As the current situation regarding COVID-19’s impact on the United States of America’s (USA) manufacturers rapidly changes, the Italian Trade Agency Chicago Office has included a number of what are considered trusted sources providing a wealth of updated information about the virus’s impact on the USA manufacturing economy. Of these sources, IBIS World, Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation and National Association of Manufacturers have recently published surveys on the current impact the virus has and will have on manufacturers. IBIS World’s March 24, 2020 survey on the

The USA Market for Advanced Manufacturing (AM) and Robotics Manufacturing in the U.S. has often been assumed to be in long-term decline, with the competitive advantage moving to low-cost countries such as Mexico and China. However, with advanced technologies likely to automate as much as 60% of factory tasks, in the future low-cost countries may no longer enjoy a competitive advantage, and the USA could well regain lost ground. Although many basic and low value-added products have moved out of the USA, the country still has an incredibly thriving manufacturing sector with more than $4 trillion

During the fourth quarter of 2012, Machines Italia together with IndustryWeek magazine conducted its survey on the usage of automation in the manufacturing sector. This Survey had as its objectives the following: Examine the use of automation and robotics among manufacturers; Investigate the use of and perception of Italian machines; Determine future purchasing plans and the important factors and players in the decision-making process. The methodology was straight forward as IndustryWeek's Penton Research emailed invitations to participate in the online survey to the print subscribers of its

When Peter Perez began his career in manufacturing four decades ago, companies had competitors across town or in their own state, but typically not outside the United States. Now, says Perez, deputy assistant secretary for manufacturing in the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, the competition is overseas. As a result, exports are "increasingly important to our economic health and to our growth." In 2011, U.S. exports totaled a record $2.1 trillion and represented more than 50% of the economic growth of the United States, Perez told manufacturers at the "Fast Forward

Sorma USA, a division of The Sorma Group of Italy, has decided to put down roots in Visalia California. Visalia is an ideal location for the company which manufactures packaging and palletizing lines for the fresh fruit and vegetable industries."We want to be close to our customers, even at the expense of higher costs," explained CEO Marco Bini. "We recognize how important it is to be at the center of the prominent agricultural area in the world, a modern system that requires fast response and a great level of service." Bini sees the California location as an opportunity that "will allow us

Brevini is a worldwide specialist in planetary technology. After 50 years of experience we developed a product range of gearboxes which goes from very small applications to >2,5 million N/m. We needed a new manufacturing location for the upper range (above 1 million N/M) where we could deploy the best possible technology. We focused on the wind market because it is one of the biggest for planetary applications. The US was, until two years ago, the biggest wind market in the world and there were plans for expanding the renewable sources ten folds by 2025. What a great chance for Brevini!!! We

It might not be the first place you think of when it comes to high-tech machine tools, but Italy has a long history of producing equipment that helps manufacturing plants operate efficiently. For instance, The Sacmi Group has been doing it since 1919. The US$1.7 billion company provides machinery for the packaging, beverage, ceramics, food processing and plastics industries. The company has come a long way from its beginnings as a staff of nine mechanics and blacksmiths. Sacmi has survived dictatorships, wars and economic hardships in its 90 years to grow to a worldwide staff of more than 3