January 2006

2006 Outlook Survey
Just a Little Off the Top
MCN’s Optimism Index shows little falloff in industry sentiment, which remains largely positive regarding expectations for the coming year.

Coil Coating
Prepaint Outlook’s a Gray Area
While a sound economy and hurricane rebuilding hold promise for prepainted coil sales, excess supply and excessive competition threaten to tarnish 2006.

Required Reading: China 101
Consultants advise leaders in all U.S. industries to study China’s agenda, leadership and business practices to better compete against the growing global giant.

MCN Case Study: Aluminum Blanking
Aluminum Processing for the Hole Family
Over the past quarter century, Marvin Hole’s company, Aluminum Blanking, has grown from a small startup to a specialist in the toll processing of surface-sensitive materials.

From the Editor's Desk
Bullish Price Predictions:
Perhaps Wishful Thinking?
By Tim Triplett,
Editor-In-Chief

Business Topics
Shifting Vehicle Parts Sourcing Reveals
Opportunity for North American Suppliers
By Joseph Langley, CSM Worldwide

Steel Companies Have Become
Darlings of the Stock Market
By Peter M. Fish, MEPS International Ltd.

Service Center News

• Samuel Signs Venture with
  Ferrous Metal Processing
• Centria Begins Second Phase
  of Coil Coating Line Upgrade
• ThyssenKrupp Makes Canadian Acquisition
• North American Steel
  Acquired by Esmark
• Worthington Earnings Lag
  Record 2004 Figures
• Edgen Expands with Purchase
  of Murray International Metals
• Reliance Buys Rest of American Steel
• BMG Metals to Open New Branch;
  Expand at Others

Metal Industry News

• Arcelor, ThyssenKrupp Increase
  Bids in Dofasco Takeover Attempt
• World Steel Production
  Tops 1 Billion Tons in '05
• Buyers to Increae Purchases,
  But Look for Foreign Sources
• Carpenter, Universal Raise Prices
  on Premium Melted Alloys
• Kaiser, Boeing Reach Deal
  for Heavy Aluminum Plate
• Alcoa Receives Contract
  to Develop Military Vehicles
• Stainless Production Shows Slight Increase
• Rusal Begins Production at Modernized Plant
  Eurofer Forecasts Modes Growth
  for EU, World in 2006
  
• Briefs
• People

Association News

• ITC Ruling Favors
  Wire Rod Importers
• Bye, Bye Byrdie in 2007
• Bush Rejects Section 421 Relief
  on Chinese Nonalloy Steel Pipe
• MSCI: Steel Inventories Hit
  Seven-Year Low
• MSCI Metals Activity Report
• CBSA: November Shipping Rate Ahead
  of Last Year; Execs Predict Good 1st Half
• AIIS: Steel Imports Decline
  Over 15% in November
• SSINA: Imports of Specialty Steel
  Remain Above 2004 Pace
• Briefs

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