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Americanmachinist 2224 Bustrends0100jp00000002490
Americanmachinist 2224 Bustrends0100jp00000002490
Americanmachinist 2224 Bustrends0100jp00000002490
Americanmachinist 2224 Bustrends0100jp00000002490

Machine tool consumption for 2005 off to good start

April 1, 2005
Figures from The American Machine Tool Distributors' Association (AMTDA) and AMT — The Association For Manufacturing Technology indicate 2005 machine tool consumption is up against 2004 figures. January consumption totaled $217.03 million, 20.8% high

Figures from The American Machine Tool Distributors' Association (AMTDA) and AMT — The Association For Manufacturing Technology indicate 2005 machine tool consumption is up against 2004 figures. January consumption totaled $217.03 million, 20.8% higher than the total for the same period in 2004. However, it is 29.1% lower against December figures.

AMTDA President Ralph J. Nappi points to the end of bonus depreciation as a reason January orders did not keep pace with the previous month.

The regional breakdown for January 2005 and its comparison to December 2004 are:

Chicago Heights, Ill. . . . Pico Chemical Corp., has redesigned and updated its website, picochemical.com. New information includes recent Pico-authored magazine articles, technical papers, and new products.

Warren, Mich. . . . Visitors to Cincinnati Lamb's new global website, cincinnatilamb.com, will find tailored information about local contacts, relevant casestudies, and news concerning manufacturing within their world region.

The website focuses on four key industry sectors served by Cincinnati Lamb's products — aerospace, automotive, general machining, and heavy equipment.

Boeing sells Wichita/Tulsa Division

After announcing a year ago it was studying the possible sale of its commercial aircraft plants in Wichita, Tulsa, and McAlester, Okla., The Boeing Co. has a deal with Onex Corp., a Canadian conglomerate, for $900 million cash, assumption of certain liabilities, and long-term supply agreements. It is part of the company's plan to concentrate on aircraft design and final assembly.

"Boeing selected Onex based on its successful, long track record of investing in, and growing companies," says Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Alan Mulally. "Boeing will benefit from lower procurement costs, and the Wichita/Tulsa operations can now grow by winning new business with other customers."

Onex expects to form a new company to operate the facilities and invest more than $1 billion in the next few years. "The new company will compete for work inside and outside of Boeing, increasing the potential for more stable jobs," added Onex Managing Director Nigel Wright.

The facilities supply fuselage and structural components for Boeing's 737, 747, 767, and 777 programs and is a supplier partner on the 787 Dreamliner. About 9,000 employees work at the division.

In addition, Boeing is selling its Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power business to Pratt & Whitney for about $700 million in cash.

WoodDale, Ill. . . . MC Machinery Systems Inc. and Mikuni-Makino are the official patent holders of the Small Hole EDM drill. According to the drill's inventor, Tetsuro Ito, it uses tap water instead of de-ionized water. It is fast and easy to control and is a low-energy consumer. Ito has been with MC Machinery System for the past six years.

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