Economy

Holmes County, Fla., home to a cluster of metal machining and fabrication outfits that employ skilled machinists and welders, has seen the manufacturing industry provide a solid foundation for economic opportunity and demand for a skilled workforce.

Penn State Behrend’s new Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Center, a $16.5 million, 60,000-sq.-ft. building, will house Penn State Behrend’s mechanical engineering program, the college’s largest major, in terms of enrollment, and the industrial engineering program.

Economists have been debating the performance of business investment during the current recovery. Much of the debate has centered around the relative importance of policy (such as regulation) and demand. Meanwhile, from a company’s perspective, it probably doesn’t make sense to invest when its existing plant and equipment are already underutilized.

Manufacturing technology orders for April 2016 were down 27.5 percent from the same month a year ago, according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders report compiled by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. Year to date, orders are down 16.6 percent compared to the same point in 2015. 

Haimer USA last month celebrated the grand opening of its new 25,000 sq. ft. North American headquarters with a ribbon cutting ceremony, distinguished guest speakers, on-site machine demos and presentations.

As part of a global business initiative, seven business schools from around the world, including Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, executed a multi-year research effort focusing on current practices and strategies associated with the sourcing of production and trends in a global supply chain.

The 2016 World Cutting Tool Conference offered informative, entertaining speakers and social events that provided ample opportunities to meet with and learn from colleagues from around the world.

Dorner Holding Corp., the parent company of Dorner Mfg. Corp., Hartland, Wis., on May 12 announced the acquisition of Jülich, Germany-based Geppert-Band, a leading European manufacturer of belt and modular belt conveyors.