Metal and Education-The Future

As we near the end of the school year all across the islands of Micronesia, the thought of the future has been a running theme at graduations and commencements from Majuro to Palau .  A man who has a keen eye into the future and one of the smartest men in the construction industry, Fabral Vice President and General Manager Kit Emert wrote in his Blog earlier this year of the importance of building a sustainable environment for our children and young adults to learn, thrive and grow.  

While the metal industry's top executive noted that while each of us makes our own judgment on the state of education in America, we all must be supportive of learning within the building structures we present to them.  Emert points out that metal exterior enclosure systems provide an ideal solution for educational buildings and school athletic facilities. 

But why? 

"There are numerous reasons, but at the forefront is the fact that metal is truly sustainable as it provides materials containing high percentages of recycled content and that are wholly recyclable," wrote Emert. "Metal is economical in use as compared to other cladding materials. In addition, metal provides for efficient building enclosure, possible job site fabrication for long-length roofing panel systems, wall panel systems that blend well with other types of building products, metal can be incorporated with energy management products and metal cladding is ideal for retrofit applications." 

The 30 year metal construction professional added that metal systems can be designed for abuse resistance in high-traffic use or damage-prone areas. Emert opined that metal can be fabricated, colorized and designed to fit the architectural, functional and environmental needs of an educational building and enhance the learning process.

"Metal exterior enclosure systems have been successfully and beautifully utilized on countless schools across the US," wrote Emert. "Think metal exterior enclosure systems for education and in education-Metal is the sustainable direction for your building design and for our future."

With the rising cost of construction and increasing awareness of sustainable building practices across the Pacific, such a notion to move towards metal should not be left out of the design charrettes and master planning by government educators and island engineers alike through the summer break and beyond.

To find out more about how GET, LLC, through our metal building partners can help with your next steel building or aluminum roofing project, give us a call at 671-483-0789 or our website at www.get-guam.com for more information.

Tips to Buying Metal Roofing

A recent article by Metal Construction News noted the challenges of the supply chain of America's top metal roofing manufacturers.  While the construction industry supply chain is having its problems, there is no question of the trickle down impacts to the rest of the specialty markets including metal roofing.  U.S. suppliers are concerned of the how such challenges are impacted by the infiltration of international competition and getting consumers to stay home when purchasing metal roofing. Also, new players in the market have long time metal roofing companies cautiously optimistic on what the future holds for their industry.

What will rule the day?  

One answer-the establishment of minimum requirements for metal roofing quality.  

US manufacturers remain under the constant barrage of products introduced into the American marketplace from all over the world.  Keeping bad metal out keeps the bad experiences out.  Performance is key here.  Process is just as important with an eye on pre-treatment, metal coating and substrate gauge.  Finally, experience is probably the single most important variable that a consumer must take into consideration before buying a metal roof-little experience means greater cost down the road for the unsuspecting building owner or facility manager.

Key to protecting both the consumer and this important U.S. market is education.  Writers on this topic are saying that consumers need to understand the language of metal and the metal roofing industry needs to raise awareness among consumers of the benefits of metal roofing as well as the importance of choosing the right contractor. 

Quality contractors also need to educate the marketplace as well.  Can they certify the coating, paint warranties, steel thickness and quality? Is there documentation to support the quality levels? The Metal Construction Association (MCA) has an established a certification program for metal roofing. According to Executive Director of the MCA Jeff Henry the program currently has 45 metal roofing products certified among a handful of manufacturers. If the program is expanded, industry experts believe such action will  ensure the industry doesn't suffer from adverse publicity because of poor metal roof performance.  

Bottom line-Contractors need to work with experienced, long-term providers who stand behind their work.

To find out more about how GET, LLC, through our metal building partners can help with your next steel building or aluminum roofing project, give us a call at 671-483-0789 or our website at www.get-guam.com for more information.    

Structured Stainless Steel Guide Released

An interesting development out of the steel industry as American design professionals now have access to a new resource related to carbon steel structural components  for steel buildings.  

American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Steel Design Guide No. 27, Structural Stainless Steel, authored by Associate Director at the Steel Construction Institute (SCI) Nancy Baddoo, provides guidance for the design of structural hot-rolled or welded open sections such as I-shaped members, channels, and equal-leg angles, as well as rectangular and round hollow structural sections (HSS).

The publication is intended for engineers experienced in the design of carbon steel structural components, but not necessarily in the design of stainless steel structures, and is aligned with the design provisions in the 2010 AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings. The AISC Guide applies to austenitic, duplex and precipitation hardening stainless steel structural sections with thickness 8 in. (3 mm) and greater.  Some of the topics covered in this guide include material behavior and selection, cross-section design, member design, connections and fabrication.

"Up until now, there have been no specifications or guidelines for the design of structures fabricated from hot-rolled stainless steel plates or shapes," said Ted Galambos, Ph.D., P.E., emeritus professor of structural engineering at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and a reviewer of Design Guide No. 27. "This document, for the first time in the U.S., will show designers how to proportion stainless steel beams, columns, frames and connections that are fabricated from hot-rolled components. With this new design guide, it will be an easy task to expand the arsenal of engineers."

It was a collaborative effort to put this guide together, bring the collective talents of the International Chromium Development Association (ICDA), International Molybdenum Association (IMOA), International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF), Nickel Institute, Outokumpu, Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA), Stainless Structurals LLC, Stalatube, and the Steel Institute of New York (SINY).

To find out more about how GET, LLC through, our metal building partner MCR Guam Inc., can help your next steel building or aluminum roofing project, give us a call at 671-483-0789 or our website at www.get-guam.com for more information. 

Steel Production Number Improve in 2012

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) is reporting that the U.S. and NAFTA steel production and shipments both increased in 2012 over 2011, but import gains continue as U.S. and NAFTA markets have not attained pre-recession levels.  

The 2012 AISI Annual Statistical Report (ASR) showed that U.S. steel shipments were at 96 million net tons, a four percent increase from the previous year and an 11 percent increase from the most recent five-year average of 86 million net tons.  

Construction and automotive continue to be the largest markets for steel.

Metal Construction News call the report "the most comprehensive reference of its kind" for the American steel industry, adding that the AISI report provides statistical data for the U.S. steel industry and a variety of selected statistical data on the Canadian, Mexican and world steel industries.  

The Illinois-based industry magazine points out the the AISI Report features comprehensive charts and graphs, including: selected statistical highlights on shipments, apparent supply, imports, employment and raw steel data over a 10-year period; selected financial highlights on income and cash flow data; shipments by products and markets over a 10-year period; raw steel production (state distribution and capability utilization); and imports and exports data.   The report also includes an executive summary that highlights recent and historical trends in the North American steel industry.

"The annual statistical report is an indispensable reference tool for anyone interested in tracking steel industry trends," said AISI President and CEO Thomas J. Gibson.  "With 16 pages of charts and graphs in the executive summary alone, it is a valuable resource for industry, media, academia, steel analysts and anyone else who is interested in comprehensive data on our industry."

NAFTA Raw Steel Production was 133 million net tons in 2012, a two percent increase over 2011.

To find out more about how GET, LLC through, our metal building partner MCR Guam Inc., can help your next steel building or aluminum roofing project, give us a call at 671-483-0789 or our website at www.get-guam.com for more information.

Mobile Apps and the Steel Building Industry

Over the past week, I have spent a majority of my time on the roof of a steel building in the final stages of a standing seam roof retrofit on a federal defense installation.  The experience has been a great one for me as I am but an "infant" in the metal construction industry.  I have been intrigued by the many requests and discussions on the proper fasteners for this particular roof design, what are the safety measures in place once the roof is completely installed and would a "clip" be able to hold in place critical infrastructure during a natural disaster-particularly a typhoon or tropical storm.  The short lectures and insight had me asking if there was a way to use technology to get to the heart of these issues and answer some of the arguments on the job site.  While the debates should be minimal because of contractually mandated submissions and approvals by competent professionals, there still can be discussions to drive future decision making processes. 

Timing is everything in this business.  

It just so happens I came across an interesting initiative of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) that may have answered my questions related to the "steel biz".  The AISC has launched its first mobile app called Build-A-Bolt.  The app reportedly helps steel construction industry professionals select the right structural bolt, washer, nut combination and can be used in the field to determine bolt grade and manufacturer. Apparently the app is also useful for detailers and specifiers in providing dimensions and fastener compatibility. Best of it all-the app is free.  You can find it on the AISC website and is a must for your field Smartphone, iPads or computers. We can expect more steel apps to be rolled out in the near future, thanks in large part to the AISC and a new Steel Apps contest at www.aisc.org/steelappscontest giving the opportunity to win cash prizes, totaling $9,000. I expect this type of technology will help me grow and become "mature" in this metal business in no time.

GET, LLC is so very proud to be partnered with MCR Guam Inc., a small business poised to grow in the years to come.  MCR Guam Inc. is bringing new products and services to bear on contractors and steel building owners across the Pacific Rim.  They have strategic alliances with the World's Leading Provider of Metal Roof and Panel Systems Fabral, America's top metal building company Ceco Building Systems of Columbus, Mississippi and access to a vast network of metal building professionals across the globe. 

To find out more about how GET, LLC and MCR Guam Inc. can help your next project, give us a call at 671-483-0780 or our website for more information.

Steel is Good "Shelter from the Storm"

A great article by Mark Robbins of Metal Construction News recently brings to mind a great sale pitch for metal buildings: "...with proper design and storm-resistant construction, the damage to buildings by Mother Nature's tantrums can be greatly reduced."

While building to code is just not enough, ensuring your metal building is designed and constructed to resist wind effects is very important.  Living in the Western Pacific that is so true.  Life in "Typhoon Alley" means you must build to withstand hurricane or typhoon force winds of 170 miles per hour.  The best constructed steel buildings on Guam have answered that call.  There are still some post-War buildings that stand today on our island that have seen dozens of storms come and go in our latitude.  Must mean that the construction of the vertical and lateral load paths of these monuments to Mother Nature were spot on.  Fasteners, bracing and straps were also instrumental in keeping these buildings intact.

In discussions with CECO Building Systems, they have assured that will take extra efforts to ensure that steel building built on Guam will be properly engineered to this extreme weather condition that I believe is such a value added benefit for the local steel building customer.  Extra time to ensure that their product can withstand the harsh elements related to tropical storms or typhoons in the Western Pacific is a testament to their commitment to great customer service and above all-keeping the building owner and the neighboring public to these facilities safe.

While perlins and girts need to be strengthened,  it is the roof that must be able to be storm-resistant.  One of our partners in Fabral are just as committed to protecting against the sometimes volatile Western Pacific trade winds.  Their attention to detail in the engineering of roofing systems can be seen on a number of buildings here in Micronesia and take the extra step with weather tightness warranties that are so very important out here.

Other parts of the steel building from the gutter, louvers and curbs cannot be overlooked in relation to being storm ready.  Windows and doors should also be impenetrable to the harsh environments that island life can bring.  

Design to code and install correctly.  Take these steps and your metal building will serve your needs for decades and saves costs and reduces liabilities during a storm.  For more on metal building solutions for your organization, please contact GET, LLC.  Our strategic partnership with MCR Guam Inc. and Metal Construction Resources LLP will ensure you have the best metal building for your needs.  Drop us a line or call us to discuss further.

NCI wins AMA Marketer of the Year Honors

GET, LLC, through our relationship with Metal Construction Resources, LLP and MCR Guam want to congratulate Texas-based NCI Building Systems who was named recently as Marketer of the Year by the Houston Chapter of the American Marketing Association.  MCR is a Ceco Builder who is key part of the NCI Family.  

This is a big deal.  

NCI was chosen for the honor ahead of 145 companies.  The reason for the honor:

"NCI Building Systems stood out due to its impressive results and measurable accomplishments throughout 2012. Despite lackluster economic conditions and nominal growth in the U.S. non-residential construction market last year, NCI and its 20 brands significantly out-performed market growth, generating year-over-year revenue growth of 20 percent. Much of this growth is attributed to a focus on market segmentation that has effectively aligned sales and marketing in support of well-orchestrated growth initiatives."

As a fan of the top marketing efforts of the Nation's leading companies, I think NCI's initiatives that led to the winning of the award are pretty innovative including there efforts this past year in conducting customer research to develop a new "Preferred Customer Financing Program," and developing a customized marketing forecast management system that came within four percent accuracy by year end.

This says to me that the steel buildings industry is doing very well.  As an alternative to concrete in this part of the world, I would suggest taking another look at steel.  It is more economical. It meets the wind and seismic codes for the Western Pacific.  It is a great building solution.  Good job NCI.

Obama State of the Union Described by Steel Producers as "mixed bag"; Steel Imports on the Rise

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reacted to President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address by saying it did lay out some"positive goals", but was short on specifics.  

AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice.

The nation's largest trade organization representing steel products was pleased with the recognition of the steel industry in the speech, but was looking for more details from the President on how they and other industries would push the American economy forward. AISI President and CEO Thomas Gibson said President Obama fell short on details to correct America's massive trade imbalance with China-a huge steel exporter, tax reform, and energy independence.

“We are encouraged that some of the President’s proposals will benefit the steel industry, but are also disappointed that he did not lay out concrete plans to achieve the goals," said Gibson.  "We will continue to work with the Administration and Congress to turn the rhetoric into action.”

The President's policy speech comes on the heels of the U.S. Department of Commerce reporting last week that steel imports are up, a strong sign of the market gaining ground this fiscal year.  AISI announced that steel import applicationsfor January totaled 2.6 million net tons (NT)-up eight percent from December2012. 

GET, LLC, through MCR Guam Inc. and MCR, LLP (One of the largest builders of Ceco Building Systems). is able to assist you with your steel construction needs.  Give us a call to discuss further.

State of the Metal Construction Industry in 2013 and the Outlook for Guam & Metal Buildings

A Repeat of 2012.  Lack of focus on selling the value of steel buildings over price.  Lack of definitive direction in Washington.  Those are just some of the things being said by the leaders of the metal construction industry on the outlook for 2013.  

Metal Construction News is the original news magazine of the metal construction industry and has been the premier source for news, products and strategies since 1994.  The Monthly publication talked to the industry leaders about what the new year can expect to hold for the business. 

The article can be found: http://www.metalconstructionnews.com/articles/magazine-features/2013-state-of-the-metal-construction-industry.aspx

The discussion on metal construction in the residential market, change in public policy, the workforce and the evolution into a sustainable industry were thought provoking. 

For the islands of the Western Pacific, metal buildings have been a part of the landscape since 1945.  If you look closely, many of those original structures are still standing in varying degrees of deterioration.  For the most part, these steel icons have stood the test of time.  

Today, demand is on the rebound.  Smaller projects are featuring steel buildings.  Contractors are revisiting steel versus concrete as a solution to their project needs.  While the Butler brand has been front and center on Guam.  Ceco is now making a run on the marketplace.  The end result has been more competitive pricing and quality products entering the region. With many taking a second look at the Guam Buildup and associated structures needed, metal buildings could once again be the owners choice.  

Why is this encouraging?  

Construction materials made up 3% of imports into Guam in July 2012. Steel structures accounted for $432,997 or about a quarter of the construction material imports.  This is an encouraging sign and expect it to grow in the months to come.  2013 could be a great year for the metal buildings industry on Guam. And on the heels of a anticipated ramp up in 2014 and 2015, this could be even better for metal buildings here.