At $53.8 million for second quarter 2010, shipments of workholding equipment were up 46.3 percent from second quarter 2009 according to the Advanced Workholding Technology (AWT) Group of AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. Workholding equipment shipments within the U.S. by the 37 companies participating in the AWT statistical report totaled $45.7 million while exports amounted to $8.1 million.
The report from the AWT shows that domestic workholding equipment shipments increased 7.4 percent and U.S. exports increased 9.4 percent from first quarter 2010. The Midwest increased 9.2 percent from first quarter 2010 and remained the largest domestic destination with 40.5 percent of total domestic shipments. Growth in the Central region was 4.8 percent, moving it above the Northeast for the second largest share of domestic shipments, with 18.4 percent domestic share. Shipments to the Northeast rose by 2.7 percent, moving down to the third largest domestic market with 16.4 percent of domestic shipments in the second quarter. The South had 13.8 percent of second quarter 2010 domestic shipments, with an increase of 7.9 percent from the previous quarter. The West remained the smallest domestic market again with a 6.5 percent increase from first quarter leaving it with 11.0 percent share. Additionally, second quarter 2010 employment levels were up 1.0 percent from first quarter 2010 but only increased by 0.1 percent when compared to the second quarter of 2009.
The Advanced Workholding Technology Group is comprised of AMT members that produce chucks, jaws, collets, vises, fixtures, and other workholding equipment. The AWT operates as a forum to serve the interests of U.S. manufacturers of workholding equipment. The overriding goal of the AWT is to develop ways to better serve the workholding customer, and to implement programs to help the workholding community in this endeavor. While AWT members must be members of AMT, any OEM workholding manufacturer or U.S.-based company that is a sole distributor of a foreign-built workholding product line may participate in the AWT statistical program.
The Workholding Market Data Report is the only accurate, timely source of detailed statistics on workholding equipment for marketing and planning purposes. There is no cost to participate. The only obligation is to complete the simple survey form each month. Absolute confidentiality is guaranteed. For more information, contact Kim Brown, industry economist, at 703-827-5223 or kbrown@AMTonline.org. For more information about the AWT and its efforts to promote the workholding industry in the United States, please contact Malcolm Mason, business development Director, at 703-827-5216 or msmason@AMTonline.org.
AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology
Founded in 1902 as the National Machine Tool Builders’ Association, AMT supports and promotes the U.S. manufacturing technology industry. The association provides U.S. builders of manufacturing systems with the latest information on technical developments, trade and marketing opportunities, and economic issues. It also gathers and disseminates information about world markets, promotes its members’ products in those markets, and acts as a representative on manufacturing technology matters to governments and trade organizations throughout the world.