2013 State of the Industry: Metal Cutting Profile

MAJOR TRENDS
(1) Faster machine tools that combine multiple processes.

(2) Increasing automation.

(3) Accelerating speed of doing business.

(4) Increasing demand for application engineering services.

(5) Ease of use in technology.

BETWEEN THE LINES
To examine the details behind these trends, issues and insights, review how these executives view the coming year and the competitive environment in the metal cutting industry:
 
Brian Papke, Mazak
 
 
 
Don Lane, Makino
 
 
 
Rajas Sukthankar, Siemens Industry
 
 
 

CRITICAL ISSUES
(1) Uncertainty about domestic economic conditions and government policies.

(2) Fiscal cliff impact.

(3) Skilled labor shortage.

(4) More automation in small shops.

BETWEEN THE LINES
To examine the details behind these trends, issues and insights, review how these executives view the coming year and the competitive environment in the metal cutting industry:
 
Michael Mahfet, ABB Robotics North America
 
 
 
Greg Champion, Goellner
 
 
 

INSIGHTS
(1) Government must be less intrusive and more supportive of U.S. manufacturing.

(2) Initial market conditions remain hesitant, but the midterm outlook for the North American market is bullish for manufacturing to make a strong comeback.

(3) Shops should gear up now to prepare for the midterm manufacturing comeback.