Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
January 25, 2016
Yesterday (Monday, January 25th) I visited the AHR Expo (ASHRAE for us old timers) in Orlando. I had not attended one of these shows for probably six years or more. This show used to be a mandatory visit for me when I was a salesman peddling galvanized steel. I remember when the Carrier Corporations, York-Borg Warner, Fedders, Rheem, Ruud and many other U.S. companies used to dominate the view from the floor. Those days are gone as many of the companies now are Asian or European with a few U.S. companies sprinkled in. The expo will continue through Wednesday of this week.
A suggestion – if you would like to attend a steel conference and not have to spend a lot of money I suggest the Port of Tampa Steel Conference. You can click on the link and go to their website to learn more details. The conference is February 17-18th in Tampa, Florida and, as the name suggests, the Port of Tampa is the host and has been for over 25 years. I will be there (thanks to a friendly reminder from a manufacturing customer of mine who I usually chat with while at the conference).
It’s interesting (and telling) that neither ATI nor ArcelorMittal have been quick to accept the terms that US Steel negotiated with the United Steelworkers a few weeks back. The USW is voting on the proposed contract with US Steel right now. The vote should be released by February 1, 2016. I would be dumbfounded if the USW membership did not accept the contract.
Speaking of US Steel – they released 4th Quarter and fiscal year 2015 earnings after the market closed today (Tuesday). They reported a net loss of $1.5 billion for 2015 (ouch). We will have much more about the USS earnings after their conference call which will be held at 8:30 AM on Wednesday.
A note to those companies who have expressed an interest in sponsoring our Steel Summit Conference which will be held in Atlanta on August 30-31, 2016 at the Georgia International Convention Center (mark your calendars). We are going to cement our sponsors early as we are already working on our program and working toward our marketing plan. We would like to include our sponsors in our mailings, advertising and email blasts. Our conference has grown dramatically over the past couple of years as we bring in the highest quality speakers possible and we attract a large crowd of steel buyers and executives – networking at its best. We are shooting for 400 people this year (last year was just shy 300). If you have an interest in becoming (or renewing) as a sponsor please send an email to: Info@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
You may also have noticed that Mill Steel has become a major sponsor for our newsletter and you will see their ads on our banner throughout the year. We have other companies who are booking ads in the sidebar or working on a banner ad whether at the top of the newsletter or in the body. If you are interested in advertising with SMU please send an email to: Info@SteelMarketUpdate.com.
As always your business is truly appreciated by all of us here at Steel Market Update.
John Packard, Publisher
John Packard
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