February’s International Builders Show (IBS) in Orlando, Florida was massive in both size and content. I consider myself lucky to have gotten a press pass to the IBS. I say lucky not because the pass was obtained, any good trade show will offer that to increase exposure for the show and its exhibitors, but lucky because the location was Orlando, just 2-1/2 hours away from my winter home base.
At 9 am on Tuesday, the show opened and I was there with my plan in hand. At previous trade shows, I have declined to download the app because its permissions have included “access to contacts” (a contact list I’ve built over many years which I won’t give away to an app). But after checking permissions in the IBS app, it was all clear, so I downloaded it and was glad to have the help navigating the trade show, which really was huge. From the Kitchen and Bath side (KBBS) to the IBS side, the entire show spread across two convention center buildings a half mile apart.
My first stop was the press lounge, a nice meeting room set aside for press to relax, plan, and meet, which even had refreshments and light meals sponsored by different exhibitors. This was where Craig Webb (Former ProSales Editor in Chief and current Webb Analytics President) and I had a chance to catch up and discuss industry happenings. It’s a good time to be in the construction industry and especially in The Advertiser’s segment, the Truss, Wall Panel, Engineered Wood Products, and Off-Site Construction industry. As outlined in Craig’s article on page 114, 2021 witnessed numerous new location openings and top-level promotions. It seems the industry has weathered the Great Recession and hit a high mark once again.
The plan was to spend all day Tuesday in Building W, then the next day in the South Building and parking areas for outdoor exhibits. After a quick walk through the KBBS section that took a couple of hours, I settled into a methodical trek through the IBS using the show app. My goal was to walk by every booth, stopping at ones that had interest to building components manufacturers and off-site construction builders. With that in mind, I spent time at exhibits for fasteners, adhesives, software, and hardware. It only represented a minority of exhibitors, but there were many including new products that gave me several a-ha moments.
I was very impressed with how many of the software suppliers to the components industry also have major products directed at supporting builders. Even building materials supplier and component manufacturer Builders FirstSource was introducing its new software (Paradigm) that helps bridge the information gap between a builder’s plans and BFS’ MRP, estimating, and costing program for everything from siding, doors, windows, and millwork to structural building components. MiTek’s booth had multiple 10’ high light walls that showed how their builder’s software managed design, takeoff, estimating, and costing. Alpine has similar software and Simpson had software supporting how to specify their hardware. Overall, software exhibits were many and all were swamped as technology has become a key factor in where the industry is headed.
While navigating my way through day two, I met Glenn Traylor. We discussed how the industry is keeping up with compliance, and the quality of materials and workmanship. His role is to call balls and strikes based on code and standards, not to whitewash the interests of anyone willing to hire him as a third-party inspector or expert witness. As such, he’s been seeing below-standard work that doesn’t represent our industry well, but he’s hopeful that continued education will help resolve these chronic problems. While we were talking, my old friend, Greg Griggs, VP-Manufacturing at Builders FirstSource, stopped to say hi. He was glad to see The Advertiser on the job and was very complementary of Glenn’s knowledge too.
One of the biggest parts of the show was the vast number of events that covered everything from new building systems, best practices, business management, and economics to new design trends for single family and multifamily, green building, and technology. There was no shortage of information on display, and the only problem was figuring out what events you could fit into your three days. Plus, in the parking lot were the two off-site constructed homes, one very trendy tiny home and the other a model for any production builder built by Genesis Homes, a Champion Home Builders brand. Looking at these two offerings, it was clear that Off-Site Construction has come of age in a time when access to materials, labor, quality, and cost control, as well as keeping a reasonable timeline for occupancy, are key to maintaining profits.
I toured the single-family home by Genesis and saw a modern design with few indications that it was built off-site, mostly clues only known by industry insiders. The interior finish was flawless, appliances were modern and of good quality, and the overall floorplan was perfect for a small family’s first home or seniors looking to downsize. I plan to write more on that over the next few months, but take it from a past modular industry manufacturing expert and off-site modular contractor, this home has potential to bring Off-Site Construction to a subdivision near you.
While the Building Component Manufacturers Conference caters to component manufacturers and the World of Modular is centered on off-site, IBS with its focus towards builders and remodelers covers everything imaginable. There were many resources for building materials distributors and LBM Pro Dealers as well as Architects, Engineers, and Specifiers, but the crowd prowling the trade show floor was by far builders and trade contractors. It was a nice walk in a candy store for builders with many people sharing knowledge on many topics. It could have gone on for weeks, but the three days the show was open gave most of us enough time to fuel our enthusiasm and imagination for another year!