STI-SPFA endorses CEEM to take action on steel "dumping"
Dumping finished products
Among STI-SPFA members, anecdotal reports indicate that Far East nations, discouraged from exporting raw steel to the U.S., are now "dumping" steel via finished products. Pressure vessel fabricators have been taking action to encourage Congress to impose limits on dumping.
The Coalition of Energy Equipment Manufacturers (CEEM) is managed by HBW Resources, a lobbying firm with strong ties to the Trump Administration. There are currently 15 companies who are dues-paying members of the coalition. Among them are STI/SPFA members Boardman, New Industries, Eaton, Enerfab, and New Castle Stainless Plate.
CEEM has developed proposed legislation to address the problem of dumping of finished steel products into the U.S. The "Domestic Energy Equipment Purchase (DEEP) Act of 2017" addresses the challenges, requirements, and benefits of such legislation.
Read a summary of the draft DEEP Act here.
CEEM COALITION MEETING IN FEBRUARY
The members of CEEM invite all pressure vessel manufacturers to watch for an email invitation to a meeting in Houston in February. Whether you're an STI/SPFA member or not, CEEM needs your ideas and your voice! |
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PMAA asks EPA for delay in testing requirements
In a December15 letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt, the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA) requested a three-year delay in testing requirements for containment sumps, spill buckets and overfill prevention devices.
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Employers must publish injury data effective Jan. 1, 2018
 The US Department of Labor (DOL) announced OSHA's
Final Rule to "modernize injury data collection to better
inform workers, employers, the public, and OSHA about
workplace hazards."
Under the new rule, employers in high-hazard industries
must send OSHA injury and illness data for public posting
on the agency's website. (These employers are already
required to collect this data.)
All establishments with 250 or more employees in
industries covered by the record-keeping regulation
must electronically submit to OSHA injury and illness
information from OSHA Forms 300, 300A, and 301.
Establishments with 20-249 employees in certain
industries must electronically submit information from
OSHA Form 300A only.
These requirements do not add to or change an
employer's obligation to complete and retain injury
and illness records under the Recording and
Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses
Regulation.
For OSHA info on "improving injury tracking"
click here.
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Scott Fenwick new chair of ASTM D02
ASTM has officially announced that Scott Fenwick, technical director for the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is the next chairman of the Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants.
"I am honored to serve as chair of this important ASTM committee that is dedicated to ensuring high quality standards for petroleum products, fuels and lubricants, including biodiesel," said Fenwick.
Scott is well-known to many STI/SPFA members, as he often attends our Annual Meeting and has spoken at many conferences and meetings related to our industry.
According to ASTM, Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants was formed in 1904. The committee, with a current membership of approximately 2,650 global industry professionals and experts, has jurisdiction over nearly 850 standards. These standards play a preeminent role in all aspects relating to the standardization quality of fuels and lubricants.
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ASTSWMO: 2016 State Fund Survey Results
ASTSWMO is the Association of State and Territorial Waste Management Officials. In partnership with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, ASTSWMO conducts an annual survey of all State Financial Assurance Fund programs and provides results on their design characteristics, funding, and fund activity.
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Welcome
n
ew members!
We're glad you've joined us! You'll find your member benefits and the camaraderie of industry peers valuable assets. Be sure to explore www.steeltank.com.
FABRICATOR MEMBERS
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Mark your calendar for superb networking and exciting speakers
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2018 Annual Meeting
April 14-17, 2018
Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass Resort
Chandler, Arizona
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2018 Fall Conference
September 19-20, 2018
Hilton Post Oak Hotel
Houston, Texas
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NEW!
Plant Managers' Workshop
Sept. 18, 2-5 pm
Sept. 19, 8 am-12 pm
Hilton Post Oak Hotel
Houston, Texas |
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One, Two, Three Coats for Army Base Water Tank
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| Fort Polk tank before... |
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A fascinating article appeared on the Coatings Pro website in late September. Since the project also included two STI/SPFA members, we thought we'd share. Blastco, a TF Warren company, was the coating contractor; and The Sherwin Williams Co. was the coatings manufacturer.
"Operated by U.S. water andwastewater utility American Water, a massive 1,000,000-gallon (3,785,412 L) elevated water tank welcomes visitors to Fort Polk, Louisiana. The U.S. Army installation, located near the Texas border, has served as an Army training base since 1941, and troops continue to march through the streets to this day.
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...and after. |
"So when a 10-man crew from coatings contractor Blastco, a TF Warren company, arrived at the site in October to recoat both the exterior and interior sur
faces of the carbon steel tank, they immediately found a number of unique challenges..."
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Enter your best in the
2017 Product Awards
 Show off your production pride and skills! All members are encouraged to enter the annual STI/SPFA Product Awards.
Entries for all categories must have been brought to market and available for purchase or implementation January 1-December 31, 2017.
Each entry must be in only ONE of 11 product categories, but you may submit in multiple categories. Deadline for entries is Friday, March 2, 5 pm Central Time.
Steel Water Pipe Product Awards
Steel Water Pipe Section members set a new record for entries for the 2017 Product Awards. They submitted seven in Pipe Fabrication; five in Pipeline Project; and three in Pipe Affiliate Project/Product, for a total of 15 entries.
The entry and voting process for the three steel pipe categories in the annual Product Awards is well underway. The Pipe Section votes earlier than the other awards, so they can announce the winners at their January meeting in conjunction with SWMPTAC.
Steel Water Pipe Section members, watch your email January 2 for the ballot. You have only 10 days to vote, until January 12.
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Items of interest:
NFPA 30 2018 Edition
Enforceable under OSHA and many state and local regulations, NFPA 30: Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code is widely used in industry and by insurers.
The 2018 edition of the Code includes the latest and most complete criteria to ensure safe storage, handling, and use of flammable and combustible liquids.
After a three-year cycle of committee work, NFPA's membership passed these revisions to NFPA 30 in late 2017, for publication in 2018:
- Adopted NFPA 142A "Outline of Investigation for Special Purpose Steel Aboveground Tanks for Specific Flammable and Combustible Liquids," as an Appendix item.
- Rejected three proposals adopting additional language that would bring in UL 2583 as an acceptable standard. UL 2583 provides performance testing requirements for emergency vents and other AST appurtenances.
- Accepted UL 2039 for Flexible Connectors.
- Rejected API 12P "Specification for FRP Tanks." The Committee would not accept FRP AST's as equivalent to steel.
- Accepted the removal of the ANSI designation of UL 1316 standard for FRP UST's. UL pulled the ANSI designation ten years ago.
- Rejected a proposal that appeared to attempt to circumvent requirements and limitations for plastic pipe installed aboveground.
- Accepted modifications to language regarding operating pressures of atmospheric storage tanks: "Atmospheric storage tanks shall be vented so as not to exceed the tank's design operating pressure or a gauge pressure of 1 psig, whichever is less. It is recognized that a slight vacuum is necessary to operate a vacuum vent."
Click here to purchase NFPA 30, 2018 edition. Back to top |
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Confined Space guidance revised
STI/SPFA's Safety & Health Committee has revised our "Confined Space Guidance" to meet OSHA requirements.
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Tax reform generates 94.6% optimism
In early December, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) released results of its Manufacturers Outlook Survey for 2017's fourth quarter,"...showing manufacturers' optimism has risen to unprecedented heights amid the legislative progress made on tax reform.
"With 94.6 of respondents saying they are positive about their own company's outlook, this quarter's optimism level is the
highest in the survey's 20-year history.
Optimism has been at historically high levels throughout the year, averaging 91.8% in the four quarters of 2017, up from a 64.3% average in 2016."
Now that the tax reform package has been signed by President Trump, the major item of interest to manufacturing is reduction of the corporate tax rate to 21%.
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Job opening at STI: Technical Manager/Standards Engineer
At its offices in Lake Zurich, Illinois (northwest suburb of Chicago), STI/SPFA employs 13 staff members to serve the membership.
We are currently seeking a Technical Manager/Standards Engineer to join us. T
he person in this position will work mainly with STI's Shop Fabricated Tank Section. Much of the work
will be done independently, but in collaboration with STI's Technical Committee.
Responsibilities
include, but are not limited to:
- Revise and maintain STI standards;
- Represent STI at industry meetings, conferences, and trade shows;
- Work collegially with various regulatory bodies and relevant organizations;
- Develop and present educational presentations;
- Continually work to create the best possible opportunities for steel tanks.
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Seats open on 2018 Board of Directors
There are seats available on the 2018 Board of Directors. If you have an interest in serving,
click here to learn more and express your interest to the Nominating Committee.
Deadline: January 31, 2018, 5 pm Central.
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James R. Rhudy retires
 Jim Rhudy has been STI's
Safety & Health guru for over a
decade. On behalf of all members, w
e thank Jim for the continuity that he
provided the S&H Committee, for closely monitoring the OSHA
regulations, and for his support of the Members and the
Association ... always in a professional manner.
Jim, you're a great guy and we are going to miss you!
Introducing
Jerome Spear
 We're pleased to introduce the membership to Jerome Spear, our new Safety & Health consultant. Jerome has over 27 years of experience helping organizations prevent injuries and illnesses, control losses, and achieve regulatory compliance. He is both a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH).
Remember, your STI/SPFA membership entitles you to up to two hours per month of Jerome's consulting services.
Jerome, we look forward to your expertise!
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NEW! LinkedIn page just for Steel Water Pipe
The pipe page already has several interesting posts. For example, Dennis Dechant asks, "Is AWWA killing steel pipe?"
To access these resources, click the links above and log in or create your LinkedIn account today!
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Member News
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Got news about
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Tad Cooper is now President and COO of
The Acterra Group. Among other accomplishments, Tad is a 25 year veteran of the industry and a former board member of PEI.
Terry Cooper, will continue to be fully involved as Chairman and CEO of Acterra.
Cargill Metals Supply Chain has been purchased by Plateplus, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metal One. Cargill Metals is an Affiliate Member and
Jim Ponton says he intends to retain Cargill's interest in STI/SPFA.
D3 Technologies
has established an Engineering Services Division. It combines engineering, design, and drafting capabilities with the latest technologies.
Empire Steel has closed its business. Brothers
Bill and Tom Breen followed their father Tom Sr. in the business he started 53 years ago. Empire Steel joined STI/SPFA in 1985 as a Fabricator Member.
Induron Protective Coatings recently announced a new product. Indurethane Monarch HS is "the next generation of urethane technology," according to Davies Hood, president, "combining high gloss, durability, and color."
JSW Steel USA has announced plans for a full-scale plate mill modernization project expected to take about 20 months to complete.
Rich Stevens will retire from
Morrison Bros. Co. effective Jan. 5. Rich spent over 40 years in the petroleum industry, 17 of them at Morrison, said Sales Manager Jerry Schollmeyer.
Gary Yambor has been promoted to Sales & Marketing Manager at
The Phoenix Forge Group. Gary began his career in 1990 at Capitol Manufacturing and by 2002, was representing three companies, including Phoenix Forging. Those companies are now part of The Phoenix Forging Group and Gary will bring his 27 years' of industry experience to a broader corporate and national level in his new position.
Terry Tidy of
Regal Tanks, Ltd. spoke on behalf of STI/SPFA at a NISTM Tank Conference in Honolulu earlier in 2017. He talked about ASTs, Fireguard, and coating applications.
Samuel Pressure Vessel Group has invested in new equipment and plant upgrades at both its Marinette, Wisconsin, and Lebanon, Virginia, facilities. Both locations will feature a new 30' x 8' plasma table with 5-axis beveling head, capable of burning up to 96" diameter shells.
Tanknology has named
John Harris VP of Operations (previously Regional Sales Manager) and
Ric Young Sales Manager (formerly Inside Sales Representative) in the southeast region. Ric is a member of STI's Standards Committee.
United Performance Metals, an affiliate company of
O'Neal Industries, has added a 6kw fiber laser to its steel processing equipment.
Ryan Getz, Laser Cell Leader at UPM, says, "The new fiber laser takes our service to the next level of speed, precision, and performance."
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About
The Insider
The Insider is STI/SPFA's Members-Only e-newsletter, reporting news and information about the association, its members, and its activities on their behalf.
To comment or submit copy, contact The Insider editor.
Disclaimer: Technical and other information published in The Insider is provided without representation or warranty, express or implied. In particular, STI/SPFA does not warrant the accuracy of information presented from external sources.
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