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January 31, 2005

Mid-South Chapter of MSCI to Hold Town Hall Meeting on Manufacturing in Atlanta Feb. 24

January 31, 2005

Mid-South Chapter of MSCI to Hold Town Hall Meeting on Manufacturing in Atlanta Feb. 24

ROLLING MEADOWS, Illinois, January 31, 2005 – Three major speakers are planned for a Town Hall Meeting on manufacturing sponsored by the Mid-South Chapter of the Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI) in Atlanta on February 24.

The three are Stephen Makarewicz, president of the South Region of Ryerson Tull, Inc. in Norcross,Georgia; Jim Jones, vice president of Dixie Industrial Finishing Company of Tucker, Georgia; and Ray Childers, president and chief executive officer, Chattanooga Manufacturers Association. M. Robert Weidner, III, president and chief executive officer of MSCI, will be moderator for the event.

“The issues that have undermined the strength of North American durable goods manufacturing in the last several years have not gone away,” said Bill Hellstein, chief financial officer of Phoenix Metals Company ofNorcross, Georgia, and president of the Mid-South Chapter. “Asian currency manipulation has cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in trade. World Trade Organization requirements for a level playing field in global trade continue to be inconsistently enforced. China is milking its existing trade advantages for every last penny of mercantile advantage. Under these circumstances, we must not relax our pressure on the Bush administration and Congress to protect and defend our manufacturing base, or we may lose it entirely.”

Weidner said the Mid-South Chapter “continues its leadership role in hosting MSCI's first town hall meeting on manufacturing this year.

“Our grass roots campaign to elevate the level of awareness around the issues confronting manufacturing is now entering its 18th month,” Weidner said. “Currency distortions, frivolous lawsuits, and cumbersome regulatory costs all contribute to the difficult environment in which our members and their customers compete daily.  These issues must be addressed both within and outside of the Beltway.'

The town hall meeting, open to everyone with a concern about the future of the North American manufacturing base, begins with a 5:30 p.m. reception and includes a 6:30 p.m. dinner and program at theMarriott Perimeter Center, 246 Perimeter Center Parkway, NE, in Atlanta.

Founded in 1907, the Metals Service Center Institute has more than 350 members operating from about 1,200 locations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and elsewhere around the world. Together, MSCI members constitute the largest single group of metals purchasers in North America, amounting each year to more than 75 million tons of steel, aluminum, and other metals, with about 300,000 manufacturers and fabricators as customers. Metals service centers distribute metals and provide first-stage fabrication services.

Contacts:

            Steven Weiner, Readmore Communications, 847-533-9143

            Jonathan Kalkwarf, MSCI, 847-485-3007

 

About MSCI

Founded in 1907, the Metals Service Center Institute has more than 350 members operating from about 1,200 locations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and elsewhere around the world. Together, MSCI members constitute the largest single group of metals purchasers in North America, amounting each year to more than 75 million tons of steel, aluminum, and other metals, with about 300,000 manufacturers and fabricators as customers. Metals service centers inventory and distribute metals, and provide first-stage fabrication services.

 

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