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Business Boosters
Steel coil service centers power the growth of metal buildings and fabrication
By Heidi J. Ellsworth. How service centers are driving speed, customization and regional growth across metal construction. The metal building industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, fueled by demand for durability, sustainability and design flexibility. At the center of this momentum is a critical but often underrecognized segment of the supply ...
Operations will break first
By Cotney Consulting Group. Why most roofing companies are not ready for humanoid robotics. Throughout this series, one theme has surfaced repeatedly: Technology will not be the limiting factor in the adoption of humanoid robotics. Operations will. In earlier articles, we discussed why robotics is moving from digital systems into physical execution, ...
The rise of self-storage and metal buildings: A perfect partnership for growth
By Heidi J. Ellsworth. Explore the trends, benefits and future of metal construction in the self-storage sector. The self-storage industry continues to be one of the most resilient and steadily growing sectors in commercial construction. Driven by lifestyle changes, population mobility and evolving business needs, self-storage has become a critical part of ...
New roles roofing hasn’t planned for: Managing people, data and machines together
By Cotney Consulting Group. These new roles won't eliminate existing jobs. They build on them. Throughout this series, we have focused on readiness, operational discipline, realistic entry points for automation, workforce integration and the systems that will either support or undermine future technology adoption. All of those elements converge on one unavoidable ...
The test of 2026
By Cotney Consulting Group. As the market tightens this year, contractors will need to confront any operational weaknesses in their companies. We’ve been hearing for the last few years about the market tightening, and 2026 is just another chapter in that story. From labor pressure and rising costs to ...
Why roofing service divisions feel busy but struggle to be predictable
By Cotney Consulting Group. When the right structure is in place, service divisions become reliable parts of businesses, supporting both customer relationships and long-term profitability. Most roofing service departments feel busy. Phones are ringing. Technicians are running calls. Trucks are moving all day. Work orders stack up, invoices go out and ...
Rising metal prices in 2026
By Heidi J. Ellsworth. As the Producer Price Index signals renewed pressure on metal contractors, learn what contractors should be doing to navigate rising metal costs. According to Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, Producer Price Indexes (PPIs) for major construction inputs climbed sharply in January 2026, ...
The human factor: Integrating humanoid robotics into a skilled roofing workforce
By Cotney Consulting Group. Humanoid robotics does not change the fundamentals of good management. It exposes whether those fundamentals exist. Up to this point in the series, the discussion has focused on readiness operations, realistic entry points and the environments where humanoid robotics is most likely to appear first. Those factors matter. ...
The 2026 IIBEC International Convention & Trade Show is fast approaching
By Heidi J. Ellsworth. Building enclosure professionals across the industry are making plans to gather in Sacramento, California, March 12–15, 2026. Hosted by the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC), the annual IIBEC International Convention & Trade Show brings together consultants, contractors, manufacturers and service providers focused on roofing, waterproofing and ...
-why-investing-in-older-metal-buildings-is-gaining-new-momentum-2.jpg "(Original) Why investing in older metal buildings is gaining new momentum")
Why investing in older metal buildings is gaining new momentum
By Jesse Sanchez. With millions of aging metal-roofed structures nationwide, strategic retrofits are reshaping value, resilience and long-term performance. For many owners who built metal facilities in the 1970s and 1980s, the priority at that time was affordability. These buildings were designed to provide what was often described as “shade ...
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