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    AMU

    December 11, 2025

    Final Thoughts

    Written by Michael Cowden

    I attended the Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration International’s (HARDI’s) annual conference earlier this week in Las Vegas. It was a great excuse to get out of the cold and snow in Chicago. And I applaud HARDI for attracting more than 2,200 attendees!

    I was there for a meeting of HARDI’s Sheet Metal Council. I made a short presentation and moderated a panel whose members have a lot more industry knowledge than I do. And I appreciated them sharing their expertise, and the good questions and different perspectives from folks in the audience – a mix of companies in the steel, HVAC, and distribution.

    Michael Cowden

    Michael Cowden is editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. Cowden has covered the steel industry since 2007. He specializes in flat-rolled steel but has also reported on steel long products, steel pipe and tube, and aluminum. Before joining SMU, Cowden held reporting jobs at Fastmarkets AMM in Chicago, the Associated Press in Pittsburgh, and the Cambodia Daily in Phnom Penh. He has also worked as a copy editor and in marketing at the University of Chicago Press. Cowden has a BA in English from the University of Chicago and an MSJ journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Contact him at michael@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7872.

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