Sponsor Spotlight: PAMA

The Professional Awnings Manufacturers Association (PAMA) is the silver-level sponsor of the NFRC 2009 Fall Membership Meeting. With more than 300 manufacturing members, PAMA is the only international trade association that supports the awning industry.

This afternoon NFRC News Now spoke with John Gant, of Glen Raven, Inc., who serves on PAMA’s Board of Directors and is a member of NFRC. He is actively involved in about a half dozen attachment task groups.

In early 2008, PAMA joined NFRC, before the Spring Membership Meeting in Nashville. “Glen Raven and PAMA joined to pursue energy ratings for window awnings,” explained Gant.

PAMA has sponsored NFRC meetings because it’s a good opportunity to get its name and mission in front of the NFRC membership, said Gant.

He noted that awnings fell out of favor in the 1960s as air conditioning became common in the United States, but these products are making a comeback. They become a lot of more popular especially when energy prices rise, he explained.

The green building movement is drawing attention to attachment products as well, said Gant. He explained that green building and energy efficiency programs should have technical information on the energy performance of attachment products.

Gant said that other manufacturers are interested in developing attachment ratings and are getting involved in the NFRC process. “There is broad industry support for this work.”