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Casteel Reporter
October 15, 2014
We need to avoid trying to sell on value that makes price the main topic. We need to sell solutions that allow us to capitalize on our technology and closeness to the customer…
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August 15, 2014
We need to make steel casting design and use accessible to the next generation of designers and purchasers. This suggests that we will need to take some responsibility for the performance of the part and deliver a finished component to eliminate the challenges that our current customers face when using castings. We will likely need to machine and finish the casting to deliver a compliant component that is cast. We will also need the NDE and design tools to develop and deliver reliable performance that we can guarantee…
May 15, 2014
This Month’s Casteel Commentary laments the way we have misled our young people on the ways to be successful. In particular, we as an industry can help by recruiting and training artisans who can use their skills and careers to provide value and do important things…
February 15, 2014
This month’s Casteel Commentary forecasts conditions to expect this year. It includes projections from last year and I was again surprised at how close the forecast was to reality…
December 15, 2013
This month I have a guest Commentary from a member correctly objecting to my last Commentary. I was involved in discussing the relations between our industry and a large customer. It is always hard for steel foundries to deal with customers that are much larger businesses and have aggressive business practices. It is always our responsibility to run our businesses to provide a valued product at a profitable level to sustain our business and invest in the future. If we are unable to compete in the marketplace, then our customers are right to find alternative suppliers that can meet their expectations if they can. We need the integrity and strong business practices to stand up to unreasonable demands from customers and take responsibility for our success. I am glad to be corrected and commend this month’s Commentary for your consideration…
October 15, 2013
This month’s Casteel Commentary discusses four challenges we face as an industry. We need to recapitalize our plants, develop new products, recruit new people, and create new technology…
August 15, 2013
This month’s Casteel Reporter welcomes Rick Boyd as our new Vice President of Technology. It also asks for your help and insight on the best way for us as senior technical and management staff to pass along the hard lessons we have learned about making the best steel castings in History…
May 15, 2013
The Casteel Commentary reflects on changes in the producer price index for steel castings and for capital equipment. Interestingly there appears to be a 30 year capital investment cycle since the first records in 1947. This suggests that the recent pricing action and capacity shortfall should provide the opportunity to recapitalize and modernize our industry…
April 15, 2013
The Casteel Commentary considers the relative value of intermediate materials and capital equipment for the past 50 years. It is clear that for much of that time the capital equipment makers have maintained a higher relative value compared to materials suppliers. Since 2003 the value of materials has risen sharply while the value of capital equipment has been stagnant. We need to recognize that this is a global market response indicating that our customers have maintained adequate capacity for the market but material suppliers like us have not. Our relative rising prices is a market signal of the need for us to make additional capital investment in capacity…
February 15, 2013
Given the massive market distortions and rapidly changing market requirements, we are likely to see another crisis or downturn to force these needed changes. Beyond this painful event, our industry remains poised for prosperity and growth…
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