A Word of Introduction from Ed Lim: Charlie Vaccaro liked to use last month’s cautionary tale, “A Fable for Our Time,” as a lead-in to a speech he gave many times when invited as a guest team building and motivational speaker at component manufacturer and lumber yard sales...

As of January 2026, the component manufacturing sector has transitioned from a period of defensive preservation to one of disciplined modernization. With interest rates stabilizing after the Federal Reserve’s late-2025 cuts, equipment financing has evolved into a strategic lever for...

It was another strong year for markets in 2025, as continued investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence, more Fed rate cuts, and stable economic growth offset higher tariff rates and overall economic volatility. The S&P 500 rose to an all-time high in the fourth quarter as new...

Chapter I: The Idea One day a certain builder had an idea for a spec house that would be a sure winner. So, he got together with the best architect in the area and began to describe what he wanted. “Mr. Architect,” he said, “I want the house to have a studio...

In 2025, the building component manufacturing industry navigated a landscape defined by paradox: record-breaking investment in high-tech infrastructure alongside sharp contractions in traditional residential segments. As the industry pivots toward 2026, the focus is shifting from...

For Structural Building Component (SBC) manufacturers, 2025 presents a paradox. Demand for housing and commercial structures remains resilient, yet the cost of doing business is climbing. The resurgence of aggressive tariff policies—specifically on steel, aluminum, and Canadian softwood...

The U.S. economy entered the Fourth Quarter of the year with fading momentum and increasing caution signs from some indicators, including a weakening labor market, challenging financial realities, and lingering inflation. Analysts are forecasting GDP growth of only 1.9% for the last three months...

To stay abreast of current trends and future forecasts, I follow many reports and analyses. Most recently, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s September 2025 Monthly Confidence Index (MCI-EFI) indicates a continued, albeit slightly tempered, positive outlook for the equipment...

Jerome Powell’s late August speech at the Jackson Hole Symposium signals a potential shift in monetary policy that could significantly affect equipment financing for the building component industry. Powell’s remarks, which opened the door to a possible interest rate cut at the...

The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, marks a transformative moment for U.S. tax policy, particularly for capital-intensive sectors like building component manufacturing. This comprehensive legislation significantly expands Section 179...