President’s Message From Bert Goering
Turning the Corner When I wrote my original message for this space earlier this summer, vaccination rates were on the rise and it appeared that we had reached the turning point of what had been a long COVID corner. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘to turn the corner’ as “to get past the most difficult area or period in something and begin to improve.” For those of you who took time to read my message that was sent to all SMI members in mid-August, you learned that we had not quite gotten past the most difficult part of COVID. So it was with sadness that I announced the difficult decision to pump the brakes on the 2021 SMI Metal Engineering eXpo (SMEE) in Las Vegas and postpone it until 2023. After having so much of our lives interrupted due to COVID-19, there was a pent-up demand to gather for a much overdue industry event that would feature cutting-edge business and technical education, numerous opportunities to network with industry colleagues and a venue to showcase the latest offerings and solutions from our associate members. Postponing the show was a difficult decision for the SMI Executive Committee and was due to many factors, some of which included: 1. The health and well-being of all our members, attendees and exhibitors during these unprecedented times. This was reflected in underwhelming show registrations and a decline in the availability of speakers to attend, and the difficulties many exhibitors were experiencing to either get the desired equipment and/or support staff to Las Vegas. 2. A delta variant that has once again put our global community back to travel restrictions and quarantine requirements. Our initial plan to hold our trade show and educational symposium, in conjunction with the U.S. hosting the ongoing ISO TC 227 meetings, was derailed by the recent ISO mandate that all ISO meetings were to remain in virtual mode for the time being. 3. To support the ability of our associate members to maximize the exposure of their services and offerings across the U.S. Our associate members partnered with us from the start on the concept of SMEE being held across the country, and invested heavily to make these shows successful. As we listened to the concerns of our partners and digested the reality of the negative ROI for all of us, their feedback was clear to us that it was most prudent to pause the 2021 event and not blindly forge forward to hold a show where all signals were as red as a stop sign. While disappointed to postpone the 2021 event, we are excited for the opportunity to have the worldwide spring industry join us in 2023. We plan to invite the ISO TC 227 group to come to the U.S. in 2023 so we can host their meeting. Plus, our European and Asian counterparts who are members of the VDFI, JSMA and ESF are eager to join us. We still believe the eXpo is the best place to connect with our valued suppliers, learn from industry leaders, and network with industry peers. Please join us in Vegas in 2023, where we can finally toast together this ‘turning of the corner.’ Cheers! Bert Goering
2 / SPRINGS / Fall 2021
SMI Executive Committee President: Bert Goering, Precision Coil Spring Vice President: Gene Huber, Jr., Winamac Coil Spring Secretary/Treasurer: Don Jacobson III, Newcomb Spring At Large: David DeVoe, Plymouth Spring Past President: Steve Kempf, Lee Spring Executive Director: Lynne Carr, SMI
SMI Board of Directors Jennelle Carlier, S3 Wireform • Kelley Christy, Diamond Wire Spring • Dave Deerwester, The Yost Superior Co. • Joe Devany, Betts Company • Chris Fazio, Diamond Wire Spring • Linda Froehlich, Ace Wire Spring & Form • Brett Goldberg, International Spring • Agustin Estalayo Ibanez, RPK Mexico SA de CV • Don Lyons, JonSpring • Peter Mendel, Kern-Liebers USA • Rob Meyers, RK Trading • Alex Melnikow, Midstate Spring • Tony Pesaresi, Winamac Coil Spring • Daniel Pierre III, JN Machinery • Keith Porter, Newcomb Spring • Chris Witham, Motion Dynamics Corp. • Tim Zwit, Michigan Spring and Stamping
Springs Magazine Staff Lynne Carr, Advertising Sales, lynne@smihq.org Gary McCoy, Managing Editor, gmccoy@fairwaycommunications.com Dina Sanchez, Assistant Editor, dina@smihq.org Lisa Plefka Haskin, Art Director, lisahaskin95@gmail.com
Springs Magazine Committee Chair, Keith Porter, Newcomb Spring • Reb Banas, Stanley Spring & Stamping • Lynne Carr, SMI • Ritchy Froehlich, Ace Wire Spring & Form • Tim Weber, Forming Systems • Europe Liaison: Wolfgang Herrmann, VDFI • Technical Advisor: Dan Sebastian, Honorary Member Advertising sales - Japan Ken Myohdai, Sakura International Inc. Head Office: 3F,4F, ENDO Sakaisuji Bldg., 1-7-3, Bingomachi, Chuo-Ku, Osaka 541-0051, Japan Phone: 81-6-6624-3601 • Fax: 81-6-6624-3602 Tokyo Global Office: 5F Kamei No. 2 Bldg., 2-17-13, Kiba, Koto-Ku, Tokyo, 135-0042, Japan Phone: 81-3-5646-1160 • Fax: 81-3-5646-1161 E-mail: info@sakurain.co.jp Advertising sales - Europe Jennie Franks, Franks & Co. 63 St. Andrew's Road Cambridge United Kingdom CB41DH Phone/Fax: +44-1223-360472 E-mail: franksco@BTopenworld.com Advertising sales - Taiwan Robert Yu, Worldwide Services Co. Ltd. 11F-B, No 540, Sec. 1, Wen Hsin Rd. Taichung, Taiwan Phone: +886-4-2325-1784 • Fax: +886-4-2325-2967 E-mail: stuart@wwstaiwan.com Springs (ISSN 0584-9667) is published quarterly by SMI Business Corp., a subsidiary of the Spring Manufacturers Institute: 2001 Midwest Road, Suite 106, Oak Brook, IL 60523; Phone: (630) 495-8588; Web site www.smihq.org. Address all correspondence and editorial materials to this address. The editors and publishers of Springs disclaim all warranties, express or implied, with respect to advertising and editorial content, and with respect to all manufacturing errors, defects or omissions made in connection with advertising or editorial material submitted for publication. The editors and publishers of Springs disclaim all liability for special or consequential damages resulting from errors, defects or omissions in the manufacturing of this publication, any submission of advertising, editorial or other material for publication in Springs shall constitute an agreement with and acceptance of such limited liability. The editors and publishers of Springs assume no responsibility for the opinions or facts in signed articles, except to the extent of expressing the view, by the fact of publication, that the subject treated is one which merits attention. Do not reproduce without written permission. Cover designed by Lisa Plefka Haskin utilizing Shutterstock photographic imagery.
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