Mechanical Power Transmission

As Manufacturer's Reps supplying primarily to power transmission manufacturers, we are seeing the worst downturn we have had in our 30 years in existence. We are hanging on by a thread and can only hope that an the auto industry bailout and proposed economic stimulus package will get manufacturing flowing again. Everyone is cutting back, and inventory is one of the first to be cut. It's a scary thing when you make sales calls and your customer has half of the lights off to save money, and many of your contacts have taken sudden early retirement bailouts. Is it the bottom? We can only hope so because the alternative is bleak. Everyone we call on says the outlook for 2009 is more of the same.