Economy

Record-breaking robot orders in N. America

The Robotic Industries Association has announced that in 2016 the North American robotics market broke all-time records for orders and shipments. During the year, 34,606 robots valued at approximately $1.9 billion were ordered in North America, representing growth of 10 percent in units over 2015.

Manufacturers to Ohio: Jobs are Coming

Ohio is soon to benefit from new job-creating investments by a number of major manufacturers. The Dayton Business Journal reports that companies including General Motors, Navistar International and Whirlpool have announced projects that will add to the 885,539 manufacturing jobs the Buckeye State currently boasts.

Trump rescinds US participation in Trans-Pacific Partnership

President Trump has signed an executive order that formally ends U.S. participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the 12-nation trade agreement negotiated by former President Obama but never ratified by the U.S. Congress.

Sounds of the season

01/26/2017

Author:

Alan Richter

Working in the bleak midwinter while the metalcutting sector transitions through a downturn sounds like a recipe for the blues. But it doesn’t have to be. When things are a bit slow, it can be a good time to do some housekeeping and other chores around the shop that get put on the backburner during more active times. Investing in automation and other productivity-boosting equipment can also be wise during a soft stretch.

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Hamilton sings praises of manufacturing

01/19/2017

Author:

Michael C. Anderson

Government concerning itself with manufacturing? What would the Founding Fathers think? We know the answer: December marked 220 years since Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton submitted his “Report on the Subject Manufactures” to the House of Representatives. In it, he argued in favor of manufacturing as a contrast to the Jeffersonian vision of an agrarian society, and that action from the federal government was necessary if U.S. manufacturing was to thrive.

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USCTI shows YTD consumption down in Nov.

U.S. manufacturers spent $168.69 million on cutting tools in November 2016, according to the Cutting Tool Market Report by the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This was 0.2 percent lower than October’s $168.99 million, but was up 9.3 percent from November 2015's $154.28 million.

December 2016 Manufacturing ISM Report On Business

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in December, and the overall economy grew for the 91st consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

Problem: too many jobs that can't find workers

While rumblings of a jobless economy may be increasing, the biggest problem facing the U.S. jobs market is a lack of applicants—skilled or otherwise, according to a Bloomberg Businessweek report.

Majority of U.S. mfg. jobs lost to productivity gains, study finds

While U.S. workers are still losing jobs to outsourcing, a report by Ball State University finds that 87 percent of American manufacturing job losses over the last 16 years are due to productivity gains, including better supply chains, more capital investment and advancing technology.

AMT report shows signs of economic recovery

While manufacturing technology sales were down in October compared to September (and the high order volume that came along with IMTS), the latest U.S Manufacturing Technology Report from AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology shows October sales were 0.2 percent higher than October 2015.