Change seems to come slowly in the ductwork business. A large percentage of duct fabrication is done by installing contractors, so most of the emphasis is installing the project more efficiently, not major advances to the duct itself. That’s not to say we haven’t seen advances. Coil lines, plasma tables, the 4-bolt connector and the change from 4 foot to 5 foot coils were all game-changers. But where has innovation like that been taking place since the 1980’s?
Not surprisingly, a lot of the innovation has been happening among SPIDA members. Some of the ideas have been more successful than others. Some are waiting on energy policies to catch up and help create a market. Still others are seeing tailwinds from the recent material cost and supply chain crisis. So why SPIDA? First of all, don’t let the name fool you. We’re known in the industry as the Spiral Duct Manufacturers Association. Yes, we all have spiral duct machines, and we’re committed to the concept that round is the best shape to transport air. But we all make other shapes as well, including flat oval and rectangular. Over time our organization has morphed from an advocacy group for spiral duct to the most significant group of duct fabricators and their suppliers. The focus on fabrication, not installation, is the reason SPIDA members focus on the product – ductwork – and why innovation is regularly happening within the organization.