Solar energy isn’t new; the first practical PV cells were developed in the mid-1950s. SAMIH, however, is set to become one of the few structures in Canada fitted with cutting-edge building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).

Traditional residential or commercial PV systems are installed on rooftops. They don’t blend in with a building’s décor and are frequently criticized as eyesores. BIPV systems, by contrast, come in a variety of colours and can be designed to look like steel, brick, wood, marble, or other construction materials. They augment a building’s envelope, don’t need to be installed on the roof, and don’t even have to be pointed at the sun. Wires and other technical components can be kept out of sight.

In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, BIPV systems are efficient; the BIPV façade at SAMIH will offer 513 kilowatts (kW) of power generation capacity, while the roof array will kick in an additional 119 kW.

“Building-integrated photovoltaics are solar power generating products or systems that are seamlessly integrated into the building envelope and part of the building components such as façades, roofs, or windows. Serving a dual purpose, a BIPV system is an integral component of the building skin that simultaneously converts solar energy into electricity and provides building envelope functions such as weather protection (water proofing, sun protection), thermal insulation, noise protection, daylight illumination and/or safety,” states Natural Resources Canada.

“There are three main application areas for BIPV: roofs (shingles, tiles, skylights); façades (cladding, curtain walls, windows); and externally integrated systems (balcony railings, shading systems),” adds Natural Resources Canada.

The multi-coloured BIPV panels at SAMIH were manufactured by a Toronto-area firm called Mitrex. “Mitrex is the world’s largest building integrated photovoltaic manufacturer, developing a wide range of integrated solar products, including cladding, railing, glass, standard solar panels, colour-customized panels and more,” states Mitrex literature.

Among other Mitrex products, the SAMIH project utilized a rainscreen system called CladiShield. The latter is “a complete wall solution” that includes “a high-performance air and moisture barrier, continuous insulation, adjustable sub-framing systems” and “multi-faced cladding,” states Mitrex.

SAMIH could be the first of many buildings across North America to sport BIPV, given the growing popularity of renewable energy. Price cuts, driven by technological and manufacturing advances, have made solar particularly attractive. Between 2010 and 2024, the cost of installing an average-sized residential solar system in the United States dropped from roughly $40,000 (before any incentives were calculated into the mix) to $25,000, reports the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), a trade group for American solar companies.

Lower costs combined with tax breaks have spurred greater acceptance, and solar deployments in the United States have grown nearly 30 percent a year for the past decade, states SEIA. In 2024, a record 50 gigawatts of new solar capacity were added in the U.S., bringing cumulative capacity in the country to 235 GW (sufficient to power more than 40 million homes).

It’s a similar story in Canada, where 314 megawatts (MW) of solar power were installed last year, according to the Ottawa-based Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA). Canada boasts five gigawatts (GW) of cumulative installed PV capacity and nearly 100,000 on-site solar installations in homes and businesses, adds CanREA.

BIPV products were developed in the early 1990s, with the first installation of such wares taking place in 1991. That year, BIPV panels were included in a curtain wall façade of a building in Aachen, Germany. Two decades later, Mitrex—a company that had previously focused on making cladding—began designing and manufacturing BIPV for Canadian clients.

SAMIH is one of a handful of projects Mitrex has worked on, with the company’s products also used for a balcony retrofit at 1154 Wilson Avenue, a rental apartment in northern Toronto. Facing a mandatory balcony railing replacement deadline, the apartment owners opted to install Mitrex Solar Railings (BIPV products can be used in both new builds and retrofits). The Solar Railings fit in with the building’s overall appearance and offer 162 kW of output.

The “Mitrex Solar Railing extends energy generation to balconies. Nestled within its sleek design are high-efficiency solar cells, discreetly placed between layers of robust, heat-tempered glass,” explains Mitrex. While pleasing to the eye, the building owners selected Mitrex Solar Railings with long-term cost savings in mind.

BIPV systems can also help building owners achieve ESG (Environmental, Social, and Government) compliance and LEED points, while future proofing structures against the prospect of stricter regulations, adds Mitrex. BIPV solutions enhance a company’s “green” credentials while offering long-term investment potential as well, writes Mitrex.

“BIPV not only produces on-site clean electricity without requiring additional land area, but can also impact the energy consumption of a building through daylight utilization and reduction of cooling loads. BIPV can therefore contribute to developing net-zero energy buildings. Turning roofs and façades into energy-generating assets, BIPV is the only building material that has a return on investment (ROI),” adds Natural Resources Canada.

Mitrex also offers project management services, and one of the first steps in this process is to confer with the client about the scope of their proposed project. Estimates are made regarding potential BIPV power output, colour options are presented, and the client is given an overview of costs and the installation process. If an agreement is reached, manufacturing can begin at Mitrex’s Toronto-area plant. The company carefully sources glass, aluminium, solar cells, and other components. Glass panels are precisely cut with CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines and colours are infused according to client specifications.

“At the heart of each panel lies a sturdy aluminium honeycomb core, coupled with a layer of high-performance solar cells, making every piece an efficient source of renewable energy. Overtop the energy generating layer is the customizable exterior—a versatile canvas that can recreate any pattern or colour. This adaptability allows the fusion of aesthetically pleasing architectural solar façades with the functional benefits of BIPV technology. It’s a harmonious blend of form and function,” explains Mitrex.

Mitrex façade panels have a cell efficiency of 22 percent, which is “comparable to traditional solar panels,” states the company. Electricity generation can be impacted by weather and environmental conditions, including rain, snow, shade, debris, and dust. That said, Mitrex products can still produce power on overcast days, albeit at a slower pace than when sunshine prevails.

Buildings equipped with Mitrex BIPV systems still require a grid connection, as the PV system alone might not be strong enough to provide all the power a structure needs. Mitrex staff can help facilitate grid connection approvals and any associated paperwork.

Revolutionary as its offerings might be, Mitrex insists that its products aren’t difficult to install. “Both the mechanical and electrical installation aspects utilize methods and techniques commonly used in buildings and PV installations. There are no new methods or techniques that installers are required to learn,” writes the company.

As a further appeal to the bottom line, Mitrex points out there are tax benefits to utilizing BIPV systems. The Government of Canada’s Clean Technology (CT) Investment Tax Credit (ITC) offers a 30 percent refundable credit for capital investments in solar, wind, and water energy. The credit is scheduled to apply until December 31, 2034.

The United States government also offers tax incentives in the form of the long-term solar investment tax credit (ITC). This program offers a maximum 30 percent tax credit for solar systems on both residential and commercial properties. Such largesse has enormously boosted solar adoption (“the residential and commercial solar ITC has helped the U.S. solar industry grow by a factor of more than 200x since it was implemented in 2006,” reads SEIA information).

Some reactionary American politicians oppose tax credits for renewable energy—and renewables in general. To ensure that solar tax credits remain in place, U.S. energy groups conducted a lobbying blitz in Washington, DC earlier this year. Individuals representing more than 2,000 energy firms met with American legislators and staff in an effort to preserve tax breaks for renewables. Should tax credits remain in place, solar capacity across the U.S. might reach nearly 740 GW by 2035, says SEIA.

This is great news for any company in the solar industry and all the more reason for business and residential property owners to take a close look at BIPV.

“Presently, BIPV is still a niche market but in many countries, it has become an economically viable building envelope material due to falling prices for PV modules,” notes Natural Resources Canada. “As a result, BIPV is currently one of the fastest growing segments in the global solar PV industry.”

The post Solar-powered Balconies and Beyond<p class="company">Building-integrated Photovoltaics – Visually Pleasing and Eco-Friendly</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

PBA primarily serves its members by providing proactive leadership on state regulatory and legislative issues. It also offers a variety of services and money-saving opportunities to local associations and their members to give them the best value they can get as business owners, all for the benefit of home building and all that it entails.

Both Durden and Hilliard had been privy to the association’s services and overall role in the industry before becoming involved themselves. Durden has served in his role as CEO for nearly 11 years, previously having served as General Counsel with NAHB for 17 years, during which time he amassed many contacts at PBA.

For his part, Hilliard has been the owner and president of AC&R Services (an air conditioning and refrigeration company) in Sugarloaf, Pennsylvania since the 1970s, and has also been involved with PBA for years, previously serving as Secretary and Vice President in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Coping with costs
The home building industry is not well understood by those outside of it. For organizations like PBA, Durden says that it is like the middle part of a sandwich for associations in the residential arena of the home building space—meaning that it is a crucial ingredient that acts as part of the overall structure. He explains that although builders want to construct homes that are efficient and affordable, the cost of regulation can make this extremely difficult.

The ability for anyone to pursue home building is further challenged by both partisan and individual politics; for instance, Durden says, the NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) attitude runs across political parties and is generally in favor of new housing—as long as it is somewhere else. PBA does what it can to address and change these attitudes for the sake of creating housing opportunities for all.

To further benefit its associates and clients, there are some financial, social, and even educational incentives that members can take advantage of. PBA sports a member rebate program that allows for discounts from local manufacturers and through national purchasing partners, as well as social networking opportunities. There is also a cost-effective workers’ compensation insurance alternative through PBA, as well as educational opportunities through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Housing Research Center at Penn State University.

PBA also proudly supports an Endorsed Trade program for local career and technical schools, as well as secondary and high schools, to aid in the continued growth of the industry. The program seeks to bring young professionals into the building industry and offer them long and steady careers. Young people who want to take up any kind of trade can use this program as a way to meet prospective employers and gain insight into a trade that could become their future. So far, it has been very successful in getting engagement from both students and employers.

Durden says that previously, there had been a stigma around young people going into the trades for work, but now people are realizing that successful tradespeople can make six figures a year and even build their own business without incurring college debt.

Battling for homes
Throughout its day-to-day operations, PBA concerns itself with battles on both legislative and regulatory fronts. Currently, Durden says that there are legislative and governmental restrictions on land use, such as zoning rules that prevent home construction. Often, these restrictions can further add to costs, such as expensive minimum land use costs or further land requirements for parks and walkways around developments. The current home building marketplace, he says, has been developed to the point where it is very difficult for someone to build even a starter home without losing one’s shirt.

One way that PBA assists its members is in dealing with the legislative issues that affect them: “Dealing with legislative issues is certainly our priority,” Durden says.

Hilliard says that, if one looks at the cost of a new home today, nearly one-third of the cost of the home goes toward regulation and code requirements, the bulk of which are in local land use and zoning restrictions. This additional cost can make it practically impossible for many people to afford a home.

Durden says that another aspect of the association’s mission is advancing the interests of safe and affordable housing for as many people as can be housed. Part of that is ensuring that there is a free market available in Pennsylvania so that people from all walks of life can succeed in their home building goals: people of means can build the custom home of their dreams; those who are struggling can still afford a safe and comfortable place to live; and people in between the two extremes—the “missing middle”—have options available to them.

Whether it’s custom remote homes or large multi-family developments, PBA wants to provide all things to everyone on the housing front. “We are for all home buyers; we want everybody to get a place,” says Durden.

Building homes, building careers
An additional challenge lies in the home building industry’s workforce, which Durden says has had difficulty attracting younger people. “The skilled trades offer an outstanding opportunity for men and women to build their own successful careers,” but currently, an average of five professionals retire every year for every two new workers.

Although there has been an improvement in the past few years in that regard, it is still of utmost importance for PBA to remain involved with local employers and provide input to both instructors and students. This workforce shortage, along with the aforementioned expense and regulation difficulties, all contribute to affordability challenges as well as a shortage of home options for Pennsylvanians.

For the rest of the year and into the foreseeable future, PBA will continue to work with Pennsylvania legislators and government on passing legislation to help make homes more affordable while remaining efficient and safe. Hilliard says that this will be the association’s biggest challenge, although the recent situation around tariffs may also bring difficulties.

This latter issue will be tackled on a national level by organizations like NAHB. Hilliard says that these tariffs could have extremely deleterious effects on the cost of lumber, drywall, copper, steel, appliances, and tools, among other important inputs to housing. These increased costs will further undermine the ability of the average Pennsylvanian to purchase their dream home.

However, despite the myriad challenges to home building and ownership faced by Pennsylvanians, Durden, Hilliard, and the PBA at large are confident that the association can be a huge help for those looking to build homes in the state as it strives to make the American dream possible for people from all walks of life.

The post Making Home Building Accessible to All<p class="company">Pennsylvania Builders Association</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

In 1988, Jeff and Beth Musser, the founders’ son and daughter-in-law, purchased the company “and really transformed it,” says Chief Operating Officer Joe Tuschak. The focus quickly broadened, and the company’s success grew along with its areas of expertise. “Today we’re building high-quality custom homes, additions, and renovations for local clients within a 60-mile radius of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania,” he says.

Completely custom
The company is best known for its ability to deliver a custom home that meets each client’s unique needs. “We provide a design-build experience that not a lot of other custom home builders in this area do,” says Tuschak. “We have two in-house designers that handle your design from the ground up. We don’t have a series of plans that people can select from and then make changes; it is literally whatever ideas that the client has that they want to create, we create for them. I think that really sets us apart—that we handle all of those things in-house.”

This approach, naturally, takes a high level of commitment from the team. “We always joke that at our company, we die in the details because there are so many details in every house that we have,” says Tuschak. “All the way down to the color of your toilet flange and all the way up to the color of cabinetry, everything is custom. There are so many details that go into each one of our projects. It keeps us on our toes.”

The team works closely with clients throughout the build to achieve this level of customization. “We have an amazing project management team that partners with our clients the entire way through the process from start to finish,” says Tuschak. “From the first phone call all the way to handing our clients the keys, they are the ones that are holding their hands and walking them through the process each step of the way. We also have two interior decorators that walk you through the entire selection process.”

With so much support, clients can easily take their visions from imagination to reality. “Being a custom builder, anything is possible,” Tuschak says. “From the selection standpoint, it’s not, ‘Here, you have A, B, and C to choose from.’ It’s anything that’s out there that we can get our hands on—we will put it in our client’s house if that’s what they are really looking for.”

Relationships first
This level of support and communication is not limited to the design and preconstruction process; it persists throughout the build. “We have a great build team with multiple foremen, carpenters, laborers,” Tuschak says. “We really take a lot of pride in [the job] and do a lot of quality control walkthroughs throughout the project, so that whenever we do get to that final walkthrough, the home or renovation is turnkey. It’s 100 percent completed.”

To this day, Musser Home Builders remains family-owned and operated, which has a major impact on how business is done. “Being a family company is wonderful,” Tuschak says. “We really care about one another here at the company. A lot of us are friends outside of the company and spend a lot of time together even after the office hours are closed.”

This is important because building relationships “is also our number one core value,” he says. “Relationships first. That not only goes for our clients, but for our people and our trade partners and vendors as well. So being that family-owned company, coming to work every day, it really feels like you’re going to work with your brothers and sisters and walking alongside them.”

Any conflict is much easier to deal with as a result of these close ties. “It allows us to have those difficult conversations a lot easier and just work through issues and problems that arise,” Tuschak says. “And we know that that’s going to happen, [so we do] our best to walk alongside one another to work through those issues.”

Committed to quality
Another key to the company’s success has been its ability to evolve with the marketplace. “Throughout the years, obviously the building industry has changed, and we are always trying to keep up with the newest trends and products,” Tuschak says. The team is careful to only adopt new developments that will have longevity in the marketplace. “We want to make sure that a product has been out there and stood the test of time—we’re not putting the ‘greatest and newest’ thing in there and then, over time, it fails,” he says.

Such attention to quality and detail has not gone unnoticed, and Musser Home Builders has won numerous awards recognizing the company’s workmanship and leadership in Central Pennsylvania. In 2022, the firm earned the Harrisburg Builders Association’s Pyramid Award for Best Kitchen Renovation over $100,001; Best Residential Renovation over $100,001; and Best Single-Family Model Home over 5,001 square feet. The company also won the Harrisburg Builders Association’s Parade of Homes 2024 for Single-Family Home in the $2.35 to 2.45 million category; Best Interior; Best Kitchen; Best Primary Bath; Best Exterior; and Best Craftsmanship.

In addition, Musser Home Builders has won the Harrisburg-based Simply the Best award, which recognized the company for a number of accomplishments. The firm has also been named one of the fastest growing companies in the region, as well as a Top 250 Private Company.

Planning for a bright future
The team is planning ahead and laying the groundwork for future success—continuing to pursue excellence, says Tuschak. “That is one of our core values: continuing to grow, to learn different practices and different methods in the construction industry, to really push the limits of what we can do.”

The company is enjoying continued growth, “but it will be done responsibly, with plenty of careful planning,” he says. “Obviously, we’re not trying to grow wildly. Everybody knows in a company if you grow too fast, there are growing pains that come along with that. So, we’re just always trying to better ourselves and add key people. That’s one thing that’s different about us—whenever we do grow and hire, we really want people who fit the mold of our company.”

Finding someone who fits the company culture, he says, is more important than finding someone who already has the construction skills. “We know that we can train somebody. If someone can really live by our core values, we can teach them construction. But if you don’t have integrity always, you don’t want to continually learn, you’re not a relationship-first person, then it’s going to be tough to work together. But if that’s something that you always strive for, those are the type of people that we like to work with.”

The team has a number of exciting projects already lined up for the near future. “We’ve got quite a few houses in the planning process that are really pushing the limits, which is great because we’re always learning something new and enjoying that,” Tuschak shares. Armed with this desire to grow and learn, a committed team, strong company values, and over half a century of experience, Musser Home Builders is well placed to keep making waves in the region’s custom home building market.

The post Bringing Visions to Life<p class="company">Musser Home Builders</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

What sets them apart? It’s simple: they really listen to what homeowners want. Whether you’re buying your first place, upgrading, downsizing, or building something totally custom, J.A. Myers gives you the freedom to create a home that fits your lifestyle.

Homes built your way
Customization is at the heart of what J.A. Myers Homes does. From floorplans to finishes, buyers get to make their home truly their own. Want to move a wall? Add extra windows? Pick out your own cabinets, countertops, and lighting? No problem.

President Ben Myers—who literally grew up in the business—says it best:

“We’re the builder of choices.”

He’s worked in just about every role in the company since he was 14, learning from his dad and the team, and now leads the company with the same passion and commitment to doing things right.

“We want people to feel like they had a say in the design of their home,” says Myers. “Whether it’s a quick sketch on a napkin or a detailed plan, we take their ideas seriously and bring them to life.”

Quality you can count on
From affordable townhomes to spacious custom homes, every customer gets the same level of service. J.A. Myers includes a ton of high-quality standard features that other builders often charge extra for.

“We provide a great home for the value,” Myers says. “Most of our homes already include what people are looking for, and if they do want more, they can always add it.”

The company also goes the extra mile with service—even after the home is finished. There’s a full walkthrough before move-in, then follow-ups at three months and 10 months, and a 10-year structural warranty. Plus, their service team is on-call 24/7, so homeowners never feel left hanging.

Pride in every home
Ben Myers wants people to feel proud of their home—and he wants to feel that same pride when walking through the community.

“If I see a homeowner in the grocery store, I want to be able to walk up and say hello, not avoid them,” he says. “That’s why I tell my team: treat every home like it’s your own.”

That mindset runs through the whole company, from how they build to how they treat people. And it extends to their support of local charities and causes—they don’t just build houses, they invest in the communities they build in.

Looking ahead
The team at J.A. Myers Homes is staying focused on what matters most: building great homes in great locations. They’re always looking for the right spots to create new neighborhoods, and they’re selective to make sure each one makes sense for both the customer and the company.

Their latest communities, Eagle Rock and Quarry Oaks, are perfect examples of how they’re continuing to evolve while staying true to their roots: flexible design, strong service, and genuine care.

The post Where Dream Homes Become Reality<p class="company">J.A. Myers Homes – 50 Years of Building with Heart</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

As a result, the Baumann family began going after state demolition contracts for neighborhoods in Ohio to make way for the new and incoming American highways and, as Business Development Director Nikolaus Filippi tells us, once original CEO Bill Baumann got the taste for demolition, he loved it.

Beginning in the 1960s, the growing demand for specialized demolition services prompted Baumann’s business to expand into residential and industrial demolition throughout the Cleveland area, carving out a new niche in a changing industry. The Baumann family has long been deeply rooted in both the B&B company and the broader Cleveland community. In the decades that followed, Bill Baumann’s wife and brother joined the operation, bringing their expertise to management, accounting, and finance, which helped drive the company’s continued growth.

Bill’s son, Brian, who had worked as a laborer and dispatcher during his college years, eventually took over the reins in a smooth and deliberate transition. Named successor by his father, Brian has now served as CEO for 25 years and, as colleague Filippi notes, remains increasingly hands-on with each passing year. “Without the people around me,” Brian Baumann says, “B&B would not be what it is today.”

Brian Baumann says that B&B makes use of every single high-quality machine, attachment, and tool that can go on an excavator—meaning nearly 400 pieces of equipment in a fleet of 45 excavators and 35 trucks. The value of this equipment is approximately $20 million, and the fleet includes tools like a firetruck and dust-suppression machines for jobs requiring dust clearing. Filippi explains that typical projects today (such as a line change-out and plant gutting) use a crew of around 15 to 20 workers, half operators and half laborers. The company has embraced new technologies and the many advantages they bring over the decades, and the resulting marriage between skilled labor and smart technology has paid dividends in both efficiency and worker health and safety.

With hazards everywhere in the demolition industry, it can be daunting to manage everyone’s safety experience on the job, so the company sets its team up for success with extensive site prep work to ensure the safety of employees and anyone else around the job site. Leadership looks for the approach that will keep its people the safest while keeping to the customer’s schedule. The first answer, Filippi says, isn’t necessarily the right answer, and B&B will look at all the options and weigh all stakeholder concerns to find the best path forward for every project.

Filippi tells us that, in his 15 years with the company, he was able to work closely with the former Director of Safety, Don King, who instilled the importance of safety in both Filippi and the overall company culture and is remembered as a legend of safety. As the company’s Safety Manager, Filippi understands the importance of talking about safety constantly. He and others work hard with B&B’s superintendents to give them time to focus on safety, conduct weekly safety meetings remotely, and get excited about new safety developments. To that end, B&B has instituted a monthly incentive program which includes prizes and is meant to track who is doing the best job of getting the word out on a specific monthly safety focus, such as incident reporting, fire safety, and much more.

Collaboration is another strong value of B&B’s. The company now sports seven project managers, so it was necessary to invest in software platforms that give everyone the ability to communicate in the office and in the field. These technologies include ProContractor, an ERP (enterprise resource planning) software platform the company has used for the last decade which has helped to manage costs. B&B also makes frequent use of the Microsoft 365 suite and the cloud-based functions of both suites to track real-time progress on projects.

The company has even invested in providing crew leaders, truck drivers, and superintendents with cellphones and tablets so they can access this information at all times, and has built an internal web portal to provide employees with human resources information, safety forms, and company plans and policies, as well as employee credentials through the Safety Plus platform.

These myriad technological upgrades have allowed the company to be agile in navigating the red tape that often encompasses demolition, with all information easily accessible via QR codes, web links, and stakeholder portals so they can feel comfortable and ask the right questions at the right time so B&B can do its job. “We put tremendous focus on all of our relationships,” Filippi says, “They are the bridge that will push us forward.”

Within that spirit of collaboration, B&B is a proud member of the NDA (National Demolition Association). Filippi has been active in helping the Ohio chapter of the association pick up post-COVID thanks to successful outreach concepts in the pipeline. Thanks to industry partners like Company Wrench, Alta, and Columbus Equipment, the association has found great dealer support in Ohio. It will continue to provide localized training and to highlight the demolition sector as a great opportunity for young people and an engaging career opportunity.

To be sure, the current landscape is not free of challenges, efforts to recruit young people to join the sector chief among them. By maintaining a social media presence, B&B has found workers outside of its markets who want to be a part of complex projects and want to be more engaged in construction. Engaging with young people, and especially workers in the Cleveland and Ohio communities, are large focuses for the future. “Teamwork like this is the real message that is changing our organization and making us all better,” says Filippi.

Indeed, B&B proudly leans on its partners and vendors for support in its work, as every link in the chain is a necessary stepping stone to help meet customer needs and make every project a successful one. An ongoing job for W.H. Sammis Power Station in Stratton, Ohio (a power plant take-down begun in late 2023), for instance, could not have been undertaken without a team approach involving vendors. B&B ensures its suppliers are paid on time and engaged early in the process, making everyone’s job easier in the end.

Such a strong core of partners—and customers—allows B&B to be tremendously optimistic even through challenging times. Customers are facing their own challenges, managing the ebbs and flows of the economy while maintaining their workflow, so the B&B team puts itself in a position to solve their complex demolition challenges for them, supporting its customers through the ups and downs the industry brings.

Baumann explains that, while previous presidential terms in the United States saw more power plant demolition and excavation jobs, there have only been about four completed since President Trump’s first term due to a lack of interest in coal power plants. However, there has been an increase in the demolition and disassembling of windmills, around 200 in the last three to four years as older units need to be replaced by new ones. Baumann says that B&B will be in line to do another 150 windmill jobs around the areas of North Dakota and Minnesota this summer.

Filippi describes the company as being in a strong growth phase, with the team energized by its continued engagement in the industry—particularly in technology, innovation, and its active involvement with the NDA. A key focus of this growth will be increasing visibility, especially within the industrial and power plant sectors, where B&B’s expertise with large-scale equipment gives it a competitive edge and presents exciting challenges. According to Baumann, the goal is to grow steadily and sustainably. The company experienced its share of growing pains when it expanded to a $45 million operation in 2024, underscoring the importance of managing growth at the right pace.

The team at B&B Wrecking and Excavating lives to serve its northeast Ohio community and appreciates the opportunity to be a part of exciting new developments as Cleveland grows. The company will continue to nurture relationships with developers and general contractors in the city while taking on complex projects that further inspire the team. With a plan to continuously grow its network of customers, employees, and partners so that it can provide its services long into the future, B&B is building on its strengths and expertise as a demolition contractor serving the needs of its community.

The post A Culture of Collaboration Guides This Family Business<p class="company">B&B Wrecking and Excavating</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Envinity has always been a trendsetter, known for pushing the boundaries of construction in Center County. The team creates homes that leverage the power of nature through engineering, mitigating their carbon footprint and giving customers quality that lasts. Passive construction minimizes the amount of energy that homes draw from the grid, making these homes largely self-sufficient.

In its time, Envinity has built the region’s first Energy Star-certified home. It was also responsible for North America’s first office building retrofit that turned a traditional building into a complete passive system for peak energy efficiency, winning the project some noteworthy accolades and awards. More recently, the company was also responsible for Pennsylvania’s first multi-family duplex energy retrofitting project, being completed at present.

Envinity provides project owners with comprehensive design-build services; industrial, commercial, and residential solar installations; and industrial and commercial building energy solutions that recognize that merely adding a clutch of random energy efficiency solutions into a construction project does not necessarily result in what clients really want. Instead of surface fixes, Envinity’s nationwide mechanical engineering division offers recommendations, improvements, and new development expertise. It approaches such buildings as complete systems to be meticulously developed and fine-tuned to supply maximum energy efficiency and carbon offsetting.

This approach has made the company especially popular with project owners of healthcare and tertiary education facilities. “It’s a whole unit; you cannot look at any one component separately,” says Chad Owens, President of Design Build Energy at Envinity. To ensure that customers have a smooth experience, the team anticipates customers’ needs, guiding them through each process with invaluable industry wisdom.

While many of the company’s clients prefer to forgo certifying their buildings as net-zero due to the red tape and cost involved, they are happy to know that their buildings make good environmental sense. Typical customers range from individuals and business owners to industrial companies that understand the importance of environmental sustainability in construction and energy generation, making their building footprints gentler on the Earth compared to mainstream building technologies.

To accomplish successful projects, Envinity employs careful data analysis, saving customers energy expenditure for decades to come, and this pragmatic take on the cost of ownership of its buildings has garnered many loyal clients. “We’re blue-collar people who respect science, nature, and physics,” Owens says. “We let that drive what we do and the decisions that we make.”

The company’s model of creating high-value, net-zero homes that remain on the electrical grid gives its team great satisfaction with every sign-off. By adding solar panels to airtight buildings, the company builds supremely energy-efficient homes that are highly sought-after thanks to solid engineering skills and high building standards. “We’ve built multiple true zero energy homes that create as much energy as they are using,” Owens adds. “We offset the carbon that we are putting into the atmosphere in a real way.”

To attain optimal building health through good ventilation, each home is equipped with an energy recovery ventilator so that fresh air circulates. Depending on the season, the air is heated or cooled for ideal indoor temperatures. Part of the objective is to regulate energy costs in the process, which means air flow systems are often installed independently from HVAC systems, typically running around 40 minutes out of every hour.

While it is not always possible to choose natural over synthetic materials, the team chooses Earth-friendly products as much as possible. These decisions are based on careful consideration of carbon impact and analysis of product performance versus the lifespan of its buildings and the quality of the products it uses. Therefore, while it is impossible to avoid using plastics entirely, the company is open about the fact that it uses these materials where no other choice is possible—for now—and that the natural materials it uses are ethically sourced and make sense, like the cellulose it uses for insulation.

Data guides the entire construction process, and as a result, Envinity’s projects typically involve a significant amount of energy analysis prior to construction. By making the correct adjustments to the systems that make such buildings energy-efficient, the company can save some customers “millions of dollars over the years,” in energy, carbon offsetting, and other savings, Owens explains.

To help achieve these outcomes, Envinity adheres to the Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home program, with a wide selection of services on offer including data analysis, systems installations, construction drawing and engineering, energy modeling, and much more. Naturally, clients can opt for environmental certification should they prefer, but are not obliged to do so. To minimize waste, even rubble and lumber off-cuts generated by construction are diverted from landfill since the company is a green community partner at its local recycling center. Ensuring that all materials are disposed of as wisely as possible through reuse is important, as consistently making the most intelligent decisions possible in any given moment to help protect the environment is imperative to good stewardship, something Envinity’s leadership takes seriously.

Driven by the quest to create buildings that are environmentally friendly and innovative, Owens strongly believes in his mission and his affinity for nature. “It all started with a couple of educated environmentalists and some disorganized carpenters that just banded together and started out building some straw and timber frame homes,” he says. As a small-town boy, Owens was raised with a strong awareness of protecting his little corner of the planet.

The company has come a long way since those early days, motivated by idealism, hard work, and even harder facts. “We like to say that we are boots on the ground, calculators in hand, powered by data,” he says. As a firm believer in continuous education, the company prioritizes employing well-educated people who are passionate about their niche. “We’re creating crews here; we’re not creating jobs,” he adds.

And he could not be more pleased with the company’s team. “Our people care about what they do… Everybody cares to create good homes for good people. Everybody has that passion, care, and pride; it ties us together,” he says, highlighting that the company searches far and wide to find the right people and then helps them grow professionally.

The team works with purpose and diligence, and all its superintendents are fully certified to excel at what they do. The company also takes advantage of all the trade programs available in its state, and nurturing close relationships across its local industry has secured it the respect of many.

As it perpetually seeks to evolve, the company’s next move includes branching out into the solar battery market and perhaps more commercial work. Sound decisions also mean keeping a finger on the pulse of environmental and technological developments. To this end, maintaining growth has meant doubling its size over the past half-decade, to 80 employees.

Considering current geopolitical shifts, the company is sufficiently agile to adapt. With a past filled with avant-garde building methods and many awards to show for it, there is no doubt that Envinity’s future brims with even more trailblazing as it welcomes more like-minded customers in search of intelligent environmental building systems.

The post Designing Tomorrow – Building for People and the Planet<p class="company">Envinity</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

One of the key figures driving this transformation is J. Elias Campos, a leader whose technical expertise and strategic vision have been pivotal in advancing Horton Automatics’ commitment to excellence.

At the core of Horton Automatics’ success is its unwavering dedication to clear and effective communication in large-scale construction projects. The installation of automatic doors, particularly in complex and multi-faceted developments, requires tight coordination among a diverse group of stakeholders, including architects, engineers, contractors, and facility managers. In this context, Campos emphasizes the importance of streamlining the communication process. “When you’re dealing with large-scale projects, communication has to be simple and clear,” he explains.

Streamlining collaboration with iSpecifyIt™
This insight led to the creation of iSpecifyIt™, a revolutionary tool designed to enhance collaboration and ensure that everyone involved in the construction process has access to the correct specifications and details. By providing a unified platform for sharing critical information, iSpecifyIt™ eliminates potential misunderstandings and delays, improving the efficiency of project execution. The result is a faster, more reliable installation process that helps reduce errors, ensuring that doors not only meet regulatory standards but also deliver superior performance.

The impact of iSpecifyIt™ goes beyond just improving communication; it represents a shift in the approach to integrating automatic doors into construction projects. By making it easier for architects, designers, and installers to access essential specifications, the tool reduces the likelihood of costly mistakes and delays. This innovation has set a new industry standard for collaboration, significantly improving the efficiency of planning and installation phases. With iSpecifyIt™, Horton Automatics has created a model for how stakeholders can work together more effectively, resulting in superior products and outcomes for customers.

Pushing boundaries with patented technologies
Another key area in which Horton Automatics excels is its commitment to technological innovation, particularly in the development of patented door technologies. These patents, which represent years of rigorous research and development, are a testament to the company’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of what automatic doors can achieve. “Patents are a testament to the innovation that drives Horton Automatics,” says Campos.

Each patented technology reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to improving the functionality, durability, and performance of its products. By securing intellectual property rights for its advancements, Horton Automatics ensures that its solutions remain at the vanguard of the industry while maintaining the highest standards of reliability.

Customized sliding door solutions across industries
In particular, Horton Automatics has become a leader in the field of sliding doors, a technology that is widely used across a variety of industries, including retail, healthcare, transportation, and hospitality. “The key to our success has been our ability to adapt sliding door technology to different industries,” says Campos. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, Horton Automatics focuses on creating bespoke solutions tailored to the specific needs of each industry. For example, in the retail sector, sliding doors help improve foot traffic flow and enhance the shopping experience by providing easy and convenient access for customers, while in the hospitality industry, sliding doors offer effortless access for guests while maintaining the modern aesthetic of a hotel’s architectural design.

One of the most notable industries to benefit from Horton Automatics’ sliding door solutions is healthcare. In hospitals and medical facilities, automatic doors are essential for maintaining hygiene standards, improving accessibility, and ensuring compliance with stringent regulations. “Hospitals and medical facilities have unique challenges that general-purpose doors can’t address,” Campos explains. In response, Horton Automatics developed specialized doors designed to create controlled environments, whether it’s for infection control in operating rooms or for easy access in emergency departments. The company’s medical doors are equipped with antimicrobial coatings, touchless entry solutions, and advanced sealing mechanisms to improve safety and operational efficiency in healthcare environments. These innovations have played a critical role in enhancing patient care and staff safety while streamlining the overall operations of medical facilities.

Engineering safety
Safety has always been a top priority for Horton Automatics, and this commitment is evident in every aspect of the company’s products and operations. From the initial design phase to the final installation, every component of Horton Automatics’ doors is engineered with safety in mind. “Safety isn’t an afterthought, it’s built into everything we do,” Campos emphasizes. The company’s automatic doors feature motion sensors, fail-safe mechanisms, and redundant security measures to ensure optimal functionality even in emergency situations. In addition, Horton Automatics has integrated backup power supplies and emergency override features to guarantee that its doors remain operational in the event of a power failure. This comprehensive approach to safety has established the company as a leader in the industry, setting the bar for performance and reliability.

The team’s commitment to safety extends beyond product development. Horton Automatics has played a key role in shaping industry regulations by working closely with regulatory bodies and industry leaders to set standards for automatic doors. “We don’t just build doors; we help set the rules for how they should operate,” says Campos. By contributing to the creation of industry-wide guidelines, Horton Automatics has helped raise the bar for automatic door specifications, ensuring that all products meet stringent safety criteria. As a result, the company’s doors are trusted worldwide for their durability, security, and ease of use, setting the standard for automatic door performance across a wide range of industries.

Smart automation for the future
As technology continues to evolve, Horton Automatics has remained at the forefront of integrating advanced features into its door systems. The company was an early adopter of artificial intelligence and smart technology, enabling doors to respond more intuitively to user behavior. “Automation is more than just opening and closing a door,” Campos points out. “It’s about creating a system that enhances the user experience while maximizing security and efficiency.” With features such as facial recognition entry systems, remote monitoring capabilities, and energy-efficient automation, Horton Automatics is pioneering the future of intelligent building design. These innovations not only enhance user convenience but also provide added layers of security, making it easier for businesses and facilities to control access and protect sensitive areas.

One of Horton Automatics’ key competitive advantages is its ability to anticipate market trends and tailor its solutions to meet the evolving needs of its customers. The company’s research and development team is constantly exploring new materials, sensors, and operational mechanisms to ensure that its products remain cutting-edge. “We’re always thinking about what’s next,” Campos reveals, and this forward-thinking mindset has allowed Horton Automatics to stay ahead of the competition and continue to develop innovative solutions for diverse applications. Whether it’s improving energy efficiency, enhancing security, or integrating with smart building systems, Horton Automatics is committed to embracing change and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in door automation.

A commitment to sustainability
Sustainability has also become an increasingly important consideration in the design and operation of modern buildings, and Horton Automatics is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its products. The company has focused on developing energy-efficient doors that help businesses reduce their carbon footprint while still delivering the same high level of performance and security. By integrating renewable energy sources, such as solar power, and smart power management systems, Horton Automatics is actively contributing to a greener future. These environmentally friendly innovations not only help businesses save on energy costs but also align with global efforts to promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact.

Leading the way in the pedestrian door industry
Horton Automatics continues to redefine the automatic door industry through its relentless commitment to innovation, safety, and efficiency. The company has established itself as a pioneer and leader in the field, developing advanced solutions that enhance accessibility, optimize security, and improve the overall user experience. Whether through the development of specialized products for healthcare settings or the integration of smart technology into its door systems, Horton Automatics remains at the forefront of the industry. And by anticipating market needs and embracing technological advancements, the company is well-positioned to continue its legacy of excellence and lead the way in shaping the future of automatic doors.

The post Opening New Doors<p class="company">Horton Automatics</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Companies, too, are stepping up to meet modern demands such as energy efficiency, seamless design, and smart home integration, spurred by events like the massive International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas and the “Igniting Innovation” panel at the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance’s (FGIA) Annual Conference.

Windows have become smarter and more efficient as smart home technology has grown in popularity, says Basic Construction. Smart windows regulate how much heat and sunshine enter a building using sophisticated sensors, coatings, and microchips, helping to maintain a suitable home temperature all year long in addition to consuming less energy.

Energy-efficient glass coatings are another technology that has become more popular in recent years, using coatings intended to lower heating and cooling expenses by minimizing heat transfer through windows. Additionally, they aid in preventing damaging UV rays from deteriorating floors and furnishings.

For property managers, cleaning windows can be a tiresome chore, particularly when managing several buildings at a time, but this chore can now be crossed off the endless to-do list through the installation of cutting-edge self-cleaning window technology. When exposed to sunshine, a unique coating on these windows breaks off dirt and grime, reducing both cleaning effort and time.

Additionally, installing soundproof windows can help reduce noise pollution by up to 95 percent due to the unique glass panes and frames used in their design.

According to Door and Window Market, some of the most popular and innovative windows available this year include the CityLine series—which employs OptiCore technology for increased strength and insulation, ideal for contemporary residences and urban high-rises—and StealthPro’s solar-powered window attachments, which combine energy economy and natural ventilation by opening automatically during heat waves. As utility bills rise, these are a wise choice due to their eco-friendly and quiet design features.

Solidroll’s window systems—composed of an entire glass wall that rolls up—operate via a single press on a smart home app, while EcoFrame’s products feature recycled aluminum frames, glass filled with argon gas, and a U-factor of 0.21. Finally, Aerogel’s window glass boasts super-insulating material that could potentially redefine energy efficiency in doors.

When asked by industry experts to list window features they value most, many clients say that durability and appearance rank highest on the list of priorities, according to FIXR, with energy efficiency also being a top priority due to cost savings and a growing focus on sustainability.

When it comes to design, the most popular window fashions for 2025 are minimalist frame designs with sleek, slender profiles that optimize natural light and produce a crisp, contemporary look, according to industry experts. These frames put an emphasis on practicality and simplicity, frequently utilizing steel or aluminum for a sleek, inconspicuous appearance. Windows that improve indoor/outdoor connectivity are another prominent trend this year.

When selecting windows, one of the primary considerations is bringing in natural light, and according to 36 percent of professionals, placing large windows over the kitchen sink is a design trend that will continue to gain popularity in 2025, says FIXR.

Tilt/turn casement windows, industrial styles, vivid colors, and natural and eco-friendly materials are also popular, with double-hung windows—the most popular window style over the past year, though slightly more expensive than single-hung windows—offering more advantages as they can open in many directions. Most notably, they have the ability to let in cool air while simultaneously releasing warmer air, and offer security and safety on higher floors where they can be opened from the top, preventing children or pets from leaning out.

FIXR reports that, according to 72 percent of window specialists, the most popular window trims and frames in 2025 will be black, offering a straightforward and clean palette well suited to those seeking minimalist aesthetics. Additionally, black window frames and trims go well with any colour of house siding, making them a simple and highly effective choice for curb appeal.

And when it comes to helping protect animals, there are new technologies available there, too. More than a billion birds are thought to die every year as a result of collisions with glass, according to Glass Magazine. As a result, manufacturers, architects, and contractors are giving bird-friendly solutions more importance and utilizing materials that strike a compromise between sustainability, legal requirements, and aesthetics.

Bird-safe glass is becoming more popular due to environmental concerns and expanding state and local laws. Such glass has patterns that birds can see, allowing them to avoid deadly collisions. Standards requiring visible patterns or UV coatings to reduce bird crashes have previously been put in place by cities including Toronto, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, and a number of states have begun enforcing comparable laws for state buildings. Nationally, proposed legislation like the U.S.’s Bird-Safe Buildings Act may require federal buildings to adopt bird-friendly policies, with many architects already actively planning buildings to satisfy future criteria and reduce ecological impact while these rules are still pending.

Recent developments in bird-safe glass are also making it simpler to integrate sun control performance, energy efficiency, and aesthetics. Vitro Architectural Glass’s BirdSmart™ Bird Safe Glass enhances bird visibility with first-surface designs without sacrificing contemporary style. Additionally, combining Solarban® low-e coating with laser-etched BirdSmart™ glass can result in optimal energy efficiency without affecting Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) or Visible Light Transmittance (VLT).

Other developments in bird-safe glass include UV-reflective patterns to ensure smooth incorporation into building designs by making glass visible to birds without changing its look to humans, and high-contrast acid-etched markers that reduce the dangers associated with reflective surfaces and work particularly well on tinted glass. Ideally, designers will no longer have to decide between visually appealing building and bird safety because of these and other advancements.

Historically, many commercial buildings were discouraged from implementing bird-friendly glass because it was thought to be a costly, specialized product, says Glass Magazine. However, as a result of reduced costs brought about by broader demand and technological improvements, sustainable solutions are now affordable for projects of all sizes. Furthermore, bird-friendly materials are progressively providing twofold advantages, such as enhancing solar control and building energy efficiency. Low-e coated bird-safe glass, for instance, ensures lower carbon emissions and a less detrimental effect on the environment for both birds and people while supporting energy code compliance. By choosing materials such as these, projects can achieve sustainability objectives without incurring additional expenses.

To be sure, bird-friendly solutions are becoming a crucial component of sustainable design and are no longer merely a passing fad. The sector is ready for innovation due to increased public awareness and expanding legislation, and companies that embrace this change will set the standard.

This year, the drive toward energy-efficient, technologically sophisticated, and individually customized homes is reflected in window trends that can not only help upgrade a business or residence but improve its functionality and foster sustainability. Modern window solutions are becoming more and more in demand as homeowners look to improve both design and energy efficiency, which in turn improve curb appeal, contribute significantly to rising property values, and save energy costs. Whether it’s whisper-quiet ventilating windows, self-cleaning coatings, integrated sensors for indoor optimization, electrochromic glass for light control, or bird-friendly panes, it’s clear that there is much to be excited about.

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“You name it in San Antonio, and we were on those projects,” President and CEO Greg Padalecki says of the company’s strong links to its community.

Alterman has seen a lot of growth in its time, but particularly within the last decade, thanks to its purchase of an Austin-based contractor around 2015. With offices in both the Dallas-Fort Worth and El Paso areas, the company is larger now than it was for most of its 100 years. Moreover, Alterman was in rare company by actually managing to grow throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to construction projects involving data centers and wastewater plants. The company was recognized as an essential business during a time when many others had their fortunes changed for the worse and it emerged from a difficult time even stronger thanks to its dedication.

Another fundamental aspect of the Alterman identity is that it has proudly remained a 100 percent employee-owned company for decades. It has been an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) business since the 1980s, which Padalecki says has helped the company retain a “think like an owner” attitude. The company’s safety team, he says, is rallied around an incident- and injury-free workplace based on the value of absolute care for employees, an investment that continues to pay off and is reflected in its ownership status. When a business focuses on caring for its employees, as Padalecki says, the safety statistics end up taking care of themselves, statistics that have never been better for Alterman than they are today.

To go along with its successes thus far this decade, Alterman recently completed a move into a new location in Live Oak, Texas. This new facility represents another major milestone in the company’s history, built to be an eye-catching sight that aims to aid in worker recruitment and retention. Now, the new headquarters has enabled Alterman to remove real estate as a constraint on its operations and to accommodate its recent growth. Padalecki says that the building, designed and constructed by interior design firm Studio8 Architects, represents a step forward for the business as well as a continued partnership between the two firms.

Alterman has maintained a close relationship with Studio8 since the latter firm was contracted to build its new workplace in 2021. Padalecki says that, of the potential contractors, Studio8 was the one to go the extra mile to build something that spoke to the company and was aligned with its culture and people. Alterman moved into its new 20-acre campus last year and has been more than satisfied now that all its operations are under one roof. In the future, the company will likely look to Studio8 again; as Padalecki says, “When we work with vendors and customers… we like to think of them as partners, not customers,” including Studio8.

Alterman has remained very busy into the 2020s, managing to pick up a lot of large and exciting projects in both brand-new locations and throughout the state of Texas. It also hit the 2000-employee mark two years ago. However, as Padalecki says, Texas is an environment wherein there is more work to do than there are people to do it, so once that problem is solved, it can help take the business to the next level.

That said, this team is still very happy to be working in its home state with a varied portfolio of large projects, including jobs for healthcare, K-12 education, manufacturing, and infrastructure clients. Padalecki says that the company is dialed into infrastructure especially, such as power, data, water, and more, as these segments are largely resistant to the effects of economic recession. Alterman has remained an integral part of a great many diverse market segments for nearly its entire life.

Of course, a field as large as electrical contracting is not immune to the issues affecting myriad global industries. Alterman, along with many other businesses in the sector, are still on the lookout for electricians, field supervisors, and project managers, meaning that everyone in the state is vying for a finite amount of talent to draw from. Padalecki says that contractors who stand out in the market as employment destinations are the ones that are winning the struggle because, as a worker, one would go with the business that has the best reputation. Alterman is meeting this challenge head-on: “We focus on being the best place to work if you are an electrician,” says Padalecki. The company’s best-in-class safety program, new tools, and compassionate leadership are what help it stay ahead of the game.

Alterman is also being strategic with its work opportunities, eliminating risks and selecting the projects that best fit the company’s outlook. Its current focus internally is on workforce development and turning its quality workers into leaders at a faster rate. Padalecki says that the workforce shortage in America is persistent across the board, especially as skilled craftspeople retire from the trade and are not being replenished fast enough. Alterman is working on strategies to put tools, materials, and direction in these workers’ hands to maximize production and to further secure a bright future for both the company and the industry writ large.

Padalecki also says that, when it comes to developing new talent, the old models of workplace recruitment and retention will not work today. The key is to be the most productive contractor in the eyes of the modern workforce—a proposition that is challenging but worth it. Over the course of more than 20 years, Padalecki himself managed to rise from apprentice to project manager, director, and finally to president/CEO in 2020. He says that his story is one that shows the potential for workers who want to succeed in the trades, which is a message that companies like Alterman are trying hard to get across as more potential new tradespeople circle the market.

The history of Alterman is one that is tied to that of its hometown of San Antonio, so the company plans to stay focused on its community as it branches out. Padalecki says that Alterman continues to move both geographically and into new vertical markets—in order for an ESOP to be successful and benefit shareholders and employees, he says, it must continue to grow responsibly. This is an approach that has seen the company through a century of success thus far—and which will hopefully see it through another 100 years and beyond.

The post San Antonio’s Premier Electrical Contractor<p class="company">Alterman</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

As a reliable supplier to some of the leading companies in the sector, including Ledcor, FieldCore, Cam Industrial, and WorleyCord, Inland delivers industrial supplies with top-notch safety and unmatched service.

When owner Gord Dixon launched his company, he had solid support from a variety of manufacturers and manufacturers’ representatives he had dealt with at a previous business, where he’d built great relationships and support over years. Family, too, was a priority for Dixon. Even the company’s name has a family connection—to his dad’s old car dealership, Inland Auto Centre, in Dawson Creek. Although the new Inland started small, it has now evolved to four flourishing branches in four locations, with a staff of around 60.

The business has weathered some challenges over the years, including the Fort McMurray forest fires, several recessions, and recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. Dixon gives credit to the commitment of his staff for getting the company through stressful times.

“I have some key staff that have been here 10 years or longer,” he says, including son Cody and daughter Nicole, both of whom have helped tremendously, stepping up to the plate when needed. Of course, not everyone at Inland is related, but Dixon says many of the staff feel close enough to be considered family.

“We’ve been through a lot together and watch out for one another,” he says. “I always say you spend more time here than you do at home, and you’d better come to work with a smile on your face, or don’t bother coming to work. If you don’t enjoy what you do, there’s no sense in doing it.”

As the industry has changed in many ways over the years, its vigorous growth is what has stood out for Dixon. “Everything’s bigger: jobs, crews, numbers—everything. But we’re trying to stay grounded and old-school to some degree.”

Staying old-school means upholding Inland’s dedication to customers and maintaining an outstanding service level. The company goes the extra mile in its relationships with both customers and employees, Dixon says, placing great faith in training and mentoring its employees and giving those who show promise a chance to prove themselves.

“They show up for product meetings because they want to learn,” he says. “They communicate with each other. They help one another because they know they don’t know everything and need to help each other out. They come to work with a smile on their face. They’re well respected by the staff, and the biggest thing I told them is when they go on a call, don’t try and sell the customer anything. Just go and be their friend.”

Dixon also has other suggestions for keeping his customers happy. “Get to know them and listen to them. They’re going to have needs and wants and asks. You just need to go in and get to know them. Show up consistently, and they’ll give you a chance.”

Nicole Hatch, Director of Sales, agrees. Starting at the business in inside sales, she moved to the service department, where Inland provides value-added services, analyzing maximum equipment needs and keeping a reliable stock of essential items ready for immediate shipment.

“This means no waiting, less downtime, and your project stays on track every time,” she says. “That’s something we do with our stock, that we put ‘min-maxes’ in place for our customers on specific items they need, to ensure that they always have what they need here on our shelves when they need it.”

Inland also creates special kits, such as welders’ boxes containing all the tools they need, for customers to grab and go and successfully do their jobs. “It’s the little things we do to go above and beyond, and we’re always looking for new, innovative ways to make things easier for them,” says Hatch.

Over the years, she has observed and formed her own opinions about the qualities that help keep Inland relevant and successful in the industry. “It’s definitely our quick turnaround time and our honesty,” she says. “If there are issues with lead times or back orders, we’re always quick to communicate any delays to customers and then find innovative solutions to make their lives easier.”

Then there is Inland’s embracing of Dixon’s motto to bring back old-school service. When COVID-19 hit, much of the customer service in the industry fell by the wayside, but not at Inland. “We’ve always maintained that same level of customer service and communication.”

Inland’s ARC Services are also an integral aspect of the business, offering a variety of services through the Assembly, Repair, and Certification Service Centre. This includes rentals for gas detection, fall-protection equipment tailored to project needs, rentals of high-quality self-retracting lines (SRLs), cable repairs, SRL repairs, and a team of experienced technicians committed to ensuring equipment is in perfect condition.

Providing not only thorough inspection and cleaning methods to increase the lifespan of respiratory and fall-protection equipment, ARC also ensures compliance with safety standards through calibration and recertification offerings. These encompass services for fall-protection equipment, gas detection tools, torque wrenches, and more, enabling teams to address any tasks without needing to unbox or assemble equipment.

As the ARC Services Manager, Jackie Tourett oversees a team of numerous technicians doing all fall protection, as well as servicing and storing inventory for customers. “It’s a big thing for our customers,” she says. “They don’t want their equipment back until it’s actually needed, and then we certify it as it goes out, so they still have a full year on their equipment.”

Services have grown tremendously over the years, Tourett says, noting that when she first started at Inland, the company was housed in a much smaller building and at that time, doing only ARC services, self-retracting lines, and gas detection and fall protection. The team has come a long way.

“Our gas detection is huge. It’s busy all the time,” Tourett observes. “We have rentals as well, which are constant… the volume that we do now is so much greater than when I first took on this role.”

She’s been in the safety field for quite a few years and has seen safety often left for the end when it should instead be a priority. “Inland is different,” she says, and the company’s quality of work remains exemplary. “We put a lot into our work, a lot of pride.”

Indeed, Inland’s products look immaculate when they go back out to the customer: cleaned, bagged, and tagged, all resulting in “very happy customers.” That commitment to customers develops organically, Tourett says, and being both a private and family-owned company makes a huge impact.

“They treat their employees and their customers tremendously,” she says. “Gordon Dixon is an awesome man and very generous. They’re good people to work for.”

It’s clear that the company’s treatment of customers and employees alike has made a lasting difference and led to years of success, as attested to by other Inland employees.

“I’ve watched Inland Industrial Supply grow as a business and a family,” says Logistics Manager Jennifer Morris, adding that the culture is positive, constructive, and healthy, creating an atmosphere where everyone feels appreciated and heard. “There are continuous opportunities that encourage leadership and education, enhancing the well-being of all staff, giving endless opportunities to expand. I found my career here.”

Pelumi Bamgboye, Service Technician, adds that Inland has provided him with a clear pathway to grow, with the training not just to survive, but thrive. “I’ve had the chance to work with industry experts to develop really advanced solutions to challenges,” he says. “The family culture at Inland also makes for a great environment for growing a career, with lots of opportunities.”

Jack Becker, Senior Account Manager, knows this all too well. “Inland Industrial has been a part of my life for 30 years,” he shares. “When my career was down a different path, I was involved with the very first order that Inland received. I watched it grow for many years and then came aboard 16 years ago. I have had many different roles throughout my career with Inland and have always had the support to do them properly. Being a smaller family-run company, it is always nice to be able to turn on a dime and look after our customers’ needs and build the relationships with them that Inland is known for throughout the industry.”

The company’s commitment to helping employees blossom has helped it see significant growth over the years, with several key factors driving that expansion.

“Culture is number one,” says Sales Manager Cody Dixon. “When we were in the slumps, that’s what I focused on, making sure everyone was happy and knew what they were doing. Clarity on position and focus on role dovetails into the culture. People are people, and they just want to know what to do.”

Growth has also led to taking on numerous upcoming projects “happening everywhere” in new markets, and strategic initiatives that signal the next phase of growth for Inland. This includes servicing and partnering up to support Amico, which is “doing great work” in mining,” he says. “They want to partner with us, as we do consumables, tools and services, safety services, and repairs. They’ve captured a lot of business up in the gold and copper mines, which is pretty cool for us.”

Through Amico, there is a three-year Babcock and Wilcox power plant project with new construction Ford terminals, along with an upcoming Dow Chemical project.

All of this impressive expansion means striving to stay ahead in an ever-changing industry, a top priority for Inland, and one that involves maintaining a strong focus on both relationships and service. “Service is key, and as our competitors are cutting back, we’re expanding into it,” says Dixon.

Success has also meant being approached by people trying to acquire equity in Inland, something owner Gordon Dixon “was not entertaining at all.”

“It’s incredibly important for us to be family and Canadian,” he says, pointing out that with all the present uncertainty circling businesses around the world, this is more vital than ever. “Being Canadian and family-owned with a high level of respect for our clients, what they’re doing, and ensuring they get what they need on time is incredibly important.”

The post How a Thoroughly Modern Canadian Success Came About<p class="company">Inland Industrial Supply</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.