Manufacturing in Quebec has done an about face. In the depths of the recent recession, pundits were claiming that recovery would be a long and slow road for the manufacturing sector in Quebec. But on the heels of one blockbuster announcement after another in the aerospace market, the momentum has shifted, just in time for the Montreal Manufacturing Technology Show (MMTS), May 17-19 at Place Bonaventure in Montreal, Quebec.
“We’ve been hearing a lot of optimism from both our attendees and exhibitors. In fact, we’ve been adding new exhibits and increasing booth sizes for others in these last weeks before the show,” said Nick Samain, MMTS event manager, Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), the event organizer. “The recent news from market leaders such as Bombardier, GE, CAE, Lockheed Martin, CAE and Bell Helicopter is spurring the need for capital equipment such as what will be demonstrated and shown at Quebec’s only manufacturing event of its kind.”
This renewed interest is confirmed by SME’s economic outlook survey of manufacturers in Quebec on their spending plans for the future and their views on the recovery of the industry. The top survey respondents represented aerospace, transportation, medical manufacturing, wind energy, mining, electronics/high tech, energy and consumer products industries.
The study revealed that, while the recent economic downturn had a significant negative impact on their operations, almost two thirds of respondents anticipate business activity to increase in the next 12 months.
“And MMTS is the place to get prepared for this resurgence,” said Samain. “Quebec manufacturers demand the very latest in manufacturing technology in order to lead in key industries and continue to grow their market share globally. And MMTS exhibitors have certainly responded in this regard. There are an unprecedented 70 new products to be introduced at the show."
Additional highlights of the survey were encouraging:
|
|
Significant Equipment Budgets – 37.4 percent have an excess of $100,000 to spend on manufacturing equipment over the next 12 months; 22 percent are over $250,000. 7.5 percent over $1 million. Expenditures Increasing – 48.9 percent see their manufacturing equipment expenditures increasing in the near future. Stable Spending – 39.2 percent see their expenditures remaining the same. Top Technologies in Demand – Automation, assembly, cleaning, coolants, cutting tools, lasers, machining centers, material handling, measurement, metal forming, milling, robotics, turning and welding top the list of equipment in demand. Respondents will be Evaluating Equipment for Purchase – More than three quarters of respondents plan to review technologies for purchase at MMTS. MMTS is Important in their Buying Decision – 91 percent say reviewing these technologies at MMTS plays an important role in their decision-making process. Business Improving – Almost two-thirds of respondents see their business activity increasing over the next 12 months. Exclusive Audience – 69 percent plan to attend MMTS this year, and more than two-thirds of respondents will not attend another tradeshow this year. A New Audience – 19.4 percent of those surveyed have never attended MMTS. |