
A panel of industry leaders opened the IRE show. Bill Good, Executive Vice President of the NRCA (far left) moderated the panel, which consisted of (from left) Keith Rozolis, Senior Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Planning, ABC Supply Co.; Mike Vall, President, Firestone Building Products; Bob Tafaro, President and CEO, GAF Materials Corporation; Fred Stephan, Vice President and General Manager of Roofing Systems, Johns Manville; and Marcelino Susas, Vice President and General Manager - Americas, Uni-Solar. (Photo by Oscar Einzig Photography, courtesy of the IRE.)
Planning ahead for a challenging year was the central theme among contractors at the 2009 International Roofing Expo, which was held Feb. 3-5 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
The nearly 400 companies who showed off their wares at the IRE were in no mood to look back, choosing instead to forge ahead with the perseverance that is the hallmark of the roofing industry. Total attendance was 7,472, with verified attendees just 367 less than the 2008 show.
“We’re very pleased the International Roofing Expo was a tremendous success for both exhibitors and attendees,” said Donna Bellantone, Director of the IRE. “With solid attendance during a tough economy, the show continues to deliver a valuable service as the leading industry event for products, education and networking in the roofing industry.”

The GAF Materials Corporation team stacked up well at the IRE.
In a panel discussion that kicked off the event, Bob Tafaro, President and CEO of GAF Materials Corporation, advised contractors to “plan for a challenging year” and reminded them it was a good market to recruit people and focus on infrastructure needs.
“The outlook long term is very strong,” said Fred Stephan, Vice President and General manager of Roofing Systems for Johns Manville.

The OMG Roofing Products team showcased “The Magic of OMG” in product demonstrations at the IRE.
IRE presents the best seminars in the industry, and this year was no different. Topics ran the gamut from business management to succession planning to garden roofing to legal concerns. IRE also featured a live demonstration area, a Green Products Pavilion, and a New Products Pavilion.

The penguin at the Polyglass booth had show attendees thinking cool.
Innovative products are a key ingredient that helps make the IRE the premier show in the industry, and this year several groundbreaking products shared the spotlight.

CertainTeed was out in force at the show to educate contractors on the company’s offerings.
• GAF featured its TruSlate system that features natural slate roofing that can be installed by roofers without the classical training of regular slate roofing systems. The system is said to be much lighter and less expensive than the conventional systems as well.

The Grace Construction Products team was ready to lend a hand to contractors looking for information on underlayments.
• Tremco has developed and is marketing its WHITE modified-bitumen adhesive. This will work well with the company’s highly reflective membrane systems.
• Firestone featured its new 120 PSI IsoGard HD cover board. The unique facers and iso core has the look and feel of a winner and is expected to compete with fiberglass-faced gypsum coverboards in some applications.

Dale Kroskey of MetalForming shows off a roll-forming machine for Luke O’Dea of United Solar Ovonic.
• GenFlex featured new packaging for its line of EPDM roofing products. Realizing there is value in smaller roofing jobs the firm has put together a package that will allow roofing wholesalers to furnish even the smallest jobs without waste.

The team from Firestone Building Products had the show covered as they touted the company’s IsoGard HD cover board.
Next year’s International Roofing Expo will be held Feb. 22-24 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. For more information, visitwww.theroofingexpo.com.
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