What do drones, 3-D technology and updated business strategies for the future have in common?  

They’re all major topics of discussion at the 2016 Metalcon, taking place Oct. 26-28 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore.

This year’s show features a session with Roderick Jackson of Oak Ridge National Laboratories, who will demonstrate how a natural gas-powered hybrid vehicle and a solar-powered house — both built using large-scale 3-D printers — are connected to create an integrated energy system. Architect Adam Kushner will later demonstrate how this technology is being used in building projects.

“We’ve heard about combining new technologies, but now see that it’s real,” said Claire Kilcoyne, Metalcon’s show director. “Companies in our industry have always been on the leading edge and, with this technology, can evaluate other high-tech applications.”

Mark Sapp, chief technology officer at HoverStat Technologies, will cover the benefits of using drones on construction projects during the session “Safety Above All, Thanks to Drones.” Attendees will also be able to sit in on technology-focused sessions regarding the future direction of roofing technology and the importance of digital marketing to the metal industry.

Business success-focused sessions will include “Grab the Future and Lead” with PSMJ Resources’ Frank Stasiowski and “Emerging Trends for Contractor Success” with FMI consultant Dave Berry. Attendees who are looking for training and development guidance can check out “Building a Safety Culture That Lasts” with Optimum Safety Management’s Steve Yates and “Understanding the Real Veteran Hiring Opportunity” with RecruitMilitary’s Peter Gudmundsson.

Other scheduled sessions include: “The Roof: The Greatest Asset (or Pain-in-the-Asset) to the Building” with Metal Advisory Group’s Rob Haddock; “Choosing Wall Panels for Sustainability and Energy Efficiency” with NCI’s Bob Zabcik; “Window Options for Metal Buildings are Changing” with Dominion Building Products’ Rick Kincy and Wintech’s Adam Verstraete; and “Metal Building Inspection — Don’t Get Caught Off Guard” with Ruffin Building Systems’ Dustin Cole.

More details are available at www.metalcon.com or by calling (800) 537-7765.