Magazine Issue: August 2012

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Cover Story

Columns

• Full of Scrap: Wendy Neu’s mettle has driven herself, her business

  She broke barriers when entering the secondary metals industry, and has continued to break new ground—and old rules—ever since.

• Parting Shots: Steel’s prospects, problems bring different perspectives

  A common thread to emerge from the SSS XXVII conference is that steel markets look to be oversupplied for the foreseeable future.

From the Editor

• AMM Comment: Some visions of the future are clouded by caution

  With the fourth quarter fast approaching and the presidential election looming ever closer, the view of where metal markets are heading seems no clearer than it was six months or even a year ago.

Features

• As the seasons change, so do views on metals’ future

  Steel and aluminum producers are cautiously optimistic about where markets could be heading during the second half of this year.

• Checking the forecast: AMM/PwC surveys the metals industry

  AMM conducted a survey of global steel and aluminum executives on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers.  The results show that producers are cautiously optimistic for the near term, even as confidence has slipped during recent economic uncertainty.

• Distributors taking inventory seriously

  With demand strong, even if historically anemic, service centers have been optimistic yet cautious as they control stockpiles to help shield against price volatility and mill production while still attempting to satisfy the needs of their customers in the market.

• Stoe away: Long-time metals stalwart George Stoe retires

  Over the past four decades, George Stoe has been witness to an industry that has been severely disjointed, beset by fierce competition and many other challenges.  His experience has allowed him to develop informed visions for the future of metals processing and distribution.

• Top service centers by revenue for 2012

  This list ranks service centers by revenue, in millions of dollars.  Service centers that didn’t respond to requests aren’t included in the survey.

• Survey shows service centers' resilience

  AMM surveyed service centers on a wide variety of issues in addition to their revenues, asking about everything from their willingness to expand to their attitudes toward future mergers and acquisitions.  

• US aluminum sector keeps on rolling along

  Industry leaders say that slowdowns in European and Chinese economic growth have not significantly dampened the domestic aluminum sector, which remains relatively robust in terms of both physical demand and regional premiums despite sometimes-weak LME prices.

• Aluminum price slide could cap smelter capacity

  As aluminum prices sink on the London Metal Exchange, a majority of smelters worldwide are now operating at a loss.  With a staggering 5 million tonnes of unprofitable capacity overhanging the market, major players face some tough decisions on whether they should curtail capacity—and by how much.

• AMM ’s 2012 Steel Excellence award winners

  Ten awards recognizing advancements rooted in technology, customer service, logistics and other practices were presented to those within the steel industry and its support services whose efforts stood apart from their peers over the past year.

• AMM aluminum award winners announced for 2012

  Nine AMM awards recognizing achievements within the aluminum sector and related industries were presented to mark some of the greatest ideas, performances and people, shining a light on those who have excelled in their fields.