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July 31, 2012
When the economy is this precarious, every penny spent must be justified. Cost efficiency and a lean operating model becomes the Holy Grail for survival. The cost of joining and participating in a trade association must be weighed against other discretionary spending. But focusing on the cost is only half of the cost-benefit equation—never a good business practice. To fill in the rest of...
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July 31, 2012
More manufacturers and pre-hangers are turning to 3PLs to get product to the jobsite
The word “outsourcing” strikes an emotional cord whenever it is mentioned. There is typically quite a bit of debate in the media about the pros and cons of outsourcing, which usually carries the connotation of American jobs being shipped overseas. That process is, in fact, more accurately referred to as “off shoring.”
More window and door...
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July 30, 2012
Asymmetric triple-pane construction and advanced gas filling techniques provide new alternatives to improve performance numbers
Conventional wisdom says R-5 windows are too costly to manufacture. This assumption is largely based on experience employing older technologies for fabricating high-performing triple IG units.
Several recent developments challenge the assumption that R-5 cannot be reached affordably. One is the addition of 4th surface low-E glass coatings in dual lite units. Another is the introduction of...
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July 30, 2012
We knew the day was coming—the Environmental Protection Agency recently released its draft proposal for the future of the Energy Star program for windows, doors and skylights last week. With a plan that calls for changes to take effect in January 2014, the draft includes U-factor requirements that may lessen the need for manufacturers to pursue triple-glazed products to carry the...
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July 24, 2012
Last week, I received press releases from Milgard and Windsor, each announcing the availability of building information modeling (BIM) files for certain window and door lines offered by the manufacturers. These weren't the first of such announcements I've received by any means, but the fact that I recieved two in one week made me wonder about the role of BIM in the...
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July 18, 2012
The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index for July, released just this week, saw a pretty significant jump—the largest jump in builder confidence in nearly a decade. Up six points, builder confidence for the newly-built, single-family housing market reached 35 points in July—the highest point since March of 2007.
While this is a step in the right...
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July 17, 2012
Fiberglass is only part of the story at Therma-Tru
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Therma-Tru Corp. is probably known first and foremost for pioneering the fiberglass door. Fiberglass is only part of the story, however, according to Dave Randich.
“Right from the start, Therma-Tru was blessed with creative thinkers who were not afraid to develop and invest in new products,” says the current president of the Maumee, Ohio-...
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July 16, 2012
According to the National Weather Service, conditions in the atmosphere and the ocean will make for a fairly normal 2012 hurricane season, meaning it will likely be a less active season than we’ve experienced in recent years. That’s welcome news for everyone, especially homeowners in coastal towns who struggled with destruction caused by Hurricane Irene last summer. However, the...
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July 16, 2012
New demands and new materials mean constant change in the way windows and doors are made. The way we install our products has also changed in recent years. But the most rapid change we are seeing in the industry these days is probably coming in how we sell windows and doors.
The internet has changed all our lives and today, it’s rapidly changing how we interact with customers and potential...
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July 9, 2012
"We think the future is dynamic windows," said Marc LaFrance, the Department of Energy's technology development manager with oversight over the agency's windows and building envelope programs speaking at a recent Windows Technology Roadmapping Workshop. Dynamic glazing was also high on the agenda at the Window & Door Manufacturers Association Technical Conference, which...
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July 17, 2012Fiberglass is only part of the story at Therma-TruCelebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Therma-Tru Corp. is probably known first and foremost for pioneering the fiberglass door. Fiberglass is only part of the story, however, according to Dave Randich. “Right from the start, Therma-Tru was blessed with creative thinkers who were not afraid to develop and invest in new products,” says the current president of the Maumee, Ohio-... more »