Machine Tools Show Signs Of Recovery

ByJohn S. McClenahen One month does not constitute a trend stresses Albert W. Moore, president of AMT-The Association for Manufacturing Technology, McLean, Va. But there are some signs of better times for machine tool producers. In June, U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $244.55 million, up 67.1% from May and 3.3% from June 2002. The latter figure is significant, because it is the first growth in a monthly year-on-year comparison since November 2000. Data released by AMT and the Rockville, Md.-based American Machine Tool Distributors Association also show the growth was in metal cutting machine tools. Compared with May figures, gross new orders for U.S. consumption of metal cutting machine tools rose 78.5% to $226.34 million in June, while new orders for metal forming machine tools fell 6.8% to $18.21 million. Compared with June 2002 numbers, new orders for metal cutting machine tools this June were up 11.3%, while new orders for metal forming machine tools were down 45.6%.