U.S. Cutting Tool Orders Remain Soft

December U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $156.48 million according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI; Cleveland, OH ) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology (McLean, VA). This total, as reported by companies participating in the Cutting Tool Market Report (CTMR) collaboration, was up 1.4 percent from November’s $154.27 million and down 15.4 percent when compared with the total of $185.07 million reported for December 2014. With a year-to-date total of $2,135.07 million, 2015 was down 5.0 percent when compared with 2014.

These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals actually reported by the companies participating in the CTMR program. The totals here represent the majority of the U.S. market for cutting tools.

“The December 2014 to December 2015 decrease of 15.4 percent is most reflective of the current environment in the cutting tool industry,” says Steve Stokey, the president of USCTI. “We started 2015 strong with a significant decline during the second half of the year. The drop in oil prices, which softened the market, along with the strengthening dollar caused a dramatic decrease in demand in the last half of 2015.”

Overall, manufacturing in general has had some challenges. According to William A. Strauss, the senior economist and the economic advisor to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, “The strengthening dollar has been a very strong headwind facing U.S. manufacturers.  The real value of the trade-weighted dollar has increased nearly 20 per cent in the past year and a half. This has caused U.S. goods to be 20 percent more expensive on average to foreign consumers, and vice versa, imports are now 20 percent less expensive to U.S. consumers.  This has led to a substantial increase in the trade deficit over the same time period.”

The CTMR is jointly compiled by AMT and USCTI, two trade associations representing the development, production and distribution of cutting tool technology and products. It provides a monthly statement on U.S. manufacturers’ consumption of the primary consumable in the manufacturing process – the cutting tool.  Analysis of cutting tool consumption is a leading indicator of both upturns and downturns in U.S. manufacturing activity, as it is a true measure of actual production levels.

Historical data for the Cutting Tool Market Report is available dating back to January 2012.  This collaboration of AMT and USCTI is the first step in the two associations working together to promote and support U.S.-based manufacturers of cutting tool technology.

AMT represents and promotes U.S.-based manufacturing technology and its members, those who design, build, sell, and service the continuously evolving technology that lies at the heart of manufacturing. Founded in 1902 the association specializes in providing targeted business assistance, extensive global support, and business intelligence systems and analysis. They are the voice that communicates the importance of policies and programs that encourage research and innovation, and the development of educational initiatives to create tomorrow’s Smartforce.

AMT owns and manages the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), the premier manufacturing technology event in North America. The USMTO report is compiled by them and all data in the report is based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the program.

USCTI was formed in 1988 and resulted from a merger of two national associations representing the cutting tool manufacturing industry. The Institute works to represent, promote, and expand the U.S. cutting tool industry and to promote the benefits of buying American-made cutting tools manufactured by its members. Membership includes North American manufacturers and/or remanufacturers of cutting tools, as well as tool surface treatment providers.

USCTI members, which number over 70, belong to ten product divisions: carbide tooling, drill and reamer, metal cutting saw blades, milling cutter, polycrystalline diamond & polycrystalline cubic born nitride, substrate materials, surface coating, tap and die, tool holder and all other tooling. A wide range of activities include a comprehensive statistics program, human resources surveys, development of product specifications and standards, and semi-annual meetings to share ideas and receive information on key industry trends.

www.uscti.com, www.amtonline.org