Lebrun Steel Facing up to Tough Times

0 After 98 years of trading, the steel manufacturer Lebrun knows from experience as how

00 difficult fluctuations in the economic cycle can be for suppliers such as themselves.

34 Since many of the nation's largest production companies which are its customers,

35 Lebrun is adversely affected by any change for the worse in the economy. Yet Lebrun

36 has managed to keeponsales steady (in the region of approximately $2.5 billion)

37 and has recorded only one annual loss during the difficulties of the past five

38 years,butdespite the effects of the ongoing industrial slowdown. James Griffith,

39 president of Lebrun, now has the task of turningup survival into growth, and

40 his strategy is already becoming clear to those industry observers. In February of

41 this year, the company acquired Bronson pic,additionally a one-time competitor.

42 This merger will greatly expand the size of bothLebrun's labour force, and

43 Griffith estimates it will boost its revenue by nearly 50%, while too increasing

44 the number of plants and R&D centres inmucha similar way. Griffith is

45 optimistic that while the steel industry is about to pull out of recession, and he wants Lebrun to be ready for this.