February 2020 Volume 2

PRESIDENT'S NOTE

A Brief Look Back

Well, it’s been two years since I walked into the offices of the Forging Industry Association. It’s been tough at times but I still can’t believe my good fortune. I’m fortunate to have been gifted with a great team and had some great luck finding a couple more gems during a tough hiring market. I’m also fortunate to be

Ike also found a path for nominally involving his children in the business, hired a professional president to guide them, and everything is looking up at ETNA Products. I could have written this paragraph on any number of forging companies I’ve met with, but I’ve known Ike now for 32 years and wanted to share his example of someone building something and creating value and opportunity for his people. It’s a great story that I’m so glad I got to experience - even from the sidelines. Issue #1 at the FIA–Fair Trade Fortunately, the fair trade issue was made crystal clear to me in my second week at FIA when meeting with a longtime member and it was corroborated by other industry leaders. There will be no FIA without members who are thriving and, at present, the industry continues to be hampered by unfair trade. Fast forward: the Fluid End Block (FEB) Coalition will have its first conference at the United States International Trade Commission (ITC). Many readers and those who attend FIA member events are well aware of trade attorney firmCassidy Levy Kent LLP led by trade attorneys Jack Levy, Myles Getlan, andThomas Beline.This trio has educated and led FIAmembership on all matters related to fair trade sinceMarch of 2018.The FEBCoalition is made up of Ellwood City Forge and Finkl Steel, with FIA as a non-funding supporter. You can read more on this on pg. 29 of this issue. FinalThoughts I look forward to seeing many of you at upcoming events. The Midwest Meeting on January 27 will have happened, and we’ll look for you on Lobby Day, February 25-26, in Washington D.C.. Next, we’ll have the FIA Annual Meeting in Naples, FL. As always, please reach out to me with any thoughts, concerns, or questions. We’re here to serve and would like to hear from you. We are always open to an invitation to visit your plant. I regularly get out and try to see as many members as possible. Don’t be shy - ask for a visit. Sincerely, James R. Warren

the "external guy" who gets to visit with members all over North America and take the pulse - first-hand - of what is happening. It has not been all roses with the energy market and fair-trade issues but the last two years have had some bright spots. Not so sure about the next year with its tough economy, EVs, and an election, but one thing I know is that this industry is resilient and won’t cower. A LeaderThen and Now

I had the great fortune of recently meeting up with one of my earliest mentors from my first professional job, 1988 at SME, while visiting with our newest FIA member Summit Steel in Chagrin Falls, OH Ike Tripp, Jr., president of ETNA Products, a

metal forming lubrication supplier. Ike’s just down the street from Summit Steel and had 20 minutes to spare for a visit. I remember Ike being tough and demanding excellence as we assembled industry programs. During our conversation I whined a bit about industry consolidation and how it’s taken a toll on FIA’s membership (and dues). Ike shared that there’s been no shortage of suitors for his company and it would have been easy to sell out. But that’s not Ike. He couldn’t let his loyal staff down as buyers would likely come from his competition and many employees would lose their jobs through consolidation. It made me think about all the forging owners and leaders I’ve met these two years and how much pride they conveyed regarding their staffs: the longevity of commitment to the company, work ethics, joy brought to the workplace, etc. Let’s hear it for all the owners who stick it out and take care of their people! I celebrate you!

President and CEO Forging Industry Association

PUBLISHER James R. Warren jwarren@forging.org CONTRIBUTOR Angela Gibian angela@forging.org Editorial Staff

Board of Directors

Gerald Bornman Joseph Cipriani Robert Dimitrieff Mike Gill Jeff Klingerman

Chelsea Lantto Douglas McIntyre David Mesick John Pale Greg Timmons

OPERATIONS Joseph R. Boni joe@forging.org DESIGN Lorean Crowder lorean@forging.org

CHAIRMAN Alex Jennings VICE CHAIRMAN Kurt Ruppenthal

FIA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020 1