Metal Center News March 2009

3-2009 Table of Contents

March 2009

Copper Market Outlook
Sheer Badness
Auto, housing and electronics markets have been particularly hard hit by the poor economy, short-circuiting demand for wiring, electrical components, plumbing and other copper and brass products.

Service Center Sales Compensation Survey
Break-Even Year in ’08
2008 started out strong enough to soften the blow late in the year, but service center sales professionals face dicey demand in 2009.

MCN Roundtable: North American Steel Alliance
‘What’s the Forecast? We Just Don’t Know’
NASA members shared their views of the difficult steel market and their hopes for better times in the year ahead in the latest roundtable moderated by MCN Editor-in-Chief Tim Triplett.

MSCI Carbon Conference
Steel Won’t Feel Construction Stimulus Until 2010: Economist
Federal spending will shorten the recession, but real recovery for the construction sector won’t take hold until 2010 and beyond, says one leading forecaster.

Service Center Fourth-Quarter Report & Outlook
Positioning for a Very Different Year
High steel prices and solid demand early in 2008 sustained leading service centers through a disastrous fourth quarter. In their year-end financial reports to analysts and investors, service center executives describe how they are girding for a tough 2009.

From the Editor's Desk
Prepare Your Organization
for a Long, Slow Recovery
By Tim Triplett,
Editor-In-Chief

Business Topics
Service Centers May Find
Tax Breaks 'Stimulating'
By Mark E. Battersby

Commentary and analysis on the metals market from Editor Tim Triplett

More...

Subscribe to MCN"s e-newsletter.

More...

Pause

Business Solutions for Service Centers by experts in their fields.

More...

The Cutting Edge, Cutting and Sawing Equipment, a service center technology supplement to Metal Center News

More...

Systems Designed with Metals in Mind: What Service Centers Should Know About Today's Software Solutions

More...

Pause

All the latest products for the Metal Service Center Industry

More...

TRUMPF TruLaser Improves Bevels, Welds

More...

Behringer Offers High-Production Saw for Pipe, Bar

More...

Miyachi Unitek Offers 5-Axis Fiber Laser

More...

Pause

Directories

Metal Distribution 2012 is your on-line guide to Metal Producers, Equipment Manufacturers and Software companies.

2012 Directory of Master Distributors
Not Published on This Web site
The Metal Center News Directory of Master Distributors—distributors who sell to other distributors—is an invaluable tool for service centers seeking new sources for special or hard-to-find products. Master distributors play an important role in the marketplace, giving service centers an alternative to buying in mill quantities and helping to remove redundant and excess inventories from the distribution channel.

Print copies are available for $85 U.S. for each copy. Download Order Form.

2013 Directory of Toll Processors
Not Published on This Web site
Metal Center News' annual toll processing directory is a simple-to-use resource to help companies locate service providers that can meet their specific processing needs.

Print copies are available for $85 U.S. for each copy. Download Order Form.