GreenBuild 2009 Comes to a Close
November 13, 2009

GreenBuild 2009 closed at the Phoenix Convention Center today, with the trade show ending yesterday. Show management estimates a crowd of 25,000 attending this year’s show, which features a four-day seminar program and a fifth day of green building tours, as well as more than 1,000 exhibiting companies.

Exhibitors in the glass industry welcomed the chance to show how “green” and energy efficient their products are to the architects, building owners, installers, glazing contractors, engineers and other professionals at this year’s event.

“This is Edgetech’s first time exhibiting at Green Build,” says Edgetech’s Joe Erb. “The big thing here is sustainability. On the commercial side, Tri Seal’s energy saving features are key. Architects want to know the reality of these products and if they really save energy. We’ve shown them several case studies for durability including the Royal Alexandria Hospital and Concordia University, both in Edmonton, Canada, as well as others.”

Edgetech is promoting the architectural arm of Edgetech University, highlighting the performance of their products and how it helps with savings. They’ve heard comments that their spacer systems are great for residential, but not good for windloads.

Not true, claims Erb who points out that Manko Windows from Manhattan, Kansas, is using Tri Seal. In fact, the company is demonstrating how Super Spacer maintains it structural integrity with increased windloads at their booth. The spacer acts as a shock absorber and provides the benefits of warm edge.

Charlie Patterson, sales manager for Quality Powder Coating out of Carrollton, Texas, was also exhibiting for the first time. He claims that although they have a facility in Phoenix, they enjoy much greater activity in their Dallas plant.

“Traffic at the show is decent, but we are in a battle with the architects. They are afraid to go to something new, where a different product will last longer than wood,” says Patterson.

At the EFCO booth, the company is promoting EFCO University, which is a program the company has made available to its reps for years but are now offering on-line to their customers. It discusses LEED accreditation and uses for their unitized products, blasts and Department of Defense projects.

“We’ve made several new contacts and saw many past customers,” says Eric Enloe, product manager for Windows, Sliding and Terrace Doors. “We’re very pleased with the interest at this show.”

Traco displayed its two latest products, the terrace door and tilt and turn window system featuring NexGen™.

“These products combine the structural integrity of aluminum into the energy efficiency of the window system,” according to Joshua Early, product manager. “People love the operation and energy efficiency of the tilt and turn, as well as the larger size for daylighting. It provides good thermal efficiency. People are very interested in being educated on how our products contribute to energy performance.”

“Our goal at this show is to talk to architects about using our TGI®spacer and Bautec structural insulating struts to help them achieve their efficiency requirements,” says Deedee Paster, marketing manager for Technoform.

“This is our second time exhibiting at Green Build. There are so many more exhibitors than last year, it’s hard to tell if there are the same number of attendees as before. Some other trade shows seemed more poorly attended this year. It doesn’t seem like a recession is going on with the number of people I’m seeing at this show,” she adds.

Bob Price at JE Berkowitz says his company enjoyed good architectural interest at their booth. Architects are interested in their SGX, a completed sample box for decorative glass that was released in the last 90 days.

“These products show innovation to incorporate more energy efficiency glass in their buildings,” says Price.

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