Sheet metal & Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association

Leaders from both labor and management joined forces at the 2018 SMACNA/SMART Partners in Progress Conference, Feb. 13-14, and accepted the challenge to work together to sustain and expand market share where opportunities exist.

Some projects bring a sense of personal achievement that goes beyond the satisfaction of a job well done. Providing sheet metal elements for the new Detroit Red Wings stadium, now Little Caesar’s Arena, was just such a project for Glenn Parvin, president of SMACNA member Custom Architectural Sheet Metal Specialists (CASS) in Detroit, and for members of Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 80 who worked on the job.

Without a doubt the HVAC industry is making a difference in the lives of people. By delivering an energy efficient product, our companies improve the lives of the American people time and time again.

Fueled by a soaring U.S. economy and lower corporate tax rates, industrial sector experts anticipate a 5.9 percent increase in overall U.S. industry plant spending to $328.5 billion in 2018. The spending forecast is up by $18.35 billion from last year according to the industry market research provider, Industrial Info Resources.

All contractors typically only get one chance to make a good first impression, but far too often residential contractors fail to make the most of this opportunity.

With the recent imposition of tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, steel prices are already increasing. To minimize the risk of rising material costs and contractors’ potential liability, SMACNA members should fully understand their contracts and ways to limit their exposure to price changes.

Do you know the difference between a dangerous work setting and a hazardous work setting? The 80 participants—including JATC coordinators, SMART union representatives, and SMACNA member safety professionals—who attended the 2018 SMOHIT Safety Champions Conference now do.

When preparing their bids and budgets, many members use SMACNA’s Financial Survey Report as a guide to compare their numbers to responses from other companies operating in the same markets and geographic areas.

SMACNA continues its persistent work on Capitol Hill to move composite plan legislation forward. SMACNA’s goal is still to move the composite plan legislation forward before the end of the year.

The SMACNA Leadership Development Program, which runs from May 21-24 in Chapel Hill, N.C., is an executive-MBA-style course.

Longtime journalist and political commentator Howard Fineman will share his insights on the 2018 and 2020 elections and on the latest developments in Washington, D.C., with SMACNA members during the 2018 CEA National Issues Conference being held in Washington, D.C., May 8-10.

SMACNA’s 2018 Safety Excellence Awards Program benefits SMACNA members with a report, the Safety Statistics Profile, available to all members, that highlights trends in safety-driven data that members can use to expand their safety programs.

SMACNA Board member Kyle Bellmon, vice president of United Mechanical Construction, Oklahoma City, Okla., is looking forward to giving back to the association because it has helped his company progress.

Pop singer Andy Grammer’s cheerful approach to life combined with his happy, positive lyrics make a winning combination for a high-spirited conclusion to SMACNA’s 75th Annual Convention on Wednesday evening, Oct. 17, in San Diego.

SMACNA’s Premier Partner Mestek Machinery has been creating innovative solutions in sheet metal and duct fabrication for more than 70 years. Mestek Machinery provides a full line of HVAC fabricating equipment, including the Pittsburgh lock rollformer, Iowa Precision Industries formerly known as Welty Way coil lines, Lockformer Vulcan Plasma cutting systems, Cornermatic-Whisper-Loc machines, and numerous other auxiliary equipment and solutions for the HVAC mechanical and sheet metal contractors and duct fabricators.

Members of the SMACNA Arizona chapter helped state energy officials not only understand the role of energy efficiency in creating HVAC industry jobs, they helped them understand how the HVAC industry can help generate energy savings too.

May 2018 - Safety Surveys Due – May 4; Financial Boot Camp – May 6-9, Tempe, Ariz.; Leadership Development Program – May 21-24, Chapel Hill, N.C.; CEA National Issues Conference – May 8-10, Washington, D.C.

Arabian International Company for Steel Structure, Jeddah, KSA; Century Mechanical Systems Factory LLC, Dubai, UAE; Prime Mechanical, Livermore, Calif.

SMACNA welcomes returning Gold Associate Members Daikin Applied of Plymouth, Minn. (also a SMACNA Premier Partner), and QuoteSoft of Eugene, Ore.

President Trump signed proclamations that impose a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports and a 25 percent tariff on steel imports with limited exceptions and exemptions. The tariff took effect March 23, 2018.