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Cap & Trade Prospects Look Dim

One of the most contentious pieces of legislation around -- and potentially the most harmful to industry and our economy in general -- is the so-called cap-and-trade bill that was rushed through the House but has been stalled in the Senate for months.

According to Intrade Gazette, an online newsletter of the Intrade Prediction Market, the bill, which would establish and cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gas emissions, is stalled in the Senate as Republicans boycott committee hearings.

Chairman of the Environment and Public Works committee Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is considering using a loophole in committee rules to bypass the boycott and approve the bill. Doubts remain that the bill would pass a floor vote however. Ben Nelson (D-NE) has stated that cap-and-trade will not pass during this session of Congress.

U.S. Levels Highest Ever Duties On China OCTG
The U.S. International Trade Commission last week imposed preliminary antidumping duties on Chinese makers of OCTG pipe ranging from 36.5% t0 99%. The duties apply to imports that totaled $2.6 billion in 2008, making it reportedly the largest trade sanction ever imposed by the U.S. These are in addition to previous countervailing duties of 10.7% to 30.7% the ITC announced in September on these products. The action was in response to a petition filed by six U.S. steel pipe manufacturers earlier this year.

MEPS: U.S. Steel Prices Look Weak For Dec.
That's the most recent conclusion of the British metals tracking firm MEPS. "Although October/November mill bookings are good for the available capacity, December is filling up very slowly," say the researchers.

Kelly Pipe's Cohen Retires; Gross Is Now CEO
Effective November 5, Earle Cohen (right in photo) has retired as president and CEO of Kelly Pipe Co.  (Santa Fe Springs, CA). Cohen has spent 55 years in the steel pipe distribution industry, more than a quarter century leading Kelly Pipe, and was the first president of the National Association of Steel Pipe Distributors. Leonard Gross (left in photo), Kelly's COO, will continue in that role and assume the position of CEO. Gross has been associated with Kelly and its affiliated companies for 34 years, including many years as executive vp and member of the board of directors of Familian Pipe and Supply.

Collins Gains Expanded Metso Coverage
Collins Pipe & Supply announced that they and their Niagara Controls Division have been selected by Metso Automation as the sole manufacturer's representative for the Neles Brand Products (effective Nov 23rd 2009) and an authorized distributor for the Jamesbury Brand Products (effective immediately) for the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and upstate New York.

Specialty Piping Opens Warehouse Near Chicago
Specialty Piping Products  opened a new 12,000-sq. ft. warehouse in St. Charles, IL on Nov. 2 where they stock high temperature alloy fittings ½" - 24" in seamless ASTM/ASME A/SA234 WP-11, WP-22 & WP-91 for the power industry, and WP-5 & WP-9 for the refining industry. SPP's inventory is Exxon and Shell approved with mill test reports. SPP was established in September 2007 by Bob Qualey, who previously worked for several of the major alloy distributors during his 19 years in the specialty PVF industry.

Marmon/Keystone Opens New Canadian DC
Marmon/Keystone Canada has announced the start-up of its newest service center in Headingley, near Winnipeg, Manitoba. Construction of the 63,000 sq.ft. pipe and tubing distribution center is completed and fully operational. The new warehouse/office complex replaces the former location at Sylvan Way, Winnipeg.

MRM's Transmark Acquisition Now A Done Deal
The sale of Transmark Fcx Group B.V. to McJunkin Red Man Corp. has been completed, creating the leading global platform for the distribution of pipe, valves and fitting products. This trans-Atlantic transaction is one of only a few significant distribution acquisitions to be completed since the credit crisis began in September 2008.

Milwaukee Valve's Herschel Seder Gets Honored
Milwaukee Valve Chairman Emeritus Herschel Seder (right in photo) received the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award Oct. 27 from accounting firm RSM McGladrey during its Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution Executive Summit in Oak Brook, Ill. "Thanks to Herschel Seder's foresight, every U.S. aircraft carrier, battleship, submarine, frigate and support ship in service today are outfitted with his firm's products," RSM McGladrey noted. Seder, 91, started selling valves to the U.S. Navy shortly after he and former partner Max Koenigsberg acquired Milwaukee Valve 50 years. He is shown at the podium with Paul Pinkus, managing director of RSM McGladrey.

New Pipe Hanger Standards Published
The Manufacturers Standardization Society (MSS) has published a newly revised and enhanced Standard Practice,SP-58-2009, Pipe Hangers and Supports -Materials, Design, Manufacture, Selection, Application, and Installation. This comprehensive Standard Practice combines all of the content of five pipe hanger and support standards into a single document. MSS SP-58-2009 will serve as a complete guide for pipe hanger and support design, manufacture, selection, and installation.

Outokumpu Updates Corrosion Handbook
Outokumpu Corp. has published the 10th edition of the Outokumpu Corrosion Handbook. First published in 1934, the handbook is an important tool for corrosion engineers, metallurgists, designers and other specialists when looking for solutions for corrosion problems and selecting the correct stainless steel grade for a certain application. The 10th edition has a special focus on industries with demanding applications such as desalination, pulp and paper and oil and gas industry. For more information, please contact: Arne Bergquist, Research Engineer Avesta Research Centre, tel +46 226 812 42, mobile +46 70 348 17 05, e-mail: arne.bergquist@outokumpu.com.

Warren Buffett Goes Back To Basics

The stunning announcement that Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway investment group is about to spend $44 billion to buy a railroad sparked this intriguing assessment of his thinking. Buffett is betting that economic recovery is right around the corner, and that coal will continue to be a key fuel in supplying our nation with energy.

And don't you just love his back-to-basics philosophy!

  Leader's Guide:

Essentials of Profitable Warehouse Operations (CD-ROM) $189.00

Tech Tip #34 by Gregg Marshall
To help you make the most of the Digital Age.

Blog to Connect with Your Customers

Gregg Marshall, CPMR, CSP, is president of Rep Connection Inc. He can be reached by e-mail at gmarshall@repconnection.com, or visit his LinkedIn profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/greggmarshall.

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Also From Grinnell -- HDPE Piping System
Tyco Fire Suppression & Building Products has released the GRINNELL® MECHANICAL HDPE Piping System. The system is currently comprised of the Figure 9094 HDPE Flange Coupling, Figure 9095 HDPE Coupling and the Figure 9097 HDPE Transition Coupling. All three HDPE couplings ensure installation in mining, irrigation and tunneling applications. To learn more about the HDPE Piping System, visit www.grinnell.com.