Fall 2024
Dear RodBuster,
These letters have had their ups and downs over the years we’ve been writing, both regarding ourselves as a company and the national and global goings on outside of us. Change has been in the air for the past five years, and it seems as though it will escalate.
We have been blessed with some good changes at MAR-MAC. In our last letter, we mentioned that we were in the process of and planning to install new equipment to better serve you and our customers.
In the past four years alone, we’ve installed a new wire drawing machine, another plastic coating line, and machines for slab bolsters. Our biggest project still in progress is the installation of a new furnace and bases for annealing wire. We currently use a nitrogen atmosphere to anneal our wire, but hydrogen will allow us to anneal wire with faster cycle times and give us even brighter and cleaner steel.
MAR-MAC has always been the “softest, strongest, and cleanest” rebar tie wire. It is easy to cut and tie. We want to continue to improve our wire and prove our value to you. Thank you for asking for MAR-MAC by name.
Economists and leaders disagree about the economic outlook. There is an overall uncertainty of what will happen as the election nears. Nevertheless, we still decided that investing in the company and therefore in American manufacturing and construction jobs in was important. We are betting on the American worker!
We’re also dealing with fluctuating prices and demand for steel in the market. Steel market participants said opposite things in the same month of July; that “demand is strong” while another said “demand is still low” and “nothing is consistent.” Despite these fluctuations, MAR-MAC has a steady stream of wire rod coming in and finished product going out the door daily.
We mentioned elections previously. It is your right and privilege (and duty) as an American citizen to vote in your elections. We must have the right people in office to continue our survival as a nation. I implore you this fall to visit your local ballot box and to make that decision. Every vote counts.
Now, some news for you as rodbusters specifically. I’ve been invited to an interview for the Chasing the Hook, Ironworker Stories & More podcast with Paul. It’s a history podcast showcasing the stories and tales of union ironworkers of all ages from locals across the nation. You may recognize another interviewee, structural ironworker Eric Costa, a frequent winner of The Climb at the International Ironworkers Festival in Mackinaw, MI.
We’d also like to continue honoring long time rodbusters that have shed blood, sweat, and years in the industry. Included in this season’s letter is a form with return postage included where you can fill out information to receive an honorary degree from MAR-MAC.
You have one of the toughest jobs in the nation, and to have done it for any measure of years is an accomplishment we want to acknowledge. We also want to thank you for using MAR-MAC wire and continuing to ask for it by name.
Tom Porcelli and Adam Schwery also attended the Ironworkers Festival in Mackinaw again this year. As always, they enjoyed the good conversation and hearing your thoughts on what we can do better. Congratulations to Al Staley for for winning the Old Timer’s rebar tying event and Todd Foreman for winning the main rebar tying event.
I hope you enjoy this falls shirt design. We’ve been wanting to push outside our comfort zone in trying different ideas than we’ve done in the past. This fall’s design is slightly racing themed, slightly American themed. If there are any designs you would like to see in the future, please let us know.
We also want to let you know for transparency that we are no longer fulfilling T-shirt orders on site. Koss Kreative in Columbia, SC (who also prints our made in the USA shirts) took over order processing in the middle of May 2024. They have promised to take care of your items just as well as we have.
We are ever thankful for you in supporting MAR-MAC, and to God in providing us the opportunity to continue working.
As we remind you every letter, I am open to any calls, and we are available on social media for any of your messages. For any immediate assistance for RodBuster needs, please reach out to Lauren at 843-407-3934.
Sincerely,
Jarrett Martin
President, MAR-MAC Industries, Inc.
jarrett.martin@marmacinc.com
John Martin
CEO, MAR-MAC Industries, Inc.
john@marmacinc.com