Welcome to METALCON 2026
METALCON takes place Oct. 7–9, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, with pre-show workshops beginning Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary, METALCON brings the entire metal construction ecosystem together in one place—from contractors, installers and fabricators to manufacturers, architects, engineers, specifiers, designers, suppliers, owners and developers. It is the industry’s annual business and education summit, bringing the metal construction community together to understand the forces shaping the market and see what is next.
The 2026 program combines hands-on training, market intelligence, technical education, design programming, workforce development, immersive exhibit-floor experiences and networking across more than 40 categories of metal construction, addressing issues ranging from evolving building codes and workforce challenges to changing technology and increasing performance demands.
Media Access:
Media Access: Wednesday & Thursday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Hours: Wednesday & Thursday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Your press badge provides access to the show floor, including exhibits of the latest products and technologies together with extensive education and training sessions including all specialty pavilions. Visit metalcon.com/education for a complete list of sessions. Main show highlights are listed throughout this press kit.
During the show:
To arrange a media interview or photo opportunity, visit Fiona Maguire-O’Shea, our press liaison, at The Deck, METALCON’s show management booth just inside the exhibit hall entrance on the main aisle.
Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn or Tweet us at #METALCON26 or #METALCON. Download the METALCON App at metalcon.com/app; it has up-to-the-minute show details, daily specials and a way to easily navigate the exhibit hall.
After the show:
Contact Fiona for post-show news, photos and information at fiona@metalcon.com.
Join Us Next Year in Louisville!
METALCON 2027 takes place from Oct. 26-28 at the
Kentucky International Convention Center.
Background:
Since 1991, METALCON has held its position as the only annual event dedicated exclusively to the application of metal in design and construction.
Industry experts from more than 250 leading companies exhibit the latest products, solutions and game-changing technologies while sharing their knowledge with attendees, and industry specialists present key topics in the show’s highly rated education program.
METALCON brings together decision-makers from across the entire metal construction ecosystem to discover solutions, exchange technical knowledge, form partnerships and make business decisions.
METALCON is produced by PSMJ Resources, Inc., the leading authority on the effective management of architecture, engineering and construction firms, and sponsored by the Metal Construction Association, an organization of manufacturers and suppliers. In addition, 100 associations and publications from across the industry support METALCON through ongoing promotional and educational efforts. This is the event’s first time in Orlando.
Each year, METALCON gives back to the local community where the show takes place. This year’s METALCON Gives Back campaign will support a Tunnel to Towers veteran housing community in Florida. On the show floor, attendees can see a tiny home take shape during the live-build experience. The completed home will be donated to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which provides housing and other support to injured veterans, first responders and families of fallen service members.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation assists injured veterans, first responders and families of fallen service members through housing and other forms of support. The FRAMECAD live-build experience on the show floor also supports the foundation, connecting innovation in construction with METALCON’s commitment to veterans.
Additional contributions to Tunnel to Towers Foundation can be made before, during and after the show online at https://metalcon.com/giving-back/, via the METALCON mobile app or on-site in the exhibit hall at The Deck, where members of show management will be available to meet supporters. The money raised at the show will help drive urgently needed resources and financial support for Orlando areas area veterans and further the organization’s outreach.
The Tunnel to Towers Check Presentation Ceremony takes place on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. at The Deck. A representative from Tunnel to Towers will join us.
METALCON at 35: Past, Present and What’s Next
METALCON will mark its 35th anniversary by looking at the industry from every angle—where it has been, where it is today and where it is going. New exhibit-floor experiences, anniversary programming and networking will recognize metal construction’s history and impact while giving attendees a view of technologies, ideas and people shaping its future.
35th Anniversary Bash and the Legacy 10
On Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 5 p.m., the METALCON 35th Anniversary Bash will bring the metal construction community together to celebrate the show’s history, recognize the companies that have supported METALCON from the beginning and toast the future of the industry.
The Legacy 10 have exhibited at every METALCON since the first show in 1991:
AkzoNobel (Booth 817) • ATAS International (Booth 1543) • Atlas Bolt & Screw (Booth 1361) • AZZ Precoat Metals (Booth 1404) • Englert (Booth 785) • Metal Construction News (Booth 659) • McElroy Metal (Booth 901) • Metal Rollforming Systems (Booth 1431) • PPG (Booth 548) • Roof Hugger (Booth 536)
U. S. Steel Celebrates 125 Years of Innovation
U. S. Steel’s Steel on the Move Experience will be a centerpiece of the exhibit floor, marking the company’s 125 years of innovation, craftsmanship and leadership in American steelmaking. The interactive experience will explore steel’s role in building infrastructure, products and communities while examining technologies and sustainable solutions influencing the future of steelmaking.
Design-to-Manufacture-to-Build Live: The Future of Construction
Follow a 480-square-foot tiny home from design and engineering through automated manufacturing and live assembly on the show floor. Built by a team of industry partners, the experience shows how an integrated cold-formed steel process can improve speed, precision and project delivery. The completed home will be donated to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Keynote Speakers:
9 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7 — “Nothing Can Stop You”
Jim Abbott, inspirational speaker and former Major League Baseball pitcher, will open METALCON with a keynote centered on resilience, gratitude and turning challenges into strengths. Through his personal and professional journey, Abbott will explore how adversity can shape identity, strengthen purpose and reveal new ways of thinking, adapting and leading. A meet and greet will follow the keynote.
Born without a right hand, Abbott became a standout athlete at the University of Michigan, earning All-Big Ten and All-American honors. He helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, was selected in the first round of the 1989 Major League Baseball draft and went on to play 10 Major League seasons for the Angels, Yankees, White Sox and Brewers. In 1993, he pitched a no-hitter for the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. His story brings a highly relevant perspective on perseverance, adaptability, accountability and leadership under pressure.
9 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 8 — “Building Through Uncertainty: A Market Outlook for the Construction and Design Industries”
Kermit Baker, a leading economic voice in the architecture, design and construction sectors and former chief economist for the American Institute of Architects (AIA), will examine the economic forces shaping project activity, demand, pipeline trends and sector growth. Attendees will gain insight into how current conditions may affect backlog, bidding environments, project starts and strategic business decisions over the next 12 months. Baker will also participate in the Industry Outlook 2027 panel.
At AIA, Baker originated the Work on the Boards Survey, the monthly assessment of architecture-firm business conditions that became the Architecture Billings Index. He coordinated the AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Panel and wrote regular economics columns for AIA Architect. He also served as project director of the Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies from 1995 to 2021 and holds graduate degrees in urban planning from Harvard University and MIT.
Industry Outlook: What Comes Next
Metal Construction Code Updates: What’s Changed and What It Means
On Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 1:30 p.m., Bill Beals of Therm-All, Paul Deffenbaugh of Deep Brook Media and Bob Zabcik of Z-Tech Consulting will break down recent and upcoming code changes affecting metal construction and explain the practical implications for design, specification, fabrication and installation.
Outlook: 2027 — The Future of Metal Construction
On Thursday, Oct. 8 at 10:30 a.m., Kermit Baker, Jeff Henry of the Metal Construction Association and Vincent Sagan of the Metal Building Manufacturers Association will examine the economic, supply-chain, regulatory and jobsite forces shaping metal construction through 2027, including material costs, evolving codes, market conditions and project realities.
Hands-On Training and Demo Areas
Live, hands-on training remains a defining METALCON advantage. Metal Mastery Clinics, presented by the Metal Construction Association and Metal Roofing Alliance, will cover best practices for standing seam panels, metal shingles and retrofit systems. The METALCON Training Zone, sponsored by Sherwin-Williams | MetalVue and led by John Sheridan of Sheridan Metal Resources, will use mock-ups in painted steel, aluminum, zinc and copper. Demonstrations will be offered in English and Spanish.
FORGE: Where Women in Metal Shape What’s Next
Formerly Metal and Mimosas, FORGE expands METALCON’s women’s programming from a 1.5-hour gathering into a dedicated half-day event on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m., before the show opens. Designed for women at every stage of their careers, FORGE will combine leadership insight, candid industry conversation and networking in a format built to strengthen connections across the metal construction community.
Goodroe will present “Beyond Impressive: Create Your Own Path in Construction and Beyond,” focused on building influence, creating opportunities and navigating a career with intention. The program will continue with the panel “More Than a Seat at the Table: Women Building Influence Across the Industry,” featuring Bryce Batts, Kate Glantz, Erin Hoffman and Amanda Turner, and will conclude with a networking reception sponsored by National Women in Roofing.
New Latino Track: Spanish-Language Education & Hands-On Training
New for 2026, the Latino Track expands access to technical, business and leadership education with sessions presented in Spanish and supported by Spanish-language hands-on demonstrations in the METALCON Training Zone.
Using mock-ups and materials including painted steel, aluminum, zinc, copper and other specialty materials, the demonstrations will focus on proper detailing, tool use and installation practices. The program responds to demand for more accessible education and gives Spanish-speaking contractors, installers, roofing professionals and project teams direct access to training and industry expertise.
Latino Track Sessions
• From Vision to Profit: Building a Winning Business Plan in the Metal Industry
• Behind the System: Leadership, Communication & Growth in Modern Roofing
• From Coil to Code: How High-Performance Metal Roofing Systems Are Engineered, Tested and Manufactured
• Why Engineered Roofing Systems Matter More Than Ever
Emerging Leaders: 40 Under 40 and Future Leaders
METALCON is expanding opportunities for early-career professionals to build relationships and gain access to the people shaping the future of metal construction. The new 40 Under 40 Recognition Program honors 40 professionals age 40 and under whose work is influencing projects, teams and processes—from jobsites and fabrication floors to engineering and design. Honorees are selected for achievement, leadership, innovation and overall impact and will receive industry-wide recognition, featured profiles and onsite recognition at METALCON 2026.
The Future Leaders Happy Hour on Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. will recognize the 40 Under 40 honorees while giving emerging professionals a dedicated opportunity to connect with peers, decision-makers and industry leaders. Combined with workshops, hands-on demonstrations, education and networking throughout the show, the program gives rising professionals direct access to leaders from across the full metal construction value chain—access that can otherwise take years to develop.
Networking Across the Industry
Because METALCON brings the entire metal construction ecosystem together, networking connects professionals across roles, career stages and market sectors. Speed Networking on Oct. 7 at 3 p.m., is designed for quick, meaningful introductions and follow-up conversations. Other opportunities include the 35th Anniversary Bash, Contractors Connection Reception, Future Leaders Happy Hour and Oktoberfest in The Backyard.
The Design District @ METALCON
The Design District gives architects, designers, specifiers and engineers a focused place on the show floor to examine the forces shaping today’s built environment and connect those issues to real-world metal design decisions. The 2026 program links big-picture industry shifts—including embodied carbon, Environmental Product Declarations, adaptive reuse and high-performance façade systems—with project-level questions about material selection, performance, resilience, sustainability, compliance and constructability.
Design District attendees can earn up to a year’s worth of AIA Learning Units, including HSW credits, while also accessing METALCON keynotes, networking events and more than 35 additional education sessions. The result is a concentrated design program within the larger METALCON experience, giving design professionals access not only to targeted AIA education, but also to manufacturers, contractors, technical experts, real-world products and broader business, technical and market insights from across the show.
Featured Design District Education
• The Hidden Carbon in Metal Buildings
• MasterClass: Shipping Container Upcycling
• Why Metal Wins
• Metal in Adaptive Reuse: Crafting Community, Transparency and Identity Through Design-Build
• Architectural Metal Plate Systems: Durable Design for Today’s Buildings
METALCON’s broader education program is organized into five specialized Learning Centers so contractors, fabricators, architects, engineers, installers, designers and specifiers can quickly identify sessions relevant to their roles and business needs: Contractor Business Success Center; Installation & Techniques Learning Center; Metal Performance Learning Center; Tools & Technology Zone; and The Design District.
Florida Contractor Continuing Education Credits
METALCON will also offer dozens of Florida Contractor Continuing Education Credits, giving Florida contractors an opportunity to earn a significant portion of the continuing education required to maintain their licenses while gaining practical industry knowledge.
Industry Associations at METALCON
This year’s event will feature its broadest association participation to date, reinforcing the show’s role as the one place where the entire metal construction ecosystem comes together.
Participating organizations represent roofing, metal buildings, air barriers, rainscreens, metal composite materials, cold-formed steel, extrusions, manufacturing, workforce development, diversity and inclusion, education and training. Many will have a presence on the show floor, giving attendees direct access to subject-matter experts and industry resources while creating opportunities to share technical knowledge, discuss common challenges and connect with the people and ideas shaping metal construction.
Associations represented include:
- Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) – Central Florida Chapter
- Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA)
- Cool Roofing Ratings Council
- Metal Construction Association (MCA)
- Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA)
- Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA)
- Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA)
- Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association-International (RIMA-I)
- Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA)
- MCM Alliance
- International Code Council (ICC)
- Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA)
- Cold Formed Steel Association (CFSA)
- National Women in Roofing (NWiR)
- Latinos en Roofing
- Association of Women in Metal Industries (AWMI)
- Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA)
- Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA)
- National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)
Association-Led Education
Beyond the sessions already highlighted, association partners will lead additional education addressing real-world technical and market issues across the metal construction ecosystem:
• Reflective Insulation & Radiant Barriers in Metal Building Design: Solving Real-World Thermal, Moisture and Energy Challenges — Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association-International
• Designing Walls for Reality, Not Perfection — Rainscreen Association in North America
• MCM in Practice: Installation, Inspection and Fixes — MCM Alliance
• Facilitating Product Acceptance with ICC-ES Certification — International Code Council
• Residential Metal Roofing — The Sustainable Choice — Metal Roofing Alliance
• Noncombustible Steel Framing Construction in High-Wind Regions — Steel Framing Industry Association
• Why Would Anyone Choose Cold-Formed Steel? — Cold Formed Steel Association
METALCON Top Products Awards
The sixth annual METALCON Top Products Awards recognize exhibiting companies at the forefront of innovation in products, technologies and solutions across eight categories. The top three award-winning products will be determined by public electronic voting before the show and by attendee voting onsite. Winners will be announced Thursday, Oct. 8, from 2:30-2:45 p.m. at The Deck.
Exhibits:
Experts from 259 exhibiting companies spanning 670 booths will share their knowledge of products and field applications with attendees. The lineup on the following two pages includes companies that have not exhibited in METALCON before or are returning after a multi-year absence.
New and Returning Exhibitors for METALCON 2026
| COMPANY | BOOTH# | WEBSITE |
| ACERO Industrial Systems | 657 | https://aceroindustrialsystems.com |
| Acu-Form Roll Forming Equipment | 607 | www.acuformequipment.com |
| Alpha Connection LLC | 966 | www.plugsandconnectors.com |
| Anping Qinghe Metal Mesh Co., Ltd. | 1502 | www.perforated-metal.cn |
| Aplus Energy Co., Ltd. | 1459 | www.apluspvt.com |
| BEAM AI | 1643 | www.attentive.ai |
| BH-USA/Elite Fans | 1266 | https://eliteelectricproducts.com |
| Bidding Enterprise LLC | 1379 | https://biddingenterprise.com |
| BMS GROUP | 656 | www.rollformingmill.com |
| BRIGHTSMITH Coaters | 1648 | www.brightsmithcoaters.com |
| Build It To Sell It | 579 | www.buildittosellit.com |
| Capital Forest Products | 758 | www.capitalforest.com |
| CBC Specialty Metals | 1672 | www.cbcmetals.com |
| CI Web Group | 750 | www.ciwebgroup.com |
| Cjdelery Construction LLC | 773 | www.cjdelery.com |
| Corten.com | 1461 | www.corten.com |
| Coulee Tech | 570 | www.coulee.tech |
| Cumberland Sales Company | 1470 | www.cumberlandsalescompany.com |
| Curber Manufacturing | 1258 | www.curbermfg.com |
| Custom Foam Products, Inc | 637 | www.customfoaminc.com |
| Dahezhongbang (Xiamen) Intelligent Technology Co.,Ltd | 1472 | www.dahezbforming.com |
| Diamond Vogel, Inc. | 1264 | www.diamondvogel.com |
| Dutch Country Gift Baskets | 1501 | https://dutchcountrygiftbaskets.com |
| EVOBEND GmbH | 1485 | www.evobend.com/en |
| EXPI-DOOR Systems, Inc. | 585 | www.expidoor.com |
| FARO INSIGHT a Business of AMETEK, Inc. | 1560 | www.faro.com |
| Fasteners Direct LLC | 751 | www.fastenersdirectllc.com |
| Feeney Inc. | 1457 | www.feeneyinc.com |
| Frontier ERP Software | 1500 | https://friedmancorp.com |
| GASPARINI S.p.A. | 759 | www.gasparini-spa.com |
| Graber Post Buildings, Inc | 755 | www.graberpost.com |
| Guangzhe Enterprise Co., Ltd | 706 | www.guangzhe.com.tw |
| H.B. Fuller | 1506 | www.hbfuller.com |
| Haiyan Jiamei Hardware Mfg and Tech Co., Ltd. | 641 | www.jiameihardware.com |
| Hayes International / Bradbury Group Australia | 717 | www.bradburygroup.com |
| Henco Industries | 1507 | www.henco.be/en |
| HOWMZ LLC | 870 | www.howmz.com |
| Imagic Glass | 1558 | www.imagicglass.com |
| Interarch Building Solutions Limited | 742 | www.interarchbuildings.com |
| ISD Group USA | 1353 | www.isdgroup.us |
| Jiangsu Guoqiang Singsun Energy Co., Ltd | 1256 | www.singsun.net |
| Keystone Certifications, Inc. | 871 | www.keystonecerts.com |
| KORE Machinery | 606 | www.koremachinery.com |
| Lama Marcin i Robert Libich Sp.k. | 658 | www.anti-drop.com |
| Laminators Incorporated | 1360 | www.laminatorsinc.com |
| LGS FrameX LLC | 707 | www.framexlgs.com |
| Little Harvey’s | 1371 | https://littleharveys.com |
| MACHINE WORX NZ | 653 | www.machineworx.co.nz |
| Mallet Supply, LLC | 1005 | www.malletsupply.com |
| MAX USA Corp. | 700 | www.maxusacorp.com |
| Metal Building Software, Inc. | 553 | https://mbsweb.com |
| Metal Fastening Systems Inc. | 1636 | www.metalfasteningsystems.com |
| Metal Roofing Systems | 1634 | www.metalroofingsystems.com |
| Over-All Vents | 1403 | https://over-allvents.com |
| Paus North America | 1359 | www.paus-na.com |
| POWERLIFT HYDRAULIC DOORS | 1573 | www.powerliftdoors.com |
| Precision Fasteners | 1632 | www.metalroofclips.com |
| Priest & Associates | 572 | priestsassociates.com |
| Primo Automation Systems Inc. | 635 | www.primoautomation.us |
| Progressive | 900 | https://everlastmetals.com |
| Progressive Foam | 801 | www.progressivefoam.com |
| Quattrolifts | 1611 | www.quattrolifts.com |
| Quote Magnet | 736 | https://quote-magnet.com |
| Red Horse USA | 1466 | https://redhorse.com |
| RenderDraw | 1556 | https://renderdraw.com |
| Rib Rinner Tools, LLC | 1551 | www.ribrunnertools.com |
| RoMac Building Supply | 549 | www.romacfl.com |
| RoofScreen Mfg. | 1356 | https://roofscreen.com |
| Rugui Hot Rolled | 1358 | https://rugui.com/en/hot-rolled |
| SGS North America, Inc | 1377 | www.sgs.com |
| SketchDeck.ai | 734 | https://sketchdeck.ai |
| Snap-Z | 856 | www.snapzvent.com |
| Steel and Metal Systems, Inc. & Roll-Up Door, Inc. | 1273 | https://steelmetalsystems.com |
| Steel Ninja | 757 | https://steelninja.com |
| Summit Steel Buildings | 1254 | www.summitsteelbuildings.com |
| Surface Bid by Smartbuild | 850 | https://smartbuildsystems.com |
| Sussman Machinery (Wuxi)Co.,Ltd. | 1372 | www.sussmanmachinery.com |
| TEK Industries, LLC | 1357 | www.tekroofingsystems.com |
| TENADO | 1570 | www.tenado.com |
| Tengco Inc. | 576 | www.tengco.com |
| The Malco Group | 1376 | www.malcotools.com |
| Threaded Fasteners, Inc. | 1257 | https://threadedfasteners.com |
| Titan Coatings | 1564 | www.titancoatings.com |
| UNBAK Machinery | 970 | www.unbakmachinery.com |
| US Premier Tube Mills | 1370 | www.usptmills.com |
| VALTEK | 1565 | www.valteklgs.com |
| Virtual Inspection Services | 1003 | www.virtualinspectionservices.com |
| Vitruvian Steel | 1649 | www.vitruvian-steel.com |
| Viva Composite Panel | 701 | www.vivaacp.com |
| William Penn Performance Glass | 747 | www.willpennglass.com |
| X Steel Frame LLC | 571 | www.xsteelframe.com |
| XIAMEN FUMING ROLL FORMING MACHINERY CO., LTD. | 745 | www.customrollformingmachine.com |
| XIAMEN RELIANCE INDUSTRY CO., LTD. | 1537 | www.gocoexpo.com |
| Zimmerman Metals, Inc. | 1617 | https://zimmerman-metals.com |
