Manufacturing PMI (CONT’D FROM PAGE 24)
puter & Electronic Products; and Transportation Equip- ment) expanded in March, one fewer than in February,” says Fiore. “The nine manufacturing industries reporting growth in March — listed in order — are: Textile Mills; Petroleum & Coal Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Primary Met- als; Computer & Electronic Products; Nonmetallic Miner- al Products; Transportation Equipment; Electrical Equip- ment, Appliances & Components; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. The seven industries reporting contraction in March, in order, are: Wood Products; Paper Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Furniture & Related Products; Chemical Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Machinery.” A.G. Stacker Expands Production Facility To Support Growth Weyers Cave, Virginia based A.G. Stacker announced it is expanding its operations to 100,000 square-feet with the completion of their second 25,000-square-foot facility addition in the last six months. This latest expansion will increase production capacity to meet growing market de- mand for A.G. Stacker products.
and Employment indexes) also weakened. Factory output (production) contracted in March, indicating that panelists’ companies are revising production plans downward in the face of economic headwinds. The Employment Index moved deeper into contraction, as panelists’ companies continued to release workers. Companies continued to cite “attritting down” as the best process, as opposed to layoffs. Inputs—defined as supplier deliveries, inventories, prices and imports—expanded. All four indexes indicated expansion, which is not a positive sign when demand is moving in the opposite direction. Inventories growth is a temporary move to avoid tariffs and will decline when such trade issues are resolved. “Demand and production retreated and destaffing continued, as panelists’ companies responded to de- mand confusion. Prices growth accelerated due to tariffs, causing new order placement backlogs, supplier delivery slowdowns and manufacturing inventory growth. Forty-six percent of manufacturing gross domestic product (GDP) contracted in March, up from 24 percent in February. The share of manufacturing sector GDP registering a compos- ite PMI calculation at or below 45 percent (a good barom- eter of overall manufacturing weakness) was 7 percent in March, a 5-percentage point increase compared to the 2 percent reported in February. Of the six largest manufac- turing industries, three (Petroleum & Coal Products; Com-
The expansion will provide additional space for as- sembling and testing equipment, as well as upgrades to the facility’s electrical and network data infrastructure. These improvements will enable A.G. Stacker to continue meeting the rising demand for its bundle breakers, load formers, and RDC stacker equipment while maintaining its high standards of support and quality. Once completed, this expansion will allow A.G. Stacker to manufacture RDC stackers, bundle breakers, and load formers at an increased production rate, while enhancing efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness for its customers. “We are excited to continue expanding our operations to meet the growing demands of the industry. This in- vestment in our facilities will allow us to not only increase production but also maintain the high level of quality and service our customers expect. We remain committed to driving innovation and efficiency as we grow alongside the corrugated industry,” said Joe Wunder, President, A.G. Stacker. For more information, visit agstacker.com .
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