2024 MVP Season Begins

For those of you who may be new to this blog, since 2013 I have awarded a yearly MVP award at the end of the year.  We’re now a month away from that happening, and once again a ton of folks to choose from.  I try not to select anyone who has been listed before, either as a runner-up or the actual MVP, so that makes it tougher than normal but also allows me to spread the recognition around.  The process for who hits that list for 2024 is now underway, and I look forward to seeing who ends up on top!

Elsewhere… 

-- Stanley Yee was a runner-up for MVP in 2022 and has been a massive influence and force in our industry for many years.  This past week he announced he’s retiring from his position at DOW and with next steps still to be determined.  I hope that whatever Stanley decides to do next, it has him still active in our industry because his impact is immense.  No matter what the journey holds, though, I know Stanley will be a star.  Good guy, and I wish him only the best!!

-- ICYMI – a quick Podcast reminder… the most recent episode featured Keith Daubmann of My Shower Door, My Architectural Glass (MAG) and D3 Glass, along with Jason Godfrey of UFP Packaging.  Both guys brought a ton of energy to the pod and more than a few “wow” moments for me.  The feedback I am getting is that Keith really opened up nicely and that Jason fits in our space well.  So good stuff.  Thank you for checking it out!

VIDEO

AUDIO (Also search “From the Fabricator” on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts)

FHC-Frameless Hardware Company sponsored this episode- Thanks again to them for the support!

-- Congrats to Merv Campbell and the team at Omni Cubed on the launch of their new website.  Take a look at https://omnicubed.com/ to learn more and take the proper safety and efficiency route.. less injuries, less breakage.  Sounds like a good deal to me!

-- I really enjoyed visiting the team from CAD-PLAN at GlassBuild and am now happy for them on the news of a new product they just released.  The product is their ATHENA 2024, and from all indications, it looks like an efficiency monster for those of you who deal in AutoCAD design.  Faster and more accurate are the words being used, and given the adventures out there, I like those attributes.  Jan Krutsky, Rulon Allred, and the company keep making moves.  Love it!

The person known as “The Industry Front Man,” the one and only Carl Christ of DFI, has done it again.  In what I am sure was an epic team effort, DFI produced a very snazzy point-of-sale video pop-up.  It was an impressive compact box with auto-play video.  I was lucky enough that Carl thought of me to share one with and I was very impressed.  Stuff like this makes our industry look great.  Kudos to all involved.

Thanks to the fabulous Barbara Horwitz-Bennett for including me in an article about bullet-resistant glass in Architectural Products Magazine.  I am honored to be in such an excellent piece listed and quoted alongside some of the best in our space.  Thank you, Barbara and Architectural Products, for the coverage.  https://issuu.com/docs/aa70f6fbd29c75322f6a24c329e2e4db/18

Last this week… at the recent Architectural Glass and Metal Certification Council (AGMCC) annual meeting lots of positive news was made with regards to what they are doing to keep things rolling in our space.  The biggest plus was that they launched GlazingCertification.com to combine AGMCC, NACC, and AGMT details in one convenient online location. This new site clearly shows the value of certification to different stakeholders and provides more resources to support those pursuing or have earned certification.  We need to keep growing this effort because it is good for all!!  Congrats to Jeff Dalaba and company on the continued success!

LINKS of the WEEK

I’m never good with anything “that escapes from a lab” including monkeys.  Yikes.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/forty-monkeys-escape-lab-research-south-carolina-b2643599.html

Music buffs- another version of “Knocking on Heavens Door” is out… a little on the slow side for me, but I can see the attraction.  (I’ll take the Guns-n-Roses version as my favorite)

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/sophie-thatcher-bob-dylan-knockin-on-heavens-door-heretic-1235140095/

Good read on Passive House tech, though sadly, there is no mention of glass (seriously, I was expecting a perfect Michael Spellman quote in there on VIG) and no mention of Matt Price when they talked Hemp material.  Big misses.  But it's still a good read!

https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/new-tech-tries-to-catastrophe-proof-your-home-6a32b6c4?st=k2EcVt&reflink=article_email_share

PROJECT of the WEEK

North of the border we go with Heritage Glass & Aluminum in Calgary.  Nice project! The post I saw on LinkedIn noted that Kawneer and Vitrum were also involved.  Looks great! 

New Pod and a Mix of News and Notes

The latest edition of the From the Fabricator Podcast is now live!  Two really interesting guests with regard to backgrounds, approaches, and products.  I kicked it off with Keith Daubmann of MyShowerDoor, D3 Glass, & MyArchitecturalGlass.  Keith is a dominant social media force (great insight from him on that during the pod), but he’s so much more.  He’s a genuinely fascinating person, and he opened up on a few items that I found intriguing, including moments when things weren’t going swimmingly.  It is a fun and wide-ranging talk, and I am just a huge fan of Keith and family (including Jay and Bryce).  Then, onto Jason Godfrey of UFP Packaging.  I barely know Jason, just initially met him this summer, so was good to get to know him, his company and once again trying to break through with products that aren’t “the way we’ve always done it.”  Good stuff from both and I think you’ll enjoy.  Thank you in advance for checking it all out!

VIDEO

AUDIO (Also search “From the Fabricator” on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts)

This episode was sponsored by the fine folks of FHC-Frameless Hardware Company- Thanks again to them for the support!

Elsewhere…

-- Should be a quiet week ahead in the US, right?  Nothing major happening right?  LOL.  Anyway, we’ll stay focused on our space... the latest Architectural Billings Index hit while I was in Germany. The index clocked in at a flat 45.7.  Matching the previous month exactly.  Just goes to show you we’re all just in a wait and see mode.  And one of the most used lines “waiting until the election” now expires, so we’ll see what sort of movement is to come, especially with another meeting of the Fed this week as well.   By the way, also in the latest report, project inquiries continue to stay positive.  It is a minor data point but still one that provides a sliver of positivity.

-- Want to pass on a huge public thank you to the extremely classy Eric Leclair of Vicone Rubber. He had remembered after meeting my daughter at last year's Halloween-timed GlassBuild that with her food allergies, she can only have certain brands that are made specifically on peanut-free lines in Canada.  (I think she was a consistent visitor to his booth because he had the safe treats there).  So, in time for the Halloween holiday this year, Eric sent a goody box down from Canada for my daughter and she was over the moon.  So cool.  Thank you Eric!! Much appreciated!

-- As I have noted on here the challenges that my good friend Billy Britt at Britt & Tilson Glass has gone through in the aftermath of the Hurricane and storms that hit Asheville, NC were monumental.  Recently, at a benefit concert for Carolina, music star Chase Rice sported a Britt & Tilson hat on stage, and that hat is now in demand. Big time viral.  So, with that in mind, these hats are now for sale and will in addition to the GoFundMe raise money for the recovery in the area.  Check it out and if you can support by buying a hat- please do so.  Billy and family are tremendous people and seeing them fight forward is an inspiration.

-- WEBINAR upcoming with the extremely sharp Conley Oster (possible future podcast guest too if I can get his agent to budge on his speaking fee… LOL) – the date is 11/12 and this is the latest in the National Architectural Glass and Metal Association (NAGMA) series.  Conley is with RAISE Robotics and this webinar will hit on “Robots and the Future of Smart Equipment” – that title alone makes it something you will want to see.  Plus, the IUPAT will have a piece in there on training plans for 2025.  So a must attend for sure for a few reasons.  LINK is here to sign up!

-- Kudos to Luxwall on the news of their latest fundraising which will lead to more expansion of high-performance glazing.  More details HERE, but bottom line is this next level of products are here to stay and will only keep growing.  Good for our industry in the never-ending battle for the wall! (Which note, the battle for the wall TRULY never ends, thankfully the NGA Technical Super Heroes continue to fight for us)

-- I missed attending and covering the WCNY Glass and Glazing Forum in New York (timing with Germany killed me) but I heard absolute rave reviews about it.  This is an annual show in West and Central New York that just keeps growing and delivers that perfect mix of fun networking and educational show values.  Good crowd and a lot of architectural attraction too!  When good guys like Frank Stento are involved, along with many others, you know it will be well done… so kudos to everyone involved, and I will NOT miss the edition in 2025!

-- Last this week… for you baseball fans… Congrats to those who are Dodgers fans for bringing the title home.  It is always nice to see the scrappy, underfunded teams win… OH… no, seriously, I do like a lot of the Dodgers and have many friends who are over the moon with this win.  So happy for ya.  And on a personal baseball note?  The Mayor of Glasstown, the one and only Jon Johnson, got me back into a fantasy baseball league this year for the first time since 2016.  So, between having that to follow and the amazing Detroit Tiger run, this year was fun, and it reminded me of my love of that sport.  Sadly, though with baseball ending, that means it is winter and it’ll probably snow next week….

LINKS of the WEEK

Pushing back vs Shrinkflation?  We’ll see….

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tostitos-ruffles-shrank-bags-chips-100042749.html

A time limit on that airport goodbye!!

https://apnews.com/article/new-zealand-airport-goodbye-hugs-time-limit-d6176082ffb6ab66e8d2f05dd590b8aa

Also at the airport... The people who try to load the plane before it’s their turn may have met their match with this new tech.  Hmmmm. 

https://apnews.com/article/american-airlines-technology-boarding-line-cutters-aae3374524aa87b2278053a33dc030bc

PROJECT of the WEEK

In the spotlight this week a good looking one in Texas from Kelley’s Glass & Mirror.  I think this may be the rare glazing company I don’t know down there – at least I don’t think I do- but regardless a tremendous job!

In their LinkedIn post on this, they called out a few of my industry favorites of mine as collaborators on this job.  Tristar Glass and Vitro with the glass fabrication and supply and Kawneer on the curtain wall.  Congrats to all involved!  Good stuff!!