John Packard

Georgia-based Kloeckner Metals Corp., a metal processor and service center company, recently purchased Washington, Pa.-based Camalloy, a nonferrous service center specializing in stainless steel and aluminum. “Camalloy raises the bar for our non-ferrous business, helping us deliver faster service and more dependable supply to stainless and aluminum customers,” John Ganem, Kloeckner Metals CEO, said. The purchase will allow Kloeckner to increase its coverage of the Mid-Atlantic, enhance its ability to support customers across the Midwest, enhance its ability to deliver responsive stainless and aluminum solutions, and improve its ability to serve major industrial hubs such as Philadelphia, Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus. Camalloy’s 35,000-square-foot facility includes shearing and PVC application capabilities and as a fast-turn service center that supports an established customer base in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. Camalloy supports customers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Indiana, Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Kloeckner Metals Corp. employs approximately 2,800 people at more than 45 branches in the United States and Mexico. In fiscal year 2024, it generated pro forma sales of $4.2 billion. The company is a subsidiary of Klöckner & Co. In addition to metal processing and service centers, the company provides customers access to electrical steel, aluminum, and stainless steel.

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#CPA Calls on #TrumpAdministration to Prioritize #MetalFabricators in Ongoing #TradeActions Domestic Steel and Aluminum Industries Should Not Be Used as Pawns in Negotiations WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) today urged the Trump administration to refocus attention on the challenges facing America’s metal fabricators — a critical sector of the domestic industrial base — and ensure that Section 232 steel and aluminum measures remain firmly centered on rebuilding U.S. production capacity. Domestic steel and aluminum are vital industrial sectors that should not be used as pawns in trade deals to advance the interests of Big Tech. On Monday, Bloomberg News reported on an interview with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. In that interview, Secretary Lutnick called on the European Union to roll back rules governing Big Tech. The Secretary then said: “In exchange for that, we will come up with a cool steel & aluminum deal.” Trading away aluminum & steel workers’ home market in exchange for padding Big Tech’s bottom line overseas is immoral & wrong. The Section 232 actions on aluminum & steel should be singularly focused on rebuilding domestic output across the supply chains, not used as leverage to help Google & Meta become even more profitable. “Section 232 actions exist to strengthen America’s industrial resilience — not to become bargaining chips in unrelated negotiations,” said Jon Toomey, President of CPA. “Metal fabricators form the backbone of the U.S. supply chain. They deserve policies that reflect their importance to both our manufacturing economy and our national security. On Black Friday and throughout the holiday season, American consumers will still be buying barbeques and gun safes made in China, and AI data centers will be buying steel conduit made in Mexico — even though we have ample domestic capacity to produce these goods here at home with American steel.” Over the past year, several policy adjustments have unintentionally increased pressure on domestic metal fabricators. These critical defects have especially harmed downstream metal fabricators, who represent the vast majority of jobs and value-add in the metal supply chains. February: The Section 232 steel and aluminum actions were modified, so as to waive the imports on downstream steel and aluminum products if the foreign fabricator used domestic steel and aluminum. The logic for such a move is not at all apparent, given that domestic steel mills and aluminum smelters cannot satisfy domestic demand. The effect is thus to displace domestic fabricators — the mills and smelters’ best customers — with overseas customers, who inevitably enjoy lower labor costs and less stringent environmental rules. April: At a time when American metal fabricators were already facing increasing costs for their purchases of U.S. steel and aluminum, the Administration waived aluminum and steel tariffs on automotive parts from Canada and Mexico.…

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Scrap the Exports, Save U.S. Supply: Treating Aluminum Scrap as a Strategic Asset: The Aluminum Association released a new report this week- "Scrap the Exports, Save U.S. Supply" endorsing targeted aluminum scrap export controls to boost American industry and national security. The U.S. aluminum industry depends on recycled aluminum and imports for its domestic demand. Nearly 85% of aluminum produced in the U.S. today is secondary aluminum made from scrap, compared to just 20–30% in the 1980s. Yet the country exports about 2 million tons of aluminum scrap annually to Asian countries—roughly 26% of total scrap generated . Aluminum scrap is a strategic resource and 2 million tons recycled scrap could save 31 billion kWh per year. At a time when the nation faces a 4 million ton supply gap, retaining this scrap could replace up to half of U.S. aluminum imports and help meet soaring demand from the upcoming rolling and recycling plants. The Aluminum Association’s proposal for targeted export restrictions on UBCs and mill-ready scrap can ·      Strengthen U.S. production and manufacturing ·      Reduce import dependence and energy use ·      Support $11B+ in new domestic investments ·      Boost circular-economy growth Read through the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gimdniqa Recycling Today DeAnne Toto Nadya Ally The Aluminum Association Charles Johnson REMADE Institute® Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) Robin Wiener Light Metal Age AL Circle International Aluminium Institute Marlen Bertram

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North American Scrap Metal Market — Oct 10 2025   📉 Copper − 20¢ | Brass − 5¢ | Aluminum − 3¢ | Steel Flat   Profit-taking and weaker auto demand led to a mixed finish this week.   🧠 Pro Tip: Hold clean grades — rebounds typically follow fast.   🔗 Full report → ScrapMonster.com #ScrapMonster #RecyclingIndustry #MetalMarkets #Commodities

📅 April 6, 2025 📌 HRC — $1300: Welcome to the New Reality In November 2024, I forecasted the rise of steel prices across the US, Europe, and China. Today, this is no longer a prediction — it’s a reality unfolding before our eyes. ⸻ 🇺🇸 USA | HRC: $950–980 25% import tariffs + tight domestic supply + reshoring = market power shift. My forecast: $1250–1350/t by September — still stands. This isn’t a price rally. It’s a systemic transformation. ⸻ 🇪🇺 Europe | HRC: $770/t Europe’s story is different. This is not a “recovery” — it’s a silent contraction. Rising CO₂ costs, energy pressure, supply bottlenecks — and weak demand. Yet, protectionism is kicking in. The EU is following the US playbook. My target: $1050–1150/t by Q3 — unless the automotive sector collapses. ⸻ 🇨🇳 China | HRC: $480–490 Flat price. Rising tension. Production limits, rising exports, domestic slowdown, and tightening environmental policy. No crash — but pressure builds. My forecast: $850–950/t still holds. When China moves — the world will feel it. ⸻ 🎯 3 Markets — 1 Pattern: Every region now protects its own. Every region rewrites the rules. And those who wait — will lose. ⸻ 📉 Don’t mistake volatility for chaos. This is a reprogramming of the global steel cycle. Central banks will step in. Supply chains will localize. Capital will shift. The rules of the game are no longer the same — and those clinging to the old ones are already behind. ⸻ If you’re unsure whether to trust my view — scroll through my past 3 years of posts. No edits. No deletions. Just raw foresight and structured thinking. That’s how real strategy works. ⸻ Final word: Markets don’t explode in silence. They whisper first. And if you don’t hear it — someone else already moved. #BuyPipeView #SteelForecast #HRC #GlobalMarkets #Strategy #Metals #SupplyChain #USA #Europe #China #Tariffs #Reshoring #MarketUpdate #KomarView

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A good reminder this morning for those of us in the #recycledmetals industry while stopped at a traffic signal, which by the way is #manufactured using recycled metals including galvanized #steel, #aluminum, and #insulatedcopperwire. #recycling #essentialindustry #essentialproducts #essentialjobs #manufacturing

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The divergence in prices between iron ore and scrap in 2026 creates favorable prospects for the billet market. The downward trend in #ironore prices will continue next year, marking the fifth consecutive year of decline. Based on the consensus I gathered for my article on the GMK Center website, prices for #Fe62% fines could fall to an average of $94 in 2026. While the first half of the year may be relatively favorable for exporters, the second half will be more challenging. #Scrap prices next year, by contrast, could rise by 20% from current levels to $420-440/t for HMS 80/20 CFR Turkiye. There are two reasons for this: the first is an increased need for scrap in the EU to replace reduced imports, and the second is the potential introduction of restrictions on scrap exports from the EU. See my previous post.

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I couldn’t be more proud of what our team is accomplishing with the TruMarket scrap procurement platform. This isn’t just software. It’s an engine built specifically for manufacturers looking to maximize their scrap revenue and bring real intelligence into the equation. We’re reporting measurable wins across our client base — rate improvements, stronger buyer competition, and in several cases, six-figure annual value that had been hidden inside legacy scrap programs. Scrap is a measurable performance lever and TruMarket is delivering. If you’re running multi-site manufacturing operations and want to understand what your scrap program should be delivering, let’s talk.

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PPGI processors often face challenges they attribute solely to the quality of polymer coatings, thickness, or paint material characteristics. However, most issues stem not from the coating itself but rather from the unique features of the galvanized substrate, such as excessive stretching during temper rolling, improper roughness control, or non-compliance with specified norms.A prime example of this situation is the T-bend test used to assess coating flexibility. Based on my experience, over 90% of PPGI plasticity inconsistencies arise directly from the peculiarities of the underlying galvanized strip—not due to flaws in the applied paint layers themselves.Damage primarily occurs because deep microcracks form in the zinc layer beneath the paint. When these cracks widen significantly, they cause damage to the topcoat, compromising the entire protective coating's flexibility. Consequently, the final product fails to meet standard testing requirements for plasticity. Unfortunately, we cannot enhance the substrate’s properties (fix the GI issues) when applying polymer coatings. It is worth noting that both the plastic properties of the zinc coating and the annealed steel itself improve after temper rolling. While current regulations emphasize the importance of this process, they do not specify exact parameters or roughness levels. Therefore, one of our company's key priorities aimed at improving product quality involves rigorous study and strict regulation of these critical parameters together with our raw material suppliers.

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🎙️ Manufacturing is more than machines and materials—it’s about people, perseverance, and purpose. This episode of Brothers, Battles & Bounty from Trendler is a must-listen for anyone in the industry. Insightful stories, real challenges, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build and sustain a successful manufacturing business in today’s world. 👏 Hats off to the Trendler team for keeping it real and keeping it moving. #ManufacturingMatters #MadeInUSA #FurnitureManufacturing #CommercialFurniture #LeadershipInManufacturing #Trendler #FamilyBusiness #Resilience #HospitalityDesign #OperationsExcellence #IndustryInsights #BrothersBattlesBounty https://lnkd.in/g4UP8eYc

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The first 10 seconds decide if customers return. Do you agree? In a scrap metal recycling business. Its not only about the price. In fact it's often about: The first interaction. The greeting. The attitude. Was it a smile… Or a grunt. “Just drop the metal over there!” That moment sets the tone for everything that follows. Customers don’t just remember what they got paid. They remember how they were treated. A good experience turns a once-off load into a regular customer. A great experience turns that customer into a 10-year relationship. And long relationships build strong businesses. Great customer experience doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built. With systems. With the right people. With clear expectations. And by measuring how your team treats customers every single day. If you’re not improving your customer experience. Someone else in your region is. And they’ll win the loyalty. Curious to hear from others in the industry: How would you score your yards customer experience out of 10? #MetalRecycling #ScrapMetal #CustomerExperience

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U.S. Scrap Copper: Rerouting Around China’s 10% Tariff🏭 Some U.S. metal dealers are navigating China’s 10% import levy by redirecting scrap copper through interim hubs—Canada, Mexico, and Vietnam—before reaching end users in China . Previously, direct exports to China amounted to 39,373 metric tons in January—but by July, that figure plummeted to under 600 tons . Yet China’s total import volume remained steady at about 190,000 tons, signaling a shift to indirect supply channels . This workaround underscores a highly adaptable supply chain—one that risks legal and compliance exposure while keeping global copper markets in balance. These developments come amid heightened trade tensions, emphasizing the lengths suppliers will go to preserve vital market access . #Copper #TradePolicy #SupplyChainResilience #Commodities #GlobalTrade

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https://lnkd.in/g9zc6djt The arrival of EPA 2026 standards marks a turning point for the coatings and painting industry. These guidelines address the environmental impact of solvent-based paints, hazardous air pollutants, and outdated application methods that contribute to poor air quality. Many facilities that rely on traditional industrial coatings will need to adopt safer alternatives, upgrade equipment, and adjust maintenance schedules to align with the new EPA regulations. #EPA #SustainableLiving

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📊 Copper vs Silver: A Strategic Shift for the Fastener Industry The global push toward renewable energy and electrification is reshaping material choices across manufacturing. One of the most important developments is the **solar industry’s gradual shift from silver to copper electroplating**—a change with **direct implications for the fastener industry**. This transition is not only about reducing costs. It reflects a **long-term focus on sustainability, supply security, and scalable manufacturing**. ### 🔩 Why this matters to fastener manufacturers Silver has long been used for high-conductivity applications, but rising price volatility and limited availability are driving manufacturers to seek alternatives. Copper electroplating is emerging as a strong solution, offering: • Up to **97% IACS electrical conductivity** • Performance comparable to standard annealed copper • Better cost stability and material availability • Suitability for high-volume production ### ⚙️ New opportunities ahead This shift is expected to accelerate demand for: • Electrical & earthing fasteners • Solar mounting and grounding fasteners • Electroplated bolts, nuts, washers & connectors • Busbars, clamps, and current-carrying assemblies For early adopters, this means **cost efficiency, improved margins, and stronger OEM partnerships**, especially in renewable energy and electrical infrastructure projects. ### 🏭 Electroplating: From finish to performance driver Electroplating has evolved from a surface finish into a **critical performance parameter**. Copper electroplating enables uniform coatings, improved contact efficiency, and long-term electrical reliability—key factors for export-focused manufacturers. ### 🇮🇳 India’s opportunity With a strong MSME base, established electroplating capabilities, and rapid renewable energy expansion, **India is well-positioned to become a global sourcing hub for copper-based fasteners**. > The fastener industry is no longer purely mechanical—it is becoming an integral part of the electrical and energy value chain. --- ## 🚀 Coming Up Next 📕 **Fastener Print Directory 2026** India’s most comprehensive directory connecting fastener manufacturers, traders, electroplaters, OEMs, and exporters. 🏭 **Meet us at the India Fastener Show** 📍 Pune, India 📅 April 2026 --- **Published by:** **Mumbai Fastener Digital Magazine** *Connecting the Fastener Industry with Future Opportunities* #MumbaiFastener #FastenerIndustry #FastenerManufacturing #IndustrialFasteners #ElectricalFasteners #CopperElectroplating #SurfaceTreatment #ElectroplatingIndustry #RenewableEnergy #SolarIndustry #CopperVsSilver #MakeInIndia #IndianManufacturing #MSMEIndia #FastenerPrintDirectory2026 #IndiaFastenerShow

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US import rebar and wire rod pricing steady to down with low demand as supplies remain high US import rebar and wire rod prices were steady to lower this week in limited new trade as domestic demand remains unremarkable even as reports of high inventories continue, market insiders told SteelOrbis. Despite across-the-board 25 percent import tariffs, an increase in the volume of US finished steel imports into US ports continues to pressure prices, as international suppliers attempt to maintain cash flow at a time when global steel demand remains unremarkable and scrap pricing is on the decline... Full story: https://lnkd.in/dMi_4k3z

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