IndustryNet Blog

There are substantial problems with manufacturing recruitment, and they are only getting worse. While COVID-19 can be blamed for some of this, much of the problem has roots decades old. By 2028, experts predict that there will be a global shortage of 2.4 million workers in the manufacturing field. Domestically, there are 515,000 job openings that need to be filled. What are the causes for this shortage, and how can companies plan to counteract this situation?

New Berlin, WI based Sharpe Products, provider of pipe and tube bending, laser cutting and custom fabrication services, is pleased to share two recent staff additions: a Quality Manager and a Project Engineer.

U.S. manufacturing activity hit a level not seen in three years, according to the Institute for Supply Management's monthly Report on Business. The ISM reports manufacturing activity surged 2.1%, hitting a level of 60.8% in February -- the strongest reading since February of 2018. Any reading above 50 is considered expansionary and the U.S. manufacturing sector is now in its ninth straight month of expansion, according to the ISM.

On February 24th, President Joe Biden signed an executive order on strengthening domestic supply chains, with a view towards examining vulnerabilities and securing U.S. access to supplies in industries especially hard hit by the pandemic.

McHenry, Illinois-based Dispense Work Inc, provider of precision adhesive & fluid robotic dispensing systems, has unveiled a new automation solution for vial, bottle filling and capping with the Ring Dex robot. Learn more about this innovative new product.

U.S. manufacturing companies started out the year strong, with a number of reports pointing to a steadily recovering factory sector. Activity on the industrial marketplace IndustryNet continues to show increased search volume over last year for U.S. parts, products and services. Meanwhile, a number of new manufacturing plants were announced in January, providing additional hope for the sector. Today, we're bringing you the big picture look at manufacturing business conditions, compiling key takeaways from various reports on output, labor, new orders, optimism and regional activity.

Phil LaFata has been appointed as President of Dunmore. With more than 17 years of experience building manufacturing companies into high growth organizations, LaFata will lead the next chapter of Dunmore's evolution.

Neway Packaging is pleased to announce its recent acquisition of Banding 4 Less, a leading company out of Southern California that provides high quality and affordable banding and strapping materials, steel strapping seals and strapping tools. This acquisition expands Neway's already vast strapping sales and capabilities. Neway's extensive product line will now be available to all Banding 4 Less customers.

Strainsert, a premier manufacturer of standard and custom force sensors for research, testing, weighing and control applications in a wide range of industries, now offers two new wireless force sensor products for accurate, efficient and fast force readings where wired installations are difficult, cost prohibitive or undesirable.

As U.S. manufacturing companies forge ahead from the severe losses suffered at the height of COVID-19 plant closures in the spring of 2020, a dizzying number of factors continued to impact manufacturing operations in the United States. Discover what manufacturers are saying about outlook, new technology, employment, COVID-19 impact, and more.

Recently, we came across this beautiful photograph from MNI's September 1928 edition that reveals the humble beginnings of one of the nation's most innovative and powerful steel companies. The American Rolling Mills Company (ARMCO) was founded in Middletown, Ohio in 1989 by George Verity.

U.S. manufacturing activity expanded in January, though at a slightly slower rate than seen in December, according to the Institute for Supply Management's monthly Report on Business. The ISM reports manufacturing activity eased back 1.8% in January to a reading of 58.7%. Any reading above 50 is considered expansionary and the U.S. manufacturing sector is now in its eighth straight month of expansion, according to the ISM. New orders, production and employment all posted strong gains in January. Meanwhile, supplier deliveries continue to slow, while prices are on the rise and both exports and imports are growing. Optimism among manufacturing executives continues to be strong, with the ISM reporting, 3 positive comments for every cautious comment.

There are only 520 companies in the industrial valve sector here in the United States. These companies face challenges due to trade war uncertainties and raw material price increases. In this post we will explore the industry's 9 largest companies.

The Biden Administration has unveiled the details of its new Buy American Plan, laying out an agenda that purports to "ensure that our future is made in all of America by all of American workers." The plan, a component of Biden's "Build Back Better" initiative, seeks to boost federal purchases of American-made goods, promote accountability in the federal purchasing process, and crack down on irrelevant waivers to the law, among other key points, laid out today in a statement Monday, January 25th. This is among a flurry of executive orders released by the Biden team since Inauguration Day, addressing the coronavirus pandemic, critical supply chain preparedness, new OSHA regulations and more -- many of which will have a direct impact on U.S. manufacturing companies. So what's in this new plan and how is it different from the Buy American policy currently in place?

Stockwell Elastomerics in Philadelphia PA announces a silicone gasket tape demonstration video. This video highlights the difference between open cell silicone foam, closed cell silicone foam, closed cell silicone sponge, and how they are used to make gasket tape. The benefits of and differences between unsupported acrylic transfer film adhesives and film supported adhesives are also demonstrated.

Following an unprecedented year, U.S. manufacturing companies finished out 2020 on a remarkably strong note, with key reports from the month signaling continued growth in the sector, even as other areas of the economy lagged behind. Today, we're bringing you the big picture look at manufacturing business conditions, compiling key takeaways from various reports on output, labor, new orders, optimism and regional activity.

Are you using a Citronix, Videojet, Domino or any other outdated CIJ printer to print, mark and code? If so, it's time to replace them with the next best thing in inkjet printing: the BestCode inkjet printer.

Advanced Powder Products, Inc has announced the completion of its new 25,000 square-foot manufacturing building in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. The metal injection molding industry is growing at a rate of 5 to 7 percent and APP is one of the fastest growing companies in the United States for the last four years.

Almost every industry has high temperature applications (hotter than 300 degrees F). There have been a number of alternatives that plants could use that can handle their high temperature applications. The traditional means of handling these hot fluids was using a pump with single or double mechanical seals and use some elaborate seal cooling. However, for over 30 years now, there has been two pump technologies that are better suited to handle these hot fluids from an operational and maintenance standpoint; magnetic driven pumps and canned motor pumps.

The past year has seen historic changes to manufacturing trends and how companies do business and interact. Long global supply chains, face-to-face meetings, minimum inventory and legacy marketing were some of the more well-known practices that have fallen out of favor. Advancing technology and the effects of COVID-19 responses have caused this to happen. As a result, the following manufacturing trends will arise in 2021.

U.S. manufacturing activity surged to a two-year high in December, according to the Institute for Supply Management's monthly Report on Business. According to the ISM, industrial activity rose 3.2% in December to a rate of 60.7% -- its highest reading since August 2018. Any reading over 50 indicates expansion.

Bell Flavors & Fragrances is excited to announce the 2021 Spark platform identifying the key trends that will lead the way to new innovations within the flavor and fragrance industry. The Spark platform serves as the origin of imagination, the essence of creativity and the future of what's to come in the flavor and fragrance industry.

At IndustryNet, in addition to helping industrial suppliers connect with millions of qualified buyers, we also take a close look at the issues impacting industrial companies and the people who do business with them on the IndustryNet blog. 2020 was a remarkable year for manufacturers, one that exposed both vulnerabilities in the manufacturing supply chain and highlighted the strength and resilience of U.S. manufacturers in the face of a national crisis. Our most popular stories for 2020 are a direct reflection of manufacturing's most remarkable year

Following a tumultuous and unprecedented year, U.S. manufacturers are finishing out the year on a strong note. Although key indexes across multiple reports suggest activity in the sector is slightly slower than last month, expansion is still strong across the board. Today, we're bringing you the big picture look at manufacturing business conditions, compiling key takeaways from various reports on output, labor, new orders, optimism and regional activity

From tariffs to tax reform, the Trump presidency had a large impact on the U.S. manufacturing sector over the past four years. Biden aims to run a vastly different administration than Trump. This includes a return to trade deals, higher tax rates and large government projects. However, he does intend to continue some Trump administration policies for a limited time. With a Biden presidency on the horizon, this article will explore what to expect of Joe Biden's manufacturing plans.

Dispense Works, Inc. has announced the launch of the Bench Cat, a new U.S.-manufactured dispensing system, designed for automatically dispensing a variety of materials including adhesives, pastes, epoxies, sealants, etc., as well as spray, fill, virtually any fluid from most valves and pumps. Even your existing handheld systems are easily added with the included universal valve / syringe mount. No PC is required for operation.

U.S. manufacturing activity eased back slightly in November after hitting a two-year high in October, according to the Institute for Supply Management's monthly Report on Business. According to the ISM, industrial activity inched down 1.8% in November, to a still expansionary reading of 57.5%. Notably, November's manufacturing activity report reveals a still expanding industrial sector and marks the seventh straight month of expansion for the economy overall. New orders and production continued to expand in November, though employment contracted over the month. Both imports and exports continue to grow, while supplier deliveries are slowing at a faster rate. Optimism among manufacturing executives has hit its strongest level since the pandemic, with 2.5 positive comments registered for every cautious comment.

Statistically speaking, leveraging video marketing reaches more customers than other forms of industrial marketing. In fact, Smart Brief notes that 96% of Americans have watched videos explaining how to effectively use a product or service, resulting in fewer calls to customer service. Videos provide a powerful way to differentiate a company's product within an industry and clarify its value proposition. By combining personalization and video, marketing departments can present a powerful product draw - just take a look at a few of these companies and how they took advantage of video marketing to rejuvenate their business models.

Multiple reports out this month point to continued growth in the U.S. industrial sector, with notable increases in new orders, production and employment. Optimism among industrial executives appears to be on the rise, while a wider range of manufacturing industries are reporting growth. Today, we're bringing you the big picture look at manufacturing business conditions, compiling key takeaways from various reports on output, labor, new orders, optimism and regional activity.

Dalemark Industries, Inc., a leader in marking, coding, labeling, and transport systems manufacturing, announced the launch of a new tabletop flat product transporter. The new Model 975-TA tabletop transporter is ideal for high speed feeding of flat products, including cards, sheets, cartons, booklets, sleeves, lidstock, pouches and bags for easy integration with various Product Identification Devices.