The acquisition part of the glass industry has been pretty
quiet in the last few years. While some
smaller deals have taken place, the mega deals have not. Well I can tell you that if the hot rumors
blowing up my phone and e-mail are true, there is one such mega deal coming
soon. Simply to say if this deal happens it will change the landscape of the
industry again. Back in my past life I
could throw the names out there (like I did when I broke the EFCO-Pella and Oldcastle-Vistawall
deals) but things are different these days.
People are more careful (me included) and companies like to float things
to throw me off the scent (yes I have been told as much), so I’ll just leave it
at the teaser above. In any case I’m
grabbing the popcorn and sitting back waiting to see if/when this one happens….
It should be very interesting.
Elsewhere…
-- Guardian announcing the closing of their Floreffe, PA plant
will be the third domestic float plant to go off line in the last year
now. So you now can add that to the many
(nine at least) gone since 2006. In some
circles you are hearing that this whole tightening of glass supply may be made
up. All I am saying is its now down to
pure math & logic. It’s A LOT less
capacity matched to better and improving business conditions. So as a consumer of glass you have two
choices… look for a conspiracy and start arguments or plan to be proactive and
be on top of your game with active communications and prepared logistics. Your choice… but math and logic are on my
side on this one. And if the tightening
does not turn out to be serious, guess what… your business actually got better
because you had to become even more efficient than before. No downside at all to that.
-- There is one other major potential tightening of supply in
the world right now that could be a concern… that would be a potential shortage
of Chocolate. Amazingly as this story
breaks down for you, even a product like this suffers from many supply chain
issues too. Glad I am back on the diet
again as when I get off M&M’s may be $10 per bag.
-- So I have to ask my readers in California for some insight
into what I am hearing is a massive mess with Title 24. Evidently municipalities are developing their
own codes which are confusing and beyond the current written code in
place. This “wild wild west” mentality
is throwing the various code inspectors into a bit of a flux and thus delaying
code decisions and actual occupancy of buildings. So folks in California I’d love some input on
what is happening there and if it’s as crazy as it sounds. Or is it just the good ole California way of
doing business? At the end of the day
though it’s already tough enough to do business when you are dealing with codes
and ratings as it is, but a moving goal post is surely not fun.
-- Speaking of energy…. In Washington DC it will be interesting
to see if the change in the make up of the Senate will help the Shaheen-Portman
energy efficiency bill get off the ground.
There are some positives in that bill that would be good for our
industry for sure.
-- Coming soon… my list of potential Industry MVP’s… last year’s winner was Tracy Rogers of
Quanex. Who will take home the prize in
2014?
LINKS of the WEEK
-- This could be tremendous news. The cause of ALS possibly found…
-- 12 year old runs away and lives in an IKEA store for 6
days. Wow.
-- Very sad story and the need to do something with regards to
the Greek system at colleges. The
drinking and initiation process have to get under control.
VIDEO of the WEEK
The Seattle “Seahawk” lands on a poor guys head. Crazy.
Maybe because the guy had good hair, something I will never have to worry
about!
1 comment:
hope u had a happy birthday
edp
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