Introduction
A single word can sum up the current state of our industry, change. The Metal Construction industry is changing. The Metal industry is a booming marketplace filled with double-digit growth, new and exciting products, all while simultaneously facing uncertainty in the global steel supply market. Startup companies are taking advantage of low-interest rates while existing companies are capitalizing on new equipment to reduce labor costs and maximize profit. Both new and existing are finding a glut of construction spending combined with changes in the tax laws are yielding some of the best margins seen in years.
Supply / Steel
The looming question on everyone’s mind is what will happen with steel prices? While no one knows for certain what the future will bring, the tariffs announced on the importing of steel to the United States have raised the price for coil.
Effectively the tariffs have reduced the available inventory thereby increasing the cost of steel. Fortunately, with a strong economy and a growing housing and construction market the increased steel costs have, in most cases, been able to be passed on to the consumer. This varies by region but every manufacturer in the US is facing similar supply side challenges.
Demand
The construction industry is growing at a pace we haven’t seen in years. With used housing inventory availability at an all time low, new houses and remodels are more prevalent than ever before. Metal roofing continues to carve out a larger market share, growing at an exponential pace. As new products, profiles, and design ideas emerge, the existing infrastructure will struggle to keep up. It is only with new capital investment that the industry will be able to meet the growing demands.
Need for capital investment
As prices continue to climb for both labor and raw goods, companies look to new ways to maximize margin and reduce costs. The cost for manufacturing labor continues to rise in the US, by over 20% in the last 10 years. One of the most labor-intensive areas of the Metal roofing industry is trim manufacturing. With each piece needing to be handled and positioned multiple times, the labor burden on trim adds up quickly. Most companies also find that trim production becomes a bottle neck to overall business growth and production.
Trim machines and hemmers can reduce the labor burden per part by over 80% and increase business capacity by eliminating bottlenecks. This can be accomplished with a hemmer, single trim rollformer, or multi trim rollformer depending on the specific needs of your business.
Companies are also making large investments in “Architectural” profiles, profiles that offer a different look from the contemporary panels. In these profiles manufacturers are finding the ability to attract additional customers while simultaneously increasing their margin. Many of these profiles can be produced with the standard inventory.
John B.
“I added the Gulf Shores panel on top of my MRS Signature line which was already producing the Tuff rib profile. After around 4 months of getting the word out to contractors, architects, and homeowners we started to see an increase in sales, not just in the Gulf Shores profile but also the Tuff rib as we were able to attract new contractor accounts because of the additional profile and versatility. We were also able to increase the price on the Gulf Shores profile by $.15 a lineal foot.”
Finances
Simply put, a more business-friendly tax code combined with record low-interest rates make for a welcoming business climate, both for new and existing business. Rates in the 5%, and leasing terms up to 5 years with minimal down payments make the barrier to entry much less. If you’re not already taking advantage of the tax benefits of the recently increased section 179 savings, you need to talk to your accountant immediately. The 179 deduction was specifically designed for manufacturing equipment.
Where are we now
Where does all this leave you as a manufacturer of metal products? Even with raw materials on the rise; margins are up, demand is up, and the future is looking bright. A business-friendly tax code, easy and affordable financing and advances in technology offer excellent ways to maximize the profits of your business.
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