The 2020 sheet metal industry forecast you need to read

If you subscribe to the notion that hindsight is “always 20/20,” then you’ll need this year’s SNIPS State of the Industry report to get you through year 2020.

Created, researched and refined — in collaboration with Clear Seas Research — we’ve conducted a full analysis of 2019’s sheet metal market characteristics and HVAC product use among industry professionals. In short: everything you need to know today to build a better tomorrow.

Categories studied include sheet metal fabrication equipment, spiral duct products, duct cleaning, connectors, fasteners, and other duct hardware, adhesives, sealants and coatings. Now, without further ado, here is a sampling of what we know:

Current HVAC related sheet metal applications are reported to be

on average with a similar project mix expected for the next five years.

Sheet metal and HVAC business forecast

Business is expected to remain stable or increase across most products, with the largest increased involvement projected to be indoor air quality, building information management and zoning.

Top five challenges in the next 12 months include:

Top five challenges in hvac and sheet metal industry graph

Top product materials (by % share of total projects) used by contractors: (n=127-142)

39% Duct fabrication/installation
34% Sheet metal fabrication
28% Duct sealing/coating

Top product materials (by % share of total projects) used by engineers: (n=66-86)

60% Duct fabrication/installation
54% Sheet metal fabricating
54% Zoning
54% Duct sealing/coating

Most common product offerings among wholesalers: (n=41)

66% Zoning
54% Duct coating/sealing
46% Indoor air quality measurements
44% Spiral ducts

Current purchase channels in HVAC and sheet metal industry

Obtain our complete State of the Industry 2019 report. 2019 Sheet Metal & HVAC CLEAReport. Copyright © 2019 by Clear Seas Research/BNP Media. All rights reserved. Results of this study cannot be used in whole, or in part, for promotional literature or otherwise without expressed written permission.

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Emell Derra Adolphus has more than a decade of writing and journalism experience. He is senior editor of ENR’s Top Lists and Survey Rankings at ENR magazine and frequently contributes stories on technology, climate resiliency, diversity, equity and inclusion.