The Steel Fabricators of New England (SFNE) is an association of structural steel and miscellaneous metal fabricators and allied companies that serve the building and bridge construction markets in New England. The mission of SFNE is to promote the use of fabricated structural steel and miscellaneous metals in buildings, bridges and similar structures through education, legislative advocacy, and networking activities.
SFNE committees are involved in educational and legislative activities for the benefit of the steel industry and construction industry at large.
In keeping with SFNE’s primary goal is to represent the steel fabrication industry and improve and equip the construction industry to serve the needs of the region with structural steel, the association developed the Steel Advocacy Project, which brought together a coalition of steel industry companies working together, to help improve the way that funds are allocated for infrastructure projects.
The coalition retained the services of consultant Regan Communications Group (RCG) to help rebuild the steel industry’s relationship with the New England region’s transportation leaders and much progress has been made since then. Doors have been opened and new relationships formed. The effort resulted in a new partnership with the Short Span Steel Bridges Alliance (SSSBA), the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). These strategic alliances are certain to help the region’s steel fabricators in their efforts to partner with industry and at the same time increase steel’s share of future publicly funded building projects and bridgework.
SFNE has also been working on a Buy American public awareness campaign. Utilizing the Voter Voice System almost 1,000 letters were sent to members of the New England Congressional delegation last year. The goal of the letter-writing campaign was to bring attention to the fact that New England based steel companies continue to be adversely affected by current trade inequalities. Currently the SFNE Board of Directors is looking at new way to affect a trade remedy and relief under U.S. trade laws.
Each year SFNE also conducts an annual steel design conference at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). The conference is co-sponsored by the AISC and the New England Steel Detailers Association (NESDA). This year the conference offered a slate of sessions of interest and benefit to engineers, architects, detailers and fabricators. These sessions included the I-93 FAST14, the most recent success for MassDOT’s Accelerated Bridge Program; the Girder-Slab System Technology; Codes, Standards and Rating Systems: Sustainability 2012 and Beyond; as well as a program that was designed to help engineers, fabricators and detailers work together more efficiently. The SFNE Education Committee is already working on the agenda for the 2013 annual steel design conference, which will be held at WPI on Wednesday, June 5th.
Moving forward, SFNE will host a New Technologies Dinner Meeting on October 18. The event will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Westborough, Mass., from 5 pm to 8:00 pm. The program is designed to provide members and colleagues with information about the latest technical innovations and systems that can be used in the steel fabrication business.
As we move into what we all hope will be an economic recovery, fabricators will come to rely more on technology for efficiencies and productivity, particularly since most will be working with a leaner workforce. A panel discussion will provide attendees with a variety of new ideas, systems, and technologies that will help move a company profitably into the future. The panel will include: Moderator: Craig Van Sant, president and CEO, Atlantic Machinery Sales; Stephen Farrow, vice president, Peddinghaus Corporation; Ian Coats, product manager, Tekla, Inc.; Kris Sikes, vice president sales and marketing, Controlled Automation; and Paul Sullivan, RSM, Ficep Corporation.
To prepare fabricators for the “new normal” when the economy recovers SFNE’s December 6 dinner meeting also will positioning one’s business to embark upon new projects even though there will be fewer architects and industry personnel to draw upon for support. Gregg Schoppman, principal with FMI, management consultants and investment bankers for the construction industry, will deliver the keynote address.
The annual SFNE Golf Tournament will provide the industry’s next networking opportunity on September 11 at Wedgewood Pines Country Club in Stow, Mass.
This piece was written by Catherine Flaherty, CAE, is executive director of the Steel Fabricators of New England, North Attleboro, Mass.