JANUARY 2010 BUSINESS TRENDS RESULTS
Tooling & Manufacturing Association
January 2010 reports from 51 Regular Member companies indicate overall business evaluations for January 2010 compared to October 2009 increased from 24 to 36. The three-month projection index increased from 55 to 63. Order backlog increased for 39% (up from 27% reporting increases in October); while it remained the same for 45% and 16% experienced backlog declines. On January 1, 2010, average toolroom workweek was 45.1 hours up 3.3 from October 1, 2009. During 4Qtr09 toolroom employment increased from 377 to 383, a 1.6% increase. Average weekly production hours increased from 38.8 hours to 40.6, a 1.8 hour increase and production employment decreased 0.6% from 1,421 to 1,413. Mold Building showed the strongest business condition evaluation at 60, up from 21 on October 1, 2009.
Trend Factors by Industry Group
Companies have been divided into product and service groups. Percentages are based on the number of companies in each group that reported the specified factor to be "Up, Same or Down" when compared to the beginning of the quarter. Values in the following tables are percentages of responding companies. Due to rounding, not all totals will equal 100%.
Insufficient data. Only two Tool & Die companies reported..
5 companies report 1366 toolroom employees working an average of 48.5 hours up 4.0 hours since October. Toolroom employment decreased from 143 to 136 (-7.0%) during 4Qtr09. Mold Builders report January business to be: Excellent – 20%, Very Good - 20%, Good – 40% Fair - 20%, Bad - 0%. Increased business over the next three months is predicted by 40%, while 40% expect no change and 20% foresee a decline.
23 companies report 105 toolroom employees working an average of 44.7 hours per week, up 3.3 hours since October, and 614 production employees working 37.8 hours per week, down 1.6 hours per week since October. Toolroom employment increased from 98 to 105 (+7.1%) and production employment decreased from 621 to 614 (-1.1%) during 4Qtr09. January business is reported to be: Excellent - 0%, Very Good - 9%, Good - 30%, Fair - 39%, Bad - 22%. Increased business over the next three months is predicted by 65%, while 35% expect no change and 0% of the responding companies see a decline.
18 companies report 111 toolroom employees working an average of 42.4 hours, up 4.2 hours from October, and 641 production employees working an average of 41.9 hours, up 5.1 hours since October. Toolroom employment increased from 105 to 111 (+5.7%) during 4Qtr09 and production employment increased from 639 to 641 employees (+0.3%). January business is reported to be Excellent – 0%, Very Good - 6%, Good - 39%, Fair – 39%, Bad -17%. Increased business during the next three months is predicted by 62%, while 39% expect no change and 0% of the responding companies see a decline.
Insufficient data. Only one plastic molding company reported.
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TOOLS AND DIES
No comments from this sector.
MOLDS/DIE CAST DIES
Forecast for 2010 looks promising.
Still no long term vision from our customers for 2010. Cautiously optimistic.
We had to send employees home for a day or two due to lack of work on a regular basis. A first for us.
Plan to add 3 employees in 2010.
Q4 large shipments, Q4 new orders up. Q1-2010 orders way down- minimal pipeline. Q4 looks like just a short upturn - we'll take it.
PRECISION MACHINING/SPECIAL MACHINERY
We have had four good months in a row now. Quotes & orders are more consistent.
F.Y. 2009 is behind us!
TMA and all members must make an all out effort to maintain our manufacturing skill base!
With increased business activities, WIP and receivables are on the rise. Main Street, "Small business specifically" needs CASH. Are you listening Washington D.C.!?! Oh, and by the way, we'll pay for ours! We're not looking for a BAILOUT like the Banks got!
Not certain whether this is a sustainable recovery or a momentary bump.
We are seeing some cautious optimism, but still a long way from hiring. As usual, NO HELP FROM SPRINGFIELD OR WASHINGTON.
Anticipate picking up by summer.
Just waiting to see if the new taxes that have to be coming put us under or not.
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Don't be a chumbolone! Vote the bums out of office! (you know who they are . . .)
Business spotty at best-can't last much longer at this pace.
It looks like the recovery will be slow-until much later in 2010.
METAL STAMPING/FABRICATION
[Employment] Includes temp. production workers.
Business is picking up, but will it last is the big question.
We're still waiting and holding our collective breath - What will be the new "normal"??
New projects to launch are up 100%.
Business will be slow until the housing market improves, or China sinks into the ocean.
Dec. & Jan. are typically soft months-Spring brings new orders!
Quoting many new opportunities. Order volume increasing for existing customers. Margins are tighter.
We have more activity in quotes & orders but you can't really call it a sustained improvement yet.
PLASTIC MOLDING
Can't count on our current business staying at this level. Never know what tomorrow will be.
OTHER
Volume is up, margins are down. Brought back 10% sales from Asia to cover plant level costs-very slender margins… Lost another 8% of sales revenue to China-One step backwards, 1/2 step forward.
Every Day; Any Way!
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