Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Armstrong expands tile sizes in Techzone
Techzone is a system that Armstrong makes that allows you to create a tight looking ceiling system without the old fashioned air intake ducts. Slim looking fixtures and lighting fit into the techzone system allowing you to expand the acoustical 'plank' up to 4 feet square using a standard grid system.
It seems like a great idea and if you want more information on it, just ask!
It seems like a great idea and if you want more information on it, just ask!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
USG listens to You!
Traditionally suspended ceiling systems have been 2x2, or 2x4. Unless we are talking about some of the older panels which may have been 16 inches square, or linear metal which was a totally different system.
Now USG is expanding the size of its planks. Yes, you can have a longer plank, a thinner plank. You can almost customize your own system. It is a great idea! Halcyon is one system where you can find extended sizes and you can find it in the metal finishes lines.
Halcyon is their fiberglass tile. It comes either with foil or without and having the foil improves the cleanliness of the face by decreasing the 'breathability' of the tile.
We are glad to see the improved range. Check them out at USG.com
Now USG is expanding the size of its planks. Yes, you can have a longer plank, a thinner plank. You can almost customize your own system. It is a great idea! Halcyon is one system where you can find extended sizes and you can find it in the metal finishes lines.
Halcyon is their fiberglass tile. It comes either with foil or without and having the foil improves the cleanliness of the face by decreasing the 'breathability' of the tile.
We are glad to see the improved range. Check them out at USG.com
USG News
If you are following USG in the financial news you already know that USG is going through some painful quarterly returns. Stock news with investors looks good though, so they are still healthy, however they are warning of a huge write-off in goodwill impairments.
If you want to know what 226 million dollars in goodwill impairment write offs are, you aren't the only one. We'll do our best to explain the basics- it looks like companies are required by law to show investors what they are doing when they purchase other companies. In a comparison to purchasing materials for doing business, companies can write off purchases over time, like they do trucks or office equipment. In a similar way they can write off over time the amount of value they perceived they'd get with the purchase of another company or business.
When companies purchase other companies it isn't usually a hostile takeover, which means the perceived value is sometimes inflated. When you purchase another company and you get their customer list, without actually converting their customers to your customers all you have is a list. These hopeful investments have to be laid out to investors. And as we are seeing, sometimes expectations sour.
If you want to know what 226 million dollars in goodwill impairment write offs are, you aren't the only one. We'll do our best to explain the basics- it looks like companies are required by law to show investors what they are doing when they purchase other companies. In a comparison to purchasing materials for doing business, companies can write off purchases over time, like they do trucks or office equipment. In a similar way they can write off over time the amount of value they perceived they'd get with the purchase of another company or business.
When companies purchase other companies it isn't usually a hostile takeover, which means the perceived value is sometimes inflated. When you purchase another company and you get their customer list, without actually converting their customers to your customers all you have is a list. These hopeful investments have to be laid out to investors. And as we are seeing, sometimes expectations sour.
Philadelphia still considering Tall Tower
Philly skyscraper project battles cloudy economy
By PATRICK WALTERS – 1 day ago
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — At City Hall, leaders of the nation's sixth-largest city are warning about painful cuts as the recession slices deeper and deeper into the budget: library cuts, pool closures, less snow removal and layoffs.
But on an empty lot six blocks away, private developers are pushing ahead with plans to build a 1,510-foot skyscraper that would be one of the tallest buildings in the world.
In the midst of the worldwide financial crisis, the developers of the American Commerce Center envision a massive construction project that would employ hundreds of idled construction workers — and, by 2012, an iconic structure that would funnel many more jobs into the city.
But like a slew of sky-high building projects in the works from Chicago to Dubai, the building faces huge challenges: Credit is hard to find and potential tenants are gun-shy.
"There is more risk than there was a year ago or two years ago," said Peter Kelsen, an attorney for the developers, Hill International Real Estate Partner, who are fine-tuning plans for final design review and hope to begin construction late this year.
Philadelphia City Council has already approved zoning changes to clear the way for the $1.1 billion project, which includes plans for a 63-floor office tower, along with a hotel, retail, parking and other amenities downtown.
But getting tenants, Kelsen said, remains the "big gorilla" for the monstrous project
By PATRICK WALTERS – 1 day ago
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — At City Hall, leaders of the nation's sixth-largest city are warning about painful cuts as the recession slices deeper and deeper into the budget: library cuts, pool closures, less snow removal and layoffs.
But on an empty lot six blocks away, private developers are pushing ahead with plans to build a 1,510-foot skyscraper that would be one of the tallest buildings in the world.
In the midst of the worldwide financial crisis, the developers of the American Commerce Center envision a massive construction project that would employ hundreds of idled construction workers — and, by 2012, an iconic structure that would funnel many more jobs into the city.
But like a slew of sky-high building projects in the works from Chicago to Dubai, the building faces huge challenges: Credit is hard to find and potential tenants are gun-shy.
"There is more risk than there was a year ago or two years ago," said Peter Kelsen, an attorney for the developers, Hill International Real Estate Partner, who are fine-tuning plans for final design review and hope to begin construction late this year.
Philadelphia City Council has already approved zoning changes to clear the way for the $1.1 billion project, which includes plans for a 63-floor office tower, along with a hotel, retail, parking and other amenities downtown.
But getting tenants, Kelsen said, remains the "big gorilla" for the monstrous project
Monday, February 9, 2009
James Hardie might be moving back to US
The financial picture is getting a little grim. Plants are closing, workers are getting laid off, jobs are evaporating across the nation. The common reason is that the US Housing market dried up because of the banking disaster.
Well, that seems like it is only part of the truth. Lets look at a company that sells predominantly in the US. The James Hardie Corporation. Hardie Board? Can you guess where they are headquartered?
The Netherlands!
Why? Presumably because of tax breaks that the Netherlands offered to them. They are possibly moving back to the US as their headquarters, but most of their stockholders are Australian. Why aren't they going to move to where their stockholders live? Well, it may be because they have some outstanding fees due to the Australian government and perhaps it is because of some fines due to litigation in the past.
The point is that the gloomy financial picture in the US isn't only about sloppy lending to US homeowners who defaulted and left the globe in economic shambles. No, the problems are much more complicated than that. Lets look to Hardie though on February 12th to share their move with the business community.
Well, that seems like it is only part of the truth. Lets look at a company that sells predominantly in the US. The James Hardie Corporation. Hardie Board? Can you guess where they are headquartered?
The Netherlands!
Why? Presumably because of tax breaks that the Netherlands offered to them. They are possibly moving back to the US as their headquarters, but most of their stockholders are Australian. Why aren't they going to move to where their stockholders live? Well, it may be because they have some outstanding fees due to the Australian government and perhaps it is because of some fines due to litigation in the past.
The point is that the gloomy financial picture in the US isn't only about sloppy lending to US homeowners who defaulted and left the globe in economic shambles. No, the problems are much more complicated than that. Lets look to Hardie though on February 12th to share their move with the business community.
Economic Slide closes paper plants
Domtar and Tembec are closing paper plants. How does this impact the ceiling and walls business? Well, a lot of products are covered in ...you guessed it! PAPER
At this point the paper manfactured at these plants looks like the traditional 8 1/2 by 11 sized white paper, but Kraft paper costs can't be keeping paper mills in business, at least we hope not!
At this point the paper manfactured at these plants looks like the traditional 8 1/2 by 11 sized white paper, but Kraft paper costs can't be keeping paper mills in business, at least we hope not!
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