Big Company Moves

Big industry news this past week with some of the parts of CGH being sold off.  First we heard the news of the assets from Columbia Commercial Building Products being divvyed up between two companies, with the window system going to Arcadia and the architectural aluminum to FHC.  Nice moves for both of those companies- especially with regards to expanding their products lines.  Again, with how crazy our world is, diversifying what you do is NOT a bad play right now.  Then the news dropped that Solar Seal was being sold to 03 Industries.  This made me very happy as I know the Solar Seal people were absolutely determined to see their operation land in good hands and from all indications it has.  They surely beat out the rumors of their demise and that truly is a cool thing. So far, these moves look to be very good ones for many involved and few more shoes still to drop before it is said and done.  

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  I have talked on here a lot about John Wheaton’s “Creating Structure” podcast and this latest episode is incredible.  His guest is one of my “Influential 15” and someone that truly commands a ton of deserved respect in our industry- Jeff Haber of W&W.  This interview absolutely delivers.  The beauty of this cast was previewed really early on when John noted that if he saw Jeff at an event like BEC, he’d get a few minutes to chat with him and both would move on to network elsewhere- so getting him for an hour+ is something that just does not happen.  So this really is special.  Among the items covered here were Jeff’s history, W&W’s history (Racquetball Courts for the Win!), Value Props, Diversification, Communication and an amazing segment where off the top of his head Jeff riffs out 15 or more site considerations when working in New York City.  Truly a must listen and great job by both! CLICK HERE to listen.  By the way if I ever interviewed Jeff it would go kind of like THIS so I am glad John did it and is so good!

 

--  So saw this blurb on remodeling of the Pittsburgh Airport and I got sentimental.  The original Perilstein Distributing (PDC) did a lot of the glass in that structure when it was first built and when I first started in the industry it was one of the first places my brother took me to show me what our company did. (back when you could visit an airport without flying) It was so cool to see our logo on the tempered and name stamped on the spacers, it really started that level of pride first in working in the business and then obviously for our industry.  Whomever does the modernization, do it up great my friends! 

 

--  Laminated glass continues to be a hot product and with that usually comes more oversight and standards. Including now this one in the new ASTM C1900. Things like this help our world perform better and I am all for it. 

 

--  Good news about Anixter’s Jenifer Truhn with her now taking on a new role there leading a team of Glass Hardware Specialists.  I had the honor of meeting Jen a few years ago when her involvement at the Detroit Glass Dealers Association (DGDA) was helping promote GlassBuild America and from there on out I would see her from time to time making great inroads in the market and also on LinkedIn. Super talented. I think Jen will do great in this new role and I appreciate her continued support of our industry too! (Her company just smartly joined the NGA!)

 

--  Marketing friends are you following the latest from Google and their new algorithm changes for later this year?  From what I am seeing it means website optimization will take a serious headline role like never before.  This will certainly be interesting once it rolls out and how it affects older sites and also newer ones not built to keep up with the Google updates. Never a dull moment out there…

 

--  Last this week… cool look at some Net Zero projects.  Some are better looking than others and some use glass more effectively.  Check it out and let me know what you think and if you supplied any material on any of these!

 

LINKS of the WEEK

 

--  Another just “click to read the headline” sort of story.  Unreal.

 

--  Cool treehouse. Brutal execution. Gotta do things the right way folks!

 

--  This repurposing of a Mall needs to keep happening- all over.  

 

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

This week my focus is on a nice interior and entrance package done by the fine team at Kensington Glass Arts.  Good folks there (I’m a big fan of Bill Wilson there- great guy) who really do right by the industry and they do nice work including this on at Franklin Square in Washington, DC.  KGa did glass on those majestic entrances and upgrades throughout the lobby and concourse. Looks great! Props to everyone at Kensington on this excellent work!