MCLEAN, VA – May US manufacturing technology orders totaled $430.06 million, says the Association for Manufacturing Technology, up 13.6% sequentially, but down 7.6% compared to May 2012.

With a year-to-date total of $2.09 billion, 2013 is down 6.9% year-over-year, the firm says.

“A rise in US manufacturing technology orders is welcome as we move into the summer months, which are typically soft. New technologies are creating change in automotive production, while many aerospace manufacturers are making shifts within their supply chains,” said Patrick W. McGibbon, AMT vice president - Industry Intelligence. “Contract machining is also seeing growth thanks to the cost advantages of manufacturing within the US. Meanwhile, foreign direct investment within the US continues to increase, and all of these factors are contributing to new capital investment within manufacturing.”

Northeast manufacturing technology orders in May stood at $71.56 million, down slightly from the April total of $72.25 million, but 5.1% higher than the same month in 2012. The $322.59 million year-to-date total is 2.1% lower than the total for the same period last year. 

Southeast manufacturing technology orders totaled $43.57 million, up 23.7% sequentially and level with May 2012. At $183.51 million, 2013 year-to-date is 12.4% less than the total for May 2012.

North Central-East manufacturing technology orders totaled $100.46 million, up 36% sequentially, but down 29.5% year-over-year. The year-to-date total of $537.92 million is 8.8% lower than the comparable figure for May 2012.

At $73.46 million, May manufacturing technology orders in the North Central-West were down slightly compared with the $73.61 million total for April, and down 16.1% compared to the year-ago May. With a year-to-date total of $407.25 million, 2013 is down 0.5% year-over-year.                                                                               

South Central manufacturing for the month was $65.29 million, up 9.9% sequentially and up 6.5% year-over-year. The year-to-date total is $320.22 million, down 23.8% compared to the same month last year.

West May manufacturing technology orders were $75.72 million, up 18% sequentially, and up 20.6% year-over-year. Year-to-date for the region was $313.65 million, up 11.6% year-over-year.