Industry News

Exclusive: Building good supplier relationships

Supplier relationships are a two-way street; use these tips to stay in your suppliers' good books.

WEATHER GUARD celebrates everyday heroes with new digital campaign

Campaign during July and August encourages people to recognize their favorite  professional contractors or tradesmen.

U.S. construction spending dips 2.1 percent in May

Highway construction is the bright spot, rising 2.8 percent over April.

Woodworking industry sees solid recovery from pandemic

Woodworking Network survey shows 46 percent of respondents never slowed down at all. 

Evergreen elects new board members

Group also installs new Supplier Advisory Council.

MSA's Summer Service Special offer ends July 31

Mention "Summer Service Special" when requesting service and receive an additional 10% off your standard price for service or rental.

STAFDA Anaheim registration is open!

STAFDA's 44th Annual Convention & Trade Show is set for November 8-10, 2020 in Anaheim, CA.

Cobra Anchors announces PARAWEDGE expansion with Home Depot

PARAWEDGE line joins other Cobra lines already sold in HD stores.

Top Blogs: Price Increases & Cost Reductions: A Recipe for Channel Conflict – or Harmony?

Firms driven by strategy rather than short-term earnings consider the long run when making price and cost decisions.

Syncron announces Friedrich Neumeyer to become CEO

Former proALPHA and SAP executive positions Syncron for next stage of growth and innovation.

NAHB: Fewer builders cutting home prices as a result of the pandemic

Average price cut was 5 percent. 

ZSi-Foster acquires Hydra-Zorb

Deal consolidates leaders in pipe, hose and tube clamping.

Handling Systems International releases Quotinator online quote tool for dealers

Online tool provides scale drawings and simplifies quote process for crane and gantry dealers.

Valley Forge & Bolt introduces Rick Bailey as Chief Metallurgist

Bailey's career spans four decades of steel industry experience.

IRCG Weekly Pandemic Revenue Index shows 8.5% decline

Decline is smaller than any of the prior declines between March and mid-June.

Pure Safety Group names new western U.S. sales manager

Randy Fernandez will lead sales for PSG's western region, including Louisiana and Texas.

Airmaster introduces helpful ventilation and portable cooling device guidelines amid COVID-19 pandemic

Company offers useful, easy-to-understand best practices for using ventilation and cooling equipment in the workplace during coronavirus pandemic. 

Grabber welcomes new Vice President of Sales

Mike Toole joins Grabber after 20 years with USG. 

New home sales surge 16.6 percent in May

2020 rate is 12.7 percent above May 2019.

STAFDA releases Anaheim convention safety update

STAFDA is working with Anaheim city and convention center leadership to ensure that convention attendees can enjoy safe facilities and attractions as scheduled events resume.  

Hy-Brid Lifts updates sales team

Nik Fleischfresser will cover the western U.S.; Dave Wanta will serve the East.

Industrial production increased 1.4 percent in May

Manufacturing output—which fell sharply in March and April—rose 3.8 percent in May.

US LBM Foundation donates $100,000 to support Meals on Wheels' COVID-19 response

Funds target hardest hit communities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

U.S. housing permits and starts rebound in May

Permits surge 14.4 percent over April as starts advance 4.3 percent for month.

White Papers: UVGI in HVAC Systems for Air Sanitation

Larson Electronics explains the differences between bacteria and viruses and how ultraviolet irradiation combats them. 

Dodge: Construction starts post small gain in May

Increase influenced by several large projects; COVID-19 continues to influence starts activity.

Builder confidence surges in June

NAHB/Wells Fargo report indicates a housing rebound is underway.

National Women In Roofing and RoofersCoffeeShop launch industry recruitment opportunity

Campaign allows companies to submit job postings for Roofers Coffeeshop to share.

Point of Rental’s 2020 International Conference goes virtual

Web-based event will take place November 2-5. 

Zurich North America content series helps businesses get back to work in the wake of COVID-19

Guidance on hazard analysis, disinfecting facilities, employee anxiety, improving cyber resilience and more added to Zurich’s Coronavirus Resource Hub.

Kraft Fluid Systems becomes first distributor for Vanguard commercial lithium-ion battery line 

Batteries will power electric off-highway vehicles.

Stahlin Enclosures adds three rep firms

Agencies will represent Stahlin lines in the Northeast, Oklahoma and Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator inches higher in May

Contractor confidence continues to rebound.

HD Supply remains committed to business unit split

Separation of Facilities Maintenance and Construction & Industrial businesses will likely take place no later than early 2021.

Marcum Commercial Construction Index highlights 1 million jobs lost from March to April

Report notes that the pre-crisis labor shortage will hinder the sector's recovery. 

Simpson Strong-Tie launches eight-episode deck-building video series

Series shows contractors and homeowners how to build a stronger deck.

MSA asks industry professionals to request reusable elastomeric respirators be added to the Strategic National Stockpile

Reusable elastomeric respirators are not currently in the government's plan for rebuilding the stockpile; an oversight which should be corrected. 

Royal Building Products expands virtual selling capabilities

New RoyalPros.com site offers tools and training materials facilitate shift to virtual building product sales.

Case Studies: Asphalt Anchors BoltHold products help pop-up COVID clinics weather spring storms

Outdoor Covid-19 testing tents withstand Colorado snow storms and keep testing.

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute offers storm preparedness and cleanup tips

OPEI offers tips to help home and business owners prepare ahead of storms, hurricanes and floods.

USGBC releases new LEED guidance to address COVID-19 and building reopening strategies

LEED guidance outlines sustainable best practices for cleaning, workplace re-occupancy, HVAC and plumbing.

Businesses with PPP Loans Now Eligible for Payroll Tax Deferral

Businesses should view this as an interest-free loan, as these delayed taxes must be repaid. 

Rockford Systems adopts digital delivery for machine safeguarding seminars

Three coming seminars will be presented on Zoom.

IRCG Weekly Pandemic Revenue Index shows 0.34% increase 

Small increase comes after 10 weeks of sales declines including nine weeks of double-digit declines.

AD’s slate of fall meetings moves to virtual setting

Virtual meetings will include member and supplier business updates and strategic supplier briefings.

Dodge Momentum Index trends flat in May

Data suggests that construction may begin a modest recovery in the third quarter.

Simpson Strong-Tie redirects $75,000 in Habitat for Humanity funding to Organization’s COVID-19 relief

Habitat's Homes, Communities, Hope + You (HCH+Y) campaign is helping families who’ve been hit hard by the economic impact of COVID-19.

ITR Economics to host two live online events

Join leading economists Alan and Brian Beaulieu on June 23 and July 22. 

Exclusive: Point-and-Measure moisture meters speed construction, ensure quality

Instant handheld analyzers that can be operated by virtually any construction worker in the field deliver lab-quality moisture readings in seconds.

ECP Push Pier systems secure ICC-ES ESR-4471

Kansas company first to receive ESR under new criteria for push pier systems.

Endries International acquires All-West Components

All-West was formed in 1978 in Seattle as a wholesaler of industrial fasteners and power tools.

Makita promotion encourages framers and fine woodworkers to cut the cord

Promotion offers special pricing and free batteries on three popular tools.

CRC offers technical bulletin on workplace cleaning

Free-to-download bulletin provides best practices for cleaners and disinfectants, and highlights frequently-touched areas in facilities that must be cleaned and disinfected regularly to minimize risk of exposure to infectious diseases.

NAHB sees Coronavirus adding momentum to home building in smaller markets

Study finds the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to hasten a trend in lower density markets such as smaller cities and rural areas.

Pettibone picks Super Equipment as new dealer for Québec and Maritime provinces 

Super Equipment, located near Montréal, has acquired a new 14,000-square-foot facility to improve customer service. 

Asphalt Anchors Corp. offers free calculators for installing fences and signs on asphalt

Free online calculators guide design of cost-effective placements. 

U.S. Department of Labor issues safety Alert for stockroom and loading dock workers

Safety tips are intended to protect stockroom and loading dock workers from exposure to the coronavirus.

U.S. manufacturing declines 13 percent in April 

Slide follows an 11 percent decrease in March.

Southwire names Tim King president of Southwire Canada 

King steps up from Director of Finance, HR and Administration for Southwire Canada.

Kärcher North America names new CEO

Elliot Younessian takes role after previously serving with company from 2009 to 2014.

IAPMO cancels 2020 annual conference, moves 2022 event to Charlotte

Plumbing and mechanical association cancels event was set for September. 

U.S. construction spending drops just 2.9 percent in April

Through April, total spending was up 7.1 percent YoY.