INDUSTRY NEWS
Metalforming indicators in U . S ./ Canada
Metalforming manufacturers remain optimistic about business conditions , according to the January 2025 Precision Metalforming Association ( PMA ) Business Conditions Report , continuing an upward trend that began in October 2024 . Prepared monthly , PMA ’ s report provides an economic indicator for the next three months of manufacturing , sampling 107 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 .
PMA ’ s January report ( released on 23 January 2025 ) showed that 35 % of surveyed manufacturers predicted an increase in economic activity for the following three months ( up from 30 % in December , 23 % in November and 13 % in October ), 54 % expected no change in activity ( compared to 49 % in December ) and only 11 % anticipated a decrease in activity ( down from 21 % in December ).
“ Metalformers also forecast a spike in incoming orders , with 49 % of survey
respondents expecting an increase in orders during the next three months ( compared to 34 % in December ), 38 % predicting no change in orders ( compared to 47 % in December ) and 13 % anticipating a decrease in orders ( down from 19 % in December ),” said the PMA .
Current average daily shipping levels rebounded slightly in January 2025 after dropping in December 2024 , with 36 % reporting a decrease in shipping levels ( down from 45 % in December ), 52 % reporting no change ( compared to 39 % in December ) and 12 % reporting an increase in levels ( compared to 16 % in December ).
The survey also showed no change between December 2024 and January 2025 in the percentage of respondents reporting a portion of their workforce on short time or layoff ( 12 %), the percentage reporting that they are expanding their workforce ( 24 %) and the percentage reporting an increase in leadtimes ( 5 %).
“ PMA ’ s January Business Conditions report highlights the resilience of metalforming manufacturers in 2024 , which is paying off as they anticipate increased economic activity heading into the first quarter of 2025 ,” said PMA President , David Klotz , on 23 January 2025 .
“ Our members are optimistic that the new administration and Congress will take steps to strengthen domestic manufacturing , reduce unnecessary regulations and reinstate important business tax incentives that encourage research and development and capital equipment purchases . PMA ’ s advocacy team in Washington , D . C ., is urging policymakers to avoid adopting a tariff policy that protects only one part of the supplychain at the expense of downstream users , as a true economic revitalisation must
READ support both upstream and downstream manufacturing
REPORT industries ,” he added . n
www . pma . org
Fully electric ferry achieves key milestone
The world ’ s first all-electric ferry , MF Ampere , has now sailed for ten years on clean energy , saving one million litres of diesel and 5,700 tons of CO₂ every year . Since going into service in 2015 , the MF Ampere has now sailed an astonishing distance equivalent to 17 times around the equator on batteries alone . This has solidified its place as a groundbreaking achievement in sustainable maritime transport . The vessel has successfully demonstrated a model that has now been adopted in hundreds of ferries across the globe .
Norway is an innovative specialist in green shipping due to the electrification of its ferry fleet from north to south . It all started with the Ampere and a bold decision by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration to require sustainable technology onboard the newbuild , destined to transport passengers and vehicles across the Sognefjord on Norway ’ s west coast . Ferry operator , Norled , began exploring electric alternatives and initiated a collaboration with Fjellstrand Shipyard to find the best solution . Norled went on to win the ferry tender based on the design of the Ampere
“[ Initially ], we faced a series of challenges , as nobody had done this previously . We had no idea about the actual lifetime of the batteries ,
The “ world ’ s first ” all-electric ferry , MF Ampere .
and we did not have the required rules and regulations . However , by collaborating closely with Siemens as integrator , battery supplier Corvus Energy , the shipowner Norled , as well as the Norwegian Maritime Authorities and DNV , we managed to make this a success ,” commented Edmund Tolo , R & D and Sales Manager , Fjellstrand .
For Norled , the MF Ampere was the start of environmentally friendly operations .
“ Our experience with this vessel shows that it pays off to invest in electric ferry operations , both for the environment and for society by creating new jobs in the maritime industry and because electric operation is cheaper than diesel in the long term ,” said Heidi Wolden , CEO of Norled . “ Ampere earlier accounted for 4 % of our fleet with zero emissions , but we now have close to 50 % of our fleet with low to zero emissions . Going forward we will work on getting more vessels to low and zero emissions .”
With the recent installation of additional batteries to prolong the vessel ’ s lifetime , the MF Ampere will continue to sail until the next groundbreaking innovation is in place . Four autonomous ferries are set to operate the route from 2026 .
“ Since 2015 , the Ampere has crossed the Sognefjord more than 124,000 times and proved that electrical vessels are both economical and sustainable ,” said Fredrik Witte , CEO of Corvus Energy . “ The demonstrated cost and emissions savings paved the way for the electrification of another 80-90 ferries in Norway . It has also accelerated the technology development enabling lightweight and more energy-dense systems . To compare , the MF Ampere has 1 MWh of our first-generation batteries installed , but our largest system to date , which will power the Incat ferry in South America , will have almost 42 MWh of our lightweight Dolphin batteries onboard . But without the MF Ampere as our pilot project , we wouldn ’ t be where we are today in marine electrification .” n
12 | ismr . net | ISMR March 2025