The Metal Construction Association (MCA) held its annual Summer Meeting on June 19-20 at the Hilton Rosemont/O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois, where MCA’s councils and committees convened to continue work on important topics that directly affect the future of metal construction.

One of the meeting’s highlights was the 2018 MCA Annual Market Study presented by Randy Giggard of FMI Corporation. This new report analyzes the position of metal roofing and wall products across the residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial and institutional sectors. All MCA members have access to the full 2018 Annual Market Study.

“The metals industry is continuing to gain market share in both roof and wall products across all markets sectors examined,” said key note speaker Randy Giggard, manager of FMI’s Market Information Group. “Metal construction spending is projected to reach $2.8 billion and $1.8 billion for roof and wall products respectively by 2021.”

Metal is now widely regarded as a premium roofing and wall cladding material. In addition to aesthetic and environmental benefits, metal wall products have a lower labor cost and total installed cost than the primary competing materials.

“Key market trends will continue to provide a tailwind for the metals industry, including adoption of solar power and energy codes,” said Giggard.

Other announcements included the new show format at METALCON, the metal industry’s premier trade event, which will feature expanding education programs. More than a dozen new and revised educational bulletins about Roofing, IMPs, MCMs and Metal Forming were celebrated. Also acknowledged were AIA Continuing Education Programs including Metal-over-Metal Retrofit Roof Systems.

With respect to international building codes, ICC 2021 Code Cycle activity was declared to be underway with MCA’s Codes & Standards Committee.