Friday, September 17, 1999
INDUSTRY NOTES: MANUFACTURING
Tool orders down from year ago
BY MIKE BOYER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Machine tool orders declined again in July from the same period a year ago, two industry trade groups reported this week.
Orders for machines that cut and form metal, a key economic indicator, fell to an estimated $501 million in July, down 18 percent from $608 million a year ago, the American Machine Tool Distributors Association and AMT — Association for Manufacturing Technology —reported.
The July estimate, computed from reports by participating companies, was down 10 percent from the revised June estimate of $556 million, the associations said. Total exports were estimated at $29.75 million, off just 1 percent from the $30.05 million recorded a year ago.
For the year-to-date, machine tool purchases were estimated at $3.2 billion, down 35 percent from the year-ago period.
On the plus side, the trade group said July was the second-best month this year. The industry has anticipated a pickup in order activity during the second half of the year.
Tool and machine association to meet
The president of the National Tooling & Machining Association will discuss trends in the industry during a speech to the Tri-State Tooling and Machining Association Monday.
David L. Rasmussen, who has expanded an 18-person shop into two companies with 160 employees, will speak at the Tri-State chapter meeting at the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Sciences in Bond Hill.
The 6 p.m. dinner meeting will be preceded by a 4:30 p.m. session on ISO 9000 registration. Information: Doreen Haus at 948-2050.
Forum will unite recyclers, investors
A Maryland company with a system for turning scrap tires into devulcanized rubber and a Missouri company that turns fly ash and old pallets into construction material are among 12 firms featured at the Second Annual Midwest Recycling Investment Forum Sept. 29 at the Omni Netherland Plaza in downtown Cincinnati.
The investment forum, an opportunity for investors to meet with promising recycling businesses, will occur in conjunction with the National Recycling Coalition's 18th Annual Congress and Exposition, expected to draw 3,000 to Cincinnati.
The investment forum will include presentations by companies seeking additional equity, displays showcasing their capabilities and time for meetings between businesses and investors. For more information contact the Northeast Recycling Council at (888) 387-7694 or www.nerc.org.
GE-assembled jets win reliability designation
The new Boeing Co. 737 family of jets, powered by CFM56-7 engines, has received 180-minute extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPs) from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The CFM56 engines are assembled jointly by GE Aircraft Engines and Snecma of France. The 180-minute ETOPs approval gives airlines greater route-scheduling flexibility, such as long flights over water. The new 737 is the first single-aisle airplane in its class to achieve the 180-minute designation, which is based on engine-aircraft reliability data, GEAE said. Fewer than one CFM56-7 powered flight per 1,000 is delayed or canceled for engine-related issues, GEAE said.
Prograde forms spinoff company
Prograde Inc., a Springdale document automation company, has formed a spinoff called Prograde Technologies Inc. to provide software development and installation.
Roy Santarella, Prograde president, said the new company would focus on what he called “precision decision support” to capture the right information and forward it to the right person at the right time.
Prograde, a certified Microsoft solutions provider, earlier this year introduced a suite of health-care software called HealthLink7 to reduce costs, improve productivity and increase quality of care.
Engineering, maintenance show in town next week
About 3,000 engineering and maintenance professionals are expected to attend the Mid-America Plant Engineering & Maintenance Show and Conference Tuesday and Wednesday at the Albert B. Sabin Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati.
Alongside the trade show, the Association for Facilities Engineering will present a conference on trends and technologies in plant maintenance. The event runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and is free to qualified attendees.
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