The International Roofing Expo (IRE), which was held in Las Vegas from February 6-8, saw 15,000 roofing industry professionals in attendance. Spanning more than 200,000 sq. ft. of exhibition and show floor educational space, the event hosted nearly 600 suppliers and manufacturers, with 167 companies making a debut appearance.
“This year’s expo was nothing short of exceptional, exceeding our expectations in every way,” states Rich Russo, Show Director of International Roofing Expo. “With packed exhibit halls, standing-room-only keynote sessions, and an overwhelming enthusiasm to learn and connect, IRE has solidified itself as the most impactful event in the roofing and exteriors industries.”
In addition to the exhibition, IRE provided an extensive range of educational opportunities, offering more than 45 sessions on cutting-edge topics such as artificial intelligence, sustainable materials and solar energy, rebuilding and regulatory changes affecting the industry.
IRE 2024 also embraced inclusivity and diversity throughout the event. To ensure a welcoming environment for Hispanic contractors, initiatives such as bilingual signage, staff and dedicated information kiosks were implemented.
New Products
Many new products were debuted at the Las Vegas event. Here are just a few of them …
“Just getting back from the IRE show in Vegas and it was a great show!” enthuses Lisa Martin, Marketing Director, Maze Nails. “The new item we are promoting is our zinc-diffused coil ring shank roofing nails. The same great Double Hot-Dipped coating but the zinc is heated to smooth out the zinc-coating allowing the nails to run smoother through pneumatic roofing guns. We also were promoting our Copper Slating & Flashing Nails which drew quite a few attendees into the booth. Overall, this was a great show to promote our American-made roofing nails and connect with our current customers and vendors.”
Combilift showcased its Combi CB6000 multidirectional forklift. The Combi-CB is more compact than a conventional forklift and can be used as both a side loader as well as a counterbalance truck, which can increase the storage density of a customer’s site by up to 50%. “It is the perfect solution for anyone who needs to carry long loads through narrow doorways or racking in sideway mode, or for block stacking products in counterbalance mode, making operations much safer and more efficient,” says Maria Sanchez, Marketing Team Combilift. “The multidirectional concept was conceived when a customer wanted to take long lengths of steel straight from inside production to trucks and outside racking without double handling or damaging products, while keeping the product at a safe driving height. This multidirectional feature is especially beneficial for applications involving metal roofing and siding materials since these can often be awkward and bulky loads to handle, as they come in different shapes, sizes, and weights.”
AkzoNobel presented several products that are set to enhance the metal coating industry. One such highlight is the introduction of CERAM-A-STAR® Select Frost standard color program, which is designed to support coil coaters, service centers, distributors, OEMs, and regional roll formers. These programs aim to improve product availability, minimize inventory expenses, reduce lead times, and ensure consistent color volume for maximum impact.
AkzoNobel also unveiled the Canopy App for Android at IRE 2024. The mobile app is a tool for accessing metal coating product information. It includes features such as 3D visualization and simplifies the color selection process, offering users the ability to search through the product database. The app also provides tools like calculators and a document library, contributing to a streamlined and efficient customer experience.
Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions launched two products at IRE 2024. The first was the Unified Steel™ Material List Generator, an interactive tool that auto-generates a roofing product list1, which simplifies the estimating process for both Unified Steel Stone Coated Roofing and Westlake Royal™ Roofing Components. “The Material List Generator integrates seamlessly with roof measurements acquired traditionally or through 3D and geospatial measurement generating software solutions,” explained Ann Iten, Director of Marketing for Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions. “There is also no cost to builders and contractors who use it.”
The company also unveiled its new Unified Steel Cool Roof Colors, two hues rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), at IRE. “Each color provides high solar reflectivity and high thermal emittance when solar energy hits the roof surface, detracting sunlight and radiating heat off the roof surface. The colors exceed California Energy Code (CEC) Title 24 Part 6 Cool Roof Requirements and, with a Solar Reflective Index (SRI) greater than 20, also meet Los Angeles County’s more stringent SRI requirements. The new colors, Harborwood™ and Stirling Gray™, are offered in both Pine-Crest Shake and Pacific Tile® profiles.”
Additionally, Westlake said it has expanded its capacity to manufacture Newpoint™ Concrete Roof Tile in Florida, which is a strong market for this product and one that has struggled in the past to meet customer demand. The added capacity and various production improvements are all coming online in Q1 of this year.
PABCO Roofing Products showcased its Prestige shingle line, which was recently certified with a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating, the highest rating possible for impact resistance. “Achieving UL 2218 Class 4 impact-resistance for our Prestige roofing shingles demonstrates the exceptional quality of our product and our manufacturing processes,” said Gerry Kilian, Director, Sales and Marketing, PABCO Roofing Products.
Combilift’s Combi CB6000 multidirectional forklift can increase storage site density by up to 50%. Photo courtesy of Combilift.
IKO’s Armourshake in Weathered Stone. Photo courtesy of IKO.
New! Ultralok closed cell spray polyurethane foam. Photo courtesy of Huntsman Building Solutions.
Tapered insulation systems give the ability to control water flow. Photo courtesy of PIMA, www.polyiso.org
Unified Steel’s Pine-Crest Shake in Stirling Gray. Photo courtesy of Westlake Royal™ Roofing Components. 
of Brava
AkzoNobel’s CERAM-A-STAR® Select Frost. Photo courtesy of Graber Post. 
Maze Nails New zinc-diffused coil ring shank roofing nails. Photo courtesy
of Maze Nails.
TRUFAST offered roofing industry professionals an up-close look at its latest product innovations, including the EasySeal™ Retrofit Roof Drain, which features a unique mechanical seal and custom tool. Unlike other retrofit drains, EasySeal doesn’t have a sealant tape or multiple screws that can only be accessed with a long screwdriver. Every EasySeal drain comes with a special tool to tighten the drain into place, so contractors will always have the right tool for the job.
“At TRUFAST, we have long prided ourselves in advancing the industry with fastening solutions for every surface. IRE is a perfect venue for connecting with customers and demonstrating our commitment to solving their challenges,” said Derek Fielding, VP strategic marketing, Altenloh, Brinck & Co. US, Inc. “We’re excited to showcase some of our latest innovations, including product offerings that have evolved beyond mechanical fasteners.”
Brava Roof Tile and Aspire Pavers both had products news to share. Aspire Pavers showcased its new 16” x 16” composite pavers, which offer a larger format paver option for faster installation. The brand also showed the recently launched Designer Series Color Collections including nine new paver colors in three color families. “We were also thrilled to debut Brava’s updated Slate Roof Tile profile at the show; this is an upgrade to our existing composite slate roofing solution that features a brand-new redesigned edge.” Brava has also updated several colors across its Shake, Slate, and Spanish product lines to fit modern trends and better ensure consistent color.
Huntsman Building Solutions unveiled its Ultralok closed cell spray polyurethane foam, an all-new spray foam roofing system. It is a one-step, 2.8-pound solution designed to deliver a high-performance, fully adhered roofing system that insulates, waterproofs and protects over a variety of roof deck substrates. “Ultralok creates a monolithic membrane, eliminating the need for mechanical fasteners, and is ideal for low-slope roofing applications in new and retrofit construction.” The product is manufactured using recycled plastic water bottle waste and boasts the incredibly low Global Warming Potential (GWP) value of 1.
IKO debuted its premium Armourshake Designer roofing shingles, which are designed for upscale homes and have a Class 3 Impact Resistance rating2, potentially reducing home insurance premiums. They’re crafted with two laminated fiberglass mats for durability and dimensional thickness. The new shingles are available in four color blends: Chalet Wood, Greystone, Weathered Stone and Shadow Black (also available in Class 4 Impact Resistance rating2). Features like algae resistance, UV-protective granules and a strong bonding sealant provide added longevity and performance.
Changing Perspectives
Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) had a strong presence at the show. Organization president Justin Koscher said that there’s a growing interest among contractors to understand tapered insulation systems and how they can be a benefit on existing buildings. Those benefits include design flexibility and the means to correct roof deficiencies. For example, if a roof is experiencing ponding water, tapered insulation is an excellent option to correct the slope of the roof and manage the water flow.
“One thing we see as PIMA is the accelerating momentum in improving building performance,” he said. Performance has been noticeable on the new construction side for some time, and people are now increasingly aware of the need to improve existing buildings to operate more efficiently.
“Roof replacements are most common alteration on commercial buildings,” he explains. It’s not always the best way to think about a roof only when it’s leaking. PIMA is trying to help change the way commercial building owners view their roofs. On a typical commercial building, when the roof is replaced with an energy-efficient system, the building performance improves and the energy savings start immediately. “It’s a huge opportunity for building owners. Hopefully we’re changing the perspective of a roof being an asset rather than a headache.”
Conclusion
The overwhelming consensus from exhibitors polled is that IRE 2024 was a resounding success. Looking ahead, International Roofing Expo 2025 will take place at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, from February 19-21, 2025. l
1The statements made herein are subject to the Legal Disclaimer outlined on the Material List Generator website.
2This impact rating is solely for the purpose of enabling residential property owners to obtain a reduction in their residential insurance premium, if available. It is not to be construed as any type of express or implied warranty or guarantee of the impact performance against hail, of this shingle by the manufacturer, supplier or installer. Damage from hail is not covered under the limited warranty. For further details concerning the FM 4473 standards, visit the FM Approvals website.
