Economy

PUBLISHER'S PAGE | 2018-02-01

Waiting for the Boom

I've always been a big fan of thunderstorms. I especially enjoy that quiet moment of anticipation right after you see a flash of lightning. There's a tension in the air, a sense of excitement. You know what's coming, and you wait for it...I feel like we're in that moment, right now. We're waiting for the boom.

| 2017-12-11

Consolidation and Innovation

It has been a while, but as many of you know there are too many projects and not enough time. One of my many projects has been to identify new s...

| 2017-09-07

Meter Bearings Upgrades System Analytics

A global organization, Meter Bearings comprises offices and production centers in China, Germany, and the United States, with their headquarters in...

PUBLISHER'S PAGE | 2017-06-01

Moving in the Right Direction

Over the past several months, members of our staff have traveled quite a bit, and we've had a lot of opportunities to gauge their confidence. And while nobody is overwhelmingly enthusiastic - nobody has told us this is their best year ever - almost everyone seems at least content with the stability that slow and steady growth provides.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2017-02-01

Industry News

The complete Industry News section from the February 2017 issue of PTE.

PUBLISHER'S PAGE | 2016-03-01

Don't Believe the "R" Word

For several months, many economists have been using the “R” word when it comes to manufacturing. They say we’ve been in a global manufacturing recession since some time in the fourth quarter of last year.

MARKET UPDATE | 2016-03-01

Global Industrial Outlook: Reality Sinks In

Our “Batten Down The Hatches” call proved timely as the market sold off by about (10 percent) before staging a partial recovery

MARKET UPDATE | 2016-02-01

Global Industrial Outlook: Batten Down the Hatches

Third-quarter earnings confirmed the worst-case scenario — plunging oil prices are whacking almost the entire industrial sector. The theme is hardly new, as the pattern of our headlines has revealed over the past fifteen or so months:

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2015-12-01

Global Industrial Outlook: Oil Slick Cascading Through Sector

Third-quarter earnings are confirming the worst-case scenario, i.e. — not only are energy related end markets in a downturn, but conditions continue to worsen.

EVENTS | 2015-08-01

Calendar

Calendar of upcoming events

| 2015-07-31

Vehicle Outlook

I don’t know about you, but the recession of 2008-2010 sticks in my mind like a bad penny. Since that time, I am never able to simply say ...

TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2015-04-01

Mathematical Modeling for the Design of Spiroid, Helical, Spiral Bevel and Worm Gears

Spiroid and worm gears have superior advantages for hightorque and miniaturization applications. And for this reason they are particularly preferred in aerospace, robotic and medical applications. They are typically manufactured by hobbing technology, a process with a typical overall lead time of 4 to 14 weeks.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2014-12-01

Global Industrial Outlook: Houston, We Have a Problem

With two armed conflicts underway impacting economic performance in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, we continue our investment stance of “Buy on the Sound of Cannons — Selectively” — but readers of Power Transmission Engineering should not be sanguine. Geopolitics is beginning to exert significant pressure on several end markets: I specifically refer to oil price. West Texas Intermediate or WTI has dropped from its $95-105 trading range in late spring to about $75 — about a (25%) drop despite wo ongoing conflicts because of excess supply.

MARKET UPDATE | 2014-09-01

Back to Work

The best growth market, perhaps in spite of ourselves, is the United States.

MARKET UPDATE | 2014-08-01

Das (Human) Kapital

Columnist Brian Langenberg provides a current outlook update, key findings from a recent energy sector conference, and takes another look at education and employment.

MARKET UPDATE | 2014-04-01

China!

Our last installment called out the likely headwinds from both the C.R.A.P. currencies (Canada, Russia, Australia and Latin America) and also weather impact. As companies start reporting in the coming weeks, expect first quarter results to be mildly impacted. This issue we take a closer look at China.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2014-02-01

The CHIEF Issues - Global Industrial Outlook

Global economic activity remains good -- noise about China slowing, notwithstanding -- and despite the ObamaCare debacle, non-Christmas-related consumer spending looks pretty good. Europe is still Europe and China continues to grow 7-8 percent -- even as the government seeks to clamp down on its own shadow banking system. And India remains a mess.

MARKET UPDATE | 2013-12-01

The Ugly, the Bad and the Good - Global Industrial Outlook - December 2013 PTE

Global economic demand remains solid - even if you couldn't tell by recent third-quarter results and despite all efforts by U.S. politicians of both political parties. Let's go through what happened and what is coming.

MARKET UPDATE | 2013-08-01

Quiet Out There - Global Industrial Outlook

Since our last appearance in this space we've attended the Paris Air Show and met with companies involved in oil production, hydraulic fracturing and wind turbine towers and components. As an investment analyst I am always seeking to help my clients anticipate change in order to manage risk and capture alpha (positive returns relative to market). But as a regular columnist for Power Transmission Engineering, I also seek insights that can help your organization do the same. Here is what we've found...

MARKET UPDATE | 2013-06-01

Global Industrial Outlook - Sideways

We have just returned from the Electrical Products Group Conference in Sarasota, Florida. This is our favorite venue because it allows us to speak with the CEOs of nearly 25 global industrial companies that include General Electric, United Technologies, Honeywell, ABB and Emerson, with combined revenue of perhaps $500 billion.

MARKET UPDATE | 2013-04-01

As Risk Recedes, Market Rises

The S&P 500 has rallied six percent since our last review...here's analyst Brian Langenberg's take on what's next for the industrial economy.

MARKET UPDATE | 2013-02-01

Kicking the Can - Into February

Washington political dysfunction is not as bad as we feared. It is worse.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2012-12-01

All About the Cliff

Brian K. Langenberg explains what's likely to happen in the economy over the coming months.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2012-10-01

Better Long than Short

The glass is at least half-full—and there is no hole in the glass. While fiscal cliff disaster is a possibility, we’re thinking more fiscal pothole.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2012-08-01

Industrial Reality Check for Chicken Little: The Sky is NOT Falling

Columnist Brian K. Langenberg surveys the industrial economic landscape to let you know what is up, what is down, and what is coming next.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2012-06-01

Economy Continues - Generally - to Improve

Our April 2012 launch of this column highlighted several key themes; we will re-state each and highlight developments, relying on our monitoring of 75 key global industrial companies and ongoing fieldwork.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2012-04-01

Structural Change and Growth - Coming to an Economy Near You

Welcome to the first installment of Market Update - a by-the-numbers, in-the-now snapshot of industrial markets worldwide, along with some prognostication to assist in planning your next moves - when to hold ‘em, when to fold ‘em, etc. Look for Market Update in future issues.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2008-08-01

Is Maintenance Included in Your Strategic Plan

Few would now argue that what some may have perceived just a few years ago as “Chicken Little” stories regarding the depletion of this country’s skilled manufacturing workforce are now in fact firmly based in stark reality.