In this issue of CryoGas International, we asked five gases and welding distributors, each representing a distinct geographic region of the US, to give our readers a first-hand look at the challenges and successes they are currently experiencing in the field.
As a complement to CryoGas International’s annual “US Industrial Gas Market Report,” we present reports from WestAir in the Southwest; Lampton in the Midwest; Red Ball in the Gulf region; O.E. Meyers in Ohio; and Tech Air in the Northeast, which together lend a unique dimension to our market reporting.
Many of the challenges these distributors face are similar, but their solutions are unique to each geographical and market region. Each of the five companies weathered the economic storms of 2008–2009 and emerged stronger from the experience, but the rate at which each region recovered and the expected sustainability within each region varies. According to the US Federal Reserve’s Beige Book reports for June 2012 (federalreserve.gov/fomc/beige book/2010/20100609/default.htm), overall economic activity was on the upswing from April to May across most regions, while certain sectors showed discrepancies. Manufacturing continued to expand, but was strongest in steel and auto (good news for Meyers and Lampton) as well as semiconductors and high-tech (WestAir and TechAir). Red Ball benefitted from the surge in various forms of energy production, as did Lampton and West- Air. The farming sector has been having a good year, which is good news for Lampton in Kansas. All five companies keep an eye on the Healthcare sector as a promising growth area. TechAir notes, however, that the tax implications of each geographical area at the state level can enhance or dampen the productivity of local companies.
One constant for each company, regardless of location or market niche, is the customer. Each company voices a shared mantra that the customer in this business is key to success, both past and future. More than any other factor, customer satisfaction and loyalty will determine these companies’ successes. To continue to meet their customers’ needs, each company has a unique strategy for growth— whether by acquisition, store expansion, or plant upgrades—thereby acknowledging the need to keep moving forward, staying ahead of the curve and the next market trend.
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