How was 2013 for your company? Was it better/worse than 2012 and/or was it better/worse than you had expected?
2013 has been a very busy year for CAN-ENG. We have been able to help many of our existing customers increase their furnace capacity. This year has brought many opportunities globally with equipment commissioning scheduled for early 2014.
Looking forward, do you anticipate that the general economy will be better or worse in 2014 than it was in 2013, and why?
We are always hopeful that the economy will grow. However, our forecasts indicate that 2014 will be very similar to 2013.
How about your business in particular – do you see 2014 being a better year than 2013? If so, why?
We expect 2014 to be a great revenue year. As always we are looking develop our business and build relationships with new customers.
Are there certain industrial sectors that you expect to do well in 2014?
CAN-ENG has typically seen staggered sales cycles between the three main sectors of our business: Steel Heat Treatment Systems, Aluminum Heat Treatment Systems and Continuous Mesh Belt Furnace Systems. In the past three years, we have seen orders come from all sectors at the same time. Currently, we have orders in each sector, and I would expect this trend to continue.
Do you do business internationally? If so, what regions do you see growing significantly in 2014?
CAN-ENG has equipment throughout the world. Many of the furnaces that we have designed and built over the past 50 years have been destined for the U.S. Currently, we have active projects in Russia, India and China.
What is the one thing you are most worried about and/or excited about in 2014?
It is difficult to target anything that that we are specifically worried about in 2014. CAN-ENG has a very strong team of hardworking people, and we are cautiously optimistic that the year to come will yield opportunities that play into our strengths as a world leader in thermal-processing technology.
How was 2013 for your company? Was it better/worse than 2012 and/or was it better/worse than you had expected?
Lucifer Furnaces had a great year. We had solid sales of heat-treating furnaces and ovens throughout several industrial sectors – schools, tool rooms, production facilities and government.
How about your business in particular – do you see 2014 being a better year than 2013? If so, why?
Lucifer Furnaces is expecting another strong year. We are busy with furnace and part orders, and we look forward to exhibiting at IMTS in September.
Are there certain industrial sectors that you expect to do well in 2014?
Tool rooms continue to call for our Red Devil and dual-chamber furnaces. Research facilities, including labs working with advanced ceramics, call for our high-temperature models. Other production facilities call because they want to bring their heat treating in-house. Schools call us to add to or update their equipment to train the next generation of heat treaters.
Do you do business internationally? If so, what regions do you see growing significantly in 2014?
Lucifer Furnaces sells a steady percentage of furnaces and ovens to our North American neighbors as well as overseas.
What is the one thing you are most worried about and/or excited about in 2014?
As a family-owned business for over 60 years, we are excited about our cohesive team of employees. We have a great group designing, selling, building and shipping. We’re in a good position to stay strong, focusing on meeting the needs of customers with made-in-the-USA-quality equipment and excellent customer service.
How was 2013 for your company? Was it better/worse than 2012 and/or was it better/worse than you had expected?
2013 is shaping up to be a strong year for SECO/WARWICK in North America. We expect revenue growth compared to 2012, and we’ve undertaken several new projects, including the scheduled deliveries of a roller-hearth furnace, several high-profile vacuum furnaces and a solution heat-treat furnace in 2014.
Looking forward, do you anticipate that the general economy will be better or worse in 2014 than it was in 2013, and why?
I’m cautiously optimistic about the U.S. economy right now as most economists are predicting GDP growth to continue to accelerate in 2014. The weakness of the dollar versus many global currencies is making U.S. manufacturing attractive again for a lot of companies that have sent work overseas in the past. Repatriating manufacturing work will help boost the economy, and we’ve already been seeing it to some degree.
How about your business in particular – do you see 2014 being a better year than 2013? If so, why?
Yes, I expect the growth SECO/WARWICK experienced in 2013 to continue in 2014. SECO/WARWICK will continue to offer proven products such as Vortex Jet Heating, custom-engineered roller-hearth furnaces and some of the world’s largest and most technically advanced vacuum furnaces. SECO/WARWICK will continue pioneering advancements like the Universal CAB batch furnace for economical aluminum brazing and hybrid technologies like the CaseMaster Evolution, which blends the speed and efficiency of vacuum carburizing with a fast and reliable oil quench. SECO/WARWICK utilizes its global engineering team to create products that fit the lean manufacturing profile: reduced cycle times, automated processes, smaller equipment footprints and improved energy efficiency. These are features we test in our research-and-development lab in Europe and in our operations around the world.
How was 2013 for your company? Was it better/worse than 2012 and/or was it better/worse than you had expected?
It was about as expected. Certain segments were stronger, while others were somewhat flat.
Looking forward, do you anticipate that the general economy will be better or worse in 2014 than it was in 2013, and why?
For 2014, we anticipate the U.S. economy should see modest growth and slight labor market gains, although wages will most likely remain flat. The consumer sector (which is a significant driver) should continue to heal along with the housing market.
How about your business in particular – do you see 2014 being a better year than 2013? If so, why?
As much as business leaders like stability and clarity to plan, it will be dependent on the underlying confidence to increase capital expenditure, the pace of business spending and the effect of possible slower global growth on U.S. exports.
Are there certain industrial sectors that you expect to do well in 2014?
Yes, both automotive and energy.
Do you do business internationally? If so, what regions do you see growing significantly in 2014?
Yes. Mexico and Asia.
What is the one thing you are most worried about and/or excited about in 2014?
One disconcerting issue is the current dysfunctional environment enveloping Congress and the subsequent general public dissatisfaction. Case in point, the recent Federal budget and national debt debates. Additional concerns for 2014 include the European situation, a global economic slowdown and volatility in the price of oil.
How was 2013 for your company? Was it better/worse than 2012 and/or was it better/worse than you had expected?
Overall sales targets for 2013 were exceeded by 8%. Vacuum furnace equipment and part sales have increased by 38% from 2012.
Looking forward, do you anticipate that the general economy will be better or worse in 2014 than it was in 2013, and why?
Although it is still far from an economic boom, we feel that the economy is healthier than it has been since the financial crisis. It’s getting harder, in fact, to argue that this recovery lacks staying power.
How about your business in particular – do you see 2014 being a better year than 2013? If so, why?
2013 has been a very good year in terms of business, and based on our order backlog we expect 2014 to fare as well as 2013. We’ve witnessed steady sales growth since the first quarter of 2011 and predict that this trend will continue at least until the Q3/2014.
Are there certain industrial sectors that you expect to do well in 2014?
We expect to do well in the commercial heat-treating sector, where we are anticipating repeat orders from customers that have purchased and operated our furnaces.
Do you do business internationally? If so, what regions do you see growing significantly in 2014?
International sales have been increasing over the last three years, especially in growth areas such as southeast Asia. We expect continued demand for our furnaces in this region as many of our sales are repeat orders from customers that are investing in new equipment to expand beyond home base in new locations.
What is the one thing you are most worried about and/or excited about in 2014?
It looks like the U.S. economy has created private-sector jobs since 2010. We hope that this will continue to gather strength. We’re also hoping that the worldwide economy improves in 2014 and gains ground in Europe. However, the economy has a way to go before it returns to full strength. Even though growth is being restrained by a lack of confidence and uncertainty, our export business will continue to do very well.
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