IndustryNet Blog

Amid soaring demand for U.S.-made products, the nation's manufacturing companies have reached a major milestone, with output for most industries reaching or exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Yet industrial output declined in September as manufacturers continue to struggle with a raft of challenges from supply and labor shortages to long lead times and high prices, leading many to wonder: is there any relief in sight?

Dalemark Industries, Inc. a leader in coding, product transport and labeling systems for industrial and consumer packaging based in Lakewood, New Jersey, has announced its new XXMARK Tabletop Thermal Transfer Flat Product Printer.

As fallout from the pandemic continues to snarl supply chains, manufacturers are confronting severe supply shortages. As a result, we've seen a significant rise in traffic to IndustryNet as millions of buyers flock to the site in search of hard-to-find materials at the best price. Everything from chemicals and castings, printing and plating, tubing and tools are seeing a massive surge in interest. This has prompted a significant increase in quoting activity on IndustryNet. In fact, the number of quote requests sent and received has doubled in the past year.

The U.S. manufacturing sector heated up further in last month, reaching its sixteenth straight month of expansion, according to the Institute of Supply Management's survey of supply executives released October 1st.

In August at the Moore Community House in Biloxi, Crane Industry Services' CEO Debbie Dickinson awarded one lucky lady with a scholarship tool package to kick-start her career thanks to the Southern States Millwright Regional Council and DeWalt.

October is Manufacturing Month, kicked off this year on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, the ninth annual Manufacturing Day. As U.S. manufacturers struggle to hire and unfilled manufacturing positions in the U.S. approach one million, more companies are embracing Manufacturing Day as a way to showcase diverse career opportunities in the manufacturing industry. It's a way for the entire industry to focus on solving the shared issues of surging demand and a shrinking workforce.

Strainsert, an industry leading designer and manufacturer of force sensors products based in Conshohocken, PA, has introduced new application notes for its Dual Bridge Clevis Pin. This follows the update of the company's application notes on Bi-Axial and Sheave Load Pins.

As if rising prices, labor woes, long lead times and growing backlogs weren't enough for U.S. manufacturers, Hurricane Ida threw another curveball into the mix last month, impacting manufacturing output in the U.S. South even as companies continue to struggle with shortages triggered by the last extreme weather event back in February. We've yet to see the full impact of Ida on the sector, but generally U.S. manufacturing continues to expand at a brisk pace--and even reached a major milestone recently. So what are the latest trends? Today we're exploring the key takeaways from the month's most important manufacturing reports.

Commercial facility managers have myriad concerns in regards to creating a safe and productive work environment. Chief among these is choosing a drainage system that can adequately remove the plant's liquid waste. With multiple factors to consider, the following breakdown can help plant managers choose the right drainage solution for their facility.

Stockwell Elastomerics announces the availability of a new brochure with sample packets demonstrating the performance properties of its closed cell silicone sponge products with T62 conductive coating for ESD protection. Customers may request complimentary sample swatches of closed cell silicone sponge with conductive coating for ESD protection for evaluation. The sample availability chart and request form can be accessed online at: https://www.stockwell.com/request-silicone-sponge-with-esd-conductive-coating-sample/.

Since we last reported on the issue of supply shortages back in March of this year, the list of materials short on supply has grown significantly. Consider that 94% of Fortune 1000 companies are experiencing supply chain disruptions from COVID-19. In addition, extreme weather conditions have impacted the production of critical petrochemicals, creating a domino effect that has led to supply shortages and rising prices for a wide range of items. As a result we've noted a significant rise in traffic to IndustryNet as millions of buyers flock to the site in search of hard-to-find materials at the best price. Today, we're taking a look at the specific materials that are in short supply right now, and providing avenues for buyers to find local suppliers at the best price.

Bi-Axial Load Pins are designed for applications that measure a radially applied force (Pr) where the load direction is unknown and/or changing in direction. This is facilitated by the installation of 2 perpendicular strain gage bridges (Px and Py), instrumentation, and geometric calculations.

he U.S. manufacturing sector reached its fifteenth straight month of expansion in August, according to the Institute of Supply Management's survey of supply executives released September 1st. In August, new orders and production continued to grow rapidly. Meanwhile, backlogs grew, raw materials inventories edged up, and both exports and imports grew.

Neway Packaging has announced it is expanding its facility in De Pere, Wisconsin. Keller, Inc. has been chosen as the architect and general contractor on the new 28,870 sq. ft. pre-engineered metal building warehouse addition project.

To complement the existing machine technology at its Wisconsin-based facility, Sharpe Products has recently installed a BLM GROUP LT7 4 kW laser cutting system. This equipment cuts round, square, rectangle and open profile pipe or tube up to 6-inch O.D.

Ever since the first car rolled off of Henry Ford's new assembly line, manufacturers have looked for ways to increase quantity without losing quality. Industry 4.0 (the industrial internet of things) promises to lead the way with autonomous manufacturing. The idea of machines that could "talk" to one another became popular in the manufacturing industry around 2015. The skilled workers of the Baby Boomer generation were retiring, and not enough workers in the younger generations wanted to learn a trade. Companies needed to fill that gap, and now, automation is here to stay.

Neway Packaging Corp. and Kraft Machines announced they will be partnering at the 2021 PackExpo Trade Show in Las Vegas Sept. 27-29 to present the Make-N-Ship™ VPS100 Box Making Machine.

Designing a new commercial building in 2021 isn't as simple as it used to be. For architects and business owners, though, that's a good thing. There are now many more options for you to choose from when it comes to materials and building techniques. Optimizing your energy efficiency, style, durability, and eco-friendliness are just a few of the things you can do with new innovative building materials. There's a lot to consider when going through the design process for a commercial building, so let's take a look at a few materials and things to keep in mind before you begin.

The most recent report on U.S. manufacturing activity, released August 1st, found that the supply chain bottlenecks that have plagued the U.S. manufacturing sector amid heightened demand, seem to be abating. So what do the latest numbers suggest? Today, we're delivering the latest insights from the month's most critical manufacturing reports, covering manufacturing activity, output, labor and regional trends.

Choosing the right metal for your application is crucial to ensuring a finished product that is not only able to serve its intended purpose but that also meets all safety specifications. Titanium is a popular transitional metal that is used in the manufacturing of many applications across a variety of industries due to its favorable properties: it has the strength of steel at half the weight and is twice as strong as aluminum at only a little over 50% of the weight. These characteristics along with superior corrosion-resistance make titanium a highly desirable component for the creation of a countless number of products. This manufacturing overview covers the metal's history, types, properties and uses.

The range of Air Operated Double Diaphragm (AODD) pumps on the market makes finding the best available challenging. Different quality materials, different efficiency, life span and more means that even the most serious of pump buyers might find themselves overwhelmed when they assess all their options.

The U.S. manufacturing sector reached its fourteenth straight month of expansion in July, according to the Institute of Supply Management's report released August 2nd. The ISM reports its index of manufacturing activity eased 1.1% to a reading of 59.5%, with the decrease largely due to a fall in the prices index, which had hit a 42-year high in June.

International Business Associates (IBA), a provider of business brokerage & commercial real estate services in the Pacific Northwest region with locations in Washington, Oregon and Alaska, announced they have added a new office location is Spokane, Washington, further expanding their existing office presence in Portland, Oregon & Bellevue, Washington.

FM Brush Company, a 92-year-old manufacturer of fine art, craft and cosmetic brushes based in Glendale, New York, recently got in touch with us to share the story of their company and provide some details on their offerings. We are proud to share the highlights of their company with you today.

There is a widespread labor shortage affecting the manufacturing sector and the entire economy. Even though the sector is experiencing a surge in activity, it is facing a major challenge with half a million job openings. The skills gap that exists for specialized positions has been an ongoing issue for a while, but there is a broader problem with some manufacturers who struggle to find entry-level applicants. Working with a manufacturing staffing agency is a viable solution for filling job openings and addressing the labor shortage.

Plymouth, Minnesota-based Productivity is happy to announce that it will be holding its 21st Oktoberfest Tool Show Tuesday through Thursday, September 21-23, 2021. Like all of the Oktoberfest Tool Shows, Productivity prides itself on showcasing the latest in machining and offering live demonstrations of current manufacturing technologies.

As demand continues to soar, U.S. manufacturers are plowing through enormous challenges to get their products to market, posting strong growth across numerous metrics. So what are the latest trends? Today, we're delivering the essential summaries from the month's most critical manufacturing reports, covering output, labor, regional trends and a special survey on supply disruption.

A flurry of new manufacturing-related executive orders have flooded the White House agenda since Joe Biden took office in January of this year, from strengthening the critical supply chain to an expanded Buy American Plan to a massive new infrastructure bill. One major item still on the table are the Trump-era tariffs that set off a trade war between the U.S. and China and impacted numerous industries, both positively and negatively. The Biden Administration has yet to address the question of tariffs, leaving manufacturers wondering: what's next?

Miller Lighting Products is excited to announce their newest technologically advanced LED products. Two of the three new LED items are either CCT/Wattage adjustable and/or color temperature adjustable through the use of a simple Dip Switch located on each unit, allowing the customer the best of both worlds in one product when looking at LED retrofit situations or just a new fixture to be installed. The third new LED item is a bulb that is extremely bright and fits in small places.

Empire Refractory Sales, Inc., an 88-year old refractory contractor with offices in West Virginia and Indiana, recently got in touch with us to share the story of their company and provide some details on their offerings. We are proud to share the highlights of their company with you today.