NEWTON, Mass. — For anyone looking to learn about insulated metal panels (IMPs), a visit to METALCON International is a must. For a second consecutive year, the trade show for the metal construction industry will feature an IMP Pavilion, bringing together manufacturers to promote the benefits and use of insulated metal panels.

METALCON is scheduled for Oct. 12-14 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. The IMP Pavilion is occupied by members of the IMP Alliance.

“This is where all the major (insulated metal panel) manufacturers in the U.S. are going to be,” said RC Antal, insulated panel manager at ATAS International and past marketing chair of the IMP Alliance. “This is where you can see all the players, learn about the newest technologies, newest equipment and the newest products.”

Antal says architects and contractors of all experience levels will be able to attend a dedicated IMP demo area in the exhibit hall and a workshop titled “Architecture Excellence with Insulated Metal Panels" held 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 12.

Bob Zabcik, IMP Alliance technical director, will be on hand to discuss any questions about insulated metal panels from show attendees, including contractors and architects.

“A big thing we discuss is thermal performance,” Zabcik said. “We get questions on installation methods and what kind of equipment is required to handle IMPs.”

As a representative of the IMP Alliance and the Metal Construction Association, Zabcik conducts research to make building code bodies aware of the capabilities of insulated metal panels. He says organizations touting competing products will do what they can to make their products look better than others, calling it a never-ending battle.

Manufacturers look forward to METALCON to meet with attendees and provide information about IMPs.

“It was successful last year,” said Louis Galvez, marketing coordinator for Green Span Profiles, headquartered in Waller, Texas. “We met a lot of interesting people. We’re there to educate those looking to learn about the benefits of IMPs, the contractors, engineers and architects.”

The Metal Construction Association’s Insulated Metal Panel Alliance is comprised of manufacturers and suppliers dedicated to the promotion and growing the use of IMPs.

The versatility of IMPs combined with the many benefits for contractors as well as end users continue to make IMPs an attractive option for construction. IMPs are most used in four markets:

• Cold Storage
• Industrial and Commercial
• Architectural
• Roofing

IMPs are designed as a single-pass construction material, including the exterior skin, interior skin and insulating core. Panels are available in a variety of colors, profiles and reveals, in custom lengths and widths to provide an aesthetically pleasing finished structure. IMPs can even be curved to meet more creative design requirements.

Because the panels include the three elements — exterior skins, insulation and interior skins — they will speed up construction time compared to more traditional construction methods. This allows the building owner to more quickly occupy the building. IMPs are easy to install with a concealed fastener system in the side joints, meaning a single installer can take care of building enclosure, reducing the requirement of a variety of trades onsite. IMPs are faster to install, so they are cost effective, driving down installation costs by increasing the speed of build.

Other benefits include the strength, durability and low maintenance of IMPs, as well as the energy efficiency they provide, reducing heating and cooling costs. They can be manufactured to a variety of thicknesses, helping meet or exceed energy codes and requirements.

Some manufacturers used recycled content to produce insulated metal panels, helping contribute toward LEED credits. Some IMPs are manufactured with cores that can achieve various fire-resistance ratings.

For more information, visit metalcon.com or register here.