you’d be amazed how many folks talk a big game, but when push comes to shove they turtle under. These guys didn’t. Good for them.

 

Elsewhere…

  • Happy Hanukah, or Chanukah, or however you want to spell it.  As I have noted here in the past, I don’t think there is a wrong spelling.
  • This holiday season, I'm sure many of you are looking to get a new tablet or update the one you have. I have been hearing great things about the new Microsoft Surface, though it is very pricey. I am still an iPad guy myself and hoping that sometime during Hanukah, a new one is waiting for me.
  • And when I get it, one of the first apps I will download will be Glass Magazine’s.  Right now, I use it all the time. It’s a great app and a super way to read the magazine, which is always excellent.  I like how the updated news comes on, making it a really up-to-date app. And you get must-read content, like this past month's codes article from Julie Ruth.  It truly is a crucial work piece.
  • Back in early October, Jenni Chase did the blog of the year about being a “glass geek,” and at the time it got a ton of action. Now on LinkedIn, that blog has gotten renewed interest, as in one of the forums, it's one of the most popular and commented upon pieces.  With that, came a great line from Thomas Moore as it pertains to our love for glass: "People look through the glass, and glass fanatics look at the glass."  So true….
  • Cool education event lined up by the gang at SAPA: the Profile Academy for Building and Construction.  Really a loaded educational agenda set for February in Atlanta.  Registration ends in mid-January, so if you are a curtain-wall manufacturer, glazing contractor or aluminum fabricator, before you break for the holidays, you might want to check it out.
  • Congrats to my good friend Kelly Townsend on his new gig at Wausau. Don’t forget us little folks, Kelly, now that you have gone big time!
  • Last this week, a solid business book for you to check out.  Its called “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg and it offers some really neat insights on how companies like Target can predict what their customers may be purchasing.  Plus, there’s a great psychological appeal to the book as it explains habits and cues and their effect on daily life. Quick informative read. 

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.

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