May 11, 2015 -- March U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $399.83 million according to AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTO program, was up 30.3% from February’s $306.96 million but down 18.7% when compared with the total of $491.73 million reported for March 2014. With a year-to-date total of $1,052.29 million, 2015 was down 12.7% when compared with 2014.

These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTO program.

“There are many indications that our end-user customers are making significant investments in their manufacturing facilities to increase capacity, including GM’s announcement that it will invest billions in its U.S. plants,” said AMT President Douglas K. Woods. “Overall we expect the industry to hold steady with a push-pull between strong domestic investment in manufacturing but a drag on foreign trade due to the dollar’s strength.”

The United States Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) report, compiled by the trade association representing the production and distribution of manufacturing technology, provides regional and national U.S. orders data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment. Analysis of manufacturing technology orders provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.U.S. manufacturing technology orders are also reported on a regional basis for six geographic breakdowns of the United States.

The Association For Manufacturing Technology
AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology represents and promotes U.S.-based manufacturing technology and its members—those who design, build, sell, and service the continuously evolving technology that lies at the heart of manufacturing. Founded in 1902 and based in Virginia, the association specializes in providing targeted business assistance, extensive global support, and business intelligence systems and analysis. AMT is the voice that communicates the importance of policies and programs that encourage research and innovation, and the development of educational initiatives to create tomorrow’s Smartforce. AMT owns and manages IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show, which is the premier manufacturing technology event in North America. The USMTO report is compiled by AMT and all data in the report is based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTO program.

U.S. manufacturing technology orders are also reported on a regional basis for six geographic breakdowns of the United States.  

Northeast Region 
Northeast Region 2015 year-to-date manufacturing technology orders totaled $222.69 million, 11.8% more than the 2014 total at the same time.

North Central-East Region 
With a March total of $116.75 million, North Central-East Region manufacturing technology orders were 56.1% more than February’s $74.77 million but 41.7% less than the March 2014 total. Year-to-date orders totaled $283.99 million, down 22.9% from the comparable figure for 2014. 

North Central-West Region 
Year-to-date manufacturing technology orders in the North Central-West Region totaled $216.13 million, up 23.9% when compared with 2014 at the same time.

South Central Region 
South Central Region year-to-date manufacturing technology orders for 2015 totaled $84.91 million, down 51.9% from the comparable figure for 2014.

(USMTO data is also available at  www.AMTonline.org) 
ISSN# 10807756

NOTE:  AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology’s intent is to always provide timely and accurate economic reports to our community. For this reason, we are making an adjustment to the USMTO report. Due to a change in survey participants the year over year comparison number for Metal Forming and Fabricating is not an accurate reflection of the data. We have adjusted the data for the past 12 months to take this change into consideration. The new chart reflects a consistent year over year comparison of the data at the current participation level.