At $46.2 million for the fourth quarter 2009, shipments of workholding equipment were down 19 percent from fourth quarter 2008, according to the Advanced Workholding Technology Group of AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology. Shipments of workholders within the U.S. by the 38 companies participating in the AWT statistical report totaled $37.4 million; exports amounted to $8.8 million.

The AWT report shows that domestic workholding shipments increased 8 percent and U.S. exports increased 81.9 percent from third quarter 2009. In addition, fourth quarter 2009 employment levels at participating companies were down 0.5 percent from third quarter 2009 and down 19 percent compared to fourth quarter 2008.

—Cutting Tool Engineering, March 2010

The index of U.S. cutting tool sales declined 0.2 percent from November to December last year, a reduction consistent with—though not nearly as steep—as decreases posted during the same period the previous 2 years, according to the United States Cutting Tool Institute. From November to December 2008, sales dropped 3.6 percent; in 2007, November to December cutting tool sales dropped 7.3 percent.

Total Billings Index

(The index uses 1997 annual data, which equals 100 percent, as its baseline.)

The USCTI collected the above data from member-companies.

—Cutting Tool Engineering, March 2010

At the Miami International Boat show last month, Latham Marine Inc. exhibited a 1955 Chevy Dragster inscribed with the names of the 3,578 American prisoners of war and those still listed as missing in action from the Vietnam War. The vehicle, known as the POW Race Car, is owned by Army veteran Max Loffgren, who built it as a rolling tribute to the military. Loffgren shuttles the car to civic and racing events throughout the U.S. “This car honors those guys and their families and what they did for their country,” he said. “It’s a history lesson.” Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based Latham Marine sponsored the vehicle’s cross-country trip from California to Florida.

—Cutting Tool Engineering, March 2010

Seco Tools Inc. announced that it is moving its customer service department from it Operations division to Sales, a shift the company considers a uniting two similar business units devoted to the common goal of supporting clients’ needs, according to Lou Navacco, sales director of North America.

In addition, Seco’s Custom Tool Operations (CTO) is now part of the Marketing and Product Development department, where it will join forces with the Component Engineered Tooling group. Bob Goulding, formerly of Product Marketing, has been named manager of CTO and CET.

The Product Marketing group has been expanded to include Product Marketing and Enterprise Solutions, under the management of Larry Lefkoff, formerly manager of Central Zone Sales, now managed by Rob Keenan.

Also, the company has streamlined its physical operations by relocating its Jabro, Va., sales office to corporate headquarters in Troy, Mich.

—Cutting Tool Engineering, March 2010