In February, manufacturing added more jobs, Tecnalia 3-D prints innovative designs, Ford releases their quarterly profit, and hybrid work tactics are shifting tasks. Continue reading our news round up to learn more about what’s happening in the industry this month.

Manufacturing Adds 13,000 Jobs

Manufacturers added a modest 13,000 jobs last month. Employment in durable goods rose by 8,000 jobs, according to a breakdown by industry issued by the bureau. Durable goods industries were mixed. Job gainers included fabricated metal products, up 5,000 jobs, and machinery up 3,600. However, gains were partially offset by job losses in transportation equipment, down 9,500 jobs. That included a decline of 4,900 jobs in motor vehicles and parts.

To read the full report click here.

Tecnalia 3-D prints innovative designs from challenging metals

Tecnalia Research & Innovation, a leading private and independent research and technology organization in Spain, uses its material and manufacturing expertise to develop innovative designs in the most challenging materials for the cutting tool industry. The flexibility of the innovent binder jetting machine allowed the Tecnalia team to print the challenging materials after an exhaustive selection and powder conditioning process was optimized for the binder jetting process. 

The final parts provided were near net shape, reducing difficult and expensive machining and cutting lead times by 75%.

For more information on these new innovating designs check out the full article here.

Ford Posts Quarterly Profit

Ford Motor Co. posted a fourth-quarter profit compared with a year-earlier loss.

The automaker reported a quarterly profit of $12.3 billion, or $3.03 a year, compared with a deficit of $2.8 billion, or 70 cents for the final three months of 2020. The result included an $8.2 billion gain on its investment in Rivian Automotive Inc., an electric-truck maker, which had an initial public offering last year.

Ford had adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of about $2 billion in the quarter, up from $1.7 billion a year earlier. The company’s North American auto operations generated EBIT of $1.8 billion. On a per-share basis, the adjusted earnings were 26 cents a share. That was lower than analyst estimates of 45 cents.

Click here to download Ford’s full report.

Hybrid Work Methods Shift Some Tasks Anywhere

The surge in use of digital production and communications tools during the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the future of the hybrid workplace, in which some employees and tasks can be redirected outside the manufacturing facility. Manufacturers that had already made large investments in automation, data collection and remote connectivity had the infrastructure in place to support this shift prior to the pandemic.

However, while personnel like designers and engineers are easily able to work remotely—and, depending on the company, did so pre-pandemic—machines still need operators on site. That said, solutions such as virtual or mixed reality and cloud-based connectivity are driving organizations to rethink how they schedule and perform certain manufacturing duties.

To read the full article click here.

Contact Custom Tool & Grinding

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