Innovation is Alive and Well -- Even in a Battered Industry!

  It's finally spring, and those of us lucky enough to have survived the bruising of the last two years in the construction industry are climbing out of our bunkers.  I've been thinking about what drives growth in markets turned upside down...new construction, residential remodeling, and commercial are all vastly different from just 18 months ago, with still-not-clear prospects for the future.  How do we get from here to there?

Seems to me that innovation is all we have...we can't count on naturally expanding markets, easy credit, or aspirational consumers.  All we can do is invent, experiment, and innovate our way to growth.  Briggs just released The Big Green Book, 576 pages of products for manufacturers and specifiers.  In an industry that might not seem to have much going on, there is tons of innovation -- new stuff that makes me know the future is bright.

KV has a new concealed undermount drawer slide that's got features we haven't seen before, and DuPont Corian has 10 new colors and aesthetics that change the way you think about solid surfacing. Great new stuff.

On the Green front, Panolam has a new Eco-Logic TFM collection, 3M has a more efficient Inverted Aerosol Adhesive and IWP's Cross Band laminating platform is Forest Stewardship Council certified. 

We can always count on FastCap for new inventions -- they gather great ideas and turn them into products that help woodworkers save time and make money. 

Even though it's been tough, there is lots that's new.  Our industry and our country will innovate our way out of the Great Recession.  We've got the Big Green Book to prove it!