Services and equipment that could be used in local steel mills were on display at the Radisson Hotel as more than 90 vendors showcased their products.

Mr Rich Trzcinski, AIST Midwest Chapter executive board member, said that more than 600 people from various sectors of local steel mills attend the annual fair hosted by the Midwest Chapter of the Association for Iron and Steel Technology. He added that "They come to see what's new and what they may be able to use in their particular area of the plant."

Mr Joseph Vetter sales manager for Crown Point based Equalizer USA was showcasing flange alignment tools including a new flange spreader with a built in hydraulic pump that's a substitute for people using a hammer and a wedge. Most of Equalizer's business is with the petrol chemical industry.

He added that "Steel mills are brand new for us. We've got to develop the market more."

Mr Patrick Carney sales manager for Kastalon, an Alsip based polyurethane manufacturer, was showcasing products and new technology. He said that "We hope to network with this community and hopefully showcase our materials to some new clients as well. AIST is a wonderful organization we've been involved in many years."

Mr Igor Komarovskiy senior research engineer at ArcelorMittal attended the fair with an interest in thermal spray coatings. He said a lot of attendees like him are looking for local suppliers.

Source - nwitimes.com‎

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