Fenestration materials impacted by Canadian counter-tariffs
Fenestration Canada has issued an update on the 338 U.S. tariffs and Canada’s response. The government of Canada announced it will impose a new round of counter-tariffs on U.S. goods effective Sept. 8, in response to the U.S. Section 338 tariffs. Unfortunately, several tariff items directly relevant to the Canadian fenestration industry are included in the government’s list.
Of particular concern are:
- 7610.10.00 – Aluminum doors, windows and their frames and thresholds for doors: 50%;
- 7308.30.00 – Iron or steel doors, windows and their frames and thresholds for doors: 50%;
- 7318 – Iron and steel fasteners: 50%, including screws, bolts, nuts, washers, rivets and other commonly used fastening products;
- 8302.42.00 & 8302.49.00 – Base mounting and fittings for doors and windows 25%.
MGM Architectural Aluminum and Glass to be a licensed fabricator of Alumicor
MGM Architectural Aluminum and Glass has announced its collaboration with Alumicor as a licensed fabricator of Alumicor systems across Canada. This relationship enables MGM to fabricate and supply Alumicor systems in accordance with Alumicor’s designs, specifications, and quality standards, supporting architects, developers, and general contractors on a wide range of projects.
“Alumicor is pleased to expand its relationship with MGM by having them as a licensed fabricator of Alumicor products,” said Slavko Sehovac, Alumicors’s general manager. “The agreement supports increased fabrication capacity and provides customers with additional access to Alumicor’s architectural aluminum systems while maintaining the company’s established engineering, design, and quality standards.”
Richelieu expands Drummondville distribution centre
Richelieu Hardware has announced an investment of more than $15 million to expand its Drummondville distribution centre. The project will increase the facility’s footprint from nearly 40,000 to 180,000 square feet. This expansion responds to Richelieu’s growing business and will increase its distribution capacity, enabling the company to continue serving customers across Montreal’s south shore, the Quebec City region and its South Shore, Centre-du-Quebec and Eastern Townships.
“Richelieu has been growing for several decades, and this investment in Drummondville gives us the means to keep building on that momentum. By expanding our distribution centre from 40,000 to 180,000 square feet, we are significantly strengthening our ability to serve our customers while continuing to invest in Quebec,” said Richard Lord, president and CEO of Richelieu.
Ontario spending $1 billion on school expansions and upgrades
The Ontario government says it will open 18,300 new student spaces and 1,130 licensed child care spaces this fall in communities across the province. The investment will total over $1 billion across 35 new and expanded schools as part of its plan to invest $30 billion over its 10-year plan to build, expand and renew schools.
“As students head back to school, our focus is on giving every student the opportunity to succeed,” said Paul Calandra, minister of education. “That means giving teachers the tools and resources they need, investing in modern schools, and making sure every dollar we invest in education is driving stronger student achievement.”
Tour one of Calgary’s bedrock glass fabricators at Top Glass West
On Oct. 20, the western Canada architectural glass community is invited to tour Insul-Lite Manufacturing as part of Top Glass West, which takes place the next day, Oct. 21, at the Best Western Premier Plaza Hotel. Insul-Lite has anchored Calgary’s glass industry since 1988, and attendees will get a chance to see advanced, automated insulating glass production in action and meet Troy Layton and the rest of the Insul-Lite team. The company has recently made major investments in a new facility and the latest equipment, including:
- CNC glass cutting;
- Spacer application robotics;
- Slitting lasers;
- Argon press;
- Automated material handlers and film applicators;
- A really nice glass washer.
Panel explains new Canadian SHG codes at FGIA Fall Conference
New solar heat gain restrictions in the National Building Code are transforming Canadian building design, a challenge a panel of industry experts broke down last week at the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance Fall Conference. Moderated by Amy Roberts, FGIA’s director of Canadian codes and advocacy, the session featured leaders including Jeff Baker (WESTLab Canada), Lisa Bergeron (JELD-WEN) and Paul Bush (Vitro Architectural Glass), who mapped out the critical new compliance path options manufacturers and builders must adopt to meet these strict energy mandates.
VIG structural strength research presented at FGIA Fall Conference
At the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance Fall Conference in Calgary, Stephen Morse, Michigan Technological University associate professor, delivered a critical update on the load resistance and durability of vacuum insulated glass units. Conducted in partnership with FGIA and the National Glass Association, the study bridges a critical gap in architectural data by evaluating commercial-sized VIG units rather than idealized laboratory samples.
“We want to be able to inform engineers, architects and specifiers how to design these units to go in structures,” said Morse. For the process, he and his team created a frame in which they glazed specimens. Then, they applied a uniform pressure on the units until they failed. The pressure was measured along with the deflection.
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