Recent technological advances and risk mitigation strategies in the roofing industry

By Jonny Suchor. 

New innovative technology is helping increase efficiency in the roofing industry, and adherence to building codes can save your business.  

In a recent Roofing Road Trips® episode, Heidi J. Ellsworth talked with Eric Younkin, the vice president of products and engineered services at MTL Holdings, parent company of Metal-Era & Hickman Edge Systems. They discussed the roofing industry's recent dynamics, innovative technologies, the important role of building codes and methods for mitigating risks. 

Eric explains how MTL uses robots in 65% of its manufacturing processes, to achieve prime precision, speed, expertise and quality. “It's very consistent. That's where we get our speed. That helps us build our inventory. 65% is manufactured robotically, and of that 65%, a vast majority of that is next day shipped,” says Eric.  

For contractors who do not have enough workers in their shop, MTL can repurpose their labor to help them get onto the roof to make a profit. Eric highlights the cost-saving benefits, sharing, "Contractor feedback is 60% labor savings. So, you couple that with us taking on the manufacturing of it, we're hopefully giving them the opportunity to really reinvest their labor."  

Nonetheless, Eric highlights the significance of building codes and risk mitigation, specifically addressing problems like perimeter edge failure that can cause roof issues. Following proper building codes can be the best way to avoid these unfortunate situations. 

The conversation concludes with a short story about a facility in Pearl, Mississippi, where MTL Holdings’ edge metal products withstood a tornado and provided shelter for people. This facility uses frequent testing and code adherence to help prevent disaster, and their decision to test their roof and get a stronger product for the facility turned out to save the building from a disaster.  

Eric explains, “I think if we didn't test and we had a lighter gauge product, and it didn't meet the requirements of that building, it could have been a lot worse.”  

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the video to learn more about code and risk mitigation from the experts at MTL Holdings.