A Skanska corporate building in Sweden. (Image: Adobe Stock)
In an opening letter titled “Inflation Proving Tougher to Combat”, Steve Stouthamer – Skanska’s USA’s executive VP of project planning – said, “Inflation is still top of mind for the near future,” but he noted that price escalation has stabilised.
While the industry’s bogeyman (inflation) is starting to show even the slightest signs of retreat in the US, what else are Skanska and other US builders and suppliers talking about in 2024?
Helping answer that question during Skanska’s Market Trends Spring webinar were Dean Lewis, Skanska director of mass timber and prefabrication; Rob Cantando, Skanska director of strategic supply chain; and Hardy Wentzel, CEO and founder of Think Mass Timber, among others.
All eyes on Baltimore’s Key Bridge and supply chain
Cantando opened the series by discussing the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in the Port of Baltimore, Maryland, US.
While initial suggestions after the tragedy were that the clean-up and rebuilding process could cause severe issues to the construction supply chain, Cantando said time and investigation has revealed that disruptions should be limited in the build sector.
“Port of Baltimore is primarily utilised for shipping and receiving passenger vehicles,” he explained. “Further research showed that very little construction material actually flows through the port.”
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore,…
