Volume 9, Issue 11 - December 2008
Volume 9, Issue 11 - December 2008
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Feature Still
Shopping While many in the industry didn’t know what to expect from the GlassBuild America Show, held October 6-8 in Las Vegas, there were door and window manufacturers in attendance looking for products that can help differentiate themselves from the competition. “Manufacturers are here looking for new products and solutions for how they can make a better window which will set them apart from the competition,” said Stephen Kirkpatrick of Weiss USA. And they were making purchases. Graco’s Dave Behrens reported on the first day of the show that all but one piece of equipment his company brought was sold. But while many manufacturers didn’t make it to Las Vegas, following is a sampling of what was on display. Machinery The company unveiled what it touted as its “Next Green Production System”—a Sash Welder/Cleaner Pass-Through Process. This includes a four-point welder with pre-loader, automated welder/cleaner transfer and a four-point cleaner. The machine can produce 1,000 squares per shift, and only requires a one-person operation. The compact machine only requires 308 square feet of floor space. “The size of our booth is the amount of space this machine will take in a plant,” said Chris Cooper, senior sales engineer. Carlson did bring a new machine to show—the ProMax Frame/Sash Clamp targeted toward smaller-sized manufacturers who make approximately 400 to 600 units per day. The machine squares, clamps and fastens a variety of wood window frames or sash, and is designed for fast material placement and finished product removal. It is capable of producing more than 400 frames or sash per eight-hour shift, and features a programmable controller. Wes Schneekolth, regional sales manager, stressed the benefits of having an affordable system for a smaller-sized manufacturer. “They don’t need a Cadillac when they can have a Chevy,” he said. Billco featured its BioClean Water Care System, which the company says simplifies the process for maintaining a glass washer. Each tank’s volume of water is circulated through an ion generation process which helps neutralize bacteria and algae. Additionally, treated water circulated through the machine, so hard to reach areas and components can be reached by the residual ions, providing further cleaning without the use of harsh disinfectants. Those looking for packaging solutions and how to save money in this area may have been interested in EAM-MOSCA’s strapping machine that is designed to cut down on packaging—and packaging costs. The machine is quick and secure, according to company representative Tom Casso, and is safe to use. First-time exhibitor VinylLink offered not only a new machine, but a new way of thinking. The company’s founder and president, Frank Lesusa, brought together several suppliers from throughout the industry, including Sturtz Machinery and Fenetech, to create a system that notches vinyl profiles so they can be folded—rather than assembled by hand. The company offers two programs, one in which a manufacturer can purchase the equipment, and another, cheaper program in which the company basically leases the equipment from VinylLink. The main advantage to the system, Lesusa says, is the savings—in both material and users needed to assemble vinyl frames. “This is a prime time for us, because we save the customer $12 on every window,” he said. Likewise, every vinyl window created via the VinylLink system saves 18 inches of vinyl lineal, according to Lesusa. Erdman Machinery carried a large display of machinery to the show, but its newest addition is the Erdman IG Secondary Sealer, which includes a controls system coupled with its fluid metering system. According to the company, the combination provides consistent results at speeds up to 20 inches per second. The system can apply both hot, cold and two-part sealants, and is designed to ensure the seal at corners and the start/stop position. Likewise, it provides adjustable sealant fill via positive displacement pump, automatic sizing and sealant application, and is offered in either the 6000 or 7000 series. Oemme displayed its AS 260 GA numeric control assembling unit during the event. The CN thermal break profile assembly machine has six fully controlled axes and four pairs of assembling disks with automatic adjustment of the distance depending on the height of the polyamide bars. In addition, it is equipped with an automatic system for increasing the bar advancement speed at the entrance and exit. The system is controlled by a PC touch screen with an LCD monitor and is designed to be operator-friendly. Hardware “It’s almost effortless,” he said. “There is nothing like it.” Advantage Manufacturing offered its latest multi-point locks for casement windows, multi-point locks for European profiles, four-bar hinges for European profiles and four-bar hinges integrated with releasable limit devices. Truth Hardware displayed its multi-point mortise locks for recessed surface mount applications. Made from stainless steel, Truth’s Matt Kottke said this particular piece of hardware “was quite popular at the show.” In addition, Truth offers some new handle and cover designs in both its Maximum and Encore lines. The designs were created to be distinct aesthetically, and come in a wide variety of finishes and decorative paint options. The company’s Twin Latch, a composite positive-action lock, designed to be small and compact, also was a new launch. Fapim showcased all of its door and window hardware options, including its Horus handle, which is designed with die-cast aluminum with a snap-back action and screw-cover base. The spring and washes are made form stainless steel, and it comes with an 8-mm square pivot and fixing screws in galvanized steel. Likewise, the company displayed its Venice Top and Venice hinge with fast clamping, designed for doors made with window profiles. Company officials say the hinge is both aesthetically and technically advanced, and the two products join together features that previously appeared to be incompatible: the bearing capacity and possibility of adjustment, combined with a quick assembly. The hinges are pre-assembled and can be applied without additional work on the profiles. Components The product supports a sash weight of 114 pounds, the average force to open it is 11 pounds, and to close is 26 pounds. “People are very interested in this product,” he said. “It’s ideal for heavy window applications.” He added that the product, which has a 130-pound capacity, only requires a pair of balances. “Anything that would come close to that would need four balances,” he said. One industry supplier, Tecniplast, promoted its jamb extension boards during the show. Though these are designed for residential manufacturers and the company has stuck to this side of the business, company representatives reported their U.S. business is down. “I don’t think it can get worse,” said Jacques Millen, who says the company has seen an approximately 60-percent decrease in business in the United States since last year. He reports, however, that business in Canada remains strong. Despite the down economy there were some first-time exhibitors in Las Vegas, including Teel Plastics. The company began manufacturing protruded fiberglass window profiles recently. Though 60 percent of its products still are focused on other industries, a company representative said the company moved into the fenestration industry to meet a need for wood window manufacturers that offer aluminum-clad products. “Manufacturers are looking for something with better thermal performance than aluminum,” said one company representative, noting that the revised Energy Star® regulations currently under review will make the need for this even more imminent. Contact Industries was also trying to reach wood/composite manufacturers with its new profiles, which can be wrapped in numerous species of wood, with no need for special machinery. Dapa Products introduced a new foam screen spline that it says will meet various requirements of door and window manufacturers. The company says use of the product will help reduce inventory as one size will work for several different screen channels. The company adds that the spline does not harden in colder months or soften in warmer months. Gossen Corp. had a new cellular PVC profile on display. The profile is available with a Sherwin-Williams finish and is heat-resistant. It’s designed for high-end doors and windows. Software “The web center tool allows window manufacturers to generate quotes for their customers online,” said company president Ron Crowl. NetApps was offering another way to save time and money—by providing a software package that provides services throughout the life of a door or window, from the in-home quoting process right down to the manufacturing floor of the plant. “You save time, you save money,” said Alain Ackad, sales manager for the Quebec-based company. “The world is getting smaller and we want to be a part of that for manufacturers. We want to give manufacturers a way to help them out in this hard time.” Ackad’s goal, he said, is for the company to become the “Expedia” of the door and window market. PMC Software’s booth had a special theme for the current economy: “Look ahead.” The booth was filled with stacks of large, faux bills, to represent its latest software release. “It’s a program we’ve developed to decrease material usage,” said Ron Chill, sales manager for the company. Specifically, Chill says its software can decrease a company’s use of vinyl lineals by 4 percent—for a total of $1.9 million a year. Education and Energy Truseal’s booth conveyed what the new Energy Star requirements would mean for manufacturers. The company had a series of charts at its booth showing what types of glass and spacers would be required to meet the Energy Star requirements in 2009 and 2013. Next to each map and chart, Truseal also had an example of a window unit that could meet those requirements. And while many in the industry are wondering if they will be able to meet these new requirements, even in 2013, Truseal’s Ric Jackson says, “You can build the window of the future today.” And the examples at the booth showed them how to move toward that goal. Edgetech IG had a unique theme at its booth that attracted many attendees. Companies who entered the booth could enter “Edgetech University.” Attendees were given a notebook, an insulating glass (IG) certification manual and a report card to take with them as they visited the different educational stations throughout the booth. All attendees who completed the program were entered into a drawing to win $2,000 toward IG certification. Edgetech had representatives from the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance, the National Fenestration Rating Council and Architectural Testing at their stand to answer questions and help educate attendees concerning IG certification. Also at the booth was a “MythBuster” station where, according to Edgetech’s Brian Kress, a few big myths were being busted. “Because our product is silicone foam, the competition says it must be metal to be strong. They say you can’t meet hurricane wind loads with silicone,” said Kress. Kress explained to attendees that according to extensive testing performed by Edgetech silicone can indeed perform extremely well. “What makes us good is what the competition says makes us bad,” says Kress. He also pointed out that metal bars won’t meet the new thermal performance requirements that will soon be put in place (see related story in September DWM, page 22). Mark Silverberg, general manager for Technoform Glass Insulation, also discussed thermal performance. “A lot of residential business is moving toward higher performing thermal products,” he said. “That’s a real shift in the market.” He adds that his company is getting a lot of calls concerning the new forthcoming Energy Star requirements. “We get a lot of calls from people who want to know how to improve the thermal performance of their windows,” Silverberg said. Electronic Design to Market Inc. has long been a manufacturer of products for proving energy efficiency, but now is finding the need for its products is growing at a rapid rate. New at the show was the company’s WP4500, which is designed to show the energy performance (including percent of ultraviolet rays transmitted, visible light transmittance, infrared energy and solar heat gain coefficient) of a window that’s already been installed and is in use. “It’s a much larger product, and it has a much wider opening,” said EDTM’s Mark Imbrock. Though Imbrock called this product an extension of what his company has been manufacturing in the past, he notes that lately customers are really looking for this type of product. “All of our calls lately are, ‘what can I do to show energy efficiency?’” he said. Frank Lowe Rubber & Gasket also offered an energy-efficient product, its new NeoGreen Setting Blocks, which the company says are made of recycled rubber while helping manufacturers save money and preserve the environment. They are available in incremental sizes from 1⁄16 to ¼ inches. Next year’s GlassBuild America show will be held September 30-October 2 in Atlanta. Amid Market Woes, Manufacturers Continue While the news is saturated lately with plant closings and layoffs, there were manufacturers at the show who had a positive attitude and reported success at their respective companies. Geoff Roise, president of Lindsay Windows, a company with plants in Missouri and Minnesota, admits that it’s a challenging year, and that his sales reps have to work harder than ever for each order. But Roise is upbeat and is taking steps to invest in new products so when the market picks back up he will be ready. Roise was looking for a new glass washer and, while he said there wasn’t much new in this category, he did talk to manufacturers about improvements made to existing systems. He was also looking for different silicones. “This would have been an easy year to skip,” says Roise. “But you always find something new here.” He found a company that offers clothing for workers in the glass area of the plant. “I never would have run across this company if I wasn’t here,” he said. Jeff Ackerson, president of Vinylite Windows in Fergus Falls, Minn., says his company is very busy, and was at the show to look for more products and options it can add to its windows. “There is not nearly as much equipment here which is disappointing as I am looking to purchase new equipment,” he said. But he looked at different grid options particularly, as the company serves the remodeling market more so than it has in the past. While many companies are struggling, Ackerson says Vinyllite has to look at its capacity issues, so that when the market picks back up again it will be ready for more demand. Roise is following a similar strategy. One year ago the company purchased the assets of Sunroom Concepts. “That industry is really challenging,” said Roise. “We’re trying to come up with new products for that market so when the market comes back we’ll be ready.”
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