Copper price hits two month high

-By Ron Styne

Copper prices hit a two month high for the week ending May 16th, impacted by a combination of falling warehouse inventories of raw copper and technical tightness in the markets.

Despite the recent recovery in the LME-(London Metals Exchange), market analysts remain bearish on copper’s long term pricing for the rest of this year. That attitude is being arrived at based on factors such as the Chinese construction market and a surge in supplies. New housing starts in China remain weak.

China still accounts for 35-40% of global copper consumption. In addition there is a large amount of copper accumulated in bonded warehouses used for profitable lending. However demand for copper seems to be improving outside of China.

Safety First in the Electrical World

We all take electricity for granted; we turn the power on, lights come up, computers turn on, etc. When our electrical gadgets don’t work, we try to troubleshoot the issues ourselves. This troubleshooting is why we have a yearly safety reminder – May is National Electrical Safety Month.

National Electrical Safety Month Steiner Electric Continue reading “Safety First in the Electrical World”

The Circuit Breaker

A circuit breaker is one of the most important safety devices in your home, but most people don’t give them much thought until their lights go off or they can’t watch TV because the breaker has tripped.  When the electrical wiring in a building has too much current flowing through it, the breaker cuts the power.

But do you know how old the circuit breaker is?

Circuit Breaker Steiner Electric Continue reading “The Circuit Breaker”

How Did this Winter’s Weather Affect Steel Conduit?

-By Ron Styne

The date may tell you its spring, but it still looks like winter when it comes to Lake Superior. The major effect of ice on the Great Lakes is crucial because it impacts many things from the fishing industry to commercial shipping and has actually had an impact on steel conduit. The amount of ice cover on the Great Lakes varies from year to year. However, according to the NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, the average thickness of ice on Lake Superior is 8.9 inches thick.

A key ingredient in the production of steel conduit is iron ore. Iron ore loaded on ships needs to come through the Great Lakes and make its way to production facilities so that it can be used in the production of rolled steel, which in turn is used to make steel conduit. According to the director of traffic services for the US Coast Guard, while shipping times are improving on the Great Lakes, there are 60 vessels waiting to lock through Lake Superior.

In wake of one of the worst winters in decades, there are calls for more US ice breaking capacity for its water ways.

So in essence, the harsh winter is still impacting the production of steel conduit.

Your Electricity and Climate Change

When the power goes out do you have a backup generator ready? Bad weather, electrical overload…climate change?

Extreme weather plays a huge role with its affect on our nation’s electrical grid.

Continue reading “Your Electricity and Climate Change”

What is the London Metals Exchange?

-By Ron Styne

People wonder how the price of copper and steel are determined because those levels have such an impact on many of the products sold in both the electrical and industrial industries. The price on metals is determined by the London Metal Exchange (LME).London Metal Exchange Continue reading “What is the London Metals Exchange?”

Energy Efficiency

In recent years, there has been a push from energy companies country-wide to persuade businesses to come up with energy management plans that will make them more efficient.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t been on the top of the list for business owners.

energy efficiency for business Steiner Electric Continue reading “Energy Efficiency”