Industry Trends & Analysis

News • June 5, 2014

Aircraft market shows signs of recovery

Since the economic slowdown in 2008, the global sales of business aircraft has been less than 50 percent of the annual sales in 2007; however, as aircraft fleets get older and the economy improves, pent-up demand may stimulate purchases.

News • June 4, 2014

AME debuts new job board

The Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME), Rolling Meadows, Ill., has debuted the AME Manufacturing Job Board, designed to connect job-seeking professionals with the organizations requiring their specific skills.

Articles • June 1, 2014 • Frank Celia

Sector report: medical parts

Despite setbacks and challenges, the orthopedic implant market is set to grow.

Articles • June 1, 2014 • Steve Bertrand

Making one-of-a-kind knee implants

The amount of advanced CNC equipment in Micron Product's orthopedic machining work cell has doubled in the past 5 years, while the number of programmer/machinists has remained about the same due to the use of more efficient, advanced CAM technology.

News • April 30, 2014

SMTCL-Americas partners with Cal Poly Pomona

Machine tool builder SMTCL-Americas, City of Industry, Calif., has entered in to a partnership with the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. The written agreement provides a commitment from SMTCL to provide equipment to create a machine lab for engineering students to manufacture components for class projects and international competitions.

News • April 29, 2014

Event promotes hiring of veterans

The Association for Manufacturing Excellence Values Veterans (AMEV2) Program held its kick-off symposium on Friday, March 14, 2014 at DMG Mori USA's facility in Hoffman Estates, Ill. This event focused on teaching American employers how to recruit, hire, train and retain veterans.

News • April 18, 2014

Mfr. optimism highest in 8 years

Optimism regarding the direction of the domestic economy rose among U.S. industrial manufacturers during the first quarter of 2014, according to the Q1 2014 Manufacturing Barometer, released today by consulting firm PwC US, New York. The positive sentiment about the prospects of U.S. commerce in the next 12 months reached the highest level since the fourth quarter of 2005. Conversely, optimism regarding the prospects of the world economy lessened during the first quarter as U.S. industrial manufacturers remained cautious on the global stage.

Articles • April 1, 2014

My kind of town, Chicago is

Chicago wins bid to host digital manufacturing institute.

Articles • April 1, 2014

Hot stuff: U.S. energy market in overdrive as shale drilling booms

In 2013, the U.S. passed Russia as the world's leading producer of oil and gas and became a net oil exporter for the first time in decades -- all thanks to shale.

News • March 18, 2014

BIG Kaiser model expands to Europe, Asia

After more than 30 years of working together, collet chuck producer BIG Daishowa Seiki Co. Ltd. (Osaka, Japan) and tooling provider KAISER Precision Tooling Ltd. (Rümlang, Switzerland) have solidified their longtime partnership in the European and Asian markets. The two companies have come together to create a mutually beneficial distribution network similar to the decade-old US-based BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling Inc, Hoffman Estates, Ill. BIG Kaiser Germany ran as a pilot project to test efficacy of such a model in the European market and the company's success paved the way for a larger European partnership executed through KAISER Switzerland.

News • March 17, 2014

Reshoring Initiative wins ML Award

The Reshoring Initiative was honored by Frost & Sullivan's Manufacturing Leadership Council as one of the winners of the 2014 Manufacturing Leadership Awards (ML Awards) in the category of Industry Advocacy.

News • February 25, 2014

SCHUNK: Jens Lehmann as new spokesperson

German clamping and gripping specialist SCHUNK has partnered with goalkeeper Jens Lehmann as the company's new brand ambassador. Managing Partner Henrik A. Schunk, an enthusiastic soccer fan, personally picked the athlete, citing "dynamics, precision, reliability and continuous top performance in the team." As a brand ambassador, Lehmann is able to communicate SCHUNK's credibly due to his proven competence in both soccer and society.