FIELD NOTES: IBS 2024
Setting up shop, pitching your latest products, and wishing for the best was far from enough to get the job done at the 2024 version of the International Builders' Show (IBS).
Exhibitors had to prepare an over-arching product theme, covering multiple angles in regard to residential construction needs. Having solid sustainability and builder efficiency stories in your portfolio to share was also a near must at IBS. The world is changing, and so are construction end-users.
And standing out at IBS 2024 wasn't an easy trick either.
The event featured 1,800 exhibitors, up 30% from the prior year. And it was the largest IBS in the last 15 years. As part of Design & Construction Week (DCW), featuring the co-location of IBS and the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), the mega-event was attended by more than 117,000 builders, general contractors, remodelers, designers, flooring professionals, sales professionals, architects, dealers, distributors, and industry professionals.
Here are some of the exhibitors that made a statement at IBS 2024:
The Oldcastle APG booth boasted a number of its brands in a combined setting including MoistureShield decking, Belgard pavers, Sakrete bagged concrete, Barrette Outdoor Living products, and Elements outdoor kitchen products, among others. The booth itself appeared as if an attendee has stepped into an actual, elaborate, outdoor living dream setting.
At the show, MoistureShield launched InstaDeck, an outdoor flooring system comprised of heavy-duty plastic tiles that easily snap together to create a foundation for a freestanding, ground-level deck. Two new railing offerings were also introduced into MoistureShield’s product portfolio for 2024. Fathom Steel Railing, available with vertical square balusters or horizontal rods in two colors.
MoistureShield also added a Satin Black color option to its premium Navigator line of Solid Core composite railing to align with recent black exterior design trends being seen in new home construction and home remodeling.
“The expansion of our railing systems has enabled us to offer contractors and homeowners a complete pairing of products that makes the decision process easier, purchasing more streamlined and support more consistent,” said Matthew Bruce, vice president of sales at MoistureShield.
The manufacturer also pushed its new line of Stratos composite-enhanced PVC decking.
Featuring the best of both wood composites and PVC decking, Stratos includes a proprietary acrylic cap that defends against damage from stains, scratches, and impact while also resisting fading.
“Stratos enables installers to set themselves apart by offering a new level of design, installation detail, and speed on their jobs,” Bruce said.
UFP Industries arrived at IBS with its largest show presence to date.
The company brought three of its brands—Deckorators, UFP Edge, and UFP Site Built—each with a booth of its own. The Deckorators booth showcased a new Privacy Screen System, a hot trend among decking manufacturers, and its Aluminum Rapid Rail kit with two new colors: Textured White and Weathered Brown.
At its UFP Site Built booth, the manufacturer highlighted its technology innovations, which are designed to lower costs and improve efficiency in residential and commercial construction. Attendees had the chance to tour a recently completed floor cassette project via an Oculus virtual reality experience and learn more about the proprietary TrussTrax mobile app including site-built technology for accessing job information.
Siding and trim products from UFP-Edge were stationed at a 30' by 30' booth in the show's Central Hall. The presentation focused on UFP Edge's Thermally Modified Wood Collection siding, Primed trim and fascia, Native Wood pre-finished boards, and Timeless Nickel Gap shiplap.
UFP-Edge also launched its new line of EvoTrim: a trim product engineered for performance and durability. According to UFP-Edge Brand Marketing Manager Amanda Hall, EvoTrim undergoes a TRU-CORE treatment process that infuses five EPA-registered preservatives deep into the board's core. This ensures protection against rot, insects, mold, and termites, and is backed by a 40-year warranty.
Builders FirstSource, the nation’s largest prodealer and building solutions provider placed the focus on technology.
The Dallas, Texas-based company, drew a steady crowd with live digital presentations. Powered by Paradigm technology, the suite of tools offered by Builders FirstSource helps accelerate the sales process, engages homebuyers, and streamlines the overall construction and home building process. According to Builders FirstSource, the tech provides homebuilders with greater transparency and control over their projects.
"Our digital tools allow us to differentiate ourselves in a large market of suppliers," Mitch Horwart of Builders FirstSource told HBSDealer.
The myBLDR.com builder platform was also on display. The platform provides access to project document storage, 3D home previews, online material estimates and ordering, delivery status, and job scheduling. Builders FirstSource has stamped the "From Now to Next" slogan on its digital solutions suite.
GMX Group, which actually formed just prior to IBS 2024, introduced itself while bringing together its various brands at the event.
The Miami, Florida-based company is both a wholesale distributor of premium hardwoods and a retailer under the Lumber Plus banner.
The distribution portion of the business is focused on importing hardwoods from Europe, New Zealand, and South America and then selling them in the North American market, according to Guto Fugiwara, managing partner at GMX Group. Distributing fasteners and hand tools is also part of the wholesale division’s package.
Hardwood imported by GMX has FSC certification and a strict chain of custody that's been tracked by the company.
Lumber Plus stores feature a wide array of premium decking, cladding, walls, and ceilings. Lumber Plus stores feature an interactive approach that empowers customers to engage directly with materials. This allows for a deeper understanding in making well-informed choices during their selection process, according to Lumber Plus.
Regarding the formation of the GMX Group, Fugiwara told HBSDealer that the move provides “greater efficiency” for its brands.
LP Building Solutions brought interactive demos to IBS.
Attendees had the opportunity to hurl baseballs at LP SmartSide siding, complete with a speed gun, or smash siding with the use of a sledgehammer. The message was durability translating into sustainability.
Products that can stand up to elements or kids in the neighborhood provide a longer lifespan. Simultaneously, LP provided stats about its efforts toward being a better global citizen.
LP is creating building products that offer carbon-negative solutions: the products store more carbon than is released into the atmosphere during their lifecycle from the manufacturing process to the end of the product's lifespan.
The Nashville, Tennessee-based company notes that through its sustainable manufacturing process, 100% of its products are derived from naturally renewable wood sources while 99% of the wood fiber harvested by LP is used in products or as a renewable energy source.
LP Senior Corporate Brand Manager Cameron Bailey borrowed the company's theme for the show and said, "Our products are being created and used to build a better world."
