A year ago we posted news of how the research slowdown affected the work we were getting. Our customers were largely out of budget, and holding. Guess what? The successful dismantling of the global economy by some of my more rapacious neighbors (yes, this is where the Wall Streeters live), has put everything on hold. A couple of companies in vacuum components are still doing well with military hardware, and a friendly competitor is busy selling to the rapidly-developing labs overseas.
Overall, though, it looks like it’s going to be a far tougher year for many researchers, startups, and established companies, especially in the US. Excellent ideas are going to remain undeveloped, while large-scale bogus ones with political implications are going to eat the remaining funds. Solar energy is already being measured up for a coffin by the capital sources, the NSF is flat, Fermilab can’t chase bosons, and the public is far more concerned with food and shelter than with technological advance.
So, send us your tired, your poor, your oily masses needing rebuilding, the wretched refuse of your basements and storerooms. If you can’t afford what you need, lets make do with what you have. And note that we still have some surplus items here on the blog, and also on our ebay store.
Also, looking toward better days, we’d still like to see those new product ideas. Anything related to thin films, vacuum, sensors and the like are welcome. For variety, we’re not only located near the masters of the universe who trashed the world for personal greed, but there are also a few remaining investors who, although cautious, are still looking.
My accountant says, “Be thankful!” So we are.
-Richard
