The Association for Manufacturing Technology’s Advanced Workholding Technology Group reports that third-quarter 2009 shipments of workholding equipment totaled $39.6 million, a decline of 34.1% versus the same period of 2008. Domestic shipments amounted to $34.8 million, while exports totaled $4.8 million during July, August, and September.
However, the AWT group reported that domestic workholding equipment shipments increased 7.7% and U.S. exports increased 9.2% over second quarter 2009.
AMT’s Advanced Workholding Technology Group includes member companies that produce chucks, jaws, collets, vises, fixtures, and other workholding equipment. The Workholding Market Data Report is based on a monthly survey of these companies.
Midwest regional shipments continued to be the leading domestic destination, with 38.2% of total domestic third-quarter shipments. Those shipments represented a -2.8% decrease versus the second-quarter 2009 Midwestern shipments.
Shipments in the West region increased 2.3%, to 12.6% of the third-quarter total. Northeast regional shipments rose 1.2% to 19.8% of domestic third-quarter shipments.
The Central region’s third-quarter shipments declined by 1.3% to 14.7% of the market. Southern regional shipments rose slightly during the quarter, and now represent 14.4% of domestic shipments.
In addition to the shipment data, the AWT group third-quarter report revealed 2009 employment levels are down -2.9% from the second quarter, and down -18.7% compared to third-quarter 2008 employment.
