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Selling new and used equipment since 1990

May 2010

In This Issue

  • Wood Industry in Trouble
  • Fine Protection / Explosion Protection
  • Light At The End Of The Tunnel?
  • OEMs Busy? Young Workers Footing Bill?
Wood Industry in Trouble

Unfortunately for the wood industry OSHA has targeted you. OSHA is visiting every wood plant, cabinet shop and lumber yard to make sure you are in compliance with Federal Regulation 664. This regulation is specific about fine protection, equipment required and compliance when returning air to the building. No plant or shop is exempt. See regulations attached.

Intriguing to me is the compliance language regarding small stand alone units (5000 CFM and under). Did you know that small units cannot be within 25’ of the worker or student? Every school or cabinet shop with small units inside will most likely have to move the unit outside and install an explosion vent.

The last concern is the cost of the equipment ($10,000 to $25,000) in these hard times. OSHA has no sympathy for you! They are SELF FUNDED and the more fines they write the more money they make. Let’s hope they use some rational in these tough times.

Fine Protection / Explosion Protection

After the explosion at a sugar plant in GA, federal authorities turned up their compliance regulations on all plants. A regional sales manager from Fike Corporation, a fine/explosion protection equipment manufacturer says we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. Their business has DOUBLED in the last year. The same is true with Flamex, Grecon and Clarke fine protection companies.

Word from Fike officials is that OSHA plans to hit wood and food plants hard this year. Other industries such as grain, aluminum polishing and light metals are next. Utilities are in full engineering modes in turning coal dust capture systems into wet collection over the next five years.

Are you ahead of the game? Don’t be standing there with a large fine in hand. Be proactive. Where can you start? American Air Filter offers both wet and dry collection equipment. C&W can help identify your needs and make recommendations on fine protection from Fike explosion vents, chemical systems to Flamex spark detection equipment. Give us a call.

Light At The End Of The Tunnel?

Is the recession over? The experts seem to think so. We are seeing signs of progress, or are we? Recent federal laws are stimulating business and crushing business at the same time. The enforcement of federal fine protection regulations has stimulated a portion of the economy for mechanical contractors and fine protection manufacturers.

Likewise, they are crushing small shops being required to implement regulations. Small businesses don’t have an extra $20,000 to direct to comply with fine protection requirements. We have already seen some shops/wood facilities close their doors because of the poor economy and housing market. Will these regulations put more at risk? One can only assume so.

OEMs Busy? Young Workers Footing Bill?

Original equipment manufacturers are busy dusting off dd quotes and updating pricing. This may be a sign of improvement. Let’s hope the new healthcare bill doesn’t still the progress. Catapiller and John Deere announced millions of dollars of projected loss revenue due to the passage of the health care bill. Who is going to pay for it?

Not us older folks (50 and older)! The young worker is in serious financial trouble and they don’t even know it! Recent bailout monies and government borrowing won’t be paid back anytime soon. The weight of our financial woes will be bore by our young workers (30 and younger). Their future is at risk.


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