Like housing starts and factory orders, capital investment in roof machinery is a barometer for future activity and the outlook for metal roofing and construction is shiny.
The image of a grungy sheet metal shop employing artisan skill and brute strength is gradually evolving into an automated plant that churns out precision components with high efficiency. The enduring boom in metal construction shows no signs of slowing down, particularly when polling the makers of metal equipment and panels. Like housing starts and factory orders, capital investment in roof machinery is a barometer for future activity and the outlook for metal roofing and construction is shiny.
Over the years, the collective marketing efforts of metal roofing system producers, associations, equipment providers and contractors have paid off handsomely as metal roofing captures a larger portion of the roofing market. From high-end residential projects to mansards on shopping centers to restoration work, one can almost feel left out if there isn’t a sheet metal crew working full time fabricating and installing. Those contractors that do have the capacity are finding the transition into other fields of metal fabricating much easier with equipment producers offering computerized controls and versatile machines.