Third Quarter Workholding Shipments Down From 2008 Levels

Third Quarter Workholding Shipments Down From 2008 Levels

At $39.6 million for third quarter 2009, shipments of workholding equipment were down 34.1 percent from third quarter 2008 according to the Advanced Workholding Technology (AWT) Group of AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. Workholding equipment shipments within the United States by the 39 companies participating in the AWT statistical report totaled $34.8 million while exports amounted to $4.8 million.

The report from the AWT shows that domestic workholding equipment shipments increased 7.7 percent and U.S. exports increased 9.2 percent from second quarter 2009. The Midwest region remained the largest domestic destination with 38.2 percent of total domestic third quarter shipments going to that region, representing a decrease of 2.8 percent in share from second quarter 2009. The West region gained 2.3 percent, bringing it to 12.6 percent, and the Northeast region gained 1.2 percent to account for 19.8 percent of domestic shipments in the third quarter. The Central region decreased share by 1.3 percent to 14.7, and the South region increased slightly to account for 14.4 percent of domestic shipments. Additionally, third quarter 2009 employment levels were down 2.9 percent from second quarter 2009 and down 18.7 percent when compared to the third quarter of 2008.

The Advanced Workholding Technology Group is comprised of AMT members who 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 call Malcolm Mason, Business Development Director, at 703-827-5216 or msmason@AMTonline.org.

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