A Wide Range of Insights

I’ve got a new episode of the “From the Fabricator” podcast loaded up for you, and as I mentioned last week, it’s a real dandy. This time out, I begin with Kevin Hardman of Hardman Glazing Management. You may know him from several different avenues, including his legendary Tools Tuesday pieces, but he goes much deeper than all of that. Really cool guy with some excellent stories, and his family's past is similar to mine, going back to the 1800s. Fun one all the way around. 

Then I jump deep into the bird-friendly glazing world with two very respected experts from Guardian Glass. Heidi Trudell and Alex Sobolev joined me and really dug into the nooks and crannies of that industry segment. If you want a comprehensive understanding of bird-friendly in a very conversational way, this is it. Heidi, whom I had met years ago, and Alex, whom I just met, were really impressive people too. Please go ahead and check it all out. Thank you!

Watch on Youtube or listen here, or by searching "From the Fabricator" at your favorite podcast platform.

Elsewhere…

10 Best Glass Industry Podcasts

Additionally, it's pretty neat to be on the list of the 10 Best Glass Industry Podcasts by the Million Podcasts site. I appreciate the mention and will say the list is missing a few, though, that are very good… Happy to be on there!

Economic outlook

From the economy side this week, the long-awaited first rate cut happened on Wednesday, with cuts “possible” two more times before year's end. That should help shake some things loose. Still a bunch of other nagging issues that are hamstringing us, but this was a big one. I did call it “possible” as I know many of you probably saw it as a done deal, and it probably is, but on the Fed, they are not unanimous. Only 9 of the members are seeing two more cuts, while seven see no more, two see just one cut, and one actually sees two cuts but larger than expected. So, things can change there.

Dodge Momentum Index

The latest Dodge Momentum Index was good again for last month, but it was interesting that they specifically noted that the improving conditions were set for late 2026, early 2027. Past readings led people to think that prime time is more current than it actually is. Regardless, good news is good news, and we know we have to keep rolling. Next up is the next Architectural Billings Index this week, and I am super curious about where the number lands. My prediction is it stays flat from last month… and as long as the inquiries remain positive, we’ll be good there.

New England market update

Big news from the New England market. A brand-new fabricator will be opening at the start of the new year, and they’re opening in a plant that will feature a ton of next-level technology. Streamline Glass is the name, and they note that most of the glass they will produce is not touched by human hands until after it is delivered, reducing the chances of damage to the product and injury to those handling it. Huge. There are four people behind this, and they are Troy Johnson, Carol Kelley, Brian Shaw and Edrick Wittes. Brian and I have worked together in the past, and he is an awesome guy and an excellent operator. I have a ton of confidence here, and I just love that they’re leaning into the technology side. Congrats and good luck, folks! 

Importance of training

Training. I can’t stress it enough. So, when I saw the news about FHC expanding into having a training department, I was pretty pleased. Good step. They join folks like Thompson IG (with their Thompson U setup) and Country Glass (new training center built) as organizations taking the next steps. There are surely many others that I am missing, so I apologize for that. Kudos to all who are doing this.

LinkedIn woes

Last this week…I have possibly hit on this before… but my frustration with LinkedIn continues to grow. Love the platform. Love keeping up with everyone and everything out there. But… for whatever reason, my timeline, no matter what I try, continues to show posts from 2, 3, and even 4 weeks previous. I’ll see a post, especially for something time sensitive, and then see the dreaded “3W” next to it—first world problem, but annoying to say the least.