Reed reports upward trend

Almost half of companies reported increase in unit production over last six monthsThe latest Reed Exhibitions UK electronics manufacturing survey provides encouraging signs of an upward trend in production volumes across the industry. Nearly half of those companies questioned reported an increase in production over the last six months, with confidence in the trend continuing until the summer of 2003 remaining very high. 46% of companies reported an increase in unit production over the last six months, with 29% reporting a decrease. When the last survey was taken in May 2002, only 42% of companies said that production had increased, with 33% reporting a decrease. "This positive swing provides statistical evidence that manufacturing volumes are returning, which is great news for the industry", comments Nepcon Exhibition Director Justin Tadman, who commissioned the surveys. When looking at individual market sectors, some are inevitably expected to fare better than others going into 2003. The medical and security sectors are predicting the highest growth, while capital equipment purchases are predicted to be highest in the security, consumer equipment, communications and automotive sectors. Source: PCBnewsline