Manufacturing employment fell by 51,000 over the month, bringing the decline in factory jobs to 442,000 over the past 12 months. In September, job losses continued in motor vehicles and parts (-18,000); this industry has shed 140,000 jobs over the past 12 months. Among durable goods manufacturers, employment decreased in fabricated metals (- 7,000), wood […]

Manufacturing activity in the 15 countries sharing the euro retreated faster than expected in September, according to a widely watched survey released on Oct. 1. The eurozone’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector, compiled by data and research group Markit, slipped to 45 points in September from 45.3 points in August. The reading […]

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector failed to grow in September, while the overall economy grew for the 83rd consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®. The report was issued today by Norbert J. Ore, C.P.M., chair of the Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. […]

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August decreased $9.9 billion or 4.5 percent to $208.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced on Sept. 25.  This was the largest percent decrease in new orders since January 2008 and followed three consecutive monthly increases including a 0.8 percent July increase. Source: Industry Week

The Tax Reduction and Reform Act (H.R. 3970), sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel, would be harmful to U.S. businesses and result in job losses, according to a report from the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI. Economic Consultant Jeremy Leonard says that the tax increases on non-corporate firms associated with repeal of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) and corporate […]

In contrast to the strong gain in overall business productivity, the manufacturing sector skidded lower in the second quarter of 2008. The decline was concentrated in production of durables goods, including the struggling automobile sector. Manufacturing productivity plunged 2.2 percent during the second quarter—the biggest quarterly drop in 19 years—after increasing 3.3 percent in the […]

The Council on Competitiveness has called on the next president of the United States to put the full weight of his office behind the Council’s 100-Day Energy Action Plan. The Council’s roadmap for a sustainable energy future represents more than a year of collaboration by more than 200 private sector leaders, including CEOs, university presidents, […]

    For the second month in a row, Japanese orders for machinery dropped, government data showed, raising further concern about the outlook for the world’s second largest economy. Orders fell 3.9 percent in July from the previous month, the Cabinet Office said, following a 2.6 percent fall in June. Orders by manufacturers, such as […]

M&A activity in the UK manufacturing sector has shown remarkable resilience in the first half of 2008 with 103 deals announced worth a combined value of £7.38bn, according to a study by PKF Accountants & business advisers. The PKF report, Deal Drivers UK, produced in association with mergermarket, showed that H1 2008 deal flow massively […]

A sudden slowdown in the robotics sector is felt. North American robotics orders decline 23 percent in 1H 08, compared to the same period in 2007, according to the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based trade group. Japan’s robot shipments were up 6 percent in Q2, but production levels grew only 0.8 percent […]

Minnesota manufactured exports increased to $4.2 billion in the first quarter of 2008, which was 8.5 percent higher than the same period a year ago. The Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) reported the cause was due to increased sales of transportation equipment, processed foods and computer and electronic goods. “Minnesota manufacturers continue […]

Clinical laboratories will increasingly turn to lab automation systems as they deal with a growing demand for diagnostic tests, reductions in reimbursement rates and a diminishing labor pool. That’s the assessment from life sciences research firm Kalorama Information in the new report Lab Automation Markets Worldwide. The report analyzes the current and potential world markets […]

  North American robot orders declined 17 percent in Q1 08, while non-automotive orders jumped by 36 percent, according to Jeffrey A. Burnstein, executive vice president of trade group Robotic Industries Association (RIA).   The good side may even be better, according to Rohit Khanolkar, engineering manager at Applied Manufacturing Technologies. His speculation hinges on […]

The Computer Numerical Controls (CNC) market has simply exploded in the last two years lead by the surge in production of machine tools in the European and Asian markets. The worldwide market for CNC systems is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8 percent over the next five years. The […]

  The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported preliminary productivity data – as measured by output per hour of all persons – for the second quarter of 2008. The seasonally adjusted annual rates of productivity change in the second quarter were:   ·        2.3 percent in the business sector and ·        2.2 […]

  ARC expects there to be continued growth in the global DCS market through 2012, with the overall CAGR of just under 10 percent. This may seem like an overzealous growth projection to some, but the process automation market remains poised for long-term growth on several fronts that we believe will be sustainable for the next […]

According to the WEG Electric Motors Corp., oversized electric pump motors are commonplace, and their use results in energy efficiency losses that could be costing industry billions of dollars in wasted energy. “Industry figures suggest that around 80 percent of pump motors could be the incorrect size,” comments Andrew Glover, WEG Motors product manager. “The […]