NEWS


Manufacturing slows as exports hit by European customers cutting spending


Sluggish exports hit Irish factories in September, ending a brief upturn seen in August, according to a new report. The latest AIB Ireland


Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) stated that European customers cut spending in September, hitting order books and slowing the Republic’s industrial production. The index dipped to 49.6 last


month, the figures show. The PMI takes 50 as its benchmark. Any reading below this figure signals a contraction while any result above this number indicates growth. Last month’s result lagged the 50.8 reading recorded in August, which marked a turnaround from this year’s


generally downward trend, the PMI shows. However, AIB notes that September’s 49.6 reading was better than the 49.1 average for the first half of this year.


A significant fall in new orders,


following August’s brief recovery, was the main reason Irish manufacturing declined in September, said Oliver Mangan, AIB chief economist. “Firms reported that destocking by customers and subdued economic conditions weighed on demand,” he explained.


“There was only a marginal decline


in manufacturing production, though, with firms continuing to work through


order backlogs, which helped maintain output levels.”


Mr Mangan added that


employment rose, with Irish factories hiring new staff at one of the fastest rates seen over the past year.


The economist also highlighted


further signs of easing inflation. “Input prices declined for the sixth consecutive month, helped by falling raw material and energy costs,” he said.


Intel has begun high-volume production using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) The plant, in the town of Leixlip outside Dublin,


lithography machines at its $18.5 billion plant in Ireland, calling it a “landmark” moment as it seeks to regain ground on its rivals. The EUV tools, which are theoretically precise enough to hit a person’s thumb with a laser pointer from the moon, will play a key role in meeting Intel’s goal of delivering five generations of technology in four years, the US company said. Intel’s general manager of technology


development Ann Kelleher told Reuters it was on track to meet this target, with two manufacturing processes now complete, a third “coming rapidly”, and the final two making very good progress.


Webtec and Hayley Group sign new distribution agreement


Webtec, the specialist hydraulic measurement and control company, has strengthened its authorised distribution network adding the Hayley Group as its new strategic partner for the UK, including Northern Ireland. This is a significant agreement


for both companies as Webtec now has access to a host of new customers through the companies’ 52 branches and the Hayley Group has the perfect partner to achieve its planned growth into the hydraulics market. Marc Hough, UK & ROW


business development manager at


Webtec, said: “The appointment of Hayley as a strategic channel partner is a significant step change for the Webtec business. “The Hayley Group has a strong


track record of growth and the timing is also perfect as they are looking to significantly grow in the hydraulic market sector.” John Jones, a director of Hayley


Group, said: “Webtec has a unique and expansive product range which complements Hayley’s current hydraulic offering. Webtec is a well-respected and established brand with an excellent portfolio of products.”


6 October 2023 Irish Manufacturing www.irish-manufacturing.com


is the first high-volume location for the group’s Intel 4 manufacturing process, which uses EUV. The technique will produce its forthcoming “Meteor Lake” chip for laptops, which will pave the way for AI PCs.


The EUV machines, made by Dutch


manufacturer are as big as a bus and cost around $150 million each. There are currently seven in the plant, where a constant stream of overhead robots whiz along 22km of track delivering silicon wafers from tool to tool.


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