2017 is now behind us and as I reflect I can’t believe how fast the year passed. Could be a sign that I am getting older or perhaps it is just the hectic pace of life these days.

2017 was a great year overall, and I want to personally thank you, our loyal channel partners for your hard work, dedication and friendship throughout the year. The strong market rebound and the success of our Strategic Focus areas created some challenges for us during the year. Delivery service and unreliable dates were a couple of the major pain points that caused frustration for us all. I am confident that we will make progress in solving these issues although it will take time and patience.

I am proud of the progress we were able to make together on our Strategic Focus areas: Mexico, Engineered Solutions and Solid Tools. We opened our first ever physical location in Mexico and established Seco Tools de Mexico as a legal entity. The growth is now coming, and I appreciate the support provided from all areas of the business to make this a reality.

Engineered Solutions remains an important focus area for Seco as we strive to become a valued extension of our customers’ organizations and truly differentiate Seco from the competition.

Solid Tools is another area that we will continue to focus on, and we have seen tremendous growth in this product category in 2017. We continue to invest in capital equipment, team development and training at our Niagara Cutter facility to capitalize on the many opportunities that we see for the future.

Manufacturing in North America is expected to continue at a robust pace into 2018 and we are planning for continued growth in our business. We know that change happens quickly and we must remain agile and ensure we deliver on our promises regardless of what the market brings.

Thank you all for a great 2017. I wish you all the best of success, health and happiness in the New Year!