The news last week that Leon Silverstein had exited Arch Aluminum was met with a mixture of reactions ranging from shock to “I told you so.” Whether or not Silverstein will someday re-purchase Arch or own a competing entity in the future was the subject of much conjecture, none of which is worthy of discussion at this time.
What is worthy of our time is some educated conjecture about the immediate future of Arch. I spoke with a lot of people about the company’s new life without Silverstein. “What’s the most important thing Sun can do now?” I asked over and over again. And over and over again, the answers I received all clustered around the following themes:
1. Repair relationships—especially among industry creditors that took a haircut. Such reparations could help entice some of those suppliers that have stopped to begin selling product to Arch again.
2. Get certified—meaning get the certified fabricator designations that have been removed in recent months back, including in PPG and Guardian’s programs. (Note Trulite has remained on the PPG program throughout.) Such designations are extremely important to Arch’s future sales as they provide a source of new leads and possible sales.
3. Consolidate—close or combine locations that are not profitable. Concentrate on continued development in the solar arena.
4. Friends and family—Arch was a family-owned business until very recently. Some of its employees are friends with or family of the former owners. That doesn’t necessarily mean that these employees are any less talented than other Arch employees. Sun needs to embrace the employees it intends to have as part of its future.
5. Redefinition—the biggest question for Arch is how is it going to define itself going forward. Leon Silverstein was the “face” of Arch and defined its brand. Where does the company go without him and how does it define itself? Low-cost leader? Fastest shipper? Technical champion? Solar innovator? How Arch defines itself internally and to the outside world will help shape its future success.
Link Chick Links
Well, I told you we’d have some exciting news about Link Chick’s links and we do – she has gotten so prolific that we have created a page where you can go and peruse said links. Link Chick scours the web so you don’t have to. My favorite link last week was about Mayberry’s Thelma Lou (the actress Betty Lynn) moving from California to Mount Airy (the real life inspiration for Mayberry) and getting robbed there. You just can’t make that stuff up.
Anyway, we thought it would be nice for the industry to have a place it could go to see and read links that have nothing to do with glass every once in awhile, so when you need a rest from industry info, be sure to visit http://linkchick.usglassmag.com/.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
For the Love of Our Craft
For many years, I kept a little quote I had clipped from a magazine on my desk. It has long since become buried on said desk, but it's a quote I will never forget. It said:
"I love your magazine. I love the feel of it and the smell of it. I love to open it up. I love the feeling of surprise at how paper and art come together as I turn each page. I love how it is the same, yet different, each month. Like I said, I love your magazine. Oh yeah, and I even love to read it."
I thought of those nice comments when I saw the recent campaign launched by a group of consumer publishers to help put the changes in technology in perspective. It's called the "Power of Print" and you may have seen it in hundreds of magazines this month. It appears across a from a close-up of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps face as he hits the wall in a winning race. It says:
"We surf the Internet.
We swim in magazines.
The Internet is exhilarating. Magazines are enveloping.
The Internet grabs you. Magazines embrace you.
The Internet grabs you. Magazines embrace you.
The Internet is impulsive. Magazines are immersive.
And both media are growing.
Barely noticed amidst the thunderous Internet clamor is the simple fact that magazine readership has risen over the past five years.
Barely noticed amidst the thunderous Internet clamor is the simple fact that magazine readership has risen over the past five years.
Even in the age of the Internet, even among the groups one would assume are most singularly hooked on digital media, the appeal of magazines is growing.
Think of it this way: during the 12-year life of Google, magazine readership actually increased 11 percent.
Think of it this way: during the 12-year life of Google, magazine readership actually increased 11 percent.
What it proves, once again, is that a new medium doesn't necessarily displace an existng one. Just as movies didn't kill radio. Just as TV didn't kill movies. An established medium can continue to flourish so long as it continues to offer a unique experience. And, as reader loyalty and growth demonstrate, magazines do.
Which is why people aren't giving up swimming, just because they also enjoy surfing."
It's a good reminder. There are some things that the Internet does better because of its speed of delivery, such as provide breaking news. But there are a lot of things magazines do better, like providing in-depth analysis coupled with expansive artwork.
It's a good reminder. There are some things that the Internet does better because of its speed of delivery, such as provide breaking news. But there are a lot of things magazines do better, like providing in-depth analysis coupled with expansive artwork.
What an example of the power of print? Look at the logo for the campaign above. Each letter is made from the logo of a different magazine. See how many you know. Got a bunch? E-mail me at deb@glass.com and I'll tell you if you are right. Even if you don't know all of them, you will know a few.
And I venture to say, if that same logo were made out of letters from the top ten websites in the world, you and I wouldn't know a single one ...
Clicking with the LinkChick(tm) On to the links .... the latest from LinkChick(tm) who, by the way, has agreed to allow us to reveal her identity for the first time. See her photo below. We will have some exiciting news about LinkChick next week, but here are this week's links:
In ode to baseball season, check out these unique baseball contracts or perhaps this retiring member of the team ... Or if baseball is not your sport, how about this one, which combines sportsmanship and safety. . . And while the big game in that link wasn't alive, it is definately was signed, sealed and delivered in this one ...
Video of the Week
comes to us from our own video department here at Key Communications. VPs Tara Taffera and Holly Biller were covering a rally on the Capital against the new lead paint regulations. Check out the yellow bird flying in background behind Congressman Bishop.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
TEXpo Rides Into the Sunset
It was great to see Bob Lawrence at TEXpo last week, working with colleagues at the Craftsman booth. Bob said things were going great now and introduced me to his new partners from Cristacurva. Craftsman and Bob have been such a force in the Texas glass economy for so long that it was nice to see that things moving forward for the company.
Speaking of the Texas economy, guess what? It's not like other places. in fact, it's doing pretty well. Texas has not been hit by nearly the hardship that other areas of the country have. Cranes still dot the San Antonio landscape and new homes are being built. It was a nice change from what I've seen in other parts of the country. (For more of a TEXpo wrap up visit http://www.usgnn.com/.)
In addition to TEXpo, our USGlass magazine team was also on the road last week to the NFRC meeting in New Orleans. Editor Megan Headley offers a complete report of the NFRC meeting in the May issue of USGlass magazine.
And finally, Link Chick is back. We are so pleased to have the Chick a 'clickin.:
Link Chick(tm) Links:
Headache Central: This guy brings new meaning to the term "splitting headache" . . . and this guy had a headache of a different kind . . .
The Surprise in the Attic: While on his way to retreive an ice cream maker, this homeowner got the proverbial surprise in the attic ...
On the Energy front: Maybe the DOE can take a lesson from these Danish hoteliers . . .
Sports Video of the Week:
Speaking of headaches, how about the guys who run into him?
More next week.
Speaking of the Texas economy, guess what? It's not like other places. in fact, it's doing pretty well. Texas has not been hit by nearly the hardship that other areas of the country have. Cranes still dot the San Antonio landscape and new homes are being built. It was a nice change from what I've seen in other parts of the country. (For more of a TEXpo wrap up visit http://www.usgnn.com/.)
In addition to TEXpo, our USGlass magazine team was also on the road last week to the NFRC meeting in New Orleans. Editor Megan Headley offers a complete report of the NFRC meeting in the May issue of USGlass magazine.
And finally, Link Chick is back. We are so pleased to have the Chick a 'clickin.:
Link Chick(tm) Links:
Headache Central: This guy brings new meaning to the term "splitting headache" . . . and this guy had a headache of a different kind . . .
The Surprise in the Attic: While on his way to retreive an ice cream maker, this homeowner got the proverbial surprise in the attic ...
On the Energy front: Maybe the DOE can take a lesson from these Danish hoteliers . . .
Sports Video of the Week:
Speaking of headaches, how about the guys who run into him?
More next week.
Monday, March 29, 2010
BEC Packs a Powerful Punch
At right: BEC chairperson Henry Taylor of Kawneer welcomes attendees to the BEC Sunday morning.
What was for the first few days faux French chic is now just French schtick as the Paris theme has begun to wear on me. I think it’s the fact that the hotel feels if you put a “le” in front of it, that makes it French. As I made my way to “Le center de convention”, I passed “Le Buffet”. No wonder the French hate us. Look what we’ve done to them.
Anyway, Day Two of the Building Envelop Contractors (BEC) Conference packed a powerful punch. More than 400 people turned up at 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning in Vegas to hear Vitro’s Hugo Lara’s keynote speech. And those same 400+ people were still there at 4:30 p.m. after only two short breaks and a working lunch. It was intense.
We will have extensive coverage on usgnn.com™ and in USGlass magazine in the coming weeks, but let me just give you the highlights. Except in this case, the highlights are more lowlights. Specifically (and with apologies to the French):
1. Le Attack: The glass industry is under attack from a whole variety of separate arenas: energy reduction advocates, government and regulatory agencies, code organizations and green advocates. Each presents separate challenges to the industry but all are communicating a “glass is an energy-hog” message that’s resonating. We, as an industry, have to fix this.
2. Le Noveau Products: The day of the highly-energy efficient alternative glass product has arrived. Presentations about the various types of new variable transmittance glasses dominated the discussion yesterday afternoon. “Doesn’t matter whether you like it or not, this is the future,” said one attendee.
3. Le Economie: All I will say is that three separate speakers, each using different data each said a variation of the following sentence. “We will not return to 2007 levels of non residential building activity until 2014.”
Despite its intensity, the day moved quickly and to me, the real story was the people. At most events, people are up and down and in and out the sessions. Not this one. Everyone who came, came to learn and soaked up as much of the sessions as they could. If I had to bet on the companies that were going to survive until 2014, it would be the guys in this room.
Bon Voyage from Le Vegas.
What was for the first few days faux French chic is now just French schtick as the Paris theme has begun to wear on me. I think it’s the fact that the hotel feels if you put a “le” in front of it, that makes it French. As I made my way to “Le center de convention”, I passed “Le Buffet”. No wonder the French hate us. Look what we’ve done to them.
Anyway, Day Two of the Building Envelop Contractors (BEC) Conference packed a powerful punch. More than 400 people turned up at 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning in Vegas to hear Vitro’s Hugo Lara’s keynote speech. And those same 400+ people were still there at 4:30 p.m. after only two short breaks and a working lunch. It was intense.
We will have extensive coverage on usgnn.com™ and in USGlass magazine in the coming weeks, but let me just give you the highlights. Except in this case, the highlights are more lowlights. Specifically (and with apologies to the French):
1. Le Attack: The glass industry is under attack from a whole variety of separate arenas: energy reduction advocates, government and regulatory agencies, code organizations and green advocates. Each presents separate challenges to the industry but all are communicating a “glass is an energy-hog” message that’s resonating. We, as an industry, have to fix this.
2. Le Noveau Products: The day of the highly-energy efficient alternative glass product has arrived. Presentations about the various types of new variable transmittance glasses dominated the discussion yesterday afternoon. “Doesn’t matter whether you like it or not, this is the future,” said one attendee.
3. Le Economie: All I will say is that three separate speakers, each using different data each said a variation of the following sentence. “We will not return to 2007 levels of non residential building activity until 2014.”
Despite its intensity, the day moved quickly and to me, the real story was the people. At most events, people are up and down and in and out the sessions. Not this one. Everyone who came, came to learn and soaked up as much of the sessions as they could. If I had to bet on the companies that were going to survive until 2014, it would be the guys in this room.
Bon Voyage from Le Vegas.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Bon Jour from Glass Week
At right: GANA marketing chair Christine Shaffer of Viracon makes a point during the committee's meeting on Saturday morning.Got out to Glass Week yesterday afternoon after a flight that actually went according to plan. The weather in Vegas was windy and cool yesterday but expected to be beautiful today through Tuesday. The annual golf tournament Monday afternoon will be a nice respite for all those who have toiled away inside for nearly a week in heavy committee meetings and work groups.
Glass Week is the all-encompassing name for a variety of events co-located during one seven day period. The Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA)’s annual conference just ended (see related coverage at http://www.usgnn.com/) and the Building Envelop Contractors (BEC) conference begins later today. Sandwiched in the middle is a full GANA seminar program that’s taking place right now.
If Glass Week were a TV show, this year it would be called “Survivor.” Though the recession has hit the glass and metal industry particularly hard, it and GANA are still here and attendance levels are comparable to last year. “It’s been a challenging year but we have made adjustments and gotten through it,” said GANA executive vice president Bill Yanek.
“Outgoing president Mike Ondrus [of Glasstech] has done an amazing job in a difficult year,” he said. “Like the rest of the industry, GANA had to adjust and he has helped us through a challenging year.” Yanek presented Ondrus with the GANA President’s Award during the association’s formal dinner last evening.
“My father had a saying,” said incoming president Tom Crawford of Donisi Mirror Company. “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger. Well we, as an association, are stronger.” Crawford took over as president at last evening.
Among the newer, hotter topics at the conferences were the expanded efforts of the Fire-rated Glazing division, the new efforts to incorporate and service emerging technologies such as solar glazing and the integration of the Glazing Industry Code Committee (GICC) into the GANA structure.
GICC was formed nearly 20 years ago as antidote to the knock-down, drawn out fights different segments of the glass industry (i.e. temperers vs. laminators) traditionally had before the various code-setting bodies. The idea behind GICC was that it would become a place where the various segments of the industry could come to find consensus and compromise so the industry could instead go forward with a unified effort before the code groups. It had existed as a separate entity until recently and will now come under the auspices of GANA. Julie Schimmelpenningh is serving as temporary chair and the group has hired Thom Zaremba of Roetzel & Andress to serve as a code consultant to the committee.
As I write, GANA technical director Urmilla Sowell is updating the group about all the technical activities in which the association is involved. Urmilla reminds me why GANA is so important. It is all substance.
The events during Glass Week continue through Tuesday morning. The Paris Hotel in Vegas has been garnering good reviews as a venue. GANA marketing committee chair Christine Shaffer of Viracon reminded attendees of how well Las Vegas markets itself. “As you got off the plane, you saw posters for the various shows. At this hotel, you’ve been called “madam” or “monsieur”. It’s all part of marketing,” said Schaeffer who mentioned that the Paris Hotel markets itself as the “sexiest hotel in Vegas.”
The recession, alas, kept many spouses and significant others from attending this year, turning trip to the sexiest hotel in Vegas from an “oh la la” into a “no la la.”
Bon Jour from Glass Week
At right: Christine Shaffer of Viracon leads the marketing committee at Glass Week 2010.
Got out to Glass Week yesterday afternoon after a flight that actually went according to plan. The weather in Vegas was windy and cool yesterday but expected to be beautiful today through Tuesday. The annual golf tournament Monday afternoon will be a nice respite for all those who have toiled away inside for nearly a week in heavy committee meetings and work groups.
Glass Week is the all-encompassing name for a variety of events co-located during one seven day period. The Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA)’s annual conference just ended (see related coverage at http://www.usgnn.com) and the Building Envelop Contractors (BEC) conference begins later today. Sandwiched in the middle is a full GANA seminar program that’s taking place right now.
If Glass Week were a TV show, this year it would be called “Survivor.” Though the recession has hit the glass and metal industry particularly hard, it and GANA are still here and attendance levels are comparable to last year. “It’s been a challenging year but we have made adjustments and gotten through it,” said GANA executive vice president Bill Yanek.
“Outgoing president Mike Ondrus [of PPG] has done an amazing job in a difficult year,” he said. “Like the rest of the industry, GANA had to adjust and he has helped us through a challenging year.” Yanek presented Ondrus with the GANA President’s Award during the association’s formal dinner last evening.
“My father had a saying,” said incoming president Tom Crawford of Donisi Mirror Company. “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger. Well we, as an association, are stronger.” Crawford took over as president at last evening.
Among the newer, hotter topics at the conferences were the expanded efforts of the Fire-rated Glazing division, the new efforts to incorporate and service emerging technologies such as solar glazing and the integration of the Glazing Industry Code Committee (GICC) into the GANA structure.
GICC was formed nearly 20 years ago as antidote to the knock-down, drawn out fights different segments of the glass industry (i.e. temperers vs. laminators) traditionally had before the various code-setting bodies. The idea behind GICC was that it would become a place where the various segments of the industry could come to find consensus and compromise so the industry could instead go forward with a unified effort before the code groups. It had existed as a separate entity until recently and will now come under the auspices of GANA. Julie Schimmelpenningh is serving as temporary chair and the group has hired Thom Zaremba of Roetzel & Andress to serve as a code consultant to the committee.
As I write, GANA technical director Urmilla Sowell is updating the group about all the technical activities in which the association is involved. Urmilla reminds me why GANA is so important. It is all substance.
The events during Glass Week continue through Tuesday morning. The Paris Hotel in Vegas has been garnering good reviews as a venue. GANA marketing committee chair Christine Shaffer of Viracon reminded attendees of how well Las Vegas markets itself. “As you got off the plane, you saw posters for the various shows. At this hotel, you’ve been called “madam” or “monsieur”. It’s all part of marketing,” said Schaeffer who mentioned that the Paris Hotel markets itself as the “sexiest hotel in Vegas.”
The recession, alas, kept many spouses and significant others from attending this year, turning a trip to the sexiest hotel in Vegas from an “oh la la” into a “no la la.”
Got out to Glass Week yesterday afternoon after a flight that actually went according to plan. The weather in Vegas was windy and cool yesterday but expected to be beautiful today through Tuesday. The annual golf tournament Monday afternoon will be a nice respite for all those who have toiled away inside for nearly a week in heavy committee meetings and work groups.
Glass Week is the all-encompassing name for a variety of events co-located during one seven day period. The Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA)’s annual conference just ended (see related coverage at http://www.usgnn.com) and the Building Envelop Contractors (BEC) conference begins later today. Sandwiched in the middle is a full GANA seminar program that’s taking place right now.
If Glass Week were a TV show, this year it would be called “Survivor.” Though the recession has hit the glass and metal industry particularly hard, it and GANA are still here and attendance levels are comparable to last year. “It’s been a challenging year but we have made adjustments and gotten through it,” said GANA executive vice president Bill Yanek.
“Outgoing president Mike Ondrus [of PPG] has done an amazing job in a difficult year,” he said. “Like the rest of the industry, GANA had to adjust and he has helped us through a challenging year.” Yanek presented Ondrus with the GANA President’s Award during the association’s formal dinner last evening.
“My father had a saying,” said incoming president Tom Crawford of Donisi Mirror Company. “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger. Well we, as an association, are stronger.” Crawford took over as president at last evening.
Among the newer, hotter topics at the conferences were the expanded efforts of the Fire-rated Glazing division, the new efforts to incorporate and service emerging technologies such as solar glazing and the integration of the Glazing Industry Code Committee (GICC) into the GANA structure.
GICC was formed nearly 20 years ago as antidote to the knock-down, drawn out fights different segments of the glass industry (i.e. temperers vs. laminators) traditionally had before the various code-setting bodies. The idea behind GICC was that it would become a place where the various segments of the industry could come to find consensus and compromise so the industry could instead go forward with a unified effort before the code groups. It had existed as a separate entity until recently and will now come under the auspices of GANA. Julie Schimmelpenningh is serving as temporary chair and the group has hired Thom Zaremba of Roetzel & Andress to serve as a code consultant to the committee.
As I write, GANA technical director Urmilla Sowell is updating the group about all the technical activities in which the association is involved. Urmilla reminds me why GANA is so important. It is all substance.
The events during Glass Week continue through Tuesday morning. The Paris Hotel in Vegas has been garnering good reviews as a venue. GANA marketing committee chair Christine Shaffer of Viracon reminded attendees of how well Las Vegas markets itself. “As you got off the plane, you saw posters for the various shows. At this hotel, you’ve been called “madam” or “monsieur”. It’s all part of marketing,” said Schaeffer who mentioned that the Paris Hotel markets itself as the “sexiest hotel in Vegas.”
The recession, alas, kept many spouses and significant others from attending this year, turning a trip to the sexiest hotel in Vegas from an “oh la la” into a “no la la.”
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Time to Act
It will be no surprise to anyone who works in the contract glazing industry that there are almost no projects out there on which to bid. I can’t find any companies building backlog; most are just eating through it. The stimulus plan, which was supposed to help the construction trades, has done a good job for highway and bridge contractors, but little for the commercial construction industry. The HOME STAR program, which was supposed to help the construction industry, has helped door and window manufacturers and other residential-based suppliers, but done little for the commercial construction industry. And yes, there’s supposed to be more money coming for healthcare and school construction, but those projects aren’t even being drawn yet, let alone gone out for bid.
It will be no surprise to anyone who works in the contract glazing industry that there are almost no projects out there on which to bid. I can’t find any companies building backlog; most are just eating through it. The stimulus plan, which was supposed to help the construction trades, has done a good job for highway and bridge contractors, but little for the commercial construction industry. The HOME STAR program, which was supposed to help the construction industry, has helped door and window manufacturers and other residential-based suppliers, but done little for the commercial construction industry. And yes, there’s supposed to be more money coming for healthcare and school construction, but those projects aren’t even being drawn yet, let alone gone out for bid.
We could be facing a situation in which great companies have projects on the books for 2011 and 2012 but little confidence that they are going to be around long enough to produce them.
Evidently our elected officials have been hearing some of this because a BUILDING STAR Energy Efficiency Rebate Act of 2010 has been introduced in Congress. The good news that it is designed to provide rebates to commercial building owners that make their buildings more energy-efficient. The bill would cover about 30 percent of the cost of installing energy efficient products and/or related services in commercial and multifamily residential buildings this year. The Associated General Contractors of America estimates that that the $6 billion in funding for the Building STAR program would bring $18 -$24 billion in total spending. The program is designed to work quickly and includes simplified application procedures for building owners.
The bad news is that the bill crafters really don’t understand how glass is installed in commercial buildings. As currently written the bill references only “windows” and does not include storefronts or curtainwall. The Glass Association of North America (GANA) has been spearheading proposed corrections to the bill. It estimates that, as now written, the bill will exclude as much as 70% of the total glazing area in existing commercial buildings. Further it addresses only whole assembly replacement as opposed to the most common methods of commercial glazing including retrofits.
Please visit http://www.usgnn.com/newsGANA20100312.htm for more information about the bill. If corrected, it has the potential to advance energy efficient buildings and help provide stimulus for the commercial glass industry. And, if you are so included, please make sure the position paper produced jointly by GANA, AAMA, AEC and NGA gets to the your elected officials quickly. With some education, this bill could be a great law. Without it, it could be an opportunity lost.
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