Strong start for manufacturing technology orders in 2012

January U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $401.69 million according to AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption (USMTC) program, was down 26.5 percent from December butd up 8.4 percent when compared with the total of $370.46 million reported for January 2011.

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

"January's increase in manufacturing technology orders over 2011 is great in light of lower forecasts by experts," said AMT President Douglas K. Woods. "I think the continued growth highlights manufacturers' increasing confidence in future growth and that their bottom lines are being channeled into investments in advanced manufacturing technologies."

The USMTC report, jointly compiled by the trade association representing the production and distribution of manufacturing technology, provides regional and national U.S. consumption data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment. Analysis of manufacturing technology consumption provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

U.S. manufacturing technology consumption also is reported on a regional basis for five geographic breakdowns of the United States.

Northeast Region — Northeast Region manufacturing technology orders totaled $56.01 million in January, 43.2 percent less than the $98.67 million total for December but 12.5 percent more than the total for January 2011.

Southern Region — At $35.57 million, January manufacturing technology orders in the Southern Region were down 62.1 percent when compared with the $93.93 million total for December and down 33.6 percent when compared with January a year ago.

Midwest Region — January manufacturing technology orders in the Midwest Region totaled $141.71 million, 23.8 percent less than December's $186.07 million but up 24.9% when compared with the January 2011 figure.

Central Region — Central Region manufacturing technology orders in January stood at $128.30 million, 11.6 percent more than the December total of $115.01 million and 16.1 percent higher than last January's total.

Western Region — Manufacturing technology orders in the Western Region in January totaled $40.10 million, down 24.1 percent from December's $52.80 million and off 7.0% when compared with the January 2011 figure.