Ovens and Furnaces and Freezers, Oh My
The effects of the bad economic practices put out by the current administration in Washington have created a perfect storm in the industry and the global economy as a whole.
Somehow The Village Idiot from Crawford,TX got loose, and a minority of like minded Americans got him into his current job. The immediate, and future repercussions are enormous, and will be long lasting....meaning at least the next generation of Americans will be paying for this mistake.
There is a definite tightening of belts being done by the plebes, and industries like mine, with larger ticket items to sell, are feeling it. Not that it is all bad. There will always be the need for the customer services we provide, I am just saying.
Not to get all politico on you, but I needed to vent and thought this was a good place for that too...Labels: belt tightening, Economy, furnaces
Another "HOT" Day
Things in the oven and furnace business are really heating up..... God that was a terrible pun.
As I mentioned last time, the conglomeration's and contractions in the Industry continue. Someone, somewhere out there, has been trying for the last 10 or 15 years to break up and destroy the good Lindberg name. Once the Cadillac of the Industry.
It all apparently started in 1915, when the Hevi-Duty Electric was formed in Newark, New Jersey. The company produced small electric laboratory-type furnaces.
In 1924 the company was purchased by the North American Company and moved to Wisconsin where it operated in conjunction with the Wisconsin Electric Power Company of Milwaukee, in an effort to promote the use of electric energy. It's principal business was to supply electric transformers to Surges Electric Company. Eventually Hevi-Duty bought Surges Company outright.
In 1955, because of government action against utility holding companies, another Utility was forced to divest itself of that company and in 1956 Hevi-Duty became an independent company.
Eventually, again due to consolidation in the Industry, Hevi-Duty was bought by the company that eventually became Lindberg.
Blue M ovens, manufactured in Blue Island, Illinois, A General Signal Corporation, was joined with Lindberg and they made some fine products throughout the 1970's and 80's, suppling the military industrial complex and other industries across the nation.
It was truly a great company. If you wanted a well built, well engineered furnace or oven, that was the place to buy one.
But I'm getting off my point.
Sometime in the 1990's Lindberg was acquired by SPX Corporation and the present demise began.
As our economy began to shrink, and we shipped more manufacturing overseas....we basically stopped making great American products here, and the need for those great American companies became smaller.
The more we stopped making products, the more companies went overseas. It's a vicious cycle. As Bob Dylan once said...." They don't make nothin' here no more".
Again, I'm off my point.
Trying to get a product out of what's left of the Lindberg company is almost impossible.....almost impossible to decipher where to look for it, how to find it, and who might build it for you.
I was told today that a furnace formerly built by Lindberg now is built by Kayex, which was part of TPS, which owns Blue M, Tenny, Gruenberg, Lunaire and MPH.
Am I loosing anybody here?
I followed the trail as far as I could,...then gave up. And I'm in the business!
Again, to quote Bob, " Well, it's sundown on the union, And what's made in the U.S.A., Sure was a good idea, 'Til greed got in the way".
There will be more rantings........there are still some fine smaller furnace manufacturers out there, I represent most of them, but it's sad when an old horse goes down.
Labels: Bob Dylan, Hevi-Duty, Lindberg, ovens
PITTCON 08
There's lots happening in the heat treat business these days, what with consolidations, corporations merging, expanding, contracting.......changing.
I was down in New Orleans for PITTCON '08 this past week. Not much for the average furnace looking type guy, but....
Thermcraft was showing a new line of products that looked interesting. They've been around for almost 40 years and their new line looks promising.......sleek design, more lab friendly than their industrial looking products. Good looking controllers.
Carbolite was also there, showing a great line of products and Rob Harms was there in person. Always nice to talk with someone who's been around since God invented fire,...and heat.
Rob started in the Industry with Lindberg in Watertown, Wisconsin way back in the late 70's. He's forgotten more than I'll ever know. As always, he's gracious and willing to share his knowledge with one and all.
One of the best if you ask me.
Nabertherm showed as well, but how many furnace companies can a guy like me represent....is 10 too many?????.....15 too much? You never know.
Saw some good blues guys as well....hey it's New Orleans, can't pass up the music in that city, it's everywhere. Gotta have some fun while I'm out on the road doing business.
I saw Big AL at a small club on Bourbon Street. They don't call him the largest guy in show business for nothing as Big Al is well over 400 lbs....well over. But a great singer and a good band.
Bourbon Street is a hoot for anyone over 30 who's not drinking and just observing the crowd. How this particular street came to allow that kind of behavior is beyond me. But it sure is an interesting view.
I will be back there for Jazzfest at the end of April....can't wait. Jazzfest is one of the best parties in America.
Labels: furnaces, ovens, PITTCON
