Gone Fishin'
When I was young, I went on an annual fishing trip to Eagle River, WI each spring with my father and my Uncle Bob. Now, none of us were great fisherman but we did catch enough fish to make the days pass and the trips be measured a success. Those of you who fish, know that a little homework, patience, persistence and luck are key to a successful fishing trip.

Now, years later, after having gone fishing only a handful of times since those memorable days, I had the pleasure of returning to Eagle River with my young children. While our trip was more for R & R, we did drop a line in the water and catch several blue gills and a couple large mouth bass. The kids got quite a thrill out of catching a fish - any fish. And as I enjoyed the quiet of the North Woods, I pondered how seeking new customers in today's economy is much like fishing. It requires a little homework, patience, persistence and luck. Each time you catch a new one, it provides a thrill no matter how big or small the customer or how old the fisherman or woman.

The challenge today is finding the ponds with the fish. It seems that the supply has depleted which requires us to do a little more homework, have a little more patience and be a little more persistent in order to increase our luck.

This issue is stocked with ideas, products and services that can help you become a better fisherman or woman. Beginning with "Polyurethane Tooling and Model Planks," Ted Hile provides an overview of the variety of uses for this diverse material. In "Reduce Routing Costs," Van Niser shows how getting back to the basics can improve your shop's routing efficiency and thus lower routing costs. In "Material Yield System," you will learn about a computer program that offers both distributors and fabricators a way to manage their business better from the front office to the shop floor. And finally in "New Equipment Helps Abbott Plastics," we see how one fabricator became more competitive and more profitable by investing in new CNC equipment.

But the best resource this issue offers you is our 2003 Buyer's Guide. Featuring over 120 of our advertiser's products and services for all aspects of the plastic shapes industry, it is your "guide" to the leading suppliers hoping to catch your business. Divided into nine categories, it offers valuable information not found anywhere else in our industry, except of course on our website at www.plasticsmag.com where you will find a keyword searchable version of the 2003 Buyer's Guide.

Don't miss an issue! If you are moving, forward your new address to us by completely filling-in the eReader Service Form. You can also use the Reader Service Card to add qualified individuals at your company to our mailing list free of charge.

Good fishin'.

David Whelan
Editor / Publisher