Machine tool consumption up 10.2%

By Plant Engineering Staff November 17, 2005

September U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $294.84 million, according to The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was down 2.4% from August and down 20.5% from the total of $370.66 million reported for September 2004. With a year-to-date total of $2,280.56 million, 2005 was up 10.2% compared with 2004.

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

“The September results capped a strong third quarter for U.S. machine tool orders,” said AMY president John B. Byrd III. “Indicators suggest that this trend will continue given the improved U.S. currency position and manufacturers’ solid profitability. In addition, high energy costs are helping to make off-shore manufacturing less attractive.”