NEWS DESK
The PMI was bolstered by gains in orders and manufac- turing output. The group’s New Orders Index was 65.1%, the highest since December 2013 and its Production Index was 62.9%, the highest since March 2011. The ISM report is based on a survey of 350 purchasing and supply executives in 18 industries. A reading above 50% indicates expansion and below 50% contraction. The PMI has been above 50% for 11 of the past 12 months and aver- aged 52.8% during that period.
For the February PMI, 17 of the 18 surveyed industries
reported expansion, including textiles, machinery, primary metals, fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, miscellaneous manufacturing and petroleum and coal prod- ucts. The only industry reporting contraction was furniture. “We continue to see strength around the auto industry,” said Steve Menaker, industry leader for consulting firm RSM US (Chicago). There is, he said, “at least the feel of sustained demand for automobiles.” The energy sector may improve “as oil prices firm up,” Menaker said. ISM said 16 of the 18 industries reported gains in new
orders, including primary metals, machinery transporta- tion equipment, fabricated metal products, miscellaneous manufacturing and petroleum and coal products. No industry reported a decrease in orders last month, the group said. With the Production Index, 14 industries had higher output, including machinery, primary metals, transportation equipment, fabricated metal products, miscellaneous manu- facturing and petroleum and coal products. The group’s Employment Index softened last month but was still in positive territory. The index was 54.2%, down from 56.1% in January. ISM said 10 industries had job gains, including machinery and petroleum and coal products. Five industries reported job cuts, including miscellaneous manu- facturing and transportation equipment. —Senior Editor Bill Koenig
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BIG Kaiser Forms Technical Alliance with Team Penske
IG Kaiser (Hoffman Estates, IL) said it has formed a technical alliance with NASCAR’s Team Penske. As the
“Official Performance Technical Partner of Team Penske,” BIG Kaiser said it will bring its most advanced technology to Team Penske in order to maximize production capacity. BIG Kaiser will provide Team Penske with its latest CNC toolholding, presetting and boring equipment for use within
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AdvancedManufacturing.org | April 2017
the team’s machining department that produces elements used on its Ford Fusions racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and its Ford Mustangs in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The high-precision boring equipment will significantly in-
crease precision while reducing time and waste of machined parts, BIG Kaiser said in a statement.
Ricardo, LIFT Announce Project R
icardo Defense Systems LLC (Van Buren Township, MI) and Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow (LIFT; Detroit), a Manufacturing USA institute, announced the launch of a $7.5 million joint project to address persistent rollover issues related to the High Mobil- ity Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). The initiative’s goal is to limit risk to soldiers’ well- being and ensure mission successes by identify- ing and deploying a new reliable alternative to documented braking and stability problems in the current HMMWV configuration. Ricardo has developed a modified commercial-off-the- shelf (COTS) ABS (Antilock Braking System)/ESC (Elec- tronic Stability Control) system for the HMMWV. The system includes ABS/ESC functionality and improved brake calipers, pads and rotors—the system may reduce fatal rollovers by up to 74%.
LIFT will help support further development of the Ricardo system while also examining lightweighting system compo- nents with advanced casting techniques and metal matrix parts. Every pound saved equates to improved mobility performance, fuel economy and logistics trail.
akino Inc. (Mason, OH) agreed to acquire EDM con- sumables supplier Global EDM Supplies. Makino said in a statement the transaction will expand the company’s SST Consumables business. “We are very pleased to continue our growth in the con- sumables business through the merger of Global EDM Sup- plies,” Don Lane, CEO of Makino Inc., said in the statement.
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Makino Acquires Global EDM Supplies
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