Machine Tool Business Looking Bright

 

After returning from a successful and well attended International Manufacturing Technology Show earlier this month in Chicago, it’s easy to see that manufacturing is out of its slump. The 30th edition of IMTS, held September 8-13, had a registration of 114,147, representing 112 countries, according to AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This was a 13.9 percent increase over the last IMTS, held in 2012. This year, the show hosted 2,035 exhibiting companies.

Surveys of metalworking equipment buyers indicate spending may jump 37 percent next year to the highest level in 7 years, according to our very own Steven Kline Jr., director of market intelligence for Gardner Research. Steve was quoted in a September 11 “Wall Street Journal” article that reported on IMTS 2014 and the state of our industry.

Steve says the resurgence will be led by automotive, aerospace, pump- and plumbing-products makers and industrial motors. Based on past patterns, the market is likely to hit a cyclical peak in 2015 or 2016 and then weaken again.

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