Construction, Real Estate & Infrastructure

Reliable Sprinkler, ASC Merge to Form Reliable Safety & Flow Corp

Oak Brook, Ill. – September 08, 2026 -- Reliable Safety & Flow Corporation (RSFC) launched today, combining more than 175 years of manufacturing heritage from Reliable Automatic Sprinkler, founded in 1920, and ASC Engineered Solutions, founded in 1850 as Anvil, into a single fire protection and flow systems supplier.

Merger creates one of the industry's broadest integrated safety and flow portfolios

The unified company combines fire sprinklers, devices and flexible connections, pipe joining, flow control and valves, fittings, and structural support solutions under a single accountable brand, supplemented by digital design and planning tools. RSFC targets engineers, contractors, distributors, and owners across critical infrastructure, water management, commercial construction, healthcare, education, data centers, and energy markets.

Precast Manhole Specs Hinge on Depth, Pipe Layout, and Load

Medford, Oregon – September 08, 2026 -- Precast manhole orders that skip site-specific engineering review risk costly field changes once installation begins, according to a HelloNation article featuring insights from Clay Prewitt, Precast Concrete Expert at Rogue Valley Precast in Medford, Oregon.

Invert elevations determine riser count and overall unit size

The article states that invert elevations for incoming and outgoing pipes set the base height of a manhole, which then dictates how many riser sections a structure requires. Pipe openings must be sized and positioned for specific connections, and manufacturers can cast these openings during production to reduce field cutting after delivery.

Direct Equity Source Buys Three Self-Storage Sites in Granbury

Austin, Texas – September 08, 2026 -- Direct Equity Source has acquired three self-storage properties in Granbury, Texas, in partnership with its operations partner, expanding its real estate portfolio in one of North Texas' fastest-growing communities.

Firm targets recession-resistant assets amid population growth

The Granbury acquisitions add to Direct Equity Source's strategy of building income-producing real estate holdings across Texas and other high-growth U.S. markets. The firm cited the region's population growth, rising demand for storage solutions, and a resilient local economy as key drivers behind the deal.

Pritzker Addresses 1,000+ Ironworkers at 45th International Convention

Chicago – September 08, 2026 -- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker addressed more than 1,000 ironworkers from the United States and Canada at the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers' 45th International Convention, held in Chicago from August 31 through September 4.

Union delegates gather to set policy for 130,000 North American members

The convention brings together ironworkers, union leaders and industry partners to elect officers, set policy and adopt the union's agenda for the next five years. The Iron Workers Union represents 130,000 members across North America who work on bridges, structural steel, ornamental and architectural metals, clean energy infrastructure, rebar and fabrication shops.

Concrete Superplasticizers Market to Hit $10.54B by 2031 on PCE Demand

Delray Beach, Fla. – – September 08, 2026 -- The global concrete superplasticizers market is set to expand from USD 7.93 billion in 2026 to USD 10.54 billion by 2031, a 5.8% compound annual growth rate, according to MarketsandMarkets. Demand is being driven by rising infrastructure investment, ready-mix and precast concrete adoption, and the push to cut water use through polycarboxylate ether (PCE) polymer chemistry.

Middle East & Africa becomes the fastest-growing regional market at 6.6% CAGR

Saudi Arabia is the primary growth engine, with a future construction pipeline estimated at USD 1.52 trillion (SAR 5.7 trillion) in 2024, equal to 39% of the entire MENA region's pipeline. The Kingdom's Vision 2030 program requires more than 1.5 million housing units across five major cities by 2030, alongside transportation, energy, and tourism projects that depend on high-performance, durable concrete formulations.

STANLEY Enters Flooring Market via Area Floors, i4F Tech Deal

Turnhout – September 08, 2026 -- STANLEY® is entering the global flooring market through a strategic partnership with Istanbul-based manufacturer Area Floors, launching its first branded flooring line built entirely on i4F® drop-lock installation technology.

STANLEY SPC flooring range enters production for 2026 EMEA rollout

The STANLEY® SPC flooring collection is currently in production and will be introduced across the EMEA region in 2026. Area Floors, which operates automated manufacturing facilities and holds international export experience, will develop and produce the range, marking the first STANLEY®-branded flooring products to reach the EMEA market.

DBU Backs €300,000 Ice-Storage Retrofit of 17th-Century German Manor

Gröningen – September 08, 2026 -- The Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) is funding a roughly €300,000 renovation of the 17th-century Rittergut Edelhof manor in Gröningen, Saxony-Anhalt, installing one of Germany's first water-ice thermal storage systems in a historic building. The project, underway since late last year, is scheduled for completion by April 2028 and aims to return residential use to a building vacant since the 1990s.

Water-ice storage cuts heating energy demand by up to 50 percent

A heat pump extracts energy from water until it freezes, supplying heat during sub-zero temperatures without large battery storage. Scientific project lead Prof. Dr. Harald Garrecht said this system works alongside a roof-integrated heat-recovery unit that draws warmth from the environment above freezing, together cutting required heating energy by up to 50 percent.

STANLEY Enters Flooring Market via Area Floors, i4F Drop-Lock Deal

Turnhout – – September 08, 2026 -- STANLEY® has entered the global flooring market for the first time, launching SPC flooring collections across the EMEA region through a strategic partnership with Istanbul-based manufacturer Area Floors and Belgian technology group i4F®.

STANLEY licenses its 175-year-old brand into flooring for the first time

Founded in 1843, STANLEY is extending its brand beyond tools into residential construction and renovation flooring. The new SPC (stone polymer composite) collections are currently in production and will be commercialized across EMEA in 2026, marking STANLEY's debut in the global floating floor category.

STANLEY® Enters EMEA Flooring Market via Area Floors, i4F Tie-Up

Turnhout, Belgium – September 08, 2026 -- STANLEY® has entered the global flooring market for the first time through a strategic partnership with Istanbul-based manufacturer Area Floors, launching SPC flooring collections built entirely on i4F Drop-Lock installation technology. The products are already in production and will roll out across the EMEA region during 2026.

STANLEY® debuts first-ever flooring line under licensing deal with Area Floors

The collections mark STANLEY®'s expansion into floating SPC (Stone Polymer Core) flooring, targeting the residential and renovation segments. Area Floors, which operates automated manufacturing facilities and has international export experience, is responsible for product development and manufacturing under the agreement.

Skanska Wins $57M Contract to Rebuild Del Mar Traffic Corridor

Del Mar – September 08, 2026 -- Skanska has signed a USD 57 million (about SEK 530 million) contract with the City of San Diego to expand the El Camino Real corridor between Half Mile and Via De La Valle in Del Mar, California. The contract will be booked in Skanska USA's third-quarter 2026 order intake.

Contract widens El Camino Real to four lanes and replaces an 84-year-old bridge

The project will widen El Camino Real to four lanes and replace the existing San Dieguito River Bridge, which has stood for 84 years. Construction will upgrade drainage infrastructure to cut flooding risk and add riverbank stabilization to protect the corridor from erosion along the San Dieguito River.