Here it is the end of March, and the capital equipment gloom continues for most of us. As the dollar worsens, and energy costs take on a new meaning, equipment budgets have been stuck in a new type of hibernation. Normally, our quotations to customers have not had a specific expiration date, but they do now! Just merely whispering ‘nanotech’ to an investor is not gathering the immediate shower of wealth that it did last year. (I know what you’re thinking, that’s crude, crude, crude… but maybe somewhat appropriate!)
The equipment elephant in the room is now looking dangerous: it costs too much, it eats too much, and we can’t be sure that we have a job for it. On the other hand, without him, maybe we don’t have jobs either.
Posted by Richard Stein 