Metalforming Matters

On September 24, PMA members participated at an event for Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) that was hosted by the political action committees of PMA, the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) and the Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA). Congressman Tiberi has long been a supporter of manufacturing, pushing for pro-growth and pro-jobs legislation, and we were pleased to have the opportunity to return some of that support for him. The Congressman spoke to a full room at Lockkeepers in Valleyview, OH.  He offered his assessment of activities in Washington today and painted a picture of the way forward.  He suggested that times are trying and expressed concern about the impact of Obamacare and some tax reform proposals on American small businesses.  Still, he predicted the long-term success of American manufacturing which he said is strong and thriving. We were also honored that Congressman David Joyce (R-OH), in whose district we were gathered, stop...

CLEVELAND, OH—September 16, 2013—According to the September 2013 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report, metalforming companies expect a dip in business conditions during the next three months.  Conducted monthly, the report is an economic indicator for manufacturing, sampling 130 metalforming companies in the United States and Canada. The September report shows that 14% of participants forecast that economic activity will decline during the next three months (up from only 7% in August), 51% predict that activity will remain unchanged (down from 59% in August) and 35% believe that economic activity will improve (compared to 34% in August). Metalforming companies also expect a decline in incoming orders during the next three months, with 18% expecting a decrease in orders (up from 10% in August), 37% anticipating an increase in orders (compared to 38% in August) and 45% predicting no change (down from 52% last month). Average daily shipping levels ...

MFG Day - Manufacturing Day - 2013 is just around the corner.  Scheduled for October 4, 2013, the annual event dedicated to dispelling common misconceptions about the manufacturing sector, is just one month away. MFG Day is an important part of efforts to support the future of manufacturing here in the US. As manufacturers today, we know that negative, untrue stereotypes plague our sector and drive young people away.  We know that we have to overcome the perception that manufacturing jobs are dirty, dangerous dead ends.  We know that we must spread the word that manufacturing has gone high tech, with modern, clean facilities, computers, robot, and automation.  We know that counteracting outdated, negative images with current, positive ones is the best way to fight problems like the skills gap that threaten the American manufacturing sector's recent boom. And MFG Day is just the way to do what we know we must. MFG Day gives manufacturers around the country th...