Focus

From Nov. 7-12, 2005, 14 roofing professionals and four NRCA staff members, including myself, participated in NRCA's study tour to Paris. Participants attended Batimat, a biennial trade show dedicated to the building trades, and as part of its commitment to gaining new international members and learning about different roofing practices, NRCA exhibited at the trade show.

Occupying six exhibit halls with 2,664 exhibitors from 47 countries and attracting 475,327 visitors from 139 countries, Batimat is one of the largest construction trade shows in the world.

Pictured from left to right: NRCA's European Representative Frank Louwers, NRCA's Manager of International Relations Olicia Hinojosa, NRCA Senior Technical Director Jim Kirby and Editor of Professional Roofing Ambika Puniani Bailey.

NRCA's booth at the trade show attracted considerable attention from trade-show attendees. We discussed industry issues with many NRCA members from foreign countries, and several new members joined the association, most of them from the Middle East and Asia. They were most interested in NRCA's technical expertise and anxious to attend the 2006 International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas.

Study tour participants toured the trade-show floor with NRCA's International Representative Frank Louwers and NRCA Senior Technical Director Jim Kirby. They visited booths focused on green roof systems and reflective membranes, among others.

NRCA's study tour marks one way in which NRCA continues to branch out to other countries. In our February issue, we will further discuss NRCA's efforts to expand its international presence and share roofing technology, particularly in China and India. In addition, NRCA's leadership recently visited South Africa. Details of that visit will be covered in the February issue, as well.

If you have any questions about NRCA's international efforts, contact Olicia Hinojosa, NRCA's manager of international relations, at (800) 323-9545, Ext. 7586, or ohinojosa@nrca.net.