1. What regulations or standards are you preparing for or watching in the coming year?
Tariffs aside, we are monitoring a proposed Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) heat safety standard that could require plants like ours to develop formal plans to protect workers from heat-related hazards. Additionally, we are closely watching the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) newer standard that regulates reporting rules and use of a material called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS is found in many products around the world, including some of our fluoropolymers.
2. What key trends have emerged over the past year, and how are they shaping the market?
Tariffs, tariffs, tariffs. Did I forget to mention tariffs? Tariff talk continues to dominate the conversation both in terms of our pricing and that of our competitors in a lot of the markets that we serve. On a separate but positive note, we have seen an encouraging trend in the water and wastewater market where we’re here, as a dominant industry leader, to offer unmatched solutions to our customers.
3. How have any price increases of products or materials impacted you or your company?
Domestically, we have seen several price increases from our suppliers as they see their own impacts from tariffs. These increases, coupled with tariff impacts from our international suppliers, present a cost and pricing challenge on our products. Another significant challenge we are experiencing is the unpredictability of the start, end or change of tariffs on certain goods or countries. This makes it very challenging to plan within our business.
4. What training or educational initiatives are being implemented to prepare the next generation of professionals?
This year, we’re building partnerships with our local high school and trade school and plan to implement an apprenticeship program. The goal is to provide motivated, talented young people with the opportunity to learn a trade via hands-on experience. I am very excited about this next year.
5. What upcoming technologies or innovations do you foresee having the most significant impact on the industry in the next five years?
The industry certainly seems to be moving towards “smart” products or digital connectivity. Our company has already developed and will develop more products that fit the digital mold.
6. Have tariffs affected your business in the past year? If so, how?
Tariffs have had such a significant influence on our business, as I have already mentioned a few times. Our costs have risen significantly, and I have redirected an extraordinary number of resources to mitigate these cost pressures.
7. Have you incorporated AI into your processes? Or is your company adding AI infrastructure, such as data centers, into your product or service focus in 2026?
AI is a very interesting topic for us. While we have yet to incorporate AI into an actual daily process, we have begun to utilize it to help with developing spreadsheets, compose work instructions and most recently help with appropriate assignment of Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes for importing. Our company will continue to learn about the powerful capabilities of AI and how we can implement it into our business.
8. What’s on your mind/what are you most concerned about?
My biggest concern for 2026 is further tariff impacts our business may see above and beyond what we are already experiencing. It is unpredictable and difficult to manage. Ultimately, we want to mitigate the impact on our business and our customers.
9. What are you most looking forward to in 2026?
I have discussed several challenges already but there is a lot to look forward to as well. My team is exploring investment opportunities in equipment to insource some manufacturing—strengthening our capabilities. Several key markets we sell in seem to be growing and that bodes well for the health of our organization. On top of that, we have plans to introduce products in new markets. There is a lot to be excited about in 2026.
