Final Thoughts

March 7, 2018
Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
I am in Scottsdale, Ariz., attending the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA) annual meeting. I was asked to speak on a panel with Nucor Executive Vice President for Flat Rolled Ladd Hall and Don McNeeley, President of Chicago Tube and Iron. The timing of the conference couldn’t have been better for the fabricators, toll processors and service centers who made up the majority of the 300 attendees. President Trump was the main topic since he was about to announce his final decision on Section 232 tariffs.
Dr. Chris Kuehl of Armada Corporate Intelligence and FMA’s Chief Economist began his comments with, “We have been treating the steel industry as an industry bastard-child for years.” That theme leaked into other presentations including the Packard, Hall and McNeeley panel.


