A Detailed Look at the U.S. Metal Stamping Industry

The U.S. metal stamping industry has seen rapid job growth despite relatively stagnant sales numbers the past year.

Used to form sheet metal into specific shapes and parts, stamping uses powerful hydraulic presses and customized tooling.

Unlike forging, which is a hot process, stamping is performed on cold metal. Using the latest reliable industry data, let's take a look some of the statistics.

Overview of Metal Stamping Employment

Compared with manufacturing in general, stamping is nearly on a par with every masurement except the number of companies that added employees and the amount of domestic versus international distribution.

According to MNI, compiler of the industrial data that powers IndustryNet, stamping increased its employee base in 2018 by 7% compared with 4% percent for overall manufacturing. Stamping distribution also increased at much different rates compared with manufacturing.

Related: 9 Leading Metal Stamping Companies in the U.S. 

57% of companies distribute domestically, and 41% distribute internationally 41%.

Metal Stamping Sales

Stamping industry sales remained flat over the past year with only 0.10 percent growth, at about $25.4 billion for 2017 and 2018.

Despite that, the number of employees in the field increased by 6.2% during the same period, bringing the total to 72,896 people spread across 1,551 companies.

Part of the cause of the level-off in sales can be tied to the trade uncertainties in the form of steel tariffs that plagued the industry in 2018.

With a higher percentage of its distribution tied to international partners, stamping was hit hard by shifts in supply chains. One benefit has been a renewed interest in local purchasing by buyers based in the United States. It remains to be seen how that change will affect sales for 2019 and beyond.

Geographic Differences in Metal Stamping

Stamping is a very centralized industry. Nearly half of all stamping companies are based in the Midwest, with 748 firms calling the region home.

Part of the reason is the close relationship between stamping and automotive industries, since many stamping companies are suppliers for major automakers.

In a distant second place, the Northeast boasts nearly 23% of stamping companies, followed by the South with 17% and the West with 11.7%.

Metal Stamping Innovations

New technology is present in every field, and stamping has its own very useful advances.

An example is sensors that detect problems with feeding metal through a press. Because of the forces involved in stamping, metal can deform and end up out of tolerance for many stage processes.

In extreme cases, it can jam or damage the press's ejection system. By detecting errors early, manufacturers can avoid those problems and protect their parts and raw materials.

An exciting process known as fluid forming is making headway in the industry. Instead of steel tools pressing metal into a given shape, fluid forming uses recycled water at extremely high pressure to form the shape. High pressure in this case means up to 60,000 psi.

Because of the fluidity of water, complex geometric shapes and undercuts can be made for a fraction of the price of standard processes. In addition, tooling can be 3D-printed, reducing lead time from weeks or months to days.

Of course, no discussion of the future would be complete without mentioning the benefits of the internet of things (IoT) and how it relates to stamping. Reduced waste, faster production times, fault detection and global access to line controls are some of the most common advantages the stamping industry will get out of IoT.

Looking for Metal Stamping Suppliers?

If you're looking for a metal stamping supplier, look no further than IndustryNet. Every metal stamping company in the United States is listed along with critical data for the entire manufacturing industry.

Compiled by experts, the information listed in this free industrial marketplace can help a company make the best decision possible when it comes to forming parts. Every qualified supplier that can meet your needs can be found on IndustryNet.

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