by Scott on November 17, 2011
Eco Building Products, Inc., a manufacturer of wood products given “green” pest and termite treatment, has just shipped the first five houses of lumber treated using their proprietary new procedure, labelled Eco Blue Shield Protection. The shipment is intended for a rebuilding project in New Orleans, in the 9th ward district.
The proprietary Eco Blue Shield product series has undergone not only termite treatment but is also equipped to be resistant to other sorts of biological issues that contribute to wood degradation. For example, Eco Building Products, Inc. has stated that the Eco Blue Shield line is also resistant to mold, wood rot, and various wood-eating insects. The specific focus in this case would be termites, though. The southern states of the US suffer from serious termite infestations and termite numbers remain high, hence the need for termite prevention even in construction materials.
The developer of the subdivision in which the houses are to be installed ordered the Eco Blue Shield product in order to protect against both termites and the heavy dampness of the New Orleans seasons. Damp is actually a double-blow against wood in this area. First off, damp tends to encourage the encroachment of wood rot and the growth of various types of fungi on wood. Secondly, it also contributes to the prevalence of termites.
The most common termites in the New Orleans area are the dreaded Formosan termites. A wildly invasive and prolific species, this subterranean termite is known for its high rate of destruction as well as its almost exponential rate of reproduction, beating other termites for sheer colony size by posting numbers in the millions while other species regularly post only in the hundred thousands per colony. It has been estimated that a single colony can eat as much as 400 grams of wood per day, degrading a structure almost irreparably within mere months. While these have been in the United States for some time now, their presence has generally been restricted to the southern areas, due to their climate requirements: the termites cannot successfully reproduce in temperatures that go below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, above which line most of the southern states fall.
The use of wood that has been given pest and termite treatment is thus a smart step for people looking to build (or indeed, rebuild) in the area. At the same time, the use of only environmentally-friendly chemicals is ideal for keeping construction projects green. The lumber that the company has just shipped is going to be used as the main lumber for construction on the new subdivision, which is part of the housing rebuilding efforts following the Katrina disaster. The developer has already stated that at least 85 homes shall be erected on the location.
by Scott on November 17, 2011
Global Industry Analysts, Inc. (GIA), a leading market research company, has just released a comprehensive report on the status and future of the auto glass wiper market. According to the report, the recent setbacks for the industry are going to be remedied presently and the global market for windshield wipers is most likely going to reach $7.75B by 2017 due to vast global forces already recovering from the impact of the recession.
Just like the auto glass industry, the automotive wiper systems industry suffered during the recession, most especially about two to three years ago. The recession drove down automotive manufacturing all over the world, leading to significant decline in the demand for OEM automotive parts such as auto glass and wipers. The aftermarket section suffered as well: original deals and contracts were cancelled, and soon even the aftermarket sales were all but dead for many auto parts manufacturers.
Fortunately, the global market for automotive parts has been recovering from the recession, most notably due to the powerful demand for auto parts in the regions of Europe and Asia. According to the GIA report, the largest regional market for the windshield/auto wiper industry is still Europe, what with its abundance of automotive manufacturers continuously seeking innovations in all parts of auto design. It is in Europe in particular that wiper systems manufacturers known for innovation focus their marketing and strategies, and the manufacturers are already investing in significant R&D projects to further the latest designs.
The report also stated that the demand for wiper systems is due to the rising demand for new automobiles in certain developing markets, China and India being included as prominent members of that group. Indeed, Chinese auto glass producers have been reaping the benefits of the same rising demand, and auto glass manufacturing has been steadily growing for Chinese glass producers. It only stands to reason that wiper systems would also be in demand, as an attendant factor.
The GIA report noted that the wiper systems market is most likely going to be seeing considerable expansion in the future due to people actually growing more conscientious about car care, as indeed several movements have indicated of late. In the US in particular, consumers are becoming more aware of the advantages to keeping their cars properly maintained and at peak condition, as the recession is still being felt and means that most cannot afford to purchase a new car as replacement should anything happen to the old one. Aftermarket/replacement auto glass wiper systems are thus being predicted to be major products in demand in the coming years as people start including wiper replacement and care in their list of automotive maintenance must-do’s. The report also mentioned that the rising demand for rear wiper blade systems would be likely to improve the market’s sales in the future.
