Sheet Metal Fabrication

Tariff Relief for HVAC? Contractors Still Waiting for the Rulebook

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:46:58 -0400

A new Trump administration policy lowers tariffs on some HVAC equipment, but leaves contractors confused as complicated new rules and eligibility requirements take effect.

Construction Jobs Grow in May, Driven by Data Center Boom but Facing Potential Headwinds

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:16:05 -0400

U.S. construction employment rose by 17,000 jobs in May, driven by demand for nonresidential projects such as data centers, though economists say future gains could be hampered by policy risks and economic headwinds.

Rethinking Prefab: Why 90% Efficiency Isn’t Good Enough

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:25:27 -0400

Forget what you’ve heard about prefab being the silver bullet: Tom Santos argues the real gains in construction efficiency come from rethinking the messy, human processes upstream.

Inside the Hill Group’s Sheet Metal Playbook: Data, Tech, and Advice

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:23:44 -0400

At SMACNA Fab Forum, The Hill Group shared how data, technology, and hard-earned lessons are reshaping estimating, fabrication, and field operations.

Trump’s Section 232 Tariff Shake-Up Raises Costs, Uncertainty

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:02:21 -0400

President Trump’s recalibration of Section 232 tariffs is driving up costs and deepening uncertainty for U.S. contractors, with industry voices warning that relief is still out of reach.

How Data Center Growth is Impacting Material, Labor Competition

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:16:05 -0400

FMI's Jay Bowman weighs in on how surging data center demand is reshaping labor, materials, and strategy across the commercial construction market, with a focus on impacts for the sheet metal and HVAC trades.

Hammer-Free Drive Cleat Installation in Light Commercial Ductwork

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:26:01 -0400

A patented system enables safer, more precise drive cleat installation in ductwork without the need for hammering, reducing fatigue and improving alignment in light commercial HVAC projects.

How Digital Tools Are Transforming HVAC, Sheet Metal Contracting

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:27:58 -0500

Sheet metal contractors are rewriting the rules, as companies like Hermanson and shops around the world use real-time digital workflows, and automation to make fabrication faster and more collaborative.

State of the SMACNA Chapters: Navigating Change with Tradition and Innovation

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:42:06 -0500

SNIPS NEWS speaks with five chapter executives from across the country for a Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) chapter checkup.

Supreme Court Tariff Ruling Brings Some Clarity, But Metal Tariffs Still Haunt Contractors

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:20:11 -0500

With core metal tariffs untouched and refund rules unresolved, contractors face ongoing price volatility and risk – making federal project bidding as unpredictable as ever.

A Message from the President of SPIDA: 2026

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:58:54 -0500

A message from incoming SPIDA President Kyle Brumleu on the value of connection, collaboration, and continued growth in the sheet metal spiral duct industry.

How Advances in Prefabrication Are Changing Mechanical Project Delivery

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:02:52 -0500

Prefabrication is now at the center of project planning – helping contractors overcome labor shortages, boost quality, and speed up schedules.

Hamlin Sheet Metal Solves Heavy-Duty Duct Insulation with Spiracoustic Plus

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:08:42 -0500

Insulating a 62-inch duct is no small ask. Between engineering concerns with weight in an older building and the logistics of something so large, the folks at Hamlin Sheet Metal in Benson, North Carolina, needed an alternative to a double-walled system.

Copper Rockets to New Highs, Again

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 07:00:40 -0500

A perfect storm of South American mine disruptions, domestic hoarding, explosive demand from electrification and data centers, and new U.S. tariffs have driven copper inventories to historic lows, igniting an end-of-year price surge.

Stratus CEO Charts a New Era for Sheet Metal Fabrication

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:14:15 -0500

With fresh investment and a renewed focus on HVAC sheet metal, Jake Olsen shares how Stratus is helping contractors run modern, data-driven fab shops – while staying true to the roots of the trade.

Data Centers vs. the Grid: Power, Private Investment, and Where Sheet Metal Fits

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 11:26:21 -0500

A look at how soaring private-sector investment in data centers is both fueling opportunity and compounding risk, as contractors battle international trade shocks, rising energy prices, and supply chain chaos.

Beyond Ductwork: Why Mechanical Thinking Is Holding Back Smart Buildings

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 09:05:50 -0500

A candid look at why most “smart” buildings fall short, and what it really takes to get building automation (and integration) right from the start.

Tax Credits: Sheet Metal’s Double-Edged Sword

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 23:27:40 -0500

This story unpacks how pivotal tax credits – and their political uncertainty – are upending project planning, investment, and contracting for sheet metal and HVAC professionals, with commentary from SMACNA leaders on what needs to change.

Inside M&D Mechanical’s Marathon Retrofit at Marshall Space Flight Center

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:19:02 -0400

This year, M&D Mechanical’s work at Marshall Space Flight Center earned national recognition at Associated Builders and Contractors’ Excellence in Construction Awards in Las Vegas – a nod to both the technical challenges and the teamwork required to keep a 24/7 NASA lab running.

Stratus Integration Comes to Mestek Spiral Duct Machines

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:20:53 -0400

Mestek Machinery’s latest spiral duct machines now feature direct Stratus integration, automating cut lists, tracking, and production for sheet metal fabricators nationwide.

How TDIndustries Is Cutting Clutter with Ancillaries

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:59:49 -0400

TDIndustries’ adoption of digital ancillaries for joint tracking is redefining fabrication workflows, clearing out digital clutter and giving detailers the freedom to focus on what matters most: building smarter, faster, and with fewer headaches.

American Metals Supply and Mestek Machinery’s New Distribution Strategy

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:05:49 -0400

American Metals Supply and Mestek Machinery have teamed up to launch the Midwest’s first large-scale, in-stock HVAC fabrication machinery distribution program to meet surging demand.

What Sheet Metal Contractors Need to Know About Seismic Bracing

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 11:07:37 -0400

Seismic bracing for ductwork has become an essential, industry-wide priority, driven by evolving codes, higher client expectations, and the costly lessons of past earthquakes.

Study Finds Major Gains for Women and Black Workers Thanks to Pre-Apprenticeships

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 17:01:31 -0400

Pre-apprenticeship programs spark record growth among women and black workers in Illinois construction, outpacing national trends and reshaping the industry’s workforce.

Kingspan’s New Plant Fires Up, Producing Insulated Metal Panels to Meet High Demand

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 14:17:47 -0400

Kingspan is offering expanded domestic production capacity from Mattoon, Illinois, for data centers, healthcare, education, and more.

Change Order Payment Reform Bill Returns to Congress, Drawing Strong Industry Support

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 12:16:32 -0400

Federal contractors would benefit from a recently introduced bill that promises to ensure they will get paid on time for change orders on federal construction projects.

The Sports Complex Boom and the Unsung Tech That Makes it Work

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 14:29:06 -0400

As small towns and exurbs invest millions in new sports facilities, the real MVPs might be behind the scenes – where advances in HVAC insulation technology help keep crowds comfortable and city budgets in the black.

UF Engineers Pioneer Laser-Formed Sheet Metal for Space Construction

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:25:00 -0400

University of Florida researchers advance orbital manufacturing by testing precision metal fabrication techniques for spacecraft assembly.

Industrial Sheet Metal Fabricators Build Success with Innovation on the Shop Floor

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 13:12:41 -0400

Industrial sheet metal fabrication solutions are evolving rapidly, driven by innovative technologies and dedicated teams. At the forefront are companies like Badger Sheet Metal Works and Vidimos, Inc., who are setting new standards for industrial ductwork, custom ventilation systems, and high-quality metal fabrication.

Gripple Introduces TecLoc Conduit Claw for Seismic Stiffening in MEP Applications

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 14:20:41 -0400

Designed to streamline inventory and support code compliance, this IAPMO-approved stiffening clip enhances safety for critical infrastructure projects.