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PVF e-news, December 6, 2007

Brought to you by Supply House Times

Editor Jim Olsztynski

Sponsored by ... 

IPD_2c

For more information click the logo or ipd@asa.net

This edition of PVF e-News includes:

 

PVF Insights

Breaking News
New PVF Products

PVF Data

PVF Hot Links
Upcoming Events
Contact the Editor

Other cool stuff

 

PVFeNews-logo-2 Back issues of PVF e-News are now archived on both the Supply House Times and PVF Roundtable's websites. Click here for easy access to the Supply House Times archives, or here for the PVF Roundtable.

PVF Insights

Is The EU All It's Cracked Up To Be?EU

by Jim Olsztynski

With the Euro riding high and many EU economies in the best shape they've been in years, it may seem to some that the European Union is on its way to becoming the dominant global economic power, as many economists predicted when it was formed. This diamond still has plenty of flaws, however.

The story reported here by Bloomberg News is about the EU getting ready to follow the lead of U.S. companies in filing antidumping complaints against China's steel imports. To this reporter, though, the key sentence in the article is ... 

"Any punitive measures proposed by (EU Trade Commissioner) Mandelson will probably spark a split among the EU's 27 governments, mirroring what happened when he called for anti-dumping duties to punish Chinese and Vietnamese exporters of leather shoes."

Imagine if U.S. trade policies required ratification by our 50 states. The EU has a long way to go before it lives up to the second half of its name.

Breaking News

ASA_IPD_Open_HouseIPD Proves Big Draw At Network 07
ASA's Industrial Piping Division was buoyed by attendance from some 220 individuals from IPD companies at Network’07, held in Anaheim last Oct. 24-27. Those attendees represented 70% of the IPD membership
.  A large selection of IPD activities was highlighted by a new networking event, the IPD Open House. Sponsoring the event were: American Valve, Anvil International, Apollo Valves, Bonney Forge, Crane Energy Flow Solutions, Hackney Ladish, Legend Valve & Fitting, Merit Brass, MilwaukeeValve/Hammond Valve, The Phoenix Forge Group, Victaulic, Ward Manufacturing, Welding Outlets, Westbrook Manufacturing and Wheatland Tube/Sharon Tube. Shown in the photo at the Open House are ASA IPD Vice Chairman Pat Adams of MKS Pipe & Valve Co. (left) and IPD Chairman Dennis Niver of McJunkin Red Man Corp
. For more information about the IPD, contact Deputy ASA Executive Director and IPD Liaison Amy Black.

 F.W. Webb's Coutermarsh Honored By A-DErnie Coutermarsh- FW Webb- Affiliate of the Year Leadership
Ernie Coutermarsh, the popular senior vice president of F.W. Webb's industrial division, was honored by Affiliated Distributors as the 2007 "Affiliate of the Year for Leadership." Countermarsh is shown on the left, with President Bill Weisberg of A-D.


Stokes To Replace Retiring Koenig At NW Pipe
Northwest Pipe Co. announced that effective Jan. 1, 2008, Gary Stokes, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Water Transmission Group, will assume the new role of senior vice president, Water Transmission Group. He will replace Charles Koenig, senior vice president operations of the Water Transmission Group, who is retiring.

Tyco Flow Control Enjoys Banner Year
Tyco Flow Control finished its fiscal year and 4th quarter in grand fashion, according to parent Tyco International. Revenue for the Flow Control Div. increased 23% in the quarter with organic revenue growth of 16% driven by double-digit growth across all businesses, including industrial valves, water and thermal controls.  For the full year, division revenue increased 20% to $3.8 billion, with organic revenue growth of 14%. Tyco Flow Control designs, manufactures, sells and services valves, pipes, fittings, valve automation and heat tracing products for the water and wastewater markets, the energy markets and other process industries.

Penn Machine Works Gains ISO 9001
Pennsylvania Machine Works, Inc. successfully completed the ISO 9001 certification process with Lloyds of London.  The ISO Certificate is available for downloading at the company's website and  covers all three of its facilities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Texas.  In addition, the company's forging division has achieved PED Certification with Lloyds as Registrar.

EMS Hires Rizk To Head Corrosion Services
TonyRizkEMS Group announced that Tony Rizk has joined the company as vice president – corrosion & integrity services, North America.
EMS Group’s Corrosion Services Division performs a wide range of pipeline corrosion services to support pipeline operators across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Rizk, who had been working for El Paso Corp., has 20 years of corrosion engineering experience.

 

You Really Should Read This ...

Ethanol Is Losing Its Luster

So says this captivating cover article from the Nov. 28, 2007 Wall Street Journal.

Just For The Heck Of It ...

A Christmas Storycountry_christmas_wreath

I penned this article several years ago in Supply House Times and there's still time to follow its lead this holiday season. It may help combat the frenzy and holiday fatigue that strikes so many people at this time of year. (Registration may be required to access our archives, but it's free and takes little time.)

Just Updated

Math_for_Plumbers_7EMathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters, 7E
Fully updated for optimal learning, Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters, 7E remains a trusted resource for essential math concepts in the plumbing and pipefitting trades. With an emphasis on real-world examples that will prepare readers to successfully transfer their knowledge to on-the-job situations, this book utilizes the most currently used fitting materials to demonstrate key concepts. Simplified, clear explanations and a straightforward approach, combined with new units on changes of state, pressure and heat, and mechanical advantage, make this an ideal tool for anyone entering the field.

Check out the entire line of products at AECStore.com or call Stephanie Weingartz at 248/244-1275 with any questions.

Watch For Your Economic Census Form

Chances are, your business will receive a 2007 Economic Census form from the U.S. Census Bureau in December. Forms go to all but the very smallest businesses in this tally done once every five years.

The forms ask for basic information like your location, employment, payroll, and sales by type of product or service. Businesses that receive a form are required by law (Title 13, U.S. Code) to respond.

Businesses, communities, and governments use Economic Census data for planning and market development. Statistics are published for more than a thousand industries as well as for states, counties, cities and metropolitan areas at business.census.gov.

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke has called this census "indispensable to understanding America's economy." Please be sure to participate.

BNP Media Search:
 

PVF Data

Ferguson's commercial and industrial business now accounts for more than 60% of its revenue, parent company Wolseley noted in reporting third quarter results for its North American operations. The report said Ferguson's revenue was up around 5% in the quarter ended Oct. 31 due to acquisitions, but the housing slump rendered organic growth "marginally negative." Staff reductions are still underway at Ferguson and when completed employment will have been reduced by more than 10% from its peak."

Several major steel mills have announced strip mill price hikes of $30 per ton effective in January. However, sluggish market conditions have led some to hold off on implementing increases announced in October. Read more here.

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in November for the 10th consecutive month, while the overall economy grew for the 73rd consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.

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Hot Links

Adams

Joan Adams on PVF Supply

 

Negotiations
Every conversation is a negotiation, and there are three principles at the root of a successful negotiation. Read the details.

 

 Industrial PVF News

 News in the December issue of Supply House Times includes items on the ASA Industrial Piping Div., Warren Alloy, Grinnell Mechanical Services, Tariffs on welded pipe from China, Industrial hotspots and more.

Upcoming Events

Power Gen International, Dec. 11-13, New Orleans

API Exploration & Production Winter Standards Meeting, Jan. 21-25, 2008, Ft. Worth, TX

AHR Expo 2008, Jan. 22-24, New York City

NASPD Annual Convention, Feb. 28-Mar. 1, Las Vegas 

MCAA Convention, March 2-8, Palm Desert, CA

International Supply Management Conference & Exhibition, May 4-7, St. Louis 

Plastics In Underground Pipes 2008, May 22-23, Houston

NFPA World Safety Conference & Expo, June 2-4, Las Vegas

NASPD Summer Conference, June 12-14, San Francisco

National Manufacturing Week, Sept. 22-25, Rosemont, IL 

ISH North America, Oct. 2-4, Atlanta

NASPD Fall Conference, Oct. 9-11, Boston

Facility Management Association World Workplace 2008, Oct. 15-17, Dallas

ASPE Engineered Plumbing Exposition, Long Beach, CA, Oct. 27-28

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