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Economic Momentum Returns as Manufacturing Technology Orders Rise
U.S. economic growth regained footing as GDP rebounded, supported by renewed strength in manufacturing technology orders. The latest data points to stabilizing demand and reinforces the role of capital investment as a key driver of near-term manufacturing activity. For builders and decision-makers, it’s a signal that the market may be finding firmer ground after recent volatility.
26% Growth Over Beginning of 2025 Signals Confidence in Manufacturing Technology Investments
Metalworking machinery demand continued into the first two months of 2026, with January orders posting a solid year‑over‑year gain, despite manufacturers navigating a more complex economic environment.
Tariff Refunds Offer Cash Back — but Not Policy Relief
Manufacturers are beginning to see meaningful tariff refunds flow back to their businesses, providing a welcome financial boost. With the underlying tariffs still in place, refunds offer short‑term relief without resolving the longer‑term cost and challenges facing manufacturers engaged in global trade.
News You Can Use
Short, tactical insights manufacturers can act on.
With IMTS 2026 approaching, exhibitors who plan earlier and align sales and marketing efforts will maximize ROI before, during, and after the show. This useful roadmap helps companies move beyond booth traffic and build sustained engagement with buyers.
Digital tools are reshaping how manufacturers and forensic teams capture, analyze, and trust critical data. Purpose-driven digitalization improves accuracy, traceability, and decision-making across high-stakes manufacturing and investigative applications.
Industrial AI doesn’t have to be complex or experimental to deliver value. This article breaks down realistic, shop-floor-ready approaches to applying AI, focusing on clear use cases, measurable outcomes, and lessons learned from real-world manufacturing environments.
By the Numbers
According to the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure, inflation surpassed the 3% mark in the first quarter of 2026. Like much of the inflationary pressures in 2021 and early 2022, the main cause is on the supply side, and because the Federal Reserve’s main tool for curbing inflation mainly acts through demand channels, they opted to keep the benchmark interest rate steady at their meeting last week. The main difference now is that labor market conditions are far less likely to turn this supply-driven spike into a sustained bout of inflation after a period in which both demand and supply fell at nearly the same rate.
Upcoming Events
May 7, 2026: AMT Meetup in Cincinnati, Ohio
May 27, 2026: AMT Webinar, Presented by Intrinsic: Orchestrating the Future of Autonomous CNC Tending
June 2, 2026: AMT Meetup in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
September 14-19, 2026: IMTS 2026 in Chicago, Illinois
Member News
Anniversaries, awards, and expansion news from MTI, Hwacheon, Ellison Technologies, Okuma, Knuth, and Mitsubishi Electric lead this update, alongside facility growth at QualiChem and leadership moves across Autodesk, Marposs, and Spinner.
This is a published version of the AMT NOW newsletter. You can sign up to get AMT NOW in your inbox here.
