Custom Manufacturers Shrug the Downward Trend

5 Nov 08

Figures recently released from ManufactureLink showed that October was a record month for custom manufacturers with strong sales leads experienced throughout the month for a large variety of advanced manufacturing processes.

Custom manufacturers are defined as those who manufacture components and products on a job-by-job basis to a customers exact specifications. Manufacturers such as machine shops, casting foundries, steel fabricators and plastics moulders are examples of typical custom manufacturers.

ManufactureLink recorded almost AUD$5 million in custom manufacturing orders placed with ther supplier network during October. Orders came mostly from Australia, but several good export opportunties for complex structural fabrication were also won by Australian manufacturers.

The biggest Australian markets for custom manufacturing during October were medical device manufacturing, fabrication, casting, CNC machining and toolmaking.

ManufactureLink's online sourcing system and manufacturing directory also experienced a minimum 25% increase in all indicators compared with the September figures suggesting a marked increase in custom manufacturing activity.

The increased activity is welcome relief for Australia's custom manufacturers who experienced one of the quietest periods on record in July with only a slow increase in activity through August and September.

Increased enquiries from overseas, particularly Europe are indicators that export opportuntities for elaborately transformed manufactures may already be increasing on the back of the lowering of the Australian currency against other developed economies.

About ManufactureLink

ManufactureLink operate the Australian custom manufacturing and engineering network which is an online network of more than 400 suppliers and design engineers, and over 1600 buyers.

Each month ManufactureLink compiles a comprehensive report on manufacturing activity recorded through their website, manufacturing directory and online sourcing system. The full report is distributed to ManufactureLink's registered suppliers each month.

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