We predict with 100% certainty that people will continue to predict precious metal prices.

Predicting the future is a fool’s errand. Especially when it comes to precious metal prices. While we have historical data about the behavior of the gold, silver, platinum and palladium markets in a variety of economic conditions, there is no crystal ball that can tell you with certainty where they’re headed.

For those who prefer to fall back on predictions, we’ll leave you with these cautionary tales from the past.

If your manufacturing processes rely on gold, silver, platinum or palladium sputtering targets, what can you do to lower your exposure to the volatile precious metal markets? At DHF Technical Products, we help minimize risk with a relentless focus on maximizing efficiencies in all areas including sputtering target design, manufacturing, substrate adhesion and spent target recycling. By looking at each individual process in a vacuum (pun intended), we find innovative ways to save time and give you more for your metal, no matter where the markets are headed.

For those who prefer to fall back on predictions, we’ll leave you with these cautionary tales from the past.

The Wizard of Wall Street.

In October 1929, stock prices reached new heights but Irving Fisher, a celebrated Yale professor and economist, was sure they would go higher. The New York Times reported, Fisher told guests at a dinner party that stock prices had reached “what looks like a permanently high plateau…” and that “…the principle of the investment trusts is sound, and the public is justified in participating in them.” A few weeks later, the stock market would experience the historic crash that started the Great Depression. Three years later it would be down nearly 90%. Ooops.

Nuclear-Powered Vacuum Cleaners.

In 1955, Alex Lewyt, President of the Lewyt Vacuum Company, predicted, “Nuclear-powered vacuum cleaners will probably be a reality in 10 years.” Would they have given new meaning to the phrase, “This house is a disaster area?” We’ll never know.

Missile Mail.

“Before man reaches the moon,” said U.S. Postmaster General Arthur Summerfield in 1959, “your mail will be delivered within hours…by guided missiles.” A rocket was launched off the coast of Florida to Mayport naval base in Jacksonville, delivering two mail containers in just 22 minutes. Then the program was discontinued. We can only speculate that it was due to an envelope shrapnel injury.

Shop Till you Drop.

In 1966, Time magazine predicted, “Remote shopping, while entirely feasible, will flop—because women like to get out of the house, like to handle merchandise, like to be able to change their minds.” Amazon can probably deliver a vintage copy of that issue of Time magazine to your door by tomorrow.

 We can’t predict the future, but we do look forward to talking with you about your custom precious metal sputtering targets. You can contact us here at our website, by email or phone. Sadly, Missile Mail is still not available at this time.