Roofing Industry Q&A 2026: Amrize Building Envelope

Amrize
Kim Eckerman, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Amrize Building Envelope

Editor’s Note: Gauging the pulse of the roofing industry is an annual challenge RC continues to undertake as roofing contractors adapt to a rapidly changing marketplace. In addition to the survey results from last fall that built RC’s 2026 State of the Roofing Industry Report, RC also sought out the opinions of leaders from all segments of the industry.

As part of RC’s continuing coverage, here’s what Kim Eckerman, vice president of marketing & communications with Amrize Building Envelope shared with us. Amrize Building Envelope noted they elected to respond only to questions that focus on brand expertise, contractor support, training, and product innovation. Because Amrize is now an independent, publicly traded company, we avoided any topics that could be interpreted as financial commentary, forward-looking statements, or economic projections. We also excluded questions tied to tariffs, pricing, immigration enforcement, or market forecasting.

How does the new leadership and structure at Amrize position the company for success?

KE: Amrize is the largest building solutions company focused exclusively on the North American market. With over 1,000 sites and a highly efficient distribution network, Amrize delivers for customers in every U.S. State and Canadian province. The structure of Amrize Building Envelope allows each brand to operate closer to the customer. Our iconic market brands - Elevate, GenFlex, Malarkey, OX, Duro-Last, Gaco, and Enverge continue to focus on craftsmanship, service and reliability that contractors know and trust.

Were there any capital projects to highlight in 2025?

KE: Our roofing brands continued to enhance manufacturing and training capabilities across the U.S. Our investments in 2025 focused on strengthening operational reliability, improving product availability and supporting contractor training. We remain committed to meeting customers where they are by reinforcing the local operations that keep projects moving.

Are there plans to open new facilities or announce new investments in 2026?

KE: We continue to invest in the strength and scalability of our manufacturing footprint across North America. Malarkey is currently building a new $200-million plant in Franklin, Indiana, which is on track to open in 2026 and support continued growth in our residential shingle business. On the commercial side, Duro-Last recently expanded its operational capacity with two new facilities, a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Kernersville, North Carolina, and a move from its former Carrollton, Texas site to an upgraded Dallas facility, which expands operational capacity and strengthens Duro-Last support for contractors across the southern U.S. market.

Training remains critical. Field teams within our commercial roofing brands provide hands-on instruction that strengthens installer confidence. We are also active in industry associations like NRCA and National Women in Roofing and workforce programs like SkillsUSA to help more students and early career professionals explore the trade.

What product categories or new tech capabilities are you most excited about in roofing moving forward?

KE: Contractors continue to look for systems that reduce labor and improve installation consistency. Self-adhered EPDM and TPO membranes from Elevate simplify installation and provide dependable adhesion with smaller crews. Prefabricated solutions from Duro-Last help reduce scrap and support quality control. Malarkey’s polymer-modified shingles are known for their durability, with enhanced tear strength and strong granule adhesion.

How are you helping contractors train, attract, and retain talent through programs or partnerships?

KE: Training remains critical. Field teams within our commercial roofing brands provide hands-on instruction that strengthens installer confidence. We are also active in industry associations like NRCA and National Women in Roofing and workforce programs like SkillsUSA to help more students and early career professionals explore the trade. All of our brands continue to offer education and product demonstrations that build long-term contractor know-how.

What are the biggest concerns moving forward?

KE: Labor availability remains one of the most significant pressures for contractors. Crews are expected to install more advanced systems while meeting tighter timelines, which increases the need for dependable products and clear technical support that help keep projects moving. Weather volatility also drives interest in stronger assemblies that can perform reliably across diverse conditions. This is why installation-efficient solutions such as Elevate self-adhered EPDM and TPO membranes, Duro-Last prefabricated assemblies and Malarkey polymer-modified shingles are preferred in the field because they help crews work faster with consistent quality.

What’s keeping you up?

KE: What keeps me up is the relentless pursuit of delivering on our customer needs in an ever-evolving industry. As a champion for the customer and their experience, it’s about ensuring everything we do builds trust, drives loyalty and creates real value. Contractors rely on dependable products and straightforward support, and ensuring our brands deliver on those expectations every day is at the core of my work.

What are you proudest of about your organization as 2026 begins?

KE: I am proud of the consistency our teams deliver. Across Elevate, GenFlex, Malarkey, OX, Duro-Last, Gaco, and Enverge, the focus remains on dependable service and practical innovation grounded in real jobsite experience. Every day, our people work to deliver systems that contractors can count on.

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Art Aisner is Editor-in-Chief of Roofing Contractor and Roofing Supply Pro. He spent the bulk of his career as a multi-media journalist for newspapers and television stations before joining the RC team in 2015. He is the driving force behind the publication’s content development, editorial strategy and other initiatives that serve growing audiences in the roofing space.