The outlook for 2013 in the first half from many sources is said to be slow with growth picking up in the second half. However we do not see the large cyclic recovery of the past occurring but a slow positive growth. During this period we have been asked to work with major key accounts to develop new product to meet production demands in 2014 and beyond. So as we grow we will be looking to increase our Technology base.
In these lean times customers are focusing on costs and in our consumable products the emphasis on eliminating silver from bar and wire solders is gaining momentum, with products such as our trademarked SN100C is leading the way. This year Balver Zinn were given Global Status to sell this alloy around the world and our facility in New Hampshire - Cobar Solder Products (Part of the Balver Zinn Group) made significant strides in providing customers in both North America and Mexico with SN100C products. Balver Zinn through our Singapore facility are also starting to provide SN100C wire from a local manufacturing base.
We continue our R&D drive developing new paste products for the future that will work with not only current alloys but future ones also. The demands for paste have increased dramatically over the last 10 years and we have brought in more people to help with the sophisticated formulations we have had to develop and see this side of our consumable business continuing to grow.
As a major flux manufacturer we are definitely seeing a trend away from the older solvent base fluxes to low VOC based materials, we at Balver Zinn see this growth continuing throughout 2013 and beyond with the shift completing its cycle with VOC free products which Balver Zinn are already offering our customers and consumption of these products are growing at a faster rates than standard industrial economic predictions for 2013.
So we at Balver Zinn see positive signs in the future even though present economic trends look conservative, but we notice these cycles may not be occurring so frequently but lasting longer, so research and development and the introduction of new products is essential to staying ahead of the curve.
