Flexo Market News
Manufacturing Report (Cont’d from Page 4)
117th Congress. Their top responses related to their bottom line, with 67.1 percent citing a desire for re- duced regulatory burdens. That was followed by a request for controlling rising health care costs (59.1 percent) and retaining and strengthening tax reform (57.6 percent). In addition, 52.9 percent and 46.4 per- cent appealed for slowing the growth of entitlement spending and finding a long-term deal that tackles the deficit and debt, respectively. For much of the past couple years, large manufac- turers (i.e., those with 500 or more employees) have been the least positive in their outlook likely due in part to trade uncertainties.That turned around in the previous survey and continued with the latest one, with larger firms more positive than smaller business- es. Eighty-one percent of larger manufacturers felt pos- itive about their company’s outlook in the fourth quar- ter. In contrast, 68.1 percent of small manufacturers (i.e., those with fewer than 50 employees) and 73.4 percent of medium-sized businesses (i.e., those with 50 to 499 employees) felt positive in their outlook.As such, only large manufacturers had optimism levels that exceeded the historical average. Some other trends regarding predicted growth rates over the next 12 months: • Sales : Respondents expect sales to rise 3.4 percent over the next 12 months, the best reading since the second quarter of 2019. Nearly 66 percent of manu- facturers predict that sales will increase in 2021, with 43.0 percent feeling that orders will rise 5.0 percent or more. Firm size mattered in the data. Large firms anticipate sales rising 4.5 percent, whereas small and medium-sized manufacturers forecast increases of 2.6 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively. • Production : Respondents also expect production to increase 3.4 percent over the next 12 months, the strongest reading in six quarters. Almost 66 percent forecast output to rise over the coming months, with 12.2 percent seeing declining production. Large manu- facturers felt the most optimistic, anticipating 4.2 per- cent growth in production over the next 12 months. In contrast, small and medium-sized firms expect output to rise 2.7 percent and 3.3 percent, respectively. • Full-Time Employment : Respondents expect full-time employment to rise by 1.8 percent over the next 12 months, up from 0.7 percent in September and the highest rate since the second quarter of 2019. The percentage anticipating more employment rose from 37.9 percent in the third quarter to 49.2 percent in the fourth quarter, with those predicting declined hiring dropping from 15.9 percent to 12.1 percent. In terms of hiring, it was small and medium-sized man-
Adheso-Graphics, Inc. www.adheso-graphics.com
AGI manufactures, distributes and converts current technology flexo mounting tapes and backing sys- tems for corrugated plate mounting. Flexstik hard vinyl, FlexSoft, bi.esse brand, Gold Series Thin tapes for sleeve and Narrow web plate mounting. Specialty tapes that cover the vast thick- ness range requirements and specific adhesion systems for all flexo mounting requirements. We provide technical service and problem solving ser- vices for unique customers & applications. A&V manufactures a complete line of photopolymer plate processing systems and is a leading distribu- tor of flexographic platemaking materials. A&V also sells digital imaging systems and software specifical- ly designed for flexography. ARC International www.ARCInternational.com Anderson & Vreeland, Inc. www.andersonvreeland.com ARC International is a world leader in the manufac- turing of roller products for flexography. The latest nanotechnology laser engraving in our Charlotte and Las Vegas manufacturing facilities ensures superior quality and consistency in anilox rollers. DuPont Packaging Graphics www.cyrel.com/na DuPont Packaging Graphics is the world’s leading supplier of flexographic printing systems in digital and conventional formats; including Cyrel® brand photopolymer plates, Cyrel® FAST processing equipment, Cyrel® round sleeves, mounting and fin- ishing products. For more than 35 years, beginning with Cyrel®, the first photopolymer printing plate, through to today’s digital workflow revolution, DuPont has been driving innovation in the Flexo and package printing indus- tries. The Digital Cyrel® FAST imaging system has been broadly recognized for its efficiency, productivity, print performance, and environmental benefits.
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10 January 4, 2021 Flexo Market News
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