Assembly - December 2008 - (Page 41) over the same time period. The median budget for Midwestern plants jumped from $75,000 in 2008 to $100,000 in 2009, and 43 percent of all U.S. plants with million-dollar capital budgets reside in the Midwest. Nevertheless, there’s little doubt that the declining fortunes of the Big Three will have an affect on capital spending in the Midwest. After four consecutive years of increases, capital investment in the Midwest will contract a bit next year. Collectively, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and the nine other states that make up this region will spend more than $1.18 billion on assembly technology in 2009, a 3 percent decrease from the $1.21 billion spent in 2008. Spending Slips in the West Rising oil prices have spurred demand for alternative energy, and manufacturers across the United States, particularly in the West, are rising to meet the challenge. In July, for example, Ausra Inc. opened a new assembly plant in Las Vegas. The 130,000 square foot facility will make reflectors, absorber tubes and other components for utility-scale solar thermal power installations. In September, Sanyo Electric announced that it will construct an $80 million factory in Salem, OR, to produce silicon wafers for solar cells. And, in October, Solar World opened a new solar cell assembly plant in Hillsboro, OR. That’s good news for the West, where manufacturers have decreased spending on capital equipment for the past five years. In 2004, California, Utah, New Mexico and the 10 other states that make up the West region accounted for more than a quarter of all spending on assembly technology in the United States. Since then, however, the West’s share of total spending has steadily decreased, and next year will be no exception. All totaled, the West will spend $288.2 million on assembly technology, a 32 percent decrease from what the region’s manufacturers spent in 2008. That’s the lowest total since 1999, and it represents just 10 percent of all U.S. spending. Only 27 percent of assemblers in the West will spend more on assembly technology next year than they did this year. That’s three points lower than the percentage for all U.S. plants, and it’s the first time since 1997 that the West has not posted a higher percentage of budget boosters than the nation as a whole. Budget figures confirm those plans. While 18 percent of all U.S. plants will spend more than $1 million on assembly technology in 2009, only 11 percent of Western plants will. Similarly, 57 percent of all U.S. plants will spend less than $250,000 next year, but 68 percent of Western plants will. The median budget figure for Western facilities is $50,000, which is the same figure as in 2008. A ASSEMBLY ONLINE For more information about the survey, visit www.assemblymag.com. DESIGN Seating for Industrial and Other Challenging Applications N Complete line of quality seating solutions for most applications. N Custom fabricated, made-to-order seating fits your exact requirements. N Wide variety of different sizes, seat heights, caster and arm options available N Available with fabric, vinyl or polyurethane seats and backs N Exceeds ANSI/BIFMA standards for safety and durability. N Big & Tall models available N Exclusive 12 year warranty PRODUCT LINE EXPANDED OVER 1,859 Some of these offerings include: Ball Bearings Axial Needle Roller Thrust Bearings Resin Retainer Linear Ball Bushing Sleeve Bearings Solid Aluminum Shafting 303 Stainless Steel, Precision Shafting Linear Guide Blocks Linear Guide Rails “V” Groove Guide Wheels Needle Bearing Cam Followers Needle Bearing Yoke Roller FREE CATALOG B620 NEW PRODUCTS SALES: 1.888.276.4787 PHONE: 1.516.616.0436 FAX: 1.516.616.0443 AND COMFORT BY STYLE Call for a FREE copy of our new brochure (800)864-2991 www.bevco.com Standard-Duty Bearing Units Rod Ends and Much Much More.. Shop On-line Anytime at our New eStore www.qbcbearings.com www.assemblymag.com December 2008 / ASSE M B LY 41 http://www.assemblymag.com http://www.qbcbearings.com http://www.bevco.com http://www.qbcbearings.com http://www.bevco.com http://www.assemblymag.com
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