Hot Off the Press

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Three-Month Winning Streak of New Orders
for Manufactured Goods Ended in May

New orders for manufactured goods in May, down following three consecutive monthly increases, decreased $2.1 billion or 0.5 percent to $416.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported last week. This followed a 0.5 percent April increase. May shipments, however, also up three consecutive months, increased $4.3 billion or 1.0 percent to $417.8 billion. This followed a 1.0 percent April increase. Unfilled orders, up 24 of the 25 months, increased $6.3 billion or 0.9 percent to $725.7 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992, and followed a 1.9 percent April increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 4.86, up from 4.85 in April. And, inventories, up 14 of the last 15 months, increased $1.7 billion or 0.3 percent to $515.0 billion. This was at the highest level since the series began and followed a 0.4 percent April increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.23, down from 1.24 in April.

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Website Covers Coil-Packaging and Lifting Equipment

Avon Engineering, Waterdown, Ontario, Canada, a division of Bushman Equipment, Inc., has introduced a redesigned website featuring custom-designed slit coil-packaging lines and heavy-duty below-the-hook material-handling equipment. The site, www.avonengineering.com, offers downloadable product information in .pdf format, photos, and online quote-request forms.

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Trumpf Opens New Korean HQ in Seoul

On June 12, 2007, Trumpf Inc. officially opened its company headquarters in the Trutec building in Seoul, South Korea. The building houses the sales and service departments for Trumpf Korea, as well as a showroom and training center. Trumpf Korea has 75 employees and offers the firm’s entire product portfolio to the Korean market, including machine tools for sheetmetal fabrication, and lasers and laser systems.

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