NorthGlass Set a Guinness World Record for the Largest Glass Window

The bigger, the better. Large glass installations are always an exciting feat for those in the glazing industry—pushing boundaries and questioning just how far one can go. Tianjin NorthGlass recently shared news of setting a world record for fabricating the largest glass window. According to architectural firm Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, the window belongs to Taikang Headquarters, among the tallest skyscrapers in Beijing. The window measures about 547 square feet, 54 feet, 3 inches tall and 10 feet, 10 [more]

Project delays due to the coronavirus outbreak continue to decrease, according to the Q3 2021 Commercial Construction Index (CCI), released quarterly by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Dodge Data & Analytics, This quarter, 60% are experiencing delays on some projects, down 12 points from last quarter. Even fewer (56%) expect delays to continue in three months—this is down from 68% in Q2. Only half (50%) expect delays to continue for six months, which decreased [more]

CCI: Q3 Data Shows Slight Improvement from Last Quarter

The construction industry is slowly but surely moving in a positive direction as the impacts of COVID-19 start to lessen. Data from the 2021 third-quarter U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index (CCI) shows two of the three key drivers of the Index—contractor confidence in new business and backlog—improved this quarter. One key driver (revenue) remained unchanged. The CCI has regained 10 points from its low of 56 at the start of the pandemic, though [more]

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and Installers Are Among the Hardest Hit

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and, according to experts, perhaps no field should embrace the call more than construction. With 53.2 suicides per 100,000 workers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the construction industry has among the greatest suicide rate of any industry—a rate that experts say is over four times higher than the national average and five times higher than all other forms of construction-related deaths combined. And among [more]

AGC Survey Results Address Labor Shortages and Optimism in Industry’s Future

The construction industry is seemingly struggling in more ways than one, but officials with the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) notice some positives from the 2021 Workforce Survey. “This year’s results show an odd paradox,” said Steve Sandherr, the CEO of the AGC. “On the one hand, construction firms are experiencing pre-pandemic levels of workforce shortages. At the same time, many construction firms are dealing with the impacts of delayed or canceled projects, suffering from [more]

August PPI Numbers Remain Positive Overall for Glass Industry

The seasonally unadjusted prices for materials used in glass and glazing manufacturing were positive in August and in year-over-year price changes, according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In August, the monthly PPI for flat glass in the commodity category was down -0.3% and up 7.1% from August 2020. According to the BLS, the commodity classification “organizes products and services by similarity or material composition, regardless of [more]

Machinery Companies at GlassBuild America Highlight Automation and Service

The GlassBuild America show wrapped up yesterday in Atlanta. For our final day’s video coverage, we checked in with some of the machinery companies to learn how they are working with their customers to help them navigate today’s [more]