[EDITOR’S NOTE]
Lower oil and gas prices may benefit some construction and transportation companies in the short term, but they’re too unreliable at present to apply any measure of long-term optimism as it relates to overall project costs and/or economic outlooks. Ultimately, an unstable oil market represents a different reality for the construction, rigging, and transport marketplace than it does the consumer economy. As a result, companies have had to adapt to this volatile
new norm, and it isn’t always good for business. Portland Cement Association Chief Economist and Group Vice President, Edward J. Sullivan, recently pointed out during a World Concrete Summit, “… there is little potential for positive impacts for construction activity resulting from lower oil prices that would materialize in the first half of 2016.” In times like these, it pays to diversify: where one door closes, another one can
certainly open. And some wire rope companies are turning towards more targeted marketing efforts to inject life into their brands amidst an unstable economic climate. In this issue, we take a comprehensive look at modern marketing, and reveal how rigging companies throughout the industry can distinguish themselves and avoid getting lost in the chaos or the crowd. Of course, it’s not all doom and gloom—in fact, it’s Oscar Season! Tat’s right, the
88th Academy Awards kick off on February 28th, and as a tribute, writer Mike Chalmers interviewed Keir Beck, one of the most experienced and sought after Stunt Rigger/Stunt Coordinators on Earth. With over two decades of adventure sports and climbing under his belt, and nearly fifteen years at the helm of his own entertainment rigging company, Beck has become a world-renowned specialist in the Film Rigging arena. Fresh off the set of Mad Max: Fury Road, Beck peeled back the curtain on the high-risk, high-reward, high-intensity profession he has come to love. And with the start of any new year, most companies are looking ahead at any number of business opportunities and strategies. But sometimes, valuable perspective can be gained by simply looking to the past. In this issue, we take a look back at an unforgettable project: the colossal transport of the nation’s largest water plane—Howard Hughes’ “Spruce Goose.” Te giant wooden “flying boat” was originally built in Southern California in the early 1940s as a prototype strategic airlift military transport aircraft, but the war ended before it could be completed. Te ensuing project of housing, maintaining, transporting, and restoring this beast became a legendary tale that spans seven decades—eventually landing the plane at the doorstep of its current location, Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum (McMinnville, Oregon), in 2001. It’s a must-read account of the trials and tribulations (and eventual happy ending)
of a truly precious piece of American history. And, needless to say, you’ll probably recognize quite a few tools and tactics used to get Te Goose “home.” As always, we’re grateful for your continued readership and we look forward to
deliver you to the front line of industry news and events. Best,
Upcoming Events Lift & Move USA
February 10 | Houston, TX
liftandmoveusa.com
NATE Unite February 22-25 | New Orleans, LA
natehome.com
New York Build Expo March 7-8 | New York, NY
newyourbuildexpo.com
MODEX 2016 April 4-7 | Atlanta, GA
modexshow.com
Bauma 2016 April 11-17 | Munich, Germany
bauma.de
AWRF Spring Meeting & PIE April 17-20 | New Orleans, LA
awrf.org
SC&RA Annual Conference April 26-30 | Orlando, FL
scranet.org
OTC – Offshore Technology Conference May 2-5 | Houston, TX
2016.otcnet.org
WSTDA Annual Meeting May 3-5 | San Antonio, TX
wstda.com
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THEWREXCHANGE
Melissa Hood, Editor | Wire Rope Exchange P.O. Box 159323, Nashville, TN 37215 Email:
mhood@wireropeexchange.com
2 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016 WIRE ROPE EXCHANGE
PROUD SUPPORTER
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