GLG News by Asphalt Experts

Gene PlavnikPresidentHeat Technologies Inc

Prepare to Drive Electric Soon(er)

September 19, 2008

Analysis of:GM Centennial: How the Chevy Volt might affect the electric grid | www.autobloggreen.com

1. High Gasoline Price 2. Low MPG standard of Internal Combustion Engine based  cars 3. Electric Utilities Support of Battery Powered Devices 4. Assurance from the electric utilities that they are ready to install charging stations in every house 5. Rising demand for electric energy in general - all of these factors point at electrically powered cars showing on the roads sooner than we expect.

Keith JonesPresidentMaterial Advisory Group, Inc.

Cemex Pricing Increase Overly Optimistic

September 3, 2008

Analysis of:Cemex Hikes Cement Prices By $25 Per Cubic Yard | www.aggregateresearch.com

Cemex announced an across-the-board $25/yard price increase for ready mixed concrete for all its operations in the U.S.  This increase is an overly simplistic plan for improving the profitability of the company in the U.S.  Cemex ignores the economics of supply and demand and the specific dynamics of each of its markets by attempting this overall increase. Even if one were to give Cemex credit for attempting to be the market leader in ready mix concrete, a price hike does nothing to change the existing market conditions in each market.  Demand will not increase in any given market nor will this price increase reduce demand.  The end result will be to drive existing Cemex customers to other ready mix producers that are competitors in each market.  These competitors will price ready mix, in actuality just a commodity, below Cemex to get the sale.  Consumers in the market are more driven by price than company loyalty.  This same price consciousness can also overcome customer service.

Keith JonesPresidentMaterial Advisory Group, Inc.

Multinational Cement Companies Continue Consolidation

September 3, 2008

Analysis of:Europe Slowdown Could Crumble Cement Makers | www.forbes.com

Acquisitions within the construction materials industry have continued in strong fashion, with multinational cement producers leading the way.  Bigger and bigger deals are being put together by the world's largest cement producers, both in the U.S. and abroad.  These producers are locked in a battle to become ever larger and diversified to keep pace with their competitors.   The U.S. is in a downward construction cycle, creating large reductions in tonnage volumes for most producers in the U.S., both domestic and foreign.  The lack of supply in many markets and the logistics of transporting these products have worked to maintain strong pricing increases.  These pricing increases have almost offset tonnage reductions to kept revenues and profits level or only slightly reduced. Whether these same conditions will carryover into other markets around the world are yet to be seen.  The reduction in share price of these public companies though will only fuel continued consolidation.

Gene PlavnikPresidentHeat Technologies Inc

Ethanol Complaints Are Only Temporary

July 31, 2008

Analysis of:In Gas-Powered World, Ethanol Stirs Complaints | www.nytimes.com

Today's condition of the production of ethanol looks as it is not cost effective. Ethanol itself has some problems in the process of combustion in the internal combustion engine (ICE). But this is today. When the ethanol producers start providing market with desireable volumes of the fuel, the situation will be improved. Needless to say the USA and the rest of the world urgently need new sources of energy.

Gene PlavnikPresidentHeat Technologies Inc

More and More Visible Changes are on the Horizon

April 18, 2008

Analysis of:Spectrolab wins 350MW CPV order from Australia’s Solar Systems | www.semiconductor-today.com

Emerging economies demanding more and more natural resources such as oil, metal on one hand, and global climate change on the other hand demand diverisfied approach to the generation of energy, more advanced utilization of its natural sources. Several countries not only changed its standards of design and construction in regard to the utilization of alternative sources of energy, but proceed with utilization of solar energy on national scale by constructing solar power plants.

Gene PlavnikPresidentHeat Technologies Inc

Interesting Development in Food Equipment Manufacturing World

April 16, 2008

Analysis of:Enodis accepts £950m Manitowoc offer | www.ft.com

Food equipment manufacturing is a growing market that several years ago was very fragmented. It is getting to be more consolidated now. Initially, a UK group Enodis was very carefully and successfully acuiring various European, UK, US and Asian based food equipment manufacturers. Now it is being purchased by a US based Manitowoc Company, part of which is manufacture commercial ice making machines and beverage systems. This fact is very interesting and deserves special analysis.

Gene PlavnikPresidentHeat Technologies Inc

Carrier Strenghtens its Position in Advancing LEED

March 10, 2008

Analysis of:Carrier Corp. Acquires Environmental Market Solutions, Inc. | www.foxbusiness.com

There are several major companies in commercial HVAC that take the lead in utilization of natural resources and advancing the automation and control. Apparently, along with major OEMs of HVAC, companies with strong background in controls also take serious postion in market place. Recent acquisition of EMSI shows that Carries has to be stronger to preserve its market share.    

Gene PlavnikPresidentHeat Technologies Inc

Hopefully More Good News about Solar Systems Yet To Come

March 6, 2008

Analysis of:Applied Materials in $1.9bn solar coup | www.ft.com

There are very few countries in the world that require mandatory utilization of solar energy in the form of solar water heating and electricity. Apparently, in our fractured times, when energy prices, especially oil, skyrocket, changes in governental regulations of energy efficiency become nrecessary. It is remarkable that emerging economies, such as economy of China take its time, attention and monetary resources to reduce its dependance on fossil fuels.

Gene PlavnikPresidentHeat Technologies Inc

Johnson Controls Is Not Only Best Shareholder Friendly Company

February 25, 2008

Analysis of:Johnson Controls wins India mall work, magazine honor | www.bizjournals.com

There is a fierce competition between major OEMs of HVAC.  JCI has positioned itself differently after acuiring York International. Its position strenghtened by offering to an end user a complete package of the equipment and controls. In addition, new, more advanced AC units came out as a product of synergy of advanced chemistry from traditinally strong part of JCI combined with knowledge in mechanical design of York.

Gene PlavnikPresidentHeat Technologies Inc

It looks like SPX Corporation made the right choice by purchasing APV

February 19, 2008

Analysis of:SPX sees 2008 profit up on global energy demand | www.reuters.com

There are several major players in the field of heat exchangers: Alfa Laval, Global Engineering Alliance (GEA), Hisaka, SWEP. Most comprehensive range of heat exchangers is offered by Alfa Laval, GEA, and APV. Hisaka offers more industrial type of heat exchangers, while SWEP specializes in the brazed ones for most of the HVAC applications. Market in China, India and Middle East demand increase of heat exchanger relevant equipment for food and HVAC application at a rate of 12-20% per year. There is an issue of violating of intellectual property rights by some Chinese OEMs, but this is not a severe threat for the whole industry.

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