Feeling optimistic these days? Despite media negativity, many manufacturing CEOs are upbeat

This time last year 86% of respondents to the PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PwC) Global CEO Survey were confident or very confident about the prospects for increasing their companies' revenues. This year, 64% expressed the same level of optimism. Despite the current economic crisis however, industrial manufacturing CEOs are positive about the longer term with 93% being confident about the potential for revenue growth over the next three years. The top three rated opportunities for contributing to this growth are geographic expansion, penetration of existing markets and new product development.

''Last year CEOs gave these three opportunities equal weight however, this year new product development ranks much lower on the boardroom agenda'' said Calum Semple, leader of PwC Canada’s Industrial Manufacturing Practice. ''Despite the downturn, industrial manufacturing CEOs are also still looking for suitable deal-making opportunities.''

The survey, which included the input from 109 global industrial manufacturing CEOs showed that merger and acquisitions remain high on the agenda with 35% of respondents intending to complete a deal over the next 12 months. High on the agenda is also technical improvement with 60% saying innovation is critical.

''Many companies have been forced to scale back their research and development (R&D) budgets meaning management will have to look for creative ways in which to support innovation such as collaborating with supply chain partners, customers and clients,'' noted Semple.

Industrial manufacturing CEOs feel their R&D could be more effective with access to better information and 83% say this is critical, 57% would like more information and 13% currently feel the information they receive is inadequate.

At DPN, we hope that you're getting some of that information!

For more advice from PriceWaterhouseCoopers, please visit: www.pwc.com/ca/managinginadownturn or www.pwc.com/ceosurvey

Mike Edwards, Editor, DPN Magazine medwards@clbmedia.ca
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   Skills Canada awards               SolidWorks World 2009

Cable carriers. igus Inc. has announced it is giving away free cable carrier and continuous-flex cable samples as part of its newly-launched Sample Test Drive Program (igus.com/testdrive_program.asp)

Energy careers. Durham College has announced the addition of two new programs for September 2009 under the umbrella of the School of Applied Sciences, Apprenticeship, Skilled Trades & Technology: the one-year Energy Audit Techniques certificate program and the two-year Renewable Energy Technician diploma program (durhamcollege.ca).

Rules-based design. Autodesk, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the iLogic software and related technology from Windsor, ON-based Logimetrix, Inc. iLogic is Logimetrix's desktop rules-based design automation technology (logimetrixinc.com/iLogic.htm).


 
Look for these stories in the DPN March/April digital edition:
  
• Bill Vance takes a look
at the EPA-inspired UPS hydraulic hybrid courier truck. More...

 
• Mark Sunderland on injection technology designed to replace hypodermics. More...
  
• Festo's retired president Chris Kalemba honored by Skills Canada. More...
  
• Engineers rethink a pivotal point in surgical scissors. More...
  
Please click on the button (right) for access to the digital edition of DPN.




 • Linear actuator from NB Corporation
  
• GGB self-aligning plain housing bearings
 




Bonus Digital Edition coverage!
  
• Read a North American Die Casting Association analysis of different Rapid Tooling methods. More...

• Polymer balance shaft gears deliver performance and improved fuel economy in vehicles. More...

• Motion Control Product Spotlight. More...
 

April 20-21, 2009. Toronto. Machine Automation Safety Congress 2009 featuring safeguarding (safermachines.com).

May 5-7, 2009. Toronto. PACKEX Toronto 2009 exhibition presented by the Packaging Association of Canada (packextoronto.com).

May 12-14, 2009. Montreal. Plant Maintenance and Design Show presented by the SME (sme.org/events).

May 28-30, 2009. Niagara Falls, ON. The Canadian Conference of the Power Transmission Distributors Association (ptda.org/canadianconference).

September 1-7, 2009. Calgary. The 2009 WorldSkills Competition for ages 17-22 in 45 skill categories, including mechatronics & robotics (worldskills2009.com).



  Training in Automation
         
Festo Didactic is a global leader in basic and further training in industry. As a provider of skills development for manufacturing and process automation, the services we offer range from educational equipment for training facilities to training and advice for industrial production companies.
 
Our ''Training in Automation'' Spring schedule is now available and features new courses such as:
 
Introduction to Hydraulics
This course is designed to introduce the participant to the operating principles of hydraulic systems and to improve their ability in troubleshooting. Familiarity with design, function and operation of hydraulic components and their application in basic circuits will also be achieved.
 
Introduction to Electro-Hydraulics
Course participants will become familiarized with the function and operation of hydraulic and electrical equipment used in simple electro-hydraulic controls and will learn to troubleshoot electro- hydraulic systems and design simple controls.
 
Contact us today for more information on course dates and how we can help you meet your training needs.
 
http://www.festo-didactic.com/ca-en/courses/

At POSITAL, we’re dedicated to bringing you innovative sensor components for the
most demanding industrial applications.

Click here for a white paper on our revolutionary multi-turn absolute magnetic rotary encoders.



POSITAL is part of the FRABA Group, a manufacturer of specialized sensor equipment for sophisticated industrial applications.

For an article from Design Product News that describes what FRABA can do for you,
click here.

www.posital.com
        

Hydraulic cylinders. TRD Manufacturing, a Bimba Company, has introduced HH series cylinders for heavy-duty industrial hydraulic operations. All models come in bore sizes 1.50, 2, 2.50, 3.25, 4, 5, 6 and 8 in.

Personal 3D ABS printer. The Dimension 3D Printing Group, a business unit of Stratasys, Inc. has introduced the uPrint Personal 3D printer (priced at US$14,900). Designed for the desktop, the printer requires a 25 x 26 in. footprint and features an 8 x 6 x 6 in. build envelope.

Machinable glass ceramics. Goodfellow has introduced a range of MACOR machinable material (rods, plates, bars and discs) and finished components that are precision-machined to customer specifications. The material is said to perform like of a technical ceramic with the versatility of a high-performance plastic.