2009-12-28T08:28:00.000-08:00

Good morning,

I don't recall Bing Crosby saying (singing) anything about getting stuck and digging out of his White Christmas. Maybe things were simpler back then? And the movie sure didn't show any fender benders in any of the scenes that I recall. Or maybe the cars were made out of something stronger and they just bounced off each other and went on their merry way to Grandma's house? I guess this White Christmas didn't follow the script cause nobody drove off into the sunset that I know of. Many were stuck somewhere other than Grandma's house and singing something other than White Christmas! What verse did you add on? But this too shall pass and melt by summer.

This will be the 2nd blog from Mapes and getting my feet wet on the learning curve of what to include that is both interesting and useful concerning the design and installation for our line of architectural canopies. My work has morphed from the sales and design aspect of things to the role of architectural representative traveling around the country visiting with firms we have worked with in the past and meeting new people with other firms. I am also given the task of getting job pictures of our canopies on the many projects we have done over the years. I find it very interesting and satisfying to be able to visit those we have worked with over the years and meet new people and tell them about what we do. And I find it fun to locate projects where our canopies have been used on a job and get pictures for our records and be able to show others what we have done. It also gives me a chance to share some of my thoughts and experiences with both canopy design and perspectives on the field of architecture with those I meet.

One of the questions I have is how often should I be doing this? When I travel, most days are something new to me but probably boring to most others. This blog could be a condensation of a time period of a couple weeks but sometimes that would require packing a lot into one posting. And other times, a much longer period would be appropriate. I guess that is what a learning curve is. And again trying to figure out what is worth writing about that is of value or interest related to our style of architectural canopies. Mapes Industries has carved out a unique niche product style and capability with our overhead supported hanger rod canopies. I would hope that the job pictures on our web site, www.mapes.com would show what I am referring to concerning our particular style of canopy design and construction. And we have many more projects ( pictures ) that would expand on that statement.

Overhead supported canopies have a very rich and beautiful legacy of designs and details going back well over 100 years. Many of the most elegant hotels and public buildings used this style of canopy for not only practical entrance protection but a dramatic statement of presence and arrival. Our canopies are not of wrought iron and stamped copper but are well adapted to present day requirements for lightweight, rust free aluminum construction that is pre-engineered for a wide range of high load requirements and pre-finished for a long, maintenance free life. That is what Mapes Industries and Mapes architectural canopies are all about. We are aware of the long history of application and but are designed and engineered for today's modern needs and expectations.

With that thought kept in mind I hope, I will end this blog for this year. My hope is that you will comment on my thoughts and make suggestions for content and practical information requirements. For my part, I will attempt to provide something useful and interesting along the way.

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Mark Mundorff

Architectural Representative

Test run blog from Mark at Mapes Industries

2009-12-10T09:42:00.000-08:00

Hello out there in ethereal space.

They said just jump in and start writing. I suppose much like just get a scoop and start digging out of this last foot of snow here! It is not that I cannot write and do not have things that cross my mind once in a while. But what I write should have a purpose and value to someone, including myself. So in a sense, explaining my concern about the content of a blog is partly what a blog is I suppose to be for? A place to write down thoughts addressed to a potential audience which lends validity to the process of thought processes and written content.

So why am I here? I am hopeful this will give me a way of communicating with others who might have a use for our company's products, canopies and walkway covers, and a forum for exchange of ideas and applications for those products. I am also hoping this will provide me with contacts with those in the building and architectural field that have more than just a passing interest in the design and use of canopies like ours. And in the process create new friendships along the way and allow me to exchange design and product information for and about what I do here.

And as I get more comfortable with this whole process of communication, allow me to interject some personal aspects of my work here as it relates to the travel I do visiting our customers and architectural firms around the country. That I would enjoy and hopefully provide some interest and useful information along the way.

I am including a picture of the snow drifted onto one of the canopies that we design and manufacture here that is located over an entrance door at our factory. And this is just December!! Wind can do amazing things with 12 inches of snow! It can pick it up off the ground a block away and deftly and artistically deposit in some unlikely and precarious places. Or simply drop in right in the middle of your driveway, which loses much of its artistic fascination very quickly!

Well this is the end of my first blog for our company, Mapes Industries, Lincoln NE http://www.mapes.com/ I know it will go out "there" somewhere. But like the snow, just where it will land and be seen is very unpredictable. If this does reach someone out there, at some future date and place, please let me know so that I can rest peacefully knowing my first blog did not leave here and disappear in vain!! My email is mmundorff@mapes.com

So long for now.

Mark Mundorff

Design and Market Development

Mapes Industries

Lincoln NE

Mapes Architectural Canopies

Test run blog from Mark at Mapes Industries