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In this month's issue

COVER STORY: In the Grip of a RevolutionApr 1

Bold moves by Nucor and SDI to take control of scrap companies pose a fundamental and—for some—disturbing question: will the steelmakers’ new scrap divisions be run as profit centers or become just another link in their supply chain?

Stalled in mid-air and waiting for the ‘ramp’Apr 1

Spot prices are down, lead times are shorter and fears of a shortage are mostly gone. With major programs lined up on the runway, titanium producers are hoping it’s the calm before the storm.

Washington runs the rule over e-cyclingApr 1

After some 18 months of work, Washington state recently completed an e-cycling rulebook. With extensive input from the private sector, the state is calling for the creation of a Materials Authority, making it the pacesetter for manufacturer-funded recycling imposed by law.

Mission RecycleApr 1

At Victory Base just outside Baghdad, the U.S. military is training citizens to recycle damaged weaponry. With Iraq’s borders sealed and its scrap industry virtually defunct, the initiative is helping build for the future. In the meantime, it is employing Iraqis and keeping potentially dangerous military hardware out of enemy hands.

Is Steel’s Safety Net Fraying?Apr 1

Seven workers died in seven separate accidents in the first eight weeks of this year. While no direct correlation can be drawn to link the events, the large number of fatalities in such a short span of time has caused management and workers to take notice.

Features

COVER STORY: In the Grip of a RevolutionApr 2008

Stalled in mid-air and waiting for the ‘ramp’Apr 2008

The coming of age of an e-cycling evangelistApr 2008

Washington runs the rule over e-cyclingApr 2008

Mission RecycleApr 2008

Is Steel’s Safety Net Fraying?Apr 2008

Perspectives

AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT: A biofuel-tilled field of dreams for mills and processorsApr 2008

The agricultural equipment market stands ready to prove that you can have your cake and eat it too, with the sector looking to be one of the few bright spots for U.S. steel service centers and other steel suppliers this year.

AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT: From tractors to combines, the market is feeling its oatsApr 2008

AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT: Right now, one analyst says, everyone is smilingApr 2008

HYDROFORMED TUBE: A tough road ahead for tubular auto parts proponentsApr 2008

HYDROFORMED TUBE: Tooling, welding concerns are driving caution in DetroitApr 2008

HYDROFORMED TUBE: Future growth favors high-end, low-volume vehiclesApr 2008

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING: Metal makers are heated up over microwaveabilityApr 2008

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING: US packagers are finally popping the top on innovationApr 2008

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING: Consumers and investors are kicking the traditional canApr 2008

Regions

ASIA: Soaring ore prices may be the silver bullet Beijing needsApr 2008

Something strange happened when news broke in Asia of a benchmark iron ore price increase of 65 percent. Shares in regional steelmakers went up as investors, apparently cheering the biggest rise in iron ore costs since 2005, rushed to buy.

UNITED STATES: The dawn of a new day for critics of Chinese trade?Apr 2008

CANADA: Bold, gutsy . . . but not exactly a brilliant move for metalsApr 2008

This month in metals

The month in metalsApr 2008

The Month in Metals is now available only as a PDF download. Click here to download the latest from our April issue.

Departments

PIPE AND TUBE: Dancing with the devilApr 2008

Pipe makers are pumping out product and building new mills as fast as they can to satisfy runaway demand. Unfortunately, steel prices are moving up just as fast and, in the process, threatening the viability of the same pipeline projects producers are expanding to serve.

PIPE AND TUBE: The BattlegroundApr 2008

TRADING POST: Big plans for a brand-new, steel-trading behemothApr 2008

METALS FORUM: Steel is stepping up to the climate change challengeApr 2008

FULL OF SCRAP: It’s time to close the book on one era and open anotherApr 2008

FULL OF SCRAP: Fewer and fewer options for shippers tied to the tracksApr 2008

IN THE MEDIA: King pins, hot commodities and neutron DaveApr 2008

ON THE EDGE: The battle over 3Com may be just the beginningApr 2008

Columns

ANALYST CORNER: Shortlisting the pros and cons of rowing downstreamApr 2008

With cash flow burning a metaphorical hole in the pockets of Big Steel (and I love the oxymoronic irony of including Nucor Corp. in “Big Steel”) there has been increasing talk of the industry moving downstream into both manufacturing of steel-intensive products and the distribution of steel.

ENERGY WATCH: South Africa turns a deaf ear . . . and promise into plightApr 2008

PARTING SHOTS: A trade association left searching for a mission?Apr 2008

From the Editor

The new kings of scrapMar 2008

When mini-mills such as Nucor Corp. and later Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) established the viability of electric-arc furnace steelmaking in the U.S., they overturned a few sacred cows in the process. Traditional producers had to change their game, while the knock-on impact of their strategy helped refashion the way steel was produced.