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March 2022 #14272 Page #84
From the Road... My Take-Aways from the Massive 2022 IBS
F
ebruary’s International Builders Show (IBS) in Orlando, Florida was massive in both size and content. I consider myself lucky to have gotten a press pass to the IBS. I say lucky not because the pass was obtained, any good trade show will offer that to increase exposure for the show and its exhibitors, but lucky because the location was Orlando, just 2-1/2 hours away from my winter home base.
By Thomas McAnally
At 9 am on Tuesday, the show opened and I was there with my plan in hand. At previous trade shows, I have declined to download the app because its permissions have included “access to contacts” (a contact list I’ve built over many years which I won’t give away to an app). But after checking permissions in the IBS app, it was all clear, so I downloaded it and was glad to have the help navigating the trade show, which really was huge. From the Kitchen and Bath side (KBBS) to the IBS side, the entire show spread across two convention center buildings a half mile apart. My first stop was the press lounge, a nice meeting room set aside for press to relax, plan, and meet, which even had refreshments and light meals sponsored by different exhibitors. This was where Craig Webb (Former ProSales Editor in Chief and current Webb Analytics President) and I had a chance to catch up and discuss industry happenings. It’s a good time to be in the construction industry and especially in The Advertiser’s segment, the Truss, Wall Panel, Engineered Wood Products, and Off-Site Construction industry. As outlined in Craig’s article on page 114, 2021 witnessed numerous new location openings and top-level promotions. It seems the industry has weathered the Great Recession and hit a high mark once again. The plan was to spend all day Tuesday in Building W, then the next day in the South Building and parking areas for outdoor exhibits. After a quick walk through the KBBS section that took a couple of hours, I settled into a methodical trek through the IBS using the show app. My goal was to walk by every booth, stopping at ones that had interest to building components manufacturers and off-site construction builders. With that in mind, I spent time at exhibits for fasteners, adhesives, software, and hardware. It only represented a minority of exhibitors, but there were many including new products that gave me several a-ha moments. I was very impressed with how many of the software suppliers to the components industry also have major products directed at supporting builders. Even building materials supplier and component manufacturer Builders FirstSource was introducing its new software (Paradigm) that helps bridge the information gap between a builder’s plans and BFS’ MRP, estimating, and costing program for everything from siding, doors, windows, and millwork to structural building components. MiTek’s booth had multiple 10’ high light walls that showed how their builder’s software managed design,
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