Kawneer Launches 2008 Sustainability Campaign 
Alcoa’s Kawneer business has launched its 2008 sustainability campaign, reinforcing the manufacturer’s commitment to the green movement and highlighting its range of sustainable architectural aluminum building products and systems for commercial construction. Centered on the key message, “Every Day You Make a Choice, Make a Choice that Counts,” the campaign demonstrates how everyday decisions can make a difference in the future of the planet.

The year-long marketing campaign officially launched with the introduction of a calendar that features LEED-registered or LEED-certified projects where Kawneer products have been involved in the sustainability solution. A new ad campaign promotes Kawneer’s “sustainable solutions” approach to environmental design and construction also debuted in January in several trade publications. Advertisements use the “choice” theme to illustrate how its products and systems can help architects, glazing contractors and other members of the building team make solid choices without compromising sustainability.

“At Kawneer, we’re committed to making choices that count–choices that have a positive impact on our communities and the environment,” says Glen Morrison, president, Kawneer North America. “We believe that in choosing Kawneer, customers and architects can make choices that achieve the business, performance and aesthetic goals for their projects, while enhancing the sustainability of those buildings as well.”

Other aspects of the sustainability campaign currently underway include additional marketing tools for the sales force, an expanded presence at the 2008 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo and a series of product ads that reflect the sustainable launch design and messaging.

Arch Adds Heat-Soak Capability
Arch Aluminum & Glass in Tamarac, Fla., has added heat-soaking capability for its heat-treated glass products.

“More and more everyday our customers are asking us about heat soaking, and in order to stay a true single source, we felt like we needed to do this,” says Steve Perilstein, vice president of sales for the company.

While heat soaking glass does not give a 100-percent guarantee of eliminating spontaneous breakage, it shows a reduction in the instances statistically, Perilstein points out. The process of heat soaking includes heating tempered glass to a designated temperature for a specified amount of time. During this process any impurities in the raw glass would be found and the glass would have to be replaced.

“Arch Aluminum & Glass is the only fabricator with multiple locations in the United States and Canada to offer this service,” Perilstein states.

EFCO Releases New BIM Models
EFCO Corp., a Pella company, has made available 423 new BIM models for its various products. Based in Monett, Mo., the company manufactures architectural aluminum windows, curtainwalls, storefronts and entrance systems for commercial architectural applications.

EFCO began offering BIM options in early 2006, and its models can be accessed through BIMWorld, McGraw-Hill’s Sweets Network and Google’s 3D Warehouse.

“BIM is dramatically increasing in popularity and usage,” says Dave Hewitt, director of marketing. “There are several advantages provided by modeling buildings. Some of these include a significant cost reduction in change orders—as a single change can be instantly replicated throughout the building—instant identification of material conflicts and greatly enhanced client visual presentations.” 

Guardian Launches Campaign for Commercial Glass Program
Guardian Industries Corp. has launched a new marketing campaign called “Build With Light” to highlight its SunGuard architectural glass program. The campaign includes a series of marketing and educational materials to introduce the product line to architects, engineers and contractors.

The objectives of the campaign are to increase SunGuard product and brand awareness and give architects the tools they need to help them specify SunGuard products.

“We needed to enhance our marketing strategy to match our growth in high-technology glass products,” says Chris Dolan, Guardian’s director of commercial glass program for the Auburn Hills, Mich., based glass manufacturer. “The Build With Light campaign provides creative and compelling ways for us to showcase our products and services that can meet commercial market requirements for energy savings, quality, color options and design flexibility.”

The campaign was developed through extensive customer research which found that many architects want to use glass to bring more natural light to their projects but are challenged when it comes to making the right specifications and having the technical expertise needed to balance color and performance

The focal point of the campaign is the new website–www.sunguardglass.com—which includes a performance comparison tool to help visitors select and compare Guardian products based on user-specified performance criteria.

Also on the website is a project database featuring buildings with SunGuard glass and a new Google map feature that shows exactly where the project is located. The campaign also includes an architectural binder system and SunGuard glass sample boxes, product and technical brochures, a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) brochure, CD-ROM and a toll-free number.

Architects' Guide to Glass & Metal
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