Flowline's Vol. 9 Catalog Released

Flowline is proud to announce the release of its new 80 page product catalog. Volume 9 of Flowline's catalog features 8 new products, releasing in August 2008, as well as a new look and design. Shipping now, click here to have your new catalog sent to you.

Liquid Gold
by Scott Olson
Global demand for commodity and specialty chemicals has risen to $365B a year, and this Liquid Gold pervades every sector of our modern economy. Can you name an industry that has no reliance on or association with chemicals in the manufacturing, integration or delivery of their products or services? Since 2004, chemical prices have ascended rapidly due to rising oil, energy and transportation costs; increased global demand; and supply shortages caused by manufacturing relocation to low-cost producer countries.

Transforming raw materials into refined chemical products requires energy-intensive processes that consume vast amounts of oil and gas feedstock for heating and cooling. Over the past four years, crude oil prices have risen 300%, natural gas is up 100% and electricity is up 20%. The resulting rise in fuel and lubricant prices has redefined the shipping, rail and truck transportation costs associated with chemical delivery. Globalization and the emergence of Asia have fueled demand and shifted new production away from North America and Europe.

More than a blip, the landscape has and will continue to change for the foreseeable future. Chemical distributors, industrial manufacturers and municipalities have entered a new era where rising costs and margin compression are inevitable without equivalent gains in productivity. Now more than ever, automation plays a critical role in the cost-effective delivery, inventory and use of Liquid Gold. Level measurement, control and information technology integration is the solution.