US Manufacturing Jumps to Six-Month High

[90-percent]

23. Machine Tools

I spent 32 years so far involved in the machine tool business, mostly as a CNC Applications Engineer. My last employer, Mazak USA, laid me off in a panic in Feb 2009, along with a lot of other people, experienced it's best sales year in U.S. history in 2011. The U.S.A. had been buying Mazak's, and presumably other machine tools, like hotcakes in 2011.

Big ticket capital equipment has enjoyed a lot of prosperity in the last two years. I don't have a good explanation as to why this business segment is prospering, while most of America is suffering, either laid off or in fear of losing their job. Some possible reasons are excellent capital equipment tax incentives, and perhaps a lot of military work out there?

Here's some industry graphs to study:

http://www.amtda.org/website/article.asp?id=492

I do currently have a job, but it's in direct labor now. Running Mazak's, of course.

-90% Jimmy