From the Content Strategist
What a quarter it has been!
Higher interest rates and tightened budgets have made financing
construction projects more expensive, suppressing both new
builds and renovation activity. At the same time, the market has
faced unstable pricing for metals used in PVF products, impacting
manufacturers’ costs and pricing strategies. While demand
remains somewhat unpredictable, forecasts are still optimistic,
with the PVF market projected to grow steadily in the years
ahead.
Like many of you, I’ve been working to navigate this short-term slowdown within my own company—which, in turn, caused this publication to run a little behind schedule. Still, this is our largest issue to date, featuring more advertisers than ever before—a clear sign that the PVF Roundtable continues to grow while supporting students in the trades through scholarships that help bring new talent into our member companies.
Inside this issue, you’ll find:
*Details on a valve scam currently making the rounds (page 7).
*A feature on the Texas Pipe Family of Companies delivering PVF solutions through American Craftsmanship (page 23).
*A profile of Walter Pierce’s career with Western Forge & Flange Co., and the legacy he’s leaving as a Blueprint for the Future (page 28).
*Insights from GMi Group on Precision, Partnership, and Progress (page 46).
*Photos from our August Dinner Meeting with guest speaker Chad Prather (page 56).
*Two engaging thought pieces: Mind Parking (page 64) and The “Broken Windows” Theory (page 72).
*A Q&A with a PVF RT Member, Tristen Ortega about his experience with the Roundtable (page 78).
*A highlight from OK Pipe & Fittings, Inc., who share the largest fitting they’ve fabricated to date: a 108” Mitered Elbow (page 88).
*A PVF Young Professionals Update by Shanna McKelvain of One West (page 92).
Thank you for supporting our charitable mission and continuing to network with us. Globally, the pipe, valve, and fittings market is set for expansion, fueled by major investments in water treatment, chemical processing, and energy infrastructure. The energy sector, in particular, is expected to keep growing—and together, we’ll be ready for it.
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Krystal Hatfield
CMO - OK Pipe & Fittings, Inc.