The Economy

Machine Tool Orders Drop in July

Sept. 15, 2014

1.4% drop from July 2013, and 11.5% drop from June 2014 is expected to turn around after IMTS.

In 2012, the month after the IMTS, machine tool sales experienced a monthly increase of 40.7%. Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) president Douglas K. Woods believes the same will happen this year.

“We continue to see manufacturing as a leading player in the U.S. economy,” stated Woods. “While manufacturing technology orders were down for the month, we believe we are coming into an environment ripe for capital investment.

“With a strong PMI reading in July and a record high for U.S. exports, manufacturing shows no signs of slowing,” Woods continued. “Additionally, as capital equipment is reaching an advanced age and interest rates are continuing to stay low, we believe we will see strong order activity in the months following IMTS.”

About the Author

Robert Brooks | Content Director

Robert Brooks has been a business-to-business reporter, writer, editor, and columnist for more than 20 years, specializing in the primary metal and basic manufacturing industries. His work has covered a wide range of topics, including process technology, resource development, material selection, product design, workforce development, and industrial market strategies, among others. Currently, he specializes in subjects related to metal component and product design, development, and manufacturing — including castings, forgings, machined parts, and fabrications.

Brooks is a graduate of Kenyon College (B.A. English, Political Science) and Emory University (M.A. English.)