One of the benefits of publishing Render is the opportunity of attending the many industry meetings throughout the year. The people are wonderful, the information is invaluable, and the feedback received on the magazine tells us whether we’re doing our job right.
I want to thank all those who took the time at the National Renderers Association convention in October to tell me how much they enjoy Render. The compliments received were taken to heart and are much appreciated. I have always felt that if you enjoy what you’re doing, whether it’s a career or a hobby, the end results reflect that passion.
That is how renderers must feel about their industry. Why else would someone continue to provide a service with prices holding at their lowest in years; or put up with the onslaught of U.S. and European regulations that seem to be intensifying moment by moment; or try and break into new markets where the competition is fierce, strong, and often subsidized. It takes passion and determination to battle these trying situations.
Yes, times are tough in the rendering industry. Renderers worldwide are experiencing issues and challenges they’ve never had to tackle before.
But meetings and conventions are where solutions to these problems often arise and new opportunities emerge. As the saying goes, there’s strength in numbers and by joining together as one industry, hurdles can be jumped.
This industry will survive. It has to. What would happen to the nearly 50 billion pounds of animal by-products that U.S. renderers collect each year if it didn’t? It’s unthinkable.
So, pull up those boot straps and hold that chin up high. Most importantly, fight back and be heard! The industry is still viable, necessary, and will succeed by coming together and finding solutions in these turbulent times.
December 2001 Render