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Editors Note

We are pleased to announce today that we will be cross linking the Miller Clapperton Blog with the Blog of The Metal Initiative (http://blog.themetalinitiative.com/). Let me suggest you check out The Metal Initiative website. It contains a great deal of current information about how metal is being used effectively in construction and you may find something that can enhance your company.

When you hear the term “ivy covered walls” your mind almost automatically shifts to a university campus, with masonry buildings in collegiate gothic style with ivy expanding up the walls surrounding a grassed quadrangle. Can’t you smell a grill cooking meat for the tailgating party before the football game?

I have visited two (2) university campuses this week and I can report to you that much of the new construction on these campuses has a new feature element and it is not ivy on masonry anymore. What I have seen is attractive uses of metal, sometimes the entire wall in metal but most commonly metal walls are being used as the featured element of the building.

In comparison to the construction of university campuses of just a couple of decades back; this expanded use of metal is a significant change. I remember in the early stages of my career, most designers of university and college buildings would use a straight arm technique worthy of a great running back with the use of the phrase, “the university has an established design format that only allows masonry or stone; metal can not be considered”.

So, what has changed?

What has changed is that designers and facility managers have become aware of the benefits of metal. The wide variety of metal wall systems have given designers great flexibility for their designs. From extremely flat, to curved, to sloping, to ribbed; metal systems offer designers an ever expanding list of choices to make their designs distinctive.

Facility managers have learned that metal wall systems require almost no maintenance. This meshes nicely with the current state of finances for these institutions where capital may be available from an endowment to build a new facility but the funds to actually operate a facility are as scarce as hen’s teeth.

The point is this; metal has gained acceptance as a “go to” product for institutional buildings because of its inherent benefits and performance. So, all of us in the metal industry should approach designers and building owners with confidence when we recommend metal.

Check out some recent uses of metal on university campuses below:

This is not a story that I wanted to write. In fact, I had intended to write about “Drawdown Lines in Custom Color Matched Samples”. That subject will be addressed in an upcoming installment, so get ready to discuss it.

What I am writing about is the Changing Market. It is not news that there will be more challenges for anyone in the Construction Market going forward. Many in our industry have adequate backlog for 2009. The wildcard is what we are bidding now that will either make or break us for 2010. None of us expect to be able to book business at the same volume and margin levels that we were able to book in the recent past. That would be an unreasonable expectation.

In other words, I expect to lose some work to valid competitors at reduced margins because the market is smaller. That is classic economics and I am willing to compete on a level playing field.

However, the playing field is becoming less level. I will give you an example. We recently lost a medium size Project (Approximately, 5,500 SF) to a company that we are certain has no tested systems. They will not be fulfilling the requirements of the specification, in all likelihood, and no one seems to care. The GC is looking at price (the lower the better); the Architect probably does not fully understand the Specification that has been published because he probably subbed this out to an outside Spec Writer. The Architect probably had his fee reduced to get the Project in the fist place and has little money left in his budget for doing Contract Administration, so the likelihood that there is no tested system being provided will probably never be challenged.

Meanwhile none of the “full service” MCM Fabricators, that have made this product such a success, will get this Project. Why?

One of the reasons is that the knowledge base of the design community is very low on our Product. Many designers still specify; Alucobond®, Reynobond®, or Alpolic® and feel they have provided an adequate Specification. That type of Specification is for sheets of MCM Material.

For example: If the Specification calls for Reynobond®, this is the extent of the Specification. That type of Specification calls for a flat sheet of material.That is analogous to specifying Georgia Pacific Plywood and expecting to get a great set of cabinets.MCM Sheets are formed by MCM Fabricators into an endless variety of shapes, with tested attachment systems as shown in these photos. Laboratory Testing by MCM Fabricators verifies that Systems meet the required performance requirements.

Transforming the MCM Sheets into high quality MCM Panels that can actually be used on a building is the expertise of MCM Fabricators. They are the ones who cut the panels to size, rout the panels along their folding flanges, design and provide tested attachment systems, then assemble the panels and install them on buildings. A specification that only calls for the name of the MCM Sheet Manufacturer addresses none of the following: Attachment System, Experience, Services Offered (Fabrication, Engineering, Installation), or Financial Strength.

As I outlined in my first Blog, the Metal Construction Association has developed a Certification Program for Premium Certified MCM Fabricators that does address these requirements.

See the attached link: HERE

As an industry we must get the word out that specifying a Manufacturer of MCM Sheet is not adequate.

Another thing is also happening. With the shrinking of the Construction Market, suppliers and subcontractors, who are not MCM Fabricators of any type, are entering our Market and bidding against MCM Fabricators. Roofers are “throwing in” the panels in order to get the Roof. They have no experience in fabricating panels, no tested systems, and no expertise in installing the panels. They have one thing, and one thing only to offer, a low and uninformed price.

These problems will never be completely solved but it is important that we point them out and make an attempt to better inform Architects and Owners about our industry. There is no “free lunch”. A low price from an incompetent bidder hurts not only the Owner but our industry as well.

Let us all covenant together to take every opportunity to “tell the story” of how great MCM Projects are built. Use the tools we have; the Premium MCM Fabricators Requirements, “face to face” visits with Architects and Owners, Association Meetings, etc., whatever works. The bottom line is we have a great story to tell but it does no good if we do not tell it.

So, to paraphrase the Chicago mantra on elections, “vote early and often”. Let us tell “the story of quality” early and often.

If you have ideas to add, please post them to the Blog.

Thanks,

Ted S. Miller