Orders still lagging over 2014 – The most recent U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders report from AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology indicates that orders grew in September compared to August totals, but still stand at a significant shortfall as compared to the same time a year ago.
Industry forecasts predict continued softness for manufacturing technology orders into the third quarter of 2016. While still facing headwinds from a stronger dollar and weak investment from the energy industry, strong activity in the automotive, medical, and aerospace industries is creating demand for manufacturing technology. Automotive has been a particular bright spot as automakers continue to introduce new models and make large investments in new factories in the Southeast.
USMTO measures net new orders every month based on gross order and cancellation data collected from U.S. distributors and builders of manufacturing technology. It is a leading indicator for the health of the U.S. industrial base – either growth or softening.
