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2026 Economic and Business Outlook

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  2026 Economic and Business Outlook CEO Perspective As 2025 comes to a close and we look ahead to 2026, the economic picture presents a mix of caution and opportunity. Labor Markets and Growth One of the more notable developments has been the slowdown in job growth. Hiring momentum has clearly softened, with recent data—released later than usual due to government shutdowns—showing job losses in October and November. Manufacturing employment continues to trend downward, and temporary employment, a key leading indicator, has declined in 41 of the past 44 months. While headline employment figures may overstate actual job creation, according to warnings from the Federal Reserve, the broader trend suggests reduced spending and a more cautious business environment. Much will depend on how financial markets perform as we move through 2026. That said, small business optimism has been rising, even as concerns about inflation persist. Core inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% ta...

CEO Business Outlook – Q4 2025

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National economic growth seems to be holding up reasonably well in the United States, though not as much in the rest of the world. The labor market, however, tells a different story. We are effectively in a job recession—hiring has slowed sharply and is nearing the point of net job losses over recent months. What’s driving this slowdown remains an important question for economists and industry leaders alike. Despite the broader labor challenges, skilled labor remains in high demand. Qualified engineers, software developers, chemical engineers, welders, electricians—skilled trades in general—continue to be in short supply, with multiple openings across the industry. Sustained growth still depends heavily on access to this talent. Looking ahead, the overall U.S. economic outlook for the remainder of the year appears steady, barring any major geopolitical disruptions. However, tariffs remain a significant challenge. Unless trade policies shift or new, better-negotiated agreements are reac...

Epcon Featured in Composites World Magazine

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We’re proud to announce that Epcon’s latest thermal processing innovation is featured in Composites World Magazine , a leading publication for the advanced materials and manufacturing industry. The editorial highlights our custom-engineered solution: an integrated composite curing oven and regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) designed for a major adhesives and sealants manufacturer. This system achieves over 95% heat recovery and 99% VOC destruction , delivering industry-leading energy efficiency and emissions control. Read the full feature here: Epcon in Composites World Magazine – Project Feature FULL PRESS RELEASE Epcon Delivers Integrated Curing Oven and RTO System for Adhesives and Sealants Manufacturer Epcon Industrial Systems has successfully engineered and installed a high-efficiency Composite Curing Oven and Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) system for a major adhesives and sealants producer, tackling the dual challenge of precision curing and volatile organic compound (V...

Featured in Offshore Industry News During OTC 2025

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Epcon was honored to be featured in Issue 2 of Offshore Industry News with a cover editorial profile and a full-page ad on page 21 and Featur on page 23 during the 2025 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). We appreciate everyone who visited Booth #806 —your engagement and interest in our energy-efficient thermal solutions and turnkey systems reaffirm our mission to lead innovation in the industrial manufacturing and offshore sectors. Read the full feature and view the ad here: View Epcon’s editorial and ad in Offshore Industry News – OTC 2025 Edition Offshore Industry News 2025 - Day 2 Edition   ( Full page add) Offshore Industry News 2025 - Day 2 Edition ( Feature ) To learn more about our advanced industrial solutions and recent OTC highlights, visit: www.epconlp.com/2025/05/epcon-at-otc *********** OTC OffShore Industry News Full Feature Epcon Industrial Systems: Innovative, Sustainable, and Custom-Engineered Systems For nearly five decades, Epcon Industrial Systems has ...

CEO INSIDER : Q3 BUSINESS UPDATE

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The President's "Big Beautiful Bill" (BBB) narrowly passed in the House, sparking mixed reactions about its potential benefits and drawbacks. At the same time, ongoing uncertainty around tariffs continues to create hesitation, leaving many business leaders in a holding pattern on major decisions. Despite this climate, the stock market has remained strong, often brushing aside these concerns to reach new record highs. The broader U.S. economy remains robust with low unemployment, however, a persistent labor shortage is a significant challenge across many sectors. Interestingly, the looming threat of tariffs may be motivating some businesses to re-shore manufacturing operations back to the U.S. The most significant area of ambiguity remains in the automotive and auto parts industries , and we hope for clarity and resolution there soon. Meanwhile, recent military actions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran have had an unexpectedly stabilizing effect, with hostilities decreasi...

Celebrating the 4th of July at Epcon : Honoring Freedom, Community, and the American Dream

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 At Epcon Industrial Systems, Independence Day is more than fireworks and festivities—it’s a celebration of who we are and what we stand for. On July 4th, we gathered at our manufacturing headquarters to celebrate America’s birthday with the people who make our mission possible—our employees, families, and local heroes. The day was filled with pride, gratitude, and the red, white, and blue spirit that defines our company. 100% Made in the USA—and Proud of It Since day one, Epcon has stood firmly behind the belief that world-class industrial systems can—and should—be built right here in the United States. Every piece of equipment we design and manufacture is proudly Made in the USA, and we wear that badge with honor. We know that American manufacturing is more than just an industry—it’s a symbol of resilience, craftsmanship, and innovation. Our factory floor reflects those values daily, and the 4th of July was the perfect opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication tha...

Impact of Thermal Oxidizer Sizing on Melt System Capacity

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Driven by new regulations as well as consumer performance requirements, there has been a global increase in demand for a broad range of cast, extruded and machined aluminum parts. Aluminum parts producers are looking to metals recovery systems to control costs of primary and secondary aluminum purchases and to mitigate their operating cost by capturing value from byproducts. Read more https://www.industrialheating.com/articles/94038-the-impact-of-thermal-oxidizer-sizing-on-melt-system-capacity

Epcon Featured in Thermal Processing Magazine

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We’re excited to share that  Epcon Industrial Systems  is featured in the  April issue of  Thermal Processing  Magazine , highlighting our decades-long commitment to innovation in the thermal processing industry. The article covers our company’s history and evolution, key milestones in  industrial oven  and oxidizer development, and how Epcon continues to lead with custom solutions that balance performance, energy efficiency, and environmental compliance. We’ve been proud readers and contributors to Thermal Processing Magazine for years, and this recognition is a great reflection of our team’s hard work and dedication. Read the full feature on pages 34–37 of the  April Issue:   https://thermalprocessing.com/epcon/

What goes on inside a Recuperative Thermal Oxidizer?

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2,500 SCFM Recuperative Thermal Oxidizer . See inside this 2,500 SCFM Recuperative Thermal Oxidizer , designed, manufactured, tested and installed by Epcon. This animation demonstrates how the airflows pass through the shell and tube heat exchangers for maximum operating efficiencies. The Recuperative technology is suitable for low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) concentrations and processes requiring 24-hour operation. These systems can achieve thermal efficiency up to 97% and have a DRE (destruction removal and efficiency) of 99%. Visit us for more information  https://epconlp.com/products/air-pollution-control/recuperative-thermal-oxidizers/

CEO BUSINESS OUTLOOK : Q2 2025

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April has been a particularly challenging month. It began with the President’s “Liberation Day” announcement on April 2nd, introducing a new round of tariffs. These latest tariffs were directed primarily at automobiles and  automobile parts , with China singled out for significantly higher rates. The announcement introduced considerable uncertainty across the markets; the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell sharply, and global economists and business leaders raised serious concerns about the broader impact on global trade and supply chains. Additional volatility followed when the President publicly expressed dissatisfaction with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell over interest rate policy. Discussions surrounding potential changes to Fed leadership further fueled market instability. Despite these broader economic headwinds, conditions are beginning to show signs of improvement. There is cautious optimism that tariff pressures may ease, bringing greater stability and supporting co...

EPCON ARTICLE FEATURE: A Step-By-Step Guide to Defining and Promoting a Company’s Unique ESG Values

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Managing Director, Tasha Jamaluddin, shares tips for cultivating an authentic ESG narrative based on her experiences at Epcon. The old days of mission and vision statements are over. To be competitive in today’s marketplace, a company must be able to clearly define its Environmental Social Governance (ESG) values and practices in place. In fact, many companies require ESG policies to even consider partnering to do business. One aspect that makes the ESG development process complicated is that many of the individual elements – the Es, the Ss and the Gs – are themselves intertwined; social criteria overlap with environmental and governance through compliance with EPA regulations and labor laws, as well as broader concerns about sustainability, safety, and wellbeing. This step-by-step guide will not only demonstrate how to define a company’s ESG values and it will suggest methods to effectively promote them to help it stand out. Continue to the Full Article: https://www.fugiti...

Who can provide the latest design control systems for batch Ovens?

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Many manufacturing applications and processes require temperatures and other operating parameters in an industrial oven or furnace to be controlled accurately, in real-time with minimal delays. A metal curing process for example, often requires the curing of adhesives or various polymers materials and their bonding to the metal surface, a highly temperature-sensitive process. The temperature affects the reaction kinetics and, more importantly, the atomic structure of the particular substance. The conversions of the atomic structure configurations occur at a specific temperature, and reaching the nearest temperature to target one is essential for manufacturing durable and high strength materials. One of the most troublesome issues in  industrial Oven and Furnace  applications is maintaining the target temperature uniformly across all oven sections. The excessive production demands and the cost of high quality products are followed by overwhelming operating costs, especially i...

Epcon Industrial Designs Installs High-Velocity Oven

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Epcon Industrial Systems is a known leader in designing and building ovens and oxidizers for continuous web processing applications, where the web can be either steel or aluminum, paper, plastic, fiberglass, and/or any composite material. The company’s challenge for an automotive industry customer was designing a high-velocity oven with forced convection to process 60-inch wide steel or aluminum web. This system used Epcon’s patented technology to integrate the functionality of oven(s) with the oxidizer , to increase efficiency. The system was 100 percent installed and commissioned on a turnkey basis. Read more https://thermalprocessing.com/news/epcon-industrial-designs-installs-high-velocity-oven

Epcon’s Equipment Featured in NCCA Video

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We’re honored to be featured in the National Coil Coating Association’s latest video at the 8:37 mark. At  Epcon , we specialize in designing and  manufacturing  custom  industrial ovens  and  oxidizers  for the  coil coating industry . Our integrated systems enhance efficiency and  sustainability  by recycling  thermal energy  and reducing operating costs. Discover how our solutions can optimize your coil coating operations.​ Visit  https://www.coilcoating.org/video/prepaint-101

5 Qualities to Look for in Excellent Thermal Oxidizer Manufacturers

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Thermal oxidizers are complex, technical products that many companies depend on to keep their businesses running and in compliance with environmental regulations. But what qualities should you be looking for when selecting an excellent thermal oxidizer manufacturer? Here are some factors to consider: 1 – Industry Specific Knowledge Thermal oxidizers are a mainstay in many different industries. This includes energy production, oil and natural gas production, chemical, pharmaceutical, and many types of industrial manufacturing just to name a few. Each industry has its own set of unique challenges and guidelines and standards that need to be followed. An excellent  thermal oxidizer manufacturer  should have in-depth knowledge of, and practical hands-on experience working on projects within your industry. 2 – Dedicated Engineering Staff Engineering is the most important component of a solid thermal oxidizer manufacturer. Without excellent  chemical and mechanical en...