NAM: Manufacturing Optimism Lowest Since Great Recession BY CHAD MOUTRAY, PH.D., CBE
Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY
CORRUGATOR BELT SERVICE LLC www.corrugator.com
In the latest NAM Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey, 33.9 percent of manufacturing respondents reported a positive outlook for their company, the lowest reading since the
Serving the corrugated box industry since 1991, Chicago- based Corrugator Belt Service LLC maintains corru- gator belts for peak board quality and performance.
first quarter of 2009 and down from 75.6 percent in the previous sur- vey. Large manufacturers were less positive than their small and medi- um-sized counterparts. Weak domestic demand was the top primary business challenge in the second quarter, supplanting the
C.U.E., INC. www.Anvi lCovers.com
Makers of single and dual-width Timesaver® Anvil Covers, the premier urethane anvil cover for corrugated die cutting. Timesaver® covers feature a unique construction of solid steel backing and solid steel locking components to ensure a precise fit every time – a vital dependability difference that means seamless installation and a perfect cutting sur- face. C.U.E., Inc. also offers Dura-Latch and Cor-Lock anvil covers, in addition to urethane Lead Edge Feed Wheels.
Chad Moutray
inability to attract and retain talent, which had been the top concern for 10 consecutive quarters. Yet half of respon- dents expect workforce challenges to be a concern once the COVID-19 crisis abates. The vast majority of manufacturers have continued operations (67.1 percent or temporarily halted only part of their operations (31.6 percent). Among large manufactur- ers, 50.8 percent are completely operational, while rough- ly 73 percent of small and medium-sized firms state the same. Economic indicators released last week continued to show two things. First, the COVID-19 outbreak and the sharp drop in activity have resulted in historic declines for many economic measures, particularly in March and April. Second, the May data points suggest that the worst of those decreases might be behind us, with some encour- aging bounce backs from record lows, albeit with ongoing negative challenges remaining. • New orders for durable goods plummeted 17.2 percent in April, the largest monthly decline since August 2014. Transportation equipment sales were down a whop- ping 47.3 percent for the month. Core capital goods spending was off 5.8 percent in April. • Regional surveys from the Dallas, Kansas City and Richmond Federal Reserve Banks said that the rate of decline for manufacturing activity slowed in May, but remained quite negative. • Over the past 10 weeks, nearly 40.8 million Americans have filed for unemployment insurance, but continuing claims declined for the first time since February. Still, 14.5 percent of the workforce received unemployment insurance for the week of May 16. • With Americans staying closer to home and many busi- nesses closed, the savings rate soared to 33%, an all- time high. Indeed, personal spending plummeted by a record 13.6 percent in April. Durable and nondurable goods consumption declined by 17.3 percent and 16.2 percent, respectively. • At the same time, personal income soared 10.5 percent in April, spurred by a $3 trillion increase in government CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
EMBA www.embausa.com
The EMBA group supports a complete line of corrugated converting machinery for the worldwide market. EMBA’s Quick Set technology enables the highest productivity across a broad range of converting equipment, from mini to super jumbo. EMBA also includes the McKinley jumbo line of flexo folder gluers and rotary die cutters as well as ser- vice, rebuilds and upgrades for both EMBA and McKinley.
EAGLEWOOD TECHNOLOGIES, LLC www.eaglewoodtech.com
Eaglewood Technologies is the Anilox Roll Cleaning Ex- pert! We provide the award winning Sitexco Laser Systems, Sanilox™ Systems and Sani-Blast™ Mobile Service. All our systems are safe for the environment and provide proven tested results! Sitexco Laser Systems are the latest technol- ogy in anilox roll cleaning and are perfect for packaging and label printers. Sanilox™ Systems are the global standard of reliable, environmentally safe anilox roll cleaning.
ESKO www.esko.com
ArtiosCAD and Kongsberg are the most trusted names in CAD/CAM solutions. Esko’s ArtiosCAD is the most widely used CAD software in the world. Esko’s Kongsberg series of tables brings you reliable, outstanding quality for sample- making and short run production.
GARTECH MANUFACTURING COMPANY www.gartechmfg.com
American manufacturers of split heads, patented roll- er-bearing yokes, gang-slot upgrades, custom rebuilds, and glue systems with electronically-geared speed monitoring. Visit our website for information, tips and techniques.
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www.boardconvertingnews.com
June 8, 2020
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