Spotting Opportunities

by marika_gabriel | 1 October 2023 7:00 am

[1]As we enter October, we are all excited about METALCON, the metal construction industry’s largest annual trade show. This year’s show will be held in Las Vegas from Oct. 18 to 20, and it promises to be the best one yet. The exhibitor base is fantastic, with more than 200 exhibitors showcasing their latest products and services. There will also be a comprehensive educational lineup, with more than 35 sessions covering all aspects of metal construction, including project management, safety, and lean construction.

The Architect’s Experience is a must-attend event for designers. This show-within-a-show features curated content and experiences to help architects learn more about the latest metal construction trends and technologies. Contractors will also find METALCON valuable, enabling them to learn about the latest products and developments and create new relationships with companies that can ease their companies’ pain points.

I invite you to attend our panel discussion. “State of the Industry—Presented by the Metal Construction Association” is a free learning session from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. on Oct. 18. I will be discussing specific industry challenges and opportunities with MCA technical director Bob Zabcik; Tom Seitz, the executive director of Metal Construction Association’s (MCA’s) Metal Composites Material (MCM) Alliance; and MCA board chair Brian Partyka. We will provide insights into the state of the industry and the areas of concentration for 2024.

We hope to see you in Las Vegas for this important event! Register now at metalcon.com[2].

Industry forecasts

Marketplace dynamics are changing. That is one of the reasons we focus on understanding where growth will be generated in the coming years. It has been important to us for decades and one of the reasons we annually commission FMI Corporation to create the MCA market study. Our consistency in the creation of this analysis ensures we have year-over-year data for crucial comparisons, trend spotting, and forecasting. We recently received the 2023 MCA market study and presented key data from it during our summer meeting.

The study quantifies the market for metal roofing and wall products and segments it by building sector and by product (such as insulated metal panels [IMPs], MCMs, and single-skin architectural roofing and wall panels). It enables us to look to the past and the present to forecast the future—through 2027 in this year’s report! This report enables data-driven decisions that protect businesses from harm and take advantage of new opportunities. All MCA members access the report at no cost as part of their membership benefits. (Non-members can purchase the report for $1,500.)

This year’s study shone a light on the significant decline in new construction in the industrial/warehousing sector. Though industrial represents the highest volume of metal roofing and walls in the nonresidential markets, near-term growth will come in institutional and commercial sectors. Data centers, high-tech manufacturing, and distributed energy facilities are a few of the growth segments our report found in
the industry.

Government spending and incentives will also influence the market. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act provide substantial funding and incentives for the construction and retrofit of buildings. The emphasis on sustainability creates a significant opportunity for metal roofing and wall products. Metal’s sustainable attributes are well documented, and MCA is committed to bringing the industry together to partner in communicating the benefits
of metal.

The Build America, Buy America Act provides opportunity for U.S.-based manufacturers. The act establishes domestic content criteria for sourced building construction materials and products used in federal financially assisted projects. MCA recently provided the latest information regarding the criteria so business owners can be at the forefront of providers supplying materials and systems qualifying for funding.

Our MCA market study is just one of the ways we stay on top of the changing industry, new challenges, and promising opportunities. Analyzing the state of our industry must be a continuous process to ensure industry companies have every advantage possible.

Winter meeting

By the time you read this, most of the U.S. should be out of the record-setting heat dome temperatures—and, in a few months, some of us will be sick of windchill and snow. We have a great solution: Mark your calendars now to attend the 2024 MCA winter meeting, Jan. 29 to 31 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

I am looking forward to announcing our great lineup of speakers who will provide valuable information on technical issues faced by the industry, insights on the latest in marketing strategy, such as how to improve business outcomes by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into your operations.

In addition to what you will learn, the meeting is a great networking opportunity to build business connections. Our annual golf outing will also return, raising money to support a newly created MCA
scholarship program!

Learn more at metalconstruction.org/events/winter-meeting24/winter-meeting-2024[3].

Jeff Henry, MBA, is the executive director of the Metal Construction Association (MCA). He leads MCA’s staff in supporting industry members and elevating the use of metal in construction. For more information, visit metalconstruction.org[4].

Source URL: https://www.metalconstructionnews.com/articles/columns/spotting-opportunities/

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