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Laser Shipments Up for First Time Since Early 2001

Laser-equipment shipments in the second quarter of 2002, at $131.8 million, rose 47 percent from the first quarter, according to the Laser Systems Product Group (LSPG) of the Association for Manufacturing Technology. However, shipments were off by 10 percent compared to the same period last year. Shipments of CO₂ laser systems rose 15 percent from the same period last year while Nd: YAG laser shipments dropped 30 percent. “This is the first quarter in a year and a half that we have seen an increase in laser shipments,” says Dave Plourde, LSPG chairman. “Given the state of manufacturing today, we are pleased with the relative strength of the laser market.”

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Robot Orders Fall 4 Percent in 2Q

North American robotics companies saw orders from North American customers fall four percent in the second quarter of 2002 versus the comparable period last year, according to the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), Ann Arbor, MI. Through the first six months of the year, new robot orders totaled 4850 units valued at $337.9 million, off one percent in nits sold through the same period last year, and two percent in revenue. The good news: orders have turned up for robots used in material-handling, arc-welding and dispensing/coating applications. New orders for material-handling robots jumped 20 percent in the second quarter.

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Air-Filtration Website Updated

Donaldson Company, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, has redesigned the website for its Industrial Air Filtration group, previously known as the Donaldson Dust Collection Group. The updated site, still at www.torit.com, integrates fully the family of Donaldson Company brands, and provides direct links to all divisions within the company. The site is information-rich, with product information, application details, company news, customer support and direct links to customer-service representatives.

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