From the fabricator: Why the ABI might matter

After reading last week's ABI (Architectural Billings Index), I had a nagging feeling that I needed to see how accurate that whole process is. So during the holiday weekend I decided to go back into the archives of Glass Magazine to investigate. What I found was somewhat telling: a four-part series (great job by Katy Devlin) from late 2007 that predicted the slowdown to come. Back then, you could see some signs on the horizon, but most of the world was blind (or better yet, fat and happy). Yet, the ABI started to decrease and the warning signs went up. Now, there is no doubt the ABI is not perfect and they had plenty of stops and starts in the past, but they did probably do the most accurate accounting of the commercial side, so the numbers that come out from them in the next few months should be taken seriously. Hopefully, they are better than in the past.

Elsewhere...

• Hope everyone had a great holiday... I am still full.
• Now, before we blink, it is Hanukah, then Christmas and New Years... man time is flying.
• More good news from the glass industry and technological advancement arena: The folks at Soladigm just picked up a tremendous honor and award from GE. Soladigm was chosen to be a part of GE's $200 million "ecomagination Challenge." GE picked 12 companies to be a part of this incredible opportunity. More info is here. At the end of the day, this is yet another great announcement showing that our industry is advanced, that we are creating cutting-edge materials, and that we are not the stick in the mud that some like to make us out to be. Congrats to the gang at Soladigm on this great news!
• Speaking of great news, I am sure the folks at Viracon are still pretty pumped over their acquisition of Glassec in Brazil. While so many in the industry thought Viracon would expand domestically, if you listened to the quarterly calls, the focus always has been on growing internationally, and this was a great first step. Now, how long before Dr. Don McCann is as big of a legend in Brazil as Ronaldo, Kaka and Ronaldinho?
• How about the article on the Harmon Hotel in Vegas possibly being imploded? My gosh, that would just add to one of the wildest construction stories ever. Seriously, some great writer needs to jump on the entire story of CityCenter... from the birth and concept to the crazy construction stories to the "death rays" to this. It seriously could be an epic read.
• I am bummed Boise State lost. Then again, the only Idaho football team I root for is Idaho State since I know a hall of famer from that institution.
• One last note from Greenbuild 2010... next year that show is in Toronto and it will be very interesting to see how that affects the attendance. I think it will actually do more than 30,000, but the breakdown will be severely weighted from the Northeast and Canada overall. If I go to that show though, I will go to Montreal first and get clothing advice from the Walker guys because otherwise my Midwest duds will not play.
• Last, if you want to see a brainless, gory, but actually somewhat enjoyable movie go check out "Faster" staring "The Rock" Dwayne Johnson. It won't win any awards, but for 90 minutes you surely forgot about ABI's and certifications and China and so on, and to me that is worth it. 

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

Max Perilstein is chief marketing officer for Vitro America, Memphis. Write him at mperilstein@vitro.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.