The latest From the Fabricator podcast is live with two inspiring guests. I kick it off with James Hatch of Kovach. He and I may have chatted a bit over the years, but this was my first extended time with him, and I was extremely impressed. What he’s done and the excitement around what Kovach does is something to behold. Great stuff. Then to a person and company that I think will be big in our industry, and not for glass or glazing, but for improving the performance of our machinery.
I say it all the time. Texas never disappoints. And that was surely true this past week at Glass TEXpo in San Antonio. The wonderful folks at the Texas Glass Association took care of me once again, and I am truly grateful.
In case you missed it, the most recent From the Fabricator podcast dropped right before I left. I had enlightening conversations with two of the best folks around—Sneh Kumar of Kawneer and Kyle Sword of Pilkington. Check it out at the links below. The next pod (coming soon) will feature a leader in the glazing space and a new company coming to market with a must-have product.
With commercial fenestration and framing systems, performance counts and appearance matters. Most architects design with color in mind, and many strive to differentiate projects with specialty finishes. You can help your customers find a unique look without compromising performance or sustainability.
Even as codes and standards have become more stringent over the years, the glazing industry has kept pace—sometimes even staying ahead of the curve. Glazing manufacturers, fenestration companies, energy consultants and code experts have worked together to push the materials, technology and building science forward, not just to meet new codes but to improve performance, aesthetics and functionality.
The work environment, mental health stigma, substance abuse, addiction, and, ultimately, high suicide rates demand the attention of the construction industry— including glaziers, installers, technicians, helpers and apprentices. This sequence shows the pathway some may follow when their well-being goes unnoticed by coworkers and management. Recognizing signs of distress early on can save lives.
The BMW center, located in the Piedmont Region of South Carolina, was to evolve from an existing modest maintenance facility and factory delivery center; embracing new and cutting-edge building technologies and featuring glass in a way that was critical to its design success.
The inclusion of window opening control devices in building codes in the United States and Canada have been heralded to provide a way to help parents and caregivers manage child window safety while still meeting code requirements for emergency escape and rescue openings.