GBA Exhibitors Promote Energy Efficiency and Ways to Diversify to Window Manufacturers

Many GlassBuild exhibitors used the show as a way to promote the theme of energy efficiency to the window manufacturers in attendance, along with some options for diversifying into new areas in the current slow housing market. GlassBuild America was held this week, September 10-12, in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center.

TruSeal Technologies launched its "Envirosealed Windows" campaign, which is designed to help window manufacturers and dealers sell the environmental benefits of TruSeal Dura Platform spacers. The company recognizes that an increasing number of homeowners are looking for ways to make their living spaces more environmentally friendly by choosing green products.

The program, which is mainly aimed at the remodeling market, has received good reviews thus far, says TruSeal's Ric Jackson.

"The response to the concept has been overwhelming. Obviously consumers are concerned about saving energy," he says. "It's all about reduction in use."

TruSeal president Gus Coppola says manufacturers who promote energy efficiency have a lot of opportunities.

"A lot of people are singing the blues in the housing market, but this campaign gives manufacturers a lot more opportunity," he says. "People are more attentive to taking cost out of the plant. This is a great way for them to take advantage of the down market … This puts them in an excellent position to grow in a down market."

Edgetech also promoted the theme of energy efficiency through the use of its spacer products such as SuperSpacer and TriSeal.

"Manufacturers can take the market by storm by pushing energy efficiency," says Edgetech's Erin Johnson.

But sometimes manufacturers don't always know how to get there.

With the new ENERGY STAR® requirements coming in 2008, some window manufacturers are concerned that their products won't meet these requirements.

In fact, Johnson says Edgetech has received numerous calls in the last month from companies who are looking to Edgetech to help them build an efficient window that will meet the new requirements.

Technoform's Greg Decker echoes these sentiments as well.

"One customer stopped by today and said 'this is what I want to do [in terms of energy efficiency], but how do I get there?" says Decker.

"We provide full-service support in incorporating energy efficiency into a window," says Technoform president Mark Silverberg. "That is what sets us apart."

"Energy efficiency is at the core of what we do," says Decker, who warns manufacturers that the energy regulations in the United States will get tighter and tighter.

"Homeowners are asking for energy-efficient products more and more," he adds.

Many exhibitors also noted that they are expanding their offerings in an effort to give their customers-particularly residential window manufacturers-additional offerings to add to their product lines in today's slow residential new-construction market.
Among these, Vision Industries in South Plainfield, N.J., has added a fence post anchor to its hardware offerings, for door and window manufacturers expanding into the area of fencing.

"We follow what our customer base is looking for and a lot are looking for fencing," says national sales manager Patrick Rutherford.

Aquasurtech in Laval, Quebec, has expanded its product line so that vinyl window manufacturers can now utilize a spray-on finish to make a vinyl window appear metal. The finish is available in bronze, copper and silver.

Bronze Craft in Nashua, N.H., is offering a multi-point locking system designed for bomb-blast conditions to fill the needs of those wishing to offer bomb-blast-resistant windows.

Royal Group of Woodbridge, Ontario, exhibited a range of new profile systems and options for its new and existing customers, several new stains, patio door profile systems and more.

"We've tried to bring a lot of products to the market and to the show to give manufacturers lots to offer," says Art Ramey, Royal's president for North American sales and marketing.

For a full report on GlassBuild America, see the upcoming October 2007 issue of DWM.

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