GENERAL NEWS
PMA May 2022 Business Conditions Report
The May 2022 Precision Metalforming Association ( PMA ) Business Conditions Report showed metalforming companies anticipating a modest decline in business conditions compared to the previous month ’ s report . Prepared monthly , the report provides an economic indicator for the next three months of manufacturing , sampling 108 metalforming companies in the United States and Canada . PMA is the full-service trade association representing the US $ 137-billion metalforming industry of North America — the industry that creates precision metal products using stamping , fabricating , spinning , slide forming and roll forming technologies , and other valueadded processes .
PMA ’ s May report shows that 16 % of metalforming companies expect an increase in general economic activity in the next three months ( decreasing from 19 % in April ), 63 % forecast no change in activity ( the same percentage reported in April ) and 21 % predict a decrease in activity .
The report showed a significant decrease in predictions for incoming orders , with only 22 % of survey respondents expecting an increase in incoming orders during the next three months ( compared to 34 % in April ), 57 % predicting no change ( compared to 47 % in April ) and 21 % anticipating a decrease in orders ( compared to 19 % in April ).
Additionally , current average daily shipping orders trended slightly downwards in May with 9 % of respondents reporting a decrease ( compared to 7 % in April ), 45 % reporting no change ( increasing from 39 % in April ) and 46 % reporting an increase ( compared to 54 % in April ).
“ PMA ’ s May Business Conditions Report shows that metalformers continue to experience challenges , mainly due to supplychain issues ,” said PMA President , David
Klotz . “ Problems experienced throughout manufacturing in obtaining steel , aluminium and other raw materials , together with the inability to fill job openings , is starting to slow the sector ’ s recovery as reflected in this report . PMA has been advocating U . S . Congress to include the JOBS and College Transparency Act in the COMPETES Act to help our industry in its efforts to attract the next generation of workers .”
Lead times remained steady in May , with 34 % of responding metalforming companies reporting an increase in lead times , the same percentage reported in April . The percentage of companies with a portion of their workforce on short time or lay-off was also unchanged from April to May , at 1 %.
REPORT
Polish innovation in focus
ITM Industry Europe was back in full force at MTP Poznań Expo in Poland from 31 May-3 June 2022 . The exhibition halls were filled with modern machines , robots and numerous solutions for the future . Around 600 exhibitors and 11,687 participants supported the metalworking trade show . Two specially designated zones , Smart Factory and the Start-Up Zone , were created . The Drone Power hackathon was a new brainstorming session at the show . The teams were faced with classic , robotic and conceptual challenges .
Eight Gold Medals from Grupa MTP were awarded to the most innovative products . ACANTHUS AUREUS prizes were also awarded for the best arranged trade fair stands . Key technologies at the show included metalworking machines ; tooling ; industrial automation ; robotics ; welding and cutting ; surface treatment ; additive ; software and metrology .
The second edition of the Industry Next Congress was also held at ITM Industry Europe . Under the conference banner , ‘ A Year of Challenges for Polish Industry ’, experts discussed the challenges faced by manufacturers against a background of raw material market disruption . Specialists discussed the relocation of European industry and related opportunities for Polish companies , as well as new export directions . Workshops focused on topics such as digital twins , the digital transformation of industry and IoT as well as Industry 4.0 , production efficiency , data collection , automation and manufacturing trends .
“ Recent years and a changing reality have shown that it is now better to prepare a three-year strategy , rather than a five-year strategy . It is also necessary to skilfully handle capital . It must be remembered , however , that the crisis is an opportunity to do things differently ,” explained Stefan Życzkowski , Chairman of the Supervisory Board , Polish Automation and Robotics Forum .
Piotr Kryjom , an expert from the Industry of the Future Platform , drew attention to the issue of care for the natural environment . He argued that one of the priorities for companies in the industrial sector is the Green Deal . Congress panellists pointed out that the foundation of a stable economy is an industry in the digital age that relies on knowledge and openness to share experience . Experts argued that the Russia-Ukraine war is also affecting logistics , supply chains and transport .
“ After the outbreak of the war , we established cooperative links with Ukrainian clusters . Some enterprises from eastern Ukraine relocated their plants in the west of the country and cooperate with us in maintaining production ,” explained Sebastian Rynkiewicz , President of the Metalworking Cluster .
Challenges with energy prices , supplies from the East and human resources were also highlighted . Stefan Życzkowski argued that the priority now should be to diversify the supply chain , increase the number of machines and automate production processes by introducing digital solutions . Panellists analysing the current geopolitical situation pointed to new opportunities and export directions for Polish industry .
ITM Industry Europe next year will be held from 30 May-2 June 2023 . n
8 | www . ismr . net | ISMR July / August 2022