Morco

[Greg Vriethoff]

So this happened a little over a year ago.

I was just looking in Earthbound Suppliers for refractory options hoping to get the T 9 replacement. I noted the website is down. It's too late in the day to call. Just wondering when anyone here last had contact with those folks.

I know Vic recently expressed interest in obtaining stuff from them. I know they have a minimum for shipping. If anyone else in the area has need I might like to arrange a buy. I'm thinking of possibly making the trip myself, and stopping at SP for stuff too. Not a day trip, so I'd have to stay somewhere. Probably cost more in the long run, but it's nice to meet people once in a while. This would be off in the distance somewhat when I have the time/resources, and more people have been fully vaccinated. I just got my first dose last Sunday.

In the meantime, anyone know if their operations have been impacted by the acquisition?

If this has already been discussed, my apologies. I didn't find anything in a search.

[Pete VanderLaan]

Why are you assuming an acquisition? I have always ordered my MORCO materials through Hi Temp in Fenton MIssouri.
MORCO is not a big business. Just call Tom and don't let him talk about horseshoes.

[Greg Vriethoff]

Originally Posted by Pete VanderLaan

Why are you assuming an acquisition?

"Important step in strategy to increase market participation in North America:

RHI Magnesita, the leading global supplier of high-grade refractory products, systems and solutions, acquired Missouri Refractories Co, Inc. (MORCO)."

Screen Shot 2021-03-12 at 7.26.42 PM.jpg

When I google "Hi Temp Refractories" it says it's "Temporarily Closed." I've encountered many errors using Google Maps, so taken with a grain of salt.

However, their website (hitempincusa.com) is acting screwy too. Says you need Flash Player. Flash Player is dead now, and Adobe said everyone should remove it (which I did).

Like I said, too late to call right now, so thought I'd ask if anyone here has had dealings with them in the last year. I know everything has slowed-down since last January, so maybe now one has needed refractory.

So, I'll pose the question more directly: Anyone reading this have contact with anyone at MORCO and/or High Temp Refractories since January 30th, 2020?

[Victor Chiarizia]

if your on a roar trip and since i finished my house i'm always up for overnight guests to use my rarely used guest bedroom. just saying. oh....there's a 2 night limit (insert sarcastic emoji) vic

[Lawrence Tuber]

I purchased some MorcoCast in August 2020 from:


Lori Whalen
Sales Director Glass - Americas
T +1 513 527 6178

RHI US Ltd.
3956 Virginia Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45227, USA

[Pete VanderLaan]

I tried to google them and got nowhere. I may try phoning since I have the number.

It's entirely possible that Tom is retiring. Many of us came of age in these businesses about the same time. I regularly hear from clients now who say this will be their last crucible. Big sea changes.

Is a "Roar" trip something where you get to be obnoxious? I'm in.

[Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig]

Im building a greenhouse, and we have chickens, they eat for $60 a month and produce 10 eggs a day.
Sure beats $150 a day energy costs
I think rabbits is the way to go for meat

[Pete VanderLaan]

Jeez, min eat about 20 bucks a month in crumbles and yield one dz eggs a day. We have about sixteen, two are four years old and still lay which is remarkable

Except when they don't. They still eat I've noticed. We sell the eggs. On a bad day, they all get eaten unexpectedly. I refer to that as the Celestial lunch counter. I got tired of butchering rabbits 35 years ago. They scream. Now we process about 25 young chickens a season along with three turkeys. Victor makes whisky and cheese. Tom at Hi Temp makes horseshoes. Don't ever get him starting to talk about them. You can't make a living doing glass.

This thread is officially off the rails.

[Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig]

I made a fox proof chicken coop, get me in touch with Vic about whiskey and cheese

[Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig]

Selling eggs makes 10x running costs, dream that one making glass

[Pete VanderLaan]

Originally Posted by Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig

I made a fox proof chicken coop, get me in touch with Vic about whiskey and cheese

***
Ours too is industrially fool proof. The mystery is why, when we had three extra roosters that we did NOT order, that they have survived being out all winter with the celestial lunch counter in full service.

I've offered to shoot them ( that would be cruel..) They are truly the most beautiful horniest birds I can recall.

[Pete VanderLaan]

Originally Posted by Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig

Selling eggs makes 10x running costs, dream that one making glass

***

Pumpkins, without a doubt..

[Pete VanderLaan]

Originally Posted by Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig

I made a fox proof chicken coop, get me in touch with Vic about whiskey and cheese

**

write me a PM about Vic. He's a good one to know.

[Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig]

Never made a pumpkin in my life

[Victor Chiarizia]

take a road trip and roar!
I've got 3 -10 gallon kegs ageing now. corn/rye/malt about 1year old. the extras i have will go to make vanilla extract in handmade bottles and my knives will also be for sale at tailgate markets this year. i like to make all kinds of things and hustle them on saturdays. great pocket $$ and it's a hell of alot of fun...and work. never thought i'd be in the tourism business but that's how it's gone.
i too may buy 1 more crucible. i can tell you that the artful home has been selling my glass like crazy for the past year. even some brick and mortars are ordering which surprises me and rainz too.
btw, been in contact with lucy b and susan gott. we're trying to have a post covid gathering down here in avl in the fall seeing as we don't see each other at shows anymore.

[Greg Vriethoff]

I finally made time to try and call Hi Temp today.

The number's been disconnected.

I also noted that their website domain is for sale.

I guess it's time to update the suppliers list.

[Pete VanderLaan]

The bulk of Tom's business was buying up over orders that were supplying materials for new furnace equipment. He had some bizarre and very useful stuff. His prices for soft brick were just incredibly low.

He would be a bit older than I am, so it makes sense given that the number of new furnaces built in the US over the last decade has been really small.

Even so, the herd keeps getting culled.

[Kenny Pieper]

Originally Posted by Greg Vriethoff

I finally made time to try and call Hi Temp today.

The number's been disconnected.

I also noted that their website domain is for sale.

I guess it's time to update the suppliers list.

Greg, Most people around here use Larkin Refractory near Atalanta 678 336 7090 Talk to Jim He is the owner and a wealth of knowledge.

[Greg Vriethoff]

Originally Posted by Victor Chiarizia

if your on a roar trip and since i finished my house i'm always up for overnight guests to use my rarely used guest bedroom. just saying. oh....there's a 2 night limit (insert sarcastic emoji) vic

Hopefully it won't be too long until I get up there for a visit, Vic. We had just gotten our guest bedroom to a somewhat finished state and had one guest pre-pandemic. Now it's a storage space again ha!

Originally Posted by Lawrence Tuber

I purchased some MorcoCast in August 2020 from:


Lori Whalen
Sales Director Glass - Americas
T +1 513 527 6178

RHI US Ltd.
3956 Virginia Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45227, USA

Thank you, Lawrence. I'll add them to the list.

Originally Posted by Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig

Im building a greenhouse, and we have chickens, they eat for $60 a month and produce 10 eggs a day.
Sure beats $150 a day energy costs
I think rabbits is the way to go for meat

I can only recall eating rabbit once in my life. As far as keeping chickens I could do it relatively easily. The people that sold us our house kept chickens. There's poultry netting around the yard, and a tool shed that they converted into a coop. We use it mainly for wood storage. I don't have much desire to keep farm animals. The neighbor has a pet goat for some reason. His name is Poncho, and he's very entertaining.

Originally Posted by Kenny Pieper

Greg, Most people around here use Larkin Refractory near Atalanta 678 336 7090 Talk to Jim He is the owner and a wealth of knowledge.

Thanks, Kenny! I'll do that.