Jim Tuschall, president and CEO of Tuschall Engineering Co. Inc., Burr Ridge, Ill., chairman of the MCA wall panel council and a member of the MCA board of directors
Paul Olson, senior manager, marketing and sales support, for ALPOLIC-Mitsubishi Plastics Composites America, Chesapeake, Va.
Jim Bush, vice president of sales, ATAS International Inc., Allentown, Pa.
John Bernardi, vice president of business development for Firestone Building Products, Indianapolis, recently elected to the Glenview, Ill.-based Metal Construction Association board of directors and chair of the market development committee
Bill Coleman, vice president of sales for MBCI, Houston
Brandon Wyatt, marketing manager-architecture, 3A Composites, Mooresville, N.C.
Throughout 2011, Metal Construction News has taken a special interest in guiding readers through the big picture. We, of course, want to keep you updated on the most impressive new projects and products, but we also want to let you in on what industry players are saying about larger market trends. In January, we brought you the state of the industry and in February a look at the metal roofing segment. For this issue, we reach out to experts on metal walls.
Broken down into four categories-current market conditions, trends, innovations and growth-the following are the insights of industry insiders on metal walls.
Current Market Conditions
Jim Tuschall: Metal walls are still strong with the designers and usually architects’ first choice … with all their varieties and colors and options … I see a lot of drawings from architects and everything’s got metal on it. We just need more projects in the works. The economy is still too slow. The private sector hasn’t come back very strong. Schools, universities and the health care industry are still going fairly strong. That’s what’s keeping everybody going [as far as opportunities for metal walls].
Paul Olson: In respect to metal composite materials (MCM), our data suggests the market is certainly in recovery and expected to have continued growth.
Jim Bush: The metal wall market is still steady, considering the overall conditions in the construction market. In fact, a recent study showed that commercial and institutional market share has increased by more than 20 percent for metal walls. In addition, a resurgence in metal wall usage has occurred with retrofit applications on schools and commercial buildings.
John Bernardi: Fortunately, the metal wall panel market never saw the big declines that other commercial construction building products have seen because metal wall panels are growing in popularity versus other cladding options due to being very green with strong aesthetic appeal. At the same time, we currently see bid opportunities picking up in the metal wall panel market as the early signs of a recovery in the commercial construction market have begun to become evident via growth indicated from various leading indicators such as the most recently reported Architectural Billing Index.
Bill Coleman: The metal wall market has experienced a downturn in demand over the past couple of years due to the overall decrease in nonresidential construction. We are beginning to see some very modest improvement in the market as a whole with some regional pockets performing better than others.
Brandon Wyatt: At the moment, the metal walls market looks to be on the rebound. It’s still recovering from the downturn, but metal walls continue to be a building component with great growth potential.
Photo courtesy of MBCI
Trends:
Tuschall: Current trend is the use of a true rainscreen application, although aluminum remains strong. Natural metals such as zinc and copper are booming in my [Chicago area] market. I expect the zinc market to gain 20 percent more of market share this year as architects and owners are favoring this metal.
Olson: From a MCM product attachment system stand point, we see more dry, performance driven attachment systems being specified. “Cool” panel colors are a current trend as they provide the potential to improve building energy efficiencies. Interest in how the product contributes to LEED points and MCM product recycling is increasing.
Bush: Right now, metal walls are a popular choice in retrofit. This is because of the sustainable characteristics of metal walls, particularly their insulating factors, energy efficiency and high R-values that all contribute to meeting and/or exceeding energy codes. Integration of single skin applications with aluminum composite metal panels and insulated panels are becoming popular. Architects also are realizing the dramatic design potential of metal wall panels. One such application is using horizontal wall panels with key architectural accents, such as highly visible extrusions and reveals.
Bernardi: The variety of types and costs of metal wall panels is another attribute of these products that make them very attractive for applications on a number of different types of buildings. From relatively low cost roll-formed steel metal panels to highly fabricated custom metal wall panels made from noble metals, there is almost always a metal panel solution for any type of building, design intent and budget.
Using metal in wall construction is certainly a popular trend in general as building owners and designers recognize the ease of design flexibility when using these products. Some of the specific trends include rainscreen functionality built into wall panel system design, using a mix of three-dimensional metal wall panel shapes on an individual project and using multiple complimentary shades of color on a single project.
Coleman: Horizontal applications, using both exposed and hidden fastener panels, are popular. We are seeing designers use horizontal panels in a wide variety of applications, including schools, office buildings, institutional buildings and even residential structures. The use of applied finishes on metal wall panels is also becoming popular.
Wyatt: Composite wall panels like Alucobond continue to set the standard in the industry in regard to superior design flexibility and color retention with a stunning visual effect. Corporate Identity projects, schools and hospitals continue to be an area where custom colors and unique looks are being obtained with aluminum composite panels.
Photo courtesy of 3A Composites
Innovations:
Tuschall: I am seeing a lot of perforated metal wall panels used in several different wall applications, the range of perforated patterns is unlimited and an increase in marketing these has increased demand. It’s not just round circles anymore, it’s geometrical shapes. In some cases, they’re trying to hide rooftop units or they’re screen walls, or they want to filter light, or create an image. At nighttime they’re doing back lighting as well, back lighting on perforation is rather cool looking.
Olson: Expanded applications of coated mica flake paint systems (“ALPOLIC Prismatic”) that produce color changing effects and the promotion of natural metal skins are seeing market increases. Other advances utilizing textured surface treatments are being researched.
Bush: Some major innovations are energy-efficient technologies, such as transpired solar collectors and insulation. In the metal market, roofing often is thought of as being advanced in energy efficiency with cool coatings and photovoltaics. And while metal roofing has outstanding sustainable characteristics compared to other roofing materials, metal walls are now entering into the market with the same technologies-PV wall panels, heat exchange and transpired solar collectors. For instance, ATAS offers InSpire, a transpired solar collector that facilitates the use of solar heated air to be circulated in a building’s ventilation system.
Bernardi: There are a variety of new items on the market. These include a variety some new paint coatings designed to increase reflectivity and other attractive new panel surface finish designs as well. One new functional improvement that is particularly interesting involves a new sliding clip for architectural flat panels that speeds installation while effectively accommodating thermal expansion and contraction while the panels are in-service.
Coleman: Insulated metal panels (IMPs) installed vertically and horizontally are becoming increasingly popular. With the wide variety of panel profiles, widths and colors, as well as the high energy efficiency, IMPs are being specified more frequently.
Wyatt: Alucobond Cool, solar reflective coatings with higher color retention, provides the opportunity to create an entire building envelope with cool technology. These cool paint systems work by only keeping the UV rays which produce color while protecting the paint finish from the harmful rays. This not only keeps the panel surface cooler but also allows the paint system to retain its color as it is more resistant to chalking or fading.
Photo courtesy of ATAS Internatinal Inc.
Growth:
Tuschall: Metal walls will continue to grow and compete as a first choice with brick, EIFS and precast concrete at a broad level of usage.
Wyatt: The metal wall segment of the building industry has great growth potential for a few reasons, including design flexibility, LEED contributions and available finish options. Every project should have some form of metal walls included as metal is a great accessory or complement to many other building materials such as EIFS, brick or wood.
Olson: We believe we will see continued growth that exceeds the building construction forecasts for our market segment. As architects and designers continue to be informed and educated on the advantages and design capabilities of MCM, the greater we see the market penetration and use of MCM. MCM panels are a material of choice due to the durability, aesthetics and functionality of the material.
Bush: For ATAS, the current and future focus is sustainability. Creating energy-efficient building envelopes is possible in both retrofit and new construction, and wall panels play a leading role in that. Retrofit is popular right now, and we have the opportunity to improve the built environment with energy-efficient metal wall panels.
Bernardi: It seems the sky is the limit for metal panel growth. More and more building owners and designers are recognizing the value that metal panels offer and are choosing these cost effective, attractive and lightweight cladding systems over the more traditional and labor-intensive masonry construction options.
Coleman: With metal being one of the most sustainable materials one can use on a building envelope, we see a bright future for metal wall panels. As manufacturers, our goal is to provide aesthetically pleasing products that offer high performance and provide a cost effective solution to a designer’s requirements. We believe we have met that goal and are continuing to improve upon it.
Wyatt: The metal wall segment of the building industry has great growth potential for a few reasons, including design flexibility, LEED contributions and available finish options. Every project should have some form of metal walls included as metal is a great accessory or complement to many other building materials such as EIFS, brick or wood.
