Market data: Size of metal finishing market

A. A good report was put together by the Surface Finishing Market Research Board, a joint effort of AESF, NAMF, and MFSA^^{those 3 organizations have morphed into www.nasf.org}. Unfortunately, it may include some of what you want excluded and exclude some of what you want included. Still it may be worthwhile to have a copy. It is available from those organizations.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey


1998

A. If I remember correctly, some useful web sites (which include economic figures) include:

• US Census Bureau Official Statistics: www.census.gov
  -Variety of census information including economic and industrial reports.
  
• US Census Bureau Industrial Statistics: www.census.gov/ftp/pub/indicator/www/m3/index.htm
  -Broad-based monthly statistical data (with charts and tables) on economic conditions in the domestic manufacturing sectors.
  
• Chapter Eight: Massachusetts Industry Profiles:
  www.state.ma.us/econ/ch8.htm
  -Provides a review of industries, including primary and fabricated metals, that make up the MA economy. Although only contains info on the size (dollar wise, etc) of the metal industry in MA, I imagine there are similar web sites for other states.

A. Unfortunately, as far as I know economic information broken down by specific four digit SIC code is not available for the entire country (at best you might find economic info broken down by general SIC ranges, and even then you would only find it on a state by state basis). The web sites I listed give the economic info for certain categories, such as metal fabrication, plating, etc, but I don't think anybody has tried to put together the number for each SIC code for the entire industry. You might try the US Dept of Commerce or Revenue: www.commerce.gov or the EPA has a Profile of the Metal Products Industry.

Good luck.