OEMs Fueling 40-Percent Rise in Machine Tool Sales
June 14, 2021Comments
While U.S. manufacturing-technology orders declined by 12 percent in April 2021 compared to the previous month, orders climbed by 72 percent year over year, according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders report published by AMT–The Association For Manufacturing Technology. And, total orders for 2021 are up 40 percent year over year.
“To be 40 percent up over the previous year shows the real strength of the industry in 2021,” says Douglas K. Woods, president of AMT. “Parts that would normally go to job shops are now being produced inhouse by larger manufacturers with the means to increase their production capacity. This is not to say production is shifting away from job shops; they are still operating at near capacity and increasing machine orders month over month, but increased consumer demand has necessitated more capacity, and confidence in the sustainability of that demand has justified the capital expenditure by large OEMs.
Of note: The report finds that orders for new forming technologies have more than doubled where they were at this point in 2020. Cosmetic automobile design changes drove increases in forming technologies and helped spur demand for cutting technologies from the mold and die industry. April orders were further strengthened by energy exploration and mining expanding out of Texas into nearby regions in response to increased market prices.
See also: Association for Manufacturing Technology
Technologies: Management
