The latest NAM/Industry Week Survey of Manufacturers found that businesses are generally upbeat about the coming months. Manufacturing respondents expect 4.4 percent growth in sales on average over the next 12 months, the fastest pace of expected growth in new orders since the first quarter of 2012, when the sector was expanding more robustly.

Net exports have been a drag on the U.S. economy so far through the first half of the year, with manufacturers continuing to experience sluggish sales growth in international markets. With that said, the U.S. trade deficit narrowed a bit in July to its lowest level in six months, with growth in goods exports outpacing growth in goods imports.

Presentations will include topics in the area of bevel and parallel axis gear design, manufacturing, and testing.

Manufacturing & Education: Understanding the Connection. That is the name of an educators’ workshop I just attended that brought teachers and manufacturers together to share perspectives and opportunities. Panelists talked about workforce needs and what they find in job applicants.

This year’s International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS 2014) has shown optimistic numbers, and the Manufacturing.net staff was part of the thundering traffic cruising through McCormick Place in Chicago.

There have been 3D-printed buildings, dresses, hats, jewellery and even parts of the anatomy. And now the world has been introduced to Strati, a 3D-printed car which was created using direct digital manufacturing techniques. The car is composed of 40 parts - a significantly smaller number than that of a conventional vehicle which has more than 20,000 components.

A smarter, safer new industrial robot could bring automation to new areas of manual work and help many U.S. manufacturers regain a competitive edge.

A Japanese auto parts supplier says it plans to invest $73.5 million in a 151,000-square-foot manufacturing plant near Interstate 74 in Jamestown.

When it comes to the next big thing for general aviation airplanes, aviation experts are looking toward diesel engines that run on jet fuel. Several major aircraft and engine makers have announced the development of diesel engines suited for aircraft, including Wichita's Cessna Aircraft, in part because of a need for alternative fuel sources.

Manufacturers in New York would create more high-quality jobs if they didn't face stifling federal regulations. That’s according to Heather Briccetti, president and CEO of The Business Council of New York State.

Digital technology is transforming manufacturing, making it leaner and smarter – and raising the prospect of an American industrial revolution.

Automotive supplier GKN Driveline will break ground Friday on an expanded Catawba County facility and is accepting applications for jobs connected to the expansion, officials said on Thursday. The automotive supplier, which announced the expansion of its Maiden facility in April, invested more than $100 million in the project and expects to add more than 200 new jobs by the end of 2018.

An index of manufacturing activity in the New York region strengthened to a near-five-year high in September, according to data released Monday. The New York Fed’s Empire State general business conditions index rose to 27.5, the highest level since October 2009.

The sentiment on Wall Street is weak on Monday despite the lackluster performance for much of last week. Economic fears may return in full force in the wake of weak retail sales and industrial production data released by China and fears concerning monetary policy normalization by the Federal Reserve. A domestic manufacturing activity and industrial production data due today could shed some light on the economic condition and its implication for the monetary policy. Global cues are negative, with Asian stocks closing lower, while the European markets are also mostly lower.

The equipment used by many U.S. manufacturers is getting creaky. Even as economic indicators rise, domestic capital spending has remained anemic by historical standards, especially in manufacturing.