Q2 2010 Workholding Shipments Up

At $53.8 million for second quarter 2010, shipments of workholding equipment were up 46.3% from second quarter 2009 according to the Advanced Workholding Technology (AWT) Group of AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology.  Workholding equipment shipments within the U.S. by the 37 companies participating in the AWT statistical report totaled $45.7 million while exports amounted to $8.1 million.

The report from the AWT shows that domestic workholding equipment shipments increased 7.4% and U.S. exports increased 9.4% from first quarter 2010.  The Midwest increased 9.2% from first quarter 2010 and remained the largest domestic destination with 40.5% of total domestic shipments.  Growth in the Central region was 4.8%, moving it above the Northeast for the second largest share of domestic shipments, with 18.4% domestic share. Shipments to the Northeast rose by 2.7%, moving down to the third largest domestic market with 16.4% of domestic shipments in the second quarter.  The South had 13.8% of second quarter 2010 domestic shipments, with an increase of 7.9% from the previous quarter. The West remained the smallest domestic market again with a 6.5% increase from first quarter leaving it with 11.0% share. Additionally, second quarter 2010 employment levels were up 1.0% from first quarter 2010 but only increased by 0.1% when compared to the second quarter of 2009.

The Advanced Workholding Technology Group is comprised of AMT members that 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.