39th Annual Mid-Atlantic Glass Association Trade Expo Welcomes Legacy Exhibitors and New Technology
Spring brings April showers and the Mid-Atlantic Glass Association Expo, and this year's event brought a little bit of both. Held on April 22 at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt, Maryland, the regional glass show welcomed a record 170 exhibitors at its 39th edition.
Association President Tommy Bryant, Brylin Glass, credits the continued success of the yearly event to what it offers to both attendees and exhibitors. “People can come here and pick up 4-5 contacts,” he says. The show’s longevity is mirrored in its exhibitors, some of whom have been attending for decades.
When asked about the evolution of the industry since his start in the 1980s, Bryant says he’s impressed by how glass products and installation technology has innovated. “They can glue a curtain wall in place now,” Bryant says, a major innovation compared to the fastening systems he used previously in his career. Bryant also underlines the diversity of energy-efficient glazing products now on the market as a sign of how the industry has developed. He feels that the future of glass will also be tech-driven.
Software companies offer AI tools and integration
Tech was certainly on display at the show, with several companies offering software solutions for glaziers and installers, including AI options.
DJ Pavlock, director of sales and marketing at True, a web-based construction management software firm, says that the company recently integrated new AI tools for data importation based on customer demand. The plaftorm can also integrate with a range of other software and apps, including QuickBooks. Pavlock finds that his customers welcome digital solutions for their workflow. “The new generation of owners are not afraid of tech,” he says.
Exhibitor Guthrie AI implements AI tools to help installers scan documents like glazing requests for proposals more quickly so that installers can spend more time developing business relationships, says President Ted Baumgardner. He’s also skeptical of the idea that glaziers have been slow to adopt technology: “Glaziers need a very specific workflow, so they need very specific digital tools. They haven’t always had software solutions that work for installers,” he says.
Institutional building focuses on security, and data centers abound in Virginia
Security solutions were also predominant at the event, an unsurprising reality given the protective building products required in government building construction in nearby Washington, D.C. Several exhibitors say that they’re also seeing a broader demand for high-level security solutions from other sectors, including schools, houses of worship, corporate offices, retail and the private homes of public figures.
Action Bullet Resistant showcased its thin and high-strength bullet-resistant plastic panels. The thinner-profile product is now also bendable, says President Joseph Hayes, offering more design options.
Ryan Harvey, business development manager at Insulgard says the company is seeing increased demand for higher thermal performance in protective products at higher ballistic ratings, as well as reduced thickness. “Customers want systems strong and thin,” he says.
Virginia specifically continues to see demand for data centers, says Kevin Gray, vice president, Skyreach Equipment. He says work in this segment is mostly going to small and mid-size installers, and does not show signs of slowing down. Virginia is estimated to have the highest number of data centers compared to any state, Gray says, putting the number at around 500-600. Gray works with glazier clients to help them understand the specialized safety restrictions, and equipment, required for these data center construction jobs, he says.