MetalCon is a key destination for companies within metal construction sector

Frank Melo • October 21, 2026

Darren Sperling, Frank Melo and new U.S. team member, Ryan McQuaid, exhibited and presented at MetalCon, the largest international metal construction industry trade conference, held in Orlando, FL between Oct. 7 and 9. Here’s perspective on their experience.

MetalCon is a very important trade show to attend. It’s the key place for contractors, architects, fabricators, manufacturers, distributors and developers to meet, network and show off the latest innovations and technology that keep progressing the metal construction sector.


Summit Steel Buildings prefers to exhibit at two or three key shows a year, PDAC by far being our most prominent one each year, and MetalCon was a new destination, ideally suited to show off our new US office located a few hours south in Miami, Florida. Frank Melo spent a little creative time while waiting for his flight at the airport to write down his impressions of the show so we could share them with you.

View of the show according to Frank

The 2026 MetalCon was an excellent show for us, the best we’ve done yet. Booth traffic was steady across the three days we exhibited, and the conversations were real ones: people with projects and timelines, not just badge scanners. We came home with a solid stack of leads, a core of genuinely strong prospects with real projects behind them and the all-important follow-up is already underway.


The big story for us was introducing Summit Steel Buildings USA to the marketplace. This was our first show since opening the Miami office and having a US company with Ryan on the ground resonated with the American crowd.


My favourite moment of the show was meeting Mauricio from Steel Forte. He speaks Brazilian Portuguese, I speak Portugal Portuguese. We ended up having half the conversation in Portuguese on a trade show floor in Orlando. The accents gave us both a laugh. Good reminder of how international this business really is.


Another good connection came from right across the aisle: Derrek Loewen, Dealer Development at Diamond Doors, had the booth directly in front of ours. Great guy to get to know over the three days, and a valuable contact to have as a door provider for our buildings.


The calibre of the floor says a lot about where this show sits. We were exhibiting alongside names like U.S. Steel, who were marking their 125th year, plus ArcelorMittal, Steel Dynamics and BlueScope, with everything from coil and coatings through to rollforming equipment and design software in between. A show that draws names like that also draws serious attendees, and that’s who we were talking to at our booth.


The show itself was well run. Setup, logistics and show services were smooth from start to finish. Compared to other shows we’ve done, MetalCon is the one where the whole building is our industry, everyone on the floor speaks steel, and that density of the right people is hard to beat.


We’ll be back in 2027, that decision has already been made. 

  • Darren Sperling and Ryan McQuaid of Summit Steel Buildings at MetalCon 2026

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    Darren Sperling and Ryan McQuaid

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  • Darren Sperling in Orlando at the MetalCon exhibit for Summit Steel Buildings

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    Darren Sperling

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  • The Summit Steel Buildings team with Mauricio from Steel Forte

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    Ryan McQuaid, Mauricio from Steel Forte, Darren Sperling adn Frank Melo

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  • Ryan McQuaid at the 2026 MetalCon trade show in Orlando

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    Ryan McQuaid

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When you are considering your next industrial or commercial building project, contact Summit Steel Buildings to discuss how we can deliver your optimum pre-engineered steel structure. We’ll provide you with preliminary technical drawings and a cost-effective price. Reach our team online, by email at info@summitsteelbuildings.com or at 877-417-8335.



About the author

Frank Melo has a construction civil engineering technology and business background with over 30 years of experience as a business owner and contractor. He was raised and educated in London, Ontario and now divides his time between projects primarily in Ontario, British Columbia and Washington State. He can be contacted at Summit Steel Buildings at (778) 951-4766 or by email at frank.melo@summitsteelbuildings.com   or through LinkedIn.

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