to meet demand ,” said PMA President , David Klotz . “ As we have been Chicago , USA ( credit : Antonio Janeski , Unsplash ). reporting , members are telling us that their lead times are extending into midyear of 2022 for steel , with similar challenges for aluminium , copper , brass and other metals . Combined with continued difficulty in finding workers and the semiconductor shortage that has idled some auto plants , our members are facing a challenging environment . PMA , through its One Voice advocacy team in Washington , D . C ., continues to press the Biden Administration to end the damaging Section 232 steel and aluminium tariffs to help increase supply , and to help the industry recruit workers by promoting awareness and training .”
Current average daily shipping levels remained steady in July , with 45 % reporting an increase ( compared to 43 % in June ), 38 % reporting no change ( decreasing from 39 % in the previous month ) and 17 % reporting a decrease ( compared to 18 % in June ).
The survey revealed an expectation for a slight uptick in forthcoming orders in the next three months , with 42 % forecasting an increase in orders ( compared to 38 % in June ), 45 % predicting no change ( increasing from 44 % the previous month ) and 13 % anticipating a decrease in orders ( compared to 18 % in June ).
Five per cent of responding metalforming companies had a portion of their workforce on shorttime or layoff in July , compared to 4 % in June .
PMA is one of the partners in the FABTECH ® manufacturing exhibition which returns to Chicago ’ s McCormick Place from 13-16 September 2021 . On Tuesday 14 September 2021 , a panel of industry
David Klotz , President , PMA . experts will debate “ The State of the Industry : Navigating into 2022 ” as manufacturers strive to meet needs in supply , labour and new technologies . This also includes qualified workforce , automation , shop floor production and the state of steel — prices , capacity and tariffs . n
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28 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR September 2021