TPT March 2007

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From the AmericaS
77 M arch/April 2007
For further information or
a brochure please contact:
Unit 24, Padgets Lane, South Moons Moat,
Redditch, Worcester B98 0RB, England.
Telephone: (01527) 518520 Fax: (01527) 518526
E-mail:
France: Tel: (1) 39 57 96 00 Germany: Tel: 02150 2500
Netherlands/Belgium: Tel: (04756) 6888 USA: Tel: 708 272 7880
An advanced range of N.C. single
and twin headed machines
• Quick tool change
• High production
capability
• No tube clamping
required
• End form on
or near bends
• Up to 6" ø
• High quality robust
construction
• 12 month warranty.
AV85C
Twin Head.
TUBE END
FORMING
Infinitely adjustable
expansion & reduction
the region will post more than 5,500 manufacturing job openings
for skilled workers each year. Salaries start at $40,000 to $45,000 a
year; a seasoned worker commands an average of $63,000.
Through print, radio, and television advertisements, as well as
billboards and sponsorship of the kind of venues that attract young
people, MAGNET hopes to persuade those in the age group 18 to
34 to consider preparing themselves to apply for those jobs.
John Engler, president and chief executive of the National
Association of Manufacturers, put the initiative in a broader
context. “America can’t compete without skilled workers,” he said in
a prepared statement, “Eighty per cent of NAM members are having
trouble finding qualified employees for today’s high-tech workplace.
And this problem is getting worse as the baby boom generation
retires.”
Meantime, Mr Engler told Ms Cho, “Companies are starting to hire
each other’s employees,” to fill critical jobs.
Boeing returns to No 1 after five years behind
Europe’s Airbus
According to sales figures released 17 January, Boeing Co beat out
Airbus SAS in total aircraft orders last year for the first time since
2000. The Chicago-based aircraft maker garnered 1,050 orders in
2006 versus 824 for its European rival. Boeing also topped Airbus in
production of wide-body jets, probably the most lucrative market in
the industry. Boeing tallied 317 orders for these planes, compared
with 134 for Airbus.
Writing in the Washington Post, Del Quentin Wilber noted that
analysts see the figures as evidence that Boeing has regained
the momentum it sacrificed to corporate scandals, business
missteps, and sluggish sales. By contrast, Airbus, which has its
headquarters in Toulouse, France, had “a rough year.” Mr Wilber
wrote, “Wiring problems caused production snafus in the much-
touted Airbus A380 super-jumbo jet, delaying its delivery to
customers by two years. FedEx dropped orders for 10 freighter
versions of the jet. Several top executives left Airbus and its
parent company EADS NV.” (‘Boeing takes lead in aircraft orders,’
17 January).
Airbus was also forced to redesign its new wide-body A350 XWB
because airlines and leasing companies prefer Boeing’s 787
Dreamliner. Boeing has taken 448 orders for the 787, which is still
in production.
Even so, despite falling behind in orders Airbus had the second-best
year in its history. It also delivered more planes to customers than
Boeing and has a slightly larger backlog of jets than the US aircraft
maker. But Boeing chose to concentrate on its supremacy in sales
– and to revel in it.
“We are excited about it,” Randolph S Baseler, vice president of
marketing for Boeing, told the Post. “Like sports teams or anything
else you are on, you want to be a winner in what you do. It didn’t
feel good to be number two.”