METALCON quickly became an industry staple after Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer Frank Stasiowski of PSMJ Resources, Inc. partnered with the Metal Construction Association in 1991 to launch the show. “It really took off,” Vice President Judy Geller says. “It filled a niche in the market for something important.”

Focusing on this specific niche has been key to the event’s popularity. “Rather than going to a construction event where you’re pushed and pulled into 20 different directions and there’s so much going on, METALCON focuses exclusively on the application of metal in construction and design,” Geller explains. “It means that there’s an opportunity to really see the newest innovations and, probably even more importantly, talk to participants in the industry who really are experts in the application of metal.”

While the show has a specific focus, its attendees vary widely. Virtually anyone who works with metal in design or construction will benefit from attending. This includes manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, engineers, contractors, architects, specifiers, and designers.

“If you’re a contractor or you’re an architect, a developer, a specifier or designer—whatever role you may have—you have various questions, challenges, and solutions, and METALCON is going to have that expertise on-site to help you address your challenges and help you [find] solutions and real information on the spot,” Geller says.

There is also a wide variety within each of these professional categories represented. For instance, “There’s a huge spectrum of contractors that would benefit from attending the show,” she says. “It could be anyone from a general contractor to a roofing contractor to a sidewall and gutter contractor.”

Architects considering metal as a building option will find a wealth of knowledge at the show. For example, they “may be trying to figure out, ‘Do I want to do a metal or an asphalt roof?’ They’re going to want to see the newest options.”

They can also experience the aesthetics of metal as a building material. “You can do all kinds of beautiful designs using metal,” she says. “It’s not just plain old metal anymore; you can make it really quite stunning.”

It should come as no surprise that, with so much to offer to so many different professionals, the turnout at METALCON each year includes “all of the major and minor players who are involved in metal, whether it’s installing, selling, designing, fabricating, buying, or designing.” And that goes for more than just the attendees, as the exhibitors also cover the full gamut of the industry. There are nearly 30 categories of exhibitors at this year’s METALCON, covering everything from panels, decorative metal, roof-top products, coatings, fenestration, and framing to insulation, equipment, modular construction systems, energy-efficient applications, and custom fabrication, just to name a few.

“We call it the A-to-Z spectrum of manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, consultants. Any kind of solution provider is at METALCON,” Geller says.

A total of 250 exhibitors are slated to be at this year’s show. “There’s a lot going on at METALCON. The entire industry is there and there’s an opportunity for the attendees to explore everything that’s new and innovative in metal construction and design, from roofing to wall panels, to you name it. We cover any application of metal in the entire building envelope.”

There will be over 35 free educational sessions in the exhibit hall, conveniently located right on the show floor. Each session takes place at one of four learning centers with different areas of focus. For example, the Technical Knowhow Learning Center focuses on different technical issues of applying metal, while the Best Practices Learning Center educates attendees on the business aspect of applying metal. This center is particularly helpful for professionals looking to broaden their horizons. A typical example is “a roofing contractor who only does asphalt roofing, that is interested in expanding their business and embracing metals,” says Geller. “We’re going to be able to help those who are new to metal add it to their businesses.”

New for 2024 is a learning center focused on building performance. “There’s a lot of focus on building performance in this day and age because of sustainability, net zero goals, recyclability, and climate,” she says. “Metal can play a crucial role in building performance, particularly in terms of sustainability and durability in the face of severe weather. That is why we created this Building Performance Learning Center to focus on those specific issues.”

Of course, networking is another key advantage of attending the show. “METALCON provides absolutely outstanding networking opportunities as well. After all, the “Who’s Who” of the industry is there.”

METALCON will be introducing a number of new networking opportunities this year, in addition to keeping the existing ones. “We are going to be having a speed networking event in an area of the show floor called The Exchange,” Geller says, “and we’re also offering small group roundtable discussions where there will be multiple topics.” Each roundtable will have a moderator and will focus on a timely issue. For instance, “one of the topics may be metal mythbusters. There are many myths about applying metal, and this is going to be a roundtable forum to talk about it.”

A big networking party will open the event. “Everybody is invited to attend our ‘Metal Mash Up’ welcome party on Wednesday afternoon,” says Geller. “We’ll have music and snacks and drinks, and it will just be an opportunity to really kick off the event in a fun way, and we’re doing that right in the exhibit hall on the floor. And then on Thursday, we are going to be having a networking reception in an area of the show floor called The Backyard, which is also new this year. And in ‘The Backyard,’ you’re going to be able to play simulated golf, take a little break from all of the innovation and education on the show floor. It’s going to be just a fun area to relax, putt for a few holes.”

The result is a show that offers both breadth and depth, providing something for everyone. “There’s a lot going on in terms of the vast spectrum of exhibitors, the depth of education we’re offering, the huge focus we have on networking this year. I would call that our triumvirate of what’s important at the event this year.”

The team will keep thinking ahead to continue to improve and expand the tradeshow. “We always have future plans,” Geller says. “We’re always going to be looking at how to expand the show and make sure that it is relevant to the industry and people who want to participate in the industry. We are always looking for opportunities to expand on our education. This year, it’s building performance; next year, it’s going to be something else.”

The convention uses feedback to ensure that it will deliver the tradeshow experience that industry insiders want in the future. “A lot of times, our new ideas come from the evaluations that we put out to our exhibitors and the attendees,” she says. “They give us some really amazing clues about what they are looking for, and we definitely do take those to heart.”

This year’s show in Atlanta will draw a sizable crowd, and next year, the tradeshow’s Las Vegas location is expected to draw very large numbers, based on past experience. “Las Vegas is always a massive year for METALCON. It’s always exciting, and I know that we’ll have all kinds of new things to be offering.” So mark your calendars for this year’s show—and next year’s as well. There is too much to experience at METALCON to miss this major industry event!

The post Metal’s Main Event<p class="company">METALCON</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

“Makloc aims to be a trusted advisor to our clients, and we are looking to take as much work off their plates as possible,” says 11-year company veteran Matthew Blumer, Vice President of Corporate Development and Sales.

Makloc serves a range of clients, especially in the energy sector, including midstream and upstream oil and gas companies, engineering firms, smaller fabricators, and other businesses. Based in Nisku, Alberta, the company is ideally located to serve customers in Western Canada, since it can deploy resources quickly and economically to erect buildings.

Makloc’s experienced team takes on as much scope as possible by working closely with end users. Using this collaborative approach, Makloc creates buildings of all sizes to suit each customer’s unique requirements. This work includes the building itself, structural steel skid, and electrical/mechanical integration services contracted through partnering businesses.

For customers, other benefits of working with Makloc are the company’s business structure and its relationships with other entities. Alberta-owned Makloc is allied with American Buildings and VP Buildings, giving them an even broader range of available products and solutions to offer their customers. Makloc’s services today encompass building design, fabrication, construction, expansions, general contracting, tenant improvement, and project management.

Depending on client needs, Makloc supplies buildings both small and large, ranging from small modular sheds up to large pre-engineered stick-built buildings. Smaller structures are often used as storage sheds, while larger buildings can be used to house major process equipment.

“It’s a massive range,” says Blumer, adding that the company also sells building components for repairs and maintenance. Since Makloc is located on Alberta’s High Load Corridor, the company can ship large buildings across the province and beyond. If customers want to go the modular route, buildings can also be split and shipped in numerous pieces.

Makloc takes its tagline “Helping Companies Grow, Expand, And Meet Customers’ Demands” seriously. Providing everything from small storage sheds up to very large stick-built rigid frame structures, Makloc purpose-builds its structures. For field-erected construction, structures can also be designed to enable expansion in the future, if required.

On the modular side, Makloc’s buildings are used to house electrical equipment, process pipe, pumps, and other industrial process equipment where there is a benefit to assembling the modular building away from the end destination site, which is often in remote locations. “We offer our mod yard to completely integrate a building, test it, and get it to the point where all that needs to be done in the field is essentially plug-and-play,” explains Blumer.

Modular buildings are ready to go once they arrive on site, which minimizes costs and any safety-related concerns that come from doing work in remote locations.

For field construction, Makloc builds everything from storage structures to buildings housing process equipment, pumps, or compressors that are too large to be modularized.

In one substantial project, the company was involved with a major Western Canada pipeline expansion running from Edmonton to Vancouver. Working closely with clients, the company provided over 40 buildings including modular electrical service structures, fire suppression stations, and stick-built pump buildings over a 1,000 km (621 mile) area. “Successfully managing manpower and logistical challenges throughout the project was a testament to our team’s experience and commitment to our customers,” says the company on its website.

On the renewables side, the company is also involved with a Net Zero Hydrogen Energy Complex in Sherwood Park, Alberta. Already well-established in oil and gas, Makloc is pleased to be in the next wave of renewable energy projects as well. “Wherever a significant industrial complex needs to be developed, there’s a need for structural steel buildings,” says Blumer. “So we’re excited to be involved in hydrogen and the future of the energy industry.”

Certified CSA-A660 and CSA-A277 on request, Makloc’s Self Frame Buildings are ideal for everything from storage to field offices and telecommunication buildings to generator enclosures. An innovative interlocking ribbed panel system acts as the primary structural support, maximizing interior floor space. Compliant with the National Building Code of Canada, these Self Frame Buildings come complete with engineer-stamped drawings. Available in a wide variety of colours including Stone Grey, Mist Green, Sapphire Blue, and Gold, the company’s state-of-the-art custom roll-former forms interlocking ribbed panels in just seconds from 18- to 22-gauge sheet metal. “It’s easily switched between wall and roof panels, and 3” and 4.5” rib depths,” says the company. “This allows for quick set-up time and ensures consistent quality on every project.”

Makloc’s interlocking, self frame building system has been a popular offering from the company for decades and is widely used in Western Canada’s oil and gas sector. A tried and true cost-effective building solution, these structures are perfect for customers seeking robust structural steel construction. Much longer-lasting than wood—and with ULC fire-rated wall systems—their structural integrity particularly suits industrial applications.

“The great thing about the interlocking wall system is you eliminate the need for a skeletal, structural rigid frame,” says Blumer. “Then you’re going to have columns and secondary steel creating more congestion inside the building. So, when someone is working with a self frame building system, you get a clean, flat interior wall system, optimizing space in the building.” The only limitation is size, and how large the building can be before it requires a rigid frame.

Both main product lines, self frame and rigid frame buildings, can be customized. “Between the two of them, there’s a tremendous amount of customization that can go on,” says Blumer. To ensure quick supply, the company stocks ample amounts of steel coil.

For the sake of efficiency and respect for timelines, all customers are assigned a dedicated project manager for their project. Serving as the primary point of contact, project managers coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, adhere to customers’ unique processes and quality requirements, and provide schedule updates. Depending on client knowledge, PMs walk them through the process with approval drawings and designs and outline each stage of the project from design to final turnover.

To maximize efficiency and help with budgets, traceability, and project scheduling, the company has invested in STRUMIS, an innovative steel fabrication management information software. “We’re constantly investing in technology and expanding our facilities,” says Blumer, noting that the company recently expanded its capacity by 30 to 40 percent. By investing in staff and technology, Makloc remains cost-competitive while maintaining the highest level of quality.

With about 100 employees and scaling up at present, Blumer expects staffing levels to soon increase by another 15 to 20 percent, based on workload. “We’ve been in business for over 50 years, so we have a lot of really great industry partners and clientele who have been with us for decades,” Blumer shares. “For us to grow and ensure we continue to grow, we need to continue to diversify our client base, while consistently supporting our loyal customers.”

He says that “the main focus is organic growth, and part of that comes from improving efficiencies so we can increase throughput. That is supported by deploying new technology—whether that’s leveraging new tools to optimize business processes, investing in robotic CNC equipment for streamlining production, or expanding our production facilities.”

The post Buildings That Work Where Most Buildings Won’t<p class="company">Makloc</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Proudly part of the Barnhardt Family of Businesses, NCFI boasts a unique history that starts in 1964. Polyurethanes were still a relatively new rubber substitute polymer, and Dr. H.W. “Ace” Bradley—a research chemist and WWII veteran of the Manhattan Project—and the Barnhardt Family of Charlotte recognized the potential of this new technology.

Bradley eventually developed the “One Shot” flexible foam method, a continuous production process that combines polymer creation with foaming and is currently the industry standard. NCFI has since established itself as a prominent pioneer in the development of rigid and flexible polyurethanes for use in construction, geotechnical, and custom applications.

Celebrating 60
Now observing its 60^th anniversary, the company notes some of the reasons behind its success and illustrious status in the industry.

“We have superior teammates and colleagues who care about each other,” says Vice President, John Zomer. “They also care about the success of NCFI and the success of our customers. That’s really what I see.”

This dedication to customers and to “doing the right thing by our customers and our employees” comes from its parent company, Barnhardt Manufacturing, and down through NCFI, says Will Jarrell, Executive Vice President of Custom Formulated Products.

“We’ve always been dedicated. It’s a culture we’ve developed over the years, and it has everything to do with the people we have,” he says. “We’ve worked hard to develop that culture and keep hiring people who have that kind of attitude, where you do what you need to make sure the customer is happy and satisfied, and at the same time look beyond to ask them, ‘if you can have anything, what would that be?’ and then go from there.”

Concerning the company’s dedication to its customers and its ability to solve problems in the polyurethane and systems business, NCFI offers a customized solution, working with its customers to optimize the specific polyurethanes the company makes for them.

“Chemicals are tailored to the customer’s technical and processing capabilities,” says Zomer. “As part of that, we offer very good quality and personal service. We communicate directly with our customers. We periodically visit our customers’ locations to ensure we’re building relationships not only with the decision-makers in the front office, but the people who are actually using and processing the chemicals in the plant.”

The NCFI way
In addition to a culture of doing what’s needed for the customer, NCFI is methodical in ensuring careful selection of its employees, adds Jarrell. “They’re people who care about other people—not just customers, but other people,” he says. “Then you build on top of that with technical prowess. We’ve worked hard to attract and hold on to these people who are dedicated to customers.”

Many people who come to work for NCFI haven’t experienced that level of care and commitment before, and they’re excited to see it, he says.

“We’re not afraid to go the extra mile for the customer. Many times those folks are leaving a situation where they feel like relationships they’ve built over the years aren’t the focus anymore. When they come over to us, we get in there, get our hands dirty, and make sure everything is right for the customer.”

In short, customer service is a vital, ongoing priority for the company.

“I think it’s the priority for the company,” says Jarrell. “Our technical team is second to none in the industry.” On top of that, those people are also dedicated to the customer relationships they’ve built over the years. “It’s extremely important to them, because not only are they customers of ours, but they’re also friends of ours.”

It’s not only Customer Service, Zomer adds, but Technical Service that truly makes an important difference.

“We take orders for polyurethane systems, and Operations mix them all together. The systems must be put together consistently, each time, the way the customer needs them. So it’s Operations, Customer Service and Technical Service, and it’s follow-up and follow-through to make sure we do a good job of consistency and maintaining the business.”

While other companies try to provide a similar service, Zomer has found NCFI excels at it in a practical way that has resulted in “very happy” customers.

Move into metal
When it comes to the company’s product lines, NCFI has recently moved into the insulated metal panel market even though traditionally it has always been very strong in rigid polyurethane spray foam and other rigid systems.

“It’s something we’ve always known how to do and always wanted to, but just never had a focus on that market. Of course, there’s a lot of volume there. We’re in a mode where we’re trying to grow our business and increase our presence in the rigid foam insulation space, and it just plays along with our stature in the spray foam business,” Jarrell says.

As one of the top suppliers in the spray foam industry, the company naturally wants to move into being one of the top suppliers in the rigid foam insulation business, too.

“We’ve always had systems to play in that market,” says Zomer. “But what we realized is that we want to couple these systems technology with our service and grow our share in that market space.”

Superior service
As proficient as NCFI has been on the technical side of production, it’s the customer service side that has brought it much of its success over its 60 years.

“There’s a need right now in industry for customer service,” says Jarrell. “With lots of the big companies, there are all kinds of internal things they have to deal with, and that they’re going through, while we’re a fairly flat organization. Decisions are made quickly. There’s not a lot of bureaucracy to go through as far as decision-making goes. We put people in place that know what they’re doing and let them do it.”

Even as a smaller company competing in the industry, NCFI possesses the technical skills required to succeed while not losing focus on its clientele.

“The customer-focus portion of it is everything to us. These customers are our friends, people that we’ve developed relationships with over the years, and we don’t want to disappoint friends,” Jarrell says. This also extends to being “very careful” about who to bring on as staff, making sure they fit that model and are dedicated to the customer.

Hiring the right people is key, he adds, and serves to bolster the company culture that NCFI works so hard to maintain. “We hire people who treat customers like you would want to be treated yourself. I think that’s it, and then also being able to make decisions quickly rather than deferring them to 15 other people. We do that quickly and then move on.”

The company also enjoys active engagement not only internally but with its customers. “The better a company is with internal engagement and communication and positivity, the better that company performs,” says Zomer. “And I really think NCFI is one of those companies with a great employee base, high engagement, and good communication, which can only help us on the outside when we go to sell our products and services out in the marketplace.”

Fostering positive engagement and communication has resulted in employees who have been with the company for decades, including Jarrell himself. “I’ve been with NCFI for 31 years,” he says. “Essentially my entire life, and it seems like everybody wants to come to work for us here because they’re not encumbered by all the things they would be encumbered by with somebody a little bit bigger.”

If you get somebody good, Jarrell adds, you need to reward them and you need to appreciate them—another step in maintaining positive company culture. “And that’s what we’re trying to do and why we’re having a 60^th celebration at our facility, bringing in some of the best customers down there just to say thank you and celebrate 60 years.”

While six good decades are indeed an admirable achievement, Jarrell stresses that NCFI doesn’t like to dwell on its success too much, but would rather keep its focus on the present, with an eye to the future and everything that still needs to be done.

“We have respect for it and celebrate it, but we try not to get hung up too much on it, although we are very proud of where we’ve come from,” is Jarrell’s take on NCFI’s success.

Numerous employees and customers have helped shape NCFI over the years, molding it into what it is today and will continue to be for the next 60 to come.

“We have lots of accomplishments, but we tend to have one goal,” Jarrell says. “Let’s move on to the next thing. Nobody’s sitting around tooting their own horn, which is another part of our culture. It’s about just getting the job done.”

The post Chemical Capabilities: NCFI Gets the Job Done<p class="company">NCFI Polyurethanes</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.