Week 8 in Manufacturing News
US Manufacturing Production Unexpectedly Contracts in January
U.S. factory production unexpectedly contracted in January, shrinking the most in eight months on weakness in the automotive sector and indicating a weak start to the year as headwinds including a trade war with China weighed on factories.
Manufacturing output fell 0.9% after a downwardly revised 0.8% increase in the prior month. Total industrial production, which also includes mines and utilities, contracted 0.6% after a revised 0.1% rise that was also revised down.
Full article on IndustryWeek.
No-deal Brexit a ‘disaster’ for UK manufacturing, says business secretary
Speaking at the EEF’s annual conference, Grek Clark admitted that manufacturers have had to endure “months of uncertainty” about Brexit and the UK’s future relationship with the EU.
“I think there’s been a national education in the realities of just in time production and integrated supply chains. Leaving the EU [without a deal] will, in my view, be a disaster for the whole country,” he said.
Full article on E&T.
UK industrial robots: Installations increase for third year in a row
Robots active in the UK now number around 2,300 units – an increase of more than 30%, according to figures compiled by the International Federation of Robotics.
The rise in industrial robots coincides with a growing desire from businesses and their employees that machines take over the unhealthy, hazardous or monotonous tasks currently undertaken by humans.
Full article on The Manufacturer.
Japan Feb manufacturing shrinks for 1st time since 2016
The Flash Markit/Nikkei Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell to a seasonally adjusted 48.5 in February from a final 50.3 in January. The index fell below the 50 threshold that separates contraction from expansion for the first time since August 2016.
Full article on The Star.
Future of manufacturing Report
The Future of Manufacturing special report, published in The Times, explores the exciting topics like:
- How 3D printing is reshaping global production
- Drone developments: massive potential for manufacturing
- Electric cars in trouble as green levy threatened
- Hardware vs. software: which wins in manufacturing?
- Manufacturing talent: what can you do to bridge the gap?
- Manufacturing cyberattacks could cripple the UK
- Who will be the winner of the fourth industrial revolution
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