Week 4 in Manufacturing News

U.S. Manufacturing Can Take The Punches – It Is Stronger Than You Think

The sub-index for New Export Orders increased, to 52.8 from 52.2, showing that export orders not only kept growing, but grew at a faster pace in December than in the previous two months.

December Non-Farm Payrolls, released yesterday, showed that in 2018 U.S. manufacturing recorded the strongest increase in employment in over twenty years (since 1997). And in this year of record employment growth, the fourth quarter was the strongest quarter, and December was the strongest month.

The U.S. economy has lost some momentum, but remains quite healthy—which provides home-grown support to the manufacturing sector.

Full article on Forbes.

UK manufacturing sentiment deteriorates amid Brexit uncertainty

The survey of 326 manufacturing firms showed that output grew at a pace above the long-run average in the three months to January, a little slower than in the three months to December. Manufacturers expect volumes to continue growing at a similar pace over the next three months.

Full article on PES Media.

Last week’s poll: adoption of digital manufacturing in the UK

Digital manufacturing could help reduce production costs and decrease time to market, but uptake of these enabling technologies seems slow in the UK.

The umbrella term covers everything from robotics, digital twins and Internet of Things/industry 4.0 sensor-and AI-equipped equipment to additive manufacturing and computer-aided design and manufacturing IT tools.

The Digital Catapult estimates that the UK economy could grow by £455bn, create 175,000 new jobs increase productivity and cut CO2 emissions via the early adoption of advanced digital technologies in the next decade.

Full article on The Engineer.

German Manufacturing Slump Casts Cloud Over Europe’s Economy

IHS Markit’s monthly index showed manufacturing in Germany shrank for the first time in four years. In the euro area it barely grew, and a broader measure of activity dropped to the weakest since 2013.

The euro fell after the disappointing numbers and was down 0.2 percent to $1.1357 as of 10:07 a.m. Germany’s 10-year yield slipped two basis points to 0.21 percent.

NSW food and beverage manufacturing industry development strategy

The NSW Government has launched the Food and Beverage Industry Development Strategy to help boost the food manufacturing sector.

The strategy will lay the foundations for the food and beverage manufacturing industry to remain a source of economic strength and innovation in NSW.

The full strategy can be accessed at Department of Industry.

Nascar Driver Brad Keselowski’s New Startup: Engineering the Next Generation of High-Tech Manufacturing

The 70,000 square-foot hybrid manufacturing facility in Statesville, N.C., houses tens of millions of dollars in equipment and boasts 30 employees, with plans to expand to nearly 100 employees by year-end. Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing has built strategic partnerships with companies like GE Additive, ALSCO, Pinnacle X-Ray Solutions, Big Kaiser Precision Tooling, and Mazak Corporation.

The goal is to use sophisticated engineering, automated machining, additive manufacturing (3-D printing but with a variety of materials), subtractive technologies (milling, machining, etc.), and high-tech manufacturing techniques to create new products and lower costs and reduce waste and decrease run quantities.

Full article on Inc.