MT Magazine July/August 2023

MANUFACTURING MATTERS

THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUE

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ADVOCACY

Finding Funding After passing the bipartisan debt ceiling bill, Congress now turns its attention to the budget for fiscal year 2024 and funding the government within the spending limits set by the deal. That requires approving 12 appropriations bills by Oct. 1. Congress rarely meets that deadline. The last time it did was more that 25 years ago. Instead, usually, one or more short-term funding bills are approved to buy lawmakers more time to iron out a comprehensive package. This year, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has vowed to pass all 12 spending bills. Manufacturers could be vulnerable as Congress looks for ways to cut spending programs and/or raise taxes to meet the debt ceiling requirements. AMT is working with several coalitions and organizations to defend important programs and incentives that strengthen the MT industry.

INTERNATIONAL

Hitch Your Cart to the Right Car If you traveled by road in 1923, chances are you were still saying “giddy up” to the horse pulling your buggy. In the United States, only about 13% of the population had a car, and that number was much lower in Europe. Now, 100 years later, an estimated 1.5 billion cars travel the world’s roads. Manufacturing technology came along for the ride to the point that automotive manufacturing consumed the lion’s share of MT. Today’s evolving global transportation landscape is seeing significant changes impacting MT suppliers. Electric and autonomous vehicles, shared and micromobility, high-speed and hydrogen rail, smart infrastructure, urban air mobility, etc. all represent a shift that creates both challenges and opportunities – different components, sensors, batteries, lightweight materials, additive processes, connectivity and data analytics, and supply chain dynamics. If you stay agile and adaptive, embrace R&D, collaborate, investigate new processes, and be proactive, you can evolve, stay competitive, and thrive.

The Manufacturing Technology Series 2023 will bring

the most important manufacturing technology events in the U.S. in 2023.

Feb. 21-23, 2023 Houston, TX

May 16-18, 2023

Oct. 24-26, 2023 Greenville, SC

Nov. 7-9, 2023 Long Beach, CA

Visit mtseries.com to learn more.

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